Today we have had a vibrant and joyous celebration of Gaura Purnima. We were delighted that we have been able to expand the co-curricular offer for our KS3 pupils to include a musical element, alongside our regular abhishek worship sessions.

A very big thank you to Mr Giga and Mrs Rampersad for your leadership of the Year 6 into 7 Transition Welcome Evening on Tuesday night. We had almost all of our incoming Year 7 parents join us online for a welcome event to outline our transition programme. And a massive THANK YOU to Mrs R Patel and the Science team for a fantastic science enrichment week.

Finally, please excuse the shameless self-promotion later in the bulletin … all I can say is that it was an honour to be a guest speaker at the event and have the opportunity to connect with so many amazing women.

International Women’s Day

In celebration of International Women’s Day, Vanessa Bardsley, Executive Principal at Krishna Avanti Primary School and Avanti Fields School, Leicester, was invited to join a panel of inspiring speakers.

At the event in the Clarendon Park area of Leicester, Vanessa shared her life’s journey – from her upbringing in Australia and moving to the UK – to becoming a maths teacher at Avanti House Secondary School, particularly her passion to support some of the most vulnerable learners.

She said: “When Avanti House School opened in 2012, I was the only maths teacher at the school, with 68 pupils starting an exciting journey. By the time those students were in Year 11, ready to undertake their GCSE exams, I was then the Head of Mathematics.

“As part of our first set of GCSE results, I was proud to learn that the progress in mathematics for our disadvantaged pupils was the highest in the country, at +1.92. That meant that for each of my 10 pupil premium students, they had on average achieved almost 2 whole grades higher than expected in mathematics.”

Expanding on the International Women’s Day Theme of #AccelerateAction, Vanessa described her second passion, equality for staff. In her first steps into senior leadership, she wanted to shift the balance for women. Vanessa was one of the first principals in our Trust to advocate to remove the pro-rata attached to middle leadership roles for part-time staff.

“I believe that it is important for schools such as Avanti to exist to promote a more equitable approach to education, particularly access to higher education and improving life chances,” she said. “In a full comprehensive school, you might see one or two Asian pupils on the student council, or a few Indian children in the sporting teams. But at Avanti, we have the opportunity for a larger proportion of pupils to be exposed to the wider elements of schooling. Over the last two years, we have been able to send 20 pupils to Oxford for a week-long stay to experience university life. We have a full set of student leaders, from school captains, to prefects, to school council members. These experiences start to level the playing field for our pupils, and I am proud of the opportunities we have been able to provide for them and their community.”

Secondary Calendar

• Wednesday 19^th March: Maths Feast
• Thursday 20^th March: Whole School: House colours (Non uniform day)
• Thursday 20^th March: Secondary: Annual Talent Show

Primary Calendar

• Tuesday 18^th March: Primary: Reception Dino Man visitor (8:30 -11:30am)
• Thursday 20^th March: Whole School: House colours (Non uniform day)
• Friday 21^st March: Y2 class temple trip

A strong school community is built on mutual respect and collaboration. We kindly remind everyone to speak to staff with kindness and consideration.  Our team is dedicated to providing the best for your children, and a positive partnership between parents and staff is essential for their success.  While we understand that concerns may arise, we ask that all conversations remain respectful. Staff will not tolerate rude or inappropriate behaviour.  Let us continue working together to create a supportive and respectful environment for all.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Gaura Purnima Festival day 

The staff and children at Avanti Fields Primary had a wonderful day celebrating Gaura Purnima. We began our day in the Worship Hall where Mr Gajjar led the morning prayer and kirtan, alongside that we found out about the reasons why today was a special day. The children explored a variety of activities in the classrooms related to Gaura Purnima such as designing special clothing for the deities, learning a song called ‘Lotus feet’, creating their very own Neem tree under which Nimai was born and listening to traditional stories such as ‘Nimai and the thieves’. The children enjoyed engaging in these activities whilst taking a mindful moment and listening to meditation music, bringing a sense of calm and reflection to the day. During the afternoon the children were invited back to the worship hall to bathe Gaura and Nitai and end the session with our special prayer. Across the school, today has shown a real sense of unity and joy by coming together to celebrate Lord Shri Chaitanya and we thank all families for supporting us in enabling the children to come to school in their special outfits. What a wonderful day!

Scholastic book fair is back!  

Come and visit the Scholastic book fair in the Primary Yoga room on Thursday 13th March – Tuesday 18th March. We will be open all four days in the morning at 7.30am -7.55am and in the afternoon at 2.45pm-3.15pm. Don’t forget you can use your £1 book token towards your purchase.

Reading Volunteers

We invite parents to join us in making a positive impact on our pupils’ literacy skills by volunteering to read with pupils in the classroom. This will be a Monday – Thursday between 1:30pm – 2:45pm during the Summer term. Your involvement can help foster a love of reading and encourage academic growth in a supportive and engaging environment. If you’re interested in volunteering, please fill out the initial interest form to get started! All forms will be reviewed, and a selection will be made on experience. Please see the link below:

Primary Reading Volunteers – initial interest form

Please complete the interest form by Monday 17th March 2025.

We are looking for a total of 4 volunteers who can support on a weekly basis, 1:30pm – 2:45pm throughout the summer term. Your time and enthusiasm make a world of difference.

House colour event- Thursday 20th March 2025

We are extremely excited to be hosting our first House Colour dress up event for all Primary children (Reception upwards). This event will align with the Secondary event to help raise money for the associated charities:

Aether – Born Free

Air – The Air Ambulance Service

Cosmos – Microloan Foundation

Earth – Save the Asian Elephants

Fire – Fire Aid.org

Water – Water Aid

All children in Reception upwards will wear their house colour on the day and bring in £1.00 for the event which will go towards the above charities.

Lunch Bookings

Dear Parents

To ensure your child gets their preferred lunch choice , Please complete the form below. Lunch menus are changed twice a year and you will be prompted via email to complete your child’s choice. Please ensure you complete lunch choices by Thursday 7:00am to book your lunches for following week. You can book for entire term in advance if you wish to.

Please click here to book your lunch:

Please note any incomplete weeks will result in a default of Option A.

Pre-school: This week pre-school have been playing instruments and reflecting on how the sounds make them feel.

Reception: This week Reception have been exploring the world of dinosaurs. We have looked at fossils, and created our own fossil rocks using clay, and printed into it using shells. Can you have a go at creating your own fossil?

Year 1: This week, Year 1 celebrated Gaura Purnima by dressing up in beautiful clothes, listening to stories and taking part in arts and craft activities. They even created their own neem trees! 

 Year 2: This week year 2 have thoroughly enjoyed being scientists this week as part of our topic lessons. We discovered that exercise and having a balanced diet is key to leading a healthy life. We also explored how animals adapt to their surroundings and change as they grow. Take a look at some of our amazing science work displayed as a double page spread!

Stars of the week

All pupils who were a star of the week joined the ‘top table’ for lunch. A huge well done to: ……..

RRSA Article of the Week

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

RRSA Articles of the Week

Week 3 – International Women’s Day

Article’s you could explore which link to this topic: 2

Article 2 (non-discrimination)  – The Convention applies to every child without discrimination.

 The focus surrounding this Article is International Women’s Day. We focused on the concept of equality and how women traditionally had different roles compared to males. We spoke about how fewer girls than boys go to school and how this isn’t right, and how women often get paid less than men for doing the same job. We taught children that this day is about equality and ensuring all are treated fairly and not discriminated against. We also talked about how it would be unfair if women weren’t allowed to work e.g. most of their teachers are female!

 Here is a linked activity you can do at home:

Draw a picture of a woman or girl that you look up to. This might me a member of your family, someone at school or someone you have learned about. Share your picture with us on Twitter @afsprimary.

  Every week, children will be learning about an ‘Article of the Week’. This will help our children to learn and develop an understanding about the Convention on the Rights of the Child articles. Please help them learn this Article of the Week, and what this means.  

Plastic Free  Sustainable Future

This week, we received a reply from our local fruit company, regarding reducing plastic waste. They appreciated our concerns and are committed to exploring ways to create a more sustainable future. We are so excited to see what’s next! #Sustainability #PlasticFreeFuture #RRSA

Primary School Calendar

March

13^th-18^th– Scholastic Book Fair

14^th – Gaura Purnima Festival day

20^th– House colour dress up event

April

9^th– Easter bonnet competition

– Pre-school Easter parent/ carer workshop 2.00am- 3.00am

10^th -Reception Easter parent/ carer workshop 1.30pm- 2.45pm

11^th  End of Term (Last day of school for children)

28^th– School open- pupils back to school

28^th – Earth Day celebrations- dress up.

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

Eid Al-Fitr Greeting Card Competition 2025

Gaura Purnima celebration

On Friday 14th March, Avanti Fields celebrated the divine appearance day of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. The teachings of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu are the spiritual foundations of all Avanti schools, and therefore His appearance day- Sri Gaura Prunima, is a day of great importance. Students from across the entire school, from pre-school all the way to Year 11, had an opportunity to bathe the sacred images of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Sri Nityananda Prabhu, the presiding deities of the school, accompanied by kirtan led by the students. The students all heard about the message of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and reflected on His teachings with a variety of activities throughout their day in all their subject areas.

 Staff and students were all served a special festive feast in honour of the sacred occasion, cooked expertly by our amazing Govinda’s team.

Careers in Science workshop

A huge thank you to Reshma’s Academy and The Aspire Initiative for delivering such an inspiring Careers in Science workshop. Our Year 7 students absolutely loved the event, and it was fantastic to see them so engaged with the interactive stations, ranging from suturing practical’s, taking vitals for the body, analysing the test results, and writing prescriptions.

The enthusiasm and dedication of the team truly made a lasting impact, and we appreciated the efforts in making the session both educational and enjoyable. We look forward to future opportunities to engage with Reshma’s Academy and The Aspire Initiative.

STEM and Space Careers

On Tuesday, Wednesday and via a live link on Thursday all KS3 pupils at Avanti Fields School had a wonderful, passionate, and inspiring talk by Dhara Patel a Space Expert. She shared her love for space and talked about her career journey from a local Leicester school to her current role at the National Space Centre. Pupils enjoyed learning about the electromagnetic spectrum and the use of an IR camera to capture thermal images of the audience was a perfect demonstration of how space telescopes work.

Secondary: House Colour event: Thursday 20^th March

We are excited to share the date for the House colours non-uniform day: THURSDAY 20.03.25 to raise money for our House charities.

Please see below the arrangements for the non-uniform day:

• Students may wear full non-uniform but must represent their house colours.
• Year 10 House Captains will visit tutor groups to collect the £1 contribution during tutor time.
• Clothing must be appropriate and respectful.
• Hoodies are allowed but must not be worn inside the building.
• Students can dress up creatively in house colours—why not coordinate with friends for a fun theme?
• The bottom half of your outfit can be neutral, such as joggers, leggings, trousers, jeans, or skirts. Suitable shoes must be worn on the day.

Thank you for supporting this event, and we look forward to seeing everyone in their house colours, including staff!

National Maths Summer School

Vedant (Yr 11) and Manush (Yr 10) both scored the highest in their respective year groups in this year’s UKMT Intermediate Maths Challenge. They are the only two students who have made it through to the next round – the Pink Kangaroo which is taking place on Thursday 20^th March. We are proud of them both and wish them luck for the next challenge

Avanti Fields Disco : Y7 & Y8

‘On the 28^th of March 6.00pm till 8.00pm, Year 7 and 8 pupils are invited to the First Avanti Fields Disco. Tickets are £2.50 each and available to buy via Parent Pay. The disco is being organised by the school council for the Water Fountain project that they have organised. All money raised will be used to buy more fountains for the school as well as helping to stop the use of single use plastics.’

Avanti Fields Talent Show 2025

We are excited to announce our 2nd Annual Talent show in the main hall on Thursday 20^th March 2025. The show will commence at 18:00 and doors will be opened from 17:00.

Refreshments will be available to purchase courtesy of the PTFA.   Please book your tickets on Parent Pay £3.50 per person. 

Junior Bake Off

The Assistant Producer at Love Productions; the production company behind The Great British Bake Off, The Great British Sewing Bee and The Great Pottery Throw Down. Have recently opened applications for the 11th series of Junior Bake Off; a Channel 4 programme that celebrates the culinary arts are contacting schools in the hope that you can help us spread the word regarding this exciting opportunity to students at Avanti Fields. If any students who are interested they can apply online at – www.applyforjuniorbakeoff.co.uk

They are looking for young budding bakers between 9-14 years old.

Filming would take place from July 2025, but applications close on Sunday 23rd March 2025.
Parents can contact the Production team on 0207 067 4833, should you have any questions regarding the
above.

enquiries: [email protected]

Students who are interested they can apply online at – www.applyforjuniorbakeoff.co.uk

Chaitra Navratri Garba Night with Jigar Soni!

The Ultimate Garba Experience is Coming to Leicester on Saturday 22nd March 2025, 6 PM – 10 PM at Avanti Fields School, Leicester (LE5 1FY) Get ready for Authentic Garba Magic with the Garba Guru himself – @jigarsoni.ssgd. Traditional Attire Encouraged. Non-Stop Garba Energy. 100% A Night You Won’t Forget! Tickets OUT NOW! ​***Early Bird Offer – First 100 Tickets at only £4! (£5 thereafter) Book now: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/swarni-arts/chaitra-navratri-garba-night-with-jigar-soni-leicester/e-egkqqy

Share with your Garba squad & spread the word.

Community Activities @ Avanti Field

Get Moving, Stay Fit, Feel Amazing!

Join our Dance, Fitness, Sports, and Yoga classes to boost your energy, improve flexibility, and stay in shape—all while having fun! Whether you’re a beginner or a pro, we have something for everyone. Most providers first class is free or low cost.

✔️ Dance – Groove to the rhythm & express yourself!

✔️ Fitness – Burn calories, build strength, and feel great!

✔️ Sports – Train, compete, and unleash your potential!

✔️ Yoga – Find balance, peace, and flexibility!

Why wait? Take the first step towards a healthier, happier you. Sign up today!

To find out more or register for any of the classes please use the following link:-

https://krishnaavantips.wufoo.com/forms/z1nqh0i70d8s885/

If you would like to suggest other classes you are interested in or know of a coach/teacher that is looking for a venue to host sessions please email [email protected]

Ramayana

Celebrate Ramanavami with a spectacular theatrical journey into the Ramayana

In partnership with ISKCON Leicester, we invite you to immerse yourself in the legendary tale of Lord Rama. Watch as his courageous quest to rescue Mother Sita from the demon Ravana unfolds on stage. This special performance, filled with drama and devotion, is a perfect way to commemorate this auspicious occasion.

Venue : Avanti Fields School, Bhaktivedanta Marg, Leicester LE5 0BX.
️*Date* : Saturday, April 5th, 2025.
Two showtimes : 3:00pm (doors open 2:30pm) and 7:00pm (doors open 6:30pm).
⏱️Running time: 70 minutes.

The performance is a show for all ages and snacks and refreshments are available to purchase before and after each show.

️Free onsite parking available.

️Tickets are just £5 per person (adults & children).
Book your tickets now:
https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/avanti-fields-ptfa
Late entry will be accommodated at specific breaks during the performance.

PTFA Primary Easter Raffle

Dear Primary Parents and Carers,

The PTFA will be holding an Easter Raffle with many great prizes to be won!  All proceeds will help to support the children and our school.

The draw will take place on Monday 7th April 2025.

Until then, our PTFA Primary Lead, Deepti Patel will be available daily from 2.45pm to purchase tickets from. Please do look out for her (she will be the one waving the raffle book around!) and grab your raffle tickets whilst you can!

Good luck!

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.