It has been wonderful to have all the children back in school this half term. I would like to thank you all for your cooperation since September for making sure that we could welcome everyone back safely. Your patience whilst working with us to make sure we could have staggered starts, altered timings, introduced sibling pick ups, and the way you adapted to anything else that came up. I would like to thank you again. I think the children definitely deserve a well earned rest, they have created and produced some wonderful work since we have been back and hopefully the newsletters have given you an insight to how we have tried to keep life in school as normal as possible for the children, ensuring we can offer a full curriculum with lots of engaging opportunities. As you can see from this week, although it was only 4 days with children in school, there is plenty to celebrate.
School life
Key Stage 1 took part in an exciting Zoom session with the Author John Kane on Tuesday Morning, where he read his new book, I Say Boo, You Say Hoo. The children thoroughly enjoyed the audience participation of saying/shouting Hoo! It could be heard all around school. They even had a chance to create their own character as John taught them how to draw one of the characters from the book. We will be having more Zoom Author visits over the next couple of months for other year groups.
Year 2 have created some wonderful diary entries this week and I had the joy of reading them. They were great! Well done Year 2.
Reception have had another busy week. We have been talking about autumn and the children have been mixing autumn colours and painting autumn trees. The children have also been colour mixing in the magic potion area and enjoyed making and eating spooky spider biscuits. The children have brought home a new reading book and words to practise reading and writing. Please upload the children's sheets to tapestry if you can.
Year 3 have been recreating Quentin Blake style art. Ben produced this amazing picture of the BFG!
Year 3 also got to experience Now Press Play. Whilst we might not be able to be out and about as much as possible, we have been looking at other ways to ensure the children have an enriching curriculum. The children in Year 3 got a chance to take part in an immersive Stone Age session. You will see more pictures of pink headphones on children in the coming weeks and months as they go on many more magical experiences! This is Year 3 getting ready with their bow and arrows, ready for the woolly mammoth.
Matthew has been working extremely hard on his times tables with Miss Weatherhead over the past couple of weeks and it great to see the 7 times table being another times table ticked off, some super work!
Year 6 have been looking at creating Sculptures this week:
Year 5 have produced some amazing History and Geography work this half term, celebrated in the final essays produced at the end of their topics. Some wonderful knowledge and understanding shown through some great geographical and historical concepts.
Y1 and Y1/2 have focused on mark making and the Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama.
This week in nursery things got quite spooky. The children enjoyed making spells with eyeballs, frogs, skeletons and spiders. We read the book Meg and Mog and we found out how we can make a list when we want lots of things. The children have been role playing witches outside using poles for broomsticks and creating their own creepy stories. They even built their own witch tent and made scary faces! The highlight has been seeing the children in their Hallowe'en costumes. They all looked fabulous and even frightened their teachers!
Year 5 and Year 6 collection of writing
There has been some amazing writing since we have been back. Year 5 and Year 6 have collated their latest writing to publish all their work. You can find their published work on the school website here:
https://galleyhill.eschools.co.uk/web/galley_hill_writers/517377
Star of the Week/ Mathematician/ writer of the week
wraparound - breakfast and afterschool club
If you would like to book a place, visit the school website for more information on how to book. https://galleyhill.eschools.co.uk/web/wrap_around/494827 or e-mail wraparound@galleyhillprimary.co.uk
We also have a new Facebook group for the Wrap Around club as well. this can be found here. Sign up and see what wonderful things the Wrap Around are getting up to.
Local news and support
If your child was off school on the vaccination day, or you still need one, there are some Flu Catch Up Clinics:
Online Anxiety Workshop for multi-agency parent / carers in Teesside from CAHMS
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, we unfortunately had to cancel the core training programme which usually runs throughout the year.
We now have available the following online workshops to book on to, which will be delivered live via Microsoft teams for parents and carers in Teesside.
- Understanding Anxiety Monday 9th November 2020 10am-11am
v-Emotional Wellbeing Monday 30th November 2020 10am-11am
Understanding Anxiety:
We will explore what may contribute to children and young people’s anxiety and look at how we can build their resilience. We will also consider what help and support young people experiencing anxiety may need.
Emotional Wellbeing:
We will introduce you to the risk and resilience framework exploring how this can be used to improve outcomes for children, young people and their families and discuss what can be done to promote healthy emotional wellbeing in children and young people.
HOW TO ATTEND THE ONLINE WORKSHOPS:
If you would like to access one / both of the above workshops, please email the CAMHS Training team the following information (TEWV.CAMHS-Training@nhs.net):
· Which workshop(s) you would like to access
· Your name
· Email address
· Which locality you live
· The school(s) your child(ren) attend
· Age(s) of your child(ren)
A calendar request will then be sent to you which will include a link to access the session.
Let's Localise
Don't forget to sign up for the online Quiz on November 19th, where it would be wonderful to see as many families take part as possible. The details can be found here where you just need to click the pledge button:
https://www.letslocalise.co.uk/pam-event-detail?eventId=10580
COVID
Local COVID alert level: high
Find out what restrictions are in place here:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/local-covid-alert-level-high
There is a postcode checker available to let you know which Tier you are in here:
Galley Hill Primary School COVID-19 Help and Report an Absence
If anyone tests positive over the holiday's please also use this form as I can then put in place any action plans that are needed.
The form can be found here: https://forms.gle/x3VtLfAix19hYjsq5
Sample Christmas Cards
Sample Christmas Cards will be going home with the children. Could parents please send their orders plus cash or cheque (made payable to Friends of Galley Hill) directly when we return after the Autumn break as there is a deadline to get them back for printing in time to send out for Christmas. Thank you.
Finally
On behalf of all the staff and myself, take care and have a restful half-term, we look forward to seeing you all soon. I look forward to seeing everyone back on 2nd November when we will continue to work together to ensure that the children can experience a range of learning experiences enabling to continue to reach for the stars!
Mr McGeeney