We wish you a very warm welcome to the Birkwood Primary School Newsletter.
22nd December 2023
Goodness me – I’ve realised the next time I write to you it will be 2024! As 2023 ends here at Birkwood, I reflect on the wonderful Christmas period in school. The end of the academic year, understandably tends to revolve a lot around Year 6 but Christmas time is for everyone. The amount of hard work it brings is shattering and stressful BUT what it produces….. Well I am speechless at the quality of the children’s productions. Anyone who works in Primary Education just HAS to love Christmas and to see the joy on so many families’ faces fills me with immense pride. Technology can be a pain and bring issues, but it also enables so many memories to be preserved. A magical time. Your generosity in terms of cards, presents and party contributions is again stunning. Simply put, thank you!
This links perfectly to the Christmas Fayre where an incredible £1600 has been raised and added to school funds for the benefit of subsidising visits and experiences for the children. Again, thank you from the bottom of our hearts. We have a superb fundraising team led by Mrs. Whitfield and Miss Taylor and they excelled themselves yet again.
The Christmas Soiree was another beautiful evening in school. A huge well done to all who performed. Courage, skill, talent were just some of the qualities that were on show with a huge degree of style. We have further opportunities for any children wishing to learn an instrument: percussion, brass, keyboard, woodwind and guitar lessons are all available. Please see the school office if you would like further information.
I write before the Key Stage 2 visit to Church. The younger children’s visit to St. John’s Church was a beautiful occasion. Thank you to Father Joseph for looking after us. Of course, we thought of Father David and miss him greatly. Speaking of missed, I am attending the funeral of Charles Wraith MBE (ex councillor and mayor) a truly wonderful servant to Birkwood as Governor and to Cudworth as a whole. I send the love of our school community to his family and friends at this very sad time. Charles certainly made his mark on Cudworth and Birkwood and shall never be forgotten.
On to 2024 and what an exciting time ahead for Birkwood. New classrooms, new playing facilities and of course even more new experiences for the amazing children that we serve. With your continued support, we can make magical memories and we shall strive to do so. We have included dates on this newsletter – of course things are added so I/ we shall update you accordingly.
2024 brings Mr. Wattam his new career as mentioned previously. A final good luck, the fire service has a genuinely lovely person who will help so many people in a slightly different way from now on. They are lucky to have him!
I must wish you the safest, happiest Christmas possible. It is important to think of others at this time and this is always a very personal thing. All I would ask is that the children say thank you because it is so important and I know that you will join me in this wish. Have a Happy New Year and I look forward to seeing what 2024 may have in store for our lovely families and the best children with which I could wish to work. My job is a pleasure and a privilege so thank you to our #IncredibleCommunity for making everyone at Birkwood so happy so often.
- A date for our younger children - Eye tests - EYFS2 Sharman & Anning 11th Jan
As promsied, our latest Safeguarding information has been included in the link above. This is a link to alternative activities at Christmas!
Tuesday 19th December 2023
House Winners
Congratulations to house team Earth, who are this terms winners. The house winners party will take place on January 10th 2024.
- School Attendance Target for the Year - 96.50%
- School attendance this year so far - 94.5%
- School attendance this week - 93.4%
- EYFS2 Anning - 94.4%
- EYFS2 Sharman - 93.1%
- Year 1 Einstein -93.6%
- Year 1 Nightingale -92.8%
- Year 2 Parks - 89.8%
- Year 2 Seacole - 92.7%
- Year 3 Earhart - 94.4%
- Year 3/4 Holmes - 97.3%
- Year 4 Pankhurst - 90.3%
- Year 5 Attenborough - 93.5%
- Year 5/6 Wollstonecraft - 94.4%
- Year 6 Kings - 94.3%
Well done to Class Pankhurst who are this week's winners with 98.1%. Congratulations.
Our suite of X (formerly Twitter) Handles is here for you. Below is a link for 'all things Birkwood.'
PE & Sport
Please ensure children in KS2 - Years 3-6 come to school IN PE KIT on their allocated PE Days. 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. This will be until building work is complete as we have no access to discrete changing areas.
For current Year 6 children, their tests shall be Monday 13th May to Thursday 16th May 2024.
For current Year 5 children, their tests will be Monday 12th to Thursday 15th May 2025.
For current Year 4 children, their tests will be Monday 11th to Thursday 14th May 2026.