26^th April 2024

The schools' mini London Marathon has been a great success this week. Staff and children enjoyed running around the school grounds to clock up their 2.6miles. Reception ran every day! There is still a chance to donate to the chosen charity – World Wildlife Fund – which the children were running for.

It is Sandygate Sunday at All Saints on Sunday at 10.59am and Mrs Downing and I will be there to welcome our pupils and support them as they sing to the congregation. Please come along and join us, even if you haven't signed up. We look forward to seeing our school families there.

Mrs Reynolds

Bats

On Friday 10^th May, we have Ms White coming to school to speak to us about bats during school worship. She will show some pictures of different types of bats, talk about where they live, what they eat, and how we can help them.

The children are going to make cakes and biscuits in school to sell at the end of the day to raise money so that they can adopt a bat from the Bat Conservation Society.

Next week's 'Learning at a Glance'

Tennis taster sessions – Whole school

Next week, the children will all take part in a tennis session with coaches from The Delgado & Lee Pro Tennis Academy based at Bisham Abbey. The children will learn and develop a range of fundamental movements and ball skills to help them develop tennis skills. 

The tennis taster sessions will happen on one of their PE days. 

We are very much looking forward to having the coaches once again this year, and we know the children will really enjoy these sessions.

Assessments – Year 2

You may be aware that the KS1 Statutory Assessment Tests (SATS) have been abolished. Optional National Curriculum Tests have been introduced for those schools who wish to administer them. At Marlow Infants, we have decided to use the National Curriculum optional tests, as they are a useful tool for our teachers to use to inform their judgements and measure how pupils have achieved in Maths and English at the end of the key stage.

Although they are formal tests, the tests at the end of Key Stage 1 are done in a very relaxed way and most children are unaware of why they are doing the tests and enjoy doing the 'booklets'. Children in Year 2 will be taking these tests towards the end of this half-term, and they have done some practices over the last few weeks to familiarise themselves with the format of the questions.

It is worth pointing out that the teachers assess the children throughout the year, and it is their judgements that determine the final assessment at the end of Year 2.

Footsteps training programme – Year 2

We are looking for Year 2 parents to help walk with small groups of children, an afternoon in June. Mrs Higham will be running the programme over 3 weeks on: 11^th & 12^th, 18^th & 19^th & 25^th & 26^th. These are Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 1.30pm to 3pm.

If you could spare 1 and a half hours, an afternoon on any of these dates, we would love to hear from you. This is a fantastic programme for children and having your support would make the programme run smoothly.

If you would like to help, please click here.

Water bottles – Whole school

A named water bottle is provided by the school for every child when they start with us. This is sent home to be washed each day and is available to the children throughout the day and refilled as necessary. Water bottles are also taken into the lunch hall, but your child may wish to bring in a drink with their packed lunch. Please check that your child's name is visible as the pen used does wear off over time, which makes it difficult to identify whose bottle is whose.

Please only send your child in with water in their bottles - no cordial or juice. Bottles with cordial or juice will be emptied and refilled with water.

If your child's bottle is lost or damaged, spare water bottles are available to purchase on ParentPay. Please don't bring in non-school water bottles.

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.

Vision screening – Reception

Reception children are invited to have their vision checked through School Nursing, Child Vision Screening Programme.

This will be held in school on Tuesday 7^th May.

A letter has been sent to all Reception families on how to register your child.

Spare socks & pants – Reception

We encourage children to keep a spare pair of socks and pants in their book bag.  Children occasionally have accidents that can require a change of clothes. We do keep a supply of such items for children to use. However, we have found that it can be more reassuring for them to use their own underwear and to be able to sort themselves out in a discrete manner. Soiled clothes are sent home with a note in a plastic bag in their book bag.

Sandygate bird box – Whole school

We are pleased to tell you we have 9 eggs in our school bird box! The bird cam is working, and we will be sharing the images with the children in school.

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 12.30pm (following the church service in the park).

It's been lovely hearing the children practising the songs this week, and they 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.

A huge thank you to those of you who have signed up to give your time to help with the fair.  It is set to be a fun-filled day for all the family, but we still need more help if the May Fair is to go ahead. Please sign up if you can: https://volunteersignup.org/9XQ8C

Don't forget we would love your donations and collections starting next week:

• 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.

Silent Auction

We are currently approaching local businesses to gather some exciting prizes for our summer Silent Auction.

It would be great to hear from any parents who may be able to donate prizes, either personally or through their workplace or local connections.

Please feel free to get in touch if you think you can help. No prize to big or small! Please contact Charlotte on pfa@marlow-infant.bucks.sch.uk

Sandygate Summer Ball

The Earlybird ticket price will end on Tuesday so grab your tickets now. It is the perfect opportunity to raise funds for school while having a great night out, so why not grab a few friends and come along? 

Dates for your diary

• May Fair: 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