Headteacher Newsletter 434

Winter Wonderland

We would love to see some of your fantastic pictures of Winter Wonderland '24' so we can share them with everyone on the website and celebrate our fantastic event. If you took any pictures that you are happy to share, please email them to us at: winterwonderland@wvps.northants.sch.uk 

We can then share as many of them (and some that we as a school took too) back with everyone so we can all share in the fun the whole community had. Thank you.

 

Christmas Events still to come  

Please see the table of events happening this week.

This means that Wednesday will be the last day that school uniform is required. Party Day (Thursday) and Christmas Jumper Day (Friday) enable the children to wear their choice of clothes (and to be as Christmassy as they wish!) If your child usually does PE on these days, they can still wear mufti as long as they can participate in PE too. 

We hope the children enjoy the final fun and festive days before the Christmas break. 
 

Maths Week

Earlier this term, we had Maths Week. It was a fabulous week across the school. Children in all classes looked at a mathematical picture book - which had a year group specific mathematical concept at the heart of it, found out about a famous mathematician and produced some fabulous mathematical art. Lots of photographs from the week can be found on our school blogs.

For their homework that week, children were challenged to carry out a mathematical scavenger hunt around their home or local area. The response to this was amazing and some of the entries were incredible! In each year group, a winner was chosen, each winning a new mathematical book, and three runners-up, each winning a special ‘Maths Star’ pencil. Here are just a few examples, along with some of our winners! 
 

Well done to all of our children; it was a very successful and enjoyable week!

 

Life Education sessions (Tuesday 7th - Friday 10th January 2025)

We are looking forward to welcoming back our colleagues from Life Education straight after the Christmas break. We have hosted the team for many years and they do a wonderful job delivering sessions to the children on themes such as; learning about our feelings and emotions. knowing the importance of good physical and mental health, recognising what healthy friendships look like and how to ask for help should they need it. 

Most excitingly, the children take part in sessions hosted within Life Education’s interactive tent. This is another example of how we aim to inspire the children to enjoy their learning whilst achieving their full potential.

 

Walk to School Week  

When we return after the Christmas break, we will be undertaking a ‘Walk to School Week’ initiative starting on 13th January. Our hope is to teach children about the many benefits of walking to school. 

One of our priorities during the week is to highlight the importance of reducing traffic congestion outside of school and having a school environment where families can feel as safe as possible. Therefore, for those families who drive to school due to living outside of Grange Park, we will be encouraging you to ‘park and walk’. Can you park in a safe space in the Grange Park area and walk a few minutes to school? If all commuters did this, then our school environment would be significantly safer as we would decrease the risk of a traffic incident because of fewer cars being on the adjacent roads to the school entrance. Plus, children and parents would get a bit of extra exercise too! All that would need to change would be allowing a few extra minutes in the morning.

More details will follow in January but I hope you all support our initiative in making our local area less congested and safer. 
 

School Book Fair

Thank you for supporting us during our Book Fair days recently. We sold a large number of books which totalled £773. Due to this, we were rewarded with £303 to spend on new books! These new books have added to our wonderful collection in the library and classrooms in school.
 

School Blogs! 

Please take a look at what your child has been learning recently via this link
ttps://www.wvps.northants.sch.uk/page/?title=Year+Group+Blogs&pid=75 
Here is a glimpse of some of the action…

Key Dates

Thursday 19th December - Christmas Party Day - (party clothes and food contributions)
Thursday 19th December - Y5/6 Choir performing at The Wig and Walnut 1:30pm 
Friday 20th December - Y3/4 Choir performing to the residents of Richmond Village, at Richmond Village 
Friday 20th December - Christmas Jumper Day and term ends
Monday 6th January - Whole staff Training Day in school (no pupils)
Tuesday 7th January - school opens for Spring term
Tuesday 7th-Thursday 9th January - Life Education sessions in school - see above
Monday 13th January - Walk to School Week begins
Tuesday 14th January - Friends of Woodland Annual General Meeting - 6.30pm at school
Monday 20th January - Residential meeting for Y6 parents - 6pm at school
Tuesday 4th & Thursday 6th February - Y6 Parents’ Evening
Friday 14th February - term ends

Thank you for all of your support this term, particularly for your attendance at our many school events recently. 

I wish you all a very happy Christmas,
Mark Horsley
Headteacher