Weekly Update-Friday 18th September

What a fantastic week our children have had at school this week.

Our Reception children have had an amazing start to school life. They have settled brilliantly into their new routines and have particularly enjoyed choosing their own lunches each day. We are incredibly proud of how well they have behaved in the lunch hall. They have been real superstars and are already showing our school values in action.

Meanwhile, our Year 1 and Year 2 children are continuing to settle into their new classrooms and become familiar with the expectations of their new year groups. It has been wonderful to see their confidence growing every day.

Year 1 have been very busy learning about healthy lifestyles, exploring how to eat well and stay healthy. They have enjoyed a range of activities linked to looking after themselves and making positive choices.

Year 2 have been learning all about symbols and signs that we see around us both in school and in the wider world. They have become excellent symbol detectives!

To top off a busy week, the children also enjoyed making their own bread today. We discovered there are some expert kneaders in Frogs and Foxes class, and the delicious smell around school was an added bonus!

Clubs Are Back!

We were delighted to launch our after-school clubs this week, and our very popular Year 2 lunchtime clubs will begin next week.

This year, our free Year 2 lunchtime club offer includes:

Painting Club
Puzzles Club
Lego Club
Choir Club
Computing Club
Board Games Club

These clubs are run by our talented teaching staff and are offered free of charge to all Year 2 children. We cannot wait to see the children enjoying these exciting opportunities over the coming weeks.

Help Save Our PTA

This week, our PTA Annual General Meeting was attended by three members of staff, four committee members and one prospective new member. It was wonderful to reflect on some of the incredible projects, experiences and resources that the PTA has funded for our children over the years.

However, there was also real concern about the future of our PTA. Without new volunteers coming forward, there is a possibility that the PTA may have to cease operating.

Our PTA plays a vital role in providing additional enrichment opportunities for children and helping to fund resources and experiences that enhance school life. Without a PTA, fundraising opportunities would be significantly reduced, we would be unable to access many charitable grants and donations, and schools increasingly have to rely on parental contributions to maintain the high-quality enrichment experiences that children enjoy.

The good news is that help is available. Claire and the current PTA team are committed to supporting any new volunteers. They are happy to share their knowledge, provide guidance and work alongside new members throughout the year to ensure a smooth transition.

Please consider attending our Emergency General Meeting on Wednesday 7th October. Whether you can spare a little time or a lot, your support could make all the difference. This meeting will help determine the future of our PTA and the opportunities it can continue to provide for our children.

Together, we can ensure that this valued part of our school community continues for years to come.

Site Safety Reminder

The safety of all children, families and staff remains our highest priority.

Please remember that hot drinks must not be brought onto the school site. This rule is in place to protect our young children and reduce the risk of accidental burns or injuries.

We kindly ask all parents and visitors to familiarise themselves with our school site safety expectations. These can be found on our website:

Policies and Documents | Bishops Waltham Infant School
https://www.bwis.org.uk/policies-and-documents/

Thank you for helping us keep our school community safe for everyone.

Lastly, our annual Open Morning for parents who have children starting in 2027 is on Wednesday 22nd September. Guided tours will need to be booked at the school office. If you are unable to make that day, our Parent Show around dates will be released at the end of this half term for November/December, so there will be opportunities to see the school in action then.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Warm wishes

Mrs Riches

Headteacher