Dear Parents/Carers
We finally break up today after a very long autumn term. We have never, ever broken up so late! We have been extraordinarily busy with many whole school events.
Thank you to everyone for joining all of our events across the school including the Early Years Stay and Play and letter posting to Santa; Year 1&2 Christmas event and Year 3&5 and Year 4&6 at Holy Trinity Church. They were all very special occasions for all of us.
This morning, we had our close-the-year assembly; it was so, so lovely. Children were all very excited by all the many rewards linked to Writing, Reading and Maths; along with Attendance Awards (please see later on in this newsletter to find out the winners). Children always love the drama of the attendance awards for the staff teams; the teaching attendance awards always create great tension and cheering. We closed the assembly with KS2 singing one of the songs from their performance; it was absolutely sung with gusto and I could see a few staff eyes begin to water, as it just had a magic that I wish we could simply bottle. Every single one of us in our school community and my staff team in particular, and of course all our pupils, should be so proud of their contribution to Temple Meadow. We most definitely are a school with a ‘warm hug’; you can tangibly feel it as you walk around the school. Recently, I have shown many new Parents/Carers around the school; some for in-year moves; some international new arrivals (coming to work in key sectors and studying really interesting university courses); some for Reception 2024 places. Without fail, they are all so impressed with what they see and ‘feel’.
Writing for a purpose
Can I also share a heart-warming initiative we do each year. Our Year 6 write for a purpose to a real-life audience linked to their history topic and their English text. They write to British forces overseas and ask such interesting questions about soldiers/pilots etc regarding their background; prior education etc. We then have a lovely flow of letters and emails arriving in school from all over the world answering these questions and sharing elements of their life story. This year, some Parents/Carers of serving soldiers also made contact to tell us how much they appreciated our writing project and how much it meant to them as Parents/Carers to know their sons and daughters were appreciated. Isn’t it lovely to think of our children as memory makers for people around the world.
Santa Fun Run
Our fun continued with our Santa Fun Run and Year 1 were delighted by one of our staff dressed as the Ginger Bread person joining them on the track. It has made us all really laugh; especially in this wind today.
Santa Visit to Nursery
Nursery were delighted to welcome Santa to Nursery today who read them a Christmas-themed book called 'Little Reindeers Christmas Wish'. Children were really excited to see Santa and hear him read for them.
Pupil Newsletter
Our pupil newsletter will also be sent out today, please do take the time to read as they work very hard on editing it.