Welcome back! As we start to open up school further, after restrictions, I would like to thank you for always adapting to any changes we make to ensure school is safe for all.
We started our theme of Leading Learners this week. We shared Swimmy be Leo Lionni this week. Swimmy shows his friends how—with ingenuity and team work—they can overcome any danger.
The children have settled straight back in with some amazing work and a fantastic World Book Day! Well done to Mrs. Kelly's class who won best dressed door in school. What a half term we are going to have.
Next week we are evolving our school council role to ensure that every child has their voice heard further. We are going to link a question of the week with our Values assembly that the children will discuss on a Monday morning. They will vote and discuss what we should do as actions as a result in each class, the school council will then meet to fine tune the actions and implement the whole school voice. We are looking forward to starting this on Monday.
School life
This week Reception have enjoyed tasting pancakes. We have been sharing the Story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears and the children have been drawing their favourite character from the story. In maths we have been looking at ways to partition 7 and the children have been drawing part whole models. Please ask your child to show you how they can partition 7.
Next week we will be talking about our local area and the children will be walking round the area near school. The children are going to post a letter home when we are on our walk, please look out for it!
In English, Year 4 are focusing on a Tale of Fear and to introduce our model text, we had a trip up to the woodland area of school to read it. We have also been investigating different sounds around school in Science.
On Tuesday, Year 3 and 4 teamed up for Shrove Tuesday with the children bringing their own delicious toppings which they all thoroughly enjoyed!
Year 5 and 6 have had a fantastic trip to the LIFE centre today. What an amazing day!
Curriculum for spring 2
Our whole school focus next half term is - Leading Learners: Power and Governance
Our world is reliant on knowing our roles and responsibilities within a system. It is important our pupils now the importance of multiple voices in the success of a system but also that this needs to be built on equality. We must provide the requisite skills to challenge inequalities within a system. Exploring societies from the past and those currently can inform the future
British Science week
The children will be taking part in British Science Week in the week starting Monday 14th of March. This year the theme is growth.
If any of the children would like to take part in the British Science Week poster competition please follow this link. The closing date for entries is the 15th of April.
https://www.britishscienceweek.org/plan-your-activities/poster-competition/
Year 6 residential
We almost have final details from accommodation and providers. We will hold an information session on Monday to go through the initial trip and to answer any questions, including costings and kit list etc.
We will meet on Zoom at 5pm on Monday 7th March
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82423703897?pwd=TlE1Y0dYL0YrVExkUHQ3cjAvZ1A5QT09
Parent Information session
Our next Parent forum is March 14th at 5pm - it would be great to see as many of you there to talk all things Galley Hill, have your input and voice heard. This will be via zoom and you can sign up here:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZctdeGqrzkuG9ZncHFUqMDgIDRRJTWmKiZa
Accelerated reader
As we continue to support children with their reading at all stages in school, we will shortly start using Accelerated Reader in school.
The library is currently undergoing some reorganising, but children can still take their usual book choices home.
Accelerated Reader helps teachers manage and monitor children’s independent reading practise. Your child picks a book at his/her own level and reads it at his/her own pace. When finished, your child takes a short quiz on the computer – passing the quiz is an indication that your child has understood what has been read.
Teachers may assist children by:
- Guiding them to books appropriate to their ability and interest
- Asking probing questions as your child reads and before quizzing
- Pairing your child with others, reading with or reading to your child.
Since they are reading books at their own reading and interest levels, most children are likely to be successful and enjoy the books and quizzes. Best of all they learn and grow at their own pace.
This will be for children Year 2 upwards. Below Year 2 children will continue with their Phonics and additional book.
We will send further details, including websites and logins as it is rolled out over the next few weeks.
Commando Joe's
This week staff had training on Commando Joe's as we continue to develop how we support all children in school. Commando Joe's focuses on Character curriculum - RESPECT. (Resilience, Empathy, Self-Awareness, Positivity, Excellence, Communication, Teamwork). Some year groups have already started and you will start to hear the character descriptions much more in and around school. We are looking forward to supporting all children further in school.
STar/mathematician/writer/ Reader of the week
creative writing
As it is World Book Day Week, here is this week's stimulus:
The Greatest Library
You might want to use this story starter:
The books had minds of their own…
This was no ordinary library.
Books about knights and castles would gallop all over the library, bravely and boldly ordering the other books around. The books about thieves would sneak around, lurking behind bookshelves in the shadows. Books about wild animals would occasionally roar and bite other books. The ones containing stories set in the winter would often shiver, covering their neighbours with snow and frost.
Lucy loved this place like no other. Reading was the most exciting thing in the world here; everything she read seemed to come alive out of the pages…
Continue this story about The Greatest Library.
Entries Due by Wednesday 9th March
Congratulations to Zachary Johnston who won for last week's Creative Story.
parent helpers
Now restrictions have started to be removed, we are looking forward to welcoming you back into school. We are looking for people to help with Reading in school. If you are available and would like to hear readers in school, it would be great to have you in.
Please complete the Volunteer Application form here and we can complete all relevant safeguarding checks and welcome you into school.
Details can be found here:
beat the street
Now the children have their cards - keep tapping the machines and let's see how well we can do as a school! #TeamGalleyHill
Find out more here: https://www.beatthestreet.me/redcarcleveland/
national online safety
It would be great to see some parents look at some of courses, as of yet we haven't had any completed. Working together we can ensure that we continue to support the children of Galley Hill, ensuring they stay safe online.
When you register, (you can register here: https://nationalonlinesafety.com/enrol/galley-hill-primary-school) you can choose one of the below courses:
- Annual Certificate in Online Safety for Parents & Carers of Children aged 3-7
- Annual Certificate in Online Safety for Parents & Carers of Children aged 7-11
Thank you for your support in helping to keep children safe online.
START AND END OF THE DAY
After half term the one way system at the end of the day will be removed, as well as collection from the Main Entrance to school.
The start of the day will remain the same. Gate opens at 8:45 for KS1 and 2 children to enter school. Nursery and Reception children to enter through the main entrance. Registration is at 8:55am
At the end of the school day Reception and KS1 will finish the day at 3:15pm collected from the KS1 playground (sandpit playground) with KS2 (years 3,4,5 and 6) finishing at 3:20pm collected from the bottom playground (welly shed playground). Children, who we already have written consent for, can continue to walk home in Y4,5 and 6.
If you would like your child to walk home and we do not already have consent, please send a letter in giving permission and we can update our records.
Nursery - Children on a morning and afternoon session to be collected at the Nursery door. Collection times are 11:45am for Morning Nursery children and 3:30pm for afternoon or all day Nursery children
School Dinners
COmic relief
Comic Relief day is on Friday 18th March. We are inviting the children to come to school dressed as someone they perceive to be a hero. We are trying to think outside of the box for this and would like the children to avoid comic book superheroes.
Their hero could, for example, be a doctor, nurse, firefighter, a family member, a friend, a sports person etc. We will discuss with the children some ideas before the event.
Donations will be collected on the day.
Attendance
- Reception - 96.2%
- Year 1 - 94.4%
- Year 2 - 95.9%
- Year 3 - 95.9%
- Year 4 - 96%
- Year 5 - 96.3%
- Year 6 - 96.1%
What percentage attendance means to your child in terms of lost learning:
Please note that the school gates will be locked at 8.55am promptly. Any children arriving after that time will have to sign in at the school office and will receive a late mark in the register.
Support on discussions around the Ukraine
This week we discussed the ongoing conflict in the Ukraine with KS2 children. They had an opportunity to ask any questions with staff as well. If you would like some advice on how to answer any questions that they may have over the coming days and weeks, there is some useful information here:
https://www.childnet.com/blog/supporting-your-child-with-upsetting-content/
fogh
Don't forget the fashion show tonight, Friday 4 March 2022.
Doors open at 6.30pm with a Fashion Show at 7.00pm with the opportunity to purchase the clothes shown and more. A raffle will also take place with prizes donated by local businesses.
Alcoholic and non-alcoholic Refreshments available also.
You can buy your tickets here:
opal
golden welly awards
Well done to Benjamin Fenwick in KS2 for winning this week’s Golden Welly Award, for always showing respect, following all rules and being adventurous with his friends!
Well done to Jonti Barnes in KS1 for winning this week’s Golden Welly Award, for always being kind on the playground, following rules and looking after the Year 1 children.
Well done to Elliot Elvey in Reception for winning this week’s Golden Welly Award for always having a smile on his face whilst playing outside with his friends!
If you have any old toy figures that are sat around at home not being used any more and you don't know what to do with them, we will take them off your hands. We are looking to expand our Small World area - so anything like toy car garages, cars, figures would be greatly appreciated.