Weekly Bulletin:Thursday 2nd April 2026
Headteacher’s message to parents/carers
Dear Parents/Carers,
Today, all of our children and staff are bringing home their sunflower seedlings, to care for at home. Everyone in Team Tunbury planted a sunflower seed on World Down Syndrome day on 20th March, and they’ve now sprouted and started to grow. Please help your child to look after their seedling – they need some water, sunshine and care. And according to Mr Mitchell, possibly also some singing! However, full and horticulturally accurate advice is at: How to grow sunflower seeds
Over the next few weeks and months, we would love to see how tall Team Tunbury’s sunflowers grow, so please be ready to share some photos for our facebook page throughout the summer terms. This whole-school activity was chosen for us by our wonderful School Councillors – what a great idea! We think that the sunflowers can grow taller than the tallest child in Year 6 – is this true?
This week in school, one of my favourite experiences has been Year 5’s CSI Tunbury day yesterday. Children in Magenta, Indigo and Turquoise classes worked hard to solve a dastardly crime which had been committed right here at Tunbury Primary School! They followed clues to narrow down a list of suspects until only one remained… take a look at our Facebook page for details. Tunbury Primary School Facebook
My other highlights of the week include visiting Owls and Bears class to read them a story (both classes really thriving as they move through the Reception year) and teaching Crimson and Violet classes for their Dance lessons on Monday afternoon (both classes have got the moves, although Crimson won our Y6 virtual dance battle). As well as this, our Library visits have continued with classes walking down to the public library in Walderslade village to borrow or return a library book, to promote a love of reading.
With so much to celebrate and be proud of, children and staff have now reached a well-earned break from school. I hope that everyone enjoys a very Happy Easter, with some time for family time as well as egg hunting. After the holidays, we return for the start of the summer term on Monday 20th April. There is no INSET day at the start of the summer term, so it’s straight back to learning – we look forward to seeing you all.
Looking further ahead, please check our Diary Dates today as we have added some summer dates for transition, Year 6 (production and leavers’ assemblies) and New Entrants into Year R (for families joining us in September 2026).
Have a lovely Easter holiday everyone.
Best wishes
Ruth Austin
Headteacher
Notices
Travelling Book Fair Update: Thank you to everyone who attended our book fair earlier this term. As a result of your purchases, we have earnt £702.37 in rewards to spend on books for the children in school. We will update you later this year about how we have spent these rewards.
UN International Day of Play: On Thursday 11th June we will be celebrating the UN International Day of Play by welcoming parents and carers into school for the afternoon to find more about our Opal lunchtimes. The afternoon will begin with a talk in the Main Hall at 1.30pm followed by a play session with your children from 2-3pm outside. We are keen for you to experience, engage with, and understand the improved, high-quality, and creative outdoor playtimes we have created through the OPAL program. We will contact you nearer the time so that you can confirm your attendance.
Y5 CAT Tests Parent Meeting: On Thursday 23rd April, Mrs Davies and the Year 5 teaching team will be holding a parent/ carer information meeting about the CAT Tests that Year 5 will be sitting at the beginning of May. There will be an option to attend this meeting both in person and online. A link for online attendance will be sent out nearer the time.
Strive Easter Holiday Club: Looking for a fun way to keep the kids active this Easter break? Our Strive PE & Sport Multi-Activity Camp is returning to Tunbury Primary for this Easter holiday on Wednesday 8th and Thursday 9th April. Children will enjoy a fun-filled and active day, including games, sports, and themed activities - all led by qualified staff. Book online: Strive Booking Link
The next Strive Holiday Club will be during the May break on Wednesday 27th May.
Designed for children aged 5–11, the teacher-led camps are packed with sports, games, and exciting activities to keep children moving, laughing, and making new friends - exclusively for Tunbury pupils only!
Why children love the camps:
- A huge mix of fun sports and optional themed activities
• A great place to make friends and build confidence
• Sibling & FSM discounts available
If you’d like to find out more about Strive PE and Sport, including their other camp venues, please visit their website: www.strivepeandsport.co.uk, or follow them on social media for updates and insights into their programmes.
School Lunches: With effect from 1st April the cost of a School Meal has increased to £2.75. School lunches can be ordered and paid for via the SchoolGateway app. Further details, including the menus, are on our website: https://www.tunbury.kent.sch.uk/Parents/School-Meals/
Please note that after the Easter break the published menu will start with Week 2. There will be a change to the menu on Thursday 23rd April with a special St George’s Day theme, which can be booked and paid for in the usual way.
After School Clubs: This is the final week for this series of clubs. Details of the new clubs for Term 5 and 6 will be sent out to parents as soon possible at the start of next term.
Stay and Play sessions: On Thursday 14th May and Thursday 11th June, we are running Stay and Play sessions for pre-school and nursery children (1.5-4 years old) and their parents. Each session lasts an hour and will take place in our Reception classrooms and outdoor learning areas. Whether you already have older children with us or are joining us for the very first time, we'd love for you to come along and see what makes Tunbury so special. Please follow the link to get signed up - https://forms.office.com/e/Z2kzSRaxyd
Weekly Class Attendance: This is a weekly feature on our bulletin to highlight and celebrate good levels of attendance. In the final week of Term 4, our KS2 winners are Sapphire with a brilliant 100% attendance. Our KS1 winners are Pink class with an amazing 98.48%. Keep up the great work everyone!
|
Class |
Weekly Attendance Percentage |
|
Sapphire |
☆100%☆ |
|
Pink |
☆98.48%☆ |
|
Red |
98.33% |
|
Magenta |
97.62% |
|
Lavender |
97.62% |
|
Ruby |
97.33% |
|
Emerald |
96.67% |
|
Owls |
95.06% |
|
Blue |
95.00% |
|
Indigo |
94.83% |
|
Amber |
94.23% |
|
Turquoise |
93.68% |
|
Scarlet |
93.65% |
|
Violet |
93.55% |
|
Yellow |
92.16% |
|
Crimson |
91.67% |
|
Azure |
89.74% |
|
Lilac |
88.41% |
|
Bears |
85.26% |
Tunbury Primary School Facebook: This week we’ve posted about our Year 5 CSI Day, amazing artwork from Indigo class and how much we raised at the travelling book fair. Please take a look at Tunbury Primary School | Chatham | Facebook and follow us to keep up to date with all things Team Tunbury.
Team Points: At the end of the Term 4 Team Point Race, the winners are….. Blue team! Well done Hawking. They have their reward this morning (which was voted for by children) of extra playtime on the field with football.
|
Rowling |
Attenborough |
Holmes |
Hawking |
|
4475 |
4201 |
4052 |
4671 |
Dates for your Diary
Term dates for 2025/26: www.tunbury.kent.sch.uk/Parents/Term-Dates-25-26/
Term dates for 2026/27: www.tunbury.kent.sch.uk/Parents/Term-Dates-26-27/
Term 4
Thursday 2nd April - Last Day of Term 4
Term 5
Monday 20th April – First day of Term 5
Tuesday 21st April – NHS Vision Screening Year R
Thursday 23rd April – Y5 CATs Meeting for Parents
Tuesday 28th April – Swimming lessons start, Year 4, Scarlet Class
Monday 4th May - BANK HOLIDAY, School Closed
Friday 8th May: Year 4 visit to The Bushcraft Company, Penshurst (return time after 4 pm)
Monday 11th – Thursday 14th May - KS2 (Y6) SATs Week
Friday 15th May – Colour Run (TSA)
Thursday 21st May – Year R visit to Tyland Barn
Thursday 21st May – Year 6 visit to Kent Life
Thursday 21st May – Tunbury’s Got Talent (TSA)
Friday 22nd May – Last Day of Term 5
Term 6
Monday 1st June - INSET DAY – School Closed for pupils
Tuesday 2nd June – First Day of Term 6
Tuesday 2nd – Friday 5th June - STEAM Week
Thursday 11th June – UN International Day of Play – Opal Open Afternoon 1.30
Monday 15th June – New Entrants meeting (for parents of children due to start in Year R in September) 3.30-4.30 pm NEW
Tuesday 16th, Wednesday 17th – Gifts for Him Present Room (TSA)
Friday 26th June - Sports Day
Wednesday 1st July – Stay and Play session for New Entrants 12.45 or 1.45 NEW
Friday 3rd July - Reserve Sports Day
Wednesday 8th July – Whole school transition day, followed by Open Classroom sessions 3.15-3.45 NEW
Wednesday 8th July - New Entrants transition sessions at 9.30 or 1.00 NEW
Thursday 9th July – Year 3 visit to Wingham Wildlife Park (please note 4 pm return time)
Friday 10th July - End of Year Reports sent home
Saturday 11th July - TSA GlasTunbury
Wednesday 15th July – New Entrants class visits / parents’ phonics workshop: 1.45 pm NEW
Thursday 16th July – Year 6 Production: 2pm and 6pm NEW
Friday 17th July – Dare to be Different Day (TSA)
Friday 17th July – Year 6 Prom
Tuesday 21st July – Year 6 Leavers' assemblies: Emerald - 9am / Violet - 9:45 am / Crimson - 10:30 am NEW
Tuesday 21st July - July end of term/ academic year
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 at just before 2.50pm. 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.
Thursday 2nd April – Yellow Class Assembly
Friday 24th April - Ruby Class Assembly
Friday 1st May – Sapphire Class Assembly
Friday 8th May - Blue Class Assembly
Friday 12th June – Magenta Class Assembly
Friday 19th June – Bears Class Assembly
Friday 3rd July – Owls Class Assembly
