Keep up to date with all the news happening in the school at the moment. Articles are added during the week. Parents are encouraged to check regularly. Our weekly newsletter, emailed directly to parents, summarises content for the week.

• Special Menu for World Book Day - Thursday 7th March

  Thu 29 Feb 2024

  Dear parents and carers,

   

  We are excited to announce that on Thursday, March 7th, in celebration of World Book Day, Creative management will be serving a special menu during lunchtime.

   

  This delightful menu will replace the usual offerings, allowing our students to enjoy a literary-inspired culinary experience.

   

  As we immerse ourselves in the magic of books, let our taste buds embark on an equally enchanting journey. We encourage our students to savor this unique menu and perhaps even discover flavors that transport them to the pages of their favorite stories.

   

  Fantastic Mr Fox’s Favourite Sticky Chicken Noodles

  Supertato’s Spectacular Jacket Potato with Big Friendly Giant Beans

  Cheshire Cat’s Cheesy Macaroni Bake

  Horrid Henry’s Homemade Beef Lasagne served with scrumdiddlyumptious Garlic Bread

  ***********

  All served with Perfect Peter’s Peas and Corn on the Cob ***********

  Charlie Buckets Chocolate Brownies

  Willy Wonka’s Iced sponge with Hundreds and Thousands James and the Giant Peaches and Ice Cream Vertie Turtle’s Yoghurt Station

   

• Collecting pupils for appointments during the school day

  Thu 29 Feb 2024

  Dear parents and carers,

   

  We appreciate your cooperation in ensuring that routine medical appointments are scheduled outside of school hours or during school holidays whenever possible. However, we understand that there are other types of appointments that may require children to miss part of the school day.

   

  When such situations arise, we kindly request that you follow these guidelines:

  1. Advance Notification: Please inform the school in advance if your child needs to attend an appointment during school hours. This allows us to plan accordingly and ensure a smooth process.

  2. Proof of Appointment: To authorise your child’s absence, provide proof of the appointment. You can do this by submitting a letter, email, or text message that clearly indicates the date and time of the appointment.

  3. Timely Collection: When collecting your child from school, arrive promptly. Our office staff may need to attend to other matters, so your cooperation is greatly appreciated.

  Remember that good attendance at school is crucial for effective learning. We recognise that unavoidable circumstances may lead to absences, and we appreciate your cooperation in adhering to these guidelines.

   

  Thank you for your understanding and support.

• Sports Library Year 4 Trial

  Thu 29 Feb 2024 Miss Garret

  Dear Parents/Carer,

   

  We are excited to announce the launch of Burnside’s new Sports Library during the Spring term! This initiative aims to provide your child with access to a variety of sports equipment that they can borrow for a week. The Sports Library collection includes items such as netballs, rugby balls, basketballs, tennis rackets, howlers, frisbees, and skipping ropes. Your child will have the opportunity to take these items home and enjoy active playtime with the family.

  Initially, the Sports Library will be available to Year 4 pupils, and we plan to gradually extend it to other year groups. Here’s how it works:

   

  1. Borrowing: Children can borrow their preferred sports equipment for a week.
  2. Extension: If they need more time, they can extend their loan period.
  3. Variety: After a week, they can choose to swap their borrowed item for a different one.
  4.  

  We kindly request that all items are well cared for to ensure the longevity of our Sports Library. While wear and tear are expected, responsible handling will help us maintain this exciting resource for everyone.

   

  Thank you for your support, and let’s keep the spirit of sports alive at Burnside!

• Recycle to Read Batteries Collection

  Thu 29 Feb 2024

  Dear Parents/Carers,

  
  Our school is recycling batteries to protect the planet (and for a chance to win book vouchers for the school).
  We need your help - plus your child could win some fantastic eco-inspired prizes too!

  
  How can you help?
  1. Hunt out used batteries at home. We are collecting AA, AAA, C, D, 9V and button batteries.
  2. Tape over the contacts of lithium (Li) and button batteries (see below).
  3. Put them in a tied plastic bag (preferably reused)
  4. Take them to school.
  5. Enter the prize draw at jointhepod.org/win

  
  Safety first:
  Not only is storing and recycling batteries safely great for the environment, it can also help reduce risks associated with batteries:
  ● Batteries can cause serious injury or death if swallowed, please keep batteries out of reach of small children and pets.
  ● Lithium and button batteries need to be taped so their contacts don’t touch, as they could short circuit if they do.
  Use sticky tape over the contacts (top and bottom of batteries). Button batteries can be placed in a line between two sections of sticky tape. Lithium batteries can look like
  any battery, but they will have lithium (Li) written on them.

  
  Many thanks for your support and happy battery hunting!

  
  To find out more, head to: jointhepod.org/batteries

  
  Mrs Willis
  Eco Schools Lead
  Burnside Primary School

  

• Survey 2024

  Mon 26 Feb 2024 Headteacher

  We frequently carry out surveys to find out parents/carer views.  Your views are important to us.  We would like to know your thoughts on what we do well and what we could do better. We will add your views to our own evaluation enabling us to identify our strengths and areas for improvement.  

  The survey will open today and close on Friday 1st March. Please click the link below to take part.

  Parent/Carer Survey 2024

• Mobile Phones in School

  Mon 26 Feb 2024 Headteacher

  You may have read in the media that there is currently a focus on mobile phones and whether pupils should have access to these in school. 

   

  Read the full guidance here: DfE mobile phones in school.

   

  Our procedures are unchanged, if parents provide pupils with a mobile phone, the phone should be handed in to the class teacher at the start of the school day and taken to the school office for safe keeping, it will be handed back at the end of the day. Pupils are not allowed to use or access their phones during the school day, this includes during childcare or clubs. It is important to note that the school does not accept responsibility for any loss or damage to devices/

   

  For more guidance on how to talk to your child about their mobile phone use have a look at this useful guide from the UK safer internet centre:

  • Guidance for parents, how to talk to your children about what they use their mobile phone for and how to use it responsibly. 

• Chinese New Year

  Tue 13 Feb 2024

  A big thank you to the Tong family and friends for coming to school to parade their lion and dragon as part of Burnside's Chinese New Year celebrations. Some of our very creative children in Year 3 and Reception have been working very hard outside of school time to create their own wonderful dragon for the parade. Well done to all involved, it was amazing!

  

• Children's Mental Health Week

  Mon 05 Feb 2024

  From 5th to the 9th February 2024, our school will be taking part in Place2Be’s Children’s Mental Health Week. This year the theme is ‘My Voice Matters’ and it is all about empowering our children by giving them the tools they need to express themselves.

   

  The week has begun with all of our pupils observing a virtual assembly led by ‘52 lives, School of Kindness’. During this week, we want all of our children to be able to say and believe that ‘My Voice Matters’.

  Each day, some classes will be watching a short video / assembly and there will be some discussion points linked to the focus of the day. All classes will be completing ‘Acts of Kindness’ throughout the week that have been carefully designed by our School Council  members. Children will also be taking part in a range of other stimulating activities in their classrooms that will support our mental health.

  Mrs Akram
  Year 2 teacher
  Mental Health Lead

  

• Invacuation 'lockdown' drill, keeping children safe

  Thu 01 Feb 2024 Headteacher

  This half term in addition to our usual fire evacuation drill pupils and staff will practise our invacuation drill as part of our regular safety checks. It is important that we put procedures in place and plan even for those events that are VERY unlikely to occur. 

   

  What is an invacuation and when would it happen?

  An invacuation, sometimes referred to as a lockdown procedure,  is a standard safety procedure, similar to an emergency evacuation/fire drill. This procedure would be used if there is a threat to the safety of pupils, staff and others in  school, and when it’s safer for everyone to remain in the school building rather than evacuate. 
  Situations where our invacuation procedure may be used include:

  • a potentially dangerous person or dog on the school site
  • an alert from the police about a disturbance or dangerous situation in the local community that could affect the school
  • a nearby chemical incident or other risk of air pollution
  • an incident related to terrorism.

   

  What is the invacuation procedure?

  When we initiate the invacuation procedure, everyone in school will be alerted by the sounding of a specific alarm.

   

  Staff follow procedures and ensure that, as in the case of a fire evacuation, everyone is safe.

  
  During a drill pupils will either stay in their classroom, or if outside on the yard or field, will make there way into the nearest classroom, and wait quietly until the drill is given the 'all clear'.