Dear Parents and Carers
For those of you who, like me, get irritated by seeing mince pies in the shops in September, I have to warn you that we have already had Christmas carols playing in our classrooms this term! This is because the children have been busy designing their Christmas cards, which will be printed by Cauliflower Cards. Their designs look incredible and they will be bringing them home this weekend to show you. If you are able to purchase the cards, please do, as all donations go towards our PTA, the Friends of Beaford. Please return your completed order form by the end of next week.
This week
On Monday, we celebrated World Animal Day. The children learnt about endangered species and how we can help to protect them. They made masks of their favourite animals and wore them to a special assembly. During the assembly, local company, The Sign Maker, talked to the children about how they run a sustainable business and kindly gifted the school two wonderful new bird boxes. Our school ambassadors have chosen where to put them and will be keeping an eye out for any activity throughout the year. We are very grateful for this generous gift and for helping us to encourage more wildlife into our school grounds.
Thursday brought another special occasion. This year, we are working with the Read to Achieve programme to promote a love of reading among our children. As part of this project, Treetops Circus visited us to deliver a puppet show and storytelling workshop. The children were transfixed by the performers’ artistry and the stories they told. Otters were also treated to a puppet-making workshop, giving them the chance to explore their own creativity.
I was delighted to see how engaged the children were throughout the visit. Experiences like these are not only a fantastic way to bring stories to life but also help children to see the many possibilities open to them as they grow up. We want our children to understand that careers in performance and the arts are exciting possibilities for their futures too.
On Friday, the school was full of colour as the children wore yellow to support YoungMinds and raise awareness of children's mental health. We talked about the importance of recognising the emotions we feel, understanding them and finding healthy ways to manage them. We want our children to know that all feelings are valid, but that learning how to respond to them can help prevent difficult emotions from becoming barriers to living a happy and fulfilling life.
Beaford Primary: Summer Book Quest Champions!
Also on Friday, Torrington Library visited us to present our trophy for first place in the Summer Book Quest! The children of Beaford outperformed all the primary schools in the Torrington area, with the highest number of children completing the challenge. It was fantastic to see so many of our children getting involved and enjoying books over the summer holidays.
The library is also running a Winter Reading Quest, which continues until March. If you find yourself in Torrington on a Saturday morning with the children, do pop into the library and borrow some books. It is a lovely opportunity to discover new stories and keep reading for pleasure throughout the winter.
I am incredibly proud of our children and the enthusiasm they have shown for reading. Winning the Summer Book Quest is a wonderful achievement and a great reflection of the reading culture we want to build at Beaford.
Enjoy your weekend.
George Myers
Head of School
