Newsletter 5 Spring Term 2023

Love Yourself Day

Next week is Children's Mental Health week. Across the UK, schools and colleges will be thinking about how we can help children to be in tune with themselves, in harmony with the people they are connected to and in good relations with the wide, wide world around and beyond them. We started this early at South Tawton with our Love Yourself Day. Alongside the children wearing their favourite clothes and bringing their favourite snacks and toys, they were also encouraged to think of things to celebrate about themselves. All pupils wrote their ideas on a pink heart and these are now displayed in the hall windows. 

Upcoming Events

Monday 6th February - Friday 10th February - Children's Mental Health Week. Theme - Let's Connect
Monday 6th February - Netball match vs Bow Primary School
Tuesday 7th February - YR trip to Paignton Zoo
Thursday 9th February - John Muir Evening for Y5/6
Monday 13th - Friday 17th February - Half term break
Tuesday 21st February - Whole school cricket sessions
Thursday 23rd February - OCRA futsal sessions
Friday 24th February - Y5 Trip to The Eden Project
Tuesday 28th February - Y4 Trip to Escot Park
Thursday 2nd March - World Book Day (get those costumes ready!)
Thursday 2nd March - Possible NEU Strike Action
Monday 6th - Friday 31st March - DMAT Festival of Hope
​Wednesday 15th and Thursday 16th March - Possible NEU Strike Action
​Friday 17th March - PTA Chocolate Bingo
Monday 20th March - Pupil reports to parents
Monday 27th and Tuesday 28th March - Y3/4 performances (to be confirmed)
Monday 3rd April - Friday 14th April - Easter holiday
Monday 17th April 6pm - French Trip meeting for parents about the Y6 French residential

Many calendar and term dates can be found in the calendar at the bottom of our website home page.
2022 23 Term dates can be found here.
2023 24 Term dates can be found here.

Cross Country at Simmons Park

30 pupils spent Friday afternoon at Simmons Park taking part in an inter-schools cross country event. For many of the children, it was their first race of this kind; others were looking to build on their successes from last season. We saw some amazing team and individual efforts and extremely gutsy running from all. We had some superb podium finishes and some excellent team work. Perhaps the best thing of the afternoon for me was the way every South Tawton child cheered and supported our teams in the other races. A fantastic afternoon. Thank you to everyone who made it possible by helping with transport and supporting.

If our cross country runners need any further encouragement, then I'm delighted to share news of Luke. Luke was a very keen member of our school cross country team through his time at South Tawton and has continued to experience considerable success now he is at college. On Saturday, Luke represented Devon in the South West Schools Cross Country Championships. He had an excellent run, placing 29th overall and 4th in Devon. The Devon team were third. Well done, Luke!

Message From Devon County Council

Support for families as food poverty risesThe number of households in Devon unable to access or afford the food that they need to ensure that they and their families stay healthy has increased by 70 per cent in 18 months. And more than a third of households say that that they plan to switch off their heating altogether this winter to help make ends meet.
If your family is struggling to afford to eat healthily and keep warm this winter, please remember that support is available.
We're working with local partners, including local councils, the NHS and the voluntary and community sector, on ways to support communities, and there are a variety of schemes on offer depending on your circumstances.
These include the Household Support Fund, Free School Meals and Free School Meals Holiday Voucher scheme, The Holiday Activity and Food Programme and Citizens Advice Devon.
For more information you can read the full story on the news page of our website, or visit our dedicated Cost of Living webpages.

PTA News

​Friday was such an exciting and incredible fundraising day! Thank you for continuing to support our events and giving so generously.
It was wonderful to see everyone embracing all the things they love on Love Yourself Day! And there are some brilliant things written on the pink hearts up in the hall – reinforcing all the wonderful things there is to love about themselves!! Then they topped off the day with another fantastic disco! Thank you to the teachers for staying late to help, to all the wonderful PTA volunteers, to The King's Arms for lending us lights and to your wonderful children for once again behaving beautifully!
Thinking ahead to World Book Day - this week you will receive a sponsorship form for Book Bingo. The sheet has a number of book related challenges to complete - see how many you can tick off! We will collect in all forms and sponsorship money on Thursday 2nd March. All completed forms will go into a prize draw!!!
Don't forget to put the long-awaited return of Chocolate Bingo night in your diaries - Friday 17th March in the School Hall. Doors open at 6.00pm, eyes down at 6.30pm! This is a really fun family event, not to be missed! More information to follow after half term.
Our next meeting will be held on Monday 20th February at 8pm via Teams.
As ever if you have any questions or would like to get involved please don't hesitate to email us at [email protected]  
Best wishes
Hannah and Liz

​PTA 100 Club
This week Year 4 helped with January's 100 Club draw. Congratulations to the winners:
1st 55 Sheena Vernon
2nd 83 Judith Smith
3rd 2 Ali Griffith

If you're not already a member and would like to be in with a monthly chance to win then please email [email protected]

Friday Night was Disco Night!