Dear Parents and Carers,
today is the last day of my very first half term here at Kenton Primary School. What a privilege it has been to get to know the staff, the families and, most of all, the wonderful children of this school.
I would like to thank each and every person for their warmth and their welcome which has made this such a happy and joyful – though exhausting – half term.
Just a few of the things that I have enjoyed:
Watching children work with artist Darrell Wakelam to make the gorgeous piece of art that takes pride of place in our foyer now.
Welcoming everyone into our brand new buildings and see those spaces fill up with colour and love as we turn them from ‘just’ portacabin units into a real school.
Seeing children heading off to forest school with bags of wellies and coming back later tired, mucky and happy.
Watching children of all ages play together and support each other in a very natural way.
Hearing the children sing – in assembly, on the playground or while at work.
Seeing the nursery children grow in confidence.
Watching Doris grow at lightning speed form barely a puppy to a proper dog!
I could go on for pages and pages so I shall stop now. A genuine, heartfelt, thank you to you all from me.
Art Club
Thanks to Mrs Jacob’s for running art club at lunch time. The children loved learning to make spooky, macrame, halloween skeletons.
Building Update
If all goes well, by the time we come back from our half term holiday, there will be a new school hall sitting on the footings which are ready and waiting for them. We are so excited! Please hep us by keeping East Town read clear – especially on that tight corner – so that the eleven enormous sections of cabin can be trucked in. After half term there will be a couple of weeks when parking will be very restricted while Portacabin finish off and then leave the site. Please expect to walk up to the school rather than drive in that period. It is amazing to think that in just a couple of weeks there will be a school hall sitting where these footings are now – I can’t really imagine it. But I’m so excited to see it!
Readathon
Sponsor forms have gone out for our Readathon. We really want to fill up the new library in its new location in the hall with beautiful, exciting books. Every penny that you raise will be matched by KSPA so it’s worth going out as imaginatively as possible. Could you take the sponsor form into work and get colleagues to sign up? Might uncles, aunties, grandparents and others chip in?
Our children have been compiling a HUGE wish list of fiction, non-fiction, graphic novels, poetry, picture books and more than they would like to see – let’s work together and make those wishes come true!
I have added the Readathon poster to download here – just in case anyone wants to print it off and display in a window, shop or workplace.
Class Cake Sales
The festival of deliciousness that is the traditional Kenton School Cake Bake series will take place next term with each class taking centre stage for a week. I’m sure that more detail will go out via Seesaw but the dates you need to remember are below. We aim to raise some funds, have some fun and dangerously increase our blood sugar. Chestnut are up first in the first week back after half term so it might be worth warming up the baking tins over half term in readiness.
Chestnut: 7th November
Oak: 14th November
Willow: 21st November
Kenton Koncerts
The organisers of Kenton Koncerts would love you to know about a performance happening at the Church TOMORROW.
The clarinettist, Raphael Hitchen, who is in his last year of studies at the Royal Welsh College of Music, was a pupil at Kenton Primary just a few years ago so this one is extra special. They will play music by Mozart, Vivaldi, Rachmaninoff, Saint Saens and others – a really fun, mixed programme.
Accompanied children are allowed free entry and the concert will only take around an hour so it shouldn’t be too late a night for children. There will be refreshments at the end too if that’s an extra incentive!
Ticket prices for adults are £12.50 in advance or £14 on the door, to include homemade cakes and other refreshments. Because of the connection to Kenton Primary School the organisers would like to offer tickets at the reduced price of £8 to any adults bringing one or more of their children who are now at the school. These reduced rate tickets would need to be booked and paid for in advance, directly via the organiser Rachael Shearmur on her email rachaelshearmur@gmail.com. Otherwise, tickets will be available on the door.
Dog Mess
I’m sorry to mention this again, especially as it probably isn’t your dogs – but we have had to clear dog poo from our field again a few times. It’s no fun for us and, however carefully we clear it, I’m quite sure some nasties must be left behind. Please continue to keep your own dogs off the field and please feel empowered to challenge anyone that you see exercising a dog on the field. It just isn’t safe or appropriate and there are plenty of other, more suitable places
Biscuit Questionnaire
Click here to join in.
Last week’s biscuits were won by Ella’s family – hope you enjoy them!
This week I’m looking for helpful quotes that I can use in marketing and publicity to attract more families to our school. One fmaily will win an extra special half term rollover pack of biscuits. Still Lidl, still ‘deluxe’, but this time with chocolate!
Click here to join in.
Tuesday Talkers
Every Tuesday, children stand up and give a presentation to the other children in their class. They speak about any topic of their choice with the aim of developing their extended use of language and their confidence as well as raising expectations of good listening behaviours for the other children. This week we heard presentations on Coldplay and on Skiing. Well done to those Tuesday Talkers it was a delight to hear you.
Super Science
Our pupils have had a wonderful time in their science lessons this week. Can you figure out what they’ve been learning about? And can your child explain it to you?
Dates for your Diary
Break up for the half term break – Friday 17th October
First day back after half term – Tuesday 4th November
Bikeability for Chestnut Class – 24th and 25th November
Nativity Play – Thursday 11th December – 10:30 in the school hall
Carol Concert – Thursday 11th December – 5:30 p.m. at the church (tbc)
Christmas Fayre (with KSPA) – Friday 12th December 3:30 in the school hall
Christmas Parties – Thursday 19th December
Break up for the Christmas Holiday – Friday 20th December
Return from Christmas Holiday – Monday 5th January
