Newsletters

Friday 16th January 2026

This term has got off to a really positive start. The children have settled well into their learning, and our fantastic Year 6 pupils have shown great enthusiasm and maturity when completing their practice SATs.

Although it’s a short term, it’s already proving to be a busy and exciting one. Our Year 5/6 pupils have enjoyed taking part in Maker Day, alongside whole school Forest School sessions, and a new range of after-school clubs — all enjoyed despite the snowy weather! We also have lots to look forward to, including NSPCC Number Day and a special visit in Year 6 from Stevan Parkin, World Champion Fortnite player and content creator, who will be sharing his experiences and insights with the children.

I hope you all have a lovely weekend, and we look forward to seeing everyone back in school on Monday.

On Monday, our Year 5 and Year 6 children took part in a very special MAKER Day, where they designed ideas for our new spiritual garden. Working in mixed groups, the children created thoughtful and imaginative models, demonstrating excellent collaboration and communication throughout the day. It was particularly wonderful to see some of our quieter children confidently stepping into leadership roles. At the end of the session, each group proudly showcased their design and explained its meaning to the rest of the children, showing real pride in their work.

 

 

Own Clothes day for Christmas Shop Donations | Gillibrand Primary School

Friday 13th February marks the end of this half-term, and we’d love the children to celebrate by wearing their own clothes for the day. We kindly ask for a £1 donation (or £1.50 via the School Gateway if you prefer), with all contributions going directly towards creating our special spiritual garden. Thank you so much for your continued support — it really does make a difference.

 Thursday 23rd April at 9.30am with Healthy Minds (Hattie and Lynette).

The focus will be Managing your Child's Anxiety, as well as covering other topics such as sleep.

On Friday the 20th March we shall be having a Bunny Hop afternoon, in an effort to raise vital funds for Weston Park Hospital .

More information to follow shortly.

In the meantime, you can donate towards this worthwhile event, by following the link below.

https://bunnyhop.raiselysite.com/debra-mc-farlane

Our New House Lunchtimes Are a Real Success!

Last term, we introduced a brand-new House system for lunchtimes—and the results have been wonderful! The system was designed to create a “family-style” dining experience and give our older children the chance to be inspiring role models for their younger peers.

Now, children enjoy their lunches sitting in their Houses, alongside classmates from different year groups. The change has made a huge difference: children are chatting, laughing, and forming new friendships across ages. It’s truly heartwarming to watch our older students helping the younger ones—whether it’s pouring a glass of water, showing them how to use their cutlery, or simply offering a kind smile.

This simple change has not only made lunchtimes more enjoyable but has also strengthened the sense of community and family across our school.

After our successful day last year, once again we are delighted to be supporting the NSPCC by taking part in Number Day on Friday 6 February 2026.

The NSPCC need our support more than ever. By raising money, we can help to fund their vital services such as Childline – the helpline that’s always there for children and young people whatever their problem or concern.

We are having a fun day of maths activities, and we will be taking part in Dress up for Digits. Pupils are asked to wear an item of clothing with a number on it (sports top, football, rugby, netball, hockey shirt or cap). Or get even more creative and become a human calculator, dice or domino by dressing in a maths or numbers theme. To help raise money for the NSPCC, we are asking for a suggested donation of £1 to take part, and we’d love everyone in the school to take part in this special event.

To make this day even more special we would like to Invite parents into classes at 2:30pm to join in with some maths activities. We hope you will be able to join us.

 

 

 Every week in the dining hall, a wonderful group of young people help us clean up. Their kindness and teamwork really stand out, and they set a great example for the rest of the school while making a big difference for the kitchen staff.

National Year of Reading 📚

This year has been named the National Year of Reading, a celebration of the importance of reading for enjoyment and learning. Schools across the country are being encouraged to Go All Out for Reading in 2026, and we’re excited to be getting involved.

Throughout the year, we’ll be running a range of reading-focused activities and events to help inspire a love of books in our children. 

You can support this at home by:

  • Sharing stories together

  • Talking about books your child enjoys

  • Visiting the library

  • Letting children see you reading for pleasure

Reading regularly, even for a short time each day, can make a huge difference. Thank you for supporting us as we celebrate reading this year!

New Year Blessing to all! | City Parish, Penang