Be Safe

This week in assembly we discussed our school rules Be Safe, Be Responsible and Be respectful.  Our focus was on being safe and we talked about all the different things we do in school to teach children how to be safe in school, at home and online.  We thought about elements of our curriculum that support this e.g. PSHE lessons, road safety, online safety.  We also talked about feeling worried and who we could share our worries with both in and out of school.  

Our Values Certificates winners this week were Elsie, Freddie, Eli, Eve, Lucy, Daithi, William, Nina, Rayaan, Rufus, Jude, and Roo.

Safer Internet Day

On Tuesday it was Safer Internet day and throughout the school children were given the opportunity to discuss different ways they can stay safe online at an age appropriate level.  There are lots of resources on our website to support parents with this too, specifically around parental controls and age appropriate apps.  Please do take a look.  

Roman day in Year 3

Year 3 had an amazing time stepping back in history for Roman Day! The children loved dressing up as Roman soldiers, emperors, and citizens, bringing the past to life. They explored Roman traditions, learned Latin phrases, and even tried their hand at ancient crafts. It was a fantastic day of fun and learning, making history truly unforgettable!  

KS2 Inclusive Try It Event 

Last week, several children from KS2 took part in a variety of different sports at Ashton Park School. They spent the morning learning and practising some new skills such as indoor bowls, volleyball and various jumping events.  

Green Team celebration

Last year's Green Team worked with the charity Butterfly Conservation to plant lots of pollinator-friendly plants around our school grounds. They learned about how to create happy habitats for butterflies, moths and other insects.

We are really excited that their hard work has been featured in Butterfly Conservation's Schools Guide; well done VPPS Eco Warriors!

KS1 Athletics

Last Thursday, children from year 1 and 2 took part in a sports hall athletics event at Ashton Park School. They all had a chance to compete in numerous events such as long jump, chest push and speed bounce before combining as a team in relay races. The children represented the school brilliantly showing fantastic determination. 

Year 5/6 Football 

This term has been another busy one for children in the year 5/6 football team. The Ashton Park School Sports Partnership tournament has been played at the Imperial Sports Ground with every member of the squad representing the school. Over the course of two weeks, both teams played some fantastic football and achieved some brilliant victories. We can't wait for the final rearranged week of the tournament later next term. 

As well as the success at the Ashton Park tournament, the team has also reached the semi finals of the Coronation Cup beating Westbury-on-Trym Academy 4-3 in extra time. The team showed fantastic resilience in horrendous conditions to comeback from 2-1 down.

Attendance and Punctuality

Curriculum Newsletters

Each term we provide a Curriculum Newsletter per year group. These are written by class teachers and give an overview of the learning that will be taking place each term in your child's class. Click here for the curriculum newsletters for this term from Reception to Year 6.

PE Kit

Please ensure your child has the correct PE kit ready for the beginning of next term.  In term 4, we will be contacting individual parents of children who are not wearing the correct PE kit.  Children who come to school in the incorrect uniform will be provided with a spare school jumper or jogging bottoms to wear if they are not in the correct uniform. More details on PE kit are below.

World Book Day

We will be celebrating World Book Day on Thursday 6^th March 2025. This year we will be running a sponsored reading challenge to raise money to go towards books for our school and to encourage a lifelong love of reading. As always, the children and staff are invited to dress up as their favourite character from a book for the day, or they may choose to wear something comfortable and cosy which they like to read in. We don't expect anyone to rush out and spend lots of money on a costume; you could wear something you already own, or make a small prop to represent your character. There will be a costume swap on Friday 28^th February, after school in playground 2 if you were interested in swapping a costume you already own, for a new one.

Dressing up is optional - it's fine to wear school uniform on this day. The sponsorship money for the reading challenge can be paid in cash or by parents/carers via the school gateway.

Please note, if your child is in Year 2, they will be celebrating World Book Day on Friday 7^th March as they are on a trip on Thursday 6^th March.

We are excited for the school to be filled with costumes, laughter and lots of book talk!

Thank you for your continued support with reading,

Costume Swap Shop Friday 28th February

If you're having a sort over half term, we'd love any costumes children have grown out of. We're really keen to encourage reuse and recycling in school.

World Book Day is round the corner (6th March) so we're having a one off Costume Swap Shop on Friday 28th February at the end of school in playground 2.

Donate costumes - any time via the school office, Mulberry Class or direct to the Swap Shop on Friday 28th February (please donate in a labelled bag stating age and costume type)

Take or swap a costume - Friday 28th February in playground 2 after school

Important Dates

Important Dates for Term 3

• Friday 14th February 2025 Last day of term

Important Dates for Term 4

• Monday 24th February 2025 INSET DAY
• Tuesday 25th February 2025 First day of Term 4
• Thursday 6th March World Book Day
• Friday 4th April 2025 Last day of term

Important Dates for Term 5

• Tuesday 22nd April 2025 First day of Term 5
• Friday 23rd May 2025 Last day of term

Important Dates for Term 6

• Monday 2nd June 2025 First day of Term 6
• Friday 27th June 2025 INSET DAY
• Tuesday 22nd July 2025 Last day of term

Remember that you can see all of the term dates and INSET days on the term dates page of this website. These and other important dates are also on the website calendar.

Film festival tickets

One of our Year 5 parents, David (former chair of the PTFA) is hosting an film festival to raise money for Keynsham Life Saving Club and VPPS Parents can get 10% off tickets!

They'll be screening a series of short outdoor adventure films (featuring walking, surfing, cycling, climbing, canoeing and more) to entertain and inspire you, whilst raising money for Keynsham Life Saving Club.

• Date:    Fri 7 Mar 2025
• Time:    6:30pm-10pm
• Venue: Keynsham Community Space
• Tickets: www.klsc.co.uk

Check out www.klsc.co.uk for full details of all the films and to buy your ticket, enter discount code VPPS10 at the checkout for your 10% discount.

The money raised from ticket sales will support Keynsham Life Saving Club and help them bring essential first-aid and water-safety skills to more people than ever before.