Dear Parents and Carers,
The build up to Christmas it feels has started, with nativity costumes being brought down from the costume cupboard and props being gathered. Please may I remind one and all that one of our Nativity performance dates has changed, with 7th December at 16.00 replacing the 6th December performance.
Sports
This week a number of pupils from Chestnut Class represented the school in the Gillingham Family Primary School Year 3 /4 Netball Festival, which was played at Gillingham School. Mrs Smeeton was very impressed by the enthusiasm and sportsmanship shown, as well as the teamwork and skills displayed. My thanks to parents for transporting and Mrs Smeeton for escorting the team.
Book Fair
A massive thank you to all who supported the book fair. Your purchases have raised £446.17 for the school to put towards the purchase of new books.
Amazon Wish List
As part of our library boost, we have created an Amazon Wishlist. This is a list of books we would like for the library, it will be updated and more books added as we work our way through date checking the library books. If you would like to purchase a book for the library from this list please follow the link below: https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/YET20JTJSAIO?ref_=wl_share
To purchase from the list:
- a) Browse the List.
- b) From the list page or the product detail page, select Add to Basket.
Note: When you order, the item will be moved to the purchased section of the recipient’s list. You can enter a gift message and request gift wrap.
- c) Continue shopping or proceed to checkout.
- d) To complete your order, follow the on-screen instructions.
No matter how you choose to donate a book, a sticker will be placed in each and every book donated, for the children to acknowledge and appreciate where the book has come from.
Winter Reading Challenge
It’s back! Spark a love of reading even in the most reluctant reader with the free online Winter Mini Challenge. Unlock rewards for reading and find fun activities on our dedicated children’s website. The Winter Mini Challenge is an online, bitesize version of The Reading Agency’s annual Summer Reading Challenge. This summer, they teamed up with the Youth Sport Trust and public libraries to bring you Ready, Set, Read! – a Summer Reading Challenge that empowered hundreds of thousands of young people to read and play, keeping minds and bodies active over the summer break.
Following the success of Ready, Set, Read! The Reading Agency are delighted to extend the theme
into the Winter Mini Challenge. With the holidays approaching, now is the time to encourage families
to discover the joy of reading or to build on good reading habits!
Tackle the holiday reading ‘dip’ and join in at wintermini.org.uk from 1 December 2023.
More information on the Challenge can be found on the website.
Please would interested children collect a reading record from the office.
Dog Trust Visit
Vicky from the Dog Trust visited today. She ran an assembly for all pupils based on how to keep ourselves safe around dogs. This was then followed up by classroom workshops with each year group.
Friends of Stower Provost
A reminder that there is a meeting this evening at 6pm, being held at a member’s home. Please contact school or a member of the Friends Committee for further information.
Class news
Oak
This week Oak class have finally completed all the NFER tests which were postponed because of the residential trip. All the children did their very best and we are so proud of them all. We wowed a school visitor with our jazz improvisations and he was impressed with the children’s knowledge and enthusiasm. In PSHE the children have looked at culture and how differences can seem strange. In RE, pupils discussed if there are any universal truths. Next week the class are looking forward to studying and writing a biography.
Chestnut
This week, Chestnut class have started planning their own version of The Whispering Stone – what happens next in the adventures of the Stone Age boy, Wolf. The children have come up with some excellent ideas and exciting vocabulary. In science, the pupils have learned all about their muscles and which pairs work together to aid specific movements. In history, Chestnut class have learned the causes of the Iron Age and how this changed daily life. This week, the Year 4s have finished their maths unit about addition and subtraction and will be moving onto learning about area next week.
Beech
This week, Beech class have been looking at interesting vocabulary which we can use in our writing. It is great to see how excited the children have gotten about finding different ways to express sentiments. In maths, the children have been looking at shape in more detail and using rulers to draw shapes and identify lines of symmetry.
Beech class have been in the Nativity zone and practicing their play every day! We have been practicing on and off the stage as well as looking at the costumes they will be wearing. Today (Friday) the children have had an exciting day doing a workshop with someone from the dog’s trust.
Hazel
Hazel Class have started rehearsing the Nativity, with lots of enthusiasm. Please note the change of dates for the last performance. A Nativity performance on 7th December at 16.00, replaces the 6th December performance.
EYFS have been creating butterfly and frog life cycles, and have welcomed our new class pets – Stick, Sticky, Stickier and Twig (stick insects in case were unsure)!
Year 1 have been looking at historical events from the 1950s and watched Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation, which led to a very in depth discussion on how to become and king or queen.
Both classes have enjoyed their art activities liked to the theme of funny faces, where the children have been exploring methods of joining materials.
Diary dates (dates in red have been added this week)
| 28th Nov | Last entry date | Local Food Links Christmas Card competition – last entry date |
| 4th Dec | 18.30 – 20.00 | Friends Event – Wreath Making |
| 5th Dec | 14.00 | School nativity – KS1 and Reception on stage, KS2 singing |
| 5th Dec | 18.30 – 20.00 | Friends Event – Wreath Making |
| 6th Dec | 16.00 | School nativity – KS1 and Reception on stage, KS2 singing |
| 7th Dec | All Day | Christmas jumper day |
| 7th Dec | 16.00 | School nativity – KS1 and Reception on stage, KS2 singing |
| 8th Dec | 15.30 – 17.00 | Christmas Bizarre |
| 13th Dec | 12.05 – 12.30 | Local Food Links Christmas Lunch |
| 14th Dec | 15.30 – 17.00 | Christmas Disco |
| 2nd Jan | INSET DAY | |
| 3rd Jan | 08.40 | Spring Term starts |
| 22nd July 2024 | INSET DAY | |
| 23rd July 2024 | INSET DAY |
Best wishes,
A Boardman-Hirst