Welcome to our first newsletter of the 26-27 academic year! We have had a busy first half term in school with appointing children in to leadership positions, getting back in to our OPAL adventures and two residentials! Our Reception and Pre-school children have also settled in to school life brilliantly, as well as our amazing new 2 year olds in Little Bridges Nursery. Miss Phillips and Mrs Nicholls have done a great job settling them in and getting those routines established.

Our new Junior Leadership Team is in place after they completed a letter of application and had an interview with me and they have already taken to their new roles brilliantly. They were a tremendous help to me at our Open Event for new parents; speaking about our school and their experiences so well that everyone wants to come to Maidensbridge! Thank you Chloe, Olly, George, Beatrice, Darcie, Brody, Sophie and Carys.

Year 4 and Year 6 have completed their challenging residentials this half term; pushing themselves to be brave and try new things and for some of them just being away from home and learning to make their bed. A great time was had by all and we are very proud of the children. We see so many different skills and attributes that the children have outside of the classroom and we will be putting these to good use for the rest of the year. A huge thank you to all of the staff that give up their time to go away with the children, without you we couldn't do this for our children.

Thank you to all of the children who attended our open event and supported Maidensbridge so well. We had over 50 visitors, all interested in our school for their child in September 2027. We were all so proud of the children and we received lots of feedback from the visitors about how polite our children were and how knowledgeable they were about our school. A special thank you to our Head Boy, Head Girl, Deputy Head Boy and Deputy Head Girl who presented in front of a room full of adults confidently and clearly, with their speeches. Amazing resilience and confidence!

After receiving the Smart Money Award last year for our work with HSBC, these sessions have continued for our children this half term. They have been visited by HSBC to give them vital information about money saving and money safety for when they are older. Life lessons that are so important.

The HSA are busy preparing our amazing bonfire event on Friday 6th November. Make sure you have your tickets ahead of the day, paid for online, because it is usually a sell out event!

If there are any parents who can help us in the day or in the evening, we would be very grateful. Please get in touch via the info@maidens.dudley.sch.uk email address.

Thank you to everyone who was able to send a contribution for Harvest this year, our donations went off to the Black Country Food Bank and will be much appreciated by the people of Dudley. Thank you.

Well done everyone who has attendance of 96% or above for this half term, we will be looking for our 100% certificates over the next term to award in assembly before the end of term.

Just a reminder please that term-time holidays should not be booked and will not be authorised by school. As a 'good' school our attendance should be above National at 97% and we are currently at 97.1% which is fantastic so well done everyone! Let's keep that up all year!

Don't forget your wellies and your raincoats ready for our OPAL adventures this term.

The digging area will be available to children this week but they must have their wellies and  a pair of waterproof trousers or an all in one waterproof suit to be able to access this zone.

Please visit our website to see the fun the children are having in our OPAL gallery.

We would like to share our congratulations for Mrs James and Miss Evans who are off for new adventures and have secured new roles in local Dudley schools but unfortunately this means that they will be leaving the Maidensbridge family on Friday 23rd October. Thank you to you both for the fantastic work that you have done for our children and families and for always showing your commitment and dedication to make sure they have the best of everything.

Miss Evans we will keep Forest school tidy and organised, we promise!

The children will continue to have their forest school sessions, which will be delivered by the Forest School leader from Rufford Primary School.

We will also be welcoming our new School Business Manager in to the Maidensbridge family on Monday 2nd November; Mrs Doveston, who I have worked with previously at my last school and I know she is very much looking forward to joining us!

Monday 2nd November - Children back at school

Friday 6th November- Maidensbridge Bonfire! Make sure you have got your tickets online before it sells out!

Monday 9th November- INSET Day

Friday 20th November- Children In Need

Friday 11th December- HSA Christmas Disco

Please call: 0300 555 0050

If you are concerned about a child’s welfare please speak to a DSL in school, or call Children’s Social Care on the number above.