Newsletter Issue 18
Ferncumbe Friday
Friday 30th June 2023
central warwickshire athletics championship finals 2023
On Wednesday 28th June, six Ferncumbe pupils represented Warwick in the Central Warwickshire Athletics Championships at Edmonscote Athletics Track. The competition involved the winners of the area competitions representing their district. Warwick was competing against Kenilworth, North and South Leamington and Southam in track and field events.
In the sprints, Maisie (Year 3) ran a superb 50m race securing 2nd place for team Warwick in a very competitive race with Merryn (Year 5) winning 1st place in the 75m.
In the 600m Lois (year 5) ran a fabulous race and paced herself really well despite her nerves, finishing in 2nd place.
In the field events Annabella (Year 4) bagged a 2nd place in Javelin for team Warwick with Lewis (Year 5) winning 1st place. Merryn ( Year 5) took a 1st place in the Triple Jump and Maisie (year 3) took 1st place in the long jump. Luis (Year 3) held his own in what was a very competitive long jump and earned a 4th place and valuable points for the Warwick team.
All of the children showed great determination, support and teamwork and should be extremely proud of their achievements!
Thank you to all the parents that came to help and cheered the children on.
Also, a personal thank you to Mrs Taylor for writing the report and supporting Ferncumbe children at the event. (TW)
Move-up Day!
On Monday 10th July there will be great excitement in school when children spend some of the day in their new classrooms, meeting and working with next year’s teacher. We fully understand that this can cause anxiety for some children, so please be assured that the transition will be handled very sensitively.
Staffing for 2023 - 2024
Hatton Class (Reception) - Mrs Stephenson
Haseley Class (Year 1) - Miss Constable
Honiley Class (Year 2) - Miss Blackwell
Rowington Class (Year 3) - Miss Forbes
Shrewley Class (Year 4) - Miss Reid
Wroxall Class (Year 5) - Mrs Eaves (M, Tu) Mrs Grier (W, Th, F)
Lowsonford Class (Year 6) - Mrs White
Our Learning Support Assistants will work flexibly across classes, as is usual practice.
We have some staff leaving us at the end of July. Mrs Bibb and Mrs Jones, who joined the Ferncumbe team in January this year, will be Ieaving at the end of this term. Miss Venn, who has been supporting in Hatton Class and Wren’s Nest is leaving to go to university. Mrs Cooknell, who joined Ferncumbe over five years ago, is also moving on to pursue a completely different career. As you know, Mrs Adcock, our SENCo, is taking up the post of Headteacher at Henley-in-Arden Primary School. I am sure you join me in thanking each of them immensely for their invaluable contributions in so many areas over their time with us.
We are delighted to share with you that Mrs Twemlow will be joining Mrs Foss on a Wednesday to provide regular cover for some of our teachers. As informed in a previous communication, Mrs Irvine will be our new SENCo for 1.5 days a week.
We are looking forward to welcoming you to Sports Day on Friday 7th July. KS2 will hold their races in the morning and Reception/KS1 in the afternoon. KS2 races will start at 10.30am and Reception/KS1 races at 1pm. The playground gate will be unlocked 10 minutes before the races start.
Children should come to school in their PE kit.
We also ask that if any older siblings attend the event, they must only do so under the direct supervision of their parent(s), remaining with them at all times.
Family picnic
We would love families to join us on the school field at lunchtime (approx. 12.15pm) on Friday 7th July for a picnic with their child/ren. Deli bags will be available for children who would normally have a school lunch. The office will be in touch regarding the uptake of a school lunch on the day as we know that some parents prefer to provide their own picnic for their child. This is an obvious assumption, but please do not bring any alcohol onto the school grounds.
Do please note that there will NOT be an early finish for KS2 children after the picnic lunch. They will remain with their classes and under the supervision of their teachers whilst watching the younger children’s races.
Reception and KS1 children can be signed out early if their races finish before the end of the school day. Any KS2 siblings will of course be able to accompany siblings at that point too.
We, and the local community, would very much appreciate it if you could park respectfully and safely on the day. We understand and appreciate how busy it is around the site during whole school events so have split the event again this year with the aim that parking is eased slightly at various points throughout the day. Local residents have asked that you do not block driveways or park near to exits which make it dangerous for them to enter and leave their homes safely.
reports and open afternoon
Do look out for your child’s school report which will be coming home today. Children in Years 1 - 5 will also be bringing home their progress folders which will include this term’s assessments.
We encourage you to complete the reply slip enclosed with your child’s report and return to school, please.
Parents are invited to attend an Open Afternoon in school from 2pm on Wednesday 12th July. This will be an opportunity to share your child’s learning with them in their classroom and have a conversation with the class teacher following your child’s report, if you wish.
Please note that both Mrs White (Year 6) and Miss Blackwell (Year 3) will be unable to take part in the Open Afternoon on 12th July as they are away on a residential. Parents of children in Year 3 and 6 will have received a direct letter from the school office this week with details of another time to visit classrooms.
LOWSONFORD class
Year 6 visited KES on Wednesday morning. They were taught by a specialist computing teacher and had the fantastic experience of programming robots. They were set challenges and worked confidently in pairs, using their problem solving skills, to re-create programmes, create their own and then they had to try and move the robot by exactly 50 centimetres! What a challenge!
Mrs White
Haseley Class
On Wednesday this week, we were very lucky to have Becky from Dog’s Trust come in to talk about being safe with and around dogs. We became experts in the 5 Happy Dog rules, and thought lots about how we can help to keep our lovely pets happy and safe.
Miss Forbes
wroxall class - Tudors Alive!
What a day! Wroxall class travelled to Wilmcote, to visit Mary Arden’s Farm yesterday. Throughout the day, the pupils listened brilliantly to all the adults around the site. They painted, danced, helped to make butter (by singing), explored a Tudor house, played Tudor games, made sugar creations, explored the animals and even visited the 2 day old piglets. It was an exhausting day but so much fun. Well done everyone!
Mrs Grier
HATTON CLASS
This week in Hatton Class we have been inspired by some special visitors! Herbert and Zoom came to visit us on Monday as part of our ‘minibeasts’ topic. We then went on to create our own masterpieces, having looked at the work of Henri Matisse who created collages or, as he liked to say, ‘painted with scissors’.
Mrs Stephenson
Herbert and Zoom were very well behaved when they visited Hatton Class this week.
Inspired by Matisse’s famous artwork ‘The Snail’, 1953.
Ferncumbe Musicians
This week we were treated to a performance from our Year 2 pupils and those learning other instruments in school.
This year, Year 2 have been learning how to play the ukulele. We were so impressed with the progress they have made and were delighted to hear them play to an audience.
It was also a great to listen to those learning to play musical instruments in school. What talented musicians we have here at Ferncumbe!
If you’re interested in your child learning to play an instrument please do get in contact with the school office.
With very best wishes for a lovely weekend,
Tracey Webb, Head of School