News
And so we reach the end of our first full year back since the challenges of Covid. Despite having more Covid in the school this year than the previous two years combined, everyone in the school community pulled together to ensure normality returned for the children and they have responded with such resilience. Thank you for your patience support.
With guidance from their you and their teachers and their support of each other the children have taken great strides in their personal and academic progress. Despite the disruption of the previous two years the cohorts have outperformed national averages in every government set test and in most cases even outperformed pre Covid national averages. Well done everybody – a very, very impressive showing!
The last day of term is always one of mixed emotions. There is sadness as we say goodbye to our Year 6 (some have been here 8 years or so!) and staff leaving, but also excitement for the challenges that await them. All our leavers have contributed immensely to the school. Our year six children leave for a variety of secondary schools, some children in other years are transferring to new schools and Mrs Rushworth and Miss Goodman are joining new schools for new challenges. Emily in FSU leaves to begin her maternity leave and Miss Gray will return in September as Mrs Wilkins – just imagine the confusion that caused our current Dolphins when they met her in preparation for next year! And of course Annemarie, who will reduce her hours further from September as she and we plan for final retirement date as yet undecided but we will let you know when it nears. We wish all our leavers the very best of luck with thanks and look forward to welcoming all of our new starters in September.
Please click on ‘more’ to find out what has and is happening in and around the classes this week.
Have a lovely summer and we look forward to welcoming you all back on Tuesday 6th September.
From Jeremy Cooper and all of the children and staff (more…)
A super end to the week with sports day today. Thank you for your support today and thank you to all the staff and children (particularly year 6) who made today run so smoothly. The points from today will be added to the house point totals for the term and the house that wins our House Cup will be announced next week. There are a number of unclaimed tombola prizes in the office for white ticket 47 and yellow tickets 29, 88, 95, 259, 358, 361, 475, 487, 499, 543, 588 893,943. Decent prizes too!
Please note that due to rising running costs nursery fees and AOOSC and other after school clubs prices will increase in September. We have kept the increases to a minimum and for more information please click here.
Thank you to Appledore Baptist Church for welcoming us all today for the last Open the Book of the year and thank you Year 6 for some super acting.
Appledore Library Summer Reading Challenge Events:
Sat 23rd July 10-11.30am – Sciencedipity – £6/child BOOKING ESSESNTIAL
Thu 4th Aug 10-11.30am – Storytelling & Bridgebuilding – FREE DROP IN
Thu 18th Lego Sense 1-2pm – £4/child BOOKING ESSESNTIAL
Throughout the summer holidays there will be free picture treasure hunts inside the library and around the village shops with a prize draw of £10 book tokens for 2 winners. For more information please click here.
Have a lovely weekend
From Jeremy Cooper and all the children and staff (more…)
Such a busy week that has included trips to Lundy, The Wake Park, Rosemoor and St Margaret’s for a football match. Please read on to find out more.
Don’t forget it’s sports day on Friday 15th July and the details are available by clicking here. We look forward to seeing as many of you there as possible.
In addition to our afterschool club (AOOSC) we will continue to offer after school art club and we are very pleased to inform you of the return of our popular afterschool eco rangers club in September. The eco rangers club provides the children with fun outdoor opportunities. Art will be on a Monday and Wednesday and eco rangers on a Tuesday and Thursday. Information on how to book places will sent out before the end of term.
On 24th July The Rotary Club of Bideford is organising the Bideford Water Festival. The theme this year is PIRATES and they want to get as many children as possible involved in the fancy dress competition. The parade will begin at 1.10pm outside the Harbour Master’s Office. For more information please click here.
There is a meeting on Thursday 21st July at 7pm at Appledore library to elect the committee for the PTA. Everyone welcome. Please click here for more info.
Have a lovely weekend
From Jeremy Cooper and all the children and staff
Another busy week that included the children meeting their new teachers for next year and more transition days and activities for Year 6 as they prepare for secondary school. An understandable blend of excitement and apprehension as all children prepare for their next stage. School reports will be available in your child’s Google Classroom for Years 1-6 and in book bags for Turtles and Dolphins during the week commencing 4th July. If there is anything in the report you would like to discuss with their class teacher there will be bookable appointments the following week. More information to follow next week.
Success on the rugby field for pupils from year 2 at a local tag rugby tournament with one of our teams winning first spot.
At Appledore Village Hall on 1st August, 2,30pm-3.30pm there is a summer science workshop for primary aged children. For more information, please click here.
Please don’t forget it’s sports day on 15th July. Again, weather permitting! Please see earlier articles for details.
We wish you all a happy weekend
From Jeremy Cooper and all the children and staff
It was such a shame we were’t able to have sports day today and apologies for inconvenience caused. We have rearranged for Friday 15th July. Please click here for the details for the day.
ourhappyplaceltd@hotmail.com are running summer holiday activities 9am-4pm at St George’s School, Northam. Places are limited, so pleas contact them via the email asap if you are interested.
For details of free summer holiday activities and meals for pupils eligible for benefit-related free school meals please click here. Bideford college are also running activities over the summer. The sessions are free for children on free school meals, in care or seen as vulnerable (please click here) and also there are paid places for other children (please click here). Please note Bideford College only have 30 places available on this course, it first come first serve basis.
Wishing you all a great weekend
From Jeremy Cooper and all the children and staff (more…)
Sports Day Arrangements 2022
We are looking forward to Sports Day on Friday 1th July. These are plans for the day and please be aware changes may be required before the day or during the day in response to unforeseen circumstances.
School will open at the normal time and parents can take their places on the field once their child has gone into their classroom.
9.30am -11.30am: races for children in Years 1-6 will take place and parents and carers of children in these year groups are very welcome to attend. Please sit behind the roped off area. After these races all children will then go back to class for a short period of time.
12pm-1pm Parents and carers are invited to stay to picnic with their children from reception and years 1-6 on the field. Children in years 1&2 can be collected from the bottom playground, children in Reception from the Foundation Stage Unit and children in years 3-6 will come out to meet their parents.
Please stay on the field and do not enter the wooded area.
Children in Reception and years 1&2 that do not have parents attending will eat a school dinner in the hall as per usual. Children in years 3-6 who do not have parents attending will eat their packed lunch on the playground.
12.45pm: the children are called back to class for the register to register
1.15pm the activities for all children from Reception to year 6 will start. Children will be placed into house teams and will take part in a number of different activities. You are welcome to move around with your child’s team and support them in their activities.
Please can children in years 1-6 come to school wearing their PE kit. If possible they can wear a t-shirt in the colour of their house instead of their usual white PE shirt. Children in Reception to wear a house colour t-shirt if possible (please see notice board outside FSU for which house/colour) and trainers. Children will also need sun hats, sun cream applied and a named water bottle.
When the afternoon activities have finished (no later than 2.30pm) all children will return to their classroom and parents and carers can collect them soon after to take home. Those in Rock Steady will congregate on the top playground where a member of staff will organise them. Parents of children performing in the Rock Steady concert can go to the hall.
We look forward to welcoming as many of you as possible tomorrow.
Don’t forget it’s sports day next Friday (24th June). Please click here for information about the day and please be aware that changes to the arrangements sometimes have to be made, including last minute postponement due to weather, and we ask for your understanding with this. Hopefully all will go to plan and we look forward to seeing as many of you as possible.
A few changes at the end of this term when we will be saying goodbye to Mrs Rushworth and Miss Goodman who both move on to new challenges in new schools. Those schools are lucky to have them and we wish them every success and thank them for everything they have done here at Appledore School. Mrs McMorine will continue to be Deputy Headteacher and Mrs Bannister has been promoted to Assistant Headteacher and both will retain responsibility for a class in addition to their leadership and management responsibilities. Next year, the class teachers will be as follows: Ms Olliffe in nursery; Mrs bannister in reception; Miss Gray in year 1; Mrs Stanbury and Mrs Stephens in year 2; Ms Wetz in year 3; Miss Ellis in year 4; Mrs McMorine in year 5 and Mrs Mitchell in year 6. The children going into years 1-6 in September will get the chance to meet their teacher on Thursday 30th June and additional transition arrangements will be made as required.
Torridge District Council is bidding for funding from the government’s Levelling Up Fund to regenerate Middle Dock in Appledore into a proposed Appledore Clean Maritime Innovation Centre. For information about this proposal please click here.
We wish you all a super weekend
From Jeremy Cooper and all the children and staff (more…)
for families to try tennis for FREE and take advantage of some great offers on beginner tennis courses during the summer. For more info visit www.atlanticracquetcentre.co.
AROUND THE CLASSES
On a further sporting note, please click here to find out information for a Summer Fair organised by Barnstaple Falcons Gymnastics Club on Saturday 2nd July, 11am-4pm.
We wish you all a super weekend
From Jeremy Cooper and all the children and staff (more…)
NEWSFLASH! House Cross Country results are in…Atlantic (green) 163, Indian (yellow) 165, Arctic (blue) 168 and Pacific (red) 193. Congratulations to Pacific House!
Such a lovely end of the half term this week and today! Earlier in the week we had over 60 children rock pooling on the beach and a visit from Northam Mayor, to present the children with their jubilee medals, and today has included: a coronation in our Foundation Stage Unit; presenting the our Values Cup to a very Positive member of our year 1 class in front of his mum; cricket coaching on the school field and our house cross country competition in the afternoon – we can’t underestimate the impact of the return of many of the important aspects of school life we previously took for granted. And all with the sun out too!
On Wednesday 8th June 2022 the team from Atlantic Racquet Centre will be in school to share digital tennis assembly and fun tennis taster session for all children in Reception & Years 1 – 3. They’re here to promote their SUPER FREE TENNIS WEEKEND on Sat 11th and Sun 12th June. The centre is open all weekend for families to try tennis for FREE and take advantage of some great offers on beginner tennis courses during the summer. For more info visit www.atlanticracquetcentre.co.
We wish you all a super half term break and look forward to welcoming you all back on Wednesday 8th June.
From Jeremy Cooper and all the children and staff (more…)
Before you read on to find out what has been happening in and around the classes, please check your diary for the following dates:
- Friday 27th May – children wear red, white and blue for the jubilee
- Friday 24th June – sports day (weather permitting of course). Years 1-6 all day and Reception in the afternoon. More details to follow
Great Torrington School are delighted to offer Year 5 pupils the opportunity to spend a day experiencing life at GTS. Our Year 5 Day is Friday 8th July 2022. Pupils will engage in a range of activities, culminating with an afternoon of sports. Parents/carers are welcome to observe and meet with the staff. For any enquiries, or to reserve a place, call 01805 623531 or email reception@gts.devon.sch.uk
Over the summer free sports and multi-activities are being run at Bideford College for children. To find out more and if you are eligible, please click here.
We wish you all a lovely weekend
From Jeremy Cooper and all of the children and staff
Once again so much going on: learning about oceans; mimibeasts writing; collage linked to a poem; physical theatre; singing the water cycle; experimenting with vocabulary choices in creative writing; Shackleton’s expedition to Antarctica; cricket coaching and year 6 SATs. The attitude of our year 6 children towards their SATS was exemplary, in both the preparation for and the sitting of, and they did themselves proud. And the rest of the school showed their support by being so quiet during the tests it felt at times like the school was empty!
We have vacancies on our governing body. Please click here to find out more and how to arrange an informal conversation to find out if it is for you.
Please click here to view a letter regarding the Devon County Council SEND department Ofsted inspection. The inspection includes a survey for parents of children who have special educational needs.
https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/DevonCountyCouncilRe-visitLASEND/ .The survey opens at 12 noon on Monday 16 May 2022 and will close at 12 noon on Friday 20 May 2022.
Please read on to find out more of what has been happening in and around the classes.
Have a super weekend
From Jeremy Cooper and all the children and staff (more…)
Wishing you all a lovely weekend
From Jeremy Cooper and all the children and staff (more…)
Welcome back everybody and we hope you had a super Easter.
Just before we broke up for Easter, Year 4 participated in the Bideford Chorister Outreach Programme and this involved performing in Exeter cathedral. To view the recording of their contribution and that of other schools please visit https://youtu.be/4rS67iyKStM
North Devon Surf School are running a children’s after school surf club starting Tuesday 3rd May. For more information, please click here.
After school, on the bottom playground, there will be a cake sale in aid of NSPCC on Tuesday 3rd May. This has been organised by a very kind group of Year 5 girls who will also be baking the cakes! For more information, please click here.
We wish you all a lovely bank holiday weekend and look forward to welcoming you back on Tuesday 3rd May.
From Jeremy Cooper and all the children and staff. (more…)
A lovely last week of term. Please do read on to find out what has been going on in all the classes.
For next term we have made a few operational changes to continue our efforts to return to pre Covid normality. To ensure you are aware of these changes please read this letter.
As a holiday approaches our mind swings around to the need for extra vigilance regarding children being safe online with all their extra freetime .Please click here for an update on current e-safety matters.
Please click here for details of the May Fair Parade fancy dress competition on 30th April and here for an entry form.
Atlantic Racquet Centre are holding a free family day on Saturday 23rd April for all the family to come and try out tennis, badminton, table tennis and the gym. They have different classes happening through the day with expert coaches on hand to help you. For more info please use the link below and feel free to just turn up on the day, no booking required. http://www.atlanticracquetcentre.co.uk/opendays
Well done to this half term winners of the Literacy Cup and the Values Cup and to Arctic House for winning the House Cup.
We wish you all a super Easter break and look forward to welcoming you back on Monday 25th April.
From Jeremy Cooper and all the children and staff
The UK Government has published new guidance detailing ‘next steps for living with Covid‘ that is applicable from today. The guidance states Children and young people who are unwell and have a high temperature should stay at home and avoid contact with other people, where they can. They can go back to school, college or childcare when they no longer have a high temperature, and they are well enough to attend. There is no mention of an obligation to test your child for Covid when they first become unwell or before you consider them well enough to return to school. If you did test your child when they first became unwell and they tested positive this guidance says they are able to return after three days provided they are well enough. The guidance does not require you to test your child before they return after three days. If you decide to test your child on day three and they remain positive, please return your child to school when they no longer test positive.
We are hoping to open holiday club on Monday 11th, Tuesday 12th and Wednesday 13th April in the first week and Tuesday 19th and Wednesday 20th April in the second week of the holiday. If you want your child to attend, please email admin@appledoreprimary.co.uk before Monday morning. Being able to open on any of these days depends on enough children attending and we will contact you on Monday once we know if sufficient bookings have been made. For pricing and opening hours please click here.
Please read on to find out what has been happening around the classes and for football match reports…
We wish you all a lovely weekend
From Jeremy Cooper and all the children and staff (more…)
