This week we started off by continuing our focus on Peace and Conflict. The value and question we will be focussing on in school is: What Are We Fighting For? Peace and Conflict.

We shared the story Four Feet, Two Sandals. Through the themes in the book we discussed friendship, sharing, refugees, loss and separation. In the story two girls named Lina and Feroza live in a refugee camp. When foreign aid workers bring used clothing to their camp, ten-year old Lina is thrilled to find a shoe that fits her foot perfectly. Then she sees that another girl, Feroza, got the other shoe. The girls decide that sharing the shoe is better than each girl wearing only one. The girls become friends, going about their daily chores together and sharing the sandal.

School life

This week the nursery children have had a special visitor in nursery. As part of the foundation stage talk for writing, A teddy bear arrived with a suitcase and the children listened to what the bear had been up to and where it had travelled. They liked the story so much they wanted to draw bears and tell their own stories.

In science, the children have been investigating how quickly ice melts in different liquids. They have learned new words such as liquid and solid and were able to describe what happened in the experiment and predict the results.

As the children are interested in Polar animals, we made polar bear cookies this week. The children had the opportunity to use their fine motor skills in icing and decorating their biscuit. They were all eager to take their cookie home!

Key Stage 2 School Council went litter picking in the surrounding area around school to help keep the are clean and tidy. Mrs Shutt, Morrison's Community Champion came as well as we look to widen our links with local business to help aid the local community. This was the children's idea as we continue to think about how we can look after, care and support our community. KS1 School Council will be doing something similar next week.

STar/mathematician/writer/ Reader of the week

value certificates

Last week saw our first Value Certificate awarded by the Head Boy and Girl. Here are last weeks and this weeks.

Isla Tilley - For showing resilience and positivity during lessons.

and this week:

Millie Gollogly - for being extremely resilient in school

Hot chocolate friday

This week saw our very first Hot Chocolate Friday. Children consistently going 'above and beyond' will be invited to have hot chocolate with the Headteacher on some Friday afternoons. This might not happen every week as it needs to be somethign worth noting so that we don't devalue the reward.

It was fantastic to welcome the first three children to Hot Chocolate Friday!

Parent Forum

Thank you to those that came to the Parent Forum this week. It was great to share with you what we have planned. It would be great to have more of you there to get even more feedback. Your voice really does help shape how we continue to support the children of Galley Hill. Look out for the next one after half term.

creative writing

There were no entries last week, which was a shame. I'm hoping that we get some this week. There are prizes waiting to go to a good home.

You might want to use this story starter:

They had always been together, for as long as he could remember. They had always been the best of friends. She had taught him everything he knew, relentlessly preparing him for life in the outside world.

This was the moment they had both been waiting for…

Continue the story.

Entries Due by Wednesday 26th January

e-safety courses for parents

Last week we mentioned that we have teamed up with national online safety to give you access to the latest courses and support for keeping children safe online, whether that be on phones, xboxes, tablets or computers.

It is completely free for you to use and it would be great to have our first parent/carer complete a course online.

To create your account, please follow https://nationalonlinesafety.com/enrol/galley-hill-primaryschool and complete your details.

When you’re set up, you’ll be able to set ‘Parent/Carer’ as your user type.

We can work together to ensure that the children of Galley Hill are supported in school and at home with E-Safety in our ever technologically advanced world.

Ks3 Transition

The local authority are currently reviewing the transition arrangements for those children who move from primary to secondary school.

If your child is in year 5 or year 6 we would very much appreciate your views through completing a very short survey.

There are two surveys – one for pupils and one for you as parents/carers.

Pupils’ survey

Year 5 and 6: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/GKPX7S2

Parents/Carers’ survey

Year 5 and 6: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/G8PLQ3P

Surveys are anonymous and do not ask for your name. Results will be pooled together to provide an overall picture across the local authority. Surveys are available till 24th January

School Dinners

Next week is week 1