No Celebration Assembly – Thursday – 11.04.24

Unfortunately, there will not be a celebration assembly this week.

 

Our first of this term will be next week (Thursday 18th April).

Corner Exotics – Simon Airey

This afternoon, Grasshoppers and Fireflies had a visit from Simon, from Corner Exotics. We all learnt so much about the world and the animals that live in it. In particular, those from Australia and those animals with similar adaptations.

A blue tongued skink, carpet python, boa constrictor, hedgehog, chinchilla, scorpion, giant spiny stick insect, tarantulas, Australian green tree frog, African bullfrog, leopard gecko and an East Australian bearded dragon.

We all had a great afternoon and the children were fearless!

 

Easter Fun

Have a lovely Easter break with your families, Grasshoppers

I was told about the Easter Festival at The British Ironwork Centre by Carla. Kids get in free!

There are a few other events below too. Have fun!

https://www.britishironworkcentre.co.uk/visit-us/

Homemade Easter Festival🐣, The British Ironwork Centre, Oswestry, 29 March  to 30 March | AllEvents.in

https://www.shropshiremuseums.org.uk/event/castle-dragons-eggs-trail/

Castle Dragons & Eggs Trail event thumbnail

https://www.ludlowcastle.com/events/easter-trail/

Advert for the Easter Egg Trail at Ludlow Castle, with eggs and rabbits ears!

 

Ludlow Library (@LudlowLibrary) / X

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom–shropshire/easter/

Easter Storytime & Craft at Booka Bridgnorth

Mid-year reports

Children will be coming home with their mid-year reports today.

 

Reception children do not have mid-year reports and there’s will come at the end of the year – and, unfortunately, due to the current school structure, Scorpions reports will be coming home with children on the first half term after the Easter break.

 

Staff spend a considerable amount of time writing these reports, and we have also made a number of changes to their format this year to try and ensure the most useful information is present in a easy-to-find way (following feedback from previous years), and so we’d really appreciate some feedback on how useful and effective you find the different elements of the report format.

If you could fill in the following Microsoft Form after reading your child’s report, it would be hugely appreciated: https://forms.office.com/e/53qrHfVZNx

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.

FOBCS – Easter Fundraising

FOBCS are currently raising funds for some new cubbyholes to replace our existing pegs – which, with a increase in numbers over the past few years, have become particularly unmanageable.

We currently have a “guess the name of the rabbit tiger” – which costs £1 per guess. The actual name of the tiger will be announced in Thursday’s well-done assembly – with the winner receiving the tiger and a small Easter egg.

We currently have 50 names remaining and will be opening this up for people to have a second guess from Tuesday.

Potential Part-time Caretaker Position

We are currently exploring our options of taking on a part-time caretaker. Our initial plans with this would be on a (flexible – if needed) one-day-a-week basis.

 

If anyone with experience in interior and exterior maintenance/repairing that would be interested in this, the please get in touch (admin@brownclee.shropshire.sch.uk), and we can discuss whether this could work.

Animal Man Visit – Grasshoppers and Fireflies

Grasshoppers and Fireflies are having a visitor on the first day back after Easter: the Animal Man.

 

As this may involve some direct interaction with the animals, could any parents/carers with children with allergies to any animals fill in the following form: https://forms.office.com/e/JDYdm3NjE9

 

Easter Service

All parents, carers and others are invited to join the children for an Easter Service led by Reverend Joe Simons at St. John the Baptist Church, Ditton Priors next Monday (18th March).

 

The service will begin at 2pm.

 

We look forward to seeing any who can make it.

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

World Book Day Menu

The kitchen will be providing a special menu for World Book Day next Thursday 7th March which is shown on the attached poster. As we are unable to amend the menu on ParentPay, if your child would like a lunch off the special menu please make the following choices. For the Chicken & sweetcorn pie select chicken and golden rice and for Spaghetti with Meatless meatballs select Mac and Cheese.

Jacket potatoes and sandwiches will be available as normal.

World Book Day Menu

Year 6 National Offer Day for Secondary Places – 1st March 2024

Schools Admissions at Shropshire Council have asked us to send out the following message to the Parents of children in Year 6 in advance of National Offer Day on 1st March.

“In preparation for National Offer Day on Friday 1st March 2024 please can all year 6 parents check they can access their account on the Parent Portal on Shropshire Council Website Apply for a School Place (shropshire.gov.uk). If you cannot access your account or are locked out, please email school-admissions@shropshire.gov.uk or phone (01743) 255216 as soon as possible.  A member of  the Admissions Team will look into this and re-set/unlock accounts accordingly.”

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.

World Book Day (7th March) and Comic Relief (15th March)

We have two upcoming events that we are planning on celebrating in school.

 

World Book Day (Thursday 7th March)

For World Book Day, children are encouraged to come to school dress as character from their favourite (or any) book/story – and also bring along the book (if the have it); however, we appreciate that not all children will enjoy “dressing up”. If so, they can come in their own clothes. As this is not a charitable fundraising event, no donation are being requested.

 

On the day, the children’s classes will be mixed to form 5 new classes (with children from reception to Y6 in each class). The classes will then rotate around a variety of different book-themed activities throughout the day.

 

In the afternoon, we’d like to invite any parents and carers (and others) to come into school – in a similar way as last year – to share some reading books or stories with your child or any others . This will be from 2:15pm. At around 2:45pm, we will be having our usual celebration assembly – which anyone is also welcome to stay for.

 

 

Comic Relief – “Red Nose Day” (Friday 15th March)

We are also having a fundraising day for Comic Relief. Children can come into school in their own clothes (with something red). We are requesting donations for this event as it will be raising money for Comic Relief; however, the amount is entirely up to you.

 

As part of the day, children can also bring in their own joke – written on piece of paper with their name on. The joke doesn’t have to be an original one. Teachers will be picking their top 20 jokes – which will be shared in assembly and the top joke (by volume of laughter it generates) winning a prize! Unfortunately, due to timings, this will be an assembly with just children.

Science – Alive/Dead/Once Alive/Never Alive

Grasshoppers have enjoyed learning about what makes something alive and sorting objects into groups depending on whether they are ‘Alive’, ‘Dead / Once Alive’ or ‘Never Alive’. There are some great activities on the BBC Bitesize website that they might like to try with you at home to help embed their learning.

Dead, living and non-living – BBC Bitesize

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FOBCS meeting – 27th February

The next meeting of FOBCS (Friends of Brown Clee School) will be held on Tuesday 27th February at 5.30pm here in school.  Everyone is welcome and we would love to see you.

Club Spaces

There are still spaces for the after school clubs this term – children can start this week if payment can be dropped into the office. I have attached the Clubs letter for more information. Please email careclub@brownclee.shropshire.sch.uk if you have any questions.

Cheerleading KS2 – 3 spaces

Create Club year 1-year 6 – 3 spaces

Multisports KS1 – 5 spaces

Invasion Games year 2-year 6 – 4 spaces

Activity Clubs letter Spring Term 2 2024

Celebration Assembly Next Week (22.02.23)

Unfortunately, due to an (in-school) Viking experience day for Scorpions and Bees, we won’t be able to have our Celebration Assembly on Thursday.

Care Club and Activity Clubs

Please email careclub@brownclee.shropshire.sch.uk with any care club bookings for the week after half term (w/c 19th Feb).

Also, don’t forget to send in payment and a reply slip to the office for next term’s clubs – there are still spaces. Lego club sign up opens this Wednesday (7th Feb), apologies for the confusion.

Any questions, please email careclub@brownclee.shropshire.sch.uk

 

Maths Games

In class, I have shown the Year 2 children how to play these games to support their multiplication work, at home.

I will also send home information about TTRS, next week, as the Year 2 children can begin accessing this, if they haven’t already. They should begin on their 2, 5 and 10 times tables, before progressing onto their 3 times table.

https://www.topmarks.co.uk/times-tables/coconut-multiples

https://www.topmarks.co.uk/maths-games/hit-the-button

https://www.topmarks.co.uk/maths-games/mental-maths-train