30th September 2022
Dear Parents and Carers,
It was lovely to see so many of you attending our Praise and Celebrate assembly last Friday. It has been some time that parents have been able to come into school and I hope we can build opportunities for you to be involved, included and come into school more. With this in mind, I would warmly invite you to attend the Open Classroom afternoon on 12th Oct at 15.00. This is an opportunity for children to share their books with parents/carers. This may be a wonderful opportunity for you to see your child’s work prior to parents evening on 17th and 18th October. (Please see attached sheet).
Harvest Festival
An enormous THANK YOU to you all for supporting our harvest festival collection and donating so many wonderful items, which I have no doubt the Gillingham Food Bank will be hugely grateful to receive. Thank you!
School day timings
Just a reminder that our doors are open to welcome children into school at 8.40am in the morning, with Lesson One starting at 8.50am. Please could I respectfully request that all children are in school ready to start their learning at 8.50am.
Volunteers/Helpers
We would welcome any parental help in school, particularly to hear readers. Anybody with a free hour or two would be welcomed with open arms! Please let Mrs Pike or your child’s class teacher know if you are able to help, be this on a regular or on an adhoc basis.
The Rotary Club Shoebox Appeal 2022
I would very much like to support the Rotary Club of Gillingham (Dorset) with their Shoebox Scheme 2022, as I am sure many parents would. For those unfamiliar with the scheme the aim is to fill a shoebox (this year flat pack shoeboxes are provided) with gift for some of the very poorest children in the world who have very little pleasure in their lives. This year the Rotary Club are sending boxes to Albania, Montenegro, Moldova and Romania. Moldova and Romania will be making extra efforts to get as many boxes to children displaced by the conflict in Ukraine.
The ages of the children range from 1 -15 years of age and the only items that cannot be sent are: Battery powered items, war related items, guns, knives, large items of clothing or shoes, books of a religious, racial or political nature, food, liquids and sweets of any kind, medicines, large toys and sharp items. (Please note: Toothbrushes and toothpaste now accepted).
As I say the Rotary Club will be supplying flat-pack shoeboxes as it is becoming increasingly difficult to obtain the right sized shoeboxes. The boxes have a pre-printed label, so boxes can be decorated with sticky Christmas labels or wrapped before being assembled and are still able to be opened. Instructions on making the boxes will be provided. Old wrapped shoeboxes however will still be accepted. We have been asked NOT to seal boxes.
New for 2022 The Rotary Club have asked that asked, (due to increased costs), that £2.00 be sellotaped to each box to help with transportation costs. Boxes will be collected on Friday 21st October.
I have ordered 20 flat pack boxes from The Club, and these will be handed out on a first come, first served basis, so if you are willing, keen and able to collate a box please let Mrs Pike know. If our boxes run out then remember you can always source and old shoebox, wrap it, fill it and drop it off at Crockers in Gillingham High Street, or single items can be donated that will be boxed by the Rotary Club.
The Rotary Club and I thank you in advance, for being willing to bring some joy into the lives of children who have very little.
Class Room News
Oak Class
Oak class have been enjoyed last swimming lesson, with nobody complaining about the cold!
They have been looking at addition and subtraction using multiple exchanges which has been quite challenging. In English they have been creating descriptive writing about the animals on a fantasy planet called Pandora. In PSHE they discussed the difference between wants and needs.
The highlight of the week however, was a talk by Mr Whitfield – who showed the class what it was like to be a Harrier and Sea Vixen pilot. He also chatted about the importance of teamwork to achieve great things, and how any one of the children could achieve their dreams and goals if they worked hard, stayed resilient and learnt from their mistakes.
Chestnut Class
Chestnut Class have been writing their own chapter for the Stolen Spear to explain how Wolf managed to find Crow.
In Maths, Y4’s have been rounding to the nearest 10, 100 and 1000.
Y3’s have been revisiting their number bonds and how they can apply them to greater numbers as well moving on to adding and subtracting ones to/from 3-digit numbers.
In History, the children have been learning about the Bronze Age and reflecting on the importance of discovering bronze.
Next week, Chestnut Class have got their workshop to look forward to. This is based at school and the volunteers from Gold Hill Museum will be helping the children learn more about prehistory.
Beech Class
The children have been comparing numbers, using the symbols <, = and > in maths. The traditional tale of Little Red Riding Hood has been the focus in English, with the children using puppets to retell the story and looking at the story sequence. In Science the children have been researching different habitats, and in Art there has been creative exploration using leaves, paint and salt dough.
Hazel Class
This week the children began their Phonics and Maths journeys. The children have been learning the sounds s, a, t and p, and we have been looking at the numbers 1 and another 1. The children have been talking about their feelings and things we can do to help others if they are feeling sad. Next week we be looking at People Who Help Us, and using the story Mixed to look at friendships. The children will be continuing on their Phonics journey, learning the sounds i, n, m and d, and for Maths we will be investigating the numbers 2 and 3.
Diary dates for the forthcoming week and beyond
| 12th Oct
|
15.00 | Open Classroom afternoon
(An opportunity for children to share their books & work with parents) |
| 17th Oct
|
15.30 – 17.30 | Parent Meetings |
| 18th Oct
|
17.30 – 19.30 | Parent Meetings |
| 21st Oct
|
15.20 | Half term |
| 31st Oct
|
08.50 | Second half of term starts |
| 18th Nov | All Day | Children in Need Day
|
| 1st Dec | 09.00 | Christmas Tree Service & decorating the tree
|
| 7th Dec | 14.30 | Nativity in the Hall
|
| 13th Dec | 16.00 | Carol Service at St Michael and The Angels’ Church, Stour Provost – all welcome. |
| 16th Dec
|
15.20 | End of Term |