We are delighted to welcome Mrs Carpenter and Miss Rose as our new class teachers, Miss Scrase as our new Learning Support Assistant, and Mrs Walker as our new Breakfast Club Assistant. We look forward to getting to know them and helping them feel part of the Bentley family.

I look forward to seeing many of you at our upcoming Meet the Teacher meetings. These are a useful opportunity to hear about the year ahead and the routines and expectations in your child’s class. If you are unable to attend, please do not worry—we will send the slides to all parents so that everyone has access to the information.

Thank you for your warm welcome back and continued support as we begin another exciting year together.

Vicky Hallett

Headteacher

HOUSEPOINTS

This week’s housepoints totals:

79

115

84

88

 

SAFEGUARDING

At the start of every academic year, safeguarding remains our highest priority. All staff have recently undertaken safeguarding training, which is closely linked to the government’s statutory guidance Keeping Children Safe in Education. In addition, we have invested in training all staff in Allergies and Anaphylaxis so that we have full coverage across all areas of school life, including breakfast club and after-school provision. This ensures that we continue to provide a safe and secure environment for every child in our care.

ATTENDANCE

Governors have set the attendance target for the school at 97%. The class with the best attendance last week were Year 4! Well done Year 4!

Attendance figures for each class for last week are below:

A FEW REMINDERS AS WE START THE YEAR…

Meet the teacher Dates

This is a great opportunity to chat to your child’s new teacher, learn about what the school day will look like in their new class and get information about the curriculum, homework and reading expectations. You will also be able to ask any questions you might have about the year ahead.

Please come along on the following dates:-

Year 1 Meet the Teacher: Monday 7^th September 2.45pm

Year 2 Meet the Teacher: Wednesday 9^th September 2.45pm

Year 3 Meet the Teacher: Thursday 10^th September 2.45pm

Year 6 Meet the Teacher: Monday 14^th September 2.45pm

Year 5 Meet the Teacher: Tuesday 15^th September 2.45pm

Year 4 Meet the Teacher: Thursday 17^th September 2.45pm

Year R Meet the Teacher: Tuesday 22^nd September 2.45pm

 

IMPORTANT REMINDER!!

If your household receives Universal Credit please apply for free school meals (FSM)  by clicking on this link  online fsm application . Even if your child brings a packed lunch to school, applying for FSM gives the school extra funding to support your child. The information will be kept strictly confidential.

 

Uniform

Children are not permitted to wear jewellery to school unless for religious or medical reasons.

Children are allowed to wear a small pair of stud earrings if they have their ears pierced.  No hoops or large earrings please.  Children must ideally remove their earrings or cover them with tape when they have PE if removal is not possible.  This is for health and safety reasons.

Children are allowed to wear a watch but this must not be internet enabled or have the ability to take photographs.

Children are not allowed to wear nail varnish to school.

Black school shoes only (no sandals with open toes, as this is not safe for playing in the woods).

From this academic year, children should come to school wearing their PE kit on the days when they have PE. They will remain in their PE kit throughout the school day and will not need to bring a change of clothes. Please ensure that your child wears the correct PE kit, in line with our school uniform policy. Clothing should be plain, appropriate for physical activity and not heavily branded. During the colder months, children may wear plain black or navy-blue leggings or tracksuit bottoms. Children should continue to wear their usual school sweatshirt or cardigan over their PE kit.

All children should have a green school book-bag.  Rucksacks/backpacks are not allowed.

A link to our uniform policy can be found here:

https://www.bentleyprimaryschool.co.uk/page/?title=Uniform&pid=39

 

Please also remember to ensure your children’s clothing and possessions are named.  This will help us keep lost property to a minimum.  If you are ordering labels from Stikins please quote the school number 1777 as they donate a percentage to the school.

 

 

 

 

 

Snacks

Years R-2 Infant children are given a fruit or vegetable snack at morning break.

Years 3 – 6 Junior children are welcome to bring in a healthy snack for break time.

If you are providing your child with a snack this must only be fruit or vegetables.  Plain, dried fruit such as raisins is fine.  Children are not allowed to have biscuits, cakes, cereal bars, fruit winders, crisps etc. at break time.  They are allowed to have these in their lunch box for lunchtime.

Please send your child with plain water only in water bottles to keep them hydrated throughout the day.

No nut products please as we have some children in school with severe allergies.

Parking

Please do not park, or stop your car to drop off or pick children up, on the yellow zigzag lines or the double yellow lines surrounding the school.  These lines are in place to keep our children and families safe as they start and finish school, and road visibility is significantly reduced if cars are parked there.

GOLD BOOK/GOLD CARDS

Well done to those children who were in the gold book or earnt a gold card. We’re very proud of you!

	Gold Card
Year R
Year 1
Year 2	Amelie, Lissy
Year 3
Year 4	Teddy, Heidi, Lewis-Henry, Eli, Jemima
Year 5
Year 6	George, Chloe, Levi

 

YEAR 1 AND 2 VISIT FROM DEBRA SAGGERS

We were delighted to welcome author Debra Saggers into school yesterday. She read her book ‘Naughty Lee’ to the children in Year 1 and Year 2, and kindly donated a copy to the school library. It was lovely to start the new school year off with such an exciting event!

 

 

 

GOVERNOR VACANCY

SUMMER READING CHALLENGE

The summer reading challenge, Read to the Beat, comes to an end on Saturday 12^th September and Alton Library have been in touch to say that lots of children from Bentley have taken part this year.  If your child has taken part, make sure you head to the library as soon as possible on completion so your child can collect their medal and certificate, as we will be celebrating the reading challenge in Collective Worship on Friday 18^th September.

HEAD LICE 

Head lice are a pest all year round and, as we return to school, life will become much easier for them to find a head to take up residence in, so please make sure you regularly check your child’s hair for these pesky pests!  Although lice can be seen in dry hair, the best way to check is by combing wet hair with a fine toothed ‘detector’ comb. Treatment, if necessary, can then be done by using either the wet-combing method or a special lotion available from chemists over the counter or on prescription for children.  If lice are found, it is important to check the head of everyone in the household and treat them too if they are also found hiding there.  Regular wet-combing with a fine toothed comb as part of routine hair washing is the best way to prevent the problem recurring. If you would like further information, the school nurse is available for advice.  Let’s stop making life too easy for the louse! 

GARDENING TEAM – VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Each Friday afternoon, the Gardening Team help the Year 1s look after the Courtyard Garden. They learn how to plant bulbs and grow seeds along with activities inspired by nature and the seasons. The children love the opportunity to learn outside the classroom in a very hands-on way. 

We would love some more volunteers to join our small team so this important experience can continue. You don't have to commit to every week and no gardening experience is needed, just enthusiasm. If you would like to know more, contact the Office who will put you in touch with the Gardening Team. 

ALTON HERITAGE DAY

 Alton is having its second Heritage Day on Saturday 12th September between 10.00 and 3.00 in the Assembly Rooms.

The national theme this year is 'Everyday Histories' and local groups will have tables where they will be able to share their history. There will be local resources that visitors can browse, people who will try and answer any queries and the Quakers and Freemasons will also have their venues open for people to visit. 

The event is free although any donations will be gratefully accepted for Dementia-friendly Alton who are hosting this Heritage Day event in the historic Assembly Rooms.

Further details can be seen at https://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/submission-event/every-day-history-at-alton-heritage-day.html.

HAMPSHIRE TAIKO: OPEN DOORS, OPEN DRUMS

Hampshire music service are hosting two open sessions this September:

Wednesday 16th September

Wednesday 23rd September

This is an incredible, high-energy opportunity for children to step outside their comfort zones, explore vibrant world music, hit some really big drums, and have an absolute blast doing it.

No prior musical experience is necessary—just enthusiasm and a readiness to give it a go!

Best bit... It's free!

 

Please sign up here:

https://ukhampshire.speedadmin.dk/play/catalogue/courses?searchText=Hampshire+Taiko+-+Open+doors%2C+Open+drums

PTFA

Please join the PTFA to welcome the new year R at our welcome picnic on the rec. There will be an ice cream sale on the playground before families can make their way to the rec for some fun,  games and picnics with their old and new friends. Open to all year groups the more the merrier!