School Newsletter : 14 February 2025

We also had fun with times tables songs, counting in different languages, and creative maths crafts – including colourful seahorses made from the number 3! A highlight of the day was Biscuit’s Maths Challenge. Every class estimated how many paws and bones were on her bandana, with the closest guesses winning prizes.

Thank you to everyone for making Number Day such an engaging and memorable event, all while supporting a great cause!

Tuesday 11th February was Safer Internet Day. As well as being an integral part of our regular class IT lessons, we further focussed on the importance of safety when using the internet.

Year 6 have been writing and filming, using iPads and editing with iMovie, short films emphasising the need to be careful with our personal information, and remembering how to be safe online. Using Google Docs, Year 4 have been making presentations highlighting the need to be wary of scams online, using the phrase “it looks too good to be true”.

During this week’s whole school assembly around Safer Internet Day, pupils spent time with Mr Carden considering different scenarios online. They discussed and considered with partners to decide whether it was likely that the ‘offer onscreen’ was a scam or not.

These discussions would continue in their classrooms.

Following the reflections of Children’s Mental Health Week, we dedicated this week to something just as important: Kindness Week! Instead of focusing solely on Valentine’s Day, we embraced the idea that kindness, appreciation, and thoughtful actions make our school community stronger every single day.

Across the school, from our youngest learners to our Year 6 leaders, the children engaged in meaningful discussions and activities designed to celebrate and encourage kindness in all its forms.

In Reception, our children had deep and thoughtful conversations about what kindness truly means. Is it simply playing with a friend, or does it go beyond that? They debated the difference between being friendly and making a conscious effort to include someone new, big ideas for such little learners, and a wonderful reflection of their growing empathy and understanding.

Meanwhile, in Year 1, children took their kindness one step further by writing heartfelt letters and cards to their classmates and even to teachers, sharing their appreciation and spreading a little extra joy. In other classes, kindness trees bloomed with notes of recognition, filled with wonderful things that children had noticed about each other throughout the week.

It has been a truly special time to pause and recognise the power of small acts and words of encouragement, gestures of inclusion, and moments of thoughtfulness that create a warm and welcoming environment for everyone. Kindness is not just something we talk about at Burdett-Coutts; it’s something we live and breathe every day, and this week has been a shining example of that.

We are so proud of our pupils for making such a meaningful commitment to kindness, proving that even the smallest actions can have the biggest impact.

Get Snapped Reading & WIN a £5 Book Fair voucher! 

Our annual book fair will take place from Friday 28th March to Friday 4th April. To create a buzz around it there will be a competition from Nursery to Year 6 to promote our children’s love of reading and the vast number of reading opportunities that we all have in our daily lives.

To enter the competition, all pupils need to do is to send in a photograph of themselves reading anything – a favourite book, comic, recipe, menu, instructions, signs etc – and anywhere, at home, at play, or even out and about.

All photographs will be displayed in classrooms and reading areas around school and all submissions will be put into a draw to win a £5 Book Fair voucher! There are 5 vouchers to be won, and the lucky winners will be announced in assembly on Monday 24th March.

Due to the large numbers of photos we hope to receive, we would really appreciate it if photographs could be printed off and brought into class. If this is not possible, photos can be emailed to office@burdettcoutts.co.uk

We look forward to seeing all your lovely photos, and thank you for your support.

Woof woof everyone!

This week, I’ve been a paws-itive Kindness Helper, making sure everyone at school felt extra special. I spent my time patrolling the playground, playing with my favourite tiny hoomans, and wagging my tail in approval of all the wonderful acts of kindness I saw.

I also helped out the staff (as usual) by politely requesting meals with a well-placed paw tap and my best puppy-dog eyes. To spread even more joy, I left special handwritten kindness cards around the school. Some of them say things like “You’re pawsome!” and “Keep being kind – Biscuit believes in you!” I hope they bring a little smile to everyone who finds them.

And of course, I loved storytime snuggles. I curled up and listened to all the wonderful books about kindness. I think our children are fantastic readers – but even better at being kind. A big paws-up to everyone for making this week extra special!

Have a fantastic half term and see you back in school on Monday 24th February 🐶

Biscuit x

Please ensure that all children wear a jacket to school, and have a hat. Gloves and scarves are optional, but are highly recommended as it starts to get much colder.

All pupils should now be wearing their full winter uniform and no longer in their summer uniform options, including PE uniform.

Please ensure all items of clothing including jumpers and sweaters are named!

Many thanks for your continued support.

This week, Year 2 children have been celebrating Random Acts of Kindness in many thoughtful and creative ways! They began by reading Kindness Grows by Britta Teckentrup, a beautifully illustrated story that shows how kindness brings people together while unkindness creates division, and Gigantic by Rob Biddulph, a heartwarming tale about a little whale who learns that true strength comes from bravery, kindness and being true to oneself. Inspired by these stories, the children became kindness detectives, observing and celebrating acts of kindness by colouring hearts on our 100 Acts of Kindness poster. They also painted kindness rocks with uplifting messages to brighten someone’s day and bring a smile to their faces. To spread even more joy, they crafted colourful clay kindness flowers with the message “If friends were flowers, I’d pick you.” Every child made a flower for a friend, ensuring that kindness blossomed in our classroom. It has been a heartwarming week, and we are so proud of our Year 2 children for showing that kindness truly does grow!