With this being my last newsletter in eleven years I decided to look back and see if things have changed. The style of the newsletter definitely has with it now being electronically based and several changes of layout along with how it is circulated. However, the information and news remains consistent in that it reflects the vision for our school - Understanding of the World, Confident Citizens, Lifelong Learners, Community Based - all Learning Together. This is a snippet from the 4th newsletter - 28th September 2009.
"This week we have been thinking about those people around the world who are not as fortunate as ourselves. This formed the theme for our Harvest Service of ‘Water’ All the children put a lot of thought into the impact of the lack of water; how we can support each other in sharing resources and taking greater care of the water we have. Reverend Tony Johnson joined us for the service and gave a talk about Molo, a village in Kenya, which is suffering because of the lack of rain. Thank you for the kind donations which we will be sending to the ‘Molo Street Children’ project.
The opening sentence could not be more pertinent or thought provoking than now...where I know that each and every one of us is thinking about those close to home and further afield who are not as fortunate as ourselves, even in this current unusual situation.
'All Learning Together' sums up how we have all been Learning Together in the past few months, as a Community (near and far), developing our Confidence, Understanding the wider World and therefore becoming Lifelong Learners.
I am extremely sad to be leaving St Mary's - a family through and through. I have known some of you for many years and some for not so but I will remember you all with fondest thoughts and many happy times. It is sad that we have not been able to enjoy the huge range of Summer activities; Maypole dancing, Easter service, Residential, Sports Day, Father's day and of course the end of year production and importantly the Year Six Leavers' Service. Nevertheless, my memories will be one of the exciting journey we have all been on and how we have all encouraged one another...no matter the situation.
We hope you find our newsletter a happy ending to the what has been a very unusual term but nevertheless busy for us all. Many of the staff have contributed sharing their thoughts and school the life of the school. It is a great shame we cannot all be together in person but I know that you are all thinking of each other and the times when we WILL all meet up again.
A heartfelt thank you for the gifts - a very kind and generous gesture. I really appreciate your thoughts on many levels. All so beautifully presented too. I will certainly have many happy memories and items to remember everyone by. Mrs Maher
The children and staff would like to say a heartfelt goodbye and thank you to our wonderful Head Teacher, Mrs Maher - Hazel, who has worked so hard over the last eleven years to make St Mary’s what it is today.
Hazel has made such a difference to thousands of children’s lives, developing their talents and characters and celebrating their unique qualities. She has supported parents and nurtured her staff, building them up and encouraging them to grow and believe in themselves. A love of learning is at the heart of her school, encouraging all those around her to have fun, giving them the confidence to take risks, without fear of failure.
We will miss you greatly, more than you can ever realise, MRS MAHER and wish you a happy and healthy retirement on your lovely boat.
With love from Mrs Cupit, the children and staff of St Mary’s.
Thank you for giving us all wings and the freedom to fly!
Message from the Chair of Governors
Dear Parents, It goes without saying that this has been a truly trying academic year for all of us in coping with the many changes and challenges that recent months have brought about. To have a school stop allowing pupils to attend is certainly a first to my knowledge, but what happened next was truly amazing. The school may have shut but the welfare and education of the pupils remained a number one priority. The entire school team rallied to source learning materials and delivery mechanisms so that the impact on your children's education was minimised. As governors, our role was somewhat easier, in being able to stand back in admiration of how the school dealt with the crisis. By school, I mean Mrs Maher and her entire team. Clearly there'll be more changes and challenges for the new term and I am confident that with your support the school will rise to meet those challenges.
As you will all be aware it is with sadness that Mrs Maher has decided to leave us and enjoy a new chapter in her life. I can't let Mrs Maher's leaving go without a sincere Thank You for all that she has done for the school and the hundreds of children that she has watched over during her time as Head Teacher and in the way she has risen to the unprecedented challenge that recent events have brought about - truly a final term that she will remember. I am pleased that the school leadership going forward will be in the safe and experienced hands of Mrs Cupit and I hope that you afford her the same respect and support as you did for Mrs Maher.
On behalf of the governing body we wish you all a safe summer and look forward to meeting you over the next year.
Keith Burnham Chair of Governors.
Keep an eye out on Twitter too @BitteswellPrim
MESSAGES FROM THE STAFF
Whilst we have been spending lots of time at home I have been missing taking care of the raised beds at school with everyone, so I decided to try and make my own vegetable patch at home. I'm growing lots of different vegetables including beans,peas and courgettes . Everything seems to be growing quite well although the slugs are enjoying eating the broccoli! Our cat Darcey also likes to keep me company !
Wishing you all a happy summer ☀️ Mrs Lowden
I have worked at St. Mary's for 18 years now and seen many children through the school in those years. Never has there been a time as strange as the time we are currently living through. It feels very odd not getting ready for the KS2 performance, no sports day, no Maypole dancing and no yr 6 leavers service, which I always have a few tears in my eyes at each year. You would think after all this time I wouldn't be so sentimental !
It has been a really hard decision for me, but I have decided to retire this summer. I had planned to work another year but recent global circumstances made the decision for me. Once there is a solution, I am sure I will come back into school, maybe to help on Thursday afternoons. I have enjoyed the Art/DT we have done. Many times it has been a learning curve for me too.
Most of my years working in the school I have been based in KS2 and the majority of those usually with the older children. I have enjoyed working with all the children and staff over this, much longer than I expected, career. I will take many happy memories with me. It has been a privilege to be involved in the children's learning and working with a tremendous team of people over all these years. So from the current longest serving employee I bid you all well, stay safe and children come back to school ready to learn lots of new things.
I am looking forward to new projects, getting my house and garden sorted, walking my dog Raffa and most of all seeing my Grandson Elijah, who I haven't seen since he was a week old back in February.
If you see me out and about, please say hello and let me know what you're doing. I always say to the year 6's as they leave they can call me Debbie from now on, they never do - Mrs Irons is imprinted in their minds!
I can’t believe we are nearing the end of term and going into our last week. I am super proud of Maple Class for the resilience they have shown to keep going during this half term. It’s been so hard for the children and their parents to keep the enthusiasm going with home learning and it’s also been hard for children in school not seeing all of their friends and learning in a different way.
Despite all of this, Maple class have soldiered on and produced some fantastic work and it is always a joy to look at the photos of what they have completed each day.
Highlights of this term have been: Their free choice project, the Summer Solstice and Hemispheres work, Art at the end of the rainbow and their India project this week. Children have really worked hard on their diary writing, descriptive writing, grammar and maths too. Here are some photos of examples of their work.
Please enjoy the end of term and start to wind down ready for a few weeks away from those computers and school work. Fill your time with oodles of reading, playing, doodling, drawing, exercising, and lots of time enjoying the outdoors and the nature around you. I hope you get to meet up and have fun with some of your friends and family.
A big thank you again to all of you (including parents) for being so amazing. Mrs Cupit
A message from Mrs Pearson and Mrs Baxter
We were very excited to return to school on 1st June and were looking forward to embracing the new normal, whatever that looked like!
Our days in the Willow Bubble have been about adjusting to new social-distancing routines, staying within our bubble as well as copious hand washing! In addition, for the adults, disinfecting resources and cleaning tables and chairs!!
A large chunk of each day involves the children talking, listening and understanding what has been happening over the last few months and how it has changed all our lives. You will have seen some of this from the excellent Bounce Back programme that we have been using in all classes.
We have been enjoying our formal learning such as maths, literacy and phonics and joining in on Miss Ward’s live streaming. As the weather has been, on the whole, warm and sunny we have taken every opportunity to take our learning outside. The children also have lots of time to socialise and play with their friends, albeit at a social distance!
We have been so impressed with how the children in Willow Bubble have embraced the changes and how they have adapted their play and learning. Parents should be very proud of their behaviour and resilience.
We look forward to enjoying the next couple of weeks at school and hope to see all the children back after the summer holidays.
A message from Bernie
6:45am. "Morning Mark" his radio on, Everywhere is spick and span, tables are out, chairs are ready, fill the table with breakfast aplenty, hungry tums, laughter and shouting, quiet and tired, toast and butter, lots of cereal, loads of yoghurt! Outside to play, a lovely say to start the day
3:20pm. Friends to play with, friends to chat to, climbing trees, building dens, pom poms and sand, mud and sticks. 4ish...time for tea, tuna and lemon curd, ham and strawberry jam even, honey, jam and lemon curd, yes altogether - your choice, you can make it too if you like. Biscuits, where do all those chocolate ones disappear to? You know who you are Yr 6 boys :)
Dark evenings, films to watch, Paddington (my fav!), relax and get cosy with blankets and cushions.
After School Club for seven happy years, lovely children, caring parents and the best bunch of people I've had the pleasure to work with. Thank you - Bernie
A Message from Mrs Owen
I have really missed spending this last term with my lovely Beech Class. I have been very busy at home with lots of my own Home Learning. Even so, I have been lucky enough to spot that we have a nest in the garden. Just look at this hungry pair. Missing you all very much. Mrs Owen
A message from Mr E!
Wow! We made it gang! What a weird yet wonderful few months we've had getting used to a totally different way of learning. I have been so proud of all of your efforts and know that you have all kept pushing yourselves to think deeper and think more creatively.
I can't wait to welcome everyone back in when we return in a few weeks. Some things will be the same, some things different, but what I am sure of is that the Year Five gang will step up and become wonderful leaders in our school.
Speaking of which, we wave goodbye to our Year Six gang - for a little while at least. We are planning a party for you as soon as we are allowed, and you'll be invited back to come and dance, play games and have fun just as we would have done if the situation had been different.
For now though, enjoy the summer and have some amazing adventures! See ya soon!
Please, please remember.....we can all change the world, we just have to be determined enough to actually do it! #goforit
GOODBYE YEAR 6 - YOU HAVE BEEN AMAZING !
We wish all of you the very best for the future - we know that you will thoroughly embrace all the opportunities at your new school and continue to flourish and grow. We look forward to hearing how you get on and seeing you from time to time - you will always be welcome at St Mary's. Mrs Maher
Thoughts of Year 6
Even though I have not been in this school from the start it has given me great opportunities for a new journey ahead. Poppy
St Mary's has given me so many fantastic opportunities, a wealth of skills and the colours of knowledge, that I will use too paint rainbows for the rest of my life. Olivia
Recent months made Miss Ward, Mrs Clode and Mrs Hubbard even more crazy, but did give them all time to reflect on teaching Willow Class. Miss Ward watched as the children grew in confidence, showed their great personalities and produced some outstanding work. She missed not seeing them, but loved their virtual smiles and laughter every week. She now plans to top up her tan and learn more TikTok dances.
Mrs Hubbard, inspired by the children’s achievements, pushed herself to ride a bike for the first time in fifteen years. She is yet to master turning!
Mrs Clode found herself jealous of the children having bbq’s, fun in paddling pools and eating lots of ice cream, so decided to join in and found herself with her feet in a bowl of water, eating ice cream and bouncing on her gym ball, in the hope the baby arrival would soon be approaching....Mrs Clode is still waiting!
A word from Miss Palmer
On behalf of all the staff at St Mary's we would like to wish Mrs Maher a happy retirement. In these very uncertain times she has led St Mary's through these difficult situations, supporting and organising as usual.
Mrs Maher has been Head Teacher at St Mary's Bitteswell for eleven years, SENDCO and teacher - supporting in every way possible. Her passion for the school will be very much missed, and her enthusiasm for drama, singing and sports will continue.
I personally have a few special memories of Mrs Maher. During our production of Bugsby Malone, after thanking the children at the end of the production, a parent just turned splurged Mrs Maher, covered completely from head to toe, the children then decided to join in with their splurge guns! Much laughter all round. She found a bouquet of flowers on her doorstep a day or two later...
Leavers disco last year, Mrs Maher decided to dance.... very freely ! The girls noticed and decided to copy her actions, Mrs Maher was unaware she was being copied, eventually all the children were dancing with Mrs Maher and she loved it !
Mrs Maher will be greatly missed in so many ways, but we hope she has lots of fun and quality time with Simon and her family, and lots of adventures on her boat, look out for them at Foxton Locks !
We would also like to say goodbye to Mrs Irons who has been at St Marys, Bitteswell for eighteen years, she is part of the furniture, she will be greatly missed.
Also, goodbye to Simon and Bernie, who will be greatly missed at lunch times, BASC and forest school.
Mrs Clode who is officially on maternity leave, will soon become a Mummy, good luck and we will of course bring you the great news very soon.
Beech Class Learning
Beech Class have been busy exploring amounts to 20. As part of this we have found ways to know if a number is odd or even. One tasty idea was to use Smarties.
We have also enjoyed activities related to The Very Hungry Caterpillar. We have thought about life cycles and food related to caterpillars.
Tree Dressing Celebration
A Message from Mrs Ash
Thank you to everyone for your ingenious adornments which brightened our Tree Dressing celebration. Your fantastic efforts were admired by everyone locally and it was even a focal point for those venturing from further afield. There was a lovely variety of poetry, cultural reference and an abundance of colour. I hope it has reinforced our understanding about the importance of our beautiful trees and in doing so we have reached out to unite all communities in these unusual times.
A huge thank you again for your contributions to our Green Tree Schools Award Scheme - Woodland Trust. Mrs Ash
SPORT
Special Recognition Award
When lockdown started Emily and Rebekah wanted to raise some money for the NHS. They started by selling tomato and sunflower plants and raised £41. They then decided to do a bike ride, they aimed to cycle 100 miles, cycling a minimum of 5 miles every other day as they were already doing a sponsored walk on alternate days for their netball team, also raising money for the NHS. It was going really well unfortunately the cycle ended at 91 miles when Emily fell off breaking her wrist. It wasn't safe for her to cycle but they were so determined to finish that they walked the last 9 miles. They have raised over £575 for the NHS and they are a true inspiration. The school, thanks to Miss Smith, has nominated them for a Special Recognition Award and they have been shortlisted out of 19 schools. Congratulations Emily and Rebekah - you deserve to do well.
CONGRATULATIONS ! WINNERS OF THE SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD 2020
FAREWELL - WE WILL MISS YOU!
Not only are we saying goodbye to the Year 6 children but also a number of staff. Mrs Irons is retiring, Mrs Clode is going on maternity leave (we hope to see her and the baby very soon), Bernie is leaving for pastures new and Simon is going away on his narrowboat - with Mrs Maher!
A massive thank you to all of the staff for their unending commitment to the school and children. Each and everyone has ensured that with their skills and passion they have enabled the children to grow in confidence, resilience and independence. They will all be very much missed but we know that, as with all things, it is sometimes time to start a new journey. We wish you all the very best.We will remember you fondly. Mrs Maher and staff
This year, FOBS began with only a handful of members and we were worried that we might not be able to continue. However, following a recruitment drive, we gained 9 new members, which means that the future of FOBS looks bright! We still need Officers to support our Chair, Treasurer and Secretary, so we’ll be asking again when we get back to school in September to see if we can find others to join us, but our new members have already brought some fantastic ideas and loads of enthusiasm for events and fundraising initiatives.
With the closure of the school in March, we’ve not been able to raise as much money this year as we would normally, but we’ve still been able to help the school by funding training for a new phonics scheme, books to support the scheme, Djembe drumming lessons next year for Maple Class (assuming that’s possible) and the class photos for the year 6 children who will be leaving the school this summer.
A major contributor to the funds this year has been our 200 Club, so a huge thank you to everyone who has a ball (or two) in the draw! We have quite a lot of spare balls at the moment so please do get in touch if you would like to purchase one, or if you have family members who would like to.
A huge thank you to all of the parents who have contributed as members of FOBS, through the 200 Club, with donations for fairs and by coming along to events. We hope 2020/2021 will be a great year for FOBS and we’ll be able to support the school and give back to the staff who have supported the children so wonderfully over this academic year.
We've also got the 200 Club draw results (which I've posted on the FOBS Facebook page too):
The February draw took place at the last FOBS meeting and March-June were done last week (filmed and witnessed by a second FOBS Finance signatory). The winning numbers are below.
February: £25 ball 111, £50 ball 27, £100 ball 102
March: £25 ball 90, £50 ball 37, £100 ball 29
April: £25 ball 10, £50 ball 45, £100 ball 115
May: £25 ball 116, £50 ball 20, £100 ball 49
June: £25 ball 20, £50 ball 119, £100 ball 34
E-SAFETY
As we near the end of the year we continue to ensure that the children and staff at St Mary's are safe when using computers and on-line learning. This has been particularly important in recent times. To this end we are applying for our e-safety award. We hope to find out about this in the Autumn term although we have already achieved virtually all of the criteria.
You can find out about esafety for children using the link below. https://www.leicestershire.gov.uk/education-and-children/special-educational-needs-and-disability/preparing-for-adulthood/e-safety
Reading at Home
The Education Endowment Fund - key research department - have put together a leaflet to support reading at home. This can be accessed via the link below. https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/public/files/Publications/Covid-19_Resources/Resources_for_schools/7_Top_Tips_to_Support_Reading_at_Home.pdf
ST MARY'S SUMMED UP BY THE SCHOOL COUNCIL
St. Mary’s Bitteswell is small but big-hearted, hard-working but caring and inclusive but appreciative of individuality.
Prevent germs spreading!
School Development
School Curriculum
We are delighted to be able to share with you our revised and updated curriculum. All staff have been working extremely hard over the past few months. We are very proud of the outcome and are looking forward to next term as we embark on our continued and exciting journey of learning. We hope you enjoy browsing through it.
- http://www.stmarysbitteswell.co.uk/key-information/our-curriculum/
As ever, our Parish church is working to help the most vulnerable in our community and to build bridges out beyond our village. We are encouraging all of our children to join in their efforts and we hope you will too. Follow the links below to see how you can be involved! The church's work is a daily effort throughout the year and deserves full support!
Further Parish & Village news can be found either at http://bitteswellchurch.org/ or https://www.bitteswell.org.uk/
Support from St Mary's Lutterworth. http://www.lutterworthchurch.org/crisis
St. Mary's CE Primary School - office@stmarysbitteswell.co.uk - @BitteswellPrim - 01455 552818