Our Weekly Update from Mrs Bowe...
7 November 2025
It’s been great welcoming the children back into school this week, ready for a busy and exciting run-up to Christmas.
I am thrilled to announce the final total for our recent sponsored walk, 'The Great Tech Trek.' Thanks to your incredible generosity and the children's determination, we raised a phenomenal £2,800! This money will go directly toward improving the technology resources available to all our pupils through the purchasing of new tablets.
Our new after-school clubs are proving popular and are well-attended. We’ve already seen some fantastic artwork produced by the children in the Art and Craft Club! It was also nice to welcome back Cricket Chris this week; Class 2 thoroughly enjoyed their first coaching session with him on Monday.
Everyone is warmly invited to join the congregation at St John the Evangelist's Church, Crosscanonby on Sunday at 10:50 am for their Remembrance Service. As a school, we lay a wreath of poppies to show our respect, and we would be very grateful for a parent/pupil representative to do this on the school's behalf.
On the academic front, we are excited to introduce two new online platforms to enhance learning: Times Tables Rock Stars (TTRS) and Numbots. TTRS uses a fun, engaging format to help children master their times tables and division facts, while Numbots focuses on improving number sense and fluency in early arithmetic, building a strong foundation for future maths. Classes 2 and 3 are already set up and using the programs, and a letter containing log-in details for Class 1 and EYFS parents is coming home today.
I can now announce the titles for our spectacular Christmas performances! EYFS and Key Stage 1 will be performing 'Boogie Woogie Nativity,' and Key Stage 2 will put on 'Big, Bad Ben of Bethlehem.' Parts will be assigned soon, and the children will begin rehearsing for what promises to be two memorable performances on Tuesday 9th December.
We were disappointed that two events were cancelled this week. The Water Workshop has been rescheduled and will now take place on Friday 28th November. Unfortunately, the Quick Sticks Hockey tournament will need to be rearranged by Netherhall School for the Spring term, and I will share the new date as soon as it is confirmed.
We do, however, have an exciting sporting event coming up… On Wednesday 19th November, selected pupils will attend a Table-Top Sports Tournament at Netherhall School. This tournament includes three fantastic adapted sports designed to promote inclusion and strategy: Boccia, Table-Top Cricket, and Curling. For those unfamiliar with them: Boccia is a precision ball sport similar to bowls; Table-Top Cricket is an adapted version played on a table using a ramp for bowling; and Curling involves sliding 'stones' towards a target. If your child has been selected to participate, you will receive a letter with all the details by the end of next week.
Next week is a particularly busy one:
On Tuesday, everyone is invited to join us for our Remembrance Day assembly at 9:00 am. We hold this service to provide a crucial opportunity for the children to reflect on the sacrifices made by others and to foster an understanding of peace and tolerance.
Thursday sees us celebrating the joy of literature with Michael Rosen Day, a full day dedicated to poetry. The aim of the day is to make reading, listening to, and writing poetry fun, enjoyable and accessible for all, helping our children to discover its magic.
This year’s theme is FUNNY FOOD, so this is a fantastic opportunity for us to get creative, inspired by Michael Rosen and his ‘feast’ of fabulous poems.
We will be further showing our kindness and generosity on Friday by supporting both Children in Need and World Diabetes Day – ‘Type Onesie Day’. World Diabetes Day is especially meaningful to us, as one of our pupils manages Type 1 Diabetes, and we want to help everyone understand more about this condition and how we can support those living with it. We’ll be spending the day doing fun activities and having opportunities to learn about kindness, inclusion, and health awareness.
To help us celebrate, your child may come to school in pyjamas for Pudsey/ onesies for type-1 or even just something blue to show some support. Pudsey ears (£3) and Pudsey pens (£1) will be available to buy in school next week. We ask kindly for a donation of £1 to be in non-uniform. We will be splitting these donations between Children in Need and ‘T1 Kidz’ - T1 Kidz is a charity that supports young people in Cumbria living with this condition, funding days out where children can meet people ‘just like them’.
Finally, our good friend to the school, Marion, will begin teaching children in Year 4 how to play the recorder and will continue working with those in Year 5. This provides a brilliant opportunity for our pupils to learn a musical instrument and develop the skill of reading sheet music. Marion, who is also an exceptional artist, will also be working with our Year 6 children on a special watercolour project, later this month.
Please find below key dates for your diary for the week beginning Monday 10th November:
*Sunday 9th November – Remembrance Day Service at St John the Evangelist’s Church, Crosscanonby – 10:50am
*Monday 10th November – Class 2 – Cricket with Cricket Chris – PE kit needed
*Monday 10th November – Cricket After-School Club – Years 1-6
*Tuesday 11th November – ‘Remembrance Day’ Assembly – 9:00am
*Tuesday 11th November - PE for Class 1 (Miss Moore)
*Tuesday 11th November – Art and Craft After-School Club
*Wednesday 12th November – PE with Andy for whole school – PE kit needed
*Wednesday 12th November – Multi-Skills After-School Club
*Thursday 13th November – ‘Michael Rosen Day’ – a celebration of poetry
*Thursday 13th November – Film After-School Club
*Friday 14th November – Children in Need/Type Onesie Day - £1 to wear pyjamas/onesies or something blue
Other important upcoming dates:
*Wednesday 19th November – Table-Top Sports Tournament for selected pupils
*Monday 24th November – ‘Scholastic Book Fair’ – in school all week
*Friday 28th November – Water Workshop
*Tuesday 9th December – Christmas Performances – EYFS/Class 1: 9:30am; Classes 2/3: 6:00pm
Christmas week
*Monday 15th December – ‘Carols Around the Christmas Tree’ – 9:00am. Everyone welcome!
*Tuesday 16th December – Christmas Craft Day in school
*Wednesday 17th December – Christmas Party Day
*Thursday 18th December – Christmas Dinner Day
*Friday 19th December – School closes for the Christmas holidays – 1:15pm
Our Class Blogs will be updated by the end of today, giving you a more detailed insight into your child's week at school.
Thank you for your continued support.