January 2024

14 Buckden Roundabout January 2024 School & Pre - School What a busy and exciting month it ’ s been! Our book - sharing programme continues to go well, and another new initiative is yoga sessions, helping the children feel calmer and more fo- cused. As usual, we have been developing activities that respond to the children ’ s interests while addressing their learning needs. They ’ ve included: • A letter writing station set with stamps and envelopes, which turned into a Post Office with money and tills and then gained a greengrocer—great for encouraging mark - making, number recognition, mathematical language and imaginative play. • Metallic paint stampers to create starburst pictures. • A potion - making station with ladles, spoons, colour - matching containers and changing ingredients, including coloured water, grains and pom - poms. • New costumes and accessories for role - play. The children have also been searching for magnetic letters in coloured rice with magnets, modelling with fruit - scented, glittery cloud - dough, and weaving tales around the small - world fairytale castle and pirate ship. They marked Diwali by creating their own colourful diyas (traditional lamp holders used for the festival). Meanwhile, things have got Christmassy! The children decorat- ed our Christmas wreath with fabrics, ribbons, fir cones and bells which, and the Christmas tree too, bringing some crea- tions from home. Our themed books have included ‘ Dear San- ta ’ by Rod Campbell, and outside, hula hoops with bells on have provided the children with a challenge: can they wiggle through jingle - free? Even the mud - kitchen has become festive, with Christmassy scents and seasonal touches. On 7 th December, we welcomed families and carers to Pre- school to enjoy Christmas crafts, a sing - along, a buffet lunch, and a visit from Santa. Everyone had a wonderful time! Our final Christmas event will be our visit to church on the 18 th . Although it ’ s still very much ongoing as we write, we want to thank everyone who has supported the Buckden Village Christ- mas Elf Trail so far. The window and garden displays have helped to raise funds for the Preschool and brightened up walks around the village. Last, but not least, we wish everyone a … Happy New Year! Find our updates on https://www.facebook.com/ www.buckdenpreschool.co.uk/ . For our current vacancies, 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 buckden- preschool@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 December 2023 As with every year, our run - up to Christmas has been very busy with a wide range of activities and events at school. We have put up our Christmas decorations and we are enjoying all the Christmas activities that we are doing with the children. We have been very busy with several performances, during December our Reception children performed their play ‘ The Big Little Nativity ’ to the school, family and friends. This was their first performance at Buckden Academy and was beautifully acted and sung. Shortly fol- lowed by the children in Years 2 and 4 who performed ‘ Ed the Penguin Saves the World ’, it was a very accomplished performance given by the children. Well done to all our budding actors and actresses and to the staff who turned their hand to directing, producing, costume making and prompters. We were very pleased to see our key stage 2 children perform at St Mary ’ s Church at the village Christmas lights switch on and gave a beautiful performance of Christmas carols. We are very much looking forward our annual Key Stage 2 Christmas Carol Concert at St Marys Church and will be attended by many par- ents and friends of the school, delicious mulled wine and mince pies donated by the PTA will be served after the service. This is always a festive occasion and this year will hopefully be no exception. We are delighted to say that we have been awarded the Royal Horti- cultural Society (RHS) school gardening awards for levels 2 - 4. This recognises the enormous efforts that the children have invested into the school allotments both in the community and in the school grounds over the last 2 - 3 years. We received certificates, seeds, an excellent collection of books and £200 of gift vouchers to help us con- tinue our appreciation of the importance of plants and animals to sustain a healthy planet. You may have noticed that a defibrillator has been installed outside the main school office gate. It was given to us by the DFE, the PTA kindly funded the box it is housed in and the school paid for the defib- rillator to be installed. In case of an emergency, please call 999 in order to obtain the access code and you will be told what to do by the emergency services. Our PTA have been very busy this term and we would like to thank them for all their hard work and fundraising activities. We had a very busy and successful PTA Christmas Fair on the 18th November, there was a large array of stalls and it was an excellent excuse to get some early Christmas shopping done. We raised over £1000 to put towards projects planned for the New Year. At the Christmas Lights Switch - On they organised the raffle which was very successful, with over 50 win- ners! A big thank to everyone who donated items and bought tickets, we hope the winners enjoyed their prizes. We welcomed prospective Reception parents into school for an infor- mal information evening in November, it was so nice to welcome new parents in who were able to have an informal chat with our staff and have a look around the school. The evening was very well attended and we look forward to seeing all the new children and parents in September. As a reminder the 15 th January 2024 is the final date for applications for admission to primary school in September 2024. The staff, pupils and members of the school family would like to take to opportunity to wish the residents of Buckden a very Happy Christ- mas and a safe New Year. The school re - opens for the Spring Term on Wednesday 3 rd January 2024 .