This week in our assemblies, we considered our value of kindness and how our our individual actions and words create the culture of our school. We discussed the idea of a "kindness boomerang" to think about how our acts of kindness towards others would return to us because of the culture we had created. In our celebration assembly children who had been "caught" by their teacher acting in a kind way this week received extra recognition by being awarded a Values Certificate.

Well done to all of our Values Certificate winners this week:

• Elodie and Myla
• Nikolas and Hallie
• Harmony and Lucas
• Alex and Ava
• Safa and Armani
• Maria and Melissa

National Teaching Assistants' Day

Today is National Teaching Assistants' Day. The day is dedicated to celebrating the invaluable contributions of teaching assistants (TAs) in schools. Quite simply VPPS could not run the way it does without our brilliant TAs who support teachers and children throughout the day. We are especially proud of our TAs as so often they go even further than most attending residential camps, running clubs, taking groups of children to special events  and supporting weekend events such as school fayres. We are very lucky to have them.   

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. Here are the curriculum newsletters for this term from Reception to Year 6. 

This week Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 all had workshops to create their pieces for Art on the Hill on Saturday 5th October. You can see from the latest sneak preview below the work is shaping up to be spectacular! Thank you Lucy and Beth from ArtLab for these brilliant sessions.

Next week the following year groups will have the final workshops in this series:

• Tuesday 1st: Year 4 and Year 1

The children are likely to be using a lot of paint on some large surfaces during the workshops. On the day your child is doing their workshop, to prevent uniforms being covered in paint, they can bring in some old clothes (that you don't mind getting paint on!) to change into during the workshop. 

The school will be open during Art on the Hill between 10.30am and 4.00pm on Saturday 5th October. During the day, you will be able to come and view the children's art from the ArtLab workshops, buy refreshments and participate in workshops run by local community organisations, including:

• Polly Ho Yen: Story Doodling (11.30-12.30pm)
• Batch Cook Club: Creative Cookery (10.30-2.00pm)
• ArtLab: Collage Session (2.00-3.00pm)
• Windmill Hill Scout Group

The PTFA have enabled this event and the children's workshops to happen. Please do come along and show your support for their hard work in providing these opportunities in our school. 

Little Red Riding Could Performance

On Thursday, Years 1 and 2 saw a wonderful performance of Little Red Riding Could from the Roustabout Theatre Company. The performance was a playful and mischievous retelling of the familiar fairy tale with original songs and silliness but dared the audience to step off their own path, question everything around them and write their own story in life.

School Council Election

Today children across the school have been voting for the 2024/2025 school council representative. Some classes used our polling station in order to cast their votes and there has been a lovely buzz of excitement around the school today.  Congratulations to all the children who put themselves forward for nomination, it's great that so many of them want to represent their school on behalf of their class.  We hope to share the outcome of the elections in next week's newsletter.

October Census Day

Thursday 3rd October is Census Day. The number of school meals we serve that day affects the funding we receive from the government next year. Therefore it would help the school if as many children could have a school meal on Thursday (it will be pizza!). So even if your child normally has packed lunch, please consider signing them up for a school meal on Thursday- it will be a great help to us as it can make a big difference to the funding we get for the children. (Remember all children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 are entitled to free lunches every day).   

Important Dates for this Term

• Monday 30th September-   INSET Day 
• Tuesday 1st October-   SEND coffee morning
• Thursday 3rd October-   Census day - menu is pizza. Please order your child a school meal!
• Saturday 5th October-    Art on the Hill Exhibition 10.30am - 4.00pm
• Wednesday 9th October- Reception Parent and Carer Reading and Phonics Meeting 9.00 - 9.30am (Main Hall)
• Wednesday 16th October- Reception Parents’ afternoon/evening 
• Friday 18th October- Individual school photographs
• Tuesday 22nd October- PTFA Disco (timings tbc)
• Thursday 24^th October - PTFA Discos (timings tbc)
• Wednesday 23rd October - Year 1 Parent/ Carer Phonics and Reading Meeting 9am-9.30am (Main Hall) 
• Friday 25th October- Last day of Term 1
• Monday 4th November- INSET Day
• Tuesday 5th November- Start of Term 2

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.

Note that the next INSET day is on Monday!

We are currently advertising for a Lunchtime Supervisor to join our VPPS team. The application closing date is 9th October 2024. Click the link on our vacancies page to find out more information.

The Smartphone Free Childhood Parent Group

You may remember from the previous newsletters that year 5 parents/carers were drafting up a Smartphone Parent Pact. 

Last week parents launched the Pact with year 5 and already there are 20 signatories agreeing not to give their child (or children) a smartphone in primary school, and / or to not let them have access WhatsApp or social media 

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 focussed.

We would like to open it to the rest of the school community. 

By ticking the boxes & adding your details, you sign up. Simples. 

Link to the VPPS Parent Pact: 

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeu3fxOUn4YyrDLezYZvEL3_FKqU1Ff4ffDpfYkhTLzOVIBxA/viewform

 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

WTF (Women Teaching Fabrication)

Workshops for Children

We are an all female teaching team and offer welding classes at our workshop in St Phillips. We are running children's workshops this October half term for kids aged 8-16. They will be 50-minute sessions and offer a hands-on opportunity for children to create their very own metal sculpture. They can choose from crafting a creepy pumpkin or a spooky spider.

Inspiring future engineers and metals artists, give your children the chance to explore their creativity whilst learning practical engineering skills. STEAM activities and learning engineering skills enable children to think more broadly whilst gaining a wide range of skills. Plus they can take home a unique, handmade piece of art this Halloween!

The sessions cost £48 per child. More info can also be found here -
https://www.wtfworkshops.co.uk/events-1/halloween-kids-experience-2024-10-26-10-00
 

Get ready for October Half Term with Shine Holiday Clubs running in Southville! We're thrilled to have welcomed so many children already and can't wait to see even more of you. For a limited time, enjoy a 20% discount with the code ‘Early Booker’ when you check out (valid until Sunday 29^th September). Perfect for children aged 4 to 11 years, holiday club days run from 09:00 to 15:30, with extended hours available if needed. Whether its Creative Extravaganza, Performing Arts, Dance, Gymnastics, and more, there's something for everyone! Click here to book your activities with a discount. We look forward to seeing you at Shine!