Newsletter

School has been as busy as ever over the past two weeks, and I couldn’t be prouder of how our children have embraced everything happening across our community. We saw wonderful kindness and individuality during Odd Socks Day as we celebrated difference. Then, the school became a sea of yellow with a sleuth of Pudsey (and Blush) bears as we joined in with Children in Need, raising both money and awareness for this special charity. On Remembrance Day, our pupils showed great thoughtfulness and respect as we paused to reflect on those who have served and sacrificed.

Meanwhile, our EYFS and KS1 children are busily rehearsing for their nativities, which promise to be as heart-warming and memorable as ever. Across the school, there is a real buzz of activity as we prepare for our upcoming Christmas Fayre; we look forward to welcoming as many of you as possible to share in the festive fun while supporting the creativity and entrepreneurship of our pupils.

Miss Watson

Five Year 6 children represented the school at the Remembrance Day Service in Warsop on Sunday 9th November, and recited their own war poetry they'd written in class. We are incredibly proud of how they managed to speak so clearly in front of everyone in attendance.

Below is the incredibly emotive collaborative poem written by our talented Year 6 pupils. 

We Remember

Why do you wail, poppies?

We remember the fatherless, brotherless children, the rage of mothers losing loved ones and the crippled horses

Whimpering – whimpering

Why do you grieve, poppies?

We remember the screams of innocent people, the crunch of bones, the smell of death

Sacrificing – sacrificing

 

Why do you mourn, poppies?

We remember the distressed suffering, the painful torment that haunts their souls

Wailing – wailing

Why do you groan, poppies?

We remember the stench of blood oozing, bones breaking

Sickening – sickening

 

Why do you moan, poppies?

We remember the surge of death, the burn of fire, the diminishing hope

Fading – fading

Why are you hopeful, poppies?

We remember the desire for peace, the joy of freedom, the restoration

Gaining – gaining

 

Why do you dream, poppies?

We remember the reason that we fight, the desire for a better future, the ambition for victory

Hoping – hoping

We remember the stomping, shrieking

Drooping, drowning

Raging, racing

 

Why do you cry, poppies?

We remember the losing, lashing

Feeling, flashing

Creaking, crashing

We remember the pressuring, pleading

Loving, leading

Nudging, needing

 

Why are you grateful, poppies?

We remember the innocent lives that were sacrificed in the war

Taking – taking

We remember all too clearly, all too often.

We weep for our lost loved ones, and we cry joyful tears because they gave their tomorrow for our today.

We weep because others forget.

On Tuesday 11th November, the children and staff of Birklands observed a 2-minute silence to honour and remember those who fought, and continue to fight, in wars across the world. Some children chose to wear their Scouts, Brownies, Rainbows or Cubs uniform to school as an additional tribute.

It was a powerful and meaningful occasion and we commend our pupils for the dignity and maturity they displayed.

Last week our school came together to celebrate Children in Need Day and what a fantastic day it was! The children enjoyed a variety of Pudsey-themed activities, from crafts and games to dressing up, all while learning about the importance of helping others.

Thanks to everyone’s generosity and enthusiasm; we are delighted to share that we raised £189 for the charity. This is a wonderful achievement and will go towards supporting children and families across the UK.

A special mention must go to Lucy Willows (Year 5), who baked a batch of delicious Pudsey biscuits that were a huge hit with pupils and staff alike. Her creativity and kindness perfectly captured the spirit of the day.

 

Don’t forget our Christmas Fayre is taking place on Wednesday 26th November (3:15–4:30pm). This year’s event is extra special as it will be run entirely by our budding entrepreneurs!

Each class has been busy planning exciting stall ideas - from festive fun to handmade gifts - and were given £30 to invest in their project with the challenge of making the most profit. The class that raises the most will win a prize!

If you’re feeling peckish, there will be pizzas, burgers and hot dogs available to purchase.

All proceeds from the fayre will go into the school fund and will be spent on our brand-new school library.

We look forward to seeing you there and celebrating the creativity and teamwork of our pupils!

 

Kingfisher and Robin classes shared the top spot last week, showing great commitment and enthusiasm for learning. This week, it was Puffin class who came out on top, earning the crown as our attendance champions!

As a reward for their brilliant effort, these children will enjoy a special non-uniform day. Their teacher will be in touch soon to confirm the date, so keep an eye out for the details.

Well done to all these pupils for their dedication – every day in school makes a difference. 

Over the past few weeks, we have been delighted to recognise children across the school in our Celebration Assemblies. Pupils have been awarded certificates for either working hard in their learning or for being kind to others.

It has been wonderful to see so many children celebrated for their effort, determination and thoughtfulness. These values are at the heart of our school community and we are proud of every child who has received recognition.

A huge well done to all those who have received a certificate in assembly recently - you are shining examples of what makes our school such a special place.

We are thrilled to celebrate Taya’s (Year 6) amazing achievement at the recent County GFA Championships, where she proudly represented Twist Gymnastics. Competing across floor, vault and beam, Taya gave outstanding performances and came away with a fantastic result - joint 1st place!

This success is a true reflection of the dedication she has shown, spending time after school and at weekends perfecting her routines. Taya’s commitment and perseverance prove that hard work really does pay off.

Well done, Taya - we are so proud of you!

 

Please note that a letter regarding the Carol Service has been texted out today.

The timings of the two services are as follows:

EYFS and KS1: 9:45am to 10:15am

KS2: 10:30am - 11:00am

Photo Permission

Just a polite reminder to contact your child's teacher if you are yet to complete the photo permissions form. We try and include as many children as possible in our newsletter, but it can sometimes prove tricky if we do not have consent for a large number of pupils. 

School Dinners

Our new pre-ordering system for school meals is going well and has helped lunchtime run more smoothly. Just a gentle reminder to please go through the menu choices with your child when ordering, as we’ve had a few occasions where younger pupils have said they don’t like what they selected. 

Christmas Dinner

Just a reminder about the Christmas Dinner menu which pupils will be enjoying on Wednesday 10th December, if they choose to have the main meal on that day. 

 

Please see below for an exciting opportunity we've been asked to share:

Calling Home Bakers of Nottingham...

 

Have YOU got what it takes to be the next Star Baker? 

Love Productions are looking for a new batch of bakers for the next series of The Great British Bake Off and they want to hear from you! 

If you or someone you know is a talented home baker, then apply now at www.applyforbakeoff.co.uk or email us on applyforbakeoff@loveproductions.co.uk or call 0117 456 8530 for an application form.  

 

Closing date for applications is 1pm on Monday 15th December 2025.  

If anyone would like any more information or help in applying, please do get in touch. You can call us on 0117 456 8530 or email applyforbakeoff@loveproductions.co.uk 

Anything you can do to help us get this message out to people would be hugely appreciated. I know School is a very busy place so any time you can give this is amazing!

Thank you so much for your help and best wishes,

Rosie and The Great British Bake Off Team