Walk to School Week – Next Week
Next week is the annual Hampshire ‘Walk to School Week’ event. Your child should have brought home a letter and a sticker-collection card today, ready for next week. If they walk (or cycle) to school either for the whole or for part of their journey they can claim a sticker. They will therefore need to bring their card every day (we do not have spares of these so keep them safe).Many thanks to the parents and members of the travel team who have organised the ‘walking buses’ from the top and bottom of the village. It’s always nice to walk together. If you would like to join in this more social walking, meet at Popes Lane at 8.30am or at the Woodman at 8.20am in Lower Upham. Parents also have permission to park in Upham Farmyard (second right after post box).

Learner of the Week
Well done to Millie in Class 1. She has shown how well she is able to think and solve problems independently. Well done for her consistent hard work!

SATS
Our Year 6 children have worked very hard this week and taken their SATs tests confidently in their stride. The bacon rolls they had at playtime were an extra treat to keep them going!

BW library
Bishops Waltham library is holding a book group for 8-12 year olds on Tuesday 12th June from 5pm to 6pm. Lots of fun activities and it’s free! If you would like further details look at the poster in our notice board or the website:www.hants.gov.uk/library

Letters Sent This Week
Tues – FUS Disco
Fri – Walk to School Week letter & card

New Year R for September this year
For those of you who have younger children who are due to start with us in September, we will be writing over the next few days to confirm dates and times of upcoming meetings. The Hampshire County Council application process has been much later this year and as a result the timescales shortened. I have been approached by a number of parents asking if we have any places, on behalf of friends or neighbours. The formal application process is now complete and we are aware of a family who have relocated so if you have friends interested in a place at our school please encourage them to contact us as time is short this year!

Library Van Visit
The children were very excited by our library van visit yesterday. Each class sent some children out to the mobile library to exchange some of the books which we borrow from the Hampshire Library Service to keep in our library. This means we can refresh our stocks and ensure there are new books to interest everyone.

Learner of the Week
Well done to Nell in Class 3. She has shared her mathematical understanding successfully with the rest of his class (at one point she was the teacher!) and as a result extended her own learning.

Music Lessons Next Week
As a result of year 6’s SATs tests next week we need to use every available room and as a result we have had to cancel some music lessons for next week:
Wednesday Violin – cancelled
Thursday Woodwind – cancelled
Friday Guitar – as normal
Normal provision will resume from 21st May.

Not The Royal Variety Performance
You may be aware that Upham Players are holding an evening’s entertainment on Friday 18th and Saturday 19th May at 7.30pm. If you would like tickets, Mrs Millen will be selling them after school on Tuesday 15th and Friday 18th next week.

Letters Sent This Week
None

All Library Books Back
The Hampshire School Library service bus is visiting us next week and we would like to replace as many books as we can to refresh our stock. To do this, we need every child to return any library books which they currently have out at home please next week.

Fencing
I’m sure you will have noticed the fencing work at the front of the school, as described in a letter earlier this week. This work will continue into next week when the contractor will also be replacing the wooden fence above the wall between the playground and the car park. The children will all be separated from any work by suitable barriers but please would everyone keep an extra close eye on any younger, inquisitive siblings when on the playground.

Learners of the Week
Well done to Sam L in Class 2. He has been sharing his understanding successfully with the rest of his class.

Parentmail
Those of you who use our ‘Parentmail’ service to receive electronic communication should have received a letter yesterday describing that we are upgrading to an even better service. As a result this means you will need to enter the code on the letter onto the website. If you have not subscribed yet but are interested, ask in the office for more information – all we need is an email address.

Wonderful news!
Mrs Rickets enjoyed her last day today before she starts her maternity leave next week. We sent her off with our love, as did very generous Class 3 parents! We said prayers for her in assembly and look forward to her visiting with her new baby soon!

Letters Sent This Week
Wed- Fencing letter
Thurs – Parentmail letter
Fri – Scholastic Book Catalogues

Not The Royal Variety Performance
You may be aware that Upham Players are holding an evening’s entertainment on Friday 18th and Saturday 19th May at 7.30pm. This will showcase different talents in a variety show, including our own Upham School Rock Challenge. If you would like tickets they cost £7 (£5 concessions) and can be obtained from Upham Post Office or Gwyn Halsall 01489 860258 gwyn_halsall@talk21.com

Bishop’s Waltham Festival
Bishop’s Waltham festival is taking place from 19-26 May. There will be many exciting activities, more details can be found on the poster in our notice board or on the website:www.bishopswalthamfestival.co.uk

Amazing Success for Upham at ‘Rock Challenge’ Event
On Saturday children in years 4, 5 and 6 performed in the Rock Challenge event at Portsmouth Guildhall in front of thousands of people. This annual competition is a showcase of dance and performance from junior aged children from the Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and across the south. Upham had joined forces with Curdridge Primary, Durley Primary and Fair Oak Junior under the name of ‘The Friendship Schools’. This was an apt name as the theme was based on people coming together for the Olympics; ‘A World in Union’. The standard was incredibly high, and the parents who watched their children were all amazed by what they saw.
We are delighted that the children worked so hard to perform their best and even managed to come in third place overall – the highest placing the school has ever achieved in this competition. A huge thank you to Mrs Steele and Mrs Ricketts who both gave up a huge amount of their free time to give the children this opportunity to experience such high quality dance. It also demonstrates the wide range of skills our staff have. Mrs Ricketts actually choreographed most of the work of the other schools too!

Learners of the Week
Well done to The Rock Challenge Team. Not only have they all worked incredibly hard but have needed to make links to adjust their performance to different venues.

Any Athletes Out There?
As part of Wyvern’s Olympic Festival they are holding a 10k fun run on Sunday 15th July. See the poster in the notice board or the following website for details:www.wyvern.hants.sch.uk/wyvern10k
There will also be a community day on Saturday 14th July with a family fun run.

Everyone’s Responsibility
We have received a request from the Parish Council, on behalf of local residents, to remind everyone of the importance of keeping the 30mph speed limit, particularly in Lower Upham where the road opens and straightens out, for everyone’s safety.
If you need convincing, the following website explains how risk of death for a pedestrian is increased by a factor of 4 if hit at 40mph rather than 30mph:www.think.direct.gov.uk/speed.html

Letters Sent This Week
Mon- FUS recycling scheme

Donation from Bernard
You may remember some time ago I reported that Bernard Hadley, a governor of the school for over 30 years, had donated a substantial amount of the money to the school when he moved away. During book week, Zoe, Luke, Isabelle and Jasmin in Class 4 helped to choose new library books, using his donation. These have now arrived and have been added onto the library systems so are ready for children to borrow. Look out for this label on the inside cover to see if your child chooses one.

Learner of the Week
Well done to Sam Gavin in Class 2 who has been sharing his understanding with others which helps everyone learn better.

Thankyou
Many thanks to everyone who took part in Class 3’s Readathon – it has raised £279.50 which is amazing. Class 3 will now give some thought to how best to use the money to update library books.

Class 3 and 4 Refurbishment
Over the Easter break, Classes 3 and 4 have been refurbished. With bright colours , new carpets and new doors they have a lovely feel. It will be a few weeks before we get new furniture delivered so our new classrooms will not quite be finished for a while. Hopefully children in these classes have told you all about the exciting changes. We will invite parents in to see our new classrooms as soon as everything is completed.

Dinner Money Costs this Term
Just to confirm dinner money costs for this term:
Daily: £2.00
1st Half Term: £68.00
2nd Half Term: £58.00
Whole Term £126.00
Cheques payable to HCC

Letters Sent This Week
Fri- Class Information Sheets for this half term.

The children have each produced journals of their research and they form a beautiful record of this topic. Their enthusiasm for travel and interest in sights, different cultures and traditions has been most rewarding. They have certainly incorporated many elements of their ‘Footsteps to Learning’, as their research and methods of recording their thoughts have been very varied.

Perhaps the most challenging part of this term was their residential trip to Osmington Bay. Here they used many strategies for learning. We were extremely proud of their attitudes and behaviour and a great, if somewhat cold, time was had by all!

The children enjoyed dressing up. The learning corner became a fire and police station with a hospital alongside it. We invited a Fire and Rescue lady to talk to us about keeping safe.

The children tried on her uniform, a big heavy coat and huge black boots. Her big yellow helmet was a great success; it was rather like Darth Vader’s Helmet!

We designed pictures and painted them onto T-Shirts. We put on a clothes show assembly to mums, dads and grandparents. The children were very brave and danced down the “cat walk” stage to show off their colourful T-shirts.

Easter Egg Decorating
What fabulous entries we had for the egg decorating competition. Some lovely ideas with creative use of materials, everyone obviously worked very hard. Well done to everyone but especially our winners:
Year R Ewyn
Year 1 Sam G
Year 2 Cameron
Year 3 Ellie
Year 4 Siena
Year 5 Toby
Year 6 Tom

Shining Stars
Every term we celebrate just one child from each class for their outstanding attitude towards their learning and the consistent effort they put in. Well done to:
Class 1 Isabelle
Class 2 Roisin
Class 3 Alastair
Class 4 Dylan

Kindness Award
Our kindness award this term goes to Bibi-Ana in Class 3 for her helpfulness in class. She is always the first person to help pick something up or assist someone. Well done! Well done!

Thanks from Mrs Flanagan
May I also extend a big thank you to all the parents and children who helped to make Class 3s Second Hand Book Sale such a success and we look forward to beginning to choose some fantastic new books for our school library.
Any books that were kindly donated but did not get sold on this occasion have been passed onto FUS for future sales as well as a local charity supported by Mrs. Buck.
As always, thank you so much for your help and support.
If your child took part in our Readathon- Please could all sponsor money be collected and brought in for our 1st day back after the Easter Break- Monday 16th April.
Mrs Flanagan

Class 3’s Easter Prayer
The children in Class 3 wrote this special Easter prayer which they said in church this morning. We think it capture’s everything that we have learned about Easter in school over the last few weeks:
Dear God,
Help us to remember how much pain Jesus went through for us.  He died for us, so that we could be forgiven for all of our sins.
Help us to be thankful for the joy of new life that is around us at Easter.  Thank you for our families who love us and look after us and who we spend time with at Easter.
Amen

Easter at The Blessed Mary
You are very welcome to join us at the Blessed Mary Church to celebrate Easter.
Palm Sunday, 1st April
11am: Palm Sunday Service procession from Triangle at 10.50am
Monday 2nd April Blessed Mary Holiday Club
Phone Vicky Gardner 861201 to see if there are any spaces!
Easter Sunday, 8th April
11am: Easter Day celebration with communion

Well Done!
Bag2School £169
Cake Sale for Sport Relief £96.68 

Confirmation of INSET Days
You will remember at the beginning of the year I confirmed the majority of our INSETs to provide as much notice as possible. Our final day for this academic can now be confirmed as Monday 11th June (23rd July INSET previously communicated).

Letters This Week
None

Wanted – Vouchers
You are probably aware of the voucher schemes run by Tescos and Sainsburys. If you have any, please drop them into the office (or ask your child to). The deadline is quite soon this year; Monday 14 May.

Walk Once a Week
Next week is the last week of our Spring ‘Walk Once a Week’ scheme so if your child wants to claim their badge, they will need to show their signed card to the members of the travel plan team who will be on the playground at home time on Thursday 29th and Friday 30th March.

Reminder – Easter Service
A reminder that our Easter Service at The Blessed Mary, Upham, is taking place at 9.00am on Friday 30th March. Children will therefore need to be dropped off at the church. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Marmalade
Fans of home produce will be interested in a marmalade stall run by a parent at 3.30pm on Wednesday 28th – all proceeds to the Blessed Mary Church.

Reminder – Lunch Money
Dinner money owed statements will be going out today. We would be grateful if payment was made no later than Wednesday 28th March.

Learner of the Week
Well done to Thomas Southcott in Class 3 who has asked many questions as part of his detective work this week and made good links between the answers.

Letters Sent This Week
Thurs – Egg Decoration Letter
Fri- FUS March newsletter

Parent’s Evening
We look forward to seeing you next week during parent’s evenings. It’s not too late to sign up for a slot if you haven’t yet – just pop into the office.
Obviously teachers will be busy meeting parents and will need to use the classrooms so a few clubs are cancelled just for next week:
Thurs: French
Thurs: Rock Challenge
Thurs: Revision

Lunch Money Statements
You will shortly be receiving lunch money statements. To help us with our end of financial year procedures, we would be grateful if all school lunch accounts could be settled in full by Wednesday 28 March.

Learners of the Week
This week’s learners of the week have to be all of Class 4 who went on their residential visit last week. They had really enjoyable experiences and behaved impeccably. They all showed positivity towards new activities many of which moved them well out of their comfort zone. They all identified what would be a personal challenge for themselves and all had a go at achieving this. This is such an important learning behaviour – well done!

Reminders for Next Week
FUS cake sale next Friday for Sport Relief.
Bag2School collection Tuesday 27th by 9.30am

Mothering Sunday Service
There is a special service at The Blessed Mary Church at 11am on Sunday 18th March, Mothering Sunday.
Everyone is welcome to attend. Posies of flowers will be given to the ladies.