Fairfields Primary School

Dear Fairfields Community,

It has been another lovely week at the school with the children as we near towards the end of the term. The children have been continuing to share in assembly how they have ‘filled someone’s bucket’ to make others feel happy and it has been lovely to hear them share their experiences of how kind they have been to others, or what others have done for them to show kindness. Well done everyone and please do talk to your children at home about this. Filling someone else’s bucket with kind deeds also helps to fill our own bucket, so it is so important for our whole community wellbeing.

On a separate note, please can I ask that any concerns you may have about other children are not raised in front of them on the playground as we have had a few instances of this recently. It is important as adults that we model the core values to the children, even when we feel upset or frustrated about something. Please do speak to a member of staff if you have a concern, rather than approaching another pupil directly or saying something about them in earshot, as this can be intimidating to children. Please can you also monitor your children on the playground both before and after school as we have had some behaviour incidents occur in this time when school staff are not supervising the children as school has either not yet started, or the children have been dismissed. Children in year 4 and below should always be supervised by a parent or carer until school staff collect them. 

Update from the Chair of Governors

Dear parents/carers,

I just wanted to update you all on the latest with Headteacher recruitment. Over recent weeks, governors have been working with Hampshire Schools to develop the school information pack, a key document that sets out the essential and desirable criteria for our next Headteacher, as well as providing potential candidates with an overview of our wonderful school.

I'm pleased to advise that the advert went live last week and is accessible via Hampshire recruitment. In terms of timescales, the deadline for applications is 11 April. Sifting will then take place on 15 April, with the standard two days for interviewing scheduled for the 23 and 24 April. 

Let me reassure you that ensuring we identify the best candidate, and crucially, someone who shares the values of our school, is our highest priority. If a successful candidate is identified, they would be in post for the start of the new school year in September.

I'll provide you with a further update as this progresses, but if you have any particular questions or concerns, please do reach out to me.

Finally, we have a parent governor vacancy on the governing body. This is a voluntary position, and an opportunity to be involved in discussions relating to the school's strategy, performance, and a range of other topics including policies. We also have biscuits! 

Further information on what the role entails, and commitment requirements is set out in the attached documents, but if you would like to discuss further, please contact our Recruitment & Induction Governor, Evangelos Kalavas - e.kalavas@fairfields.hants.sch.uk. Please can any applications be returned by email to admin@fairfields.hants.sch.uk or to the school office by Friday 19^th April.

Comic Relief- Red Nose Day

Thanks you for your support in raising money for Comic Relief. The school raised £275.55 which will be sent to the charity to support others in need. Thank you so much for your support. The school council will be collecting the winning jokes from each classroom to vote on from the day and we will share their favourite one with you next week.

Understanding and Responding to Anxiety talk

Just a reminder that on Monday 25^th March, from 6.00-8.00pm, the Primary Behaviour Service will be in the school hall to talk about anxiety in children and how we as adults can help children to manage this. Anxiety is a growing concern in children and we are more frequently talking to parents about this issue for our pupils. Please do come along if you can make it. It would be great to see you there- and we will keep you refreshed with drinks and biscuits too!

Parent Maths Visit to Classrooms

Parents are invited to join their child within an afternoon 'Maths Meeting' session next half-term. It will be a chance for you to see our new maths scheme in action and help you to support your child with their maths learning at home. The session will be led by your child's class teacher and there are five key maths questions to experience with your child during the session. We are running two sessions (one for each key stage) on the following days:

Monday 29^th April - KS1 Parent Maths Visit (FS-Year2)

Wednesday 1^st May - KS2 Parent Maths Visit (Year 3- Year 6) 

The sessions will start at 2:10pm and parents can sign in to the school office, before being taken to your child's classroom. They will be finished by 3:00pm. We hope you can join us and we look forward to working with you on this.

Science week

We have started a new competition in school - growing the tallest sunflower! The children are really excited to look after it, watch it grow and see if their class sunflower is the tallest. If you would like to take part at home - now is the time to plant your seeds. We planted sunflower 'Kong F1' seeds - which are pretty tall growers! You can take photos along the way and send them in. 

Menu Change- Thursday 28^th March

There is a menu change for Thursday 28^th March. Options will be fish and chips, or sweet potato curry. Sorry for any inconvenience. For information, HC3S, our catering company, are changing heir name to Hampshire Education catering.

Times tables

This week, it was the turn of year 4 to take part in the Top of the Rocks battle with other schools. They were amazing, comfortably winning both events! Congratulations to Razvan, Edward, Umair, Daniel, Rome and Jay for winning valuable player certificates and Elijah and Julia for winning special TTRockstars postcards for progress. I also awarded a special, new TTRockstars sticker to the children in year 4 who increased their score by 50 or more so if your child came home wearing a sticker on Tuesday, that is what it was for. Year 3 also have a stock of the stickers to hand out if their children move up a times table when tested, so year 3 parents may see their children wearing one too.

Next week is the last week of this current challenge and it will be year 5’s turn! They have already been warned about this as practising beforehand will be vital to success. They all have TTRockstars logins and the competition will be based on the game called ‘garage’. I would encourage them to practise before Tuesday. Currently, St John’s are first with 19 points, Fairfields are second with 16 points and St Bede’s are third with 13 points. Come on, year 5! Thanks, Miss Warwick.

Music lessons

Year 1 and children upwards have been sent a letter regarding recorder lessons next year. Year 2 and upwards have been sent letters regarding keyboard and violin lessons. Please can we ask that these slips are returned if you would like your children to be involved. The deadline for both of these letters to be returned is Wednesday 17^th April.

Lost Property

We have a growing amount of lost property under the canopy in the allocated boxes. If you are missing anything, please come and take a look. At the end of the term, we will need to empty the lost property ready for the summer term so please do come and look for anything your child may have lost.

PTA Updates

Easter Egg Trail - Thursday 28th March (3:15-3:45pm)

We look forward to seeing everyone in the playground after school on Thursday with our Easter Egg trail. There won't be any more ticket sales ahead of the day although we will have a few available on the day on a first come first served basis.

The PTA are looking for any egg boxes (the 6 egg cartons that normal eggs come in) for our Easter event next week, if you are able to bring these to school and leave at reception by Wednesday that would be much appreciated.

Creativity Evening: A Grown Ups Night Out - Friday 26th April (from 7pm)

We are pleased to announce a fun night out to be hosted in Proteus (next door to school) at the end of April. This will be an evening filled with fun and creativity and hosted by one of our very own parents and where you can let your imagination run wild. There will be snacks, drinks, cocktails, mocktails and more - an opportunity to let your hair down with other parents and hopefully teachers too. For more details and to buy tickets on-line please visit our website: https://fairfieldspta.uk/product/creativity-evening-grown-ups-night-out/

Children's School Disco - Thursday 23rd May

Thank you to everyone who has signed up to help with this event so far - we almost have the minimum number of helpers required for the event so far but need a few more volunteers. Full details including a volunteer sign-up sheet can be found here on the PTA. website: https://fairfieldspta.uk/

Updates from year groups

FS

Foundation Stage have had a great week, becoming mini detectives by spotting the early signs of spring. They embarked on their Spring Walk to the Memorial Park with their Year 6 buddies which was a lot of fun! Can they remember all of the things they spotted on the way? The children also enjoyed guiding their friends using blindfolds and their different senses during Forest School and taking part in a signs of spring Scavenger Hunt. Well done, FS! Have a lovely weekend!

Year 1

Year 1 have enjoyed making their zoo structures this week. Just a reminder about our year group assembly on Monday 25^th March. Parents are invited into school to watch this.

Year 2

Well done children on another brilliant week in school. You have worked so hard in your tests this week; we are very proud of you! We have our trip to London this coming Wednesday 27^th March. Please be in school by 8am (we will open the top gate) as the coach is departing at 8.15am. Leaving late may mean we miss our slot on the London Eye. More information for parent helpers and about what every child needs to bring has been sent to you via email, please check this ahead of Wednesday. Thank you! 

Year 3

Year 3 has had a great week designing their pencil cases using a batik-style technique. They will be finishing them and taking them home next week. Can we please ask parents to send in library books to return on Thursday as Friday is a bank holiday and school will be closed.

Finally, we have been made aware there are a few cases of headlice in the year group. Could parents please check and monitor this over the next couple of weeks. Thank you.

Year 4

Year 4 have had a great week planning and writing their persuasive letters about deforestation. They have also enjoyed practising their tackling in football and melting chocolate in science. If your child is going on the residential and you are following the payment schedule, it is almost time to make another payment. Thank you. 

Have a great weekend.

Year 5

The children really enjoyed completing their multi-media artwork - we hope you were impressed by their canvases they took home this week. It was lovely to see the parents who could make it to our presentation afternoon on Thursday, if you couldn't come don't worry, we will update our website with photos of the children's work for you to see!  

Year 6

Year 6 have been brilliant role-models for their FS buddies this week and were brilliant showing their partner any new signs of Spring as we walked around War Memorial Park. Thank you to those parents who have signed up for our Easter revision school, please return the reply slip this week in order for your child to attend. We are hosting a parent SATs meeting at 5:30pm next Wednesday 27^th March and the zoom meeting ID and password will be emailed to you. The meeting will give you more information about what to expect from the exams in May. 

Sunflower Café

The café is open to come and meet other parents and to chat to our Home/School Link Worker, Tracey, every Monday from 8.40am, and on a Friday from 2.50pm until 3.10pm.

Other Information (attachments may not be able to be viewed on some devices through the Jotter app, but can be seen on Arbor)

Please find attached the new lunch menu which will start after Easter.

Also attached is an Easter Weekend Fitness Challenge from Sarah and Steve if you wish to complete this as a family. It will be lovely to hear any feedback on how you get on!

Basingstoke Church have given us the following link which details events they have running over Easter- https://www.basingstoke.church/easter

Dates:

Monday 25^th March: Year 1 assembly (parents and carers welcome) 2.40pm

Monday 25^th March: ‘Understanding and Responding to Anxiety’ parent workshop with PBS in the school hall (6.00pm-8.00pm)

Wednesday 27^th March: Year 2 London trip (8.00am in school)

Wednesday 27^th March: Year 6 SATs Zoom meeting (5:30pm)

Thursday 28^th March: PTA Easter event after school

Friday 29^th March: Bank holiday and start of the Easter holidays

Monday 15^th April: INSET day

Tuesday 16^th April: First day back for children after Easter holidays

For other key days, please look at the calendar on the website or the School Jotter.

PE Days are as follows:

FS: PE to start in summer term

Year 1: Tuesday (outdoor PE)

Year 2: Tuesday (indoor PE)

Year 3: Thursday (indoor PE)

Year 4: Thursday (outdoor PE)

Year 5: Wednesday (indoor PE)

Year 6: Monday (indoor) and Friday (outdoor PE)

Start and finish times are as follows:

Foundation Stage, Year 1 and 2: 8.40am- 3.10pm

Years 3- 6: 8.45am- 3.15pm

Have a lovely weekend.

Mrs Vicky Hopkins