GRINDON INFANT SCHOOL & NURSERY NEWSLETTER
AUTUMN TERM
We hope you found the ‘Welcome’ meetings informative and helpful.
Please find below some important information and details about the forthcoming term:
Autumn Term 2014 Dates
1 September 2014 – 19 December 2014
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1 September 2014 – INSET Day
(school closed to children)
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24 October 2014 – break up for half-term
(1 week)
3 November 2014 – return to school
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18 November 2014 – Parents’ Evening 3.30 - 7.00pm
19 November 2014 – Parents’ Evening 3.30 - 6.00pm
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19 December 2014 – Christmas Holidays
(school closed for 2 weeks)
Return to school Monday 5 January 2014
School Uniform
Please put names in all items of clothing including gym shoes and re-label if necessary.
Please ensure children wear sensible shoes for safety reasons.
Water bottles are needed daily. Please do not add juice.
Homework for Y1 & Y2 children
Homework will be given out every Friday, to be returned on Monday. Please encourage your child to complete their homework and return it to school on time. If you have any concerns about the homework please come along to see us.
Don’t forget to encourage your child to read and return their reading folders on a daily basis (even if they have not finished).
PE Days
Children must not wear earrings on these days as they will not be able to participate in PE.
Children should have a PE Kit in school consisting of shorts, t-shirt (may be bought in school)and gym shoes or indoor trainers.
Reception - Monday
Year One - Tuesday, Thursday & Friday
Year Two - Tuesday and Wednesday
Important Dates/Events
26 September 2014 – School Photographer – individual and family photographs for Christmas
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Harvest Festival
Wednesday 15 October 2014 - Class 1 will be leading the assembly. Donations of fruit/ vegetables/tins will be most welcome
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9 December 2014– Rec Christmas Production 1.45pm
10 December 2014 – Y1 Christmas Production 1.45pm
11 December 2014 - Y2 Christmas Production 2pm
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16 December 2014 - Nursery Christmas Party
17 December 2014 – Rec Christmas Party
18 December 2014 - Y2 Christmas Party
19 December 2014 - Y1 Christmas Party
15 December 2014 Nursery Christmas Story 11am & 2.40pm
CONTACT TELEPHONE NUMBERS
Please inform school of any changes to telephone numbers as we must be able to contact you in case of your child being unwell or in an emergency.
Weekly Clubs
Y1 & Y2 Dance Club Tuesday After school
Y2 Swimming Tuesday After school
Y1 & Y2 Hockey/Golf Club Wednesday After school
Y2 Creative Arts Thursday After school
Y2 Reading, Maths, Science Clubs Lunchtimes
Every School Day Counts
It is very important that children attend school regularly and on time if they are to make good progress. If your child is unable to attend school please ring the school office (5536865) before 9am. Dental and medical appointments should be made, whenever possible, outside of school hours. If this is not possible, please show the dental card or letter confirming the medical appointment to staff in the school office.
Our school’s website can now be viewed: www.grindoninfantschool.co.uk
Coffee Afternoon – Friday 19 September 2014 at 2.15pm for anyone interested in Family Learning. All welcome in the Community Room.
EARLY YEARS FOUNDATION STAGE - NURSERY AND RECEPTION
This year’s Nursery Team is Mrs Jackson, Mrs Fairless and Mrs Maw. Please note that on Wednesday morning Mrs Jackson does not work in class – the children will be taught by MrsBrannan.
The new term got off to a good start in the Nursery. Returning children settled quickly and are helping our newer children to learn routines, as they are admitted on a gradual basis.
The topic for this half term is ‘Ourselves’ and we’ve begun by making hand and foot prints and by counting our fingers and toes. We’ve also had fun practising songs and action rhymes linked with the theme.
Spare Clothes for All Weathers - Please remember:
· A spare change of clothes including underwear and socks.
§ Wellington boots.
§ A waterproof jacket.
§ To label all clothes and bags with your child’s name.
The Reception team, (Mrs Bishop, Mrs Scott, Mrs Grassam & Miss Napier), is pleased to report that the children have all settled well into their new classes and routines and we are all looking forward to getting to know each other better.
Topics/Theme – All About Me - The children will be learning about themselves.
Please note that on Friday afternoons Mrs Bishop and Mrs Scott do not work in class – children will be taught by Mrs Morgan (class 6) and Mrs Brannan (class 5).
YEAR ONE
This year’s team is Mrs Jones, Mrs McCalvey, Mrs Morgan, Mrs Lloyd, MrsSummers and Mrs Young.
We would like to take this opportunity to let you know how pleased we are with how the children have settled into Year One. They are getting used to the new routines and staff in Year One. We are all looking forward to the year ahead.
Our topic for this half term is ‘All About Me’. We have already made a great start to the topic. We are enjoying reading the story ‘Norman the Slug with the Silly Shell’ and have had fun hunting for snails and retelling the story. We have all been looking at the baby and toddler photographs and talking about how we have changed. We have all agreed that we were very cute! We would like to remind parents to get the photographs to us as soon as possible. We are able to make copies if needed. Due to this topic being about the children, we are encouraging them to bring in work or photographs from home to share with the class during show and tell.
We are planning a trip to Beamish Museum later in the term. We are also looking to plan a walk around our local area and a visit to a local church.
Year One will also be starting a programme called ‘Walkwise’ on a Tuesday afternoon. The children learn how to stay safe while crossing roads. They will be walking around the local area in a small group with Mrs Storey, a member of staff from the ‘Walkwise programme’ and Teaching Assistants from our school. While the children are shown how to cross roads safely it is emphasised they should not be crossing the road alone until the age of ten.
YEAR TWO
This year’s team is Mrs Breen, Miss Kirwan, MrsBernardi, MrsPrice, Mrs Cleminson and Miss Angus.
TOPIC – flickering flames
As part of our topic we will be covering many different areas of the curriculum. To do this, we will be looking at survival, Great Fire of London and Guy Fawkes. We will also be taking a step back in time to look at World War I as part of the centenary celebrations. The children will be involved in a range of trips and visits to support their learning and extend their experiences through both of the topics. We are planning that one of our visits will be to Beamish Museum to explore historical artefacts and for a story teller to visit to explore WWI.
Our annual visit to Ewesley Road Church will take place around harvest time. Letters will be given nearer the time. We will be looking at how harvest is celebrated around the world.
If there is anything we can help you with or anything else you would like to know, please come in and see us.
Thank you for your support.
Grindon Infant School and Nursery Staff