Dear Parents,

What a week to come back to school! I know that the weather over the holidays wasn’t glorious but the bright, sunny weather seems to have brought the children back to school full of the joys of spring!

Some sunny times reminders: School summer uniform can be worn from now until October half term. For girls, these are the dark-green, smaller checked dresses and boys grey shorts. This year, we are allowing girls to wear grey shorts too, if they prefer. Please do send your children in with a sun hat (their yellow hats are perfect) and a bottle of water. Children may wear plastic sun glasses at break and lunch, particularly if they struggle with hay fever. A reminder that jewellery is not permitted except a sensible watch and small, stud earrings. Hair below shoulders should be tied back in school colour or natural coloured hair bands.  As jumpers and sunhats are often discarded, please ensure that these are all named. The children are looking very smart at the moment, so long may it continue.

Thanks to the PTA for the ice lolly sale today. Additionally, you will also have received a leaflet about the upcoming BidFest weekend – hopefully it won’t rain and turn into a mini Glastonbury.

Some staffing updates: Miss Cheeseman has begun her maternity leave today – we wish her well and look forward to sharing some baby news with you (any day now!). We have welcomed Alison Entwistle and Kerry Thorne to our team as Teaching Assistants working with individual children. We are currently looking to recruit a teacher to join our team in September as Mr Orpin is moving on to pastures new. I am sure you will join with me in wishing him all the best for the future, but we’ll think more about that nearer the time.

Some messages from county: There have been some reported cases of measles in Kent. Please be vigilant, particularly if your child did not receive both doses of the MMR vaccine.

School news: Well, this week was our designated quiet week and it has been great to focus on our day to day lessons as far as possible. There have been a few changes to our planned dates for the end of the year, so I have included as many of them below as possible. This summer term can be a busy one, so please do get these dates into your calendar and we will try and stick as closely to them as possible!

Many children have received attendance certificates today – attendance continues to be monitored closely by local and national government and so we are expected to maintain close contact with you, especially where attendance is a concern.

Have a great weekend.

Kind regards,

Julie Burton Headteacher

Term 5 and 6 Dates

23^rd April              Y6 at Safety in Action
24^th April              Stunning start for Year 3 and 4
26^th April              Open Worship and Praise Pleases sign up at the office
26^th April              First Y3 swimming

7^th May                Bank holiday
8^th May                Chiddingstone Literary Festival – Year 4
14^th May              Year 6 SATs week
14^th May              Class R trip to Drusillas
21^st May              Class photos
25^th May              Class 4 Assembly, Children’s University, end of term

4^th June                Inset day
5^th June                Start of Term 6
8^th June                British Heart Foundation Skipathon
8^th / 9^th June        BidFest
wb 11^th June       Phonics check for Year 1
wb 11^th June       International Arts Week Please contact us if you would like to get involved
15^th June              Father’s Day lunch – R and 6 dads welcome
wb 18^th June       Year 6 at Pensarn
26^th June              Year 5 to SKA
29^th June              Year 1 assembly, Children’s University

4^th July                  Year 5 to Tonbridge School Community Day
6^th July                  Sports Day
wb 9^th July           Year 6 Production
12^th July Children’s University Graduation evening
23^rd July Year 6 Church service
24^th July Leavers’ Assembly, Last day of term.