Newsletters

We believe that our children should have the aspiration and opportunity to ‘Live life in all its fullness’ and ‘Shine like stars in the sky’.
 
In Rocket Class this week, Reception and KS1 worked together to build a pirate ship in PE.  They then had to listen to the Captain issuing orders and respond appropriately.  Can your child show you the moves for 'climb the rigging', 'rats on board' and 'scrub the decks?'
We have welcomed some new children into Nursery this week and they are beginning to learn our routines.  With this is mind please continue to encourage older members of Rockets to come into the classroom independently to ease congestion in the cloakroom and allow staff to be able to see and support our new starters more easily.  Thank you for encouraging your child's independence.
 
In Comet Class, we have been looking for ‘nooks and crannies’ around school where we can curl up with a good book, just like Little Red Reading Hood!  In our writing, we have been learning how to write dialogue using inverted commas and contractions.  I wonder if you can tell a grown up what these are?
In Maths, Y2s have been introduced to early multiplication skills such as making and describing equal groups and repeated addition, whilst the Y3s have been exploring a range of methods for adding pairs of 3-digit numbers.  Which method did you prefer?
 
This week in Asteroid Class, we had the lovely Emma from Love Science. She helped us sheep track Forces and Magnets. There were lots of hands on experiences: making a paper clip fly, repelling cars and butterflies, creating a propeller to test air resistance. We also did some bulb planting on Wednesday morning, as if we were Marty. We are excited to see our snowdrops and croci germinate! Can you tell your adult what conditions they need?
 
Remember to look out for more details of our learning for the term ahead on our class pages on the school website.

Also, this week…
It was lovely to welcome our Education Adviser, Mrs Marshall, into school on Monday.  She came to look at Inclusion across our school.  She was very impressed with how engaged all the children were in their learning.
 
Coming up…
WEAR YOUR SCARF DAY – Friday 13^th February
Our Wellbeing Ambassadors are busy preparing to tell the children about ‘Wear Your Scarf Day’ – an event to promote wellbeing for Children’s Mental Health Week.  More details to follow…

SCHOOL COUNCIL
Just a heads up that elections for our School Council will be held on Friday 30^th January with canvassing during the week commencing 26^th January (more information to follow next week).  Anyone from Y2 upwards is welcome to put themselves forward as a candidate.  Our current School Councillors will be on hand to talk to their peers about what the role entails next week (and they will be eligible to stand again for re-election should they wish to do so).
 
Reminders…
 
WORD OF THE WEEK
To help children develop their vocabulary and a love of words, a focus ‘word of the week’ is introduced each week for the children to investigate.  This week’s word is: The children are encouraged to find out what the word means and perhaps use it in a sentence or explore its etymology.  Their efforts are then displayed in the hall.  Although aimed more at the KS2 children, everyone is welcome to join in.
 
 
News from the wider community
MESSAGE FROM ST MICHAEL’S HOSPICE
Thank you so much for your incredible donation of £171.14 for Saint Michael’s Hospice during your School Harvest. Your donation will make a real difference to local families living with terminal illness and bereavement across the Harrogate district. For each person who is given the devastating news that they have a terminal illness, Saint Michael’s wants to be there to ensure they are cared for with dignity and respect, to help them to find answers to difficult questions and to enable them to live as fully as possible to the end of their life.
 
We simply couldn’t do what we do without supporters like you, so thank you for helping us to be there when it matters the most.