Dear Families and Friends,

Last week, I emphasised the importance of dedicating time and effort to achieve our goals. At school, we’ve started some meaningful conversations about this idea, exploring not only the value of hard work but also the lessons we can learn from our mistakes and setbacks. The journey to success is rarely straightforward; it’s a blend of triumphs and challenges. When things don’t go as planned, or when we encounter difficulties, we have a choice: do we simply accept these moments, or do we pause to reflect and learn from them? While it’s important to avoid overthinking—which can lead to unnecessary worry—it’s equally risky not to think about our experiences at all. As parents, educators and role models, it’s crucial that we help our children find a healthy balance. We should encourage them to take risks in a safe environment and to view mistakes as valuable learning opportunities. By doing so, we nurture resilience and support their ongoing progress.

Thank you to everyone who has completed our short feedback form. If you haven’t had a chance yet, I would be grateful if you could share your thoughts in the coming days. I will share the findings with you in due course, but so far, the most frequently mentioned issue is communication. This is no surprise, as effective communication is essential, and I recognise that it is not yet as strong as it should be. That’s why the fourth question on the form asks about your preferred methods of communication. After the half-term break, I will write more about this and outline the steps we plan to take to improve.

Ahead of the upcoming final weeks, here are some dates that you might want to take note of:

• Final Training Day: Monday 2nd June (school closed to pupils)
• PTA meeting: Thursday 5th June @ 6pm (Benton Ale House)
• Summer Sing: Tuesday 10th June (Whitely Bay Playhouse)
• New Parents' Meeting: Thursday 26th June (Teaching Hall)
• Annual Reports Home: Friday 4th July
• Peter Pan Production: Thursday 10th and Friday 11th July (PE Hall)
• Move-Up Morning: Tuesday 15th July
• KS1 Sports' Day: Wednesday 16th July (afternoon)
• Leavers' Service: Wednesday 16th July @ 2pm (Church)
• Early Years Sports' Day: Thursday 17th July (morning)
• KS2 Sports' Day: Thursday 17th July (afternoon)

And there are many other events for classes and clubs before the final day of term.

Throughout the year, as well as our Christmas Nativities and end-of-year productions, each class spends a week on their own film project. Last term, Class 6 condensed that into a single day spent with our Early Years children. It was a   lot of fun and collaboration between our oldest and youngest children. The "Zog" film is now available on our website, alongside our other completed projects. Please have a look in the parents' section of our website.

Enjoy your half-term.

Yours sincerely,

Mr. Restall & The St Bart's Team