This week children have focused on the school value of Kindness. You may wish to talk to your child about ways to show kindness to others both in and out of school. One of the images used in our whole school assembly on Monday is copied below; we think it sums things up beautifully.

Dogs in the Playground

Starting next week, we will no longer be able to allow dogs to be brought onto the school playground at drop-off and pick-up times. This difficult decision has been made following a review of the potential risks.

We know this will be disappointing for some families, and we wish to acknowledge that dogs are an important part of life for many Victoria Park Primary School families. We know your dogs are often included in day-to-day activities such as walking children to and from school. The school appreciates this inclusion and values pet ownership as an educational experience; it also acknowledges other people (adults and children) do not enjoy contact with dogs. Our playground can be a very busy place, and whilst most dogs we have encountered in our community are calm around large groups, there remains potential for dogs and children to become overwhelmed, stressed or over-excited, for potential accidents, or complications due to sickness or fouling. We wish to avoid any pupil or pet becoming hurt, unwell or upset.

Historically the school has operated a "no dogs" rule; this was only recently changed, so this represents a reversion to our previous approach. Please do not leave dogs tied up outside the school gates. This does not apply to assistance dogs.

Art on the Hill –  Saturday 1st October 

The school will be open on Saturday from 11am-3pm during Art on the Hill to showcase some of the children's amazing art work. The PTFA will also be providing refreshments in the school hall. Please come in and have a look at the gallery!

Grapes

It's great to see children bringing fruit into school for their snack and in their lunchboxes. If children are having grapes in school, it is good practice to cut these into quarters, especially for the youngest children. This updated advice from our First Aid trainers relates to the possibility for choking on large pieces or fruit skin.

No Nuts Please

Some children in our school have serious nut allergies. Though we can not guarantee a 100% nut free environment in our setting, we ask parents and carers for their help to do as much as possible together. Therefore please do not send children into school with nuts or products containing nuts as a main ingredient (such as peanut butter).

Autumn and Harvest Songs

At the end of this term, we would like you to join us in the school playground after dropping off your children, for a quick and informal performance of some Harvest songs. This term children will be learning songs about Autumn and Harvest time in their weekly singing assemblies. We guarantee you will hear some classics!

• Thursday 20th October at 9:00am for Reception, Year 1 and Year 2
• Friday 21st October at 9:00am for Years 3, 4, 5 & 6

PE kits

As the weather turns colder, please bring in jogging bottoms or leggings and jumpers for PE lessons - we will be taking PE lessons outside in all but the most extreme weather.

Tag Rugby

Two enthusiastic teams from Year 5 and Year 6 team enjoyed a few warm up games of tag rugby at the Ashton Park Sports Partnership tournament. The children quickly learnt the rules, bonded as a group and showed fantastic team spirit and determination. The event finished with an energetic Year 5 vs. Year 6 match. Thank you to Leanne Pratten for helping to coach and support the Year 6 team. We can't wait for next Monday when the tournament starts. Please remember to bring your kit and tops. Go Team VPPS!

Apple Day

There are many community gardening groups across the region. One of these is the Bedminster Patchwork Group. It has been going for over 10 years and looks after half-a-dozen gardens on 'waste', mostly roadside land. Their annual Apple Day will be on Saturday 8th October between 11:00am and 2:30pm. They will be meeting at their Dean Lane orchard and will have their apple press with them, so bring along some apples if you have any. There will be music, cake and lots of opportunities to chat.

Family Theatre Show

Our friends at Travelling Light Theatre Company would like you to know about their upcoming winter production called "Belle and Sebastien". You can click on the flyer below for more details.
 

Flu Vaccine Clinic at Bristol Jamia Mosque

If you have not done so yet, please visit the new PTFA website for information, event dates and ways you can get involved. Have a lovely weekend!