This week has felt wonderfully festive here at Temple Meadow! I want to start by thanking all of our children for joining in with Christmas Jumper Day on Thursday to raise money for Save the Children. It was also fantastic to see everyone looking so cheerful and festive in their jumpers during our Winter Workshops and Christmas Dinner Day.
A big thank you to families who attended the Winter Workshops this week. I always love seeing families and friends come together to create special memories; it’s such a joy to witness the smiles and positive interactions. Thank you also to those who shared their lovely feedback. There are more festive Winter Workshops next week, so please do check our website calendar for our upcoming i,portant dates.
This week, we held a full Governor Board Meeting and said farewell to Ben and Laura H who have both left the board due to other commitments. We would like to extend our thanks to them both for their passionate support and dedication through their time with us. During the meeting, we also celebrated the many events and activities that have enriched our curriculum this autumn term. We are incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved together. Here are just some highlights; no wonder we all feel so exhausted!
Supporting Mental Health and Wellbeing
- Tesco Stronger Starts Success: Thanks to amazing community support, Temple Meadow secured the most votes in the Tesco Stronger Starts campaign, winning £1,500. This funding is already being invested in our ongoing HugglePets Wellbeing Sessions, which are vital for supporting children’s mental health.
- HugglePets and Murphy the Dog: Murphy continues to visit regularly, providing comfort and even reading to classes!
- Hello Yellow Mental Health Day: We raised awareness and encouraged open conversations about mental health.
Community and Charity Initiatives
- Children in Need: We raised an incredible £209.85 as a school community.
- Anti-Bullying Week & Odd Socks Day: We celebrated individuality and kindness, supported by the Anti-Bullying Roadshow.
- Harvest Festival: Generous donations supported the Black Country Food Bank.
- Poppy Appeal: For the first time, we supported the annual appeal and raised £475.31 - the highest among local schools!
- Winter Coat Appeal: We recycled coats to help keep children warm this winter.
Curriculum Enrichment and External Partnerships
- West Midlands Police Knife Crime Session for Year 5 & 6.
- Black History Month celebrations across the school.
- School Health Nurse Team delivered healthy eating sessions.
- Parliament Week: Our Temple Meadow MPs visited Sandwell Council House to meet real MPs.
- Year 6 Mood Masters: Supporting transition to secondary school.
- Book Fair: Encouraging book-rich homes.
Experiences Beyond the Classroom
- Nursery Trip to Wyre Forest: Our youngest learners explored nature and met Stickman and Gruffalo!
- Residential: Huge thanks to Mr. Smith, Mrs. Collins, Miss Pearson and Mrs. Lamb for making this unforgettable.
- Year 2 Theatre Trip: A magical performance of Cinderella at Blue Orange Theatre.
- Year 1 Dudley Zoo trip: What a magical time meeting Santa himself!
- Choir singing at SIPS Big Sing.
Physical Activity and Safety
- Free After-School Clubs: Choir, cookery, phonics, cricket.
- Cricket Coaching for Year 2 & 3.
- Year 6 Swimming Lessons
- Bikeability for Year 6.
- Football Competition: Year 5 & 6 represented Temple Meadow.
- Road Safety Education: Sessions for Reception–Year 5.
These achievements show the vibrant, supportive, and opportunity-rich environment we strive to create at Temple Meadow. I look forward to celebrating more successes and continuing to enrich our children’s experiences throughout the year.
I am sharing the news that Mrs Sprigg will be leaving us at the end of next week. 
