Newsletter 25^th May 2023

Dear Parents and Carers,

This half term has certainly whizzed by. It is important that we recognise the incredible effort our Year 6 pupils put in to the recent SATs week, they were so focussed during all of the tests. Whatever the results, we are so proud of how they behaved and the maturity shown by all pupils.

As we reach the end of the first part of the Summer Term, now is a good time to remind you all that your child will need a hat in school to wear at breaktime and lunchtime. Currently, there is limited shade when the children are playing on the MUGAs and this is something, as a school, we are looking to improve, ensuring our children are safe at all times. We also recommend, as long as your child is not allergic, that you apply sun cream to your son or daughter before they come to school. Unfortunately, staff are unable to apply sun cream in school.

A reminder that school closes for half term at 3.15pm tomorrow and reopens on Monday 5^th June. Long may the good weather continue throughout the half term holidays!

Healthy Selfies Challenge

As a school, we are always promoting making healthy choices, whether this is through physical and mental wellbeing or food choices and healthy eating.  We have a challenge for you!  Over the half term, we would like you to take snaps of your children or even as a family making healthy choices.  This will then form part of the community display showing the different ways we are making healthy choices!  Be as inventive as you would like!!  Judo or climbing, making healthy snacks, do walks to roller skating; let’s promote Hillbourne Primary School being active and healthy. There will be a prize for the best entry from each class.

Lunch Times

We are working hard with the children to make lunch time a really positive experience for everyone.  We now have relaxing music in the hall and quiet zones outside for those children that want to read or do a quiet activity. Our lunchtime team are now also organising games for the children to join in with.  Our special Key Stage 2 monitors are also helping the younger children by assisting them to cut up their lunch and clear their plates.

Bromcom – MCAS – Important Information

Thank you to all those parents and carers who have signed into the MCAS app (MyChildAtSchool).  This will enable you to book the following:-

• Wraparound care (Breakfast & Tea Time Club)
• Book after School Clubs
• Pay for and confirm school trips
• Pay for school lunches
• Buy items such as water bottles and ties.  

You can also see any outstanding balances that have been brought over from our Scopay system.  Please an we ask that all outstanding settlements are paid by the 5^th June 2023.  If you have any queries regarding balances please speak to Louisa Wright in the school office.

You can also monitor your child’s current attendance level.   Please contact the school office if you have been unable to log in.

May Half Term Activities

Please see the attached information regarding Tennis and cricket camps over the May half term.  Please book direct.

HAF Holiday Activities

The HAF (Holiday, activities and food programme) is on the Family Information Directory: Holiday Activities and food programme (HAF) (bcpcouncil.gov.uk)

Parents/carers of pupils claiming benefit related free school meals can go direct to the organisations to make arrangements for their children to attend.

School Meal Vouchers

We are happy to confirm that BCP have agreed to support school meal vouchers this term.  They will be sent via email to those people eligible and be £15 per child.  Please contact the school office if you have any queries.

Trading cards

Please can we remind you that trading cards such as football or Pokemon are not allowed in school.  This is in case they go missing, which can be upsetting for children. If they are seen by an adult, they will be taken to the office to be collected by a parent or carer at the end of the school day.

HAMWIC Foundation Non-Uniform Day – REMINDER!

This year we will be supporting the HAMWIC Foundation by hosting a Non-Uniform day on Friday 26^th May. The money we raise will go towards their Christmas Eve boxes, as well as other items, and will be given to some of the most vulnerable children and families within HAMWIC schools. We are asking for a donation of £1 per child, unless you have more than one child at the school, in which case we are asking for 50p per child. Nearer the time, this donation will be able to be paid via MCAS.

Attendance

Attendance is high priority at Hillbourne and we are working together with the local authority to improve attendance across all year groups.  Can we also remind you that we are unable to authorise holidays during term time.  Any holiday absence should be notified to the School via email office@hillbourne.poole.sch.uk. 

We are now approaching the end of the school year and it would be wonderful to have a real improvement on our attendance and late arrivals.  Please contact the school office if you have any difficulties or queries.

Introducing the Support for Inter-Parental Conflict (SIPCo) project 

The SIPCo project aims to raise parents’ awareness of the impact of their conflict on their children and teaches parents strategies to reduce their conflict. 

Referred parents will be randomly allocated to receive either Mentalising-Based Therapy for Parents under Pressure (MBT-PP) or given access to digital resources for reducing parental conflict, with support in how to use them from our Healthy Relationships Co-ordinator . MBT-PP involves online therapy sessions with a therapist, in which parents are supported to communicate better. MBT-PP is delivered by Tavistock Relationships.
 

School staff can refer families to the project who:
• Have a child aged 8-14
• Have intense, frequent, and unresolved inter-parental conflict
• Are willing to try something new to help reduce their conflict
 

If you would like further information please contact Emma Damon, Early Help Navigator via the school office.

Summer Safety Reminder

Just a reminder as the weather is now warming up please remember to provide your child with a full water bottle each morning, which they can top up during the day.  It would also be great if you could put sun screen on your children before they come into school and provide a hat too.