Oxfordshire County Council

HAILEY CE PRIMARY SCHOOL

Headteacher: Mrs. D Davies Tel: 01993 703802

Fax: 01993 849790

email:

3rd November 2017

Infant Newsletter – Term 2, 2017

Splendid Skies

Dear Parents,

I hope you all had a restful break and are ready for a busy term. This term the Infants will become weather detectives for our new topic: Splendid Skies! We will be spending lots of time outdoors exploring the different weather. Our main focus this term is science looking closely at the seasons, weather and carrying out a variety of investigations.

Activities planned across the curriculum will include:

English:

·  Recounts

·  Poetry

·  Postcards

Geography:

·  Exploring hot and cold countries

·  Identifying physical and human features

·  Map drawing

History:

·  Discovering historical figures

Art and Design:

·  Discussing artists work

·  Creating art work in the style of a chosen artist

RE

In RE, the children will be looking at the big question: ‘Should we wear religious symbols?’ Children will be exploring religious symbols within both Christianity and Judaism. This week the children have been exploring symbols in everyday life. I asked the children to keep their eyes peeled for any they see.

PE

The children will continue to take part in in PE on Thursday and Friday afternoons. Please can you make sure your child has the correct named Hailey PE kit which includes: black or navy shorts, jogging bottoms, a white T-shirt, a sweatshirt and a pair of trainers? Hair should be tied up for these sessions. Children who wear tights need to have a pair of socks in their PE bag. If your child wears earrings these either need to be taken out for the lessons or tape needs to be provided. Children who are unable to remove their earrings or have tape unfortunately will not be able to participate.

Spelling and Maths Homework Reminder

Homework will be set on Fridays, and needs to be returned by the following Wednesday for marking. Homework will consist of spellings to learn supported by an activity and ActiveLearn Maths.

The children will have a spelling homework folder that will need to be returned each week. This needs to be put into the blue box in the cloakroom. Children can put it into the box when they have completed it. A member of staff will remind them on a Wednesday if they still need to hand it in.

When homework has been completed and marked the Infant team leave it in the folder for reference. Some parents choose to remove the old homework folder and keep it at home. Some of the activities may require the same resources e.g. alphabet cards, so these would be useful to keep.

Maths will be assigned to the children on a weekly basis on the ActiveLearn website. Please support your child with the ICT skills e.g. inputting a number into the box, clicking on the correct shape? Do use equipment to help your child, if you require any resources please ask a member of the Infant team who will assist you.

Results from Spellings and ActiveLearn will be sent home the following week.

If homework is not completed and returned by Thursday morning children will be asked to complete it during their own time within the school day.

Topic Homework

Topic homework has been sent home in your child’s book bag today. This homework gives you choices of activities to complete over the term of which one needs to be completed. This is due Thursday 7th December, ready for the parents open morning on Friday 8th December at 8.50am.

Reading Reminder

The children are looking forward to taking part in their first reading reward next week which is a PE afternoon. We are well on our way to receiving our next reward too. For children to help towards this they need to read 4 times a week which needs to be written in to their yellow reading diary. It is useful for staff if the comment includes how you child has read, any words which they struggled with and how well they understood the text.

Please remind your child if their books need changing as they need to be placed on the side first thing where it says ‘please change my books,’ we do not automatically change their books.

Spelling Test

Children will be tested on their spellings from their homework every Thursday. The test is carried out in the children’s phonics group. Each member of staff will ask the children to record each word in their spelling book. The children will have time to record each word before they are asked to record the next one. The books are marked later in the day.

Change bag

This term we have many opportunities to head outside during all weathers. Please can all children have a complete change of clothes (this does not need to be school uniform) including socks/ tights and underwear in a separate bag to their PE bag on their peg.

Some activities will be carried out in the rain so can you also make sure your child has a pair of wellies which stay in school?

If you need to inform a member of the Infant team about your child being collected by someone else or have a question, please see the member of staff at the cloakroom door. They will make sure that any messages are passed onto me if I am unavailable or on duty. If this requires an appointment for a longer chat Tuesdays after school are usually a good time for me.

I hope that this letter has given you an overview of the work planned for this term. If you have any questions or queries at another time, please come and see me.

Best wishes,

Jo Purves