Biggest Ever Football Event for Girls
Today, all KS2 girls, (except the rugby girls) participated in the Biggest Ever Football Event for girls to celebrate International Women's Day. The walk to Stanley Park was long and tiring but they all had a brilliant time at Stanley Park and it was so lovely to hear so much positive feedback and to celebrate with the girls about goals they had scored or games their teams had won. What an unbelievably successful and amazing day!
A huge thank you to the parent helpers who made sure this event could go ahead! We cannot thank you enough!
Saskia - It was really fun, I enjoyed it! The setup was so easy so finding where we were supposed to be simple. The team leaders (sports ambassadors) were super friendly!
Sofia - Today was super fun and exciting. We got to play matches against other schools.
Rugby Tournament
Today 2 teams competed in the year 5/6 rugby tournament at Chippenham Rugby Club and were met by special guest, Max Pearce from Bath Rugby. Each team did incredibly well against tough competitors and demonstrated great resilience, teamwork and discipline. We couldn't be prouder of each one of them! The blue team had a tough pool of schools and performed incredibly well in each. They all came away ecstatic after defeating a tough opponent!
An extra special congratulations to the red team who won every group stage game by 6 or more tries. In one game every player on the field scored a try each, such an unbelievable achievement! The red team came 2nd in the tournament after merely missing out in the final where Derry Hill won 4-2.
Hermes - We had great fun and we enjoyed playing all the matches. We are incredibly happy that we came 2nd!
We'd also like to say a massive thanks to the parent helpers who helped ensure the event could happen.
Is my child too ill for school?
We are often asked about whether a child should stay off school if they have a particular illness and we know it can be a tricky decision. The NHS have a useful website which helps provide some clarity about whether a child should come into school or not when they are not 100%. Please click here to find out more.
Attendance guidance
Try to telephone us before 8.50am each day of your child’s absence.
Please tell us school in advance, of any medical appointments and bring in appointment cards/letters.
If you are not sure whether your child is well enough to attend school, send them in anyway as they often perk up on arrival.
If you and your child are experiencing difficulties with school attendance then talk to us as a first step so we can help!
World Book day
The children and staff had a fabulous time dressing up and sharing stories across the day on Thursday. They have really enjoyed looking at each classes windows that were decorated in the style of a favorite book. We were in awe of all the costumes and boxes created by the children and had a very difficult time picking our winners.
We will be keeping the story boxes in school for a few weeks and putting them in our library so everyone can enjoy them.
KS1 Window winner - Hedgehogs - Mr Men & Little Miss
KS2 Window winner - Owls with the Firework makers daughter
Story Box winners
Reception - The day the crayons came home - Rosa
Y1/2 - Never tickle a tiger - Max
Y3/4 - Space band - Louie M
Y5/6 - Little Red Riding Hood - Hermes
Parents Evening
Parents evenings will be running on Tuesday 19th March and Thursday 21st March online. You will be able to book a slot through School Cloud from Thursday 7th March at 6pm by going to https://monktonpark.schoolcloud.co.uk/. As usual these meetings will be online (we alternate termly between in school 'open classrooms' and the online parents meetings).
Coffee Morning
Mrs Marshall and FOMPS will be running coffee mornings on the 3rd Monday of the month to come in and meet other parents, find out what FOMPS have planned and be able to chat with Mrs Marshall. Everyone is welcome including younger siblings and we would love you to join us on our first one on Monday 18th March, you can come straight from school drop off through till 1000.
TD Day
Please remember that on Thursday 28th March, school will be closed. This is due to a training event that the majority of Chippenham primary schools will be attending.
Affordable Schools
At Monkton Park School, we have recently engaged with Wiltshire’s ‘Affordable Schools’ strategy because we understand it can be difficult to talk about money worries. People finding it hard to make ends meet often hang on and try and sort things out themselves; not seeking help until the situation has become very difficult. Whatever the issues you are facing we would encourage you to ask for support. With guidance from the ‘Affordable Schools’ strategy, we have created a page on our website under the ‘Parents’ tab that signposts support and guidance. Alternatively, please feel free to get in touch with us here at school. You can contact our Family Link Worker, Jen Marshall or contact the office in school on admin@monktonpark.wilts.sch.uk.
Parent Resource - online safety
In a recent survey with pupils in Y3-Y6 we found that lots of children have very active online lives. Many use apps such as WhatsApp or Snapchat and we would recommend regular checks with your child to see which groups they are part of. Some groups can contain over 100 people and can lead to children being exposed to inappropriate language. This is always best done in a supportive way with your child and the recording below has lots of advice. Other children said that they use games which are not age appropriate e.g. Call of Duty and Grand Theft Auto.
Please see links below to the parent resources and recording of the Online Safety talk
Recording Link (please do NOT to share this link publicly online / social media etc)
Requests
We have a large number of library books outstanding on children's accounts. Please can you check at home and return any library books or let us know if you no longer have any
Please can Forest School have any lemonade type bottles for their next project.
Thank you
Weekly Achievement Awards
Achievement certificates
Achievement certificates are awarded to one child per class every week in our celebration assembly.
Congratulations this week to: Scarlett, Bettie, Summer, Advik, Jacob, Brody, Taeya, Summer & Saskia
Hot Chocolate Friday
Congratulations to this weeks hot chocolate winners.
This weeks achievers are: Oscar, Sienna, Maddie, James, Louie M, Patrick, Revie, Reuben F & Reuben R
Star Writer
Our Star Writers this week are: Jack, Sebastian, Dorothy, Theo, Jack, Arthur, Oliver, Olivia & Zak
Class Assemblies
Thank you for coming to Foxes class assembly this week, we hope you enjoyed seeing all their wonderful work.
Class assemblies will take place on Tuesday mornings at 9.05am. Family and friends are welcome, tea and coffee will be served after.
Otters - 12th March 2024
Hedgehogs - 19th March 2024
Squirrels - 30th April 2024
Owls - 11 June 2024
Fieldmice - 18th June 2024
MDSA
We are looking for people to join our lunchtime/play leader team. This would be Monday - Thursday 11.40am - 1.00pm. If you would like to apply or would just like to know a bit more about the role then please do email.
T Track
T-Trak Club Delights Visitors at Swindon ModRail 2024 Exhibition
On Saturday 2nd March, the T-Trak Club showcased their model railway at the STEAM museum during the Swindon ModRail 2024 Exhibition. The event was a delightful fusion of technology, creativity, and community spirit.
Our modular layout featured a blend of new and old modules, including two that showcased BBC micro:bit computers, programmed by our talented club members. These tiny devices brought extra activities for visitors to try while watching the trains, like the addictive "crashy bird" game.
Collaboration was key. We joined forces with local adult model makers, pooling our modules to create an expansive display spanning six tables. The result? A captivating long line of tracks that beckoned children to take the controls. As they operated the trains, they learned to observe the working colour light signals and make timely stops at the station—a thrilling experience for young train drivers.
Our modules spanned diverse landscapes. Picture this: trains swerving across a breakfast table, chugging through a jungle, halting at our suburban station, and then accelerating over snow-covered fields, arid desert, and lush countryside vistas.
None of this would have been possible without the incredible teamwork of our volunteers. From transporting equipment to operating the model railway, our dedicated crew ensured a seamless event. They patiently taught exhibition visitors how to navigate the tracks, answered curious questions, and ensured everyone’s safe return home afterward.
A heartfelt shout-out to Samuel, George A., Laurie, and Oscar B. from the T-Trak Club—your support on the day made this exhibition a resounding success. 🚂🌟
Thank you to all who shared in the magic of miniature trains, proving that even in our digital age, the allure of model railways remains timeless. 🌈🚄
FOMPS
Upcoming Events: Mark Your Calendars!
1. FOMPS PTA Meeting: Let’s Jam! 🎙️
📅 Date: Tuesday, 26th March 🕢 Time: 7:30 PM 📍 Venue: Rivo Lounge
Join us for an evening of harmonious discussions! Our next FOMPS PTA meeting promises to be a hit. We’ll groove to the rhythm of ideas, share updates, and fine-tune our playlist for the upcoming scarecrow trail. Don’t miss it!
2. Scarecrow Trail: A Musical Adventure 🌟
📅 Dates: 18th & 19th May 🎶 Theme: Music Extravaganza 🎤 Featured Artists: Over 20 Scarecrows (Yes, they’ve signed with our label!)
Picture this: scarecrows strumming guitars, tambourines in hand, and maybe even a kazoo or two, as clues to identify our favourite musicians. Our music-themed scarecrow trail promises surprises around every corner. Get ready to dance your way around Monkton Park!
3. Volunteer Roles: Be Part of the Encore! 🎪
📅 Role List Release: End of March 🎟️ Tickets: Exclusive backstage access to scarecrow setup, crowd control, and more!
Want to be part of the show? Volunteer for the scarecrow weekend! Whether you’re a seasoned stagehand or a newbie, we need your help. Keep an eye on your inbox for the role list—it’s your golden ticket to behind-the-scenes action.
4. Save the Dates: Summer Vibes Ahead! ☀️
📅 Tuesday, 18th June: Summer Disco (Get those dancing shoes ready!) 📅 Sunday, 30th June: Summer Picnic (Pack your picnic baskets and sunscreen!)
April might be playing hide-and-seek in our diary, but summer is peeking around the corner. Let’s make memories under the sun!
5. Calling All Future Maestros: AGM Alert! 🎹
📅 September (Exact Date TBA) 🎤 Opportunity: Chair (or Co-Chair) Position
Julie and Dan have rocked the co-chair stage, but it’s time for new stars to shine. Consider standing for the top spot at our Annual General Meeting (AGM). Keep FOMPS grooving and growing!
📩 Contact Us: Got a brilliant event idea? Want to share your musical musings? Reach out to us at fompspta@gmail.com. Let’s keep the rhythm alive! 🎶
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TD Days
Thursday 28th March
Tuesday 23rd July
Wednesday 24th July