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28 Nov 2008 - Newsletter 28th November 2008

AUTUMN TERM

NEWSLETTER 12

28th

Newsletter - November 28th 2008

Please remember that you can also email the office if your child is ill:
Office email: office@oaktree.surrey.sch.uk Tel: 01483 474 981
HOPA website: www.hopa.ik.com

Monday 8th	Dress Rehearsal to Hermitage children Christmas Post - Children may post Christmas Cards from today
Tuesday 9th	9.30 am Christmas Production - Adults only 2.00 pm Christmas Production—Not including Reception - Adults only
Wednesday 10th	9.30 am Christmas Production - Adults only
Thursday 11th	9.30 am Christmas Production including Reception (accompanied children and adults)
Tuesday 16th	Cooked Christmas Lunch
Wednesday 17th Morning	Whole school going to the Pantomime. All children will need a small named carton of drink. We will be providing a biscuit. No school meals will be provided because the children will be having their Christmas Party after we get back.
Wednesday 17th Afternoon	Children's Christmas Party Party Clothes in a named bag and party food to be brought in the morning
Thursday 18th Morning	We will be walking to the church for our Carol Service. If you would like to join us at 10 am at St John's Church we will be delighted to see you. We also need parents to walk down with us, please let your child's teacher know if you can help. Everyone is welcome to walk with us down to the church.
Friday 19th	Last Day of term finish at 1.55 pm

Dates
29th Nov	Christmas Fair
4th Dec	Open Afternoon - Rec & Year 2
4th Dec	Link Parent Meeting - Please note that this is a change of date
5th Dec	Open Afternoon - Year 1
Mon 5th Jan	INSET DAY - School Closed
Tues 6th Jan	INSET DAY - School Closed

Christmas Post

Year 1 and 2 children please use the post boxes outside the Eco Lobby. Reception Classes use the boxes outside of Hedgehog Class from Monday 8th December.

To ensure all children receive the correct cards can you put the following on the front:

• Forename and surname

• Class (just in case children post them in the wrong box)

The postmen will empty the boxes each day

Year 1

What a week! We started with maths and have continued using number lines to add and take away; we are getting much more confident! In literacy we made paper chains and then wrote instructions to follow on Christmas Craft Day - the results are decorating our classes!

We have been talking about our likes and dislikes and discovering how these things make us special. In ICT we have been drawing pictures and writing to retell the story of Cinderella. Our toy dance in PE is coming on well - unfortunately several children have not had their PE kits in school which means that PE time is lost as we have to find alternatives. Please make sure that your child's kit is. brought to school on Monday and stays in all week

Our Christmas Craft Day today was very busy and lots of fun! The children all enjoyed completing a variety of activities - the day would not have worked without the fantastic support of those of you helping with preparation beforehand and on the day.

Homework Challenge

To support our literacy work for the next 2 weeks you could find and read some fairy stories.

Just Different Disability Workshop

We were delighted that this week that Alison was able to come in and work with Year 2 in a Just Different workshop.

Alison's mother took Thalidomide when pregnant and as a result Alison was born with very short arms.

The children tried picking up a cup without using their arms and found out just how difficult it is. Jo was really good at picking up a cup with his toes.

CHRISTMAS FAIR

TOMORROW

12-3 PM

Thank you for all your donations of goods, money and help. We look forward to seeing you tomorrow. We have a really child friendly Fair.

We are sure that the Secret Room where children can go to buy presents for people will be a great success. There are lots of things to make and games to play. You could even win the fantastic Hampers which would be wonderful for Christmas.

We look forward to seeing you tomorrow.

CHRISTMAS PARTY FOOD LISTS

Lists of food that the children requested for their Christmas Party will be displayed on Tuesday 2nd December. The lists will be outside the Foundation Stage notice area and outside the Eco Lobby for Year 1 and Year 2. Please can you sign your name against the food you wish to provide. THANK YOU

Year 2

Wow! What a busy, interesting week. On Wednesday we were visited by Alison from the Just Different workshops. Her mother had taken Thalidomide when pregnant and as a result Alison was born with very short arms. She explained to the children how some of the tasks to be done, had to be changed, but how she led a very full life, playing tennis, swimming and walking her dog. The children had some fantastic ideas and got really involved with this session.

Friday was great fun. The school is already looking fantastic with all the decorations the children made. Thank you to all the parents who lent a hand. We couldn't have done it without you!

In Literacy we are now learning about Fairy Tales. The children have decided what makes a good Fairy Tale and are already becoming very proficient in identifying the various themes. Our maths work has been continuing with multiplication as well as linking this with division. We will be continuing with this work till we break up for Christmas.

Wednesday the 17^th is our Christmas Party. Please let your child's teacher know if you are able to help. We will need parents to come and lay the food out at lunchtime, help during the party and also to clear up while the children are playing games. We will also need parents to walk down with us to the church on Thursday 18th at about 9.30am. Again please speak to your child's teacher.

Thank you for your continued help and support

The Year Two Team.

Maths Challenge

Can you share some pencils/sweets between members of your family or toys. How many does each person/toy get? Are there any left over?

Reception
Sounds and key words for the coming week

We shall be revising all the sounds and key words learnt so far.

These are the key word: I, the, to, was, he, she, we, said, you, are, all, they.

We shall be continuing our assessment of phonic work covered in Big Cat Phonics.

Yellow Hat (what we liked this week)

Listening to food poems and having a go at making up our own

Recognising all the coins and sorting them

Learning our Christmas songs and putting music to them

Thinking about the things we like doing and writing about them

Christmas Craft Day (Thank you to all those who prepared activities or came to help.)

Help from you

Please help your child to look for 'runny' materials for our investigation table e.g. bubble bath in a transparent, sealed, plastic container.

Please remember to send in your child's costume in a named carrier bag by Friday December 5th. See us if there are any problems.

On Monday your children will be bringing home a free book pack for you to share and keep You have a story book; 'Harry and the Dinosaurs go to Schools' and a special edition 'Booktime Poetry Collection' and guidance and tips for you on shared reading. Enjoy!

Homework challenge

Go shopping at the Christmas Fair and spend 10p! Thank you very much for all your support - Year R team