Newsletter Issue 6
Ferncumbe Friday
Friday 29th November 2024
Head’s Message
Dear Ferncumbe Community,
What a delightful week we've had at our school! The unexpected snowfall last week brought a flurry of excitement and joy to our pupils and staff alike. It was great to witness Hatton class, adorned in their forest school puddle suits, venturing out to create snowmen and snow angels. The pure delight on their faces was a sight to behold!
I must confess, even the staff couldn't resist joining in the frosty fun. A playful exchange of snowballs ensued, reminding us all of the simple pleasures and moments of shared joy which make our school community so special.
As we bid farewell to November and welcome the advent season, there's a sense of anticipation in the air. Ferncumbe is abuzz with excitement as our pupils and teachers begin preparations for our upcoming Christmas celebrations. The halls are filled with whispers of rehearsals and the rustle of crafting materials. Parents, you may soon receive requests for simple costumes to add an extra sprinkle of magic to our festivities. Your support in this will be greatly appreciated and will contribute to making these events truly memorable for our young ones.
On a musical note, I've had the pleasure of being serenaded from my office by the melodious sounds of our budding musicians. The corridors have been alive with the gentle strumming of ukuleles, the rhythmic beats of drums, the soft tones of the piano, and the sweet melodies of recorders and cellos. It's been a joy to witness the progress of our pupils as they hone their musical skills. Their dedication and improvement are truly commendable, and I'm certain you'll be as impressed as I am when you have the opportunity to hear them perform.
These musical endeavours, along with our outdoor adventures and festive preparations, showcase the vibrant, well-rounded education we strive to provide at Ferncumbe. Each experience, whether it's building a snowman or mastering a new chord, contributes to the growth and development of our pupils.
As we move forward into the festive season, I'm filled with pride and gratitude for our school community. The enthusiasm of our pupils, the dedication of our staff, and the support of our parents create an environment where learning thrives and memories are made.
Here's to more snowy adventures, melodious tunes, and the magic of the season ahead!
Warm regards,
Sally Morris
Headteacher
Speed Stacking
On Tuesday, 10 schools around Warwickshire took part in a speed stacking competition. 12 children from year 3 had the opportunity to take part in this event. They had to compete with other schools to get the fastest time to stack cups. The children have worked so hard over the past few weeks and their hard work has really paid off because they came second! Well done for those that took part we are all very proud of you!
Increasing biodiversity at Ferncumbe
This week, Reception and Year 4 helped to plant a wildflower meadow under our glorious copper beech tree, by the staff car park. As part of our Eco-Schools action plan, we want to increase our biodiversity, with a range of different habitats around the school. Olivia from Brandon Marsh Nature Reserve helped us by scarifying the area first, then Year 4 came and got stuck in by raking up all the loose grass. We also used the leaves and grass to add to our compost heap in the garden. Reception Class then came out and scattered wildflower seeds over the area. We really hope to have a wildflower meadow next spring and summer for the wildlife to enjoy!
wroxall earth and space
Wroxall have been learning about the relationship between the Earth, Moon and Sun. These spherical bodies all move together, caused by the gravitational pull. We used 3 different sized balls to demonstrate how the Sun (the largest ball) stays at the centre of the solar system with the Earth (the medium sized ball) orbiting around it. We learned that this took 365 days and a quarter. The children were excited to learn that this is the cause of the leap year we have every four years. They also learned that the Earth rotates on its axis, giving us our day and night cycle. Finally, the moon (the smallest ball), orbits the Earth which takes one month. The children showed the depth of their understanding by drawing a diagram to show this link.
Friends of Ferncumbe Updates
We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks for your generous donation of clothes. Your support has made a real difference, and we're thrilled to let you know that we raised a total of £88.73 through your contribution.
This amount will go a long way in supporting the curriculum enrichment of our school and we couldn't have done it without you. Your kindness and generosity are truly appreciated.
Thank you again for your continued support.
Easy Fundraising
Dani C - I love Easy Fundraising! It’s super simple to use and requires minimal effort - the app does it all for you. It is free to use and there are lots of great retailers to choose from. Please help us to raise funds for our school by shopping online! Every penny really counts!
Gemma S - Using EasyFundraising is super simple and very rewarding. Shopping online and knowing you're raising money for your school in the process is great! The app takes the stress away being so self sufficient, definitely an app worth having!
Job Advert
Important Health Information
As we head into the Winter months, families with children across the county are being reminded of the small steps they can take to reduce the spread of stomach bugs and other winter specific illnesses in our schools and nurseries.
Over the past couple of weeks there has been a rise in norovirus for children, otherwise known as the vomiting bug. Flu is also steadily increasing week-on week too.
Cllr Margaret Bell, Portfolio for Adult Social Care and Health at Warwickshire County Council said: “We all want our children to remain happy, healthy and independent in and out of school. By following good hygiene habits, as well as keeping up to date with the latest vaccination schedule for parents and children, we can help to minimise the impact to our schools. Please do reach out to your GP or preferred pharmacy if you need to check up on vaccinations.”
We can all play our part in reducing the spread of these illnesses by taking note of the following tips:
Please carry on with good hygiene habits in the home, this includes handwashing for 20 seconds and using a tissue to catch coughs and sneezes.
It's fine to send your child to school with a minor cough or common cold. But if they have a high temperature keep them off school until it goes.
Stomach bugs spread rapidly around schools and nurseries. If you or your child have diarrhoea and vomiting – please carry on with handwashing with soap and warm water for 20 seconds, along with the following:
Use bleach-based products to clean surfaces, this will help stop infections from spreading
Don’t prepare food for others if you have symptoms or for 48 hours after the symptoms stop
Please avoid visiting people in hospitals or care homes
Please don’t return to work, school or nursery until 48 hours after the symptoms have stopped.
4. If you haven’t already had the flu jab, please speak to your GP or your preferred pharmacy. For children, please note the following:
Primary and secondary school age children are eligible for flu nasal spray vaccine OR the injectable (gelatine free) vaccine via the School Age Immunisations Service (SAIS).
If you returned a consent form but your child did not have the vaccine on the day, you will receive an email from SAIS informing you why the vaccine was not given and a link to book a clinic appointment. Clinic appointments can also be booked if you did not return a form, or you have changed your mind via swiftqueue
Information about clinics is also available at the school.
All children aged 2 years (who have turned 2 years old before the 1 September 2024) and all 3-year-olds are eligible for the flu vaccine. If you haven’t received your invite, please contact your GP.
Routine vaccinations – did you know that you can also speak to your GP about other childhood vaccinations that can help protect your child and the wider community. These vaccinations include measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria and polio.
If you are unsure of your child’s condition – you can use this handy NHS guide - https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/is-my-child-too-ill-for-school/
Our School Vision
With very best wishes for a lovely weekend,
Sally Morris, Head Teacher