Straight from the Head 12.9.25
Date: 12th Sep 2025 @ 5:45pm
It has been a fantastic week at school to see our Christian value of FRIENDSHIP in full effect. I have been helping in Breakfast Club, daily lunch duty and also After School Club all week, and the care and consideration shown by our older pupils towards the younger peers has made me very proud. One thing that always stands out with new parents and carers is how quickly our new pupils make friends with our older pupils, even to the point of saying hello outside school in the park or around town. It really does bring to life our feeling of ‘the Thurlbear family’.
Our Breakfast and After School Club provision continues to go from strength to strength and popularity. We have reorganised our hall space and pupils are free-choosing from a range of games, activities and opportunities. Big thanks to Jude, William, Phoebe and Molly for their ideas for some new purchases to boost our provision. We have also spoken to our younger pupils about their favourite things to do when they get to school for 8am and leave at 5:15pm! “Film Friday” is going to be a popular After School activity.
Key Dates:
Each class will post their important events on their Class Dojo stories, but it is also good to see an overview of the term ahead up to Christmas. On our website, you can see the next few weeks, but this list might help see what is ahead:
SEPTEMBER:
15th WHOLE SCHOOL Worship online with Bishop Michael!
17th Year 5 Rocket Workshop with Space Ambassador Jo Richardson
18th Y6 visit from Mr Ayres from Bishop Fox’s
18th Year 1 Reading Meeting for carers and parents
19th Year 5 Magdalene Farm visit
19th Year 4 Celebration Worship
22nd Our first School Tour for September 2026 Intake
23rd Year 2 Reading Meeting for carers and parents
26th Year 5 Celebration Worship
OCTOBER:
2nd Tea Time @ Thurlbear
3rd Year 3 Celebration Worship
3rd DRESS DOWN FRIDAY
6TH – 8TH Year 6 Residential to Barton Hall
10th Celebration Worship for Music and Sport
14th PINS Parent meeting
17th Harvest Services: FS and KS1 am / KS2 pm
23rd and 24th INSET DAYS - NO PUPILS IN
NOVEMBER:
6th Tea Time @ Thurlbear
7th Year 3 Multi skills festival @ bishop Fox’s
7th Whole School ‘flu vaccinations
7th PSHE Assembly led by Miss Crook
11th Year 1 Fireworks Workshop
14th Year 2 Celebration Worship
20th Year 5 Space Detectives with Jo Richardson
21st Year 1 Celebration Worship
26th FAMILY STARGAZING EVENT
28th Foundation Stage Celebration Worship
DECEMBER:
3rd Foundation Stage Victorian Christmas Workshop
4th Tea Time @ Thurlbear
8th and 9th FS and KS1 Nativity performances
18th Key Stage 2 Christmas Services down at St Mary’s am
I am absolutely delighted to say that our THRIVE OUTSIDE IN 25 aim will not only confine our pupils to this world! Over this school year, we will be working together as a school on a project that is 'out of this world'! We are hoping to be awarded a Quality Mark for Space Education, working with colleagues from the European Space Agency and Space Agency Resource Office! This has already involved several training sessions for teaching staff on how to access brilliant resources that will enrich our existing curriculum offer to your children in all year groups. We've had the support of Jo Richardson from Space Detectives who are based in our local area. All of our usual learning topics will still be covered but you may find your child telling you about a space theme to some of their lessons. We hope to use the fascinating topic of Space to inspire and motivate children in many different areas of learning. This will also involve trips, visitors and other opportunities for classes throughout the year. We have already purchased some Space themed books to be used across the school and next week Year 5 will have the opportunity to take part in a workshop on rockets linked to their science topic of forces. Part of the evidence that we need to collect to achieve the Quality mark at the end of year includes feedback from children or families, so if your child has been inspired by something space related at school then please do let us know!
As part of this work we are especially excited to announce that we will be holding a Family Stargazing Event on November 26th at our school so please do put this date in your diaries as it will be an event not to be missed! Expert astronomers will be here at Thurlbear to share the wonders of the night sky with you and your children, making the most of the beautiful open countryside we have around our setting. More information and tickets to follow soon. We expect the timings to be 6-8pm and everyone will be welcome.
We would also point you in the direction of the exciting Exmoor National Park Dark Skies 2025 Programme (click here)
