Headteacher Newsletter 453

Termly Learning Page

Our new termly learning pages for each year group are now live! These give a clear summary of what the children will be learning this term across all subjects. You can have a look and find out more about your child’s learning journey on our school website at  https://www.wvps.northants.sch.uk/page/?title=Termly+Learning+Sheets&pid=127

 

Half-Termly Value: Culture

This half-term, our school value is Culture. We began this week with an assembly exploring what culture means - looking at the traditions, beliefs, celebrations, and stories that shape who we are. Throughout the week, the children continued to learn about culture by reading and discussing a range of carefully chosen children’s books that reflect diverse experiences and backgrounds. We look forward to helping pupils appreciate both their own cultures and those of others as the term continues.

 

Cold Weather

Now that the chilly weather has arrived, we’d really appreciate your help in making sure children come to school wrapped up warm. Cosy coats, hats, scarves and gloves help them feel comfortable and ready to enjoy their day. It’s also worth keeping this in mind for any before or after-school clubs that take place outdoors - a few extra layers can make all the difference.

Keeping warm helps children stay healthy, happy and able to focus on their learning and play.
 

School Book Fair - next week!

We are excited to announce that the fantastic Scholastic Book Fair is coming to our school next week!

Find us in the Main Hall on Wednesday, Thursday (after school only), and Friday – before and after school.

Please note that the Book Fair is CASHLESS. QR codes will be available throughout the hall to make payments quick and easy.

This is a wonderful opportunity to nurture a love of reading. Children who read regularly not only develop stronger vocabulary, imagination, and creativity, but also build confidence, empathy, and resilience. Sharing books at home – whether at bedtime, on the sofa, or during a quiet moment together – creates precious memories and strengthens family bonds. Even just a few minutes a day can make a huge difference.

The Book Fair is also a great chance to pick up affordable books that make perfect Christmas presents. A good book doesn’t have to be expensive to spark joy – sometimes the simplest stories become a child’s most treasured favourite. Whether you’re looking for a stocking filler, a new bedtime read, or a title to inspire a reluctant reader, there’s something for everyone.
We can’t wait to see you there and help you find your next great read!

 

Winter Wonderland - Wednesday 10th December - 4.15pm until 6pm - BOOK TICKETS NOW

This is our biggest community event of the year! We transform our school site into a winter wonderland - and everyone is invited!

This year you can enjoy the light trail, snow machine, Christmas food market including BBQ, Pizza and sweet treats, special musical performances, children’s work displays, Christmas games and refreshments, visiting Father Christmas, an inflatable village plus a fire performer! 

And if that’s not enough to tempt you, all tickets include a Studio Game Pass so children can play indoor games for free!

Winter Wonderland is a community event, so it’s available for everybody, so feel free to invite family members and friends. 

For more information or to book, please go to
https://www.pta-events.co.uk/friendsofwoodlandview/index.cfm
 

More Festive Events coming in December…

Our FOWV team have been busy planning a wonderful line-up of festive events to make December truly magical!

Breakfast with Santa – Tuesday 2nd & Thursday 4th December, 8.15–8.45am
Start the day with sparkle! Children can enjoy a cosy, festive breakfast (provided by us) in a twinkling Christmas setting, complete with a special visit from Father Christmas himself. It’s the perfect way to sprinkle a little extra magic on a winter morning.

Christmas Wreath Making (Adults Only) – Thursday 4th December, 6.30–8.30pm
Join us at Woodland View Primary School for a beautifully festive evening of creativity. Whether you’re a seasoned crafter or a complete beginner, come and design your own stunning Christmas wreath using all the materials provided. Seasonal refreshments will be available to purchase, adding to the warm, Christmassy atmosphere.

Festive Cinema Club (Years 1–6) – Monday 15th December, straight after school until 5pm
Bookings opening soon! Children can snuggle down with their friends to enjoy a festive film, complete with movie snacks. It’s a joyful way to celebrate the season together.
More details and booking information for all of these special events can be found at https://www.pta-events.co.uk/friendsofwoodlandview/

 

Parent Governor Ballot Results

Following our recent ballot, I am delighted to welcome Parag Raval as our new Parent Governor. Parag brings enthusiasm and a strong commitment to supporting our school community, and we look forward to working with him on the Governing Board.

I would also like to extend my sincere thanks to the other candidates who put themselves forward. Their willingness to contribute their time, skills and passion to the school is truly appreciated.

Maths Week

Last week was Maths Week and what a fantastic week we had! It was brilliant to see so many of you attending our Achieve with Me sessions across school; we hope that you left with a deeper understanding of how we teach your children to ensure they develop automaticity of facts or how we regularly recap learning to ensure the children know and remember more. 

In classes, children really got to grips with money, not just the values, but also by getting stuck into some tricky problems discussing things like special offers and even inflation! It has been lovely to hear how so many of you spent time as a family discussing the family challenges too - it brings Mrs Cox a lot of joy to hear about families engaging in conversations about maths! Finally, we celebrated our Maths Week Money Champions who were chosen by each class teacher for many different reasons; it was lovely to hear about those who had really got stuck into the week and thought outside the box with their questions and suggestions.

Thank you to everyone for your involvement!
 

Staff Departure

We will be saying goodbye to Caroline Moss, who has been a valued Teaching Assistant at Woodland View for many years. Caroline has shown great care, dedication and commitment in her work, and she has made a significant contribution to the lives of many children. We thank her sincerely for everything she has done and wish her the very best for the future.

We have recently begun the recruitment process for a new Teaching Assistant. We were thrilled to receive an incredible 47 applications, which is a wonderful reflection of how many people are keen to join the team at Woodland View. We hope to make an appointment in the coming weeks.

 

The Tempest

Last week, we were pleased to take a team of Year 6 children and staff to the Deco Theatre in Northampton. Here they staged a 30-minute version of William Shakespeare's The Tempest. This dedicated group of children has been working hard on this production since the end of Year 5 and last week's show was the result of much hard work and effort.

The staff team, who also committed much time and energy to the performance, were very, very proud of all the children's efforts in producing their fantastic version of the play. The children in the rest of the school have not missed out, as special performances were also put on for them during school time.

Please enjoy this selection of photos of our wonderful children at the Deco.
https://www.wvps.northants.sch.uk/news/?pid=11&nid=2&storyid=103

 

Winter Camps

We’re excited to offer two fun-filled camp days over the Christmas holidays:
Craft Barn – Monday 22nd December. Sign-up will be available via School Ping.

Freestyle – Tuesday 23rd December. Sign-up is through this link https://freestylegroup.co.uk/event-list/holiday-camps/.

These camps are a fantastic way for the children to have fun, get creative, and make some festive memories while giving you a little extra time for Christmas shopping or wrapping!

 

NMPAT - Music Opportunity

Does your child enjoy music or performing arts? If so, this opportunity may be perfect for them!

This Saturday (22nd November) Northamptonshire Music and Performing Arts Trust (NMPAT) is opening the doors of their local Centre and inviting any school-age student to come along and see what they’re all about - for free!

NMPAT is the lead partner in the Northamptonshire and Rutland Music Hub. Their staff visit most schools in the region to deliver high-quality instrumental and vocal lessons each week. They also offer ensembles and activities at the weekends - or at after-school clubs on Wednesday evenings in Towcester - that are open to any child who wants to take part. The Centres meet on term-time Saturdays for 3 hours of ensembles and activities. You can find your nearest Centre here: https://nmpat.co.uk/whats-on/saturday-centre-open-day/ 

At Woodland View, we are proud to support the performing arts and encourage every child to explore their creativity. We wholeheartedly endorse NMPAT and the fantastic opportunities they offer for children to develop musical skills, confidence, and a love of performance.

School Blogs

Please see the school blog pages to see what your child has been up to this week via the link https://www.wvps.northants.sch.uk/page/?title=Year+Group+Blogs&pid=75

 

Key Dates

Wednesday 26th, Thursday 27th and Friday 28th November - School Book Fair - before and after school
Monday 1st December - Second-hand uniform and Christmas Jumper sale - before and after school
Tuesday 2nd and Thursday 4th December - Breakfast with Santa - 8.15-8.45am in school
Thursday 4th December - Christmas Wreath Making - adults - 6.30-8.30pm in school
Wednesday 10th December - Winter Wonderland - 4.15-6pm
Friday 12th December - Year 5/6 Choir at The Wig and Walnut - 1:30pm
Monday 15th December - Cinema Club for Y1-Y6 - after school until 5pm 
Thursday 18th December - Christmas Party Day - details to follow
Friday 19th December - Christmas Jumper Day and Term ends
Monday 2nd February - Online Safety Meeting for all parents - 3-4pm - in school
 

Yours sincerely, 
Mark Horsley