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.

• BBFC Art Competition

  Wed 23 Oct 2024

  BBFC Art Competition

  The British Board of Film Classification are giving the opportunity for children to have their artwork on the silver screen! The competition requires children to create artwork of Sonic The Hedgehog. The winner will have their artwork appear next to the Sonic The Hedgehog 3 classification card before every showing of the film in U.K cinemas.

   

  For further information visit https://www.bbfc.co.uk/education/create-the-card-competition-2024

   

  Good luck!

• Lost Property

  Wed 23 Oct 2024

  Lost property will be outside the main school entrance every day. Please come and check for any lost uniform, shoes, water bottles, etc.

   

• Year 6 starting High School in 2025, Apply by 31st Oct

  Wed 16 Oct 2024 Headteacher

  Year 6 parents and carers,

   

  As you know, our Year 6 pupils will be transferring from  Primary to High School in September 2025. We kindly  remind you to ensure that you have submitted your  applications for  your child's High School placement.

   

  Please note that the closing date for applications is  Thursday, 31st October.

   

  Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

• Eco-Schools’ Green Flag with Distinction!

  Mon 14 Oct 2024 Mrs Willis

  Dear Burnside Community,

  I am delighted to share some fantastic news with you all. At the end of last year, after a tremendous amount of hard work from our Eco Warriors, staff, parents, carers, and all the pupils at Burnside, we submitted our application for an Eco Schools Award.

  I am thrilled to report that we have received this message from the assessors:

  “Congratulations! Your application truly stood out, and we’re thrilled to award you an Eco-Schools’ Green Flag with Distinction!”

  We have been awarded a certificate and plaque, which is now proudly displayed at the entrance to the school. This achievement is a testament to the dedication and effort of everyone involved in our Eco projects.

  A huge thank you to everyone who participated and supported our initiatives. We look forward to sharing more Eco news and continuing our efforts to make Burnside a greener, more sustainable place.

  

• Book Sale Donations Needed

  Fri 11 Oct 2024

  As mentioned previously, we would like to host a book sale this half term at school. To make this event a success, we are seeking donations of children’s books that are in nearly new condition.

   

  If you have any books that your children have outgrown or no longer need, please consider donating them to our book sale before Friday 18th October.

   

  Thank you in advance

• World Mental Health Day

  Thu 10 Oct 2024

  World Mental Health Day is every year on the 10th October. The theme for 2024, set by the World Foundation of Mental Health, is ‘It is time to prioritise mental health in the workplace'.

   

  To celebrate this special day our staff and pupils carried out a number of exciting activities that helped raise awareness of mental health issues. Most pupils visited our Wellness room throughout the day.

   

  There are lots of simple things that we do to support mental health in our school community:

  • We encourage open conversation about our mental health between staff, pupils and parents.
  • We share information and resources about mental health, such as books, websites and helplines.
  • We promote healthy coping mechanisms for stress and anxiety, such as exercise, relaxation techniques, self-care and resilience.
  • Plan opportunities to embed mental health into the curriculum through implicit and explicit teaching of wellbeing and resilience strategies.
  • Most importantly, we continue to check in with pupils, staff and parents to see how they're doing and offer support where needed.
  • We prioritise staff wellbeing as part of your whole school approach. Without good staff mental health and wellbeing, it is almost impossible to have good student wellbeing.

   

  Mental Health Awareness Day is an important opportunity for us all to prioritise mental wellbeing for the whole school community. We hope that your child can tell you something about what they have learned about their mental health today.

   

  Mrs N Akram

  Year 2 Teacher

  Mental Health Lead

   

   

• BOOKING SYSTEM - Out of school provision

  Tue 08 Oct 2024

  I would like to start by thanking you for the support you give to our out-of-school and holiday provision. The number of families using our services is consistently  rising, which is amazing.

   

  To ensure we have adequate staff each session, it is now imperative that bookings are made in advance  using  the online booking system. We will only accept  telephone/email requests for bookings in exceptional  emergency circumstances. 

   

  This measure allows us to plan but also saves on  unnecessary admin time, which helps us keep the prices of sessions as affordable and competitive as possible.

   

  Thank you in advance for adapting to this new change.

• Check your child`s hair regularly for head lice.

  Fri 04 Oct 2024

  To prevent the spread of head lice the NHS has produced these guidelines. Please could you regularly check your child's hair and ensure long hair is tied back.

  
  Head lice and nits
  Head lice and nits are very common in young children and their families. They don't have anything to do with dirty hair and are picked up by head-to-head contact.

  
  How to get rid of head lice
  You can treat head lice without seeing a GP.
  Treat head lice as soon as you spot them.
  You should check everyone in the house and start treating anyone who has head lice on the same day.
  There's no need to keep your child off school if they have head lice.
  
  Wet combing
  Lice and nits can be removed by wet combing. You should try this method first.

  You can buy a special fine-toothed comb (detection comb) online or from pharmacies to remove head lice and nits.

  There may be instructions on the pack, but usually you:

  wash hair with ordinary shampoo
  apply lots of conditioner (any conditioner will do)
  comb the whole head of hair, from the roots to the ends
  It usually takes about 10 minutes to comb short hair, and 20 to 30 minutes for long, thick or curly hair.

  Do wet combing on days 1, 5, 9 and 13 to catch any newly hatched head lice. Check again that everyone's hair is free of lice on day 17.

  
   

  
  Medicated lotions and sprays
  Ask your pharmacist for advice if you have tried wet combing for 17 days, but your child still has live head lice.

  They may recommend using medicated lotions and sprays. These kill head lice in all types of hair, and you can buy them from pharmacies, supermarkets or online.

  Head lice should die within a day. Some lotions and sprays come with a comb to remove dead lice and eggs.

  Some treatments need to be repeated after a week to kill any newly hatched lice.

  Check the pack to see if they're OK for you or your child and how to use them.

  If lotions or sprays don't work, speak to your pharmacist about other treatments.

  
  Some treatments aren't recommended because they're unlikely to work. For example:

  • products containing permethrin
  • head lice "repellents"
  • electric combs for head lice
  • tree and plant oil treatments, such as tea tree oil, eucalyptus oil and lavender oil herbal remedies

  
  You can't prevent head lice
  There's nothing you can do to prevent head lice.

  You can help stop them spreading by wet or dry combing regularly to catch them early.

  Do not use medicated lotions and sprays to prevent head lice. They can irritate the scalp.

  There's no need for children to stay off school or to wash laundry on a hot wash.

• BBC 500 Words Writing Competition

  Fri 04 Oct 2024 Headteacher

  Calling all budding authors...there is an exciting opportunity for all children aged 5-11 years old to enter the ‘500 Words’ Story Writing Competition organised by the BBC. This year, the two age categories will be for 5-7 year-olds and 8-11 year-olds.

   

  Children of all abilities are encouraged to use their creativity and imagination to write a story they would love to read without the pressure of having to worry about spelling, punctuation and grammar.

   

  There are fabulous prizes to be won, plus the opportunity for the children to share their wonderful creativity and imagination.

   

  Your child’s teacher will talk to them about the competition at school, however, their entry should be written at home and submitted directly by you. 

   

  Entries can be submitted any time from now until the closing date, 9pm on Friday 8th November.

   

  All details can be found at:

  • https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/500-words

   

  If your child does decide to enter, please also email a copy of their story to us. We would love to read their stories.

• Attendance Reminder

  Mon 30 Sep 2024 Headteacher

  I would like to thank all our parents and carers for your invaluable contribution to our school attendance.

   

  I am pleased to share that our overall attendance is commendable, and this achievement is a testament to the strong partnership we have built together.

   

  Your dedication and understanding of the importance of good attendance have made a significant difference in the outcomes for our children. By ensuring that our students are present and engaged, we are collectively fostering an environment where they can thrive academically and personally.

   

  Thank you once again for your continued support and cooperation. Together, we are making a positive impact on our children’s education and future.   

   

  As parents and carers, you are legally responsible for making sure your child gets a suitable fulltime education.  For most parents, this will mean making sure your child is in school every day except when they are too ill to come to school.

   

  In August this year the Department for Education updated their rules on term time absence including when to issue fines for non-attendance. These changes are designed to ensure that every child has the best possible chance to succeed and thrive in their educational journey. 

   

  Why Attendance Matters

  Regular school attendance is crucial for your child’s academic success and overall well-being. Being in school every day helps children build strong foundations in their learning, develop social skills, and form lasting friendships.

   

  Expectations

  1. Strong Partnerships with Families: We are committed to working closely with you to understand and address any barriers to your child’s attendance. By building strong relationships and open communication, we can support your child’s needs effectively.

  2. Policies: These include guidelines on reporting absences by telephoning the school office, pressing option 1 and leaving a voicemail message. Completing the leaves of absence request and knowing the importance of punctuality.
  3. Support for All Pupils: We recognise that some children may face challenges that make regular attendance difficult. Whether due to physical or mental health issues, special educational needs, or other factors, we are here to provide the necessary support to help every child attend school regularly
  4. Data-Driven Approach: We will be regularly looking at attendance data to identify any patterns or issues. This helps us to provide targeted support where it’s needed most, ensuring no child is left behind
  5. Legal Interventions: Our primary goal is to support and encourage attendance and work in partnership with our families. There are legal measures in place for persistent absences. These include attendance contracts and, if necessary, penalty notices.

   

  How You Can Help

  • Stay Informed: Keep up to date with our school’s attendance policies and the DfE guidance.
  • Communicate: Let us know if your child is facing any difficulties that might affect their attendance. We are here to help!
  • Encourage: Foster a positive attitude towards school and learning at home. Your enthusiasm can make a big difference in your child’s outlook.