It is often quoted that ‘good things come in small packages’. That is certainly true of this half term. We have managed to pack so many amazing opportunities into the last 5 weeks. We began the half term with our brave Oak class children venturing out for a 2 day residential trip to Rock and Rapid. Then came swimming sessions for our Key stage 2 children. The May Fayre raised over £2,500 and was a welcome return to a bit of Buckland St Mary ‘normality’. SATs gave our children an opportunity to apply all of their learning and we are very proud of all of their efforts and resilience. Then came our whole week of Arts, full of wonderful creativity, and finally our Jubilee picnic in celebration of our Queen and her unwavering service to our nation. I’m confident that our red, white and blue apparel will demonstrate our patriotism and will possibly be visible from space! Thank you all for your support over the past 5 weeks. Have a wonderful Jubilee celebration weekend and I look forward to welcoming you all back for our final half term. 

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Also in the News

Posted on: 30/09/2024

A Message from Mrs Staniland

Dear Parents & Carers   Welcome to our first newsletter of the year, particularly all our new parents. Our new reception children have made a brilliant start to their school journey and we are so pleased that you are with us! Please do take time to read this monthly newsletter. We try to include not just information about school and FoBs events, but also each class includes some of their class learning.   The start of a new academic year brings excitement and opportunities for our pupils to learn new knowledge and take on new challenges. It has been wonderful to see the children return full of energy and excitement for the year ahead settling into their classes, seeing their friends and making new ones.   Buckland has been a hive of activity and we are only 3 full weeks into the school year. Our wonderful teaching team have been busy planning engaging enquiries that will inspire curiosity, collaboration and creativity in their classes. The development of our new on-site forest school area is well underway, with the children helping to shape this and take ownership of our environment. The renewed menu from our new catering provider Aspens has proven to be a big hit already with delicious smells coming from the lunch hall every day.   Lastly a reminder, if you haven’t already followed us do take a look at our school Facebook page where we share key information through our weekly ‘week ahead’ posts.   Have a wonderful weekend,   Mrs StanilandCategories: 1 CategorySchool News

Posted on: 21/06/2024

A Message from Mrs Staniland

Another fabulous start to our final half term before the summer break here at Buckland St Mary Primary School and what a busy start we have had. The rain stayed away for, not one, but two sports days! A big thank you goes to FoBs for setting up the gazebos, keeping score, handing out the winner’s stickers, providing refreshments and donating the all-important ice poles! Thank you also to David and Geraldine for painting the white lines in preparation for the event. A fabulous example of community spirit indeed. Red team were victorious with blue and yellow coming a joint (very close!) second – well done to all the children who took part and supported each other with great enthusiasm. Thank you also to our Nursery team who put on a fabulous first Nursery sports day, complete with music and bubbles! Willow class were delighted to see so many people come to support their very first sports day and we were pleased to welcome parents and carers into our wonderful Nursery for some delicious baked goods and refreshments after the event. Continuing our sporting theme – our children enjoyed a cricket workshop on the Wednesday before half term. Our KS2 children have begun their weekly swimming lessons at Chard pool. A number of children also took part in Quadkids athletics event which includes the four core disciplines of running, throwing, jumping and sprinting. Despite the recent rain of late we managed to get a whole school photo at the end of last week. It was touch and go weatherwise but we are pleased to report that it was able to go ahead – the photographer certainly kept everyone’s spirits up and made us all laugh as we dashed out during a break in the rain. We will share the details of where to purchase this in due course. A particular mention must also go to our Year 6s who have worked hard before half term (and all year!) to complete their KS2 SATs. We are proud of each and every one of them for their determination and perseverance. As we continue into our final half term of the year, we have much to look forward to – our upcoming STEM day and science competition, FoBs team marathon fundraiser supporting sports and wellbeing at Buckland and our residential - Beech class are very much looking forward to returning to Pinkery for their residential this year. Finally, thank you to all of our parents and carers for all your support at our school events – please keep an eye on the ‘dates for your diaries’ for more in the term ahead.  Categories: 1 CategorySchool News

Posted on: 30/04/2024

A Message from Mrs Staniland

As the school year moves rapidly past and we transition into the summer term, I find myself reflecting back on the year so far. It is a real privilege to be part of the learning journey that our children undertake. I'm consistently amazed by their ability to apply their skills and knowledge, forging connections that broaden their understanding of the world. Witnessing the growth of all our children, as learners, is immensely rewarding. It's a joy to observe them deeply engaged in their learning enquiries across all our teaching spaces, whether it's our youngest ones exploring their rain gauges outdoors, our middle year groups observing cows and calves to learn about how plants and animals reply on each other through or our oldest engaging in debates to express their perspectives. Together, we are nurturing young minds and shaping the future. Every moment in school contributes to their growth and development and I feel privileged to be part of their journey. Keep up the wonderful work Team Buckland!Categories: 1 CategorySchool News

Posted on: 11/03/2024

A Message from Mrs Staniland

How are we in March already?! It has been wonderful to see the sun shining, the flowers beginning to bloom, as well as the lighter evenings coming in. Buckland has been a hive of activity so far this half term from netball development days at Holyrood, cross country at Stockland, music lessons, dance workshops, World Book Day and a visit from Ferne animal sanctuary to name just a few of the additional experiences available for our children.  Since we transferred to the ACE Multi Academy Trust, on the 1st January, we have enjoyed a close working relationship with the other ACE schools in Devon and Somerset. ACE has 3 core values of Academic Excellence, Learning to Learning and Character Education.   This half term, Ash, Oak and Beech class have all trialled our exciting, enquiry-based curriculum linking our History and English learning experiences. We look forward to sharing their learning journals with you at our Parents Evening on Wednesday 13th March. It has been wonderful to see the children embracing their learning and taking pride in their work as I have walked around the school.  Families have an opportunity to meet Nick Hind, ACE Deputy CEO and William Jaworski, ACE Strategic Advisor on Monday 25th March. An email to ask if you are attending has been sent out by the office. Please reply so that we can organise seating and arrangements. We look forward to seeing you then.       Categories: 1 CategorySchool News

Posted on: 8/12/2023

A Message from Mrs Staniland

Where has the term gone? I can’t quite believe it is December already and what a month we have had!  It has been fantastic to hear how hard the children have been working practising their songs for the Carols by Candlelight. We were so thankful that we were able to go ahead with this wonderful event despite the weather's efforts to the contrary! A big thank you goes to Sephi and Somerset Music for her wonderful work with the children in preparation for this (with her three month old twins in tow on the night of the performance too!), the Stoke band for their wonderful music, the teachers and staff for all their additional preparation and rehearsals and to FoBs for the delicious refreshments - it certainly made us all feel full of the festive spirit.  Following this Christmas theme - I was delighted to experience my first Buckland St Mary Christingle service this week. The highlight for me was when the children were singing with the lights dimmed and their candles lit - just magical. Thank you goes to Reverend Jim and Revd. Nick for supplying us with all the oranges and sweets to enable all the children to make their own Christingles. The children looked all the more festive in their Christmas jumpers too. In the afternoon we enjoyed a tasty Christmas lunch in the hall - complete with log fire (on the big screen), Christmas music, festive place mats and crackers (thank you FoBs!)  If that wasn’t enough - I have also heard great things about the community carol concert in the church which is taking place on Wednesday 13th December and I am very much looking forward to it. If you haven’t already please put the date in your diary to join us!  With one final week to go before we break up for the Christmas holidays I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very Merry Christmas with your friends and families from all of the staff at Buckland St Mary Primary School. We look forward to seeing you again for the start of the new year.  Categories: 1 CategorySchool News

Posted on: 10/11/2023

A Message from Mrs Staniland

Firstly, I would like to say a big thank you to all of you - the Buckland family - for welcoming me so warmly as I begin my phased return to work as Head of School. Children, staff and parents have all been so kind and friendly. The children especially have made me smile every day. We've had a jam packed week this week with a postponed Harvest service and our Rememberance service too. I think you'll all agree that the children performed beautifully, created some fantastic artwork and were a credit to you and their school. The school has been a hive of activity over the past couple of weeks and it has been great to hear the children talk about what they have been learning with such enthusiasm. I can't believe that I am mentioning the 'C' word already but the children have also been busy working with Mrs Williams from Somerset Music to learn songs in preparation for our Christmas carols by candlelight on Tuesday 5th December. We look forward to welcoming you then. It was great to meet and talk to so many of you at our recent parents' evening - if you haven't had a chance to introduce yourself please do come and speak to me - my door is always open.Categories: 1 CategorySchool News

Posted on: 12/10/2023

A Message from Mr Morton

It has been an added treat to my start of the term to still be able to see all of your smiling faces on the playground this term. Buckland St Mary Primary School is a wonderful place to be, even on the greyest of days. The children are off to a great start this term and our learning adventures are well underway. Already this term we have welcomed visitors in to share their experiences of the wider world and cultures that we may not often get to experience. We are bringing the wider world to our children! I am pleased to share with you that Mrs Ellie Marriott will be joining our teaching team from the start of next term for the remainder of the school year. Mrs Marriott will be stepping into Mrs Wells-Burr’s shoes as she begins her own exciting adventure of preparing to welcome her newest member of the family into the world. Mrs Marriott will be in school many times over the next few weeks, getting to know the children and the routines of our school. Please take a moment to say hi and introduce yourselves to her over the coming weeks. We are also pleased to share with you that Mrs Staniland will be returning to work after the half term too.  Categories: 1 CategorySchool News

Posted on: 6/09/2023

Welcome Back- A Message from Mr Morton

Welcome back everyone! The sun is shining and we have had a delightful start to our term. I just wanted to share a staffing update with you all. It was a surprise to you all to see my smiling face on the gate today rather than Mrs Staniland’s. Thank you all for smiling back! During the summer break Mrs Staniland underwent major surgery. She is now home and in recovery. She is fine and on the mend and we hope to see her back with us later on this term (medical expectation is that this is likely to be for half a term) . Until then I will continue to support the school as interim Head of School. I am sure you will join me in wishing Mrs Staniland a speedy recovery.   Mr Kalopsidiotis has been called to the wilds and has begun his apprenticeship Exmoor Ranger training. We wish him all the best and look forward to seeing at some point soon. Mrs Napper has assumed the post of Forest School leader.   We also welcome Deborah Gilbert to our school team. Deborah will be working in school with us full time from the start of this term.   Please catch me if you have any questions or queries.   Kind regards   Steve Morton Interim Head of School  Categories: 1 CategorySchool News