February Newsletter
28th February 2025
Welcome back!
We have had a busy week settling back in after the half term. This month seems to have flown by! It is lovely to have a little bit of sunshine - even if this morning was still very chilly! We wonder how many of our families saw the phenomenon of all the planets aligning?! This will not be seen for another 40 years! If you didn't catch it, watch out for it tonight. Wishing you all a fabulous weekend. Make the most of the longer days. Spring is on its way.
Kind regards,
Mrs Rawes & Mrs Batty
Attendance
Our Attendance to date is: 96.1%
Authorised Absence: 2.6%
Uauthorised Absence: 1.3%
Staff first aid training
As part of our on going health and safety priorities this week some staff have been involved in first aid training. Completing an online course and twilight sessions in school yesterday. This means nearly all our staff in school have either a paediatric or 'first aid in schools' certificate. In an emergency we have enough members of staff fully trained to help out and support our school community and visitors on site.
Message from Taff Bowles - Course Tutor
It was great to meet up again with you and the staff team at Pollington Balne yesterday. Thank you for your welcome and for arranging everything so well for both courses. I really enjoyed the day, and the staff displayed excellent first aid knowledge and skills - I was very impressed!
Defibrillator
Did you know we have a working/registered defibrillator in school. This has already been requested by the ambulance service for an emergency call. It is only registered and accessible during school working hours. The nearest Defibrillator out of school hours is located at the village hall.
LifeVac
We would like to purchase a Life Vac for our school, this is a choking rescue device. The initial cost is approximately £100.00. If this is used to save a life it will be replaced free of charge. If every child could donate 50p to a £1.00 we would have enough to purchase this lifesaving piece of equipment. With this in mind we will set up a donation jar in the school reception for any families that would like to support us to fund this.
Thank you
Oak Class
What a busy month we have had in Oak Class. The children have loved learning about Winter and how this affects the plants and animals in our environment. We have been making bird feeders to help our feathered friends and have spotted some winter birds including robins which we have enjoyed drawing. We have made binoculars and discussed why these need to be camouflaged. Our class book has been the Enormous Turnip. The children have enjoyed acting out the story and have planned their own with a winter vegetable of their choice. We have enjoyed listening to the Enormous Broccoli, Enormous Carrot and Enormous Cauliflower - to name a few.
Ash Class
Geographers
The children in Ash Class have planned and conducted a mini Fieldwork investigation in our school grounds, in preparation for our bigger Fieldwork study in Pollington. The children planned their enquiry question and how they would collect the data, they then went out and took photographs of the school grounds answering: Do our school grounds have enough plants to attract wildlife? We then analysed the data which told us that there wasn't enough plants to attract wildlife (at this time of year). We thought of ways to attract wildlife, including which plants might be best. The children went on to draw a sketch map of our area with ways to attract wildlife. Next stop, Pollington.
Mrs Blades and Mrs Pears
Willow Class
The children in Willow Class have been awarded the prestigious Ruby Robin Award! As part of their Forest school sessions with Mrs Horrocks.
To achieve this, they designed and built their own bird hides and explored a variety of bird species. They then participated in a bird-watching session on the school field, carefully observing and recording the different types of birds spotted within an hour.
Using their mathematical skills, they calculated the mean number of bird sightings. To extend their learning beyond the classroom, the children were also encouraged to observe birds at home or while out on walks with their families.
Miss Habbishaw
Maple Class
We have had a very busy first week back, creating more masterpieces! We also set up our own investigations to show how flowers transport water through their stems. We were surprised that the dye did not travel to the petals on our snow drops but are looking forward to see whether this happens over the weekend. We also enjoyed our first lesson with Toots and Doods musical instruments. Finally, we have been learning about the Rosetta Stone and hieroglyphics and sending our own messages home, written in hieroglyphics.
Mrs de Bethel
Birch Class
In February, Birch Class have enjoyed their learning, particularly looking at long division, writing character descriptions and not forgetting, the Washing Machine Challenge!
The Washing Machine Challenge took place on the last week of half term, children getting into their own groups to make, yes, washing machines!
Each group needed a name and a starting balance of 15 counters. With the counters, they needed to 'buy' the use of a table, pay a workers tax, pay for supplies as well as design, create, advertise and sell their own washing machines.
Fun was had by all, and there were some fabulous names, slogans and well-made machines - some a little dubiously made, but fun was had by all!
The overall winners were: Squeaky Clean Squid - Lucia, Archie, Oliver, Lenny and Caitlin, well done!
Mrs Foster
Donations
Wow, wow and WOW!!! Students and families, you are all utterly amazing!! We set out to ‘Fill a suitcase’ for Gambia and we absolutely smashed it. Not only have we filled a full size suitcase, but it also looks like one of us will be sacrificing a hand luggage as well!! Thank-you all so much for your incredible support, I can not wait to see the the children’s faces when they receive our suitcase!!! I will be sure to take lots of photos to share on our return.
Thank-you again!!
Mrs Burton and Family
Governors
New governor roles have been approved at the last Full Governing Body Meeting on the 22.01.25. Following on from our first introductions last month, we will continue to introduce all our governors and keep you informed on all things governance in this new section on the Newsletter.
- Mrs Shelley Messenger
We would like to thank Mrs Messenger for all her hard work on the governing board as Co-Chair of Governors. All her hard work supporting both schools as we federated has been very much appreciated. She stepped down as Co-Chair at the last governors meeting. Following a change in personal circumstances, Mrs Messenger has since decided to step down as a governor. She will be greatly missed and we wish her well in her in her future endeavours.
Co-Chair Finance - Mr Simon Bate
Mr Bate has been a member of the governors for over 4 years. He might be a familiar face to many of you as he is one of our Pollington parents. Mr Bate's role is as Foundation Governor on the board. He has been a great Chair of Finance and been instrumental in challenging and creating a balanced schools budget. Taking a small step back due to work committements, Mr Bate is now the Co-Chair of Finance. He is also a key player in our schools' health and safety, bringing a wealth of knowlegde in this area to our school.
Mini Police
What a fabulous morning the children had in their Mini Police lesson before half term. CSI eat your heart out!
Well done children - PCSOs Chandler and Wallage were super impressed with you all.
PE and promoting teamwork with The Snaith School
What a delight to observe Ms. Willden from The Snaith School working with the children to deliver PE and promote teamwork. Everyone looked to be having a great time! Ms. Willden was so impressed with our school that she sent me the following email:
Good afternoon Mrs Rawes
I just wanted to thank your Staff and Pupils for making me feel very welcome at your school yesterday. I had a lovely afternoon, and I hope your Pupils did too. Looking forward to seeing some of them at the competition in a couple of weeks’ time.
Kind Regards
Claire Willden
The Snaith School
Compliments
We are so proud of our school community and how the children conduct themselves whilst representing our school, here are a few comments from recent visitors.
The Snaith School - It has been a pleasure working with your children in school today.
Mrs Lawrance (Schools Music Service) - I have enjoyed working with Early Years. Thery are a lovely class. They have listened carefully and followed instructions.
Reminders
Reminders
Thursday 6th March - World Book Day
March 2025 - Spring Term : 7th April - 21st April - Easter Holiday
Diary Dates for March - Please find all current March diary dates on the new tab heading.
Community News
There are some really fantastic offerings for children and young people coming up at Junction Goole over the next few months. All are being hosted at Junction, with professional performing arts practitioners or companies.
And additionally, a few performances you may want to take a look at.
Hansel & Gretel | Northern Ballet
Northern Ballet’s magical ballets for children bring much-loved fairy tales to life with bold sets, bright costumes and brilliant live music and dance – the perfect way for you and your child to experience the wonder of ballet together.
Sat 29 Mar, 12pm, 2pm, & 4pm (relaxed) | £9.50 | Workshops Available
Giddy Goat | Music In The Round
Based on the best-selling children’s book by Jamie Rix and Lynne Chapman with original music by Music in the Round’s children’s Composer-in-Residence, Paul Rissmann, this concert features instruments including strings, woodwind, and horn, presented together with storytelling and projected illustrations. Performed by the hugely engaging musicians of Ensemble 360, this concert is a great introduction to live music; full of wit, invention, songs and actions, and plenty of opportunities to join in.
Thu 3 Apr, 1.30pm | £5, One free teacher per 10 paying pupils.
Three Little Vikings | Wrongsemble
Three brave little Viking girls save the day in this bold and funny adventure story for little rebels. From the creator of the New York Times Best Illustrated Book Little Red and I Can Catch a Monster, Bethan Woollvin. A children’s theatre show all about cooperation, bravery, and getting your voice heard!
Fri 18 Apr, 2pm | £7
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Junction Goole Performing Arts School Flyer V2 | [pdf 13MB] |
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Imagine Events Spring 25 | [pdf 140KB] |
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