Now it’s time for a well-deserved break. We’re wishing all our children and families a happy and safe half-term. I hope you all have a chance to  relax and enjoy some time together. We’ll be looking forward to welcoming everyone back, ready for the next half-term.

We also have some good news for when we return. Mrs Connolly will be back from her maternity leave as our SENCo. I’m sure you’ll join me in a big thank you to Mrs Goliger for doing such a brilliant job as our interim SENCo – we really appreciate her support.

Have a lovely holiday, and we’ll see you all back on Monday 2nd June for our final half-term of this year. I’m always amazed at how quickly the year flies by.

Best wishes.

Firstly, I hope you all enjoyed a lovely Easter holiday. As the days grow longer and the weather (hopefully!) gets warmer, we’re looking forward to a bright and busy summer term. With the shift in seasons, please could we remind you to  ensure your child is still wearing the appropriate school   uniform. Even with warmer spells, layers might be needed, and please double-check that they have their named water bottle with them every day to stay hydrated. We also kindly ask that on warmer days, you apply sun cream to your child at home before they come to school, allowing them to enjoy their outdoor activities safely.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Our Year 6 pupils are now well into their preparations for their upcoming SATs. They have been working incredibly hard throughout the year, and we are immensely proud of their dedication and effort. We want to take this opportunity to thank all of our Year 6 children for their fantastic  attitude and commitment to their learning – you are all stars! Many of them even put in additional hours of work during the Easter holidays, huge thanks to those of you who supported them with this.                                                                                                                                                                  It’s been wonderful to see so many children enthusiastically participating in the wide range of extra-curricular clubs we are now running. It’s fantastic to witness the children exploring new interests and developing fresh skills outside of the classroom. Our Year 3/4 girls loved their first lunchtime football club and York City’s after school football club got off to a great start last night. There are still places remaining in some clubs if your child would like to be added. Mr Wilson is especially keen for more cricketers!                                                                                                                In the next 2 weeks, we have 2 more external sporting events to attend, including a Key Stage 1 football tournament. I am sure our children will represent the school brilliantly.                                   In other news, I am delighted to let you know that we currently have 3 members of our staff team who are expecting summer babies. Miss Kirby, Miss Evans and Mrs Newlove are all sharing the joys of pregnancy together and I am sure you will wish them well as they head into their third trimester. A few long, hot days ahead!                                                                                                              Finally, please note that a separate communication will be sent out shortly containing all the key dates for the summer term, including school events, trips, and important deadlines.                           Thank you for your continued support and I look forward to seeing you all soon.                                                                                                                                                                                                    Best wishes

Can I please give a reminder about the importance of using our school car park carefully and considerately. We understand that the start and end of the school day can be busy, but the safety of our children is our top priority. Please ensure that you are driving slowly and being mindful of pedestrians at all times. Avoid parking in areas that could cause an obstruction, and please do not block access for other vehicles or residents. Your cooperation in this matter is greatly appreciated.

We were delighted with the excellent turnout at this week’s Parents’ Evenings. It was fantastic to see so many of you engaging with your child’s teachers and discussing their progress and achievements. The positive conversations and shared commitment to your children’s learning are invaluable, and we thank you for taking the time to attend and support your child’s education.

A reminder that details for our exciting Easter competitions have already been sent home. We have been thrilled to hear about the creative ideas the children have been coming up with! Please ensure that all entries are brought into school on Wednesday 2nd April to allow time for our judging panel to make their decisions. We are really looking forward to seeing all the fantastic creations and celebrating the children’s hard work. Good luck to everyone!

Finally, after your feedback and suggestions in the Open Doors sessions, we will be extending the range and  number of after school clubs available to the children. This will include some lunchtime clubs, and more after school opportunities, in addition to those already offered by our own staff. We have now established a link with York City Football Club Foundation which will also see us benefit from player visits and special opportunities to go to the stadium and facilities. More details to come!

Have a lovely weekend.

What a busy two weeks we’ve had! World Book Day was a wonderful celebration of reading across the school! It was fantastic to see so many children (and staff) dressed as their favourite characters, from whimsical wizards to hearty heroes, the creativity on display was truly inspiring. We had a fantastic day filled with engaging activities, including shared reading sessions with our partner classes from Hob Moor Oaks, costume parade competitions, bookmark crafts and sensory   stories. We hope this special day has ignited a renewed passion for reading in your children, encouraging them to explore the magical worlds that books can offer. Thank you for your support in making World Book Day such a memorable and successful event.

An additional thank you goes to all of the parents who were able to make our Open Doors afternoon. It was lovely to see such a large turn out and we received some wonderful feedback for our school. We will also take on board, and action, other areas that you feel we can improve on. The children also thoroughly enjoyed sharing their amazing work with you in their classrooms.  

Take care and have a wonderful weekend.

I’d like to remind you that in the next few weeks, we have scheduled Open Doors and Parents Evenings. These are crucial opportunities for you to find out more about your children’s learning and progress. The children have so much to share and celebrate, and it would be great to see as many of you as possible at both of these events. Separate letters have already been issued for these.

This year, I’m really keen to use Open Doors as an opportunity to meet with you myself, to hear your thoughts and ideas about school. I’m eager to know what you think we do well, but also interested to hear things you feel we can improve on. So, on both Open Doors days (Tuesday 11th March for KS2 & Wednesday 12th March for KS1), you are invited to join me in the school hall for refreshments, and the chance to share your ideas. These sessions will start from 2:15pm, and will be very informal. I will also be joined by other members of staff, as well as some children, who will serve the refreshments etc. We will then escort you down to the children’s classrooms to share in their learning.

I know how much you have appreciated the additional clubs that we are now running for your children after school.                                                                                                                                           This half-term’s clubs are:
Year 1/2 – Art Club – Miss Evans

Year 1/2 – Film Club – Mr Donkin

Year 3/4 – Multi games Club – Mr Wilson

Year 5/6 – Tag Rugby – Mr Hinde

Further information about these clubs is detailed in an additional letter that you will receive.

We are also building up to World Book Day next week (Thursday 6th March), with an amazing day planned for the children. Please get involved in the Extreme Reading Challenge and remember to  support the children with their costumes for the day.

I look forward to seeing you all in the coming weeks.

We know how important it is that we understand what makes us tick, our likes and dislikes, strengths, fears, hopes and dreams. Our emotions play a key role in telling us just that, and being aware of how to listen to, and express ourselves, is a major part of building self-awareness. It is through knowing ourselves and speaking with others, that we can build resilience, grow and develop.

Being self-aware means getting to know and understand what we are good at, what we find difficult, our likes and dislikes, what makes us feel JOY and what may cause us SADNESS. It is also about understanding what makes us unique and our fears, hopes and dreams. It is with this basis we can form strong and healthy relationships, from early childhood right through to adulthood and are equipped to cope with the challenges that life brings our way.

By taking part in Children’s Mental Health Week 2025, we are working together to ensure that children in our school feel listened to, and know that they’re not alone. Class teachers are always available for children to talk to, but we also have a wider team of staff who are here to support all our children’s Mental Health.

Our Pupil Wellbeing Team:

Miss Brady – Wellbeing, Behaviour and Attendance Lead

Miss Evans – PSHE Lead

Mr Wilson – PE Lead

Miss Leslie- Behaviour and Wellbeing mentor

Mrs Suttle- Behaviour and Wellbeing mentor

Our recent Key Stage 1 trip to Abbey House Museum in Leeds was a resounding success! The children loved the fascinating exhibits, including Victorian toys and clothing. The interactive workshop brought history to life, and the children returned to school brimming with excitement, eager to share their newfound knowledge and use this in their writing of a recount.

Finally, the whole school thoroughly enjoyed a fantastic pantomime performance! The visiting actors brought the classic tale ‘Beauty and the Beast’ to life. A particular highlight was seeing Mr. Wilson himself take on a starring role, much to the delight of the children! The pantomime was a wonderful opportunity for the whole school to come together and enjoy a shared experience of laughter, music and performance.

Mr Wilson and I have successfully explored opportunities for our children to get involved in lots of additional sports events in the area. Our sporting calendar is now packed with opportunities for our pupils to shine. Coming soon are opportunities to take part in events in Boccia; Swimming and Aquafest; Netball Championships; Girls Football; Dance festivals and Rugby Union Tag. More information will follow in the coming weeks about these opportunities for certain year groups.

Finally, I am pleased to announce that our team of Year 5 and 6 Play Leaders will be starting their duties next week. These enthusiastic children have successfully completed their training and are eager to contribute positively to our school community. They will be assisting younger children, and organising fun activities for their peers at lunchtimes. We are confident that they will be fantastic role models and make a valuable contribution to school life.

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season and are feeling refreshed and ready for the exciting year ahead. It has been a pleasure to welcome the children back this week and they have settled so quickly into their routines. I know many of you, like me, are feeling optimistic about 2025. It’s a chance for new beginnings and adventures. The children have been reflecting this                              week on the positive changes they can make as we start a new year.

A few reminders:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              ClassDojo: We encourage all parents to download the ClassDojo app and check it regularly for updates from your child’s teacher. ClassDojo is a fantastic tool for communication and sharing your child’s learning journey with you. I know many of you are regularly using it. Today, you will have   received a weekly update from your child’s class teacher, so you are kept fully informed about school life. This also contains information about the weekly homework expectations.                                                                                                                                                                                                Reporting Absences: Please remember to report any absences to the school office directly. While we encourage the use of ClassDojo for general communication, these messages may not always be seen by school staff in a timely manner.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                School Uniform: Please ensure your child is wearing the correct school uniform. Wearing the uniform helps children feel part of our school community and prepares them for learning.                  Parking: As we start a new term, please remember to be considerate of our neighbours when parking around the school. Let’s all work together to keep our community safe and ensure smooth traffic flow.

We’re always here to support you and your children. Please don’t hesitate to come and chat with us if you have any questions or concerns.                                                                                                  Best wishes.

I know you have appreciated all the additional opportunities to come into school and enjoy spending time with your children. With Open Doors and Christmas Crafts being so well attended, this has been a real bonus.

As we head into the final week of term, I would like to thank all families for your ongoing support. Through working closely together with you, it is the children who benefit most. I have had so many opportunities to witness the incredible potential of our children and it is a privilege to be a part of such a vibrant and supportive school community.

We understand that this time of year can be both exciting and challenging, and we want to assure you that we are here to support you and your family. If you, or your child, is facing any            difficulties, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.

If I don’t see you in person before the end of term, I’d like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very merry Christmas, and hope that the New Year brings health and happiness for you and your loved ones.

A reminder that the children will return to school on Tuesday 7th January.