This week we started some of our transition events for both incoming Reception and Year 7 pupils, kicked off by our Primary Earth Day event on Monday afternoon. The second transition event is this evening for incoming Year 7 pupils. They and their families will get to try on sample uniforms before purchasing, do a food tasting and school tour. It is always exciting getting to meet future pupils of Avanti.

Today, we also had our Reception pupils visit a local farm, and earlier in the week, Year 7 and 8 pupils competed in the Junior Maths Challenge.

Advance Notice

The final INSET day for Avanti Fields will be on Friday 24th May. Please be reminded that the school will be closed for staff training.

Secondary Calendar

• Monday 29th April &  Tuesday 30th April : Religious Studies Paper 1 revision session (3:30 to 4:30pm)
• Monday 29th April – 3rd May : Year 7 Avanti Quest – Swindon
• Thursday 2nd May : National Thinking Challenge (P3/P4 science lessons)
• Monday 6th May: Bank Holiday (school closed)

Primary Calendar

• Monday 29th April: Pets in the primary
• Friday 3rd May: Snowdrop class trip to the temple
• Monday 6th May: Bank Holiday (school closed)

Earth Day

Thank you to everyone for joining in with our Earth Day celebration. Children joined in by dressing up, litter picking, planting and importantly making a pledge to save the planet. We had an amazing Earth Day event afterschool and all funds raised will contribute to our forest school development. 

Parents Evening

Parents evenings will take place on the 14^th May and 16^th May.

We have decided to have our parents’ evenings face to face so that you can see your child’s learning environment and some of their pieces of work. 

Each parents meeting will last no longer than 10 minutes to ensure everyone gets the same amount of time. The parents evening meeting will cover the following-
How has your child has progressed since the last meeting?
What have we noticed they are excelling in?
What are your child’s next steps and how you can support this at home?

Please click on the following link below to book in a slot by 6^th May:

https://avanti.wufoo.com/forms/afs-primary-parent-evening-summer-term-2324/

Please ensure when you book in the slot you have inputted the correct class.

RRSA Article of the Week: Article 24

Every child has the right to life. Governments must do all they can to ensure that children survive and develop to their full potential.

Article 24 (health and health services) – Every child has the right to the best possible health. Governments must provide good quality health care, clean water, nutritious food, and a clean environment and education on health and well-being so that children can stay healthy. Richer countries must help poorer countries achieve this.

Here is an activity you can do at home. Take a look at recent Earth shot Prize winners. What would you like to invent to solve today’s environmental challenges?

Article of the Week – Rights Respecting Schools Award (unicef.org.uk)

Primary School Calendar

May

6^th – Bank Holiday- school closed

14^th / 16^th – Parents evening 3.00pm- 5.30pm

21st- Nursery Sports day 2.00pm- 3.00pm

22nd- Reception Sports day 1.45pm- 2.45pm

23^rd – Year 1 Sports day 1.45pm- 2.45pm

24^th – Staff Training day, school closed

27^th– 31^st – Half Term 

We have an abundance of exciting events taking place throughout the academic year. Please ensure you keep up to date with the Primary school calendar to ensure you do not miss out on anything: Calendar – Avanti Fields School

Stress awareness month

Please refer below link for further information on stress awareness month.

Stress awareness month- Secondary Schools (for students)

Wellbeing Support and Exam Stress Management Strategies

Tests and exams can be a challenging part of school/college life for young people and their parents or carers. We are aware that exams have the potential to exacerbate feelings of anxiety and stress amongst students. Supporting young people through exams is all about reducing stress, optimising wellbeing and putting good study processes in place.

Parents/carers play a vital role in helping their young people maintain a positive outlook in the run-up, during and after exams are over.

There is a range of advice and guidance for students and parents to help alleviate or lesson the anxiety they have about sitting exams, including:

• NHS Help your child beat exam stress:   https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/children-and-young-adults/advice-for-parents/help-your-child-beat-exam-stress/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery
• Anna Freud: How to identify the signs of academic stress, and ways to help : https://www.mentallyhealthyschools.org.uk/factors-that-impact-mental-health/school-based-risk-factors/academic-and-exam-stress/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery
• Student Minds – resources, tips and blogs about exam stress: https://www.studentminds.org.uk/examstress.html?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery
• Ofqual: Coping with exam pressure – a guide for students : https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coping-with-exam-pressure-a-guide-for-students/coping-with-exam-pressure-a-guide-for-students?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery
• Mental wellbeing school timetable: https://mentallyhealthyschools.org.uk/media/2933/mental-health-and-wellbeing-school-timetable-summer-term-2023.pdf

If you feel that your child needs any support in managing exam stress, please contact the school via the contact form on the website so that we can work together to support them to achieve the best outcomes.

Pilgrimage to Ayodhya opportunity

‘Hare Krishna! Jai Sri Ram!

We’re are thrilled to announce that the next family-friendly spiritual pilgrimage (yatra) to India, for 2024 is confirmed!

After last year’s incredibly successful spiritual retreat in Rishikesh, Dev Prayag and Vrindavan, this year, the Jani family yatra will be going to Chitrakoot, PrayagRaj, Varanasi (Kashi Vishvanath) and finally end in Ayodhya for Diwali, to have darshan of beautiful Ram Lalla! We’ll bathe in Ganga, Yamuna, Saryu, Triveni Sangam and go on exciting Cable car and boat rides!

*We have senior monk, spiritual leader and scholar on the Mahabharata & Ramayana, HG Govind prabhu with us on this pilgrimage!*

📅 22nd Oct – 2nd Nov 2024!  – during the Oct half term holidays.

*Places are limited!

For more info or to sign up, please use the Google form link https://forms.gle/3Aj79vCeRRgeFpjK6

Contact 07872469754 or email [email protected] if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Jani Family’

PTFA Fundraise for the school

Thank you to everyone that has supported the PTFA, we have raised money to help fundraise for the school, money has gone to good causes helping our children to prosper. The attached poster shows where the money has gone so far, these are items that are not in the school budget. Cameras for our children’s to use, new books for the library and so much more. We had no garden, and a lot has gone on behind the scenes to create an area to grow our own vegetables. Sheds were purchased to store the equipment, green house storage for the exotic items. Our children can now learn to grow their own. Over £38k has been invested for our children’s future. We want to grow this further, just support us by attending the events and enjoying yourselves, all contributions go to the school. We need more volunteers, and any contributions are welcome.

If you would like to help the PTFA raise money for the benefit of our pupils please email [email protected].

Communications – Wherever possible please use the contact form on our website to get in touch. This is detailed on the website at https://avanti.org.uk/avantifields/contact-us/. The appropriate member of staff will pick up the message and get back to you as soon as possible.

Absence

To report an absence to the school, parents should contact us by 8:00am (primary) and 8.30am (secondary) 

Email: [email protected]
Phone: 0116 326 6813 (Option 1 to leave a voicemail) 

Please remember to state your child’s full name, tutor group and reason for absence. If your child is unwell, please could you give a brief description of the symptoms. 

All education research highlights how crucial it is to a child’s academic progress and wellbeing they attend school , on time, all of the time. Therefore, a reminder that it is important that families organise events or holidays outside of school time to ensure that their child is at school as often as possible.   

The school works closely with the Education Welfare Officer at LCC, and we do seek to ensure that any requests for authorised absence are dealt with on a case-by-case basis, in a sensitive manner. However, the school can never authorise a family holiday or a trip abroad to visit family members during term time.   

This academic year, families will have two weeks at the October half-term, three weeks at Christmas and two weeks at Easter for extended family holidays. Please do ensure that if booking holidays, they fall within the holiday periods.