Parents

Weekly Parent Bulletin - Friday 21st November

Dear parents,

Following the success of the fireworks, we held another productive PTA meeting on Tuesday evening. There's lots being planned for the months ahead including some brilliant Christmas events like Elfridges, school discos, colour runs, rule breaking days, parent golf days and our summer fair. We also began conversations about how we can make next years fireworks even bigger and better.

On Tuesday we were visited by New Forest First Aid for a new initiative that is being funded by local boxer Chris Billam-Smith. The goal is to help upskill all children in KS2 to be future life savers, with CPR skills and even training on defibrillators. We were joined by a film crew from ITV Meridian so you might spot us on the evening news one night next week!

Where admissions season is underway for next years EYFS cohort, I'd like to say a heartfelt thank you to those parents that have posted such kind comments on various local social media feeds. In a world where it's easy to post anonymous comments, seeing so many of our families talk with such warmth about our school has been heartwarming for everyone working at Avonwood.

Hopefully you have spotted our brilliant new benches popping up around the site. These benches were funded by a successful bid to the BCP Communities Fund, worth almost £8,000. The benches are made from fully recycled plastic, hopefully lasting for many years to come. A shout out to our local Councillor & Governor Bobbie Dove for highlighting the opportunity to bid to this fund for our school.

We have two vacancies on our website at the moment, if you know any excellent candidates please send them our way:

Part Time Teaching Assistant
Full Time Family Liaison, Safeguarding and Behaviour Officer

Lastly, a reminder around scooters and bicycles. Please make sure you and your children (of all ages) always dismount when you enter our playground or enter the drive at the front of our school. A plea to also make sure children always wear helmets to stay safe. Your support helps keep drop off and pick up at Avonwood safe for everyone.

Have a great weekend!

Mr Jackson

Whole School Reminders

PTA Updates

Meeting Minutes

At this week's meeting we welcomed 4 new trustees Amy, Kasia, Jess and Rory who are already bringing some fantastic ideas to the table. Some of our long standing trustees have decided to take a step back and we would like to thank them for all their hard work and dedication!

We reflected on the success of the fireworks and looked forward to Christmas events including a visit from Santa to all the classes. Bids from Forest School and EYFS for resources were granted as well as payment for next year's firework display.

Our next meeting will be held on Wednesday 21st January at 7:30pm.

Elfridge's

Elfridge's is always a stand out event for the children at the school. For a cash donation children can pick independently a gift for a loved one. It then gets wrapped and delivered to their class by some very special parent volunteer helpers, sorry ELVES.

Every child in the school gets involved if they wish to which means we need to provide A LOT of presents! That's where the school community can help. Please see posters around the school for ways you can provide a gift for the event. From Amazon wish lists to raiding your chocolate cupboard for unwanted and unopened goodies! Thank you.

Whole School Updates

Interschool Photography Competition 2026

See the poter for more information on this great competition and click here for the competition rules.

Children's Christmas Art

🎄 Your child’s Christmas creations are here! 🎄

Our talented little artists have been busy making festive designs, and now you can turn their artwork into beautiful keepsakes! From Christmas cards, baubles, teddy bears, mugs, notepads, and so much more — these make perfect gifts for family and friends.

✨ The best part? Every purchase gives 20% back to the PTA, helping fund amazing things for our school!

Your child will bring home a leaflet with all the details, but you can also order online right now:

👉 Click here to order

https://mychildsart.co.uk/find-artwork?username=Avonwood1&access-code=sfq2p543

Username: Avonwood1
Access code: sfq2p543

🎁 Special offer: Order by 5 December, enter code Avonwood1X25, and enjoy 10% OFF your order!

Don’t miss out!

Message from Jane Wright - Peri Teacher

I am not teaching pupils on the morning of Tuesday 25th November as I am with the choir at the rehearsal for the Schools Carol Concert at the Pavilion. I will be teaching pupils in the afternoon. These lessons will be made up, and I have emailed parents.

Weekly Year Group Updates

EYFS

DoodleMaths - Please look inside the children's home learning file to find their doodle maths login. When you log in, please make sure that the children complete the baseline questions without help. This will then set the correct level for your child. If you support them with the questions, it will become too challenging for them. We will set weekly assignments linked to what we are focusing on in class.
We have launched an EYFS Information Padlet that we will keep updated with what we are learning about and how to help your child at home. Here is the link: https://padlet.com/danielledimambro/eyfs-avonwood-hwijufw6exnk0gq
Reading books - Please can you send in the your child's reading book and record every day. Your child’s book will be changed once a week but we do use them throughout the week.

Year 1

Nativity - If your child has brought home lines, please continue to practise these with them. If costumes could be sent in a named bag by Monday 1^st December we would much appreciate it.
Home learning - please send these in to school on a Thursday in order for previous weeks learning to be checked and so new sheets can be filed into folders.
Reading - phonics books are to be read at least three times a week to practise key reading skills, please. Don't forget you can also practise sounds and CEWs with your child. Or borrow a recommended read - just ask the class teacher on the door for these texts and reviews.

Year 2

Thank you for all the envelopes- we have loved reading them.
Please continue to practise the lines for the nativity and bring in costumes in a named bag. Any problems getting a costume, please ask us.
On Wednesday 3rd December we would like the children to come to school in pyjamas/dressing gowns, for our English immersion day. Please ensure children still wear their school shoes.

Year 3

A few of us were a bit chilly this morning in forest school! With the temperature dropping, please can children arrive in warm clothes with a jumper, thick coat, hat, scarf and gloves. Please avoid shorts and crocs!

Year 4

None this week.

Year 5

A gentle reminder that we have our D.T day coming up. Your child has now planned their Narnia themed diorama. Please could we ask that any shoe boxes or materials are sent into school next week as we have our D.T day on Thursday 4^th December. Thank you.
Online Safety Hub - Thank you to the parents who attended the Online Safety briefing - we hope you found it very useful! A reminder that you can access the Online Safety Hub at this link: Online Safety Hub - Avonwood Primary School. The Hub is full of useful and relevant information to keep your children safe online. You can search for reviews of apps that your child may be using and learn about the risks and safety features of each.

Year 6

Check out this week's Taskmaster session on this padlet. Feel free to add some encouraging comments! You will also be able to see how other United Learning schools got on with their challenges.
Next week is our last Taskmaster session which mean this is the final Prize Task! Taskmaster Prize Task for groups: The best thing to help someone become braver.
On Friday afternoon next week we will have our Q&A session with a survivor from WW2. The session will include her telling the children her story about the Kindertransport. It is age-appropriate. We will then have our workshop session with the National Holocaust Museum on Monday 15^th December. If you have any questions regarding this, please contact your child's teacher.