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MESSAGE FROM MRS ROBINSON
What a busy term this has been! We seem to have squeezed so much into it, from Book Week, to Project based Learning, to exciting trips and visitors, to parent workshops and Spring Concerts – read on to find out more! As ever, I am exceptionally proud of all the wonderful learning which has been taking place and the huge range of talents shown by all of our children here at Bosmere. I do hope everyone can enjoy a well-deserved break over the Easter holidays.
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COVID UPDATE
From Friday 1st April the DfE updated its Covid guidance.
The latest advice is that:
- Children who are unwell and have a high temperature should stay at home and avoid contact with other people. They can go back to school when they no longer have a high temperature, and they are well enough to attend.
- Adults with the symptoms of a respiratory infection, who have a high temperature or feel unwell, should try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people until they feel well enough to resume normal activities and they no longer have a high temperature.
- Adults with a positive COVID-19 test result should try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for 5 days, which is when they are most infectious. For children and young people aged 18 and under, the advice is 3 days.
There is no longer a requirement for negative tests to return to school.
Following these new rules, children who are absent from school will generally therefore be too ill to work at home. Home learning will, therefore, only be provided in exceptional circumstances.
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BOOK FAIR
Thank you to everyone who bought a book from the Scholastic Book fair during Book Week. The sale of the books enabled us to select just over £200 worth of new books for our school library.
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YEAR 3 NEWS
It has been a busy few weeks in the lead up to the Easter holiday and the children have continued to wow us with how hard they are working. We have noticed the children showing a greater independence and maturity towards their learning and we are grateful for the support you are giving at home.
Thank you to all of the families who attended our parent consultation meetings. We always enjoy an opportunity to share and celebrate your children's successes with you, and appreciate the interest taken in the children's targets - we have already spotted lots of the children working hard at home and at school to achieve them! If we still have not managed to catch up with you, please do send us an e-mail or contact the school office.
In English, we have been using all of the exciting facts we have discovered in history this term to produce our Ancient Egyptian Fact Files. We have loved taking the time to publish our work, thinking about how we can present our facts in a way that children in Year 2 would enjoy. In maths, we have been focussing on measure. There were some questionable measuring skills on day 1, but we have seen a huge improvement and have had lots of fun practising our ruler skills!
We hope you all have a wonderful Easter and look forward to seeing lots of smiley Year 3 faces when we come back for the summer term.
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YEAR 4 NEWS
This term Year 4 have been enjoying their English unit, letting their imaginations run wild, writing Superhero narratives, which has been great fun for everyone.
For our DT unit, everyone made a pocket torch making a circuit following our science unit on Electricity. They were very fiddly, requiring a lot of patience and resilience! We hope you liked them when they came home.
Canon Tom and his team of volunteers hosted a fun rotation of workshops in St Faith’s Church last week to learn about how Christians celebrate the Easter story. The children were such a credit to Bosmere, showing great respect and were engaged throughout the activities. We were very grateful for all the effort that Canon Tom put in to facilitate this very special experience for the children.
Photo
For our HEARTs afternoon, we were thinking about RESPECT for our world. We made a planet Earth fact-file and had great fun getting very messy, making seed bombs.
Photo
We are very excited about Havant library resuming its role as a public place where we can send children to borrow books once again. We are also hoping that the children will enjoy bringing you in to visit after school on Mondays once everything is up and running again.
Photo of Easter bonnets
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HOMEWORK SURVEY
Thank you to everyone who took the time to respond to our survey on homework - we greatly value parental feedback and there were very kind and positive comments about what works effectively, and thoughtful comments from parents about what makes homework a challenge. The survey revealed that:
- 72% of parents who responded felt that the school provides the right amount of homework
- 14% of parents who responded think we provide too much
- 3% of parents felt we should provide more homework
- 5% of parents who responded were not sure how much homework was being set
- 6% of parents who responded were not sure how much homework would be appropriate for their children
Homework is always a hot topic for debate and it is very difficult to create a system that works for everyone all the time. Some parents were requesting more digital homework while others wanted more worksheet-based tasks. Some parents highlighted the challenge of getting children to complete their homework and the impact on family time. Other parents were grateful for homework as it gave them an insight into what their child is doing at school and appreciated the variety of tasks in the project homework.
However, from your feedback we did identify that Read Theory is less popular with parents and students and therefore we will no longer set any Read Theory as a compulsory task for homework. (However, parents who want to continue to use the resource will still be able to do so.) We also want to focus more on positive feedback and reward for those pupils who complete homework and are looking at ways of recognising those pupils who consistently read regularly at home. Mr Adam and Mrs Lever will also be offering a Tea and Chat Session in the Summer Term on strategies to help motivate children to do homework. We will write to you about this in more detail soon. Thank you again to everyone who took the time to complete the survey.
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YEAR 3 NEWS
In Year 3, we have continued to enjoy our Egyptian topic. We have covered so much about the Egyptians, including the Gods, the book of the Dead and even mummifying a tomato. Before half term we had lots of fun sewing our Egyptian accessories - all of the children did a fantastic job! In English, we wrote instructions about how to ‘Mummify’ a Pharaoh and are now starting to think about writing Ancient Egyptian fact files, using all of the wonderful facts we have discovered in history. We have loved seeing the passion and enthusiasm of the children who are all genuinely immersed and showing great wonder for this topic. Thank you to the children who have brought Egyptian books or artefacts in from home and shared pictures of visits to the Ancient History Museum.
Year 3 teachers have been so impressed with the number of children who have clearly been working hard to improve their speed and fluency on their times tables. It has supported our maths unit this term on multiplication and division. Times Tables Rock Stars is a cool and fun way to practise, and children can earn their name on our Year 3 TT Rock Star hall of fame! We have also been busy in science, investigating solids, liquids and gases and have just started an investigation into evaporation. What evaporates faster - cola, water or juice? Maybe you could set up your own experiments at home!
Thank you to everyone who came to watch 3B's class assembly. It was fabulous, and the rest of Year 3 and the school thoroughly enjoyed watching it! 3D have just started rehearsing their assembly and we cannot wait to see it. We really enjoyed our virtual meeting with Ross Montgomery, the author of 'Max and the Millions' this week. Year 3 have loved listening to this in class, alongside their Jackanory stories for Book Week. The children had so much fun making their collage for their endangered animal with Mrs Library Dunn and completing a fact file about them. We cannot wait to share them in assembly and see everyone's Book Week costumes on Friday!
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YEAR 4 NEWS
Our focus (and great excitement) this term has been our Project Based Learning. The children have all been so enthusiastic about these afternoons where they can work individually or in small groups to find out more about a certain aspect of Ancient Greek life (which is all about WONDER from our GROW IT values). The children all showed wonderful TEAMWORK as they settled to tasks each week to complete their project tasks. Last week, it was lovely to see so many of you visit the classes to admire their wonderful work. The children all thrived completing their tasks and we were entertained by plays, wowed by PowerPoints and enthralled by the art and craft involved in making masks and temples. I can definitely say that a fun time was had by all!
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This week, Year 4 were selected to take part in the Hampshire Book Award 2022, which involved reviewing a recently published collection of books by various authors. The data the children compiled will be used by Hampshire to determine the winner of the Award in 2022. The children all enjoyed the opportunity of being part of this project.
Thank you again for all your support. We have loved seeing all the dioramas produced for Book Week and we have also been really impressed by how children are trying to master their times tables. Please can we ask that you keep at this! We cannot emphasise enough how important it is for the children to become confident so that they can apply times tables across the maths curriculum.
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YEAR 5 NEWS
We have already had a busy start to this term in Year 5. On Wednesday 2nd March, we took a trip to the theatre to see a fantastic performance of 'Private Peaceful' by Michael Morpurgo. It was a fun, thought-provoking and emotional story about a teenager experiencing the First World War. The children were well behaved, polite and represented Bosmere incredibly well. We were all very proud of the children.
We have had great fun making collages of our endangered animals for Book Week. The children have really taken on board our theme of conservation and have learned a lot about the habitat, diet and challenges faced by their animals.
We are now in full preparation for our 1940's day on Monday 14th March! The children should expect to experience a day in the life of a British child during WW2. The classroom, the lessons, the children, even the adults will transform to give the children an immersive experience. We are really looking forward to stepping back in time.
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YEAR 6 NEWS
Year 6 have had another few busy weeks. We have had cakes sales, visits to Chichester Harbour, visits from firefighters and footballers.
Two girls set up a cake sale to raise money for the WWF. They raised £216, which was amazing. Thank you to everyone in Year 6 who supported by either making or buying cakes. The girls adopted a penguin on behalf of Year 6 children. They have also adopted an elephant, panda and orang-utan. It is always wonderful when children take the initiative to organise support for a charity.
We had three very informative days at Chichester Harbour. The children had to put themselves in someone else's shoes to think about whether or not dogs should be banned from the coastal paths. We then visited the council chambers in Havant and held a debate in role. We had a lovely email from the staff at the Harbour Conservancy following our visit, praising the children's mature, sensible behaviour throughout the day.
Our HEARTS value last term was Ambition and we had a very interesting morning finding out about lots of different jobs that we aspire to do. We have lots of budding vets, doctors, footballers and artists!
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MEET THE STAFF – Mr Dan Moore
What role: Site Manager
Where: I work across the whole school, making sure everything is safe and working properly!
When: I started at Bosmere in December 2021
What do you like to do in your spare time? Spending time with my 2 children
Quirky fact: I know many interesting things – like ‘Moonbows’ are rainbows that happen at night, using the moon’s light instead of the sun.
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RED NOSE DAY – FRIDAY 18TH MARCH
Children are to come to school in their usual school uniform/PE kit and may wear their Red Nose.
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ECO NEWS
This half term, we have been reviewing the Action Plan to decide how to take Eco-club forward. Over the next few weeks, we would like to focus on ‘Healthy Living’ and will be promoting eating a balanced diet, minimising food waste, and trying to save energy by walking or scooting/cycling to school. We will also be looking at how we can get outside more. We would like to make more use of our lovely copse so we went out to have a look at what needs doing. We will be forming a work party to have a tidy up and have purchased some more litter pickers.
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A few weeks ago, we welcomed the Eco-club members from Warblington School. We enjoyed a picnic lunch outside with the students and then shared what we have been up to in our Eco-club sessions, before taking the group on a tour of our school grounds. The students were very keen to advise us on how we can improve our school grounds even more and to share ideas of what they are doing; for example their Carbon Footprint quizzes, which we have a working party compiling for Bosmere. Next term we plan to visit Warblington to see the great things that their Eco-club are focussing on.
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We were over the moon that there was an environmental theme to Book Week this year, which we were obviously very keen to participate in within our year groups.
Finally, our recycling projects continue to go from strength to strength, which is fabulous and thank you for all your support and donations; whatever we can prevent from going to landfill is such a bonus. Terracycle have been in touch this month to inform us that they are no longer recycling crisp packets, which is a real shame as we manage to fill and post off a very large box every fortnight. Now that supermarkets have a dedicated area for recycling ‘scrunchable plastics’, crisp packets can be recycled as part of their scheme. So please can we encourage everyone to use this facility. Our local Tesco has a big cage at the top of the stairs for recycling soft plastics. Thank you to everyone, remember every little action plays a part in the bigger picture.
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E-SAFETY TIP
Play Like Share is a series of three animated films for 8-10 year olds about staying safe online, produced by Thinkuknow, the National Crime Agency's CEOP Command's online safety education programme.
Watch the films at: www.thinkuknow.co.uk/parents/playlikeshare
Play Like Share follows the adventures of Alfie, Ellie and Sam as they form a band and enter their school’s Battle of the Bands contest, taking on the mean but ‘cool’ Popcorn Wizards as they go. The three friends learn that while the internet can help, they need to use it wisely and safely. The aim of the films is to help 8-10 year olds learn how to stay safe online. In particular, the films and activities teach them to spot the early signs of manipulative, pressurising and threatening behaviour by people they might meet online, and develops their confidence to respond safely and get help.
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WELLBEING TIP
Anxiety is a natural response when we feel under any type of 'threat'.
The War in Ukraine is something that is prevalent in everyone’s life at present, and can cause worry and anxiety in children and adults alike:
LIMIT YOUR NEWS INTAKE AND ENSURE IT IS FROM A REPUTABLE SOURCE.
- Watching or reading the news can be a helpful way to stay informed but can also increase anxiety and fear.
- Try only looking at the news at particular times of the day and only for a limited time, then go and do something you enjoy to balance out any anxiety that you may be experiencing.
- Don’t be tempted to go online and research what others are saying. This will only feed your worries.
- Talk to someone! Say your worries aloud. It can be a huge relief to know that someone is there to listen.
- Don’t fall into the 'over reassurance trap' with children. Children do not need to know everything. Limit their awareness and reflect back their concerns so they may try to work out the answers that you’ve already told them.
Mrs Lever is available to anyone who would like further support on how to help with their child’s anxiety.
THE NEXT TEA AND CHAT AFTERNOON (6th May) WILL SPECIFICALLY BE DESIGNED AROUND DEALING WITH YOUR CHILD’S ANXIETY.
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CITIZENS ADVICE
Are you getting the correct benefits?
Citizens Advice Havant is offering free benefit health checks.
Drop in anytime between 10:00am and 1:00pm on Tuesday 29 March 2022 at the First Floor, Meridian Centre, Havant PO9 1UN
Or on Thursday 31 March 2022 at the Second Floor, Waterlooville Library, PO7 7DT
Or use our online check at citizensadvicehavant.org
Find out more 02394 200006
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DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
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MARCH
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14th
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Yr 5 1940s Day
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16th
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Yr 5 Drop, Stop and Read 9am
Yr 6 Height & Weight
Milestone 2 reports sent home
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17th
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3D Class Assembly – Parents invited 9am
Parent Consultation Evening 3.45-6.30pm
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18th
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Red Nose Day – children to come to school in their usual uniform/PE kit and may wear a red nose
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w/c 21st
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Parent Consultations
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21st
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Yr 4 Love Our Library Event
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24th
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5LB Class Assembly – Parents invited 9am
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25th
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HEARTS Morning
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28th
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Yr 4 Easter Experience (St Faith’s)
Yr 5 / 6 Love Our Library Event
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29th
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Art Trip to Dell Quay (invited children only)
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31st
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5K Class Assembly – Parents invited 9am
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APRIL
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1st
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Spring Clubs finish
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6th
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Spring Music Concert 2pm – Parents invited
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7th
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Yr 5 Visit to Milestones Museum
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8th
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Last of day term
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11th - 22nd
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Easter Holidays
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25th
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Summer Term Begins
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25th - 29th
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Yr 6 Residential trip to Brecon Beacons
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MAY
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3rd
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Summer Clubs Start
Yr 4 Drop Stop and Calculate – Parents invited
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4th
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Yr 3 Drop Stop and Calculate - Parents invited
4S Tuppenny Barn Trip
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6th
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4R Tuppenny Barn Trip
Parents’ Tea and Chat Afternoon
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w/c 9th
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Yr 6 SATs Week
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11th
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Yr 3 Dell Quay Trip (half year group)
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13th
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4S Tuppenny Barn Trip
Yr 3 Dell Quay Trip (half year group)
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17th
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Class photos
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18th
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Superstars Afternoon (PTA Fundraiser) - Parents invited
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19th
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5JB Class Assembly – Parents invited 9am
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20th
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HEARTS morning
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26th
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4S Class Assembly – Parents invited 9am
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27th
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Jubilee Celebration Day
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w/c 30th
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Half Term Holiday
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JUNE
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7th
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Yr 3 Butser Trip
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14th
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Yr 4 Dell Quay Trip (class tbc)
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15th
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Yr 4 Dell Quay Trip (class tbc)
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17th
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Yr 4 Dell Quay Trip (class tbc)
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30th
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Sports Day - Parents invited
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JULY
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1st
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HEARTS morning
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5th
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Class move up morning
Yr 2 children visiting for the morning
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6th
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Yr 2 children visiting for the afternoon
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8th
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INSET Day
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w/c 11th
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Yr 5 Production (Date TBC)
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15th
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Summer clubs finish
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18th
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Reports out to parents
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21st |
Last day of term
Final Celebration Assembly – Parents invited
Yr 6 Leavers Disco (TBC)
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