Headteacher Message
Dear Parents and Carers,
Here we are again at the end of another full week, filled with excitement, achievements, and creativity!
First of all: sporting success both dodgeball and netball. The dodgeball team dodged, ducked, and dived their way to 3rd place, while our netball players displayed exceptional skill and sportsmanship on the court. It’s wonderful to see our students thriving in these activities and enjoying the spirit of competition.
In the arts, our school gallery has been graced with stunning new artwork created by our talented Year 5 pupils. The creativity and effort put into these pieces is incredible. If you haven’t had a chance to visit the gallery yet, I highly recommend taking a moment to admire the incredible work on display next time you are in school.
We also had a vibrant celebration of Chinese New Year, filled with colorful decorations, traditional performances, and delicious food!
Looking ahead, we’re eagerly anticipating Miss Featherston’s short story competition. Reading children’s creative writing is one of my favorite activities, and I can’t wait to see the imaginative stories our students come up with.
And finally, don’t forget about the Tip Top Superstar quiz tonight! It’s going to be a fun-filled evening, and I look forward to seeing everyone there. Remember, it’s not just about winning; it’s about having a great time and enjoying each other’s company.
Thank you for your continued support and involvement in our school community!
Have a great weekend
Tom Larkham
Headteacher
What’s on Next Week?
Tuesday
EYFS Class Trip to British Ironworks Centre
Please pay £4.35 prior to Tuesday.
Yr 2 Owls Class Assembly @9.15am
Yr 5 Eco Fashion Show @3.30pm in the school Hall-Free to all
Wednesday
Yr 2 Rabbits Class Assembly @ 9.15am
Friday
Yr 5/6 Author Event-Patrice Lawrence
Half Marathon entry deadline
Next Week- Yr 5 Eco Fashion Show @ 3.30pm
Next week we invite Year 5 to stay after school to perform their Eco Fashion Show at 3.30pm.
Children and parents from any year group can come along to watch. Please enter the School Hall from the back doors and take your seat.
Our Sewing and Fashion Club members have been creating showcase outfits ready for the catwalk. All the children have been given roles and this will be an opportunity for them to come together to create a show and practise a wide range of skills including public speaking and performing building confidence and teamwork.
Next week-Yr 5/6 Author Event
Patrice Lawrence MBE and writer in residence for Book Trust will be joining us on Friday 7th February to talk about her brand new book being published 30th January 2025! So, its literally hot off the press!
There will be an opportunity for a book signing in the school library. If you would like to purchase a signed copy of ‘People like Stars’ please purchase this via Arbor School Shop £9 over the weekend.
Coming Soon-EYFS & Yr 1 Valentines Disco
Badgers, Foxes, Squirrels and Hedgehogs can stay after school for a Valentines Disco with their favourite Teachers. They can come to school dressed for this (red/pink clothes might be an idea or anything they choose)
If your child is eligible for Free School Meals or is booked into After School Club on this evening there will be no charge on the Arbor ticket but please purchase the FREE ticket so we know your child will be attending.
This is a mini event, there will be a whole school Disco in the summer term.
Half Marathon Deadline
Don’t forget to register your child by Friday 7th February if they would like to take part in this challenge.
The Final Event takes place on Saturday 12th April 2025 from 9am at the Shropshire County Showground.
The entrance fee of £12.40 can be paid via Arbor School Shop.
Please note your child has to be prepared to run twice a week during breaktime from Monday 24th February to Friday 11th April, so it is quite a commitment. This event is open to all our pupils in Year 1 to Year 6.
Half-Marathon Letter
Short Story House Competition!
The House Captains announced the latest competition in assembly today.
In the run up to World Book Day, the next House Competition is for the children to write their own short story. The story can be any fiction genre, such as adventure, sci-fi etc.
It must be 250 words or less if you are Year 2 or above and can have an image or a front cover design. For EYFS and Year 1, the children can create a story map or story mountain with their ideas and images.
Pupils can create these at home, in free time at school or in Elephants class on Thursday lunchtimes. The deadline is Friday 14th February (the last day of half term). We are hoping to get some authors to help us judge the winners!
We would like the stories to be put together and showcased in the library and as many children as possible to take part to try and win points for their House.
Entries need to be handed to Miss Featherston with the child’s full name, class and house on please.
Good luck to everyone!
Book donations
We are currently making plans for World Book Day in March.
With this in mind if you have any children’s books that need a new home we will gladly take them off your hands.
Please leave in the Reception Foyer! Thank you!
Sending love to new bakery
Some of our School Councillors popped across to the new bakery in Coleham today ‘The Love Spoon Bakery’ to welcome them to the Coleham community. They wished owner Angharad all the best for her exciting new premises where she designs and bakes gorgeous celebration cakes. The children heard that the business flourished from a childhood hobby and love of baking passed down from her grandmother Janet Jones who was the Welsh National Hostess.🏴 We reflected on how lucky she was to do a job she loves ❤️
The Love Spoon Bakery is open Wednesday to Saturday and also has a small shop counter to buy individual cakes. Great for an after school treat😏
Pins & Needles Sewing Club
Pins & Needles Sewing Club have been learning so much from Mrs Renshaw.
This was a little project involving pattern cutting and understanding net shapes and 3D construction.
Anchoring on and off with a neat running stitch is so good for those fine motor skills …and patience when it doesn’t quite happen first time! #needlework
Bobby the Road Safety Super Hero
Bobby won a competition with the Shropshire Council Sustainable Travel Team in June last year and now his design of Pablo the Puffin is ready to be used in the new Road Safety programme for Shropshire schools. How exciting…
Shropshire Council News Story
Sulwe inspired Portrait Gallery
Year 5 enjoyed the picture book ‘Sulwe’ by Lupita Nyong’o which follows the journey of a young girl as she discovers her true beauty. We have learned that light and dark, day and night are much stronger together and we are all beautiful no matter how we look. We were inspired to create these incredible chalk pictures, thinking carefully about how light and dark shades work together.
Please see the new Yr 5 Sulwe exhibit in our gallery.
Fashion lecture from Shrewsbury College
Anna from Shrewsbury College came to talk to Year 5 about sustainable fashion and help us get inspired for our Eco Fashion Show! Anna teaches the Extended Diploma in Fashion & Textiles at Shrewsbury College and told us all about the environmental hazards of ‘fast fashion’ and showed us some customised denim outfits that her students have made. Our own pupils have been busy at Fashion Club making customised outfits from recycled uniform and rubbish ready for our Fashion Show. It was great for the children to learn that Shrewsbury has its own vocational fashion course for 16-18 year olds. Thank you Shrewsbury Colleges Group #careerpathways #careerchoices
EYFS Sculptures Tour
In Art this term the children in Reception have been learning all about sculptures. On Tuesday we went looking for sculptures around the town centre, and found many exciting examples to explore.
Chinese New Year
We love to celebrate festivals from around the world. EYFS, Year 2 and Year 4 all participated in a Chinese New Year workshop today with music, dance and story and a 12 foot dragon!
Year 4 have made a lovely video of the experience
UKS2 Dodgeball Competition
A group of UKS2 children took part in the school games dodgeball qualifiers, playing incredibly well. Although they narrowly missed out on a quarter-final spot by just one point in the group stage, their spirits remained high. They went on to secure 3rd place in the shield tournament, which ran alongside the qualifiers, all while maintaining smiles and laughter throughout. Well done to everyone!
Netball Success
A huge well done to all the children who’ve been playing in the netball tournament against other schools around Shrewsbury! In our most recent match, the team played incredibly well together, really building confidence in their positioning. There was some excellent defence and attacking on display, and it was a brilliant team effort. Looking forward to our next match next week – keep up the great work, everyone!
