Newsletters

Dame Bradbury's newsletter, 9 November 2018

Dear parents and guardians

Keeping up momentum for new initiatives is always very challenging, especially when there are so many parts to our very rich learning experience. Sustainability and a focus on the UN Sustainability Goals is one such initiative. However, this has developed its own momentum with pupils, parents and staff all contributing ideas and, importantly, actions. Single-use plastics continue to be one of the most significant concerns. To further tackle this issue we are delighted to support the PTA who are selling reusable Dame Bradbury’s decorated bamboo cups.

DB cups

I can envisage these distinctive cups gracing the coffee machines of Saffron Walden, Cambridge and further afield. I’d love to see some tweets of our cups in interesting coffee shops and cafes! Our eagle-eyed sustainability warriors have been on the lookout for other areas in which we can reduce our use of plastics, namely the drinking water on trips. This is a particularly valid observation and we will be asking all pupils from Kindergarten to Year 6 to provide their own drinking water bottle on trips. We can use large reusable water containers to fill up the bottles and this will save a significant use of small single-use bottles.

This week we held the last of our lunches for new parents, and it was great to welcome those parents to watch a lunch service and sample the fabulous food prepared by the ever-capable Jason and Margaret. Alongside parents’ evenings, literacy workshops and digital workshops we anticipate that this new learning environment is inspiring, challenging and welcoming for the children who have joined us this year. By the time we reach the end of the first half term, new pupils are no longer that; they stroll the through the school with confidence and in the midst of new friends, and our community is again well established and moving forward. It is at this point that we would continue to encourage you as parents, both established and new, to keep in touch with us; we want to know what is happening! The successes, the celebrations, any worries; so that we can share in those successes and tackle any niggles. Your child’s form teacher is always available by email, or drop by reception and Kate and her team will help.

At the end of this term we will be very sorry to say goodbye to Mrs Constable Maxwell who has worked at Dame B’s for over twelve years. Mrs Constable-Maxwell is off to spread her wings and embark on some exciting travelling. Not only will we miss her in the classroom and as a colleague but who else will be the prince in our poetry recital!

Kind regards

Tracy Handford


Latest news

  • 09 Nov 2018
    Dame Bradbury's pupils explore Picardie, France
    Dame Bradbury's pupils enjoyed exploring and learning about the Château du Broutel in France.
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  • 09 Nov 2018
    Malim Charity Day 2018
    Thurday was an exciting day of charity fundraising at Dame Bradbury's, raising money for the Addenbrookes Charitable Trust.
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  • 09 Nov 2018
    Target reached for Hope Shoebox collection
    Last year Dame B’s contributed over 100 hundred boxes to the nearly 44,000 that were delivered by 'Link to Hope' to families and elderly people in Eastern Europe for Christmas, and this year we were determined to make an equal contribution to this worthy cause.
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  • 09 Nov 2018
    Pre-Prep launch day on 'Digging Down'
    Dame Bradbury's Pre-Prep children had an extremely captivating launch day introducing their new thematic learning topic, ‘Digging Down’. 
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Read more news from Dame B's


PTA Notices

The PTA would like to congratulate Lyra and George on their fantastic eco cup designs. The cups will be on sale in the front office from Monday 12 November, as mentioned by Mrs Handford. They are £7.50 each and all money raised will go to the Storygarden:

DB cups

 


Sports Roundup

This half term has already seen our Cross Country, Football and hockey teams in action.

Runners from Years 3-6 took part in the Saffron Walden schools cross country competition at Herbert’s Farm last week and performed excellently. With a place in the District finals at stake 6 of our 8 teams finished in the top 3 ensuring qualification for the finals whilst individual runners also qualified having finished in the top 5 of their races despite their team not qualifying. A special mention to cross country captain Ben and Eva in Y5 who won their respective races. We look forward to the District Finals on Wednesday.

DB

Our U11 football teams have also been busy with the boys and girls playing two well contested games against Katherine Semar last Friday. The girls came away with a good 4-0 victory whilst the boys played out an extremely entertaining 0-0 draw.

Two U11 football teams also attended the Perse Prep football tournament on Saturday and performed well. Whilst not officially our football season for the boys, both teams played well in the group stages and ended up playing one another in the semi finals of the Plate competition. An entertaining game saw the A team eventually win 2-0 and head to the final. After a closely fought game against Kimbolton the boys won the game 1-0 bringing some silverware home for Dame B’s. The B team finished 4th after losing their playoff match on penalties!

DB

Our U11 girls contested two close hockey matches this week against St Margaret’s from Gosfield. In two entertaining matches the A team won 1-0 with the B’s contesting an end to end 0-0 draw.

Keep up to date with the latest goings on within the sports department by following us on Twitter @ DBS_Sport.


Upcoming events

  • 07
    November
    Y3 - 6 Bebras challenge
    All Day
    Location: Dame Bradbury's School, Ashdon Rd, Saffron Walden CB10 2AL, UK
    The Bebras challenge is open to pupils from Y3 to Y6. All pupils will have the opportunity to take part in completing computational challenges.
  • 09
    November
    PP and DB Kindergarten collaboration: Diwali
    All Day
    Location: Madingley Pre-Prep
    Staff lead: KAL
  • 12
    November
    3-11 Anti-bullying week
    All Day
  • 16
    November
    Y6 parents' breakfast with David Walker, Head of Senior School
    08:00 – 09:00
    Location: Dame Bradbury's School, Ashdon Rd, Saffron Walden CB10 2AL, UK
  • 19
    November
    3 - 11 Road safety week
    All Day
  • 21
    November
    Y6 mock exam
    08:30 – 10:30
    Location: Dame Bradbury's School, Ashdon Rd, Saffron Walden CB10 2AL, UK
    In theatre
  • 22
    November
    Y2 visit to Saffron Walden Museum
    12:00 – 15:00
  • 23
    November
    DB 3K class assembly
    08:30 – 09:30
    Location: Dame Bradbury's School, Ashdon Rd, Saffron Walden CB10 2AL, UK
    All parents of 3K are invited to attend, and coffee will be served in the dining room afterwards.

See the full Dame B's calendar here


Latest tweets

  • Dame Bradbury's Follow
    It was from a plane he flew; he crashed it on a training exercise. The plane he was shot down in in combat stayed behind enemy lines in France.
    1 hour ago
  • Dame Bradbury's Follow
    Year 1 practise their computational thinking with their clapping rhythms. https://t.co/i6ASgSatPb
    3 hours ago
  • Dame Bradbury's Follow
    Diwali celebrations: Spicy playdough in readiness for a special family meal to celebrate! #festive #DiwaliCelebration #earlyyears https://t.co/DZf5LfhLAj
    4 hours ago