Straight from the Head 9.5.25

Date: 9th May 2025 @ 10:49am

Welcome to our new Blog Space! 

As we move into a new web era, with School Spider now hosting our website, I am investigating how best to communicate all our updates and news items to our families. This blog will contain all the weekly updates and details helpful to you all, as well as signposting to the latest education support or discussion points that you might want to know about.
This school week has packed a lot into 4 days, including multi-skills sports festivals, VE Day celebrations, swimming sessions, (successful) health and safety checks around school and a variety of broad curriculum foci right across the school. We have also held an Ethos Committee Meeting, chaired by our Governor Mr Harper and includes governors, pupils, parents and pupils' voice as an integral driver. This committee supports us in keeping our sight on the Christian foundation of our school, holding to us to account to be the best church school that we can, and ensuring we are here for families of all faith or of none. Our values of Thankfulness, Hope, friendship, Wisdom and Trust should run through our daily school life and help us all be a solid Thurlbear family together. An important element of their work will be designing a Climate Action Plan fit for 2025 and beyond, running alongside our THRIVE IN 25 vision. All education settings, including schools, are expected to have a nominated sustainability lead (me!) and a climate action plan in place. The Diocese of Bath and Wells will also provide valuable signposts to this work, and we will update families as we traverse the various stages of its creation.

General Notices

• Thanks to all families who have made their online payments for both after-school clubs and any residentials/school visits. Our systems seem robust, currently, and those families who have been notified us regarding voucher payments really have helped source the payments with the Local Authority. Thank you very much for your efforts with this. 
• Lunches continue to be, overall, very successful via BAM. I do regular lunchtime duties and speak with the pupils about the food quality, choice and service. The vast majority of feedback is positive and, where there are some negatives, BAM are always happy to listen and adjust their menus accordingly should there be enough similar feedback. PLEASE ensure that you go into the system and order all hot lunches, even if you are in Key Stage 1 and receive them via universal infant free school meals. This ensures the correct number of orders are delivered. 
• It is a very busy week ahead with our Summer Fair, Year 6 pupils sitting their end of key stage tests and Year 4 attending Kilve Court residential! Both class events are significant in very different ways, but we will approach them both with our usual level of care and enthusiasm. This will also mean some human resource changes around school, with staff deployed in various roles. We will maintain our effective wrap-around care at breakfast and After-School Club, the faces may change, and you will see me and Mrs Carter welcoming pupils into Breakfast Club! On Monday to Thursday mornings, our office will not be staffed at times due to SATs invigilating, so: A) please make sure you are here on time, as there could be no-one to let you in via our gate comms; B) leave a phone message / email us and we can get back to you in the afternoon.
• COME AND JOIN OUR TEAM! Opportunities have now arisen to come and join the Thurlbear working family! Attached to this blog, you will find details of 2 roles that have available. Please do share it with friends who you think may be intested and have the enthusiasm, passion, professionalism and flexibility needed to work alongside the Thurlbear staff. The deadline is next Friday and we will confirm an interview date with suitable candidates! 
• There are some great opportunities to get involved in local activities, this weekend. I have attached information regarding bowls club and Somerset Day! 

The Week Ahead

Year 6 End of Key Stage 2 tests Monday to Thursday (good luck to our pupils).

Mental Health Week 12th to 16th May

• Monday:
  Year 4 leave for residential and return Wednesday afternoon. All details can be found on the Year 4 Class Dojo
  Mixed Football and Craft Club
• Tuesday:
  Mrs Carter and Mr Gillan in Breakfast Club
  Summer Sports and Football Clubs
  Full Governing Body Meeting
• Wednesday:
  Mrs Carter and Mr Gillan in Breakfast Club
  Recorder Club, Choir and Street Surfing
• Thursday:
  CENSUS DAY
  Year 3 swimming
  Mr Lloyd drumming
  Mr Snowden guitar
  Seven Sowers Ministry Worship
  Tennis
• Friday:
  Year 5 strike and field festival @ Bishop Fox's 
  PTA SUMMER FAIR 3:30pm - 5:30pm. Details can be found on the PTA Facebook page and do contact the PTA if anyone else would love to help on the day thurlbearpta@hotmail.com 
  
                                        

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