GRINDONINFANT SCHOOL & NURSERY NEWSLETTER

SPRING 2015

I would like to take this opportunity to welcome everyone back to school and nursery, especially our new children and parents. Staff would like to say thank you very much for all the lovely presents they received at Christmas. It was very kind of you. It is a great honour and privilege to be Head Teacher at GrindonInfant School and I have been made to feel very welcome by children, staff and parents. I look forward to working with you all in the future and please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any concerns or questions. Mrs A Charlton, Head Teacher

Please find below some important information and details about the term:

Spring Term 2015 Dates

5January 2015 – 2 April 2015

***

13 February 2015 – INSET day

12 February 2015 – break up for half-term

(school closed for 1 week + 1 day)

Monday 23 February 2015 – return to school

***

3 March 2015 – Parents’ Evening 3.30 - 6.00pm

4 March2015 – Parents’ Evening 3.30 - 6.00pm

***

2 April 2015 – break up for Easter Holidays

(school closed for 2 weeks + 1 day)

Return to school Monday20 April 2015

School Uniform

Winter time is here – wrap your child up warmly! Send in wellington boots and a change of indoor shoes.

Please put names in all items of clothing including gym shoes and re-label if necessary.

Nursery children are encouraged to bring spare clothes (including underwear, Wellington boots and a waterproof jacket) to hang on their peg in case of emergencies.

Please ensure children wear sensible shoes for safety reasons.

Water bottles are needed daily.

Homework for Reception, 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 library/reading books.

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.

Nursery-Friday

Reception-Wednesday

Class 5-Tuesday pm (gymnastics)

Class 3-Tuesday &Thursday

Class 4-Tuesday &Thursday

Year Two-Monday and Wednesday

Important Dates/Events

NurseryLiteracy workshop for parents/carers

Class 3 Assembly – Wednesday 11 February 2015at 9.15am

Book WeekMonday 16 March 2015

Class 4 Assembly – Thursday 1 April 2015 at 9.15am

Weekly Clubs

Y2Swimming TuesdayAfter school

Y1/2Dance ClubTuesdayAfter school

RecGymnasticsWednesdayLunchtime

Y1 & Y2Multi sportWednesdayAfter school

Y2Reading, Writing ClubsLunchtimes

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.

We are encouraging our children to arrive at school on time.

Ten to Nine in the Line!

The first ten minutes of the school day is very important. If your child is late they are missing out on spelling, reading and hand writing practise. Please do not be late!

Our school’s website can now be viewed:

Earrings

Please wait until the 6 week summer holiday before allowing your child to have their ears pierced. Thank you.

NURSERY

Our topic for the first half of this term is ‘Winter’. Children are learning about cold weather, warm clothes and foods to keep us warm. After half term, we will be learning about Spring changes.

Our PE sessions began in school last week. We are introducing warm-up and cool down activities and games with small apparatus such as hoops. Thank you for ensuring that names are in children’s clothing. This is vital in helping us to support your child in getting dressed and undressed for PE.

Our Literacy Workshop will take place on Tuesday 27 January 2015, 10.30am - 11.45am for morning children and 2.00pm-3.10pm for afternoon children.

RECEPTION

Thank you for your continued support. The letters and sounds programme has been very successful and we are really pleased with the progress the children are making– keep practising and well done!

We are learning about Traditional Tales. We will be looking at a variety of traditional tales.

We are learning to tell different stories using actions and pictures. Reading stories repeatedly allows children to understand about stories and supports their reading skills.

Story time at bedtime is a lovely sharing time!

  • Talk about who is in the story
  • Where the story takes place
  • What happens in the story and at the end
  • Talk about other stories that start ‘Once upon a time…’

YEAR ONE

This term, our topic is all about buildings and the local area. We have started looking at maps and how they are used. We have enjoyed looking at aerial photographs and naming and describing what we can see.

We are very excited about making our own houses with boxes and using these to make a village as a year group. We will then use this to make our own maps. If you make any at home, feel free to bring them in and we can add them to our collection.

We are planning to have a walk around the local area in the next few weeks. We will be looking at the types of buildings as well as the other human and physical features that surround us. It would be great if you could talk about what you see on your way to school so the children can share this with their friends.

In literacy we have been reading ‘The true story of the Three Little Pigs’. We have really enjoyed taking part in drama and pretending to be the wolf.

YEAR TWO

Our topic for spring term is ‘Rainforests’. The children will be learning about a rainforest in Australia and the Amazon rainforest. They will be thinking about the differences between our environment and the environment in Brazil. They will be learning about the climate, the animals, travel and way of life.

Second half-term topic is ‘After Dark’. The children will learn about the difference between night and day and the inventor of the light bulb, Thomas Edison. Night time animals will be a focus too, “Twit-too-woo”.

Please support your child’s learning by reminding them to bring in their PE kit every week, to do their homework and return it and to bring back their reading folder daily.

This year Chinese New Year falls during our half term break (Thursday 19 February 2015) so we intend taking our Year 2 pupils to Newcastle on Monday 23February 2015 for a Chinese buffet lunch and to look at the decorations in Stowell Street. Permission letters will be given to the children soon.

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.

GrindonInfant School and Nursery Staff