Dear Parents and Carers,
What a week it has been! My thanks to all who completed the parent questionnaire linked to our OFSTED visit this week. The draft report will be made available to the school in 18 days time, with a turn around of 5 days for comments from the school. As soon as the report is confirmed, we will of course share findings with families.
A further update on swimming. We are hoping that swimming will be starting again next week, as a swimming teacher has been found!
THIS WEEK
Larmer Tree Festival
Year 4 and 5 children enjoyed a two hour music morning, furthering their samba skills in preparation for their Larmer Tree Festival activities. On Tuesday the children ventured to a Larmer Tree and took part in art, poetry and further music activities along with other local schools. The children thoroughly enjoyed their day and are looking forward to further musical practice and creative activities prior to a collaborative festival next month.
Class photographs
Class photos took place this Wednesday. Year 6 will have their class/leavers photos on Monday 16th June. Images will be shared in due course.
Beech Class
All Year 1 pupils in Beech Class, and those who did not pass the test last year, sat their Year 1 phonic assessment this week. Well done to all pupils for their efforts with these assessments which were administered on a 1:1 basis.
Year 4 pupils in Chestnut Class
All Year 4 pupils have now completed their statutory multiplication check. Well done to all pupils (and parents/carers who supported their children) in the learning of times table facts. Results will be shared when made available to the school. Tests were administered online.
CLUBS
Lego Club
Today’s challenge was to build a donkey. Working in pairs, the winners were Jasper and Ted in Chestnuts. (Miss Buxton)
NEXT WEEK
Hazel Class trip to Charmouth
Children from Hazel Class will be exploring Charmouth on Monday. Do please ensure your children have the appropriate clothing and a packed lunch for this trip.
Bikeability Course – Year 5 children
Year 5 children should come to school in their PE kits, with jogging bottoms or leggings please. A bicycle and helmet is also required and a coat, to allow the children to take part in the Level 1 bikeability course, which will take place on the school courts.
Beech Class trip to Wardour Castle
Children from Beech Class will be exploring Wardour Castle on Wednesday, linked to their topic of Mighty Monarchs. Do please ensure your children have the appropriate clothing and a packed lunch for this trip.
Friends of Stower Provost Summer Solstice Disco
A Summer Solstice Disco will take place on Thursday with the following timings:
15.30 – 16.15 Hazel and Beech classes attend the disco / Chestnut and Oak pupils have activities in classrooms.
16.15 – 17.00 Chestnut and Oak classes attend the disco / Hazel and Beech pupils may be collected at 16.15 or may stay and enjoy activities within the classroom.
An entrance fee of £2 per child is requested, with payments made to Mrs Pike prior to the evening, to ensure activities and refreshments are purchased appropriately.
Flower Festival at Stour Provost Village
Pupils’ work from all classes will be on display within the church at the Stower Provost Flower Festival.
Survey linked to sports clubs
I am trying to plan the next academic years sporting clubs, which at Stower Provost we offer for free, using our money from our Sport Premium budget. Working with Prime Sports we are keen to understand what activities your child might be interested in, so this can be planned and offered.
Prime Sports have asked if parents and carers would please complete the attached voting form and vote for any clubs their child would be likely to attend over the course of the 2025-26 academic year. I thank you in advance for your help and support with this.
https://forms.gle/MLs2nJsATwGS3Z3o9
MUSIC
As many of you will know we have a number of instrumental lesson opportunities in school, these currently include piano, guitar and clarinet. Dave our clarinet teacher is also brass specialist, so I thought I would share lesson costs for those who might be interested. For those eager and in Years 3 and 4, my understanding is that due to the school purchasing whole class music lessons this academic year through Dorset Music School, instrumental hire would be free for the year.
Woodwind – clarinet, flute, alto sax
Brass – trumpet/cornet, trombone, tenor horn (younger pupils), baritone horn (older pupils)
20 mins – £10
30 mins – £15
30 mins for pairs – £15 cost split
10 lessons per term.
FRIENDS OF STOWER PROVOST
| 19th June | 15.30 – 17.00 | Friends of Stower Provost Summer Solstice Disco – details above |
| 4th July | 15.15 – 17.00 | Summer BBQ |
Easy Fundraiser
https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/panel/
COMMUNITY AND OTHER NEWS
Coombe House Swimming
Please find attached a flyer for Coombe House swimming opportunities.
Summer Reading Challenge
Please find attached information relating to the summer reading challenge. Children can sign up
through their local library and receive a sticker booklet. They set a reading goal and borrow books of their choice during the summer, collecting special stickers. Children who complete the Challenge are presented with a medal when they have read 6 books, and a certificate is sent to school in the Autumn Term.
SUMMER HOLIDAYS!
Stower Vale Summer Club returns this year for a two-week stint in August. Activities will be tailored specifically to the children attending! This is currently only available to Stower Vale Preschool and Stower Provost Pupils, although it will be shared with the wider community after half term so please email to book your spaces as soon as possible. Please see the flyer attached for further information.
CLASS NEWS
Oak Class
This week, there has been a great deal of discussion around our sense of self. In English, we have been exploring the characters of Tom and Willie in Goodnight, Mr Tom. We have also been looking at using relative clauses to describe these two characters and, indeed, their dog, Sammy! As a lead up to my visit to the moderators in Dorchester, the children have started to plan a non-chronological report about the lives of children as evacuees in World War Two. In maths, we have been looking at multiplying and dividing decimals. In PSHE, the children have been surprised to discover how other people perceive them- they all learned something new, and something positive. Next week, we are looking forward to planning a science experiment using our science skills. (Mrs Clasby)
Chestnut Class
In Chestnut Class, we’ve had a fantastic week of learning! In Maths, we focused on using money as decimals to compare different amounts. In English, we sharpened our self-checking writing abilities, learning to identify and correct mistakes.
A big highlight for our Year 4 and 5 students was a unique opportunity to visit Larmer Tree. During this special trip, we immersed ourselves in art, music, and poetry, exploring our creativity in a beautiful setting. It has been truly impressive to see the children partner up and perform in front of an audience during their drama sessions – their teamwork and stage presence were wonderful to witness!
In Science, we immersed into the fascinating world of incandescent light bulbs, researching their evolution across time and learning more about their journey.
Homework day change!
Homework is now handed out on Friday and will be returned by Wednesday the following week.
Thank you to all children who worked super hard, adapting to changes and remaining positive. (Mrs Sanda)
Beech Class
This week in Beech Class, the children have been starting to explore hibernation in English through our book ‘A winter sleep’ and creating sentences starting with a subordinating conjunction. In Maths, the children have started ‘Time’ looking at the days of the week and months of the year before moving onto telling the time using an analogue clock.
During the afternoons, Beech Class have learnt about William the Conqueror through the Bayeaux tapestry. In addition to this, the children have been looking at ScratchJr in Computing and the importance of Prayer Mats in RE.
(Mrs Whelan)
Hazel Class
This week the children have been investigating beaches. We have been looking at rock pools and all the creatures that can be found in one. We have compared different sea birds and looked at the features they share, such as long beaks and long legs on wading birds, and short thick beaks for birds that catch fish. We have shared the story Somebody Swallowed Stanley and talked about how pollution affects the wildlife in the ocean and what we can do to prevent adding more to it. This is all in preparation for our trip on Monday to Charmouth.
Just to remind you, could the children please come to school on Monday in long sleeved and long legged play clothes with a waterproof, drink and lunch (if bringing own) in a small backpack. The children will wear their wellies that are kept in school. (Miss Buxton)
Diary Dates
| 16th June | Hazel Class trip to Charmouth | |
| 16th June | 9.30 – 11.30 | Level 1 Bikeability Course – Year 5 children only |
| 16th June | 13.00 | Yr 6 Class photos |
| 18th June | Beech Class trip to Wardour Castle | |
| 19th June | 15.30 – 17.00 | Friends of Stower Provost Summer Solstice Disco |
| 21st June | Flower Festival at Stour Provost village | |
| 3rd July | 10 – 12.00 | Mini Olympics at St Mary’s (Beech Class) |
| 4th July | 9 – 9.25 | P&C assembly – morning time due to Summer Fete |
| 4th July | 15.20 – 17.00 | Friends of Stower Provost Summer Fete |
| 7th July | 9.15 | School play dress rehearsal |
| 8th July | 16.00 | School Play |
| 9th July | 14.00 | School Play |
| 10th July | 12.00 – 15.00 | KS2 Swimming Gala at Riversmeet Sports Centre. |
| 11th July | 15.20 | Reports out to parents |
| 15th July | Timings tbc | Samba and Poetry at the Larmer Tree Gardens (Year 5) |
| 22nd July | 14.30 | Leavers assembly |
| 22nd July | 15.20 | Last day of term – no After School Club |
| 23rd July | All day | INSET Day |
I wish you all a very happy and restful half term.
Best wishes,
Ailsa Boardman-Hirst