Dear Parents and Carers,
Today is World Mental Health Day, so I thought I would take this opportunity to extol the virtues of the outdoors on wellbeing. As some of you may have read in the news recently, just 20 minutes in nature can boost health and wellbeing by reducing stress and anxiety, lifting mood and helping our minds rest. This is why we encourage everyone at Stower Provost to make the most of the outdoor space we have, be this through Forest School, outdoor learning sessions or going out in all weathers for break. So I encourage all this weekend to leave your screens behind and go for a wander … even if it is for only 20 minutes!
NEWS
THIS WEEK
SPY DOG BOOK – ALERT!
We have been made aware of the following information regarding a set of children’s books. The books involved are the series Spy Dogs/Pups and Spy Cat books written by Andrew Cope. These books contain a link to a website which contains highly pornographic content. The book asks children to explore the website to find more about the characters in the book. It appears the website identified (on the back or inside page) has now been compromised and takes users to a pornographic website with no age verification. As a school we have checked our library bookshelves and felt it was imperative that parents and carers do the same.
OSMINGTON BAY RESIDENTIAL TRIP
Oak class pupils travelled to Osmington Bay on Monday, for their residential trip. Please see class news to find out more information.
POLITE REMINDER REGARDING TOYS & EXTRA ITEMS
Please could I remind all parents and carers that toys, trinkets and extra paraphernalia should be kept at home. We are seeing an increased number of toys and extra items being ‘hidden’ in bags and/or causing distraction in classes and corridors.
FIDGET TOOLS
Following parent/carer meetings, a number have requested fidget tools for their children. These tools are issued to children on an individual basis, with children having been assessed for their need. These tools are linked to EHCPs, support plans and would normally be issued by the SENCo.
NEXT WEEK
FRIENDS (PTFA) OF STOWER PROVOST AGM
The Friend’s AGM is on Tuesday 14th Oct at 15.30 in the school hall. Please come along and support – you might even win yourself a hamper of wine for your efforts!
CLUBS
LEGO CLUB
Today’s challenge was to recreate the famous Trojan horse,
our winner this week was Oli. (Miss Buxton)
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
Unfortunately gardening club will need to have a postponed start. Mrs Pike will contact those signed up for the club and explain the situation.
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) |
| 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
FRIENDS (PTFA) OF STOWER PROVOST
The Friends of Stower Provost are in need of support! Both Treasurer and Chairperson positions need to be filled, as well as members to help fundraise and/or support events.
The Friend’s AGM is on Tuesday 14th Oct at 15.30 in the school hall. Please come along and support – you might even win yourself a hamper of wine for your efforts!
Please see the attached flier for further information.
AN INTRODUCTION TO AUTISM
Please find attached a flyer for a Free ‘An Introduction to Autism’ session, which all parents/carers are invited to. You do not have to have a child with autism or an autism diagnosis to attend.
The session will take place at:
The Vale Family Hub 22B Butts Pond, Sturminster Newton, Dorset DT10 1AZ Friday the 14th of November 2025 – 9:45am until 11:15am
To book a place, please scan QR code.
CLASS NEWS
OAK
Oak Class had a wonderful three days, at the beginning of the week, enjoying a variety of activities at Osmington Bay PGL Centre. The aim was to encourage and engage the children in team building and challenge activities, these included zipwire, giant swing, sensory trails, stand up paddle boarding, archery aero ball and trapeze, where children had to climb up a telegraph style poll to reach a platform and then jump off to try and hit a ball suspended in mid-air. Classmates in this activity helped support, using safety ropes, and in the giant swing were the ‘power’ to raise the swing to its height, prior to pupils releasing ropes to facilitate the swing. In the evening there were group activities and a disco. The children thoroughly enjoyed their time, with many saying they would very much like to stay and carry on with activities all week! Certainly, the week, and how the children responded, has given us an opportunity to consider possible future clubs and activities made available to pupils to develop their interests further.
CHESTNUT
What a fun filled week of learning Chestnut Class have had! We have been continuing to enjoy Clive King’s ‘Stig of the dump’ and to discuss the adventures that Barney and Stig have been having. The children have also been playing with adjectives to describe the characters from the book and to see how adjectives can completely change the feel, tone and meaning of a sentence.
In Maths, the children have worked hard to measure perimeter of rectilinear shapes and polygons. They have had to apply their knowledge of shape, length and addition to solve these problems – they are becoming brilliant multi-taskers!
During RE, I have been really impressed with the children’s discussions around equality as an aspect of the Sikh religion. We have had some thorny debates over equality and fairness, especially in regards to sweets! Next week, we will be creating our version of ‘Langar’ where we will prepare, cook, serve and clear up a ‘meal’ for our community (the children in Pre-school) as an act of service and inclusion. We can’t wait to share our learning and cooking with our community!
BEECH
This week’s book focus has been on ‘Little Red Riding Hood’ which the children have been writing an alternative ending to Little Red Riding Hood. In addition to this, the children have been making and decorating gingerbread men following their recipe last week. In Maths this week, Year 1’s have been continuing to look at number lines and hundred squares to support our understanding of numbers up to 100. Year 2’s have been adding 3 one-digit numbers and doing augmentation stories.
In other learning, the children thoroughly enjoyed learning about continents and oceans of the world, whilst in computing the children had a time on a laptop again this week focussing on using the keyboards using ‘paint’. The children also thoroughly enjoyed exploring outside for our ‘Outdoor Learning’ session this week we have been making hedgehogs and learning about other facts about those wonderful creatures.
HAZEL
This week has been another busy week with lots of learning about hedgehogs. We have made a hedgehog home, a fruit hedgehog and clay hedgehogs. Our literacy this week has focused on growth using the book Once There Were Giants, how the children have changed since babies, and how other things change as they grow such as caterpillars and sunflowers. In maths we have been continuing our subitising journey with the number 4. We have explored a Christian church and made stained glass windows, and we have learnt about Harvest and what it means around the world.
DIARY DATES
Dates in red have been added to the diary list this week.
| Date | Time | Information |
| 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 | 08.30 | Big Bap Friday – sausage and bacon rolls.
Please order and pay in cash by 5th Nov to the office. |
| 7th Nov | 14.55 | Praise and Celebrate Assembly |
| 14th Nov | 9:45 – 11:15 | Introduction to Autism meeting at
The Vale Family Hub 22B Butts Pond, Sturminster Newton, Dorset DT10 1AZ |
| 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 | 08.30 | Big Bap Friday – sausage and bacon rolls.
Please order and pay in cash by 3rd Dec to the office. |
| 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) |
| 9th Jan | 08.30 | Big Bap Friday – sausage and bacon rolls.
Please order and pay in cash by 7th Jan to the office. |
| 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 | 08.30 | Big Bap Friday – sausage and bacon rolls.
Please order and pay in cash by 4th Feb to the office. |
| 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,
A Boardman-Hirst