Autumn Newsletter 2 [Friday 16th September]
Dear Parents & Carers
I’d like to thank everyone who attended our parent information evenings throughout the week, I hope you found these useful. The link between home & school is so important; where this is strong, children will make more progress. A consistent message across the evening was the importance of reading. Being able to read fluently & accurately is key to children’s learning across the curriculum. Reading is not just for pleasure, it’s a key life skill. I’ve pinched this next bit from the Y5&6 presentation but it is relevant for all our children from nursery to Y6.:
Remember that at this age it is still really important to share the reading journey with your child…reading to them, hearing them read aloud, sharing likes and dislikes, discussing characters, asking questions, predicting endings…the list goes on!
Last week, I mentioned the importance of keeping our children safe when in the vicinity of the school car park. It is with incredulity that I’m recounting the following story. Yesterday, a grandparent with 2 children took them on to the car park (the bit where cars drive) & told them to “run around & burn off some energy.” The children then proceeded to run around the car park, going in & out of, & behind, the parked cars. A car park is not a playground.
Here’s his week’s conversation starters to help you find out more about your children’s learning…
Nursery
Who did Hairy Maclary meet on his walk?
{Literacy: ‘Hairy Maclary from Donaldson’s Dairy’ Lynley Dodd}
Reception [Red & Blue]
What makes you special? What are you good at?
{Communication & Language + Personal, Social & Emotional Development}
Y1&2 [Green, Yellow & Purple]
What is an aerial view?
{Geography topic: ‘Spatial Sense’}
Y3&4 [3G, 3/4M & 4T]
How do voluntary & involuntary muscles differ?
{Science topic: ‘The Human Body’}
Y5&6 [5D, 5/6P & 6R]
Who was Caliph Al Mansur? Explain his vision.
{History topic: ‘Baghdad’}
This week, our whole school attendance is 97.9%. That’s brilliant! It must be the best we’ve had for a few years – well done! We had 3 classes with 100% attendance: Purple, 5/6P & 6R – congratulations!
We had 5 classes who had no late marks this week: Blue Class, Yellow Class, 3/4M, 4T & . We’ve had 20 late marks across the whole school. 14 late marks were ‘before the register closed’ – that’s before 9.20am & 6late marks ‘after the register has closed’, that’s after 9.20am. Arriving on time gives the children a much better start to the day.
A reminder that FOWSA’s AGM is on Thursday 29th September at 9am. If you can, please pop along & see what they get up. They are always looking for volunteers to help with their activities – they will be grateful with whatever support you can offer.
Lunchtime on the junior playground today… There I was, enjoying the sunshine, feeling good, actually feeling full of beans for once. Then it happened. “Excuse me Mr Grandad, please can I go to the toilet?” Oof! (Just to explain, they weren’t being cheeky, it was a genuine slip of the tongue – they looked mortified!)
Have a good weekend – remember school is closed on Monday (19th September) & we reopen on Tuesday 20th.
KD Williams
Headteacher
Last word
Doctor, doctor! I’ve got broccoli stuck in my ear.
Looks like you’re not eating properly…
