Dear Parents and Carers,
NEWS
FREE SCHOOL MEALS AND CENSUS
Our school census is coming up at the beginning of Oct, from which the school receives its budget. Part of the census information links to free school meals, with parents/carers in receipt of specific benefits and/or earning less than £16,140, eligible for free school meals. Please see the attached letter from Mrs Pike which provides further information and details. You may well be eligible, so do please take a look.
FRIENDS (PTFA) OF STOWER PROVOST
The Friends of Stower Provost are in need of support, with a Treasurer and Chairperson sort, along with additional members. The Friends meet once or twice a term, normally just after school, and fund raise for specific activities and projects. Last year funds provided facilitated the upkeep and running of our school pool, purchased new table tops to revamp classrooms and work areas, and gave financial support of £250 for each class to reduce travel costs for trips, allowing a number of trips to become financially feasible. My thanks to all those involved with the Friends for their support last year.
If you might be interested in offering your support to the Friends then do please pop in for a tea/coffee on Tuesday afternoon in the school Hall at 15.00, or contact Sandy Pike in the school office who will pass your details onto current members of the Friends committee who will make contact with you!
GOVERNOR VACANCY
We are on the search for a parent governor!
If you think this might be of interest to you and would like to talk to someone about what the role involves, please either speak to myself, Sam Wattridge (Chair of Governors) or Catherine Dunkley-Jones. Sam and Catherine are probably best contacted by email swattridge@stowerprovost.dorset.sch.uk or clerk@stowerprovost.dorset.sch.uk . It would be lovely to hear from those interested.
GUITAR AND MUSIC LESSONS
Just a reminder that the school liaises with the Dorset Music School, who have a wealth of music teachers willing to provide musical lessons to children in school. We currently have a guitar, clarinet and piano teacher who visit. Should your child be interested in lessons, be this with current teachers, or with other instrumental teachers, please speak to Mrs Pike about your child’s interest.
THIS WEEK
Jeans for Genes Day
Our Monday assembly focused on Jeans for Genes day, which highlighted the importance of genes and how they make us unique. Children and staff were asked to wear jeans on Friday to raise awareness of genetic conditions, as well as difference, with a £1 donation to be passed onto the charity suggested.
NEXT WEEK
OSMINGTON BAY RESIDENTIAL TRIP MEETING
Oak Class children, parent and carers are invited to attend a meeting on 24th September at 15.00, to learn more about the up and coming Osmington Bay residential trip. The meeting should last approximately 30 minutes.
HARVEST FESTIVAL
We aiming to hold a short harvest festival on Friday 26th September at 08.55 – 09.15. Parents and Carers would be welcome to attend, and any donations of tinned or dried food and toiletries would be very gratefully received and passed onto the Gillingham Food Bank.
Please also see the attached letter from the food bank for further information.
OPEN EVENING AT GILLINGHAM SECONDARY SCHOOL
Please be aware there is an open evening at Gillingham School 2nd October 18.00 – 20.00 for Yr6 children and parents.
REMINDER
We have a ‘No smoking/vaping’ policy in school and the outside areas.
CLUBS
A New Club for Year 5 & 6 pupils.
Mrs B will be running a new free Maths Club on a Wednesday 15.30 – 16.30. Any pupil from Oak class would be welcome to attend. This Club is aimed at supporting and developing children’s maths skills, as well as being an opportunity to complete maths homework, with help on hand. Why not come along, have some fun, and get your homework done at the same time! This club will start on 15th Oct, due to previously booked commitments (residential trips and courses). Sign up with Mrs Pike in the school office.
Gardening Club
Mrs Berwick will be running a gardening club on a Monday 15.30 – 16.30 for 4 weeks, starting on Monday 29th Sept – Monday 20th October. Places are extremely limited. If you are interested in your child joining this club please speak to Mrs Pike in the school office. Cost is £10 for the 4 weeks.
Fencing and Shooting Club at Leweston School
Fencing and shooting club opportunities are available and open to pupils outside of Leweston School. Clubs run after school on a Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Please see the attached flyer for further information if interested.
Other Clubs
| Clubs | Day & Time | Year Group | Led by | Cost |
| Lego Club | Mondays 15.30 – 16.30
Starting Mon 15th Sept |
Year 1 – 6 | Miss Buxton | Cost per half term (see site on booking) |
| Gardening Club | Mondays 15.30 – 16.30
Starting Mon 29th Sept |
Open | Mrs Berwick | £10 for the 4 weeks. |
| Football Club | Tuesdays 15.30 – 16.30
Starting Tues 16th Sept |
Chestnut and Oak
Key Stage 2 children |
Prime Sports | Free – school supported |
| Maths Club | Wednesdays 15.30 – 16.30 starting 15th Oct | Oak Class | Mrs B | Free! |
| Multi Sports Club | Fridays 15.30 – 16.30
Starting Fri 19th Sept |
Chestnut and Oak
Key Stage 2 children |
Prime Sports | Free – school supported |
Links to sign up for these clubs were sent out earlier this week. Should you required further information or clarification regarding any of the clubs, do please contact Mrs Pike in the school office.
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
BEHAVIOUR THAT CHALLENGES US
Action for Children, along with NHS Dorset, are pleased to be able to offer Free one-off sessions for parents living in Dorset to understand more about ‘Child Behaviours that Challenge us’.
These sessions are for parents with children between the ages of 5 and 11.
Each session is delivered by a Child Clinical Psychologist and an Action for Children Parenting Practitioner.
Places are limited so do please book up via the QR code OR via www.actionforchildren.org.uk/dorset
For further information, please see the attached flyer.
CLASS NEWS
OAK
Pupils have focused on work linked to the Shang Dynasty this week and have started learning about forces in Science. In English pupils have used the poem of the Highwayman to create character descriptions and have been continuing their learning linked to place value in Maths.
CHESTNUT
We’ve been time travellers in History, journeying all the way back to the Stone Age! We’ve navigated a series of significant events in British history, using a timeline to order and understand how they unfolded over time.
Our Science journey continued with an in-depth look at Living Things. We’ve become experts on carnivores, omnivores, and herbivores, discovering the unique ways each group is equipped to survive in their environment.
In Geography, we’ve been busy exploring the world around us by distinguishing between physical and human features. We’ve learned to identify the natural elements of the landscape as well as the structures and changes made by people.
In English, we were impressed by the creativity the children showed in their writing. They crafted wonderful list poems about the Harvest, showcasing their imaginative and descriptive skills.
We’ve been exploring the different types of “smarts” in PSHE, with a special focus on social smarts. We’ve discussed how we use these skills to navigate social situations we encounter every day, helping us build stronger relationships and a better understanding of one another. (Mrs Sanda)
BEECH
This week’s book focus has been on ‘The bear and the Piano’ which the children have been extending their understanding of prepositions and adjectives to describe scenes from the book. In Maths this week, Year 1’s have been reinforcing their counting forwards and backwards to 20 and beyond. Year 2’s have been delving into multiples of ten up to 100, exploring how many tens each number represents and their written format.
In other learning, the children have explored what a map is and even drew one of our classroom in Geography, whilst in computing the children have been looking at how to start navigating a laptop. The children also thoroughly enjoyed exploring outside for our ‘Outdoor Learning’ session this week we have been building little dens/ houses for bugs or little animals to shelter from the wind, each group had to explain their thinking and what benefits their house offered our little friends.
HAZEL
The children have had a very busy week of learning this week. We started our phonics journey with the children learning m, a, s, d and t, and our maths journey by starting to learn the skill of subitising. Subitising is the ability to instantly recognise the number of items in a small group without counting them one by one. This perceptual skill, derived from the Latin word for “sudden,” is crucial for developing mathematical understanding by allowing children to see quantities at a glance, such as knowing there are four dots on a dice. I have uploaded the Phonics lesson videos on to Tapestry to help with supporting your child at home.
In literacy the children created their own story books as part of our learning about families. The children have created maps of their journey to school and made selfies using natural materials. We have also heard personal passports from four children which has been a lovely way to introduce themselves to the class.
DIARY DATES
Dates in red have been added to the diary list this week.
| Date | Time | Information |
| 23rd Sept | 15.00 – 15.30 | Friends (PTFA) coffee and tea meeting in the school Hall |
| 24th Sept | 15.00 – 15.30 | Oak Class Osmington Bay meeting in Oak Class |
| 26th Sept | 08.55
14.55 |
Harvest Festival – donations to go to the Gillingham Food bank, please see attached info above
Praise and Celebrate Assembly |
| 30th Sept | 15.30 – 17.30 | Parent/Carer Meetings
Parents with children on the SEN register will be invited to meetings on a separate date tbc |
| 2nd Oct | 15.30 – 17.30 | Parent/Carer Meetings
Parents with children on the SEN register will be invited to meetings on a separate date tbc |
| 3rd Oct | 14.55 | Praise and Celebrate Assembly
School Photos |
| 6th Oct – 8th Oct | 08.50 | Oak class residential to Osmington Bay (LC/ST/AB/JH) |
| 10th Oct | 14.55 | Praise and Celebrate Assembly |
| 17th Oct | 14.55 | Praise and Celebrate Assembly |
| 23rd Oct | All day
09.00 – 10.30
After school |
SCARF workshops for all classes
PINS Coffee Morning in Hall
Disco Hazel and Beech – 15.30 – 16.15 Chestnut and Oak – 16.15 – 17.00 |
| 24th Oct | 14.55
15.20 |
Praise and Celebrate Assembly
Half Term – NO ASC / NO HOBBIES |
| HALF TERM | ||
| 3rd Nov | 08.50 | Second half of term starts |
| 7th Nov | 14.55 | Praise and Celebrate Assembly |
| 14th Nov | 14.55 | Praise and Celebrate Assembly |
| 21st Nov | 14.55 | Praise and Celebrate Assembly |
| 28th Nov | 14.55 | Praise and Celebrate Assembly |
| 1st Dec | All Day | INSET DAY (No school for children) |
| 5th Dec | 14.55 | Praise and Celebrate Assembly |
| 12th Dec | 14.55 | Praise and Celebrate Assembly |
| 18th Dec | After school | Disco
Hazel and Beech – 15.30 – 16.15 Chestnut and Oak – 16.15 – 17.00 |
| 19th Dec | 14.55 | Praise and Celebrate Assembly |
| 19th Dec | 15.20 | End of Term – NO ASC / NO HOBBIES |
| HOLIDAY | ||
| 5th Jan | All Day | INSET DAY (No school for children) |
| 16th Jan | 14.55 | Praise and Celebrate Assembly |
| 23rd Jan | 14.55 | Praise and Celebrate Assembly |
| 30th Jan | 14.55 | Praise and Celebrate Assembly |
| 3rd Feb | 15.30 – 17.30 | Parent/Carer Meetings
Parents with children on the SEN register will be invited to meetings on a separate date tbc. |
| 5th Feb | 15.30 – 17.30 | Parent/Carer Meetings
Parents with children on the SEN register will be invited to meetings on a separate date tbc. |
| 6th Feb | 14.55 | Praise and Celebrate Assembly |
| 12th Feb | 15.20 | Half Term starts |
| 13th Feb | All Day | INSET DAY (No school for children) |
| 16th Feb – 20th Feb | HALF TERM | |
| 23rd Feb | 08.50 | First day of second half of term |
| 27th Feb | 14.55 | Praise and Celebrate Assembly |
Best wishes,
Ailsa Boardman-Hirst