Pumpkin Update

Major David Squirrel's peace assembly

Major David Squirrel from the Salvation Army led a very thought provoking assembly.  He talked to us about how we feel when we are happy and content.  He then asked if some people actually always want more and are they ever happy?  

He retold the story of the Israelites working as slaves to the Egyptians and how they were not always happy yet, when they were freed, they were still not fully content.  

Major Squirrel asked us to reflect about times in our lives when we are happy and when we are content, and that there is usually peace in our lives.  So the important message was that we should learn to be happy with what we have and not always grumble or complain that we want more.   

Asda Cash Pot for Schools - last 2 days to raise funds for us!

We’ve got two more days until the Asda cash pot for schools initiative ends as the promotion closes on 30 November

You will need to download the Asda reward app & add our school - a % of the cost of your shop is donated to our school.  https://www.asda.com/cashpotforschools/

Download Asda Rewards - use the app anytime and start earning.

Creative for Climate Justice

The climate crisis is a key issue that is shaping the future of children and young people everywhere. 

It is more important than ever that children are learning, reflecting, and acting together to create a sustainable future for everyone. 

To support this, we have used some amazing creativity to send a loud and clear climate justice message to others. 

The pupils have had a chance to reflect, to showcase their art talents and share their ideas and their hopes for a just and sustainable future for people and planet.

Nativities 2024

Bookings Close Tomorrow (Weds)

 

Christmas Hamper Raffle Tickets NOW ON SALE

 

Raffle tickets will be sold via ParentMail

Raffle ticket sales will be in the Payments > Shop section of ParentMail from Mon 25 Nov until Tue 17 Dec.

Only parents will be able to purchase Raffle Tickets through ParentMail, so please purchase on behalf of friends and family through your PM account to support the fundraising too. 

The Draw will take place on Weds 18 Dec, all funds go to the Friends for the school.

Winners will be notified from the Friends & hampers should be collected by Fri 20 Dec

Mr Gilder Assembly

Mr Gilder delivered an interesting assembly about how the school has developed and changed over the years.  He shared with us some facts about how a lot of the schools in the nearby villages closed and the children were sent to Framlingham eg from Cransford, Parham, Great Glemham and Hacheston.  He reminded us how our school was founded from Sir Robert Hitcham and how the school has changed over the years.  The school was established on its current site in 1879 as a boys school.  

He fondly recalled his memory when he was headmaster here and how he thought of the school as one big family - an ethos which currently still weaves through our school being a school family. 

Christmas Hampers - All Wrapped Up!

What an amazing job the Friends have done this morning wrapping up all the wonderful goodies that families donated for the annual Christmas Hamper Draw.  

We're excited that there will be a whopping 24 winners across the school when the draw is made on Weds 18 December.

Keep an eye out on Monday to buy your raffle tickets through ParentMail, for a chance to win one of these amazing prizes.  Remember parents will need to buy on behalf of friends and relatives through ParentMail.

Huge thanks to all the families who donated items for the hampers on our 'Yes!' day today, and of course to the brilliant Friends and volunteer parents for pulling it all together this morning.  (Being mindful of the environment the hampers are not wrapped in any plastic and all wrapping is recyclable.)

Police assembly

PCSO Hassler visited the school this morning to talk to the children in their key stage 1 assembly followed by the key stage 2 assembly and then the nursery about his role in the community and keeping us safe.  The children were given the opportunity of asking him questions about his day to day work and the important part he plays in protecting us and the community.  He also shared with us the different clothing that he has to wear.  We were very shocked at how heavy his body armour was! 

 

Lights, Camera, Stop-Motion

 Today Class MS took our first steps into the world of Stop-Motion animation as part of our computing unit. We developed our photography skills needed; making sure that we had our objects in the frame and that our bodies were not. We had to gradually move a toy car across a table, photographing each small movement. This will then help us when we begin to move, photograph and then animate more objects later in the unit. 

Volunteer Readers - would you like to be involved?

Our school community thrives due to the dedication of the staff and support of parents, and because of the tremendous contribution of our volunteers.

Whether it’s helping with reading, phonics or maths; walking children to the church or castle; getting involved with sport, cooking, DT, art or other areas, our wonderful team of volunteers do so much for the children and the school – and we really appreciate it: thank you!

It’s easy for you to get involved too. Just ask at the School Office for a volunteer form, or email a request to us, as we’re looking to add a few more volunteer readers this year.

We’ll set up an online DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check – something we do for all regular volunteers, which costs £8. When that comes through (it usually only takes a couple of weeks), and once you’ve read all the necessary support information and had your Safeguarding training, you’ll be able to start volunteering.  Please note that we usually avoid placing parent volunteer readers in your child’s class.

School Catering Vacancy

 

Christmas Hamper Donations on Friday

Please bring a donation of Christmas Hamper goodies:

â Bottles of wine, beer, spirits or non-alcoholic, chocolates, sweets, festive food, new gifts (eg candles, toiletries), new decorations, napkins, boxes of crackers etc…  

â Reception & KS1 - Please put the items in the box by your class door as you come in

â KS2 - Please put the items in the boxes as you come in by the hall or College Road entrance.

NON-UNIFORM DAY ‘YES DAY!’ 

â Clothing & footwear must be suitable for a day at school or for doing PE (if Friday is your PE day)

Cross Country competition

On Tuesday 5th November Sir Robert Hitcham’s took part in a cross-country competition at Framlingham College Prep School in Brandeston. 12 of our children finished in the top 5 and will be competing in the next round of the cross country. The children showed determination, great attitude and all made the school very proud.

Tag rugby competition

On Friday 15th November we took part in a tag rugby competition at Thomas Mills High School. The competition was for mixed year 5 and 6 children. One of the teams came 3rd and did not lose one game and the other team came 4th and also did not lose a single game. Both teams showed great determination, attitude and fantastic Rugby skills. A big well done to all the children that took part in the competition and they will received their certificates and medals in a upcoming assembly.

Setting up for the Toy & Book Sale

Our School Council & Eco Council have been buzzing around the hall this afternoon setting up ready for our Children In Need Toy & Book Sale.

Doors open soon!

Weekly Super Spellers

 ‘Word of the Week’ is 'Earth'

Create a mnemonic to help remember how to spell this week's word - answers to Mrs Rogers by next Tuesday

Science Question of the Week

 Why can't you tickle yourself?

Pop your answer & evidence in the Science board folder by next Tuesday

Class JT Black History Art Work

 

In October, as part of Black history month, Class JT learnt about the African women in Alabama who have been creating beautiful, colourful quilts for many years.

Using collage, class JT have created their own unique designs in a similar style.

 

The quilts of Gee’s Bend are created by a group of women and their ancestors who live or have lived in the isolated African-American hamlet of Gee’s Bend, Alabama along the Alabama River. The quilts of Gee’s Bend are among the most important African-American visual and cultural contributions to the history of art within the United States.

                                                

Apply for a Reception 2025 place by 15 January 2025

 Where can parents find information about how to apply?

All of the information parents/carers need to help them make their decision is available on the SCC website at www.suffolk.gov.uk/admissions including information about the School Travel Policy and some School Travel Scenarios.  

Parents/carers should apply for a school place online at www.suffolk.gov.uk/admissions. 

Only those who are unable to apply online should complete and return to us a paper CAF1 application form which is available to download from www.suffolk.gov.uk/admissions or by contacting us on 0345 600 0981.

Pupils will not be allocated a school place automatically. 

All parents/carers must make an application for a full-time school place even if their child is already attending a nursery class in an infant or primary school, a pre-school or a family hub next to a school site. 

It is important that parents/carers consider how their child will travel to and from school before they apply for a school place. The following information is very important:

1. We will provide Suffolk County Council (SCC) funded school travel to the Nearest Suitable School that would have had a place available for a child when they are: a) aged under 8 and live more than two miles from the school; or b) aged 8 or older and live more than three miles from the school. This would be whether or not an application was made for a place at that school. The distance in a) and b) above is called the statutory walking distance.
2. We will only provide SCC funded school travel to the child’s catchment area school when it is the nearest suitable school to their home that would have had a place available for them and they meet the distance criteria.
3. It is important that parents/carers check which school is their child’s nearest suitable school on our Nearest School Checker for the 2025/2026 school year. They can find out which are the three nearest Suffolk schools (based on the statutory walking distance including Public Rights of Way) by putting their child’s postcode into the Checker which can be found at nearestschool.suffolk.gov.uk. We update this each year to include new roads and developments.
4. Parents/carers School Preferences and the order in which they put them on their admissions application could affect their child’s eligibility for SCC funded school travel. Our School Travel Scenarios can help parents/carers work out when their child might be eligible for SCC funded school travel to their school when the age and distance criteria are met. These can be found in Step 4 of the ‘Applying for a primary school place’ page online at www.suffolk.gov.uk/admissions.
5. Full details about SCC funded school travel, including the School Travel Policy, additional arrangements for low income families and those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), can be found at www.suffolkonboard.com/schooltravel.

The Admissions Oversubscription Criteria for Community and Voluntary Controlled schools gives priority to siblings. This means that it is very important that parents/carers include details on the application form of any other child in the school or a child who has already been offered a place at the school. Failure to provide this information may affect the offer of a school place.  

The Admissions Oversubscription Criteria for Voluntary Aided, Free Schools and Academies may be different from Community and Voluntary Controlled schools. 

Any applications made after the closing date may not be dealt with until after places have been offered to those who applied on time. This means that all available places at a parent/carer’s preferred school(s) may have been filled and it could be some time before the outcome of the application is known.