Cross Country – Next Week

With next week’s cross country (Tuesday 15th), we have been asked by the event organiser to ask parents to car share (where possible) as parking could be an issue at Swancote.

 

There will also be tea/coffee/refreshments available to purchase.

As always, Year 3 girls will be the first event – and this race will begin at 4:30pm, so please ensure you arrive before this.

Upcoming Football Events

For those attending the upcoming football competitions, children will need shin pads (if they don’t have any, then they will need to let me know and I can sort some for them to borrow). They will also be playing on grass at Oldbury, so football boots would be preferable; however, trainers will be also fine.

Please note that there are two events:

Girls’ Football Competition: Tuesday 8th October
Mixed Football Competition: Tuesday 22nd October

Please note: your child may have been chosen to take part in one or both competitions.

Times tables practise in Dragonflies, Bees and Scorpions

Times Tables

Children in Dragonflies and Bees will focus on a specific times table each week, their knowledge of which will be tested on a Friday. Children may practise using Times Tables Rockstars, but will also need to rehearse the specific times table that they are working on either verbally or with a pen or pencil in their Home Learning books. Scorpions will be tested on all times tables every Friday and should use Times Tables Rockstars.

Spellings for Dragonflies, Bees and Scorpions

Spellings

Every Friday, children in Key Stage 2 will bring home a list of ten spellings to learn. They will be given a test on these words the following Friday and a new list will be shared. Children in Dragonflies and Bees will focus on recapping high-frequency words and Year 3&4 common exception words. Children in Scorpions will recap the above-mentioned words and in addition will also focus on Year 5 & 6 common exception words. These word lists will be made available each week for children to practise on Spelling Shed. The full 3&4 and 5&6 word lists are available on Spelling Shed should your child wish to do any further practice.

KS2 Swimming – Sept ’24

Please see below a letter regarding swimming in KS2 for this term.

Paper copies of the letter will be sent home with children on Monday.

Swimming Lessons – Sept 24

Year 5 and 6 – Last Day

For the last day, all of Year 5 and 6 (Scorpions and the Year 5s in Bees) will be have an end-of year celebration – with some water-based activities in the morning and also some pizza in the afternoon.

 

Children will need to bring in clothes suitable for getting wet (e.g. swimming shorts and t-shirt for boys. Swimming costume under t-shirt and shorts for girls) to get changed into. They will also need a towel.

 

Any questions, please do get in touch.

KS2 Evening Performance

As you will be aware, the KS2 performances will be taking place next week.

 

For the evening performance (Tuesday 16th July), could all pupils return to school from 17:15 (17:30 at the latest). This will give us chance to get changed and ready ahead of the performance itself (at 18:00). If you would prefer, children can be booked into careclub (by emailing careclub@brownclee.shropshire.sch.uk).

 

If, for whatever reason, you think there may be an issue with your child(ren) attending this performance, please let us know as soon as possible – as we can see what we can do to help.

Bikeability – this week

Just a quick reminder that Bikeability will be happening this week on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday for Year 5/6.

 

They will need their bikes and helmets in school for all three of these days. If you would like their bikes to stay in school during this time, we can store them overnight in school.

Arthog 24-25 Update

Following the questionnaire sent out a couple of weeks ago regarding next year’s Y5/6 residential trip (https://browncleeschool.org.uk/arthog-2024-25/), we would like to confirm that we have booked our place at Arthog for next academic year (25.11.24 – 29.11.24)

 

The questionnaire unanimously voiced the importance of a residential (something which we whole-heartedly agree with). We understand the small number of concerns about the November date – as well as the cost. We did explore multiple different options – but found that, although there was availability in the Summer Term at other locations, Arthog still proved to be considerably cheaper – as well as providing a wider range of acivities and experiences.

 

Please rest assured that Arthog will have fully risk assessed all activities (and they run activities throughout the whole year – including the even colder months). It is likely that some of the more weather-dependent activities, such as surfing and sea-kayaking will not be possible (these activites are often not possible for all groups in the summer anyway); however, the bulk of the usual activites will still be the same (as well as the possibility of some activities that we have never done before!).

 

We will also continue exploring ways in which we can reduced the overall cost (including the additional transport costs).

 

So that you have a clear picture (especially with it being in the Autumn term of next year), here is an estimated timescale of things between now and the eventual trip:

  • Return from Arthog: 29/11/24
  • Leave for Arthog: 25/11/24
  • Final payments required: First week back of next academic year (approx. 06.09.24)
  • Deposit required: 25/05/24

 

We will share more information as soon as it becomes available. In the meantime, if anyone has any questions, please do not hesitate in getting in touch.

Arthog – 2024/25

Looking ahead for our biennial Arthog visit, which is due to take place in the academic year 2024/25, we have found there is very limited availability at our preferred dates – with the only suitable available date being November 2024. There has also been a significant increase in the cost of this per pupil compared to previous years – which is £373 per pupils (before adding transport costs). We have been exploring further options – but have found that these are all coming up as just as much – or, in some cases, significantly more. We are going to look into how we can, as a school, help minimising the cost of this cost for yourselves.

 

Before we make our booking official, we would like to gauge the interest level of parents of current Year 4 and Year 5 parents. If you are a parent of a Year 4 or 5, we’d very much appreciate if you could fill in the following Microsoft Form: https://forms.office.com/e/aLrS7aXjvX

Tag Rugby – Swancote

Just to clarify that the Tag Rugby competition (at Swancote) is on Tuesday 5th March, which is the day after the second after-school practice – as described in the letter itself (and not as describe on the return slip). The other two dates (today and Monday 4th March) are practices.

Apologies for any confusion.

Mud Run – Friars Playing Fields

A reminder for the Y4-6 pupils attending the mud run on Wednesday that it would be avisable to bring a towel and additional dry clothes (either to take with them or parents to bring at pick-up) to put on over their wet/muddy clothes – or to change into. Miss Rock (who has organised the event from Bridgnorth Endowed School) has said that she will be bringing bin bags for children to sit on during their journey home, but you may wish to also bring your own.

 

The original letter stated children would need to wear their Brown Clee P.E. kits for this even; however, you may prefer them to wear something that you do not mind getting particularly muddy. They can get changed into these before leaving school on the day.

 

This year, parents are to pick children up from Friars Playing Fields (as opposed to Bridgnorth Endowed Leisure Centre – as in previous years). The event is due to finish at 15:30.

KS2 Performances

As you will all be aware, all of KS2 have two upcoming performances. With the afternoon performance on Wednesday, the performance will fit within normal school timings. The evening performance on Tuesday, however, begins at 6:00pm. To allow time to change into costumes, Children should arrive at school from 5:15pm and all should be at school by 5:30pm. If watching the performance, you can go into the hall ready for the performance once you have dropped your child off. If you are simply dropping your child off, the performance will be finished at around 7:15pm and children should be ready to be picked up again by 7:30pm.

If, for whatever reason your child may not be able attend the evening performance, please can you let us know as soon as possible – as we may be able to work together a plan.

Dance Club

Dance club had its first session on Monday – The children tried out tap dance, learnt a routine and had a tap around in a pair of tap shoes! Next week they will be having a go at street dancing and having a dance battle.

There are still spaces available if anyone would like to have a go.

Please send a cheque (made payable to Shropshire Council) or the exact cash into the school office. £20 for the remainder of the term.

 

Mud-run – Thursday 24th November

Bridgnorth Endowed School have been in touch today, and there is a slight change to the timings communicated earlier in the week. BES have asked that all parents pick up from the leisure centre car park – as we will not be able to go through the school grounds. We have also been advised that the children should be ready to depart from here shortly after 15:00.