Weekly Bulletin:Friday 4th April 2025
Headteacher’s message to parents/carers
Dear Parents/Carers,
The sun has been shining, beautiful weather for a class trip or outdoor learning! As usual, everyone in Team Tunbury has been very busy this week, with a whole range of enrichment opportunities for children to enjoy.
Year 3 had a wonderful trip to Wingham Wildlife Park on Tuesday, where they were lucky enough to see giraffes, otters, penguins, a tiger and much much more. This trip inspired some excellent writing on children’s return to school – please read Oliver’s account of the day (below) as he has covered all the important information and explained the trip far better than I could have done! As well as this, Year 2 had a fabulous day at Upnor Castle yesterday, at the end of their castle-themed topic on ‘Towers and Turrets’. Children returned full of new castle facts and with plenty of daisy chains too. In school, Year 4 had their ‘Journeys’ day on Wednesday, Year 5 have their crime-solving CSI Tunbury day today and Year 6 are looking forward to a World War II VE day street party this afternoon.
All of these curriculum adventures take ‘above and beyond’ creativity, commitment and dedication from our staff team, so at the end of another busy term, I would like to say a huge thank you to all of our hardworking teachers, teaching assistants and HLTAs. Working with young children is hugely rewarding but never an easy job, and children at Tunbury are lucky to be supported by a wonderful staff team.
Also this week, everyone from Reception to Year 6 enjoyed yesterday’s Easter discos, which were lots of fun as usual. Thank you for your support for these TSA fundraising events and thank you to the TSA volunteers for your commitment to making them happen for us all.
Have a lovely Easter break everyone. We hope that everyone has a restful break and enjoys some family time together, as well as an Easter egg or two. After the holidays, we look forward to seeing children back in school on Tuesday 22nd April.
Best wishes
Ruth Austin
Headteacher
Our Learning: Year 4
This week, we finished reading our class text, Kensuke’s Kingdom by Michael Morpurgo. The children have really enjoyed reading about Michael’s adventures and have used world map to plot his journey, drawing pictures and writing about his exploits.
The children then channelled their creativity to make a model of Kensuke’s Island using the recycled items they brought into school; thank you for your contributions. They have also listened to and composed their own music to reflect the different countries Michael visited; Africa, Australia and Brazil.
In English, the children wrote poems about Kensuke’s Kingdom. The children were able to decide which sort of poem they wanted to write. We certainly have some budding poets in Year 4!
In maths, we have been learning about fractions and decimals. The children are able to add and subtract decimals with the same denominator, order fractions and convert mixed numbers to improper fractions. We have now moved on to decimals, dividing one and two-digit numbers by 10.
Our science and D & T topics have linked this term; investigating electrical circuits in science and making a switch to turn the bulbs on and off, then using this to light up the lanterns the children designed and made in D & T. We were so impressed by the fantastic sawing and joining skills.
Year 3 visit to Wingham Wildlife Park
This recount of the trip has been written by Oliver G from Sapphire Class. Well done Oliver!
“On Tuesday 1st April me and the rest of Year three were planning to go to the zoo. But not any zoo, we were planning to go to Wingham Wildlife Park!
After everyone went to the toilet and put their vests on Mrs Gaskain and the whole class went on a colossal coach. I sat next to my friend Edison and we were laughing the whole way there. Once we had arrived we had to stay in our groups and mine was me, Edison, Nicholas, Maggie and Katalina.
Then we set of to the entrance and once we got there we formed bigger groups. One was Mrs Gaskain’s and the other was Mrs Rose’s, I was in Mrs Gaskain’s. After that we made it past the flamingos and the pelicans. I was in amazement of the flamingos beautiful feathers. Next we saw the sneaky little arctic foxes trotting over so quickly.
Now everyone was so tired so we sat down for a snack and I had a pick up bar. It was very delicious.
After we trotted out of there we made it to the tiger enclosure. He was very suspicious of us but he was very cute. I was as hungry as a gorilla and were going to sit on the bench but it had too much poo on there, so we sat in the sun.
After we saw the gorillas and I was terrified so I looked at the tortoises instead. The last animals we saw were the penguins and one was sitting. Finally our journey came to an end so we all went to the toilet and travelled to the coach and yet again me and Edison were laughing all the way!”
Notices
Staffing update: We have appointed a new Assistant Headteacher/Senco for Tunbury and we’re delighted to be welcoming Mrs Suzanne Abdullah to Team Tunbury. Mrs Abdullah will be working with us full-time from September, but in the summer term she will be with us two days per week. At the same time, we’ll still have our interim Senco Mrs Harris with us, who will continue to work with the children and families she is already supporting, as well as overseeing Year 6 SEN transition into secondary schools.
First Aid: We have reviewed our first aid procedures and want to share this with you, ready for next term.
At the moment, we send home a yellow injury letter for certain injuries, such as head injuries. We don’t routinely inform you if your child has a plaster on their knee, or other minor first aid. This approach will remain in the summer term, but with the following improvements.
From the start of the Summer terms, we will be using wristbands alongside the yellow injury letter, to make certain that you are aware of the injury when children come home after school. So if a child receives first aid for an injury to the head (this includes face and teeth), or requires first aid in an area that is hidden by clothing, you will continue to receive a yellow letter to inform you. This yellow letter has been updated to include guidance on when to seek medical advice relating to concussion. To further highlight that a child should have an injury letter, they will also come home wearing a green first aid wristband (see photo).
Children will not have a wristband or yellow letter if first aid has been provided for an injury that is not to the head or in an area covered by clothing. Also, parents may be informed of first aid by phone, at the time of the incident, at the discretion of the first aider. This is unchanged from our current practice.
A list of our trained first aiders can be found in Appendix A of our Supporting Pupils with Medical Conditions Policy (on the Policies page of the school website).
OPAL update: Thank you for the sandpit toys which were donated this week, ready for the opening of our new sandpit zone after the Easter holidays. We’ll continue to collect donations in the first week back, so please do help if you can. All donations need to be in good condition (not broken/cracked/sharp) and will be collected at the gates in the mornings. Please see below our sandpit ‘wishlist’. Thank you so much for your help.
Also, as our OPAL journey develops, we just wanted to let you know that we will begin to give children the option of using the field all year round. To make this possible, in the future (not yet!) children will bring wellies into school which will be stored in school (outdoors) for them to change into. So if you are having a clear-out at home, please do save any wellies for children to use or donate. Thank you.
Toys reminder: As noted above, we are taking steps to improve the variety of children’s play options at lunchtimes. However, we’ve also noticed an increasing number of toys or small items coming in from home recently in children’s bags (eg teddies, dolls, cards, cars, dinosaurs etc), with children wanting to play with these at playtime. Please remember that children should not bring their own toys from home in this way – they can easily be lost or become a source of disagreement!
Also, for children with additional needs who benefit from sensory items in class, these will be provided by the school and should not be brought in from home. If you have any queries about this, please do contact your child’s class teacher.
IRock: All the iRockers played amazingly this term and shared a great concert with their parents last week. Please see the poster in the letters and forms section of the website for further information about iRock.
Online Safety: We’re sharing Online Safety information, using resources from the National College’s #WakeUpWednesday program. This week’s guide is on Instagram. Please see the Parents>letters and forms section of the website.
Kent Family Hub: Easter Timetable detailed below.
Weekly Class Attendance: This is a weekly feature on our bulletin to highlight and celebrate good levels of attendance. Our KS1 winners for this week are Lavender class, with a brilliant 98.66%. Great work from Lavender Class! Our new KS2 winners are Ruby Class with an outstanding 100% attendance. Well done everyone and keep up the good work!
|
Class |
Weekly Attendance Percentage |
|
Ruby |
✰100%✰ |
|
Sapphire |
99.00% |
|
Azure |
98.81% |
|
Lavender |
✰98.66%✰ |
|
Red |
98.53% |
|
Yellow |
98.21% |
|
Magenta |
97.92% |
|
Indigo |
97.41% |
|
Violet |
97.32% |
|
Scarlet |
97.22% |
|
Owls |
96.98% |
|
Pink |
96.76% |
|
Emerald |
96.67% |
|
Amber |
95.67% |
|
Orange |
95.33% |
|
Lilac |
94.83% |
|
Blue |
94.79% |
|
Bears |
93.97% |
|
Crimson |
90.18% |
|
Turquoise |
86.67% |
Tunbury Primary School Facebook: This week on Facebook, we have posts on Reception children’s dentist visit, Year 3’s trip to Wingham Wildlife Park and the TSA Easter disco. Please take a look at Tunbury Primary School | Chatham | Facebook
Team Points: At the end of Term 4, Rowling team are the winners – well done!! Rowling team will be rewarded by having additional time on the field this afternoon.
|
Rowling |
Attenborough |
Holmes |
Hawking |
|
5235 |
5120 |
4339 |
4580 |
Dates for your Diary
Term dates for 2024/25: www.tunbury.kent.sch.uk/Parents/Term-Dates-24-25/
Term dates for 2025/26: www.tunbury.kent.sch.uk/Parents/Term-Dates-25-26/
Friday 4th April – Last day of term for pupils
Term 5
Tuesday 22nd April – Start of Term 5 for pupils
Thursday 24th April – NHS Vision Screening and Hearing, Year R NEW
Friday 2nd May – Year 3 Anglo Saxon day (No dressing up needed) NEW
Monday 5th May – BANK HOLIDAY – School Closed
Monday 12th-Thursday 15th May – KS2 SATS Week - Year 6
Wednesday 14th May – Open Afternoon, Year 1 – Moon buggy making, 2-3pm NEW
Thursday 22nd May – TSA Tunbury's Got Talent
Thursday 22nd May – Open Afternoon, Year R – Fruit kebabs, Handas Surprise, 2-3pm NEW
Friday 23rd May – Outdoor Learning Day
Friday 23rd May – Last day of term for pupils
Term 6
Monday 2nd June – School closed for pupils– INSET Day
Tuesday 3rd June – Start of Term 6 for pupils
Tuesday 3rd -6th June – STEAM Week
Monday 9th June-13th June – Multiplication Times Tables Check Year 4
Monday 9th June – Open Afternoon, Year 1 - Coral collage in the style of Courtney Mattison, 2-3pm NEW
Monday 9th June-13th June – Phonics Screening – Year 1
Tuesday 10th & Wednesday 11th June – TSA Gifts for Him
Monday 16th June – New Entrants meeting for 2025 Reception intake – 3.30-4.30 in school or 5.00-5.30 online
Wednesday 18th June – Open Afternoon, Year 4 – Art, 2-3pm NEW
Thursday 19th June – Open Afternoon, Year 2 – African Art, 2-3pm NEW
Friday 20th June – Open Afternoon, Year 3 – Flight investigation, 2-3pm NEW
Monday 23rd June – Open Afternoon, Year R – Junk Modelling Art, 2-3pm NEW
Wednesday 25th June – Class group photos – Tempest photographers
Friday 27th June – Sports Day
Thursday 3rd July – TSA Summer Disco
Friday 4th July – Reserve Sports Day
Monday 7th July - Open Afternoon, Year 5 - Rainforest art, 2-3pm NEW
Thursday 107TH jULYth July – Transition Day (all classes move up to new teachers), with Open Classroom session for parents/carers 3.15-3.45
Saturday 12th July – TSA GlasTUNBURY Summer Festival
Thursday 17th July – Year 6 Production 14.00 and 18.00
Friday 18th July – TSA “Dare to be different day”
Friday 18th July – Year 6 prom
Monday 21st July - Open Afternoon, Year 6 - End of Term event, 2-3pm NEW
Tuesday 22nd July – Year 6 Leavers’ assemblies – Violet 9.00, Crimson 9.45, Emerald 10.30
Tuesday 22nd July – Last day of term
Class assemblies
Class assemblies will be held in the school hall on Friday afternoons. Parents/carers and family members from each class are warmly invited to join us in school for these events, as our children love to share their learning with you. Please come to the front of the school and wait outside the hall entrance doors. You will be invited in just after 2.45pm. The assembly will begin at 2.50pm and last for about 10 minutes, finishing in time for you to collect your children at the end of the school day, as normal.
Friday 25th April Pink Class Assembly
Friday 2nd May Red Class Assembly
Friday 9th May Yellow Class Assembly
Friday 23rd May Blue Class Assembly
Friday 13th June Sapphire Class Assembly
Friday 20th June Owls Class Assembly
Friday 4th July Bears Class Assembly
