School News & Events

  
Our Vision

We believe that our children should have the aspiration and opportunity to ‘Live life in all its fullness’ and ‘Shine like stars in the sky’.
 
New this week…
 
Please note our weekly update will now be sent out on Friday mornings.
 
World Book Day
It was fantastic to see so many imaginative props inspired by books we love to read in school today. Thank you to everyone who was able to join us and read their favourite books with us as well. We have made ‘book blankets’ from our books in class, there is a wonderful variety in our recommended reads!
Children will be bringing their £1 vouchers home with them today.
 
Comic Relief, Red Nose Day - Friday 20^th March
The theme for this Red Nose Day is 'Take Yourself Funny for Money' by taking life a little less seriously and poking fun at ourselves. With this in mind, school council would like to invite everyone to dress-up for a suggested donation of £1...Children are to come dressed as adults and adults are to come dressed as children for the day! They will also be hosting some fantastically funny taskmaster inspired activities over lunchtime suitable for all ages - suggested donation of £1 to join in with these. 
 
Easter Sharing and Celebration Tea - Wednesday 25^th March 2026 2.00pm at school
Just a reminder that are warmly invited to join us for a special Easter Sharing and Celebration Tea.
During this joyful gathering, we will celebrate Easter together and children are invited to share a special achievement if they wish to.
Your child may pick one personal achievement/award they are especially proud of. This will be a wonderful opportunity to share this with family and friends.
We look forward to sharing tea and treats, as we celebrate the children’s achievements together.

Class Collective Worship
 
Each week one of our Collective Worship sessions takes place in class with a focus on something in the news. Attached in a take home that you might like to think about and share with your child at home, there is no need to return this to school.
This week’s take home…  -Take Home 6th March.pdf-  
 
 Spotlights from Learning…
 
Homework
Our class homework pages have been updated. Please take a moment to look at the page for your class. If you have any questions, please speak to your child's class teacher. 
 
Poetry and word of the week
 
Our poem this week in ‘The Door’ by Miroslav Holub
 
https://poetrybyheart.org.uk/poems/the-door-miroslav-holub
 
This week our word of the week is ‘darkness’ a word which is formed from two parts, an adjective and suffix, can you think of any other words you can make following this formula?
 
 
Acorn Class
This week we have all been writing the start of our sentence stacks for ‘We’re Going on a Bear Hunt’, we have explored using alliteration in our work. We have also been thinking about what happens to our bodies when we exercise. Year One have been starting to think about algorithms and instructions, I wonder if you can find any real life situations when you use these at home?
 
Oak Class
Oak class have started a new writing topic this week all about animal habitats. We have found out about different animal habitats around the world and thought about why animals are suited to those locations, in preparation for our own writing. Perhaps you could ask your child to tell you about their favourite animal and its habitat and why a penguin wouldn't be found in a desert?!
 
Palm Class
We have started our new writing unit this week - explanation texts. We have explored the structure and shape of this non-fiction text type and have predicted some of our writing rainbow elements that we will need to use. We will be writing explanations based on our human bodies so we have been sheep-tracking our science knowledge with plenty hands on experiences to make sure we can write about it. When at home, can you notice your language choices when explaining things verbally to each other? This verbal rehearsal of our sentences will be super important for clarity in our writing. 
 
Cedar Class
This week in Cedar we have enjoyed learning more about people who have been forced to leave their homes and make a new home in a different country, to help us prepare for writing a speech in our writing. We have read a fantastic book about a little girl called Azzi which has helped us to understand some of the challenges refugees face.  Why not ask your child about Azzi's story and if they can remember any interesting facts about refugees in the UK and around the world. 
 
After school clubs
Due to the Bolton Castle trip arriving late back on Monday 2^nd March, Guitar Club is being carried over to 13^th April and Crafty Conservation Club on 20^th April.
 
Book Club
We had a fantastic book club last half term where we shared the newly published picture book 'The Wonder' by Tom Percival. After reading and reviewing we made some crafts inspired by the book. The children and grownups all really enjoyed the book and would recommend it to everyone, Mrs Pawson has a copy in Acorn Class if you would like to read it.
In book club this half term we are looking at a non-fiction book, everyone from reception to year 6 is welcome to join us (we still have graphic novels and chapter books to come in the summer term).
If you would like to join us in reading, sharing, reviewing and a project related to the book then we would love to welcome you on Thursday 26^th March 3.30-4.30pm
Every person or family group that attends will need to pay for a book via parent pay. The books will be a longer read this time so we will be sending them out in advance, books will be ordered on the 6^th March and must be paid for via Parent Pay in advance. The cost of the book will be £10 and you will also get to keep the book after the club.
Thank you
 
Whizz Kids
As there are various clubs running after half term we are asking that new Whizz Kids booking forms are sent into school if you haven’t already done this.
 
Forest School Friday
To support our Golden Threads, Helen will be running a morning forest school session for each class on a Friday morning. Dates are as follows:

• Acorn Class: Friday 6^th March
• Palm Class: Friday 13^th March
• Cedar Class: Friday 20^th March

Children should come in comfy, warm clothes suitable for forest school. They will need long trousers, water proofs and wellies. Please send uniform in a bag for the afternoon session. 
 
This half term, it is Palm class that have forest school every Wednesday afternoon. Please bring your forest school kit with you to change into.
 
PE days
Acorn - Wednesday (please come dressed in your PE kit)
Oak - Friday
Palm - Tuesday (Swimming kit required for year 4s who signed up) 
Cedar – Tuesday
 
Reminders…
 
Wellies and Trainers
We have noticed that some children’s feet have grown, please don’t forget to check wellies and trainers in school. Thank you.
 
Headlice/nits
We have several cases of headlice in school, please can you check your family’s hair and treat as necessary. Local pharmacists are a very helpful source of information and can advise on which treatment is currently the most effective in our area. Please follow the instructions on the treatment carefully and don’t forget to retreat your family, this is usually required a week after the first treatment.
 
Warm/Waterproof coats
It has been a little warmer and we have even seen the sun this week, however, we like to spend as much time outside as possible, children do need to have a warm waterproof coat with them every day to keep us warm, dry and happy outside.
 
 
Packed Lunches
Please can we remind parents of all children to continue to cut grapes and similar items such as cherry tomatoes to reduce the risk of choking for all children. Thank you for your continued support in keeping our children safe.
 
Safeguarding, Health and Wellbeing Updates…
 
School Car Park - Please do not park in the school car park. This is for health and safety reasons as space is very limited. We appreciate your co-operation with keeping everyone safe.
 
Safety on site
A polite reminder to keep to the footpaths around the school site and avoid walking on the grass when arriving at and leaving the school site, several areas of grass near to the footpaths are now coned off as they are very slippery and dangerous.
A reminder that playing on the grass at the front of school and climbing on the walls is not safe for anyone and is therefore not allowed. Thank you for helping us too keep our children safe around school.
 

News from the Wider Community…

The Little Ripon Bookshop
With just a week to go until World Book Day we thought we would remind you that we have all the WBD books in the shop ready for children to pick up in exchange for a WBD token. The books are completely free to the children when they bring in a WBD voucher (see picture of books). They can also use the voucher to take £1 off a book, if they would rather do that.
We also have a fabulous, flashy, noisy, NEW WBD Machine arriving in the shop on Thursday 5^th March, ready to dispense books to eager recipients! It’s bonkers (of course), manufactured with love out of cardboard boxes (don’t tell the kids!) and it will be in use on Thursday and Friday after school and on Saturday from 10am! It’s been very popular the last few years - please let your pupils know that a new machine will be here.
 

 
 

 
 

 
 -Nidd News 6 3 26.pdf-