Weekly Bulletin: Friday 21st July 2023

Headteacher’s message to parents/carers

Dear Parents/Carers,

Today, we’re celebrating the achievements of our Year 6 Leavers – we are all so proud of each and every one of them.  This week, they have excelled in their performance of “I’m an 11 year old, get me out of here!” which was a truly magnificent production.  Congratulations to everyone involved in enabling children to shine so brightly on stage – I know many parents/carers and family members were able to attend, shedding a tear or two!  

This morning, we’ve been saying goodbye to Year 6 in our Leavers’ Assemblies. They have come far in their seven years at Tunbury, become even more fabulous, year-on-year.  We wish all of our Tunbury leavers the very best for their next steps in education – please come back and see us!  Congratulations to our Year 6 award-winners from today’s final assemblies: 

Outstanding attitude and achievement in Maths - Ruby Amos (Violet Class)

Outstanding attitude and achievement in English - Poppy Young (Crimson Class)

Outstanding attitude and effort - Tyler Tanser (Emerald Class)

Headteacher award – Evie Meadows (Emerald class) 

This academic year has been busy, successful and action-packed, so we’re looking back with much to celebrate.  None of this would have been possible without the dedication of the whole Tunbury staff team and I know that children and parents/carers are really grateful for this.  Thank you for all the end-of-year cards, gifts and kind words – we do appreciate all of your support. 

Unfortunately, we are saying goodbye and a huge thank you to some of our members of staff.  Teamwork is a special element of our school, so we’re always sad when staff members move on due to changing circumstances.  Miss Budgen, Mrs O’Brien, Miss Stevens, Mrs Elvy, Mrs Marksford and Mr Dhami are all starting new positions in September 2023 and we wish them all the very best for their future.  We’re also saying a temporary goodbye to Miss Walker, as she leaves for the start of her maternity leave, and we look forward to hearing some happy news over the summer holidays. 

To all of our families, we hope that you all enjoy a lovely summer break – enjoy your family time together, take care of each other and we look forward to seeing you after the holidays.  Next year’s adventures begin on Monday 4^th September! 

Best wishes

Ruth Austin

Headteacher 

Notices

Staff Team for September 2023: There will be a change of PPA cover for those classes who were due to be covered by Mrs Elvy.  We’re sorry that this change has come at this late stage in the school year.  We are currently advertising for a new HLTA and will inform you of new arrangements in the new school year.

HLTA staff vacancy: We’re looking for a new HLTA to join our team.  We offer some flexibility in this role, which could be full time, 4 days per week or 3 days per week (but must include Wednesday and Thursday).  Our advert will remain live over the summer holidays and is available at Hlta Teaching/Child Support at Tunbury Primary School, Walderslade (kent-teach.com)

Preparation for the new academic year: Thank you for joining us for our recent ‘Meet the Team’ meetings for next year’s year groups.  This year, we held these meetings in July rather than September to help you get ahead for the new school year. The presentations are now available at Tunbury Primary School - Year groups where you’ll also find the curriculum overview (ie what your child will be learning and when) for 2023/24.

Young Voices 2024: This year a group of Tunbury children had the opportunity to sing at the 02 in London and recorded a charity single with the amazing Heather Small:  Young voices choir 2023 Heather  Small - Bing video

This was a huge success and quite a few children have asked if they could come next time. With so much enthusiasm from the children, we felt we just had to book up for next year.  From September, Singing club will be made up of 30 children from Years 4, 5 & 6, who will need to attend regularly due to the number of songs, which we need to learn before the concert on 18th January 2024.  The week before the concert we may need to have a couple extra rehearsals, too.

The reason for writing now is to inform you that the Singing Club application form will be coming out the first week back (before notification of the other clubs) as rehearsals will need to start in Week 2, before the other clubs begin.  If your children would be interested in this opportunity, look out for the email in the first week back, as spaces will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

Miss Binns and Mrs Harding.

Parent Governor vacancies: Could you be a Parent Governor for Tunbury Primary School? In September, we will have two vacancies for Parent Governors.  We’ll write to you with full details in the new academic year, but we also wanted to mention this now, so you could consider putting yourself forward for this important role.  Please visit www.kent.gov.uk/education-and-children/schools/school-governors for some general information on school Governors or www.tunbury.kent.sch.uk/Governors/ for more information on our Governors at Tunbury. 

School Lunches: The new menu to start in September is detailed on our website, along with a letter for any parents that may need a special diet for their child and details of The TCS Debt Policy. Unfortunately due to the ever increasing food and labour cost, TCS have needed to increase the meal price to £2.40 with effect from September.  www.tunbury.kent.sch.uk/Parents/School-Meals/ 

Weekly Class Attendance: This is a weekly feature on our bulletin to highlight and celebrate good levels of attendance. Congratulations to Emerald for taking the top spot for KS2, with a perfect 100%. Followed by Blue class for KS1. Well done! 

Team Points: In a dramatic twist to the Teams Point race and after the award of Golden Team Points, our winners are Attenborough team!  Congratulations!  

Dates for your Diary 

Term dates for 2023/24: www.tunbury.kent.sch.uk/Parents/Term-Dates-23-24/

Friday 1^st September – INSET Day – School closed for pupils

Monday 4^th September – First Day of Term 1 for pupils

Thursday 7^th September – Kent 11+ test NEW

Thursday 14^th September – PGL Parents’ Meeting (September Y6) 3.30 pm- School Hall NEW

Wednesday 20^th September – TSA AGM, 8 pm – school hall

Friday 20^th October – INSET Day – School closed for pupils

Monday 23^rd October – Friday 27^th October – Autumn Break

Wednesday 15^th – Friday 17^th November – Year 6 PGL Residential visit