St Mary’s CE Primary School
A Wonderful Start to the Summer Term
We have enjoyed a fantastic start to the Summer Term, with a wealth of exciting learning, achievements and events taking place across the school community.
In the Classroom
Our KS1 children have been exploring the areas around school and learning about the different materials found in our local environment.
In KS2 Art, pupils have begun a new topic focused on telling stories through drawing and sculpture. In English they have been reading about a boy who is 1000 years old!
Across the wider curriculum, pupils have also been engaging in Earth Day poetry and creating St George’s Day shields. In PE, KS2 have been developing their tennis skills, focusing on forehand and backhand techniques.
Celebrating Achievements
As always, we have been delighted to celebrate our Wizards and Special Stars of the Week. There is so much to be proud of across the school.
We have also enjoyed a range of pupil showcases, including clay model creations, kickboxing demonstrations, and photographs from exciting quad biking adventures during the holidays.
Learning Beyond the Classroom
Our Gardening Club has made the most of the warmer weather by weeding, planting seeds and tidying the front of school. They were also excited to discover a rabbit hole during their sessions!
Our new PALS after-school club, now running until 5.30pm, has had a brilliant start. Pupils have been busy building bug hotels, making bird feeders, decorating biscuits, planting seeds, and enjoying a snack each session.
In the OPAL play area, children recently held their very first live performance, forming their own band and entertaining a large audience of pupils. It has been wonderful to see such creativity and imagination flourishing at playtimes.
Sporting Events and Visits
Thirteen KS2 pupils took part in an exciting Aqua Splash session at Pendle Leisure Centre. The evening included a range of fun challenges such as the Mushroom Float, Starfish Float, Walking Relay, Seahorse Race and 25m Freestyle, along with plenty of time for swimming and enjoying the water.
A team of four pupils represented the school at a table tennis competition against four other schools. They demonstrated excellent teamwork, determination and sportsmanship throughout.
In addition, a team of seven children took part in a CVL after-school sporting event, performing superbly and working brilliantly together.
Workshops and Enrichment
KS1 pupils took part in a fascinating Islam workshop, learning about what it is like to be a Muslim. They explored places of worship, discovered key practices, and even dressed appropriately for a mosque visit experience.
KS2 pupils extended this learning by exploring Arabic writing and discussing Muslim rituals before prayer. It was a valuable and enriching experience for all involved.
Community
Our recent Bunny Hop event raised an amazing £1,109.48 for Pendleside Hospice. We were delighted to receive a lovely message of thanks from the organisers for our continued support. We are also looking forward to a special visit from Penny the Squirrel, who will be coming into school to thank the children in person.
The annual boat race at Barley River Picnic Site was once again a wonderful community event, organised by FONS. As always, it was thoroughly enjoyed by the children. All funds raised go directly back into school to support resources, trips, workshops and enriching experiences. We extend a huge thank you to FONS for their ongoing support.
Looking Ahead
We are currently recruiting for a new Site Supervisor, as Mr Demaline will be retiring at the end of this academic year. We are very sad to be saying goodbye to such a dedicated and enthusiastic member of staff, and we wish him all the very best for a happy and well-earned retirement.
If you or someone you know may be interested in this role, please contact Mrs Nightingale on 01282 612191 for an informal chat, or view the job advert here.