Newsletters

MESSAGE FROM MRS ROBINSON

Happy New Year everyone! I hope you all enjoyed the Christmas break. We have been back for less than two weeks but are already in full flow for the Spring Term with new topics having been launched and many trips and exciting events already being planned.

YEAR 3

We hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and have had a happy, healthy start to 2023.

Year 3 have had an exciting return to school after the Christmas break, immersing themselves in our Ancient Egypt Topic and thoroughly enjoying our hook day.  A big thank you to all of the adults at home who organised costumes over the holidays.   

The children had a busy morning learning about Ancient Egypt and had the opportunity to paint an Egyptian landscape and make clay shabti dolls in the afternoon.

Continuing the Egyptian theme, we are beginning to plan our DT unit.  The children will be designing and making Egyptian accessories (cuffs, headdress, belt and a collar).  This project involves lots of sewing.  If you have time at home to practise threading needles (!!) and for those very keen children, practising running stitch, this will help our DT day on Tuesday 17^th January run smoothly and will give the children a confidence boost.  If you would like to come in and help on the day (for as little or long as you are able to offer), please email your child's class teacher.

Our first times tables homework task was set last week and we were delighted by the number of children who completed it.  A gentle reminder, times tables homework will be set and collected on a Wednesday.

We are also hugely impressed by the children climbing the reading scheme ladder.  Some of them have made fantastic progress since joining us in September and we are very proud of them.  Please keep reading regularly at home – it’s working!

3A and 3B are looking forward to welcoming you to their class assemblies this term.  Rehearsals have begun in 3A and the children are looking forward to sharing their assembly with you on the 19th.

YEAR 5

Year 5 are back refreshed after the Christmas and New Year break. In English we have started Poetry, looking at different types of poems. 

In history this term we are learning about life on the Home Front during WW2 and looking forward to upcoming trips in the next few months. 

ECO NEWS

Biodiversity 

In December, Eco Club were shown the brilliant improvements achieved by a group of Chichester University students in the Bosmere copse. They have cleared a big area of undergrowth, arranged logs for seating, and installed some information boards which they have created, complete with QR codes linking to additional classroom resources. Eco Club wrote comments on the leaf templates provided. Thanks to Amy and Blake for sharing this with Eco Club, and to everyone in the group for their hard work which will be enjoyed by all Bosmere's pupils. For more photos click here. 

This collaboration between our Eco Club and Chichester University also ties in very well with our Action Plan target to improve understanding of the Biodiversity in our school grounds. 

Eco Club members made a?bird feeder using a shell and string, which they took?home with a small packet of bird seed to feed wild birds over Christmas. For more photos click here.  

Transport

The Bosmere Junior Road Safety Officers (JRSOs) and Miss Dawes visited Eco Club to talk about?working together to encourage Bosmere pupils and staff to travel to and from school by sustainable means - walking, scooting or cycling. We are planning to do a survey and to suggest some days when people try to travel sustainably. 

Eco Governor

One of Bosmere's Governors, Mrs Jenny Lane, has volunteered to become our Eco Governor; she would like to join us for some Eco Club meetings and events, and she will be able to report back to the Governing Body. We look forward to welcoming Mrs Lane to Eco Club! 

Second Visit to see the Tree Sculpture 

Those children who couldn’t join the first visit to Havant Park to see the Tree Sculpture went at lunchtime on 14th December. These were members of Eco Club and some of the winners of the competition who actually suggested ideas for the design of the sculpture.?The Chain Saw Sculptor showed them how he creates?his artworks and answered their questions about his technique and planning. The sculptures are coming on brilliantly and he hopes to finish soon. For more photos click here. 

This term we have great plans for lots more exciting Eco activities – watch this space! 

WELLBEING TIP

 Keep guidance simple and consistent. 

• If your child is behaving in a way you don’t want them to, clearly explain what you want them to do instead. Give a positive rather than focussing on the negative. 
• Be available and make time so your child will come to you when they feel something is wrong or are upset. 
• Keep talking and listening to your child even if at times it feels like a challenge! 
• Review the needs of children living at home. For example, you shouldn’t expect the same from a 12 year-old as you would a four year-old. 

• TALK AND SHARE!! Friends and family will understand. Try any ideas they have and may have worked for them. 

Understand. 

• Sympathise/empathise with how your child may be feeling – for example, tell them “I know you are frustrated”, if your child is struggling to do something. By acknowledging their feelings will let them know you are listening. 
• Avoid criticism wherever possible. If your child has done wrong, explain what it is you’re unhappy with and why. 
• Try to avoid getting trapped in petty arguments, it just makes further arguments! Remember you are the adult. 
• Talk don’t shout! The louder you shout, the louder the child will shout. Talk in a calm quiet voice and the shouting should decrease. 
• Be to the point when discussing an incident. Don’t bring up what the child did 3 weeks last Wednesday, that’s been and gone and will embarrass and frustrate the child further. 
•  
• Be consistent. This is the key to positive parenting. 

Praise children, even for the little things… 

 Reward any positive behaviour. This does not have to be with a gift; a “Well Done” “Wow that’s amazing” or a simple “Thank you that was a lovely thing to do”. 

Avoid making rash decisions when you’re angry. Usually you will regret your actions, causing you to back track, giving an inconsistent message. 

Talk to your child about the rewards and consequences of their behaviour, before rather than after the event. You’ll both know where you stand. 

Take time to really listen and actually HEAR to what your children are saying. Acknowledge what they’re saying. This lets them know you really are listening. 

Don’t do things that you wouldn’t want your children to do! Kids learn by example. 

Consequences. 

 If your child is displaying a behaviour you wish to stop, use the 1,2,3, strategy. 

1. “Stop throwing the ball in the house thank you” (child keeps throwing ball) 

2. “If you don’t stop throwing the ball in the house I will take it away” (child keeps throwing ball) 

3. Take the ball away and ignore behaviour displayed in frustration 

Ignore & distract 

If you can see a behaviour emerging, get to it before it escalates. Change the subject, discuss what is for dinner, sing a song…anything to cause a distraction. DO NOT then tell the child about what could have been. 

Time Out 

This should be used as a calm down not as punishment and a child should never be put in their bedroom at for Time Out.  

1 minute for every year of a child’s life 

This happens after the ‘ignore & distract’ and consequences fail. 

Talk to the child calmly (even if you don’t feel it) 

• Place a hand on the child’s shoulder to emphasise you are talking to them 
• Tell them they are going to Time out for ….. minutes and explain why 

The child can sit and scream for the …… minutes as long as they stay seated. If they get up the time starts again. REMAIN CALM. 

When the time is up, calmly explain why the consequence was put into place, and then finish with a cuddle. Incident should then be put to rest. 

And Finally… 

Be consistent 

Give short sharp commands i.e. Put your shoes on thank you 

Don’t plead, this seems like desperation. 

Praise even the little things 

Acknowledge their feelings 

Talk about what went wrong when all calm 

If you’re in the wrong; SAY SORRY 

 

Interests:

I am a dedicated Pompey fan, missing very few home games since I first went as a 12 year old in the mid 60’s, and am interested in most sports. I like pub quizzes and have played darts for a local pub for many years (spot the venue connection!). I also like going to the theatre - both professional and amateur - and I love watching how ex-Bosmere pupils have developed in their appearances with Dynamo Youth theatre. I am also a great fan of Nick Cave’s music.   

Why I became a Governor :

I joined the Bosmere governing body as a parent governor in 1996 when both my sons were at the school. I had no educational background or knowledge, just a strong desire to support state education and give something back to the school. I was working at IBM at the time and very soon found that I had skills in organising and running meetings that were of use in the governing environment and found myself persuaded to become chair within 18 months. I have served as chair for two separate 4 year periods since then, and have served on all the committees over the years as well as taking governor responsibility for Health & Safety, Safeguarding and the Travel Plan (amongst others).  The most rewarding moments of my time as a governor have been helping in the interview process for two new Headteachers and two Deputy Heads, and also helping in the selection of several members of staff.  

When I retired from IBM in 2009 being a governor helped open the door to devoting my time to volunteering for more things at Bosmere. I was invited to help on the Year 6 residential trip to the IOW and that led to becoming a general classroom helper in year 6, helping Mr Bowker in coaching the Cricket team for several years, and helping with Buggy Building club amongst other activities. I also passed the MIDAS test to enable me to drive the school minibus and have driven on scores of school trips, which I love doing because you see a different side of the children out of the classroom. My general volunteering is separate from my governing activities, but the knowledge it gives me of how the school runs definitely helps in the role, and I feel honoured to be accepted by the staff as part of the school team.  

My current roles on the governing body and what they involve: 
In the past few years I have deliberately reduced my governing responsibilities to allow others to gain the experiences that I have been so lucky to have but I have remained as Chair of the Finance & Resources Committee. Ensuring that the budget is spent in providing the maximum benefit for the children currently in the school has always been a priority for the governing body. That task has become increasingly difficult over the years of austerity and along with all other schools, Bosmere is now facing a huge challenge with the government deciding not to fund the recent teachers’ pay award. We are lucky to have a Headteacher & Admin Manager that run the school budget very efficiently and it is a privilege to be part of that team.  

If someone had told me I would still be on the governing body after 26 years I would never have believed them but I can honestly say I have never wanted to give up my involvement in such a wonderful school. Bosmere is a special place and I would encourage all parents to make sure your children make the best of what it offers, and assure you that if you decide to involve yourself more  by volunteering to help in school, or joining the PTA or governing body then it can be a very rewarding experience. You don’t have to stay as long as I have !  

CHRISTMAS FUNDRAISING

Thank you so much to parents for the very generous donations and contributions to support our fundraising. Here are the amounts raised that we know so far:

Church collection - £224.11

Raffle - £998.10

Collections at performances - £229.56

Secrets Rooms - £974.98

Performance Photographs - £360.00

This does mean that the PTA should now have enough for our new Adventure Playground. The children have chosen the equipment they would like in their School Council meetings this week and we are hoping to get it all installed in February. Thank you so much – what a community effort!

We would like to say a huge thank you to all the companies (many local ones) who provided us with such brilliant raffle prizes.

Old House at Home, (South Street), Stansted House, (Rowlands Castle), Victorious, Royal Oak, Hayling Fun Fair, Hayling Light Railway, Millers Ark, Buy a Gift, Farm Foods, Dominos Pizzas, Barbour Foundation, Artists Brushes, Salon Dolly, Fish & Chip Shop, (West Street), Mother Kelly’s Emsworth, Northney Tea Rooms, Horizon, Tesco, Waitrose.