What a fantastic half‑term it has been! The children have thrown themselves into their learning with energy, creativity, and real pride, and it has been wonderful to see their achievements shining across the school. From classroom milestones to whole‑school moments, there has been so much to celebrate.
A particular highlight this week was welcoming so many of you to our parents’ evenings. There was a great atmosphere across school and it was a joy to share the children’s successes with you. Your support and partnership are at the heart of everything we do, and we are truly grateful.
As we head into the break, I wish all our families a joyful, restful half‑term. We look forward to welcoming the children back - refreshed, recharged, and ready for the exciting learning ahead - on Monday 23rd February.
Miss Watson
Year 6 recently enjoyed an exciting after-school visit to Meden, where they took part in a multi-skills sports event to help prepare them for their transition to secondary school. The children had a fantastic time playing benchball, football and dodgeball, working together in teams and getting to know new friends from other schools. They showed great confidence and resilience as they tried new activities and supported one another, demonstrating our ‘work hard, be kind’ values throughout the evening. It was a brilliant opportunity for pupils to build friendships, develop teamwork and feel more confident about taking the next big step in their education.
We were delighted to welcome families to our recent UKS2 Music Showcase, where Year 5 and 6 performed a selection of pieces on the recorder after a half term of dedicated practice. The children showed fantastic ambition and resilience as they worked hard to learn new notes, rhythms and melodies, and it was wonderful to see their confidence grow with each rehearsal. Performing in front of an audience required real courage, and every pupil rose to the occasion with enthusiasm and pride - we are incredibly proud of them all!
Save the Date – Mothers’ Day Afternoon Tea
Following the fantastic success of last year’s celebration, we are delighted to announce that our Mothers’ Day Afternoon Tea will be returning this year!
The event will take place over two sittings on:
Thursday 12th March and Friday 13th March
1:30pm – 3:10pm
We can’t wait to welcome our wonderful mums, grandmothers and special female role models for an afternoon of treats and togetherness.
More details about booking will be shared after half-term, so please keep an eye out for further information.
We are incredibly proud of all the pupils who have recently been awarded a Work Hard or Be Kind certificate. Each of these children has truly embodied our school values through their determination, positive attitude and thoughtful actions. They continue to set a wonderful example to others and are excellent role models within our school community. A huge well done to all of them -we are delighted to celebrate their achievements!
Well done to Leo for his excellent poetry work this week based on his beloved species - the turtle. We are so proud of you, Leo.
Last week, our top three classes were Siskin, Kingfisher and Jay - with Jay Class once again demonstrating their impressive consistency by regularly featuring near the top of the table. This week brought a wonderful change, with three different classes claiming the highest attendance spots. Congratulations to Nightingale, Robin, and Kittiwake for leading the way! A special well‑done to Kittiwake Class, who achieved the top position overall. They can look forward to enjoying their non‑uniform day after half-term as a reward for their fantastic effort. Thank you to all pupils and families for helping us maintain strong attendance - it makes such a positive difference to learning and to our school community.
Our houses have been working incredibly hard this term, and the competition is really beginning to heat up! Here are this week’s totals:
Rufford: 829 points
Thoresby: 846 points
Clumber: 861 points
Sherwood: 871 points
A huge well done to Sherwood, who are currently in the lead! Clumber and Thoresby are close behind, and Rufford are not far off either - so it’s still all to play for.
Thank you to all pupils for their continued effort, teamwork and positivity. Every point counts, and we can’t wait to see how the leaderboard looks next week!
We are delighted to share some wonderful news about Jack, who has recently attended his final session at Cubs as he moves up to Scouts. During his last meeting, Jack was awarded the Chief Scout Silver Award - the highest honour a young person can achieve in Cubs. This award reflects his dedication, enthusiasm and commitment throughout his time in the pack. Jack has thoroughly enjoyed his Cub adventures and is now looking forward to the exciting challenges and opportunities that await him in Scouts. We are incredibly proud of his achievement and wish him every success as he continues his Scouting journey.
We are thrilled to celebrate the wonderful news that Rose has successfully passed her Derby County Football Trials and has proudly earned a place on their Player Development Scheme. This is an incredible achievement and a testament to Rose’s hard work, determination and passion for the sport.
We are all super proud of her accomplishment and excited to see where her talent takes her next. Who knows - this could be the start of her journey towards becoming a future Lioness!
Congratulations, Rose!
Vinny had an unforgettable experience as he took part in flag bearing for Mansfield Town FC (the Stags) alongside his U8 Shirebrook Soldiers FC teammates - and it was even shown live on Sky Sports! Although it wasn’t a win for the Stags this time, it was a fantastic moment and a wonderful opportunity for Vinny to be part of a professional matchday experience.
On top of that, Vinny is currently in his fourth term playing for Leicester City, where he continues to impress. This week, he even scored the winning goal on Monday night, showcasing his skill and determination on the pitch.
We are extremely proud of Vinny and all the hard work he puts into his football. Congratulations on these amazing accomplishments!
Please note the change of date for World Book Day.
We are delighted to share the exciting news that Miss Stretton has welcomed a beautiful baby girl, whom she has named Georgie. Both Mum and baby are doing really well, and we are absolutely thrilled for the whole family.
We can’t wait to meet little Georgie and send our warmest congratulations and best wishes to Miss Stretton and her partner at this special time.
Birklands Primary School
Train to teach with the Nottinghamshire Torch SCITT