Newsletter

As the first term of this academic year draws to a close, I want to take this opportunity to thank you all for your continued support of our school - it truly means the world to us. Your partnership is vital as we strive to offer the very best possible experience for our pupils and school community, and we always welcome your feedback to help us achieve this.

This term has been a really special time, particularly in the build-up to Christmas. We’ve enjoyed the engaging Year 3 and 4 Music Showcase, the wonderful EYFS and KS1 Nativities and the spectacular Carol Concerts. The singing, enthusiasm and performance ability displayed by the children in all three events has been absolutely outstanding - they demonstrated such confidence and joy, and we could not be prouder of them. These occasions truly highlight the talent and spirit within our school and are a privilege to share with our Birklands family.

On behalf of myself and the wider staff team, I wish you all a wonderful festive break; we look forward to welcoming everyone back refreshed and ready for an exciting new year ahead!

Miss Watson

We are thrilled to share the overwhelming success of our recent Christmas Fayre! The event was filled with festive cheer and the feedback we’ve received has been incredibly positive - especially about the engaging stalls run by our talented children. Their entrepreneurial spirit truly shone through, and it’s something we will most definitely repeat in the summer term.

Thanks to everyone’s hard work and generosity, we raised almost £800 in profit, which will go directly towards funding our new school library - a fantastic resource for all our pupils.

A special congratulations goes to Nightingale Class, who achieved the highest profit from their stall! They were closely followed by Kingfisher and Dove classes. As a reward for their amazing efforts, Nightingale Class enjoyed a well-deserved pizza party!

Thank you to all parents, pupils and staff who made this event such a success. Your support makes a real difference to our school community.

 

I am delighted to share some wonderful news with you all - Birklands has recently been awarded the “Exceptional and Connected Staff Culture Award” at the Nova Trust’s Transformational Awards Ceremony. This achievement is a true testament to the incredible team we have here at Birklands and the difference that each and every member of staff makes to the success of our school.

We were also thrilled that six of our pupils attended the event and took part in the Primary Choir. They represented our school beautifully, sang their hearts out and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. It was a proud moment for all of us and a fantastic opportunity for the children to shine.

Thank you to our dedicated staff and wonderful pupils for making Birklands such a special place to work, learn and grow

 

Our school councillors recently had a fantastic opportunity to attend a special session at Mansfield Library with Steve Yemm as part of National Parliament Week.

During the visit, they learned all about how Parliament works and the important role of an MP in representing the community. The children were able to ask Steve Yemm questions about his role and discuss issues that matter to our local area.

It was an inspiring experience that helped our councillors understand more about democracy and the importance of having a voice in shaping the future. We are very proud of how engaged and thoughtful they were throughout the session!

 

Our Year 5 and Year 6 pupils were transported back in time to 1869 during their recent visit to Newstead Abbey for a Victorian Christmas experience.

The children stepped into the world of Mr Webb and his estate workers, learning about life in Victorian times and enjoying some authentic festive fun. Highlights of the day included a magical lantern show, traditional parlor games and making beautifully scented bags to take home.

It was a wonderful opportunity for our pupils to immerse themselves in history and experience the sights, sounds and traditions of a Victorian Christmas. A truly memorable day for all involved!

 

Over the past few weeks, we have been delighted to recognise those children who have shown exceptional effort in their learning or demonstrated acts of kindness towards others. These pupils have received special recognition during our assemblies and we couldn’t be prouder of the positive example they set for our school community.

A huge well done to all of our stars - you remind us every day that hard work and kindness make Birklands a truly wonderful place to learn and grow!

 

 

 

 

We are pleased to share the overall class attendance percentages for this term. A big well done to Year 5, who have proudly flown the flag for top attendance since September - a fantastic achievement!

We also want to celebrate the incredible commitment of our pupils: over 100 children enjoyed a special Christmas movie treat for achieving 100% attendance this term. What a brilliant way to reward their dedication!

Thank you to all families for supporting school attendance - it really does make a difference to learning and progress. Let’s keep up the great work as we move into the new year!

 

 

 

 

 

Nativities

Well done to our amazing EYFS and KS1 pupils for their incredible nativity performances- we are so proud of you all! 

 

The Nest

This week, we invited parents in for a festive craft morning in The Nest. Children engaged with different craft activities, decorated biscuits and took part in a sensory story. It was so lovely to see the children so engaged and having lots of fun with their grown ups!

We are so incredibly proud of the progress that all of the children in The Nest have made this term. It has been incredible watching them thrive in our enhanced provision. 

 

LKS2 Music Showcase

On Monday, Year 3 and 4 presented their end-of-term Music Showcase, to demonstrate the result the hard work they have put in with Mrs Stanton. It was a sell-out concert, with parents crowded into the hall. Kittiwake, Siskin and Woodpecker classes each performed a variety of pieces, including each class's own composition.