Breakfast Club

Breakfast Club runs from 8am to 8.45am.  Children can purchase a healthy breakfast and enjoy playing games with their friends or use the ICT suite.  The computers are very popular with the children!

Maths Challenge Day — Thursday 3rd April

Children will be enjoying lots of practical and fun maths activities.  The theme for the day will be Aliens have landed at Barley Close. Parents will be invited to join their children for Maths fun in the hall.  Miss Drake will be sending out more information shortly.

WORLD BOOK DAY - THURSDAY 6TH MARCH

This year we will be celebrating World Book Day with lots of poetry activities. Children are invited to come to school dressed as their favourite character from a book. The school day will close with a sharing assembly for the children. Primary Books will be in the hall after school for children and families to browse and purchase books.  You should have already received a flyer and a payment envelope.

Easter

Children will be celebrating Easter with lots of craft activities in their classes.  They will also be visiting the local church for an Easter Service on the morning of Thursday 20th March.  In the afternoon there will be an Easter Bonnet Parade in the hall at 2.30pm.  Children can start making their hats as soon as possible.  Children should bring their     bonnets into school on the morning of the   Parade.  Prizes will be given for the best   bonnets.  Parents are welcome to join us for the Parade. 

REMEMBER
School is closed for Easter on Friday 21st March and Monday 24th March.

Barley Close Reports

Last month the whole school celebrated Chinese New Year. 
Year 4 made brightly coloured lanterns and some scary dragons.  In the hall there was a huge dragon!!  The best part was our old teacher, Miss Carr, who now lives in China, came to visit us.  We learnt lots of fabulous facts about China from her.  We also had a super Chinese lunch in the hall.  All the staff and lots of visitors came to join us.
Written by Louise and Aidan

Fire Safety
The fire safety team from Kingswood Fire Station came to warn us of the dangers of fire.  The activities were about the serious danger of arson and making hoax calls.  YOU COULD PUT SOMEONE’S LIFE IN  DANGER!!!  We were advised never to make hoax calls.  We also watched a film about how fast a fire can spread in a living room.  We were surprised; it took only 3 minutes to fill the room with flames and smoke.
Thank you to the Kingswood Team for their educational visit.  We think they enjoyed their Chinese lunch too!!
Written by Gavin, Kai and Jordan.

Wear RED for LOVE and Valentines Disco —14th February
It was the day we all got to wear red to school.  School really did look different.  After school we had a Valentines Disco.  It was amazing.  The biscuits tasted as good as gold.  There were Jammie Dodgers, Pink Wafers and Custard Creams.  The music was good too.  My favourite song was Breaking Free from High School Musical.  The lights were very pretty and colourful.  The best thing had to be that all my friends were there to dance with.  We all had lots of fun.
Written by Lauryn

Art Exhibition
On Thursday 28th February Barley Close held a colourful and exciting art exhibition in the school hall.  Every child in the school had their picture displayed. All the children viewed their pictures with the help of some Year 6’s.  Many parents came to view and purchase the wonderful creations.  Many homes will be brightened up with the delightful art work of our children. Thank you for joining us at this great event.  The money raised will be added to our School Fund.
Written by Ben and Josh

Match Report
On Wednesday 6th February we played The Tynings.  We all started well and Daniel only had to save one shot.  In the second half Daniel scored a goal and he should really have got more but The Tynings had an excellent goalkeeper.
We remain undefeated this season! Thank you to everyone who came to support us. We are now in the semi-finals so please come and support us.
Written by William and Ben
  

A FEW REMINDERS

Head Lice
I am sure you will agree that the subject of Head Lice is not pleasant, but unfortunately for many families they are an unpleasant reality! The only way to prevent and get rid of head lice is for all families to check children’s hair at least every other day and treat immediately. It is important, that if you find either lice (live) or nits (eggs), that you treat your child’s hair immediately by using a nit comb and lotion  - please ask your pharmacist for advice, or use a conditioner. Unfortunately this problem is always more likely to occur after school holidays and so please check your child’s hair today! If you would like to find out more about how to deal with this problem, please call into the school office to collect a leaflet. School Nurses no longer come to school to check children’s hair, so please make sure that you check your child’s hair at least twice a week.  This will save time and money in the long run.

Parking
A reminder that parking is available for all parents and carers in the car park which can be accessed via The Laurels (off Blackhorse Road). We would respectfully ask that you do not drive and park in Barley Close itself, since this causes congestion and we are trying to ensure that we consider our local residents at all times.

Absence
If your child is unwell and therefore unable to attend school, please telephone the school before 9 a.m. to let us know. The absence of all pupils is a cause for concern and if we do not know the reason for an absence, Mrs. Goodway will telephone you.  This is taking a great deal of time and is costly too, so please could you help us by ensuring that you contact the school first.  I would like to thank all those parents who are already remembering to give us a quick call to inform us of any absence. When your child returns to school, please send a brief letter explaining the reasons for the absence—these are used by the EWO to monitor absence. If your child has been sick or suffered a bout of diarrhoea, they should remain at home for 48 hours after the last time there was an occurrence of diarrhoea or vomiting, to try to prevent the spread of infection to other children.
  

Severe Weather Conditions

In the event of severe weather conditions, please listen to bulletins on the local radio stations—Radio Bristol and GWR, where up to date information will be regularly broadcast. 
If, due to severe weather conditions, the school has to be closed, please do not leave your child at school until we let you know that there are adequate members of staff to supervise and teach your child.
Please be assured that the school will only be closed as a last resort.
  

Friends of Barley Close

SATS DISCO
Friday 16th May
FS/KS1 3.30pm-4.15pm
KS2 4.30pm-5.30pm

MANGOTSFIELD
FESTIVAL
Saturday 14th June

SUMMER FAYRE
The Summer Fayre will be on
Saturday 28th June
from 12-3pm

Preparation for Standard Assessment Task and Tests (SATs)

Tests for children in years 3 - 6 take place from 12th -  16th May.   Children in Year 2 will be taking tests throughout term 5.  Children will not be granted authorised absence for holidays during this time. 
 Children and teachers are working hard to prepare for the tests. As parents and carers it is important that you too give your child every opportunity to reach their full potential, by supporting them with homework and maintaining clear routines of bedtimes and meals to enable children to be fit to learn and concentrate during the school day.
Our expectations of children’s achievement is high and this will enable them to do their very best in the SATs.
During the parent interview evenings in February, teachers will share more details of expectations for SATs and pupil targets to ensure that you are able to support your child with their learning at home too.
It is important that all children are reading at home and are learning number bonds and tables and that an adult shares in this experience with them.