Newsletter 9/02/2020

Our latest newsletter has information about Library book donations, sponsored fitness circuits, Year 3 PHSE, Year R visitors, story-telling in all classes and more:

Library book donations
​The above picture shows a selection of the wonderful books which have been kindly donated to our library. These are all books from our wish list and will ensure an up to date and exciting selection of reads for children across the school. Thank you to everyone who has donated so far. Please let us know if you would like a copy of our wishlist.
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BookTrust
3 and 4 year old pupils at Little Beacons all received their Bookstart story packs from BookTrust this week. They included a free story book and reading information for parents. 

Contacting teachers
Several of our teachers are receiving emails from parents whilst at home and with their own families. Please respect the importance of their work-life balance and use the [email protected] email address to contact staff. Emails will be forwarded to the staff during office hours. Thank you for your help in this matter.
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Safety before school
The playgrounds are not supervised until 8:40 each morning. If you arrive before this time, please stay with your children until this time. It is important for the children’s safety that they are not left alone on the playgrounds. 

Sponsored Fitness Circuits
On Monday 3rd February, David Hill - a British Paralympian and triathlete - visiting the school to run the sponsored fitness session with each class. It was a truly inspiring visit and thoroughly enjoyed by staff and pupils alike. Please return sponsor forms and money to school by Monday 10th February (tomorrow). 

Open Afternoon
Parents and carers are very welcome to join children in their classes on Friday 14th February from 2pm to share this half term’s learning and other achievements.

Parents Evenings
Parents’ evenings for Years 1-6 will be on Wednesday 25th and Thursday 26th March. These will follow written reports being sent home and are an opportunity for you to discuss your child’s report. If following receipt of the report, you feel that there are things you’d like to discuss further with your child’s teacher, then please sign up using the slip which will be included with the report.

Reports for Year R pupils will be issued in July and so their spring term parents’ evenings will be on Monday 9th & Tuesday 10th March. To book a slot, a signing up slip will be sent home after half term.

Year 3 PHSE
We have been looking at who we are and what makes us special. We have focused on what we are good at, what we are improving on, what we are proud of etc... Here are some of our lovely responses.
“I am a good friend because I share things when my friends are sad” “My special talent is football because I train a lot”
“I am a good team member because I think of others”
“I am a good citizen because I pick up litter”
“I was proud of myself when I got my first medal in Rugby”
“I am a good family member because I help Mummy with the washing up” “We are proud of ourselves because we are amazing people!”
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PTA - There will be a non-uniform day on Friday 14th February. Children can wear their own clothes in exchange for a £1 donation to raise money for the PTA. 

Year R Visitors
Year R have had a busy time welcoming visitors to their class. As well as Paralympian, David, and storyteller, Merrick, we have also learnt from Alex about being a vet, PSCOs Lisa and Kayleigh came to show us their police van and Mr Critcher demonstrated his cherry picker. The week was rounded off by a morning visiting the fire station in Okehampton... the highlight for most was sitting in a real fire engine!

Library
A what’s on poster from Okehampton library is attached alongside this newsletter.
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Dartmoor Pixie Band
Please also see an attached poster for an upcoming ceilidh with the Dartmoor Pixie Band. 

Storytelling in all classes
We rounded off national story-telling week in style on Friday with a visit from Merrick Durling. Merrick first visited the school in the Autumn term to tell stories as part of our Three Hares’ topic. The children enjoyed it so much that he agreed to come back for a full day to visit each class and lead a whole-school assembly. During the assembly, individual children talked about their favourite moments of the day and led the rest of the school in re-playing some superb sound effects and actions. It was an amazing day and the art of oral story telling is now alive and well in South Tawton! 

Dates for your diaries 

11.02.20 - Safer Internet Day
14.02.20 – 2pm Open afternoon
17.02.20 – 21.02.20 February half term
28.02.20 - Year 3 cake sale
09.03.20 + 10.03.20 Year R Parents Evenings
23.03.20 + 24.03.20 Y3/4 performance
25.03.20 + 26.03.20 Y1-6 Parents’ evenings 
27.03.20 – 2pm Open afternoon
27.03.20 – Last day of spring term