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20th September 2007

School Newsletter No.2



   HOMEWORK      READ, READ & READ!

Your child should now be bringing home their new red homework liaison book in order for them

 to complete small tasks at home with you, in order to gain the homework stars just like last year. The main emphasis is READING, where we expect all the children in the school to read their book/s every night or morning if possible. The homework books will have the reward sheet in the back of the book, so that the children can gain reading stars and be rewarded for their hard work.  

Please note that parents only sign the reading star sheet if their child has read.

Depending on their ability and developmental stage, some children will also be asked to learn to read,  a small list of words, or  key words. They will then be assessed whether they can read these before they are given the next set of words.

Other homework activities in year 1 up to year 4 might be:

The above listed homework activities will be rewarded in class times, and monitored regularly by the teacher.

Writing

This year we are very keen to promote children’s writing, and encourage them to hand write at every given opportunity! We hope you will help and encourage them to write to their grandparents or relatives, write shopping lists, a diary or maybe start to write stories! We shall be setting up a post box within school so that the children may write to their friends in other classes etc.

 

The children will soon come home with a writing book and a new pencil, and we would be very grateful if you could encourage them to start writing whenever the opportunity arises; maybe writing down what they have done at the weekend, or write about something they are interested in – football, swimming or their pets. The list is endless!  The teachers will NOT mark the writing at all, or look at it on a regular daily basis as they do the homework books but from time to time the teacher will ask the children to talk about their writing, or they will be given shared opportunities to talk with a friend about their writing books.

 

The writing books do have lines in them, and the children should be encouraged to use the lines, but please do not worry if they find it difficult to sit their letters on the line especially in the reception class.


Talk Time

The teachers may also ask the children to plan to talk about something they are interested in, and then be able to tell their class. This will be called Talk Time  or Talk homework because “If you can’t say it, you can’t write it!” We will also have specific ‘show and tell times’ when the child can talk to their class mates about an interest, or possibly an important family event!

 

We hope the above is clear, and know that you will continue to work with your children in partnership with us.  We wondered if parents would like us to hold a short meeting to talk some more about homework and about what we want to improve as a whole school? We know that we shall be having our parent evenings very soon, where you will have opportunities to discuss your child’s progress, but know that some parents have requested more workshops on certain curriculum areas and information on how to support their children.

 

We know that you will agree that it is vital that home and school WORK TOGETHER, in supporting and encouraging our children’s learning.

PLEASE FILL IN THE ATTACHED SHEET TO GIVE US AN IDEA ABOUT HOW MANY PARENTS WOULD BE INTERESTED IN A MEETING ABOUT HOMEWORK AND OUR SCHOOL PRIORITIES



STORY SACKS

Would anybody be interested in helping us put together some story sacks? As you know we want to encourage the children to talk about stories, and a great way is to immerse the children in the story and bring it to life with the objects or characters from the given story. For instance for the well known story  ‘The Hungry caterpillar’ you may have a cloth sack and inside a toy caterpillar, maybe made out of woollen pom poms,  perhaps some knitted vegetables or the food he eats, maybe a leaf made out of felt and so it goes on!!

 

So if you are creative, talented with a needle and cotton, or can knit, you maybe the person we are looking for! Please call in to the office or see the class teacher and let us know if you think you may be able to help us, or maybe one of your relatives may be interested.

Thankyou in anticipation!



AN INFORMATIVE  PARENTS EVENING TO HELP YOUR CHILD AT HOME WITH THEIR LEARNING.

 

As mentioned at the front of the newsletter we thought it might be a good idea to hold a meeting to talk some more about ways you could help your child with their homework. We have mentioned a few ideas, but feel that maybe a meeting would give you a much better idea and show you some resources we might use in school.

 

 It would only be for about half an hour to forty minutes, and possibly from  6.00 p.m to  6.30 p.m to give working mums and dads time to come too.

 

Please fill in the slip below as soon as you can and return to school, so that we can gauge if this is what the majority of parents would like.

 

Thankyou.

 

 

NAME OF CHILD……………………………………………………………………………….

 

CLASS……………………………………………………………………………………………..

Please delete as necessary.

 

I / We would be interested in attending a meeting about homework and about what the school priorities are for this year.

 

I / We would NOT be interested in attending a meeting about homework and about what the school priorities are for this year.

 

I/ We would be unable to make an evening meeting at the times given.

 

I/ We feel we have enough information about homework and how to help and support our child/ren, and do not think a meeting is necessary.

 

Any other comments regarding homework?

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

 

 

ANYBODY INTERESTED IN BECOMING A RELIEF LUNCHTIME SUPERVISOR?

 

Would anyone be interested in standing in during lunchtimes to look after the children?  From time to time we need extra dinner time staff to call upon if any of our staff are unwell or cannot come in.

 

Could you spare just over an hour at lunchtimes to help us out? This would be supervising the children whilst they have their lunch and whilst they are on the playground.

 

If you think you would like to do this occasionally please call in at the office and we can let you know more details about the job.  Thankyou.


TO ALL NURSERY PARENTS : FUNDING FOR NURSERY EDUCATION

 

I have just received a letter from Alison Hitchins, the Services Development Manager – Early Years and Childcare, explaining the funding for Nursery children as some parents are confused as to how they are able to claim their funded nursery education when their children are attending more than one early years setting. I have now been asked to give all my nursery parents information on funding

 

As you know we have extended our hours from 12½ hours per week to 15 hours per week, and all our children attending the school nursery will be encouraged to attend for five sessions per week. We are offering extended entitlement of 15 hours so all the funding is directed at the school, and the parents cannot claim funding at any other early years setting.

 

There are other different funding regulations that come into play but too numerous to mention here. If you have any queries regarding funding please call into the office and I shall do my best to answer your questions, or could forward your questions onto Alison Hitchins.



CHANGE OF DATES.

 

The date for our HARVEST FESTIVAL has now changed. It will now be held on :

 

FRIDAY 12th OCTOBER at 9.00 a.m , and not on Thursday 11th October.

 

Our WELCOME ASSEMBLY will now be held on:

 

THURSDAY 15th NOVEMBER at 9.00 a.m, and not on Thursday 18th October.