Author: Susan Shorten

Thomas Russell Infants’ School
‘Our children blossom through nurture and challenge’

Newsletter number 23 15.03.2024

Comic Relief - Red Nose Day Friday 15th March
Thank you to everyone who sent in a donation to Comic Relief - together we have raised £139.00. The children brightened up the school in their colourful clothes.
The kitchen joined in the red nose theme with some wonderful red nose cakes cooked by Mrs Pugh.

Email: tri-office@tri.jtmat.co.uk website: www.thomasrussellinfants.co.uk Twitter:@trisschool

Forest school
2MS had a very muddy but enjoyable forest school session this week that even ended with a fire.

PARKING AND DRIVING AROUND SCHOOL
Unfortunately, we are still witnessing cars being driven and parked in dangerous places. Parents regularly approach us on the gate to voice their concerns about the parking outside of school and we always try to follow these concerns up with text messages or email reminders. Having good relations with our local community is very important to us. There is an online reporting service where you can voice your concerns to Staffordshire County Council. They will then send out enforcement officers to issue tickets to vehicles. If you would like to raise concerns to them then please follow this link https://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/Highways/Parking-and-enforcement/On-Street-Parking/Problem-parking/No-traffic-regulation-orders/Report-parking-near-to-schools.aspx Please help us to keep Barton and the area around school safe for our children by driving and parking responsibly.

Recommended Reads
Our recommendation this week is from Mrs Warner. The book is Gorilla by Anthony Browne.
You can listen to the book being read at https://youtu.be/drz8PYwzRnE

I love the books by this author because there is a theme to the stories and the illustrations. His books are mostly about gorillas!

PTA News
The children enjoyed visiting the pop up shop to choose a heart for their special person.

Friday, March 22nd Easter Bonnet Parade & Cake Sale! - Reminder
Join us for a delightful morning filled with Easter joy! Our annual Easter Bonnet Parade and Cake Sale are just around the corner, promising a morning of fun and festivities for everyone. Here's what you can look forward to:
**Easter Bonnet Parade:** Get ready to showcase your creativity! Pupils from every year group are invited to enter the bonnet parade. Each year group will have a slot to parade their bonnets and to take part in the letter hunt.
Year 2 will start at 9:15, followed by Year 1 at 9:50 and Reception at 10:30.
**Cake Sale:** Indulge your sweet tooth and support our school community by purchasing delicious treats at our cake sale. We encourage donations of homemade or store-bought goodies to make this event even more scrumptious. Every contribution is greatly appreciated! Refreshments will be available from 9.00 so please stay and enjoy some if you are able to.
**Letter Hunt:** Embark on an exciting letter hunt adventure around the school playground. Can you find all the hidden letters and crack the Easter code?
Easter Basket Raffle:** £1 a strip (5 tickets) for the opportunity to win a lovely Easter basket of goodies very kindly donated by The Boat House Kitchen and Bakery, Barton (Part of the Poms collection) in support of our school.
Thank you to The Boat House Barton for the raffle prize.

Dates for your Diary
Lunch menu from Monday 11th March will be Week 3 Revised Menu

Mon 18 March - Y1 Music performance to parents 1SB at 1.30pm & 1L at 2.10pm
Thurs 21 March - World Down Syndrome Day (wear your funkiest socks)
Thu 21 March - Easter assembly in church 2pm
Fri 22 March - Easter Bonnet Parade & cake sale - Last day of term
Mon 8th April - Back to school new term starts
Mon 6th May - Bank holiday
Fri 10 May - Country dancing and whole school singing to parents 2.30pm
Thurs 23 May - 1SB parents invited to forest school 1.30pm
Fri 24 May - Inset Day school closed to pupils
Mon 27 May - Fri 31st May - Half term (school closed)
Tues 4 June - 2MS parents invited to forest school 1.30pm
Thurs 6 June - 1L parents invited to forest school 1.30pm
Wed 12 June - Sports Day & Summer Fair
Wed 26 June - Reserve Sports day
Fri 5 July - Inset Day - JTMAT Staff Training Day (school closed to pupils)
Wed 17 July - Year 2 leavers assembly to parents 2.00pm
Thurs 18 July - Year 2 leavers party 3.15– 5.00pm
Fri 19 July - School closes

World Down Syndrome Awareness Day
On 21st March, we are asking everyone to wear some socks that are going to get noticed with your normal school uniform! They might be mismatched socks or your craziest and most colourful socks, whatever takes your fancy! We’ll definitely be brightening up the church for our Easter assembly. The idea is to start a conversation, so when people ask you about your socks you can tell them, “I’m wearing them to raise awareness of Down syndrome”.

Have a lovely weekend
Mrs Burton and Mrs Moore