Newsletter

At Birklands we talk a lot about aspirations—both the dreams we hold for the future and the steps we take to make them a reality.

Aspirations are more than just goals; they are the driving force behind our personal growth, the foundation of our academic journey, and the compass that guides us toward success. Every single child has the potential to achieve remarkable things, and it’s important to remember that the path to success is shaped by the decisions they make everyday.

Whether their aspirations are in the world of academia, arts, sports, or any other field, we are here to support and challenge them to reach their fullest potential. Keep striving to learn, grow, and push beyond their boundaries, knowing that every small step counts toward realizing their larger dreams.

Together, let’s create a school environment where we celebrate ambition, nurture talents, and encourage perseverance. I believe in each and every one of them and look forward to seeing how they will shape the future.

Remember, no dream is too big, and no goal is too far out of reach.

In Year 4 all children complete a multiplication check which tests their timetables up to 12x12.  To support with this we subscribe to TT Rockstars, this programme allows children to practice the check in a similar format to the actual check.  TT Rockstars ranks children for speed of their answers.  Jack is currently top of the leader board with an amazing answering speed of 0.70 seconds per question!

 

 

By royal appointment we have our Grammar King and Queen.

Ethan scored a supreme score of 36/40 on his grammar and punctuation test.

Billie scored a noble 38/40 on her tests.

Well done both of you! I wonder how long you will reign as King and Queen of Grammar?

 

 

Oscar has really got the bug for learning.  He has been reading whilst walking to school and even bought himself a little book and pencil and has been practicing division too!  Everyone is impressed with your attitude to learning Oscar, well done!

Erin is a real bookworm!  She has just finished reading her 16th Roald Dahl book!  Erin shared that Charlie and The Chocolate Factory is her favourite.   

 

 

After an assembly where we discussed having high expectations Jack decided to challenge himself more.  Since that day Jack has shown resilience and has made it to the challenge task in Maths everyday! Jack said "I thought I could do better so I put more effort in and I'm going to keep challenging myself to do more."

 

The multiplication check mentioned earlier consists of 25 questions.  Reuben from Year 4 has been working hard in preparation for the check.  Reuben has scored an amazing 25/25 in every single practice check he has done at school!  

As you are all aware, we were planning on moving away from sQuid for paying for school dinners and trips/offers after Easter. However, we received an email this week from sQuid to say that they are stopping their payment services from March 14th. This means that after this time, you will not be able to use sQuid to pay for school dinners or school trips. If you think you will have a balance on your account after this date, can we please suggest that you contact sQuid and ask for a refund of any funds in your account.

We will be using the My Child at School (MCAS) app to process all of our payments after this date so please ensure that you have the app and that your account all set up before then. If you need any log in details, please contact the school office. We already use this for Parents' Evening bookings so most of you will already have an account. It should be fairly straight forward in that it will work in a similar way to sQuid. 

We will be in contact nearer the time with more information and instructions. Can we ask that you bear with us during this transition as it has come a little earlier than we planned!

 

Nia, Marnie and Heidi have been coming to see me and share the work they have been doing around The Carrs.  They have been working hard planning, writing and publishing a piece of writing to persuade you to visit The Carrs.  With the quality of writing and the persuasive techniques used I think The Carrs will be very busy this weekend!

 

 

 

 

In case you are wondering why they are not nin uniform its because Siskin class had the highest attendance last week and they chose to have their photo taken on Tuesday when in non-uniform! 

Dora from year 5 shared a poem that she has been working on.  What an amazing talent you have Dora! 

 

 

This week, EYFS have had a drumming workshop visit from BeatFeet. The children learnt how to make different tones on the drum and practised singing different songs to different beats. 

 

Year 5 Shine at The Young Voices Concert 

On Tuesday 28th January, our Year 5 students took part in an incredible musical experience at the Young Voices concert, held at the Utilita Arena, Sheffield. This annual event brings together thousands of school children from across the country to form the world’s largest children’s choir, performing alongside professional musicians and special guests.

What is Young Voices?

Young Voices is a unique initiative that gives young singers the opportunity to perform in a large-scale arena setting. The event is designed to inspire a love of music, build confidence, and create unforgettable memories. Each year, students from hundreds of schools learn a setlist of songs and come together for a one-night-only performance in front of a live audience.

The Journey to the Big Stage

Our Year 5 students spent weeks rehearsing for this special event, learning a fantastic selection of songs that ranged from contemporary pop hits to classic anthems. Among the highlights were Benson Boone’s Beautiful Things, the uplifting classic Lean on Me, and the timeless hit Let’s Dance. The dedication and enthusiasm shown by the students in the lead-up to the concert were truly commendable.

An Electric Atmosphere at the Arena

The energy inside the Utilita Arena was electric as thousands of children sang in perfect harmony. The performance was made even more exciting by special appearances from Urban Strides, a dynamic dance group that had the entire crowd moving, and MC Grammar, who brought his unique energy to the stage. A standout moment of the evening was a breathtaking performance by Tommy Blaize, the renowned vocalist from Strictly Come Dancing, whose powerful voice added an extra layer of magic to the night.

A Night to Remember

This was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for our students. The event not only showcased their musical talents but also fostered teamwork, confidence, and a deep appreciation for live performance.

Year 5’s participation in Young Voices 2025 was a resounding success, and we couldn’t be prouder of them. The students returned home with lasting memories, a newfound love for performing, and a sense of achievement that will stay with them for years to come.

We look forward to more musical adventures in the future and hope to see even more of our students take part in Young Voices next year!

 

Linked to our book ‘The Great Race’, EYFS have celebrated Lunar New Year this week. We practised using chopsticks, tasted different Chinese food and performed some dragon dancing! The children said how much they had enjoyed tasting the different foods… prawn crackers were definitely a favourite!

Thursday 13th February

EYFS & KS1 3.15 - 4.00pm

KS2 4.15 - 5.15pm

Tickets will be given to the children once payment is made. Payment can only be made by Squid or bank transfer.

£2.50 includes entry, a drink and a sweet cone.

If your birthday falls on a school day we would love to celebrate with you.  We invite you to come in non-uniform but only on the actual day of your birthday and don't forget to call at the office to pick up a birthday badge to wear! 

Last week Siskin won with 99% attendance and they enjoyed non-uniform on Tuesday.

This weeks winners are Kingfisher with a perfect 100% attendance! Well done Kingfisher class!

Mrs Allen will send a text message agreeing which day next week will be non-uniform. 

If you have any questions or need advice or support with attendance, please contact our attendance officer, Mrs Hunt. Her email contact is nhunt@birklandsschool.co.uk

World Book Day, the annual celebration of reading for pleasure, takes place on Thursday 6th March. To mark this event, we will be celebrating a love of reading at Birklands, with a range of exciting book-themed activities for our pupils to enjoy throughout the day. We welcome children to come to school dressed as a book character (this is not compulsory); if they have their favourite book to bring into school too, that would be great! 

 

As always, we love a good competition at Birklands, so the day would not be complete without one. We would like our children to get their creative juices flowing at home and create a ‘potato book character’(see some examples below). If your child would like to enter this competition, please send their entries into school on the morning of the 6th March. Judging will take place on the day and prizes will be awarded to the lucky winners!

 

World Book Day vouchers can now be spent at Warsop Library.

You may have noticed that Mr Cox our friendly site manager is currently not at work. He is resting up before an operation.  I'm sure you'll join me in wishing him well and a speedy recovery.

Mrs Smith, who you may recognise from the kitchen, has taken over some of the site manager duties.  As you can see she ready and raring to go!