Welcome to the penultimate Newsletter of 2025/6! I hope that everyone has stayed safe and relatively comfortable in the extremely warm weather.
Just before the heat really climbed, we had our Years 4, 5 and 6 Sports Day at Dorothy Hyman Stadium. An enormous thank you to Mr. Markham and our staff team as well as some wonderful volunteers for making this event happen. The support was terrific and this ensured the day was a memorable occasion.
We welcomed new children and some new families to our Nursery Stay & play this week too. Thank you to the Nursery Team for 2026/7 for their care in staging a brilliant start to some Birkwood careers!
Year 3 have completed their swimming lessons and I know that both Mrs. Lavender and Mrs. Hague have been delighted with their hard work and progress. An enormous well done to everyone!
Year 4 and Birkwood Brass staged a Brass Concert for families this week. It is always a pleasure hearing our children making music and I thank Mr. Roberts for his hard work. I am sure that they have inspired our Year 3 children ahead of their September start to their brass lessons.
Year 1 had a fantastic trip to Boston Farm Park. Another huge thank you to the staff who made this happen. The reviews from the children were fabulous. A huge thank you to all volunteers, the heat was a challenge!
The hot weather has brought uniform adaptations – I remind everyone that shorts are part of the uniform options at all times. This week they have felt crucial! The weather looks set to be hot at least until the middle of next week too so red or white t-shirts and grey or black shorts are encouraged. Please also ensure the children have a hat, a water bottle and have had sun cream applied before school.
I again plead for considerate parking in and around school. We have worked extremely hard with the council to install several road safety features and more are on the way. I ask for kind consideration towards our neighbours. Yes, they live near a school and of course at drop off and pick up it will be busy. However, the blocking of driveways etc is inconsiderate as is limiting emergency access into Westhaven. I know the overwhelming majority of our parents are kind and compassionate at all times. I plead with you to help us keep everyone safe at all times and happy at most other times.
We welcomed some of our school reading volunteers to thank them for their extremely valuable commitment to listening to our children reading each week. Thank you to Mrs. Wilkie for organising this special celebration.
It’s the Summer Fair today of course and that has meant that it’s our final Non-uniform donation day. A huge thank you for the cakes and buns. A special mention to Miss Taylor & Mrs. Whitfield who have again led this amazing effort! We have had a challenge with the weather – I know it’s very hot but it beats a rain off! Thank you to everybody who has supported us so brilliantly. Over £1600 was raised towards school funds. Events like this help subsidise things like school trips so your support is greatly appreciated!
The World Cup continues both in the USA and at Birkwood too! The semi-finals and final will take in school next week! Look out for news of the winners!
Our School Attendance FA Cup again allocated prizes across school. Thank you for your support in this - the children love it!
I wish you all the best of weekends. I’m sure many of you will, be glued to the action in the States so – enjoy the family time and ‘Come on England!’ 🏴🏴🏴
- Headteachers Superstar EYFS/KS1 - PR - Y1
- Headteachers Superstar KS2 - FH Y3
- Music Maestro - JO Y5
- PE Star - LC Y5
House Points
Sports Day was the final decider for the House Cup of 2025/26. With scores tied between Fire and Water + Earth only a point behind, it was very close! Team Water were the winners of Sports Day and ultimately the House Cup winners of 2025/26
Cnogratulations to all of Team Water!
They will enjoy their party on Tuesday afternoon!
School attendance Target for the Year - 95.4% (as set by the DfE)
School attendance this week - 92.3%
School attendance this year so far - 95.2%
Fantastic Attendance (FA) Cup
Please see the results of the weeks Fantastic Attendance (FA) Cup. Heading into the final week it's very close. The winners will be announced in the end of year assemblies!
PE & Sport
Appropriate trainers must be worn. No crop tops – Sports t-shirts please and shorts. A tracksuit may be worn – please make a judgment on temperature. NO JEWELLERY.
Term Dates Below
For current Year 5 children, SATs tests will be Monday 10th to Thursday 13th May 2027.
For current Year 4 children, SATs tests will be Monday 8th to Thursday 11th May 2028.