19^th April 2024

In school, we had a super start to the summer term. I have enjoyed seeing the children return with such enthusiasm and readiness to learn. They have settled into their new topics, and they also seem to have grown over the holidays!

As always, we have a lot planned for the next 6 weeks, including lots of enrichment and outdoor learning - I am sure that the children will share with you what they have been up to.

If you would like more information about the curriculum for the next half-term, you can log onto your child's class home page on the school website. 

Mrs Reynolds

Habit of Mind Award

This term we have launched a new award which links to a 'Habit of Mind'. A 'Habit of Mind' is how we use what we have learnt to decide the best way to do something, choosing behaviours that will help us learn and be positive. This is part of our metacognition work and the children will be learning about one Habit of Mind every half-term. Mrs Reynolds will be giving a certificate to one child from each class every week in celebration worship for children who are using the Habit of Mind in focus.

Next week's 'Learning at a Glance'

Parent Survey 2024 – Whole school

In pursuit of improving your children's education, the environment and raising standards each year, the Governing Body seeks the views of parents on certain aspects of the school. We would be very grateful if you could complete this questionnaire with as much detail as possible, so we can continue to provide the best and most effective education for your children. The results will be shared with the school leadership and parents and will directly inform our school development plan for the coming academic year.

The survey will close this weekend. Thank you in advance for your time; it should only take about 10 minutes. We're very lucky to have such an engaged parent body and would really appreciate a high level of response.

Please click here to complete the survey.

Trip to Bekonscot – Reception

Reception will visit Bekonscot Model Village on Friday 26^th April. 

On the day, children should wear their school uniform, but they will need to have suitable layers for the weather, as they will be outside for the majority of the day. They will need a pair of sensible outdoor shoes and a waterproof coat. All children will need a snack, a packed lunch and their school water bottle. These can be within a small backpack/bag.

Change to library day – next week only

Please could Reception children bring in their library books on Thursday due to being on their school trip on Friday.

Items to bring in for Science – Year 1 & Year 2

Year 1

Please could all Year 1 children bring in recyclable materials for their science class next week. One item each is fine. This can be card, plastic, metal, foil etc.

Year 2

Please could all Year 2 children bring in a clean, clear empty 2L plastic bottle to use during their science class next week.

Mini Marathon – Whole school

To support the London Marathon runners who will run the 26.2 miles on Sunday 21^st April, the children next week will run/walk/skip/jump 2.6 miles as part of the TCS School’s Mini London Marathon event.

As they cover the distance, the children will be looking at the wildlife and nature around us in school. To support our eco work in school, we are raising money for WWF and the work they do across the world. Please help us to help them and give any amount you can via the link here.

We are really looking forward to taking part and helping each other to complete 2.6 miles – it’s quite a long way!

We would like to wish any parents or family members running the marathon on Sunday 21^st the best of luck!

Sandygate Sunday – Whole school

On Sunday 28^th April it will be one of our regular 'Sandygate Sundays' at All Saints Church. We will be taking part in their 10.59 service with some children reading prayers, and we will sing one of our worship songs. 

We would love to see as many red jumpers in the congregation as possible to identify them as Sandygate pupils. They should sit with their family during the service and the school staff in church will invite them up at the appropriate times. Please indicate here if you will attend the service. It is likely to finish at 12 noon.

Class photos – Whole school

Our school photographer will be coming to school on Thursday 2^nd May to take class photos. Please make sure your child comes to school dressed in full school uniform irrespective of your child's PE day.

Singing at Marlow Regatta – Whole school

We have the opportunity again this year to join with 8 other Marlow primary schools to sing at the Marlow Regatta Festival on Sunday 16^th June at 12.30 (following the church service in the park). It is a lovely event.

Preparations have begun this week with the children learning the songs, and we will continue with this practice up until the day of the concert. This event is open to children in all year groups. If you would like your child to be involved in this amazing community event, please could you sign-up here.

Summer term clubs – Whole school

School-run clubs

Places have now been allocated to all the children who have requested a place in our school-run clubs.

There are still a few spots available in 3 of the clubs below. If your child is interested, please email the office.

• Year 1 & 2 only: Sandygate Stars (Monday lunchtime) – Space
• Year 2 only: Tidy Up Team (Monday lunchtime) – Full
• Year 1 & 2 only: Mindful Colouring (Wednesday lunchtime) – Full
• Year 1 & 2 only: Book Club (Wednesday lunchtime) – Space
• Year 1 & 2 only: Bible Bricks (Thursday lunchtime) – Space
• Reception only: Art Club (Thursday lunchtime) – Full
• Year 1 & 2 only: Science Club (Friday lunchtime) – Full

External clubs

There are still a few places available in the external clubs we hold at school: Playball, Youth Moves and Spanish. Please contact them directly if you are interested in signing up. We have included their flyers at the bottom of the newsletter.

Footsteps Training Programme – Year 2

Footsteps is a practical pedestrian training scheme for children up to the age of 7, developed by Buckinghamshire Council. It involves taking children to the roadside and teaching them how to behave around traffic, what to look for, how to find safe places to cross the road and how to cross roads safely with an adult.

We are looking for Year 2 parents to help with this programme after May half-term.

We can run the programme 1 afternoon for 6 weeks or 2 afternoons for 3 weeks or 3 afternoons for 2 weeks over the summer term. Each session will be from 1.30pm to 3pm. We will provide a 1-hour training session towards the end of the summer 1 term. 

If you would like to help, please click here.

We are looking for parents to help with a couple of fun events...

Half-term treats

The kids love an end-of-school treat before half-term. This could be ice lollies, doughnuts or a sweet shop. There are no rules! If you have time on the last day of term (24^th May) and can feel your inner salesperson calling, please let a committee member or your class rep know, as we would love your help.

Euro 24 football  

We are looking for someone (or a team) to put together an early evening showing of any England Euro 24 match (e.g. England vs Denmark on Thursday, 2o^th June).  Do you love watching football with your family? Then this is the event for you! Our thoughts were to use a big screen and speakers to show the match in the barn/hall (weather dependent) +/- sell food/drink, but we're open to suggestions and ideas if someone is willing to help run this event - please do let us know!

School sheds

Finally, due to extensive weather damage, the school & PFA are looking to replace 2 of the storage sheds on the field by Reception as they have fallen into disrepair. We know the school community has lots of links within the building trade, and we wondered if anyone has a contact who could help us purchase and replace two 12 x 8ft sheds at as good a price as possible. If you think you can help, please either contact the school office or email us at pfa@marlow-infant.bucks.sch.uk Thank you!

May Fair

The May Fair team are busy prepping for an incredible day, but we need lots of parent participation to make the day a success. We would love for you to donate an hour of your time to run a stall, paint a face or BBQ a sausage! 

You can sign up to donate your time here.

We would love your donations:

• Second Hand Toys – we would welcome your toys for our children's tombola; please bring in donations on Wednesday 1^st May
• Tombola Gifts – we need your gifts; wine, fizz, smellies, chocolates. Please bring donations on Friday 3^rd May
• Cakes – we would love your cakes, bakes and biscuits, homemade or shop-bought. Please bring to school on Friday 10^th May

As a thank you, we would love to invite children to come into school in their own clothes on Friday 3^rd May.

Where did you get that hat?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For an extra bit of fun, we will be running a hat decorating competition, with a Knights and Maidens theme. We would love to see your children using their imaginations (and craft supplies) to decorate one of our felt hats. Create a hat fit for a damsel in distress or a knight, a wizard or a princess. We can't wait to see what they come up with. Hats will be available on ParentPay for £3 available on ParentPay from 26^th April.

Sandygate Summer Ball

After the huge success of last year's ball, we're hoping for another unforgettable evening. Earlybird tickets for a special reduced price are on sale until 30^th April.

Dates for your diary

• May Fayre: Saturday 11^th May
• End of term treats: 24^th May
• Bag2School: 7^th June
• Parents Summer Ball: Saturday 22^nd June
• School Camp Night: Saturday/Sunday 13-14^th July
• Happy's Circus: 22^nd September

Lighthouse Marlow – 5-9 August 2024

Lighthouse Marlow will be running this year on a new site - St Peter’s Catholic Primary School, Prospect Road, Marlow - but with all the same fun, laughter and music.

If you have not heard of Lighthouse, it is a week-long holiday club for primary aged children run by Christians from local churches. We aim to introduce the children to God and explore the Bible and its relevance in their own lives - all in a fun-filled week with sport, craft, performing arts and music. We do not charge for children to attend but rely on donations from parents, supporters and local churches.

Lighthouse is staffed entirely by volunteers and each year we need around 250 helpers.

We are always keen to welcome new volunteers, both adults and young people aged 12 to 17. Most volunteers spend time with the children (age 5-11), some help supervise a small group of children, others lead activities such as sport, craft and drama that the children do during the day. We also run a crèche for pre-school children of helpers. However, if working with children is not your thing, we also need people to do administrative tasks, provide hot drinks to helpers, and set up and manage the site.

If you helped in 2023, or registered to help in 2022, you should have received an email with a link to register - we have a new registration system this year which you can find here: https://signmeup.org.uk/

Children’s registration will open in May. We recognise that many people are unable to help unless their children get places at Lighthouse, for this reason, anyone registering to help can register their children now and, provided you are offering to help for at least 3 sessions, then your children will be guaranteed a place.

We need helpers in all areas – if you want to know more about the types of roles you could do, have a look at http://www.lighthousemarlow.com/

If you have questions then please contact us by email at marlow@lighthousecentral.org. Hope to see you in the summer!