Overthorpe C of E Academy

Newsletter - 23.5.25

BELIEVE, ENJOY, ACHIEVE

'Overthorpe is more than a school-

We are the heart of the community.

In our family, we nurture the courage,

And skills to fly higher than the flock,

Whilst always providing a nest,

To come home to.'

TRUST, FRIENDSHIP, ENDURANCE, FORGIVENESS, HOPE

To follow us on Twitter, please click here

Headteacher - Mr J Mitchell

Senior Leadership Team - Ms L Stott, Ms L McCarthy, Mrs S Wood

Designated Safeguarding lead - Mrs S Wood

Deputy DSLs - Mr J Mitchell, Ms L Stott, Ms L McCarthy, Mrs A Godfrey

Prop making in Kestrels

Headteacher's comment

Good afternoon everyone

This week's newsletter comes to you at the end of a fantastic half term in school. We have had an excellent week, including, Bikeability in Year 6, orienteering, portraits in Magpies and Fraction lessons in Wrens. Photos of all of these events can be found on our Twitter feed here.

We start back at school on Monday 2nd of June for the final half term of the school year. Our Year 4 children will be straight back into action with the Multiplication Screening Checks, Year 6 will be on residential and our Y3 children will be visiting Little Deerwood on the Friday.

Have a wonderful half term break and I will see everyone on Monday 2nd June.

Mr Mitchell.

Chair of Governor's update

Due to the very short amount of time available, the Governors have not held their formal meeting this half term. We have however, continued to support and challenge the school.

A governor visit was made last week to monitor the progress against one of the objectives in the Academy Improvement Plan; the focus being on the Early Years and the learning environment around the school. The governor was interested to note the changes being made to the environment in order to reduce sensory overload and create more purposeful, calm areas to support learning. The learning opportunities for children in the Early Years were also impressive and it was good to see the children busy learning both indoors and outdoors.

The governor also monitored the administration of the SATs during this visit and was very impressed by the Yr 6 children’s focus and determination during this stressful time.

Earlier this week, another one of our governors also visited school to review the Pupil Premium and Sports Premium spending strategies.

In addition to our visits, governors take every opportunity to develop their own learning through accessing training provided by the Trust. Recently we have attended training in risk management, SEND and equality and diversity. This ensures that we remain up to date with any new developments.

Mrs J Hopwood

Chair of Governors

Attendance Awards

Our Attendance Awards, for the half term, went to:

100% attender

Ava G

Attendance Progress

Ruby-Jane C
Umar H

Theon M

Cassius C

Hafsah H

Lucas J

Luke B

Ella W

Well done to these children!

Overthorpe's Got Talent - UPDATED

We have exciting news; we would like to bring you Overthorpe's Got Talent!

You can sing, dance, play a musical instrument, act, perform magic tricks; anything you are proud of and want to show off!

The finalists will perform at our very own Overthorpe Summer Fair 2025 on Thursday 10th July.

Auditions:

Friday 23rd May 2025

12-2:00pm

You will find out by the end of the first week back whether you will have been selected for the show and will have been given a ticket!

* The amount of the children who have put themselves to audition has been amazing! As a result, we are going to add more audition dates in for after half term, so that we can see all of the children. If your child was unable to audition today (Friday 23rd May), don't worry, they will have opportunity very soon.*

So bring your best singing voices, dancing moves and acting and get ready to wow your audience!

Any questions regarding the auditions please speak to Miss Vaughan.

Overthorpe Reception Starters 2025

🎉 Exciting News – Join us for our upcoming Stay and Play sessions! 🎉

🌼 Nursery Stay and Play
📅 Tuesday, 10th June 2025
🕙 10:00 – 11:00 AM

This special session is designed for children to visit with their current nursery staff and experience the Reception setting in a fun, supportive way. They’ll have the chance to explore new toys and activities, meet future classmates, and begin to feel confident and excited about their transition.

🌟 Parent Stay and Play
📅 Thursday, 19th June 2025
🕞 3:30 – 5:30 PM

Bring the whole family and drop into our Reception classroom for an afternoon of fun, discovery, and connection. Explore our inviting indoor learning spaces, packed with hands-on activities and engaging play areas. Children can dive into arts and crafts, imaginative play, story corners, and more!

While your little ones are busy exploring, enjoy a relaxing chat with our friendly staff over refreshments including juice, biscuits, and delicious buns. This is a lovely chance to get to know the team and ask any questions you may have in a relaxed, informal setting.

🌟 Reception New Starter Transition Morning 🌟
🗓 Tuesday 1st July 2025
🕘 9:00 – 11:30 AM

We’re excited to welcome our youngest learners for a special Reception Transition Morning! This fun and friendly session is designed to help children begin their school journey with confidence and smiles.

Children will have the chance to:
🎨 Explore their new classroom
🧸 Meet their teachers and new friends
📚 Enjoy playful activities and stories
👟 Get comfortable in their new surroundings

It’s a gentle, happy introduction to life in Reception – helping little ones feel right at home from day one. We can’t wait to welcome you and your child for these joyful, memorable sessions! 🌈