Welcome to your newsletter for week ending November 28th

Another busy week in school with signs of festive celebrations starting to appear here and there! Values assemblies today were, as usual, a wonderful way to end the week. In Key Stage Two's assemblies our ECO Group talked about the work they have done so far this term and that we will be visited by an Environmental Officer in the New Year, who will hopefully be working with the group and the school on all things environmental!

The ECO group, as well as many other groups in school, are initiated by the children themselves, which is brilliant. We always want our children to feel and know that BVP is their school and that they have control over what happens here. We know that to be active members of communities, knowing that you can make things happen and bring about change is vital and we are very keen to encourage this.

Mrs Cooper met with senior staff from the local Bourn View Care Home today and we are very pleased to announce that we are embarking on building a new relationship with them. We are planning for a small group of children to visit the home for about 45 minutes, once a month to engage with different activities such as playing games, gardening, reading stories etc, and then once a month, we are inviting a group of residents to come to school and watch small performances. We are also keen to set up a Pen Pal Partnership, with children writing letters to residents, and vice versa. We will be sharing a form with families next week, to express children's interest in joining the group of 12, who would regularly visit Bourn View.

Finally, we have so many unclaimed coats in the lost property baskets! If your child has lost their coat at school, please ask them to have a look in the Elizabeth or George Building Lost Property baskets- if they are unclaimed at the end of term, they will be given to a local charity.

To view more dates, please visit our website calendar under the 'Families' tab or click here.

Today the following pupils received the Values Certificate for Responsibility...

Year Four Geography Walk 

Children in Year 4 enjoyed their 'field study' walk around Bournville today where they were learning about land use in our local area. It looks like they were blessed with some lovely winter sunshine!

Festive Wreath Workshop 

A Creative Evening for a Great Cause!

Last Friday evening, we welcomed parents to our Wreath Making Workshop, and what a fantastic event it turned out to be! Using all-natural and foraged materials, everyone embraced their creativity to craft beautiful, eco-friendly wreaths just in time for the festive season.

The atmosphere was warm and lively, with plenty of laughter and shared ideas as participants learned new skills and enjoyed a relaxing evening together. It was wonderful to see so many families come together to support our school.

Thanks to your incredible generosity and enthusiasm, we raised just over £500 towards our fundraiser for a new school climbing frame! Every penny brings us closer to creating an exciting and active space for our children to enjoy.

A huge thank you to everyone who attended, helped organize, and contributed to making this event such a success. We can’t wait to host more creative workshops in the future!

Attendance Armadillos 

This week the attendance armadillo's were handed to... 

Cancelling Music Lessons

As we near the end of this term year, it is time to let us know if you want to cancel your child’s music lessons for next term. If your child wants to continue with their music lessons, no further action is required, and they will continue next term.

If you want to cancel their music lessons for next term, please click on the link below and complete the information requested.

Cancelling link HERE

Submissions for cancellations need to be sent by EOP Friday 12^th December 2025. Any submissions after this date will not be confirmed.

**Non-completion of the form or failure to notify the music team will mean that your child will continue with their chosen instrument, and you will have to pay for the full term of lessons. You will not be able to cancel these lessons again until the Summer Term.**

Any queries, please do not hesitate to contact the us on [email protected]m

Upcoming Music Dates

NO Orchestra 17th Dec

Due to the orchestra's final concert for 2025 on 10th December, there will be NO orchestra afterschool club on the last week of term (17th December). 

KS2 Music Lesson Space Available 

Is your child itching to play a musical instrument, but hasn’t had the chance until now? We may just have the perfect opportunity for them…

One space has become available for either an oboe, flute, clarinet or bassoon music lesson at BVP. If your child would be keen to start playing any of the above instruments, please contact: [email protected] 

The space will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. So, act quick to avoid disappointment!

Thank you to everyone who has donated items to the Pastoral Team. These have been very much appreciated, and we have been overwhelmed by the generosity of our families!

This week we welcomed back Joe from Beacon School Support who lead our parent workshop, ‘How to Support Your Child with Big Emotions'.’  The PowerPoint and resources can be accessed her and through our website.

This week some of our children have been learning about how our thoughts strongly influence how we feel and behave. We use the idea of Red Thoughts and Green Thoughts to help them understand and manage emotions.

• Red Thoughts are unhelpful or negative thoughts that make worries or frustration grow.
  Examples: “I can’t do this,” “This will go wrong.”
• Green Thoughts are helpful, balanced thoughts that calm the brain and support coping.
  Examples: “I can try,” “I’ve done hard things before.”

How parents can help:
Name the type of thought, model your own Green Thoughts, and encourage realistic, flexible thinking. This helps children build confidence and resilience. 

Hip-Hop with EMMPOWER!

We’re delighted to offer an exciting Dance for Wellbeing programme for children in Years 3 - 6. These fun and engaging sessions are designed to help pupils boost their confidence, resilience, creativity, and emotional wellbeing through movement. Sessions are held in a supportive environment in the George Hall after school on Mondays.

Parents and carers can book places via the QR code on the flyer below; more information on below flyer for session timings, prices etc.

If you have questions, want advice or have concerns regarding you child please don’t hesitate to contact us by calling the office or emailing  [email protected].

There is also lots of useful information and advice on our school website  https://www.bournvillevillageprimary.org.uk/Page/Detail/our-pastoral-team 

Next week we will be on WEEK 1.

You can pre-book meals in advance on Arbor till the end of the academic year (Arbor>> Meals>> Meal Choices Available>> Select Meal Choice)

Reminder: Even if your child is a packed Lunch, parents will need to book that lunch option on Arbor! 

BVP's Christmas Menu

On Wednesday 10th December we will be having a Christmas themed lunch menu! If you would like your child to have this, please head to Arbor and book this as a normal School Dinner/ Halal School Dinner. 

Last week, KS2 took part in the 'England Rocks!' competition on TT Rock Stars. Children competed against other schools all across the country to earn some special certificates and improve their tables knowledge and, although we didn't win any of the grand prizes, we are very proud of their achievements! We ranked 331^st out of over 4,300 schools nationally and 51^st out of nearly 500 schools in the West Midlands. A big shout-out goes to class 5B, who came an incredible 623^rd out of over 28,000 classes nationally and 99^th out of 3,200 classes in the West Midlands! Keep an eye out for the next competition, and keep practising those tables! 🎸

And one more thing for TT Rock Stars - a brand new avatar season! This is a time-limited event where children can spend their hard-earned coins on some new items for their avatar, themed around the legendary mathematician, Fibonacci. Log in and play to earn the items before the end of December before they're gone forever! If you want some more information about the avatar season, or to learn a bit more about Fibonacci and his famous sequence, please see the link below:

https://intercom.help/times-tables-rock-stars/en/articles/12709477-fibonacci-avatar-season

If you are a parent or carer of a child with SEND, please take a few moments to complete this SEND Lived Experience Survey (closing date 12 December 2025) which has been distributed by Birmingham Local Authority.

• Lived Experience Survey for Parent Carers

You said... you didn't feel you knew how well your child was doing, regularly enough across the year.

As explained in our September Welcome Back meetings, we are sharing attainment and progress data at different points throughout the year. The first data 'release' is coming up- the 11th and 12th of December. This will be available to you via Arbor. Prior to these dates, we will share/ remind you of our expectations in terms of where we want children to be and what 'expected' progress looks like. We will also be sharing additional data for our children with SEND. 

Please do use the website calendar (under 'Families') for a reminder of when pupil data is released across the year and the Parents' Evenings that follow.

Thanks to you all for your Tombola donations - it is very much appreciated!

So, what next...

1. MOST IMPORTANT >> Plan your trip to the Christmas Fair on 6^th December
2. IF YOU ARE COMING  >> Pre-order your Lunch Grab bags on Arbor
3. IF YOU CAN >> Bake some cakes and bring in on Friday 5^th Dec for the Fair Cafe
4. IF YOU WANT TO >> Donate any uniform, toys, books, unwanted gifts etc - into office, bagged up, marked with PTA.
5. IF YOU HAVE THEM LYING AROUND >> Drop off any old Christmas Card fronts, so that they can be reused in the Craft Room at the Fair - into office
6. BEFORE THEY SELL OUT >> Buy disco tickets for 9^th (Year 1) and 11^th Dec (Year 2/3 and 4/5/6)
7. HOLD ON >> Christmas Cards order should be circulated next week. Fingers crossed!
8. PUT IT IN THE DIARY >> Carols in the Playground with the Whole School - that is 650+ kids! Gates open at 14:00 Friday 12^th Dec. Tea/Coffee/mince pies/carols.

Christmas Fair

So that you can plan your trip to the Christmas Fair - let us tell you a bit about what is happening...

Doors open at 11:00 through the Woodbrooke Road entrance, free entry, with the choir singing a few carols in George Hall to kick off the event. Step free access available upon request. Cash and card payments accepted throughout. Sat "hi" to those on the door! They are there to welcome you and help you navigate around the event!

Head into the George Hall and get the next available/most convenient timed slot to visit Santa so that you don't need to stay in the queue for long. £2.50 per child with a selection of gifts to choose from, plus design your own badge in the queue then make it in the Craft Room (included with Grotto ticket). Own cameras allowed if you want a picture with the big man himself!

Wander around the many stalls in the George Hall, and adjoining classroom, and support those Parents and kids that run their own enterprise making and selling creative items for your enjoyment.

The designer makers/crafters have donated raffle prizes, along with the Christmas Hamper donated by the BVPS Staff Team. Buy as many raffle tickets as you want to show your appreciation of the fun things the PTA have made happen throughout the year (you will have noticed that we have reduced it to just one raffle a year, and at Christmas, so go all in!). Raffle tickets are £1 each.

Donated, pre-loved uniform shop and toys/ books shop will be open, pay what you can. (If you have items to donate please bring into school during this or next week so we can sort and label.)

The Gift Room (presents for Grown Ups selected by kids) will be open for kids only to visit and select and be assisted to wrap and tag amazing items from a wide selection of carefully chosen gifts. £5 for one, £8 for two. 

Games rooms will be open, run completely by Year 6 enterprise teams. Try your hand, all for 20p a go!

Tombola will be open. Donated, age appropriate gifts to be won by picking out a ticket ending in 0 or 5. Tickets are 25p a ticket.

Craft rooms open for a calm, creative, fun time making one of the craft items curated for different age groups. 50p per craft item.

Face painting will be open. £3 per face. Choose the design and let the team of creatives get to work!

Cafe will be open selling very reasonable prices tea, coffee, hot chocolate, cakes, biscuits, crisps, samosas, mince pies, cookies, cans, fruit juice cartons. (If you would like to donate cakes/biscuits please bring in marked box (if you want it back!) on Friday 5th with allergies listed.)

New this year... We are going to try pre-ordered "Lunch Grab Bags". Choose from either cheese, ham or jam sandwiches, bag of crisps, fruit juice carton and something sweet for £5 per bag. Order via Arbor (so that we avoid food wastage) and pick up from the cafe from 1130. (Orders will open next week if we can make it happen)

If you fancy bringing own lunch, that's fine... breakout rooms will be available for eating in, or if you need some quiet space.

Silent Disco and tuck shop downstairs in the canteen will be open. Free to use the disco headphones, tuck shop as priced. Take a cup of tea or your lunch downstairs, we will have left a few tables out for you.

We may throw in some story times in the Christmas Cottage as well so listen out for announcements at the event. They will be free.

First Aid room is for first aid and lost children and lost property, in case you need it.

Last entry of 14:30 is advised if you want to get around everything. Event finishes at 1500.

You will notice that this isn't about making money. The prices have been kept low so that it is affordable for all AND we get loads of people coming along to make it the best experience for the Year 6s. Be nice to the Year 6 kids, you'll be in the same position in a few years time! Let them help you have fun and keep them nice and busy so they get lots of experience as they get ready to move into secondary school.

If you do feel able to spend or give more, then buy more raffle tickets, or donate directly to the PTA on Arbor, either come with a 'no strings attached sign of your gratitude' and our HUGE thanks in return!

See you on Saturday 6th December! Hopefully!

David, Becki and the amazing 56 Year 6 volunteers!

Dates coming up

Friday 5^th December- Christmas Fair Setup, George Hall

Saturday 6^th December- Christmas Fair 11:00-1500, George Hall

Tuesday 9th December- Yr1 Disco 15:30-1630 Elizabeth Hall

Thursday 11th December- Yr2/3 Disco 15:30-1700 George Hall

Thursday 11th December- Yr4/5/6 Disco 18:00-19:30 George Hall

Friday 12^th December- Carols in the Playground 1400 gates open where we will be serving tea/coffee/mince pies on the top playground whilst the school gather on the lower playground. Singing starts at 14:30

16^th January- PTA AGM straight after school, 6B classroom

David, Becki, Veronica

BVPS PTA

And finally...

Happy Thanksgiving to those who are celebrating, and to those who will be enjoying the Christmas Festival tomorrow, we hope you have a great time.

Take care and see you all on Monday!

Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is the responsibility of everyone in our school and at all times we consider what is in our children’s best interests. We work to ensure our children are safe and cared for and by doing this we are protecting their health and development and preventing them from harm. If we are worried, we will raise concerns, share information, and take prompt action with the aim of ensuring families receive the right help at the right time.

Christmas STEM Competition 2025 – Build a Santa STEM Sleigh

Children are invited to design and build a Santa STEM Sleigh using recyclable materials that can move, slide, or roll. They can make it as simple or as creative as they wish.

Open to: All primary-aged children
Cost: Free to enter
How to enter: Email a photo or video of the finished sleigh to
[email protected]

(Names and year groups can be written on or placed beside the model in the photo to keep things simple.)

Closing date: Friday 12th December 2025 at 9pm

Individual Prize:
A science goodie bag including a Junior Einsteins lab coat and energy rod.

Winning School Prize:
A free 15-minute Science Assembly for a year group or key stage, delivered during the week beginning 15th December 2025.

Bulb Planting in Bournville Park 

On Sunday November 30th at 2pm you can join Friends of Bournville in the park to plant some cherry trees. It is weather dependant and will last no longer than an hour. Meet up point is at the Beech Road entrance to the park, bring gloves and trowel/spades. Tell your friends!

Message from St Francis Church