Dear Parents and Carers,
It is lovely to be back in school and hear about many expeditions and experiences the children have had over the half term break. We are back into the swing of things at school, with last week’s holiday a distant memory all ready it seems. Read on to hear what has been happening and what is coming up in the following weeks.
Reading
We have carried out Read Write Inc online assessments with all children in the school this week. Based on these assessments your child’s group may change, to ensure they are accessing the appropriate level and material. New groups will begin from Monday.
Many thanks to all parents who have ensured RWI and reading books have been in school daily. Thank you also to so many parents who are supporting their children by hearing them read at home. It is equally wonderful to hear how some parents are also reading stories to their children and having great shared moments, which will be memorable for both.
Could I please ask adults who listen to children read from a Read Write Inc book to record this in the pupil’s Reading Record. Please would those children who are ‘off the phonics scheme’, record their free reading in their Homework Diaries, this can be written by the child.
NSPCC Assembly
Ms Babiy will be leading an NSPCC children’s assembly on Thursday 9th November. Please see the attached letter for further details.
Friends Corner
Pumpkin Carving Competition
I have seen several entries for the Friends’ pumpkin carving competition. All entries have been shared on the Friends’ Facebook page, with the winning entries being announced next week. I understand entries will be accepted until the end of the weekend.
Easy Fundraising reminder
With Christmas just around the corner, please remember to sign up to Easy Fundraising website and make your purchases through the site. This will generate a wealth of additional funds for the school, without costing any of us any money!
Coming up this month
Usborne Book Fair – Wednesday 8th November
We will be holding a book fair on Wednesday 8th November in school, selling Usborne books in our school library. Children will have the opportunity to visit the fair during the day and complete a wish list form with 2 or 3 books that they like.
Parents will have the option of coming to browse the books with or without children. The book lists will be made available to you, so you can make surprise purchases, with Christmas in mind. You may however prefer to browse through the books with your child and buy books that are of interest and that can be enjoyed together. Orders and payments will be made at the end of the day.
Should any parent be unable to make the book fair, then a completed order form can be handed into school, over the following few days after the fair, with the appropriate payment made to the school. Completed order forms and money will be sent or collected by the Usborne representative, who will then deliver ordered books to school.
I hope the following timetable will be useful.
If you have friends or family who would also like to visit the fair, please bring them along – all are welcome.
The school will receive commission on your purchases, which will be spent on books for our now depleted library, since the pre half term cull!
| Time | Class | Adult |
| 10.00 – 10.30 | Set Up | |
| 10.30 – 11.00 | Toddler Group parents | |
| 11.00 – 11.35 | Hazel Class | LBU |
| 11.35 – 12.05 | Oak Class | LC |
| 12.00 – 12.30 | Pre School (parents / villagers) | |
| 12.00 – 12.30 | Lunch | |
| 13.10 – 13.40 | Beech Class | HW |
| 13.40 – 14.10 | Chestnut Class | LBA |
| 14.15 – 14.45 | Catch up of any pupils missed | JS / AB |
| 14.45 – 15.20 | Parent time without children (pre school, school and villagers) | |
| 15.20 – 16.00 | Parents with children time |
Children in Need Day – Friday 17th November
Come dressed in something spotty for the day and remember to bring a jar which you have filled with something exciting. You have two weeks to still come up with some ideas! All jars will be kept safe and will be used on the ‘hoop and win a jar’ stall at the Christmas Bizarre, and will be collected in in classes.
Local food links Christmas card competition
Our school food provider, Food Links, are looking for a Picasso to design their Christmas card. They will choose 2 winners, representing Foundation/Key Stage 1 & Key Stage 2/Key Stage 3. Children are encouraged to take part in this competition, perhaps creating an entry over the half term. The closing date is Tuesday 28th November, with A4 entries emailed to natasha.elliott@localfoodlinks.org.uk. Please see the attached document for further information.
Class news
Oak
This week, Oak class have been considering the teachings of the Buddha further. He encouraged us to find The Middle Way and the children wondered if this was always a good attitude to have – much thoughtful discussion ensued. Pupils also discussed The Banyan Deer story of compassion. Next week children are looking forward to creating a drama, based on this and other Jakarta Tales. In English, pupils reminded themselves about antonyms and synonyms and also used dialogue to advance the action and show character in narrative writing – painting a picture with words.
Chestnut
This week, the pupils have started to learn about the Bronze Age and how the Beaker Folk influenced daily life in prehistoric Britain. On Wednesday, the children had a geography topic day where they explored maps and learned a range of map skills. In English, the students are writing a setting description about a prehistoric celebration of the Summer Solstice. Next week, the class will continue their learning about the Bronze Age and will be writing a character description based on our core text.
A note about homework:
From now on, homework will continue to be due in on a Thursday but will be sent out on a Friday. Can I also say a huge well done to the children who made fantastic models of Stone Age settlements. The photos and models have been a joy to look at this week. Thank you!
Beech
This week, Beech class have been have been starting to look at Newspapers. They have discussed the important parts that should be included. In maths, the pupils have been looking at addition and subtraction of tens and using 100 squares to support them. This can be tricky but the class are all persevering porcupines with this learning. In history this week, the children have been looking at Neil Armstrong in more detail so that they can then write their Newspapers about the moon landing.
During PE this week, Beech class have been looking at different dance forms and the creativity that they have shown as well as the collaboration is fantastic! We have a lot of great dance moves in Beech class!
Hazel
In Year 1 the children have been learning about animals that live in the Galapagos Islands for their English. The children are going to write a fact file about the animals as part of their work on non-chronological reports. In EYFS, the children have been listening to the Dogger story and talking about the different words used in the book. In Science, Year 1 have learnt about the word materials and what it means. In History, the children had fun creating a timeline and adding events to it. The EYFS children have searched the school for different shapes on their Maths shape hunt, they found lots of squares and circles but not many triangles.
Diary dates (dates in red have been added this week)
| 6th Nov | 09.00 – 14.45 | Beech Class farm trip |
| 8th Nov | 12 – 12.30 &
14.45 – 16.00 |
Usborne Book Fair in the school library |
| 9th Nov | 08.55 | NSPCC Assembly |
| 17th Nov | All day | Children in Need – come dressed in spots! Please bring a jar filled with something interesting e.g. sweets, soaps, cotton wool balls, bouncy balls etc. |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 22nd July 2024 | INSET DAY | |
| 23rd July 2024 | INSET DAY |
Best wishes,
A Boardman-Hirst