Newsletters

Dear Parents,

What a fantastic week we have had at school. There have been so many exciting learning opportunities and celebrations.

Lower Trans had a wonderful trip to Reading Museum on Tuesday, where they explored the fascinating pre-history exhibition, bringing their classroom learning to life.

I would like to extend a big thank you to the parents who attended the EYFS phonics workshop on Tuesday—your involvement makes a real difference, and we value the strong partnership between home and school.

On Wednesday, our Faith Ambassadors guided us through a reverent Ash Wednesday Liturgy. Father Kevin blessed the children and applied ashes, during a reflective service.

The standout moment of the week was certainly World Book Day! It was delightful to witness such a variety of imaginative and creative costumes, showcasing a passion for reading throughout the school. We kicked off the day with a fantastic parade, and the children participated in numerous activities, including an epic character battle and a quiz in the hall, where everyone joined their 'Thinking families.' A heartfelt thank you to all the parents for their efforts in creating the costumes—your enthusiasm truly makes these events memorable.

To round off the week, Upper Trans Y delivered an inspiring assembly on International Women’s Day. They shared stories of family members who inspire them and spoke about influential women throughout history, including Rosa Parks and Malala Yousafzai. It was a thought-provoking and empowering way to end the week.

Reading Museum

On Tuesday, Lower Trans had an amazing time exploring Reading Museum’s Pre-history exhibition. We discovered fascinating objects that tell the story of early people, their changing climate, and their diet.

The children took part in fun role-play activities, dressing up in costume and even constructed a roundhouse, just like in ancient times. They also learnt about groundbreaking technological developments that transformed life from hunting and gathering to farming settlements. It was a fantastic experience bringing history to life!

Upper Trans Y Assembly - International Women's Day

Upper Trans (Y5) delivered a powerful and inspiring assembly in celebration of International Women’s Day. They spoke about the incredible women in their lives, sharing heartfelt stories of how their mothers and family members inspire them every day.

The assembly also highlighted influential women throughout history, including civil rights activist Rosa Parks and Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai, who both demonstrated extraordinary courage and determination in the face of adversity.

To conclude, the students gave a moving recital of Maya Angelou’s iconic poem And Still I Rise, leaving the audience uplifted and reflecting on the strength and resilience of women past and present.

Primary Maths Challenge

We are delighted to share our PMC bonus round winners. Having scored 20 and above in the November Primary Maths Challenge, children were invited to take part in the February Bonus Round. We had 4 bronze badges awarded and 1 silver. Well done to all those who took part. 

We are already preparing for the Junior UKMT and are looking forward to trialing the new Primary Kangaroo Challenge. Good Luck St B’s.

Achievements

Congratulations to Siddhartha (Y4) and Akaal (Y5) on their fantastic musical achievements! Siddhartha earned a distinction in Grade 5 drums, while Akaal achieved a merit in Grade 1 guitar.

Congratulations to Viyona (Y4) for achieving badge 6 in Gymnastics. Her commitment to mastering new skills and improving her techniques is inspiring. Keep reaching for the stars, Viyona.

Wellbeing Weekend Wisdom

With the arrival of spring and a break from homework, it's the perfect time for families to focus on wellbeing and enjoy quality time together. Here are some activities to make the most of the season:

Picnic in the Park – Pack a healthy lunch and enjoy eating outdoors together. Bring along some outdoor games like frisbee or badminton.

Gardening Together – Plant flowers, herbs, or vegetables. This is a great way to teach children about nature while fostering mindfulness and patience.

Outdoor Art – Use chalk to create pavement art or collect natural materials like leaves and flowers to make nature-inspired crafts.

DIY Bird Feeders – Use recycled materials to make bird feeders and watch as birds visit your garden.

Community Clean-Up – Take a walk around your neighbourhood and pick up litter to keep the environment clean.

Music Workshop Day 

On Sunday 27th April, Hampton School is hosting its 25th annual Junior Schools Music Workshop for local Junior School pupils in Year Three and above.  On the day, we will be running a series of workshops for string, wind and brass players. In addition to this, we will be running a choir session for singers. Unfortunately, there is no provision for keyboard players or guitarists to come and play, though they are more than welcome to come and sing for the day!

The Workshop will start at 10.00am (registration from 9.30am). We will break for lunch and activities at 12.30pm. At 2.30pm there will be a concert in the Hammond Theatre presenting all the music prepared during the workshops. All parents and teachers will be very welcome to attend this concert, which will be free to attend.

The workshop offers an excellent opportunity to work with experienced musicians, and allows pupils the chance to work in a large ensemble. The day will be suitable for brass, woodwind and string players of at least Grade One standard, and for singers of all standards. The course, including lunch and refreshments, is free of charge.

Sports News

Year 4 Mixed Football/Netball vs Herries:

On Tuesday, we welcomed Herries Prep School for football and netball matches. We had 4 teams who had the opportunity to play in both sports. In the 4 football matches we won 2 and drew 2, while in the netball matches we won 3 and lost 1. This was a lovely afternoon of competitive, yet very friendly sport that was enjoyed by all. Well done to all the children for their outstanding efforts.

Year 6 Mixed Football vs Dair House

On Wednesday, our Year 6s took 2 mixed football teams to Farnham Royal to play against Dair House School. Both of our teams had an equal amount of boys and girls who were up for the challenge. Our players all stepped up and participated brilliantly on the day. Our A team drew 1-1, while our B team won their match 2-1. Well done to all the players and special congratulations to both Aydin and Rohan for being nominated as the MVPs.