Chalfont St Giles Infant School & Nursery Newsletter – 9^th September 2005
Newsletters:	Dear Parents/friends/Guardians 9^th September 2005 Welcome back to a new school year. I hope you all had a good summer and are looking forward to an exciting term! The children have all settled well into their new classes and everyone is already back into the swing of things! Just to remind you, the newsletters come out fortnightly and are also printed on our website (www.csg-school.co.uk). Please try to read them as they include important information that you won’t want to miss! Classes/Staffing The classes this year are: Nursery Mrs Shreeve (Mrs Ballard from February 2006) (Nursery Nurse - Mrs Brown, LSA - Mrs Byrne) Reception Sapphire Mrs Groat Pearl Mrs Peal (After Xmas) (LSA - Mrs Gibson) Year 1 Ruby Mrs English (0.9) Mrs Winson (0.1) (Mrs Winson will be covering Ruby class every other Wednesday for this academic year) (LSA - Mrs Hartridge)) Year 1 Emerald Miss Davies (LSA - Mrs Hartridge)) Year 2 Diamond Miss Howe (LSA - Mrs Bennett/Mrs Brittain) Year 2 Amethyst Miss Storey (LSA - Mrs Bennett/Mrs Brittain) Mrs Peal PPA cover, NQT mentoring, ICT support, Curriculum cover Supply cover for sickness and CPD (Up until Xmas) Mrs Skinner SEN cover, NQT cover, Curriculum support Topics for the Autumn term Each year group will be focusing on a different topic each half term. Details of each one are below. As part of our developing creative curriculum, the main stimuli for each topic will be based around a piece of Art. Foundation 1 & 2 This half term our topic is BEARS. The picture for this half term is a book illustration from ‘Winnie the Pooh’. The children will be finding out about real and imaginary bears. We will be sharing stories, poems and songs, going for walks in the woods and having a teddy bears picnic! In the second half term our focus is CELEBRATIONS. We will be using ’The adoration of the Shepherds’ by Rembrandt as a stimulus for our work. We will be finding out about festivals and how they are celebrated and looking at the importance of light in all of them. Year 1 The focus for the first half term is OURSELVES. The picture used as a stimulus is ‘Masks’ by Aurelia Fronty. The children will be learning about how their bodies work, how houses have changed over time and describing their route to school. They will be visiting the ivllage to look at old and new buildings as well as visiting Milton’s Cottage. They will be making masks using a range of materials. The focus for the second half term is LIGHT & TIME. The picture used is ‘The Nativity at Night’ by Geertgen tot Sint Jans. The children will be learning about different festivals of light, Road safety and the Gunpowder plot. Year 2 Our topic this term is SPACE. The picture used as a stimulus is ‘Spaceshots – The Living Earth’, a satellite picture. We will be looking at satellite and aerial pictures, the earth’s atmosphere which will include recognition and names of clouds. We will be developing knowledge of the solar system and a representation of the solar system using papier maché! The children will learn about space ‘firsts’, including the moon landing. We will also be looking at forces including gravity. During the second half term the topic is LONDON. The picture used as a stimulus is ‘London’ by Linnea Pergola. We will be finding out about famous landmarks and the great Fire of London. Reading Meeting/Information session for each Year Group We will be holding a meeting for all Infant School parents on Friday 16^th September to inform you of our Reading procedures. This will last for half an hour and will be held in the School Hall. This will be followed by individual year group meetings to inform parents of the content of the Curriculum throughout the year. Also, there will be strategies given to help your child at home. These will be held in the classrooms and will last for half an hour also. (Sapphire in Sapphire classroom, Y1 in Emerald, Y2 in Diamond). Parents who are unable to attend will receive the relevant information in a letter. School Library Procedures Starting in the next 2/3 weeks the children in the Infant School will visit the library on a weekly basis. The children choose a book and this is then recorded on our computer system. These books should be returned weekly on the class library day. You will be notified which day is your class day next week. Any lost books will be charged at a rate of £5.00 per book. (Thank you – Mrs. Peal) Classroom Support parents If you would like to help in your child's class with general classroom support please complete the slip attached. You cannot help in school, however, until you have been checked and cleared by the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB). This can take up to three weeks. Please obtain the relevant forms from the office. Reading Support Parents If you would like to support the school by being trained in listening to children read in your child's class or an alternative class, please complete the slip attached. As explained above, you will need to be checked by the CRB beforehand. Absence (Infant School children only) A reminder that parents should provide a written explanation please for every absence. A form is available from the office or you can email or write a letter. If we do not receive a written explanation, you will receive a form to fill in via your child’s book bag. Absence for holiday must be requested at least a month in advance: please obtain a form from the office. We strongly request that you keep holiday absence during term time to an absolute minimum. You will be informed whether the absence request has been approved or not by letter via the bookbag. Thank you for your cooperation. Clubs Available clubs this term are:- Lunchtime Clubs Recorder - Monday (Years 1 and 2 only) Short Tennis - Tuesday/Friday French - Wednesday Guitar - Friday (Year 2 only) After-School Clubs Spanish - Wednesday Football - Monday (Years 1 and 2 only) (Possibility of children’s Yoga – more information next week) Letters go out from the individual club organisers indicating the requirements and charges. Permission for other Adults to pick up children Attached to this letter is a permission slip if you would like to nominate other parents/guardians to take your children home without you having to contact the school on the day (as is currently the practice due to safety issues). Please fill in and return to the office if you wish to do this. PE Kit/Labelling Please ensure that your child has labelled PE kit in school for PE and Games lessons. Tracksuits may be worn for Games lessons. If a child forgets their PE kit they may borrow kit from school so that they are able to join in the lesson. Please wash and return items borrowed so that they are available for other children. Tissues We would appreciate each child bringing in one box of tissues each for the class. This will ensure there are always tissues for everyone during the year. Spelling Each week children in Years 1 and 2 will receive spellings that will be tested the following week. These spellings will support the phonics taught in class each week and back up keyword recognition. Keywords All children, including Reception, will receive keywords to read at home, please help your child learn these words. They will be checked on a regular basis so that children can work through them. Handwriting Attached is a copy of the hand writing formation that we use with the children in class. We thought you would find this useful when supporting your child’s writing. Parents Evening Infant School Parents Evenings this term will be held on Wednesday 19^th October from 5.30 - 8.00, and Thursday 20^th October from 3.30 - 6.00. This will be a time to look at your children's work and discuss any issues or concerns you may have. You will receive a letter detailing timed sessions for you to fill in and return to school. SATs Children in Year 2 (Diamond & Amethyst) will be involved in taking their SATs during this academic year. You will receive more information concerning procedures at a later date. Products containing Nuts Could I remind everyone that some of our children have allergies to nuts, and therefore peanut butter sandwiches and any product containing whole/chopped nuts are not allowed at lunch times. Thank you for your co-operation. Material We are looking to build up a range of material to use in our displays around the school. If anyone has any old material they no longer want we would very much appreciate it. As it is specifically for display we only need plain material, nothing patterned, and especially material with attractive textures eg, silk, satin, sequinned, sparkly, velvet etc, and bold colours. After School Club You will receive a leaflet about the after school club. They are holding an ‘Open afternoon’ in the school hall on Thursday 15^th September from 2.30 – 6.00. This is an opportunity to meet the staff and see the activities on offer. Please pop in and have a look – you can discuss your particular needs whether it is a regular commitment or just a drop in hour or two when needed! Sainsburys Vouchers Thank you to all of those people who collected Sainsburys vouchers for us last year (and especially to Mrs Hubbard who spent many hours counting them all!) We have ‘bought’ lots of super new PE equipment for the children to use including hoops, football nets, beanbags, parachutes and dance CDs. Some of this will be specifically used by the children during the lunchtime sessions. Windsor Trip Following the cancellation of the Windsor trip for Y1 last year, the money refunded from Windsor Castle will be deducted from the next Y2 trip. (Unfortunately the coach company would not refund money on this occasion) PTA Lottery As people have moved onto the Junior School lots of numbers have become available on your PTA lottery. It costs a pound a week to join in, and you are allocated a number between 1 and 50. If your number matches Wednesdays Bonus Ball you win £25. It is great fun and an easy way of supporting the school and helping to raise money. Please contact a member of the PTA if you would like to take on a number. Thank you! Jenny Murray tel: 434595 or 07941 074456. Nursery Lunch Club Karen Ilsley asks if anyone has any old toy cars (matchbox size or slightly bigger) that they don’t want anymore, please could you donate them for the Nursery Lunch Club. They can be handed in to Nursery, the office or directly to Karen. Dates for your Diary 14^th September Buckinghamshire Advertiser new starters photo for Sapphire class 16^th September 2.00 – Reading Meeting for all Infant parents in School Hall 2.30 – Information meeting for Infant classes in classrooms (Sapphire/Y1 in Emerald/Y2 in Diamond) 28^th September Jettos circus & workshops 6^th October 7.30 – GB/AGM & PTA/AGM in School Hall 7^th October Jeans for Genes Day 12^th October Midsummer Night’s Dream performance 13^th October Harvest festival at St Giles Church - 9.15 18^th October Individual photos 19^th October Infant Parents Evening – 5.30 – 8.00 20^th October Infant Parents Evening – 3.30 – 6.00 Perform workshops for Infants Bone scan appeal day School closes for end of first half-term 3.30pm 21^st October Training Day 31^st October Training Day 1^st November School re-opens after half-term 10^th November Nursery open day for existing parents 5^th December Infant Xmas dress rehearsal for Nursery/Y3 – 9.45 6^th December Infant Xmas dress rehearsal for Grandparents – 9.45 7^th December Infant Xmas concert for parents – 9.45 8^th December Infant Xmas concert for parents – 9.45 9^th December Foundation Stage Xmas concert for parents – 10.30 12^th December Nursery consultation day for parents of children about to start Reception in January 14^th December New Reception induction day – 9.30 15^th December Xmas service at St Giles Church 16^th December Xmas Party day for Infants & Nursery 16^th December Last day of term for Nursery 19^th/20^th Dec Nursery visits to new parents 20^th December Term ends at 2.00pm 2^nd/3^rd January Training Days 4^th January Term starts (except Nursery children) New Nursery children visit 5^th January Nursery starts 20^th January Diamond Assembly (Memorial Hall) 25^th January 7.30 – Clerked GB meeting in staffroom 27^th January Amethyst Assembly in Memorial Hall 1^st February Perform workshops for Infants 2^nd February Perform workshops for Infants 3^rd February Ruby Assembly in Memorial Hall 8^th February Infant Parents Evening – 5.30 – 8.00 9^th February Infant Parents Evening – 3.30 – 6.00 10^th February School closes for half-term 3.30pm 20^th February School re-opens 24^th February Emerald Assembly in Memorial Hall 3^rd March Sapphire Assembly in Memorial Hall 8^th March Public Open Day 9^th March Nursery open day for existing parents 16^th March Induction for new Reception children in April – 9.30 17^th March NAM Assembly in School Hall 22^nd March NPM Assembly in School Hall 23^rd March Nursery Consultation Day for parents of children about to start Reception in April 24^th March Pearl Assembly in Memorial Hall 28^th March Easter Service at St Giles Church – 9.15 29^th March Last day of term for Nursery 30^th/31^st March Nursery visits to new parents 31^st March Term finishes - 2.00pm 18^th April Term starts (except Nursery) New Nursery children visit 19^th April Nursery start 26^th April Perform workshops for Infants 5^th May Ruby Assembly in Memorial Hall 12^th May Emerald Assembly in Memorial Hall 22^nd May Arts Week 26^th May Pearl Assembly in Memorial Hall School closes for half-term 3.30pm 5^th June Training Day 6^th June School re-opens 16^th June Sapphire Assembly in Memorial Hall 18^th June? Strawberry Fayre 29^th June Nursery open day for existing parents 30^th June NAM Assembly in School Hall Infant Sports Day – 10.30 4^th July Induction day for Y2 to Juniors and new Reception children/all children visit new classes 5^th July NPM Assembly in School Hall Infant parents evening – 5.30 – 8.00 7^th July Reserve Infant Sports Day – 10.30 Reports out 10^th July Nursery Consultation Day for parents of children about to start Reception in September 13^th July Leavers Assembly for Y2 parents – 9.30 14^th July Nursery Sports day – 10.30 18^th July Flower Festival at St Giles Church – 9.15 19^th July Last day of term for Nursery 20^th/21^st July Nursery visits to new parents 21^st July End of term - 2.00pm Yours Sincerely Mrs K. Whittington Headteacher A copy of this letter is available on our website 'www.csg-school.co.uk' Please remember to walk to school if possible, and not to park in School Lane or Staff car park. 'Our school is a happy, caring place where we work together to learn and succeed by doing our best'