April 2024

14 Buckden Roundabout April 2024 School & Pre - School During half - term, Preschool had a refurbish and redecorate. It now looks very clean and fresh—we hope everyone likes our new, calmer, softer décor. When the children returned, the air was full of wonderful smells as they tried spice painting with fragrant powders. This month, their letter recognition and formation have been encouraged with alphabet stampers and an activity using corks to trace over letter shapes. With high hopes of the weather improving, there have also been plenty of activities available outside, including floor puzzles, craft materials, sand with zoo animals for mark - making, and the outdoor kitchen area with some flowers for them to play with and arrange. Indoors, the children have enjoyed playing with the wooden dolls house with small world accessories and the fire fighter and firehouse role play resources—both great for encouraging communication, imaginative play and learning about the world. We have also had a light and shade theme, with the children using torches to explore light and shadows and using charcoal for monochrome mark - making. Of course, we have also found time to visit the piglets in the grounds of Buckden Towers (very exciting for the children!) and celebrate World Book Day. The children were invited to attend Preschool in costumes or pyjamas all week, and to bring in their favourite book so that we could read them as a group. There may also have been a secret Mother ’ s Day craft activity going on! Looking forward, we have an Easter visit to the church sched- uled for 21 st March, and we are considering purchasing more books, as our book - sharing scheme continues to be very popu- lar. REQUEST FOR DONATIONS: DO YOU HAVE … Any unwanted textiles or fabrics that we could use for open - ended dress - up play (i.e. the children using fabric to fashion cloaks, hats, belts etc for themselves)? Indoor plants that you no longer want, such as a yucca tree? We would be very grateful! Find our updates on https://www.facebook.com/ www.buckdenpreschool.co.uk/ . For our admissions waiting list and more information, visit www.buckdenpreschool.co.uk . To arrange a visit or apply for a place, call 01480 810600 or email buckdenpreschool@yahoo.co.uk . For committee information, please contact buckdenpreschool- committee@gmail.com . Our Chairperson, Helen, or our Treas- urer, Debs, will get back to you . BUCKDEN CHURCH OF ENGLAND PRIMARY ACADEMY March 2024 As spring approaches, we are looking for- ward to the clocks changing at the end of the month for the lighter evenings and warmer days. We celebrated World Book Day on Thursday 7 th March, the children were able to come to school in their pyjamas and bring along their favourite book. The children had fun doing lots of book themed activities, and especially enjoyed the World Book Day class party where they were treated to a hot chocolate and biscuit whilst sharing some of their favourite stories, a big thank to the PTA who donated the refreshments. Donations raised on the day will help the school purchase more exciting books for our library. As a school, we are part of the Extraordinary Earth Project (Turning Art into Action) until June 2024. We are currently asking the children to submit artwork for the project using re- cycled materials or showing an awareness of global environ- mental issues. For every piece of artwork we upload, the Ben- zo Family Foundation donates £5 to organisations tackling en- vironmental issues responding to the climate crisis across the world. So far, Buckden Primary has submitted 66 pieces of environmentally focused art and generated £660. One Saturday in March, several of our students (EYFS - Year 6) had artwork featured at the CAYAC 2024 Art Exhibition and Competition at St Peter ’ s School. Nearly 600 people visited to enjoy some incredible and inspiring artworks from Cambridge- shire schools, with an array of work from EYFS, KS1 - KS4. A huge congratulations to one of our Year 6 students who was awarded a Highly Commended for their Creative Textile entry, whereby they used batik to apply a sustainable design on a recycled tote bag. A very big well done to one of our Year 4 children who received the Diocese of Ely Courageous Advocacy Award. The award has been given to the student for their enthusiasm and kind - heartedness in helping to raise awareness for the 3 Pillars Charity. After writing a letter to the Headteacher asking for help the student contacted the 3 Pillars Charity and we ar- ranged for the charity to come into school to talk to the chil- dren. As a school, we collected a range of non - perishable foods, which we presented to the charity who were very grate- ful for the donation. The Year 4 children also organised a bake sale one afternoon after school and raised a fantastic £289 for the charity. We would like to wish the residents of Buckden a Happy East- er. We look forward to seeing children and parents when we return for the Summer Term on Monday 15 th April.