In our whole school assembly this week we learnt about Neurodiversity Celebration Week. This week is about celebrating the strengths and talents of people who think and learn differently. It is also one way of reminding everyone of the importance of being kind and accepting everyone. During the assembly we learnt about what neurodiversity is as well as the achievements of individuals such as Maggie Aderin-Pocock, David Piley and Greta Thunberg who attribute their respective success to their unique ways of thinking.

Our Values Certificate winners this week were Calli, Annabelle, Summer, Robin, Sienna, Harun, Kimy, Selma, Anwen, Hafsa, Ferzaan and Violet.

Attendance and Punctuality

We have seen a noted improvement in children arriving at school on time this week so Thank You for all your efforts.  Hopefully the Spring weather will continue and make the walk to school more enjoyable for all.

Comic Relief

Today the children and staff have been wearing their Pjs and onesies to raise money for Comic Relief.  Thank you to those of you who took part and donated towards this worthwhile cause.  There is still time to donate if you haven't already done so through the Gateway app.  During assembly on Monday we looked at where the money raised goes and who it helps.  

At lunchtime today there was a flurry of children lining up to share their jokes.  What a funny lunchtime it was.  Thank you to the school council for organising this.  

Year 4 Trip to City Hall

This week, Year 4 enjoyed the exciting opportunity to travel to City Hall and take part in an interschool debate. This event was set up as part of CSTs enrichment programme to give all children a wide range of interesting and informative experiences. 

The topic of the debate was: "All primary schools should limit their use of technology to one hour a day to reduce energy consumption."

This debate topic was an inspiring one for our Year 4 classes and led to a lively debate with strong arguments on either side. All children approached the debate in the council chamber with a great deal of respect. Hopefully, some of our Year 4 will return to the chamber once again as Bristol's councillors of the future. 

We also want to express a special congratulations to the two Year 4 Children who bravely performed their debate to an audience of over one hundred people. Both speeches were well written and fantastically performed. 

We would also like to say thank you to all the parents who took time out of their day to help us travel to and from the event. 

Cherry Class Trip to Windmill Hill City Farm

This week Cherry class had the opportunity to visit Windmill Hill City Farm. We have been exploring the topic of growing and changing with a focus on plants. At the farm the children were guided around the garden and used their senses to discover different herbs as well as identify parts of plants and have a go digging. In the barn, we used the vegetables picked from the garden to slice and grate to make our very own stir fry, which went down a treat. Of course a visit to the farm would not be complete without seeing the animals, which brought them much joy! 

After School Clubs Page On Our Website

Please check our After School Clubs page on the website for all the up to date  information about our current clubs. Here is the link to the page:

https://www.victoriaparkprimary.co.uk/after-school-clubs-1/

New Rainwater Planters

You may have noticed some lovely new planters in the playground. These are called 'SUDS'; Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems. The planters divert rain from the roof which would normally go straight down the drain. Rainwater is slowed down and a collection of hardy plants are provided with water. Slowing down rainwater contributes to flood resilience and helps prevent drains becoming overwhelmed, which can lead to sewage overflowing into our rivers.

We are excited to be part of the 'SUDS in schools project' with Bristol Avon River Trust who will be working with Year 4 and the Green Team to plant them up. We are looking forward to having more plants for wildlife and for us all to enjoy.

More information about the project can be found here: https://bristolavonriverstrust.org/suds-for-schools/ 

Smartphone Parent Pact for VPPS

As you may be aware, the Netflix drama Adolescence has added pressure to MPs to action to tackle the effects of social media on children.
This is a topic that year 5 parents have been discussing since last summer and are keen to seen tackled together as a school community.  
As part of this, year 5 parents have put together a Smartphone Parent Pact for VPPS. The Pact we’ve prepared takes into account feedback we’ve had from our school community and that it keeps things straight forward and VPPS focused.
The Pact is simple and is done by a parent or carer. By signing up you agree not to give your child (or children) a smartphone in primary school, and / or to not let them have access WhatsApp or social media  We would like to know open the Pact to rest of the school community. Take a look and consider signing up.
Link to the VPPS Parent Pact:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeu3fxOUn4YyrDLezYZvEL3_FKqU1Ff4ffDpfYkhTLzOVIBxA/viewform
Online Workshop
You may also be interested in joining a webinar run by PAPAYA - 1st April 19.20 - 21.00 for pre-teens / teens and / or their parents on how to get a healthy balance with technology. See attached flier for more details.
If you’d like more information about the smartphones and children check out https://smartphonefreechildhood.co.uk/
Also - check out the link below for lots of alternatives to smartphones
https://smartphonefreechildhood.co.uk/alternatives-1

Bristol Parent Carer Forum 

Bristol Parent Carers offer a range of free support sessions designed to support parents and carers of children with SEND. 

Join them for:

Understanding and Supporting your child with Dyscalculia | with Sue Willis from Act4SEND on Thurs 27th March at 10 AM at St Werburghs Community Centre BS2 9TJ and The Zones of Regulation (Understanding and supporting regulation with children and young people with SEND) | with Catrina Lowri from Neuroteachers on 

Thurs 3rd April at 6:45PM at St Annes House - Community and Creative Hub, BS4 4AB

It's easy to book, just visit  https://bit.ly/Getbookednow to secure your place!

Important Dates for Term 4

• Wednesday 26th March 2025 Parents' Evening
• Thursday 27th March 2025 Parents' Evening
• Friday 4th April 2025 PTFA Cake & Uniform Sale after school
• 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.

EASTER HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES 

 ArtLab Easter Holiday's workshops available

ArtLab will be holding Easter Holiday sessions in Windmill Hill and Totterdown.  Please see below flyer and follow the link to the booking form here

https://forms.gle/sGdyKUQdttzDgx3Y8

Bristol Robins Holiday Football Camps

Bristol Robins are running football camps during the Easter holidays.  The camps costs £30 per day and you can purchase wrap around care from 3pm-4pm for an additional £5 per day. Lunch is also available for £5 per day. 

The football camps run from 9am to 3pm and are designed to give children aged 5 to 12 years old the opportunity to play, learn and make new teammates in a safe, inclusive space. 

All our enthusiastic coaches are FA qualified and have been trained to deliver fun football sessions.  The sessions will include football-based drills in the morning, for footballers who want to develop their skills, while making new friends. In the afternoons, children will play in matches, and tournaments or take on our fun football challenges.

For further information click here: Bristol Robins Football camps

Easter holiday tennis course at Knowle Lawn Tennis Club

Mini First Aid in Bristol

Over the Easter holidays we are running open first aid classes for children, both EYFS and KS1, very locally to your school at Redcatch Community Centre, on Thursday 10th April. During these sessions children will learn how to help friends and family in an emergency in an age appropriate way, in a safe but fun environment.