Dear Parents and Carers,

It's been a hugely busy week in school this week with so many proud moments!! Firstly, huge congratulations to all of our wonderful Y6 children who received their SATs results on Tuesday. They have all worked incredibly hard and we are so proud of all they have achieved. We have arranged for a special treat for all the Y6s next Friday (separate letter to follow to all Y6 parents in bags tonight) to recognise and celebrate the huge effort they have made during their time with us at Pilsley. 

Matilda!

Matilda the Musical was a roaring success both last night and on Wednesday afternoon! The children were fantastic and worked so hard at home and school to learn their lines, cues and song words. Watching the children's confidence with performing arts blossom every year, is so heartwarming for us to see. It was a huge team effort in school too with all the costumes, props, scenery, music and choreography. Thank you to everyone who helped make the show happen. It was a really big production with lots to learn in a fairly short space of time! As always, thank you for all your continued help and support and we're really glad you enjoyed it! 

Dukes Barn

The excitement levels are rising by the day with our impending residential visit to Dukes Barn next week! A kit list is attached to this email in case anyone has mis-laid theirs. The children must bring a drink and a packed lunch with them on Monday please. Everything needs to be labelled too. If your child needs any medication when they are away, please collect a form from the office to fill in if you haven't already done so as we cannot administer any medication without this. Please bring your child's belongings onto the playground on Monday morning where there will be stations set up for them to leave their luggage. They need to be wearing comfortable clothes suitable for the outdoors and weather conditions on the day. Please send them in trainers and no jeans please. 

Y2s and Y3s need to be collected at 2pm on Tuesday 15^th July from Dukes Barn

Y4s, Y5s and Y6s need to be collected at 1.30pm on Wednesday 16^th July from Dukes Barn

Huge thanks to all the staff who are giving up their time (and sleep!) to take the children on residential. Please keep your phone with you in case there are any problems and we will phone you. Myself, Mrs Porter, Miss Davison and Mrs Townsend will be staying overnight on the Monday. Miss Davison, Mrs Porter and Miss Rodgers will be staying overnight on the Tuesday. Mrs Dowding, Mrs Dey and Mrs Field are all spending some time at Dukes Barn over the three days too. 

Road safety

Just a reminder to please take care when you have collected your child at the end of the day. Local vehicles, the school bus and 623 bus do pull out from the lane outside school onto the main road at the end of the school day and whilst they drive very carefully, it is obviously very important to keep your children with you under close supervision, especially if they are running to play on the village green after school. We would hate for any accidents to happen. Thank you for your support. 

Mrs Thompson

We have received confirmation from Mrs Thompson this week that she will be returning to work on Monday 30^th September. Therefore, all class teachers will stay exactly as they are at present at the start of September until Mrs Thompson returns at the end of September. Mrs Thompson will be returning on a part-time basis and will be mainly teaching in KS2 when she does return. As such, amended staff timetables will be sent out at the beginning of the next academic year. 

Wishing you a lovely weekend,

Mrs E Bond
Headteacher 

Dear Parents and Carers,

Just a reminder that all the junior children have a play rehearsal again on Monday morning so drop off on Monday is at the Cavendish Hall. 

Junior trip to Derby Open Centre

Class 3 and Class 4 had a wonderful day exploring different faiths and religions as part of their visit to Derby Open Centre. The children have been writing about their experiences and what they learnt about during their trip. We hope to create a new display in school of all their work during the coming weeks. 

Class 3 trip to Manchester 

Class 3 had a wonderful time in Manchester on Tuesday! After 30 weeks of musical tuition, we played our clarinets alongside the world famous Halle orchestra at Bridgewater Hall in Manchester. It was an incredibly inspiring experience and the children were fascinated by the sound of the orchestra and the skill of the musicians. After the concert, we went to the Runway centre at Manchester airport for a picnic lunch. Whilst we were there, we went to go and see Concorde which was the icing on the cake after a great day out!  

Sports Day

We are all looking forward to an afternoon of sports on Thursday down at Chatsworth cricket ground. There is parking available at the cricket ground for around 30 cars but if people could car share, that would really help! We are in the process of liaising with the estate over parking for this event and will update you further as soon as we have more information.

We anticipate that Sports day will start at 1.30pm but as we are taking all the children down to Chatsworth on the school bus after their lunch, we will start the races as soon as everyone is settled.  

We are really excited to be using the cricket ground as a venue this year for sports day but there are some health and safety considerations to be aware of for this location. The cricket ground is very close to the river. During sports day, the children will be supervised by school staff (with the exception of the nursery children who will be supervised by their parents). At the end of sports day, we will hand the children back over to their parents/carers who will then become responsible for their supervision. 

For those staying for the Pilsley Bake Off event, which is being run by the PTA, judging will start at around 3pm. If you aren't staying for the Bake Off event, you are welcome to take your child/children home straight after sports day.   

Class photographs

There is still a discount available for ordering class photographs until Sunday. Codes are in the emails sent out last Friday. The link to see and order is https://starvisionphotography.co.uk . Photographs will be delivered into school next week.

Junior snack at morning break

Please can we remind parents and carers that if your junior child brings in their own snack at playtime, we request that this is a healthy option. The children love their tuck shop treat at school once a month, but we do ask that either fruit, vegetable sticks, crackers, cereal bars or other healthy options are brought in for breaktime rather than sugary snacks or crisps. All snacks brought into school must be 'nut free' too. Thank you for your support with this. 

Wishing you a lovely weekend,

Mrs E Bond
Headteacher 

Dear Parents and Carers,

Welcome back to the final and busiest term of the school year! We hope you all enjoyed a break over half term.

The junior children have been excited to start their rehearsals for 'Matilda the Musical' this week and it all seems to be going well so far. 

The school photographer came in on Wednesday and took the class photos but is returning later in the month (on a nicer day!) to take a whole school photograph. Details will follow next week about how to place an order for the class photos. 

Mr Sutton, who has been working in our infant class for the last couple of months, will be leaving us today as he has now completed his teaching placement. Mr Sutton has been hugely popular with the infants, and we will all miss his presence in the classroom. We wish him all the very best as he continues in his teaching career. 

Class 3 clarinet concert for parents- Monday 10^th June at 2.30pm

Just a reminder that Class 3 parents and carers are warmly invited to come into school on Monday afternoon at 2.30pm for a short clarinet concert. The children are busy preparing songs and pieces for their trip to Bridgewater Hall in Manchester where they will play alongside the Halle orchestra on 18^th June. We're also teaming this experience with a visit to the Runway centre at Manchester airport on the way home to see Concorde! Exciting times!!

Sports day- Thursday 27^th June

Unfortunately, we have been having real issues with our school field this winter. The moles moved in and the ground itself has never really recovered from all the heavy rain this winter. Consequently, the flatter section of the school field has become very uneven and bumpy. Rather than having the children run their races for sports day on a potentially quite dangerous surface, we have been granted kind permission by the estate to use the cricket ground at Chatsworth for our sports day this year. 

As planned, we will still continue with the 'Pilsley Bake Off' after sports day but this will take place at the cricket pavilion instead. Fingers crossed for some sunshine as the cricket ground will be the perfect setting for our afternoon of sports! 

Junior trip to Derby Open Centre- Thursday 13^th June

A reminder that the junior children are visiting Derby Open Centre on Thursday. Please remember to send a drink and a packed lunch for your child and they need to be at school for 8.20 please. We will be leaving school promptly at 8.30am so do please arrive on time- thank you 🙂 We should be back at school by 3.15pmbut it may be wise to make alternative arrangements if your child usually goes home on the school bus in case we are running late. 

Cavendish rehearsal dates for Matilda the Musical (previously sent out earlier this week)

Monday 17th June- all juniors to be dropped off at the Cavendish Hall at 8.45am  

Monday 24th June- all juniors to be dropped off at the Cavendish Hall at 8.45am

Monday 1st July- all juniors to be dropped off at the Cavendish Hall at 8.45am 

Wednesday 3rd July- all juniors to be collected from the Cavendish Hall at 3.15pm

Monday 8th July- all juniors to be dropped off at the Cavendish Hall at 8.45am 

Wishing you a lovely weekend,

Mrs E Bond
Headteacher

Dear Parents and Carers,

Duckling updates!

The children have really enjoyed watching each stage of the duckling hatching experience in school over the last ten days. From seeing the first crack in the eggshell,  to watching them hatch and then giving the ducklings their first experience in water, have all been inspiring for some of our children....so much so, we've heard lots of talk already about incubators and eggs going onto Christmas lists this year!! Our youngest children in particular, have loved seeing them every day and taking an interest in cleaning out the cage, feeding them and changing their water regularly. In line with the guidelines from the company around adoption, Miss Davison and I have agreed to adopt the ducklings and give them happy homes alongside our hens and chicks. We will be providing updates for the children as the ducklings grow and will try to bring them in to visit soon! In the meantime, if this experience has inspired your child to think about keeping ducks, you can find lots of information about what is required here... Keeping Ducks & Geese As Pets | RSPCA - RSPCA - rspca.org.uk

Y6 SATs week

On Monday 13^th May, our lovely Y6 children will begin their KS2 SATs. We have all been incredibly impressed with their hardworking attitude, determination and willingness to persevere throughout their Y6 year.  

We always consider the well-being of each of the children and approach the tests in a calm and confident manner.

During test week, it is important that the children are as relaxed and calm as possible - early bedtimes and good food are recommended!  We are so proud of them all and as we always say to them at this point, they have worked hard throughout their whole time at primary school so this is a time to shine and to show everything that they have learnt along the way.  

Sheep service- St.Peter's church, Edensor

This Sunday, St.Peter's church in Edensor are having their annual sheep service at 10.45am. The new Priest in charge, Reverend Mark Griffin, came to visit us at school on Wednesday and to meet the children. Reverend Mark will be coming into school soon to lead regular assemblies and we very much look forward to welcoming him into our community. 

Our school garden- can you help?

We would be so grateful if anyone is able to spare an hour or so at some point to help with some jobs in our school garden. If you can help at all, please speak to myself or Mrs Allinson. Also, if anyone has any bark chippings or mulch they would be willing to donate (to help keep the weeds under control in the borders), please let us know. We're also asking for any donations of compost or small toys etc to help build a miniature 'fairy garden' which we'd like to start working on very soon with the children. 

PTA meeting- today

There is a PTA meeting tonight at the Cavendish club straight after school at 3.30pm. All welcome. 

Class photographs

On Wednesday 5^th June, Star Vision photography will be in school to take class photographs as well as a whole school photograph (weather permitting!). Details of how to order these will follow.

KS2 trip to Derby

Just a reminder that if you haven't already returned your consent form for the KS2 trip to Derby, please could you do so by Friday 10^th May. Thank you.

Class 3 trip to Bridgewater Hall, Manchester

Please look out for a letter in your child's bag which will be coming home on Tuesday. 

Y6 transition days

Those Y6s transferring to Lady Manners in September have been invited to school for their first transition day on Friday 21^st June. Lady Manners and Hope Valley college have another transition day booked for Thursday 4^th July. 

Dates

• A reminder that our final INSET day of this academic year is on Friday 24^th May. Therefore, the children break up for the May half term break on Thursday 23^rd May and return to school on Monday 3^rd June.

• Sports day is taking place on Thursday 27^th June at 1.30pm. 

• The Junior summer show is taking place at the Cavendish Hall on Wednesday 10^th July (afternoon) and Thursday 11^th July (evening). More details to follow soon!

• Dukes Barn residential- 15th-17^th July (1 night for Y2 and Y3, 2 nights for Y4-Y6)

• Y6 Leavers' service- Tuesday 23^rd July at 2pm

Wishing you a lovely bank holiday weekend and we look forward to seeing the children back at school on Tuesday.

Very best wishes,

Mrs E Bond
Headteacher