October Newsletter 2016
ter
Newslet y l h t n o M
Grange Primary School Dear Parents/Carers
Volume 4 Issue 2
Welcome to October’s newsletter. I hope you enjoy reading all about what we have been up to so far this year, after a very calm and organised start to the year. Shop for Schools We are taking part in the Shop for Schools initiative once again this year, so please remember the next time you are at Middleton Grange Shopping Centre for every £1 you spend you can earn points for the school. The more points we collect the better the prizes we can choose. Last year we collected enough points for some digital cameras. Thank you in advance for your support this year. The scheme runs from: Saturday 1st October 2016 to Saturday 31st December 2016. After School Clubs and Activities
October 2016
Dates for your diary Thurs 6th
Y3 Teesmouth Visit
Fri 7th
Y4 & Cl 9 Visit to Segadumum
Tue 11th
Y6 Crucial Crew Visit
Fri 21st
School Photographer Visit Children break up for half term holiday
Thank you for supporting our wide range of after school clubs and activities that we have organised this year, building on the Mon 31st Children return to school successes of last year. Following a discussion with a parent, we are trialling opening the library after school so that parents & Wed 2nd Halloween Disco carers of children who have siblings at clubs may wait to save making two journeys to school. We thought this would also have the added benefit of offering children and their parents & carers a quiet space where they can enjoy some time sharing a book from the library or to do their homework together. There is a member of staff in the library each night to support this, and parents/ carers and children can access the library through the external door which leads onto the KS2 playground next to the Year 4 classrooms. We would appreciate any feedback on this and on any other ways in which we can help support you. School Development Plan This year our school priorities include continuing to raise attainment in the core subjects of Reading, Writing and Maths. We have worked very hard over the last few years, which has led to great improvements, but we recognise that we need to keep this a priority to ensure all our children leave Grange as well prepared as possible for their next step in the current educational climate of heightened expectations and standards. We are also looking this year at how we can further develop our Grange Primary School Curriculum to ensure our children are not only academically prepared for their futures, but they have developed the right skills and knowledge, through a range of experiences to flourish and keep themselves safe in our ever changing world. Building children's resilience is also one of our key aims this year, as this is something that all of our children need to get the most out of their learning, as well as developing this important life skill. At Grange we always have so much to celebrate, but we recognise that we don’t always celebrate this as widely or as timely as we could. Therefore, we are also looking at how we can improve our communication and utilise social media to support this. There are a number of other development areas and projects that will be happening, but I thought I would share these that are most pertinent to yourselves and your children. As usual, if you have any comments or questions about any aspect of school life, please do pop in to speak to someone. We are always happy to listen and help. Best Wishes, Leanne Yates (Headteacher)
Y6 Carlton Outdoor Education Visit Our Year 6 students enjoyed their recent residential experience at Carlton Outdoor Education Centre. Highlights of their week include ; orienteering, night walks , using the climbing wall, and movie & disco nights.
Caterpillar Group: Caterpillars enjoyed joining in 'Toy Story Day' to launch the EYFS topic 'Will you be my friend?'. We are also looking forward to a visit from The Dogs Trust and a trip to Tweddles Farm to help us learn how to care for and look after animals. They are our friends too!
Year 2: In Year 2 we are learning about Tunnels, Towers and Turrets. We enjoyed our trip to Durham Castle and have painted our own cardboard castles. Year 3: Y3 have made a great start to their topic of Tremors. They have done some art work and are really looking forward to their trip to Teesmouth where they will learn more about the River Tees.
Nursery: Nursery children have been busy talking about friendship and exploring what being a friend means. We have had a Toy Story Day with lots of Buzz and Woody's, a teddy bears picnic, a visit to the local shops and we are excited about visiting Tweddle farm soon.
Year 4:. This month we have been discovering artefacts from the Roman era. We are looking forward to our visit to Segadunum where we will learn more about life in Roman times. Year 5: We had a fantastic time at Durham University Museum learning about Ancient Greece. We sketched Greek artefacts Primary sources and acted out a Greek play! Year 6: In year 6 this month we have been studying the Victorian era and enjoying learning about the composer Elgar and our featured artist William Morris.
Reception: Our topic is Will you be my friend? All reception children have settled into full time school brilliantly and have already enjoyed their first school trip to Wynyard Woods. We enjoyed building dens and going on an autumn trail.
Class 9: Class 9 are enjoying their new topic very much and are very excited about their trip next week which is to Segedunum Roman Fort. We are looking forward to learning more about the Romans and how they were to build such enormous structures as Hadrian’s Wall. Our trip takes place on Friday the 7th October.
Year 1: In Year One the children have been learning about London and it's landmarks. They have been following the travels of Barnaby Bear who has visited Buckingham Palace, Big Ben and the London Eye. Vol
Pa
Attendance and Punctuality
Class
W/E 9/9/16
W/E 16/9/16
W/E 23/9/16
W/E 30/9/16
1
99.43%
100%
99.55%
93.18%
2
100%
96.96%
95.65%
89.57%
3
98.21%
98.57%
93.33%
95.24%
4
100%
92.22%
98.61%
97.78%
5
92.93%
89.57%
98.70%
90.00%
6
95.83%
98.89%
97.78%
91.11%
7
99.04%
98.08%
93.08%
95.38%
8
97.67%
90.91%
93.64%
95.45%
9
100%
91.43%
97.14%
95.71%
10
92.59%
92.59%
91.85%
93.33%
please ring Mrs Vickers or Mrs Alton
11
100%
96.79%
95.36%
98.57%
for support.
12
92.86%
91.43%
91.90%
92.38%
13
99.34%
97.89%
98.50%
90.00%
14
99.52%
95%
97.04%
92.595
15
100%
87.31%
98.08%
98.08%
Whole School
97.74%
95.01%
96.13%
93.88%
Our school attendance target is 95.4% How was your child’s class attendance in September? Congratulations to the 208 children who had 100% attendance and punctuality during September. If your child is absent from school, please ring us as soon as possible on the first day of absence to enable us to correctly mark the register. If you are experiencing difficulties in getting your child to school on time,
Friends of Grange We would like to invite you to come along to our next meeting in school on Monday 17th October at 2.15pm. Refreshments will be provided and new members are welcome. Our next event is the Halloween disco on Wednesday 2nd November.
Whole school Attendance so far 95.50%
Sports News We have had an exciting start to the first half term of PE with our new sports coaches Mr Cox and Miss Foreman. In PE lessons, classes have started a range of activities including multi-skills, tag rugby, football and basketball. After school sports clubs are now also up and running with Year 5/6 football and rugby, Year 3/4 gymnastics and multi-skills clubs. In team news, our Year 5/6 tag rugby team have progressed to the town competition, having won every game in the cluster event.– Well done!
Newslet y l h t n o M
Grange Primary School Dear Parents/Carers
Volume 4 Issue 2
Welcome to October’s newsletter. I hope you enjoy reading all about what we have been up to so far this year, after a very calm and organised start to the year. Shop for Schools We are taking part in the Shop for Schools initiative once again this year, so please remember the next time you are at Middleton Grange Shopping Centre for every £1 you spend you can earn points for the school. The more points we collect the better the prizes we can choose. Last year we collected enough points for some digital cameras. Thank you in advance for your support this year. The scheme runs from: Saturday 1st October 2016 to Saturday 31st December 2016. After School Clubs and Activities
October 2016
Dates for your diary Thurs 6th
Y3 Teesmouth Visit
Fri 7th
Y4 & Cl 9 Visit to Segadumum
Tue 11th
Y6 Crucial Crew Visit
Fri 21st
School Photographer Visit Children break up for half term holiday
Thank you for supporting our wide range of after school clubs and activities that we have organised this year, building on the Mon 31st Children return to school successes of last year. Following a discussion with a parent, we are trialling opening the library after school so that parents & Wed 2nd Halloween Disco carers of children who have siblings at clubs may wait to save making two journeys to school. We thought this would also have the added benefit of offering children and their parents & carers a quiet space where they can enjoy some time sharing a book from the library or to do their homework together. There is a member of staff in the library each night to support this, and parents/ carers and children can access the library through the external door which leads onto the KS2 playground next to the Year 4 classrooms. We would appreciate any feedback on this and on any other ways in which we can help support you. School Development Plan This year our school priorities include continuing to raise attainment in the core subjects of Reading, Writing and Maths. We have worked very hard over the last few years, which has led to great improvements, but we recognise that we need to keep this a priority to ensure all our children leave Grange as well prepared as possible for their next step in the current educational climate of heightened expectations and standards. We are also looking this year at how we can further develop our Grange Primary School Curriculum to ensure our children are not only academically prepared for their futures, but they have developed the right skills and knowledge, through a range of experiences to flourish and keep themselves safe in our ever changing world. Building children's resilience is also one of our key aims this year, as this is something that all of our children need to get the most out of their learning, as well as developing this important life skill. At Grange we always have so much to celebrate, but we recognise that we don’t always celebrate this as widely or as timely as we could. Therefore, we are also looking at how we can improve our communication and utilise social media to support this. There are a number of other development areas and projects that will be happening, but I thought I would share these that are most pertinent to yourselves and your children. As usual, if you have any comments or questions about any aspect of school life, please do pop in to speak to someone. We are always happy to listen and help. Best Wishes, Leanne Yates (Headteacher)
Y6 Carlton Outdoor Education Visit Our Year 6 students enjoyed their recent residential experience at Carlton Outdoor Education Centre. Highlights of their week include ; orienteering, night walks , using the climbing wall, and movie & disco nights.
Caterpillar Group: Caterpillars enjoyed joining in 'Toy Story Day' to launch the EYFS topic 'Will you be my friend?'. We are also looking forward to a visit from The Dogs Trust and a trip to Tweddles Farm to help us learn how to care for and look after animals. They are our friends too!
Year 2: In Year 2 we are learning about Tunnels, Towers and Turrets. We enjoyed our trip to Durham Castle and have painted our own cardboard castles. Year 3: Y3 have made a great start to their topic of Tremors. They have done some art work and are really looking forward to their trip to Teesmouth where they will learn more about the River Tees.
Nursery: Nursery children have been busy talking about friendship and exploring what being a friend means. We have had a Toy Story Day with lots of Buzz and Woody's, a teddy bears picnic, a visit to the local shops and we are excited about visiting Tweddle farm soon.
Year 4:. This month we have been discovering artefacts from the Roman era. We are looking forward to our visit to Segadunum where we will learn more about life in Roman times. Year 5: We had a fantastic time at Durham University Museum learning about Ancient Greece. We sketched Greek artefacts Primary sources and acted out a Greek play! Year 6: In year 6 this month we have been studying the Victorian era and enjoying learning about the composer Elgar and our featured artist William Morris.
Reception: Our topic is Will you be my friend? All reception children have settled into full time school brilliantly and have already enjoyed their first school trip to Wynyard Woods. We enjoyed building dens and going on an autumn trail.
Class 9: Class 9 are enjoying their new topic very much and are very excited about their trip next week which is to Segedunum Roman Fort. We are looking forward to learning more about the Romans and how they were to build such enormous structures as Hadrian’s Wall. Our trip takes place on Friday the 7th October.
Year 1: In Year One the children have been learning about London and it's landmarks. They have been following the travels of Barnaby Bear who has visited Buckingham Palace, Big Ben and the London Eye. Vol
Pa
Attendance and Punctuality
Class
W/E 9/9/16
W/E 16/9/16
W/E 23/9/16
W/E 30/9/16
1
99.43%
100%
99.55%
93.18%
2
100%
96.96%
95.65%
89.57%
3
98.21%
98.57%
93.33%
95.24%
4
100%
92.22%
98.61%
97.78%
5
92.93%
89.57%
98.70%
90.00%
6
95.83%
98.89%
97.78%
91.11%
7
99.04%
98.08%
93.08%
95.38%
8
97.67%
90.91%
93.64%
95.45%
9
100%
91.43%
97.14%
95.71%
10
92.59%
92.59%
91.85%
93.33%
please ring Mrs Vickers or Mrs Alton
11
100%
96.79%
95.36%
98.57%
for support.
12
92.86%
91.43%
91.90%
92.38%
13
99.34%
97.89%
98.50%
90.00%
14
99.52%
95%
97.04%
92.595
15
100%
87.31%
98.08%
98.08%
Whole School
97.74%
95.01%
96.13%
93.88%
Our school attendance target is 95.4% How was your child’s class attendance in September? Congratulations to the 208 children who had 100% attendance and punctuality during September. If your child is absent from school, please ring us as soon as possible on the first day of absence to enable us to correctly mark the register. If you are experiencing difficulties in getting your child to school on time,
Friends of Grange We would like to invite you to come along to our next meeting in school on Monday 17th October at 2.15pm. Refreshments will be provided and new members are welcome. Our next event is the Halloween disco on Wednesday 2nd November.
Whole school Attendance so far 95.50%
Sports News We have had an exciting start to the first half term of PE with our new sports coaches Mr Cox and Miss Foreman. In PE lessons, classes have started a range of activities including multi-skills, tag rugby, football and basketball. After school sports clubs are now also up and running with Year 5/6 football and rugby, Year 3/4 gymnastics and multi-skills clubs. In team news, our Year 5/6 tag rugby team have progressed to the town competition, having won every game in the cluster event.– Well done!
