Kestrels Can Fly!

Here's hoping all our Year 6 pupils have a great weekend before they face their SATs next week. Try and relax - do nice things! We all know how hard you have worked and the superb progress you've all made this year - just keep all that going and there's really nothing to worry about. Just fly through the week and be the best you can be!  Remember that the outcome of these tests will only mark a tiny bit of the person that you are... the measure of your success, happiness, cleverness and kindness will not be measured by SATs. We can give you 100 out of 100 for that already!
See you next week :)

Great Plastic Pick Up

Further to our work in school during Science Week, our pupils have taken a real interest in the issues around plastic pollution and have been trying to make a difference by bringing in waste-free lunch boxes, where possible.  Therefore, we thought you may be interested in the Great Plastic Pick Up event that takes place this weekend.  If you would like to participate, please see detail at The Great Plastic Pick Up website.

Mrs Harries...

It is with a great deal of sadness that I have to let you know that Mrs Harries will be leaving us at half term. Her last working day at Bitterne Manor will be the 24th May.

As many of you will be aware, Mrs Harries has been a huge support to many hundreds of pupils that have attended and are currently attending our school since she joined us in 1991! In her role as an emotional literacy support assistant (ELSA), she has been invaluable 'rock' to both pupils and parents experiencing a wide range of challenges both in and around school.

While I know she is looking forward to spending some time on her own passions now, she will miss us all and we can't let her go without saying a proper goodbye!

While we will organise something in school, we thought it would be nice to give parents and ex-pupils an opportunity to wish her the very best.

Please send a message either by email, leave a card or by popping into the office where there will be paper available for you to write a comment. We will add these to a book we will put together on behalf of the school.
Please spread the word but don't tell her just yet!

I have a dream!

Owl's have had a fantastic week learning all about Martin Luther King!  Today we read our outstanding speeches outside in the sunshine, on the stage! What a fantastic job they did!

The Big Pedal- update!

Thank you and well done to everyone who scooted or cycled to school last week 😃

As of Friday, we are 2nd in Southampton, after Sholing Junior,  and in the top 25% nationally for small primary schools (92/419), with a total of 45% of children cycling or scooting!

 Fantastic result everyone- lets give Sholing a run for their money this week!!

Hampshire Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services Parent and Carer Event

Hampshire CAMHS are holding a parent and carer event on Wednesday 2nd May 2018 - 11am-7pm at The Point, Leigh Road, Eastleigh, SO50 9DE.  This is a free event although booking is required,  To book your place please visit: www.hampshirecamhs.nhs.uk/events

Further information can be found at the following link:

CAMHS PACE

E-Safety Parent Update

Important news for parents

During our e-safety parent workshops, we have been discussing the age limits on certain apps that our children are requesting to use. We have given advice about WhatsApp in particular, a free but unsupervised online messaging service, as so many children across the UK are falling victim to online bullying through it.

The age limit for this App is raising from 13 to 16, to fall in line with European laws. 
Read about it here on the BBC news website.

There have been many people praising this move:

"Very pleased today to hear WhatsApp is raising the age of use from 13 to 16. At last someone is doing something to protect teenage minds & self esteem."

What ever apps and platforms your children use, we at Bitterne Manor strongly recommend that you keep an open dialogue with your children to ensure you know who they are chatting to and that you are aware of any inappropriate content.