A warm welcome to all our new families and welcome back to all ‘previous’ families. The children have returned with boundless energy and enthusiasm and we look forward to the year ahead with you. We also warmly welcome Mrs Hamilton and Mrs Reaney in Year 1 and Mrs Cooper in our art studio.

Please set a reminder on your phone (or whichever device is your preference) to log on to our website Friday evening to read our weekly newsletter. The weekly newsletter includes information relevant to all of you and also a weekly round-up of what has been happening in each of the classes.

Please be aware that Kingsley Avenue is a private road and cars are not permitted to park there at drop-off and collection. Free car park passes for Oden Road car park are available from admin@appledoreprimary.co.uk upon request for your use. If local residents or school staff ask you not to park on Kingsley Avenue, please be respectful in your response as we try and support the neighbours of the school.

Please see here for an online safety parent’s guide and here for on aimed at under 5’s online safety

If you like to support very worthy causes, please click here following requests from a number of you to share this request.

Dates for the diary:

• Free martial arts taster sessions om 12th September see here
• For information on DadFest 18th, 19th & 20th September please see here
• 6th October Atlantic Academy open evening for pupils in years 4, 5 & 6 see here and here for details of their Christmas Fayre
• For details of open mornings and evenings at Great Torrington school for current year 6 pupils see here 
• For information on Kingsley School open days for entry into year 7 see here

Wishing you all a super weekend

From Jeremy Cooper and all the children and staff (more…)

And that’s the end of another year!  Thank you Year 6 for your leavers’ assembly today and we wish you every success at your new schools. A large number of our Year 6 children have been here for 8 years and it has been a pleasure and a privilege to be part of every journey of every child in the year group.

Atlantic won the House Cup this term and the scores were as follows. Arctic (blue) 1205,  Pacific (red) 1214, Indian (yellow) 1342, and Atlantic (green) 1476. We will arrange a non-uniform day in September for Atlantic House. Well done Atlantic, because it’s been a while and one year 6 pupil in Atlantic was correct when they said, ‘… the last time we won that I was in Reception class’!

Yesterday also saw our Appledore’s Got Talent final. Following stringent rounds of auditions, judged by peers, each year group offered up their entry today and we were treated to a musical, dancing, comedy and magical treat. Congratulations to all the entrants and yesterday’s finalists and many house points were won.  We also handed out the prizes for the PTFA sunflower growing competition wit the tallest getting close to 2m tall!

For the PTFA summer newsletter please see here.

We say goodbye to Cathy Ley today and thank her for everything she has done. Working in Reception Class, Cathy is one of the lucky few who know nearly every child in the school at any point and all of those children have been lucky to have received Cath’s care and expertise. We all wish Cathy well in her new job.

Please see here for our latest attendance newsletter.

Dates for the Diary and local events

• Holiday club information at Tapeley Park Woods Forest School please see here
• For information about Appledore Library events this summer see here and for the Summer Book Quest see here.
• Dadsfest and and South Devon Fun With Dad camping details are here and here
• Science Lab in Green Lanes, Barnstaple, for hands-on activities for all ages during the summer holiday see here
• North Devon Biosphere photo competition see here
• Atlantic Racquet Centre  (ARC) FREE Family Open Dayon Saturday, 18th July, from 1pm – 4pm for a free community Open Day see here
• Summer activity camps at West Croft School 27th July – 14th August 5-13 years old, open to all and free for those on benefit related free school meals. See here
• DICE is a 4 week (4x 2hour online sessions) free universal support for parents/carers of pre-teens and teens who are worried about parenting in the modern world, with the risks and challenges this presents. For information on dates and course content see here and here.
• Bideford Rugby Club taster session for children in years 2-8 of all abilities Sunday 6th September 11am-1pm see here
• If you like to run or walk (or run and walk!), Families in Grief is holding an eight mile run or walk and one mile run for children called Barney to Beach on Sunday 13th September. For more information see here

Wishing you all a happy summer holiday and we look forward to seeing you again next year when school returns on Monday 7th September

From Jeremy Cooper and all the children and staff (more…)

A trip to Lundy island, dancing with the Royal Opera House in support of children’s rights, a school play, a visit to Appledore Library, Open the Book at Appledore Baptist Church, working with an environmental ranger in our woodland, inspirational environmentalists and insulators…so much for winding down towards the end of term!

As holidays approach and children have more time on their hands, please consider a review of safeguarding settings on their devices. See here for a range of organisations that provide good advice.

Here is a message from Citizens Advice we received this week…we know that having the kids at home for the holidays means spending can go up on essentials like food and energy. If you’re having problems meeting your outgoings this summer, get in touch with us at Citizens Advice. We can: Provide energy efficiency advice to help save money; Look at whether you’re eligible for grants to help pay your bills; Make a budget to balance your income and outgoings; Check you’re receiving all the benefits you’re entitled to; Provide a voucher for your local food bank if you’re struggling to buy food; Help make a plan to deal with any debts you’ve accrued. If you need advice this summer, you can reach us by phone, email or in person. Free Adviceline: 0808 278 7999 Energy advice team: 01237 879 233, energyadvice@citizensadvicetnmwd.org.uk
Our opening hours vary from office to office, so please check our website before coming to see us. Our office opening hours can be found here.

Dates for the Diary and local events

• For information about Appledore Library events this summer see here and for the Summer Book Quest see here.
• Dadsfest and and South Devon Fun With Dad camping details are here and here
• Atlantic Racquet Centre  (ARC) FREE Family Open Dayon Saturday, 18th July, from 1pm – 4pm for a free community Open Day see here
• Summer activity camps at West Croft School 27th July – 14th August 5-13 years old, open to all and free for those on benefit related free school meals. See here
• DICE is a 4 week (4x 2hour online sessions) free universal support for parents/carers of pre-teens and teens who are worried about parenting in the modern world, with the risks and challenges this presents. For information on dates and course content see here and here.
• Bideford Rugby Club taster session for children in years 2-8 of all abilities Sunday 6th September 11am-1pm see here
• If you like to run or walk (or run and walk!), Families in Grief is holding an eight mile run or walk and one mile run for children called Barney to Beach on Sunday 13th September. For more information see here

Wishing you all a lovely weekend.

From Jeremy Cooper and all the children and staff (more…)