November 2003 Newsletter
STAFFING
BOOK WEEK
BUILDING EXTENSION
SCHOOL GROUNDS
FOREST SCHOOL
FOREST SCHOOL for YEARS R & 1
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
SWIMMING
MILK
THE 'FRIENDS' CHRISTMAS AUSTRIAN MARKET
REMEMBRANCE DAY
READING: AN EVENING FOR PARENTS (of children in Years R & 1)
WORK EXPERIENCE
PARENTS EVENING
'BRAIN GYM'
PARENTS QUESTIONNAIRE
CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIONS
STAFFING
Mrs Beverley Phillips, Teaching Assistant, returned to work this week following maternity leave. She will work full-time in Garden Class alongside Miss Hands.Miss Lucy Hands will be leaving the School at Christmas. She has been very happy at Himbleton but now needs to look to the future. Our heartfelt thanks go to Miss Hands for her contribution to the school over the past four years. We will all miss her but wish her every success and happiness.
Miss Hands would like to thank everyone for their support and kindness through a very difficult time and promises to keep in touch.
Mrs Renate Cleaver, School Secretary, has now left the school.
Mrs Kim Griffiths continues to cover Mrs Cleavers hours. They are currently arranged as 20 hours per week as School Secretary and 10 hours per week as Teaching Assistant in Upper Key Stage 1 working alongside Mrs Gwilliam.
Should you wish to discuss any of these staffing arrangements then please do not hesitate in contacting me Back to top
BOOK WEEK
Book week was a great success and enjoyed by all. Thank you for your support during the week, especially in providing costumes and purchasing books from the book fair. Val Biro and Gumdrop his car was a unique experience and we are especially grateful to the work of the "Friends" in providing funds for activities such as this to take place.Books to the value of £476.94 were received in commission from the Book Fair. This was 60% of total sales and provides the School with an annual boost of new fiction and picture books.
We have taken photographs of 'dressing up' day but would love to see any that you have. Back to top
BUILDING EXTENSION
It is anticipated that building work on the new extension area will be completed by the end of this term with furnishings, including restocking the library, being completed early next term. Back to topSCHOOL GROUNDS
Our outdoor environment is very important to us as a school. It is an invaluable resource that we use on a daily basis for play and learning.Over the years we have had extensive support from Bob Green, Deputy Head of Bishops Wood Centre, who has helped us set up the various areas in our grounds. Some of these areas are now in need of some attention.
Bob Green will spend the day in school this Friday, 7th November, helping Staff and children work on the bird feeding area, the pond, the millennium orchard, the compost heap and the willow structures.
All children will be involved and the work will take place whatever the weather!! Therefore, children will need to wear old and comfortable clothes to school that are suitable for working outdoors and possibly getting muddy!! They will also need a waterproof coat/cagoule and their Wellingtons in a named carrier bag ready to change into.
Also on Friday we will be developing the grassy area to the right of the bark path. We hope to plant trees, make a log circle and create a boundary so the area can be used for 'Forest School' activities.
If you would like to join us on Friday all day, or for an hour or two, and get muddy, then please let a member of staff know. Back to top
FOREST SCHOOL
Forest School is a Scandinavian concept where the outdoors is used as an area for learning. Many of the activities evolve from the children's interests and ideas and the natural materials found in the outdoors are used rather than paper, pencils and worksheets.Many of the activities we do outdoors now meet the 'Forest School' philosophy. Yesterday Miss Guise and I spent time outside with our children looking at the autumn leaves and playing with and collecting them. We then ate our lunch outside as a picnic in the autumn sunshine.
We would now like to extend these activities further with the children in Reception and Year 1 and explore the philosophy of the 'Forest School'. We are especially keen to find out whether one of the main 'Forest School' principles is right when it claims ...
Forest School builds on a child's innate motivation and positive attitude to learning, offering them the opportunities to take risks, make choices and initiate learning for themselves. Back to top
FOREST SCHOOL for YEARS R & 1
Children in Reception and Year 1 will take part in Forest School activities on Thursday mornings on the days the rest of the school go swimming. We will begin next week on Thursday, 13th November. They will need to come to school dressed for the outdoors as previously described. We will be outdoors whatever the weather therefore waterproof clothing, including waterproof trousers, is essential. Please name all items. Each week we will build a shelter so we can eat our lunch outdoors too.If you would like to know more then please either come and talk to me or Miss Guise. Back to top
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Outdoor PE will continue within school grounds for as long as weather permits. However, children will need a warm tracksuit (named) in addition to their usual PE kit. Girls will also need socks if their wear tights to school. Back to topSWIMMING
Swimming this term will start this week - Thursday 6th November. The last session is on Thursday 27th November. There will be no swimming after this until the New Year.Please forward contributions to cover costs for this half term if you have not already done so to Mrs Griffiths as soon as possible. Back to top
MILK
The cost of milk for this half term is £3.50 per child. If you have not paid for your child's milk for this half term please complete the form at the end of this Newsletter. Back to topTHE 'FRIENDS' CHRISTMAS AUSTRIAN MARKET
On Monday 10th November children can come to school in their 'own clothes'. In return we would very much appreciate a donation for the Christmas Market. Any 'Christmassy' donation ranging from a bauble to a bottle of scotch would be gratefully accepted - or anything you would like to receive yourself. Back to topREMEMBRANCE DAY
We will be holding a special assembly in School on Tuesday 11th November that will include two minutes silence. All children and staff will wear poppies on that day. Should you wish to make a donation towards the 'Poppy Appeal' poppies will be available in the playground at the beginning and end of each day. Back to topREADING: AN EVENING FOR PARENTS (of children in Years R & 1)
Parents of children in Reception and Year 1 have been invited to a Reading Evening with Mrs Gent and Miss Guise on November 11th. If you have not already responded then please see Mrs Griffiths to let us know if you are able to attend. Back to topWORK EXPERIENCE
A pupil at Pershore High School, will be spending the week in School on work experience as part of her Applied GCSE Health and Social Care Course. She will work with the youngest children in School during the week of November 24th - 28th. Back to topPARENTS EVENING
Parents of children in Years 3 and 4 are invited to meet with Miss Hands on Thursday, 27th November between 5 and 8 o'clock. Please complete the attached slip indicating your preferred appointment time and return it to School as soon as possible. Back to top'BRAIN GYM'
Mrs Gill Ramsden spent the morning in School on Wednesday 22nd October doing 'Brain Gym' activities throughout the school and providing further training for Staff.A meeting for parents, led by Gill Ramsden, will be held in School on Monday 19th January 2004 at 7.30pm. Back to top