A busy week that included year 6 pupils taking their Key Stage 2 SATs tests. They demonstrated resilience – fuelled by a bacon bap each morning – and showcased all their hard work to prepare themselves. Well done year 6 and a big thank you to the governors and past and present staff who volunteered their time this week to support the children.

Telegram app is proving to be a popular alternative to the likes of WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger; indeed, in some countries, it’s overtaken that pair to become the most-used instant messaging app. Telegram’s encryption, sadly, all too often encourages the app’s use as a conduit for extremist political material and illegal sexual content. Please click ask your children which messaging apps they use and if Telegram is one (it has a 17+ age advisory) and click here for a guide with tips on a number of potential Telegram risks including a lack of age verification, inappropriate content and cyber-bullying.

DIARY DATES

• Sports Day is Tuesday 23rd May (weather permitting!). Please click here for the details and here for a poster by the children. Please be aware that changes to this plan could be required and potentially at short notice – hopefully not though!
• We have booked a live online safety parent workshop on Monday 3rd July at 5pm delivered by Devon County Council Safeguarding Team. You can log in from your own device by clicking here or joining us in our school hall on a big screen. It will last for approximately one and a half hours and we have deliberately scheduled it just before the summer holidays when children typically spend more time online.

AROUND THE CLASSES

Wishing you all super weekend

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

A sea of red, white and blue and many crowns and tiaras too!  A super day to bring in the coronation bank holiday weekend.

Please take a look at the diary dates, including an online safety workshop we have booked for parents, and what has been going on in each class by scrolling down or clicking ‘more’.

Have a lovely weekend from

Jeremy Cooper and all the children and staff

Diary Dates

• Sarah Weston is hosting a meeting Friday 5th May @3.30pm in the hall for anyone who would like to volunteer for the parade dressed as characters in the theme of Matilda and/or for decorating the float.
• Castle Hill Creatives Art & Crafts Spring Fair which will take place on Saturday 13th May 2023 from 10 am until 4 pm at Castle Hill Community Center in Great Torrington, EX38 8AA
• Sports Day is Tuesday 23rd May (weather permitting!). Please click here for the details and here for a poster by the children. Please be aware that changes to this plan could be required and potentially at short notice – hopefully not though!
• We have booked a live online safety parent workshop on Monday 3rd July at 5pm delivered by Devon County Council Safeguarding Team you will be able to access live virtually from your own device or here on a big screen. It will last for approximately one and a half hours and we have deliberately scheduled it just before the summer holidays when children typically spend more time online. You will be able access it remotely on https://devoneducationservices.clickmeeting.com/online-safety-appledore-primary-school-3-7-2023-17-00-18-30/49bf193566f1628d720162006454bcb8 or clicking here We will remind you nearer the time.

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A very busy week for all classes (see below in Around the Classes) that also included two morning visits from Devon County County. One for them to learn more about our curriculum and how we teach it and the other was also requested by us to audit our safeguarding procedures. Both were very positive and those who visited were very impressed by the all the children they met and the quality of our provision.

And significantly, Annemarie Bettis, who many (if not all of you know!), attended her last governors’ meeting this week which brought down the curtain on her 30 years plus service to this school and all its families as she retires. Annemarie has been a driving force in the school and is already greatly missed. We have a started a collection for her and if anyone would like to contribute please contact the office. If you are reading this, thank you so much Annemarie. With love from us all.

Trainers are beginning to appear and please be aware these are not school uniform. If you are unsure of the required uniform, please click here.

Please can pupils in years 3-6 bring a piece of fresh fruit to school each day for their mid morning snack. We are noticing a large number of children are eating from their lunch, eating items that don’t help their concentration and that littering is on the rise. Please can pupils in years 3-6 bring a piece of fresh fruit to school each day for their mid morning snack. We are noticing a large number of children are eating from their lunch, eating items that don’t help their concentration and that littering is on the rise. Teachers have spoken to the children and your support is needed please.No cereal/fruit bars or dried fruit please as a substitute.

Wishing you all a super 3 day weekend and we look forward to seeing you on Tuesday.

From Jeremy Cooper and all the children and staff

Diary Dates

• Children can wear red, white and blue clothes on Friday 5th May to mark the coronation.
• Sarah Weston is hosting a meeting Friday 5th May @5pm in the hall – meeting for anyone who would like to volunteer for the parade dressed as characters in the theme of Matilda and/or for decorating the float.
• Castle Hill Creatives Art & Crafts Spring Fair which will take place on Saturday 13th May 2023 from 10 am until 4 pm at Castle Hill Community Center in Great Torrington, EX38 8AA
• Sports Day is Tuesday 23rd May (weather permitting!). Please click here for the details and please be aware that changes to this plan could be required and potentially at short notice – hopefully not though!
• For girls and boys half term football clubs in Barnstaple and Bideford, please click here

OUTDOOR LEARNING NEWS

The children have been helping out with lots of jobs around the microreserve. A donation of trees from Northam Town Council has been planted around the boundary and the new pond. Year 6 have reintroduced the Flag Iris to the pond and some new species to help oxygenate the water, and provide refuge for wildlife. Over 100 Newts were returned back to their habitat along with some leeches, and pond skaters! The group have added a wetland wildflower mix to the pond edge so fingers crossed in a few months the pond will be surrounded by some beautiful and wildlife friendly species. The pond itself has been dug and relined with funding from the ANOB and funding and muscle from The Friends of Appledore has allowed a new pond dipping platform which is waiting to be installed – we are all very excited to be able to use! Hope fully you’ll agree it’s looking more open, accessible and engaging already!

Eco Rangers and ambassadors have been busy in the Polytunnel and WW2 garden getting the ground ready, weed free and planting early crops – we’ve already harvested some winter lettuce, peas carrots and early broadbeans and are looking forward to getting some produce ready to sell again in the last half term of summer.

We fired up the pizza oven at Eco Rangers this week too and enjoyed a successful wild garlic pizza bread – foraged from our own woodland! Thanks for all the help and support from everyone and if anyone has any odd seeds they don’t want anymore or half bags of compost lingering around that won’t get used- we are grateful for any donations.

AROUND THE CLASSES

This week in Turtles and Dolphins we have continued learning about castles. On Tuesday we celebrated St George’s Day. We read the story and we changed our role play areas into castles so that we could act out the story. We also made St George’s cross flag. We have painted pictures of the castles and had a go at making a tall princess hat. We also talked about whether we would like to be a knight and whether we would like to live in a castle.

In Year 1 this week the Sea Lions have been using adjectives and conjunctions in their writing to improve their sentences. We are also working really hard on our handwriting at the moment and making sure we are taking the time to form our letters correctly. In Maths we have been looking at volume and capacity and have enjoyed comparing the capacity of different containers. In topic we recapped the names of the 5 oceans and then learnt about the different layers of the ocean. The children remembered so much of this learning from Dolphins, we were so impressed! We then learnt facts about the layers and looked at some animals that might live in each layer. We have been practising some songs that we are learning for the KS1 Music Morning happening on 18th May at The Big Sheep. Miss Carr is finding out if parents can get tickets to come along to this. A letter will be sent home next week to let you know if it is possible to come along.

Year 3 thought about something they enjoy doing in their free time and how they would feel if they had to give it up. This helped them to understand how the disciples felt when they were first called by a Jesus. They also had their first piece of whole class ensemble teaching which was linked to their work in a French. They sang frere Jacques in four parts and then learnt the fingering for the notes on the recorder so they could play the tune. Year 5 considered the meaning of the parable of the wise and foolish builders. They also began some whole class ensemble teaching and began to recognise notes on the stave. Year 6, looked at what kind of king Jesus was and continued with their unit of work on dance by finding different motifs to express the changing mood of the music

Year 2 have been working on fractions this week in Maths and have been finding a half, quarter and third of different amounts. We have been impressed with how well some children have persevered even though they found it tricky – well done! In English, they have been writing stories based on the Dragon Machine using brilliant imagination. For their Geography work, they have been looking at maps of the UK and naming England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland as well as their capital cities. In the Art Studio, they have been very excited to work with clay as part of the sculpture work they are completing this half term.

Seahunter class (year 3) have had a busy week! We have planned and started writing a poem on an imaginary journey, based on the book ‘A River’. In maths, we have been learning all about mass and this week we focused on learning all about grams and kilograms. We learned that there are 1000 g in a 1 kg and used this knowledge to work out equivalent masses and also had a go at comparing different masses. In science, we designed our own experiment to find out a plant’s requirements for life and growth. In geography, we explored the journey of a river from the source to mouth. We learned lots of new vocabulary and made our own glossary of new words. We also created our own river scene out of different materials and then labelled the different features of a river.

This week in HMS Echo (year 4), we have begun our new Science topic of Electricity – it was great to see what the children already know about it and they’re very excited to build their own circuits next week. In Geography, we have looked at what it means by ‘virtual water’, and how much water is used to produce and make things, such as a piece of beef steak, which uses a staggering amount of water! We are continuing with swimming and tennis this week for PE. In English, the children have learnt about using interesting nouns and verbs, a variety of adverbials to show when, where and how and also figurative noun phrases, such as ‘a doorway of destiny’, and the children are going to apply this to writing their own circus setting description. In Maths, we are continuing with decimals, where we will be looking at partitioning decimals in different ways and ordering and comparing decimals with tenths and hundredths.

Year five have continued writing about Shackleton’s journey to the South Pole.  They have been finding out about how The Endurance became stuck on an ice floe, how the men and dogs survived the cold dark days and eventually how the ship was crushed and sunk.  In maths we have continued to measure and draw angles with accuracy, making sure we understand how to use a protractor correctly.  In science we have looked at plant life cycles and planted different beans to see if we can see the stages of growth in the classroom. Half the class have visited the Burton Art Gallery to look at the current exhibition as part of their Arts Award; the other half will visit next week.  Everyone enjoyed the tennis session and we are looking forward to starting cricket coaching very soon.  Outdoor learning will take place next Friday so please remember to send in appropriate clothing for this session.

Another busy week for Year 6. They have been refining skills and revising knowledge in Maths, Grammar, Spelling and Reading. They enjoyed the welcome break from the Brass Band on Thursday and have been earning time outside for working hard too. Dance has been going well, textiles in art is coming together and they have been writing up final copies of about half of their ‘Tempest’ stories. Homework this week has links to resources that they may find useful – sorry in advance for the songs they may burst out singing as they work on retaining knowledge.

Welcome back everyone! It’s great to be back and we’ve even had some sunshine.

Further to our message earlier in the week, it’s Picnic in the Park on Sunday 7th May at Anchor Park, organised by Friends of Appledore School, and all are welcome. Please click here for more information.

This year, with the hope for more suitable weather, we have scheduled sports day for Reception to year 6 pupils for Tuesday 23rd May. We hope to see as many of you there as possible and more details will follow nearer the time.

Have a lovely weekend

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

We started the last day of term with the whole school watching the final of Appledore’s Got Talent. A big thank you to our house captains and Mrs Wilkins for organising, the judges, the finalists and everybody who entered each year group auditions. Congratulations to third placed finalists from year 2 (song and dance duet), second placed year 3 (solo magician) and first placed year 6 (Gun’s n Roses tribute band).

During a school holiday children’s online activity increases, so with the Easter break now upon us now could be a good time to check all your parental controls on all the devices your children have access to. Recent conversations we have had with children indicate a significant number do access content intended for older children or adults. Here are some parent guides for YouTube Kids, YouTube, Roblox, Minecraft and Netflix that provide advice on how to ensure safe use. If there is a particular game or app you need help with, please contact admin@appledoreprimary.co.uk and we will try and help.

Hakeford Woods Forest School is running an Easter Holiday Club 10am-2.30pm on 4th, 5th, 11th and 12th April costing £25 per child per day (limited number of reduced price places for families in receipt of Universal Credit). For more information please find them on Facebook or visit https://bookwhen.com/hakefordwoods

You are invited to St Mary’s Church, Appledore, next Friday 7 April (Good Friday) for Easter crafts, Easter gardens, drinks and hot cross buns. 10.00 -12.00. This event is free of charge and fun for all the family. On Easter Sunday morning we have 3 services. Sonrise Service at 6.30am in Churchfields carpark, followed by hot drinks and bacon rolls in the church hall. Easter Family Church at 9.15am. Easter Holy Communion at 10.30am. If you’re feeling creative there will be an Easter bonnet competition at both 9.15 and 10.30 services.

For social tennis sessions for girls coming up at ARC in Bideford, please click here.

Interested in training to be a teaching assistant? If so, please click here for details on course available at PETROC.

Please click on ‘more’ to find out what has been going on in each of the classes and we wish you all a super Easter.

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

As I write this I can hear the squeals of excitement of our reception age children in our woodland as they search for signs of the changing seasons with Sarah as part of our whole school outdoor learning provision. A sound we can never grow tired of.

Thank you for all the red and and donations last Friday for Comic Relief. You raised an impressive £225. Thank you.

A link to the Class photos has been emailed out today and please contact us if you haven’t received it.

School diary dates:

• Spring disco Friday 21st April. Tickets available on sale on Friday 24th and Friday 31st on the bottom playground by Friends of Appledore School. Please click here for more information
• Cake sale Friday 31st April on bottom playground after school. Donations on the day please
• Sports day for Reception and years 1-6 is Tuesday 23rd May
• Keep an eye out for pop up ice pop sales on the bottom playground. Details to follow prior to each one

Outside school diary dates:

• Appledore library Easter Lego & crafts session and egg hunt during the school holidays. Please click here
• Traditional gig rowing taster sessions taster sessions in Appledore in April (year 6 upwards). Please click here
• Years 1-6 Bude Lifeboat Junior Run fundraising for RNLI run is Wednesday evening 14th June 2023. For more information click here
• Wishing you all a wonderful weekend and don’t forgot the clocks change this weekend and to click more to find out what has been happening in the classes!

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

A visit from the fire engine, but don’t panic! It was part of Year 1 learning about how the fire service has changed over the years. Please click on ‘more’ to find out what has been happening in and around all the classes.

St Mary’s church, Appledore,  have a Craft Workshop for children to make Mothering Sunday cards and gifts for their mums, in church this coming Saturday morning, and then a special Family Church service on Sunday morning. For more information, please click here

Chivenor Soccer School, near Braunton, are offering two fun-filled days of footballing fun for boys and girls aged 5-12 during the Easter school holiday. Please click here for more information.

It’s a sea of red here and thank you for supporting Comic Relief Red Nose Day.

Wishing you all a lovely weekend

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

Another week draws to a close and my how time flies by!

For information on cricket coaching at Kingsley School, Bideford, over the Easter holidays please click here.

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The children have created designs for a total renovation of the pond and pond area. The final design includes increasing the area of the pond, improving the quality of the liner, building decking for safe access, wildlife-friendly planting and purpose-built habitats around the pond, a solar-powered fountain, re-fencing the area (with hedgehog highways included) and planting hedging around the pond enclosure and the outdoor classroom.

  We have already started the work and on Monday Jack Woolfenden from the N D Biosphere and local councillors and maintenance staff of Northam Town Council visited to help children from years 1-6 plant mixed native hedging plants, sharing with the children their knowledge on maintaining our local parks and other green and wild spaces.

Our thanks to our hedging advisers and volunteers from Northam Town Council: Guy Langton, Deputy Town Clerk, who organised the event and sourced the hedging plants through a Tree Council Branching Out grant, Ivan Heuze and Dominic Callebaut, maintenance team, Heather McCarthy, Northam Ward Member and Peter Hames, member for Appledore. Plus our thanks to other members of the council to visited the school on a previous occasion to see the work the children are doing on establishing the school grounds as a micro reserve. The ND Biosphere and AONB have also supplied valuable funding and support.

We will be digging the pond out by hand during a weekend this term, and completing other jobs around the woods, so if you feel you need to get a bit of exercise to blow away the winter blues, and would enjoy a barbecue in the woods as a reward, please contact Jon Walton, Chair of the Friends of Appledore School (FOAS) on 07816 087609.

Work continues on our biosphere and we made the Biosphere North Devon newsletter

A busy week and you can find out what the week has entailed for each class by clicking on more.

Well done Minty and William who both have won a prize at The Schools art Exhibition at The Burton Gallery and we hope you like the winning entries to our photography competition om the previous post.

Safeguarding training this week included a rehearsal of our safety procedures should we ever need to secure the school at short notice.

For information on free Learn Devon maths improvement courses for adults, please click here.

Wishing you all a super weekend

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

There were some amazing photos sent in for our House Photography competition and thank you very much to everyone who joined in. The judges found it very difficult to choose their winners! These are the top four: 1st place Eben (Y5); 2nd place Barney (Y1); 3rd place Gabriel (Y2) and 4th place Rosie (Y6)

Welcome back everybody and please find out what has been happening in the classes the week by reading the Around the Classes section of this newsletter.

Wishing you all a happy weekend

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

Lot’s of messages today, before we break for half term, and please remember to click on more to find out what has been happening in and around each classroom. What is Torridge Junior Parkrun? A free, fun, and friendly weekly 2k event for juniors (4 to 14 year olds).​ When is it? It is held every Sunday at 09:00am. Where is it? The event takes place in Victoria Park, Bideford and for more information click here.

This week, staff have received safeguarding training on radicalisation: what to look for and what to do if there are concerns. For more information please click here. The previous system of sending home paper head bump letters has been replaced with an email to your first priority contact to ensure it does reach you. Getting an email does not mean it is any more severe a bump than would previously require just a letter to inform and we will continue to call immediately if we have concerns. In short, email is to let you know and a call is if we have immediate concerns.

Further to our email communication this week regarding our Healthy Value next half term, please click here to find out more. And well done to Nancy for winning our Values Cup for our whole school half term theme of being Positive.

Out House Captains have devised a photo competition for completion over half term. All children are invited to send in (physically or by email to admin@appledoreprimary.co.uk) their photos on the theme of nature. All submissions to school by the end of Monday 20th February so they can be judged by the panel of ‘experts’. Please click here for their expertly designed poster.

Please be considerate  of our neighbours living on the roads close to our school when parking you cars. We have received complaints of blocked drives and verbal abuse of residents when they have asked for cars to be removed. We continue to provide free parking permits for you to use the Oden Road car park and these can be obtained from the school office.

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It’s been quite a week! From bewildered nurses in Year 1 (I’m not sure they were fully prepared for 30 very excited children) to a visiting theatre group entertaining the whole school yesterday (thank you Friends of Appledore School (renamed PTA) for making that happen), and not forgetting squeezed in between such events was our Year 5&6 girls football team winning a local tournament. That’s just a taster of what has been happening all week, so please read the whole post to see what has been happening Around the Classes.

Have a lovely weekend everybody

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