Latest Newsletter (website translatable version)
2nd June 2025
Dear Parents/Carers,
Welcome back. I hope that you had a lovely half term with your children.
Staffing updates
I am delighted to let you know that Mrs Brown has returned to work on a phased return. Mrs Coyle and Mrs Bailey will continue in Reception but I am sure that the children will get to see lots of Mrs Brown too.
Mrs Bradley has gone on maternity leave and we wish her and her husband well in their final preparations before their new baby is born. We welcome Miss Simmonds who is going to be teaching in Year 2 for the next few weeks.
After a long and very successful career in teaching, it is with sadness that I have to inform you that Mrs Beaton will be retiring at the end of this academic year. She has been an incredibly committed member of our school community and has had a huge impact on so many children and families in the many roles she has undertaken. In the last few years as SENCO, she has transformed our provision for children with special educational needs. Over the next few weeks, she will start handing over to our new SENCO – Mrs Brown (congratulations Mrs Brown!) and so any meetings and reviews this half term they will to do together to ensure a seamless transition.
Class Masses/Celebrations of the Word
Wednesday 4th June Year 3 Mass in the hall
Friday 13th June Years 1 and 2 Celebration of the Word
Friday 20th June Years 4 and 5 Mass
Monday 7th July Reception will join Year 6 for their Leavers’ Mass
Rescheduled Sports Day
We are pleased to let you know that we have rearranged Yr 1- 6 sports day for Thursday 12th June. It will be held at Arundel Court and the arrangements will be the same as for the original date.
Transition Days
Portsmouth schools have designated Monday 30th June and Tuesday 1st July as transition days and so many of our Year 6 children will be visiting their secondary schools on these days. We have therefore decided to have these 2 days as our Meet the Teacher Days when children will temporarily move to their new classes and start preparing for life in their new year group.
End of term assembly
Assembly will be held in the hall on Monday 21st July, at 9am for Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 and at 2.30pm for Years 3-6.
INSET Days
Friday 27th June 2025
Thank you once again for all your support.
Yours sincerely,
L. Park
Head Teacher
DIARY DATES
June
Monday 2nd Back to School
Yr 4 Multiplication Check starts
Wednesday 4th Pilgrims of Hope Day
Thursday 5th Reception school trip
Monday 9th Yr 1 Phonics Screening starts
Friday 13th Year 1 and 2 Celebration of the Word
Monday 16th Year 1 trip
Wednesday 18th Year 6 trip
Friday 20th Year 4 and 5 Mass
Friday 27th INSET Day
Monday 30th Transition/Meet the Teacher Day
July
Tuesday 1st Transition Day/Meet the Teacher
Monday 7th Reception and Yr 6 end of year Mass
Thursday 17th Yr 6 Show
Monday 21st End of Term Assembly
9am KS 1
2.30pm KS 2
Tuesday 22nd 1.30pm Break Up for Summer
25th April 2025
Dear Parents/Carers,
Happy Easter! I hope that you had a happy and holy Easter with your family and friends. Thank you for the kind gifts, cards and words that were shared with us. They were very much appreciated. Thank you also the choir, readers, servers and actors who supported the cathedral over the Easter holidays at the Chrism Mass and Stations of the Cross.
After celebrating the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ at the weekend, it was with great sadness that we received the news on Monday morning of the death of the Holy Father, Pope Francis. As a school community, we spent time in prayer this week and invite you to pray as a family using the prayer below:
O God, faithful rewarder of souls,
grant that your departed servant Pope Francis,
whom you made successor of Peter
and shepherd of your Church,
may happily enjoy for ever in your presence in heaven
the mysteries of your grace and compassion,
which he faithfully ministered on earth.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
Amen.
Eternal rest, grant unto him O Lord,
and let perpetual light shine upon him.
May he rest in peace.
Amen.
Living Eggs
As part of our work on Easter and new life, we welcomed 10 Living Eggs in to school this week. They are in the main office where we will watch them hatch and grow. Children will have the opportunity to marvel at the wonder of new life as they watch and handle the tiny chicks for the next 2 weeks. You are very welcome to come in and see the chicks with your child at the beginning or end of the day, before they return to the farm on Friday 2nd May.
Mrs Brown
I am delighted to let you know that Mrs Brown is recovering very well from surgery and with a treatment plan in place is hoping to start a phased return to school very soon. We are very excited to welcome her back.
Summer Uniform
As we are now in the summer term, children can wear summer uniform if they would like to. Please see the summer uniform list below:
Yellow and white gingham check dress
or yellow gingham matching top and shorts/skirt (do not mix eg by wearing gingham shorts and polo shirt)
or grey shorts with a white polo shirt
black or white sandals may be worn in the summer
White or grey socks. (if wearing tights, winter uniform should be worn)
School baseball cap with or without school logo
Asda Cashpot for Schools
Thank you to everyone who donated to our school through the Asda Cashpot for Schools initiative. We were delighted to receive £353.67 which we will be using to update the class wet playtime boxes.
Class Masses/Celebrations of the Word
Wednesday 4th June Year 3 Mass in the hall
Friday 13th June Years 1 and 2 Celebration of the Word
Friday 20th June Years 4 and 5 Mass
Monday 7th July Reception will join Year 6 for their Leavers’ Mass
Sports Days
We are delighted that Arundel Court Primary School have offered us the use of their field for our sports day (Years 1-6). It will be held on the morning of Wednesday 21st May. Nursery and Reception sports day will be held at school on Tuesday 20th May.
Transition Days
Portsmouth schools have designated Monday 30th June and Tuesday 1st July as transition days and so many of our Year 6 children will be visiting their secondary schools on these days. We have therefore decided to have these 2 days as our Meet the Teacher Days when children will temporarily move to their new classes and start preparing for life in their new year group.
End of term assembly
Assembly will be held in the hall on Monday 21st July, at 9am for Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 and at 2.30pm for Years 3-6.
INSET Days
Friday 27th June 2025
Thank you once again for all your support.
Yours sincerely,
L. Park
Head Teacher
DIARY DATES
April
Friday 25th Yr 2 school trip
Monday 28th 2.45pm Nethercott Meeting
May
Thursday 8th VE Day Celebrations
Monday 12th Yr 6 SATS Week
Tuesday 20th Nursery and Reception Sports Day
Wednesday 21st Yr 1-6 Sports Day
Half Term: Monday 26th May – Friday 30th May
June
Monday 2nd Back to School
Yr 4 Multiplication Check starts
Wednesday 4th Pilgrims of Hope Day
Thursday 5th Reception school trip
Monday 9th Yr 1 Phonics Screening starts
Friday 13th Year 1 and 2 Celebration of the Word
Wednesday 18th Year 6 trip
Friday 20th Year 4 and 5 Mass
Friday 27th INSET Day
Monday 30th Transition/Meet the Teacher Day
July
Tuesday 1st Transition Day/Meet the Teacher
Monday 7th Reception and Yr 6 end of year Mass
Thursday 17th Yr 6 Show
Monday 21st End of Term Assembly
9am KS 1
2.30pm KS 2
Tuesday 22nd 1.30pm Break Up for Summer
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