The end of November.... This of course means Christmas preparations are really kicking in! It is impossible to work in a Primary School and fail to be energsied by this time of year. Today has marked the first non-uniform Christmas Fayre collection so many thanks for the participation in this to everyone.
Year 5/6 had a brilliant time at Magna. Science is something that we see as an opportunity to excite, inspire and appeal to our children. A great day (see photos below.)
We have had lots of staff training this week and a lot of this around safety and safeguarding. Next week provides Year 6 with a visit to Crucial Crew. This is all around pupil safety and allows the children to work with emergency services and various community groups. A fabulous day ahead.
Online Safety has featured prominently in our training this week. The following website is a great source of information and tips. Under the 'wake up wednesday' banner it shall prove useful to many of us.
https://www.oiam.org/freeschool/latest-news/safeguarding-newsletter
We managed to deliver some of Birkwood's incredible donations this week at Action for Barnsley Homeless. There are more to follow but the work initiated by 5 incredibly kind people and then the response from everyone has been tremendous. Have a look at their work - it is inspirational.
Action for Barnsley Homless - click below.
https://www.facebook.com/p/Action-for-Barnsley-Homeless-100064809005480/?locale=en_GB
Some of our elder children turned coders and gamers this week! I was delighted with the quality of this work - so much so that I thought that I would share with everyone!
Next Wednesday is Movie Night! Tickets are available until 3.15pm on the day, if your child wishes to attend. This should be a lovely evening and I thank everyone from the staff team who will make this possible.
A reminder for those who are new to Birkwood. Christmas Fayre donations shall take place for a further 3 fridays and this is how it works. We hold non uniform days and instead of children paying for the chance to wear their chosen outfit, we respectfully ask that selected items are donated to school. Each week is a different theme. These donations are then used as prizes at the Christmas Fayre.
- 1st December - Bottles
- 8th December - Sweeties
- 15th December - Buns /Cakes
Don't forget that tickets for our annual Christmas Disco are also on sale. If your child wishes to attend please put the money in a sealed envelope, with their name on the front, and hand it to their class teacher.
Please enjoy the weekend with your families. We have plenty of exciting things to come at Birkwood.
- 27th Nov - Bikeability Week - Year 5
- 28th Nov - Yr 1 Einstein parents evening
- 29th Nov - Movie Night
- 30th Nov - Y6 visit to Crucial Crew
- 1st Dec - Non - uniform day - bottles please
- 1st Dec - Y5/6 Tag Rugby comp
- 1st Dec - Cudworth Christmas Light Switch On
- Headteachers Superstars KS1 - SE FS2 Sharman
- Headteachers Superstar KS2 - ET Y5 Attenborough
- Class Times Table Rockstars - Y3 Earhart
- Music Maestro - IS Y4 Pankhurst
House Winners
- This weeks winners - Air
- Current Half Term Leaders - Earth
- Overall Leaders - Earth
- School Attendance Target for the Year - 96.50%
- School attendance this year so far - 94.4%
- School attendance this week - 94.3%
- EYFS2 Anning - 93.9%
- EYFS2 Sharman - 92.8%
- Year 1 Einstein -95.5%
- Year 1 Nightingale -96.7%
- Year 2 Parks - 95.3%
- Year 2 Seacole - 96.0%
- Year 3 Earhart - 96.4%
- Year 3/4 Holmes - 97.0%
- Year 4 Pankhurst - 94.1%
- Year 5 Attenborough - 96.8%
- Year 5/6 Wollstonecraft - 98.5%
- Year 6 Kings - 95.8%
Well done to Class Wollstonecraft who are this week's winners with 98.5%. 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.