Welcome to this week's newsletter - as it's the start of October it is also the start of Black History Month across the country. Our School Vision is a crucial statement about who we are and what we value in school. The first sentence says: “At Victoria Park Primary School, we celebrate our differences and teach our children to find their place in the world through respect, curiosity and kindness.” Black history is British history and will be embedded within the curriculum all year round, but Black History Month is an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the invaluable contributions of black people to British society. This year's Black History Month 2023 is themed "Celebrating Our Sisters" and will highlight pioneering black women who have blazed a trail and contributed to society and the world.

In every assembly this month we will be looking at these two books which already feature as part of our reading curriculum. This week, we focused on Determination and the work of Mrs Mary Seacole, whose story often goes untold in favour of Florence Nightingale's. Children learned how Mary Seacole's determination and kindness saved many lives.

Harvest Collection

This year we will continue to support The Matthew Tree Project with our annual Harvest-time collection in school. Please bring donations of food in tins or packets, as well as toiletries. The Matthew Tree Project provides a food bank service and support to empower people who have fallen into crisis, for whatever reason, to rebuild their lives and create a better, healthier, happier future. Children can bring donations into school with them, and we will set up a collection point in each hall.

Pre-loved Donations Needed - Can You Help?

Here we have a range of items that you may be able to help us with across the school. For each of these, please go directly to the staff member or year group requesting them:

• Reception Classes (Willow and Cherry) are in need of boys trousers.  If anyone has any old school trousers or joggers age 4 -6 we would love to take them off your hands.  We don't mind if they are a bit worn out!
• If anyone has any Orchard games (age 3 - 7) which your children no longer play with (and have all the pieces!) we would love to have them for our children in Reception to play with.
• Winter bedding plants needed - Year 1 would love any surplus bedding plants to cheer up our planters - please drop them off at the Mulberry class door. Thank you.
• Bikes needed - do you have a child's bike you don't need any more? We are hoping to run Bikeability in school and are looking for a few bikes suitable for children aged 7-11 to ensure all our children can learn to ride a bike safely. Please see Mrs Walker or Mr Kellow if you have a bike you could donate. 
• For our Reception outside area, can you help with contributions of unwanted kitchen items for our mud kitchen/outdoor imaginative space? This includes pots, pans, baking trays, cake tins, metal spoons, colanders, baking equipment, as well as pinecones, conkers, etc.

Other Information

• See the poster below for information about October half term activities at Kingsdown Sports Centre:  

• See below for details of local dance classes for children in BS3:

Please pop into school this weekend and enjoy seeing our children's colourful artwork on display! We will be taking part in Art on the Hill and the doors will be open from 11am to 3pm. More details about the art trail can be found here. Whatever you do, we hope you have a lovely weekend!