2 Oct 2009 - Newsletter 2nd October 2009

Wisley Letter - Year 1

HOPA 50/50 Draw

Health Eating Talk Leaflet from St Johns Children's Centre

At the Oaktree School we have always been very fortunate to have a number of parents coming forward to be a Parent Governor. It is a very rewarding position and supports the learning of the children.

Governors are expected to serve on two committees. All Governors are Subject Link Governors on the Curriculum Committee but meetings for this can be only once a year. There is then a choice of two committees to serve on Personnel and Finance or General Purposes, this would be one meeting a term. You would also be expected to attend one Full Governors Meeting per term. Meetings are held at 9 am and finish no later than 11 am. As you can see the commitment to attend meetings could be only 7 meetings a year. Fort the rest of the time you may volunteer to carry forward a project independently or in a small team.

The role of Governor is a very individual one and we try to utilise our members strengths and expertise to support the school. It is entirely up to each Governor how much time they wish to give to the position.

If you have been thinking about applying for the post please do not hesitate to talk to me and I can explain the role in more detail.

Thank you very much for all of your help and support on our Harvest Day. We hope you and the children really enjoyed yourselves, we certainly did! We're sure that the bulbs will all look beautiful in the spring. Thank you for your generosity in supplying the bulbs and thank you in advance for sending in the Wellie Walk sponsor money.

Next week is our Science Week!! We will be learning about ourselves and plants. Although we do have a supply of fruit in school, we would very much appreciate it if on Monday, each child could bring in a piece of fruit that could be added to our fruit salad. The children will then bring some home to share with you!

Just a quick reminder (if you haven't already done so) to please return your permission slip and money for our exciting Wisley trip next week.

Homework Challenge: Over the weekend, when you're out walking, can you please collect a variety of autumn leaves and bring them into school?

Assess and review sounds covered so far

Singing our harvest songs, walking in our wellies and planting bulbs!

Investigating how tall we are compared with our friends using our class height chart.

Fishing for our names when practising name recognition. Painting our harvest pictures.

Listening to the story of Elmer and finding out that it is good to be different!

Thank you to those who helped on our Wellie Walk and Plant a Bulb day. In the next few weeks, we will be putting up timetables for each class. If you would like to sign up to help in the classrooms after half term, we would really appreciate this!

A Day in the Classroom Wednesday 7th October at 7 pm

On Wednesday 7th October there will be an opportunity to find out more about the Foundation Stage curriculum when we will be holding a curriculum meeting which we have called 'A Day in the Classroom'.

Open Morning

Monday 5th October 2009

Worplesdon Sports Ground

10.00 am—12.00 midday

A big thank you to the parents who have volunteered as Link Parents.

Hedgehog - to be appointed

Robin Charmain Colak-Antic & Emma Davis

Squirrel to be appointed

Ladybird Michele Herring and Julia Collis

Magpie Rosie Barker and Tessa Shorey

Woodpecker Christa Raynor

Owl to be appointed

Fox Emma Loughman & Sue Meacock-Fletcher

Rabbit to be appointed

As you can see we still need a few Link Parents if you feel you can help please speak to your class teacher.

PSHE and Citizenship are taught throughout the school using the SEAL curriculum. It is a whole school approach to teaching social, emotional and behavioural skills to all children. The staff and children refer to the teaching of PSHCE as Life Skills.

There are 7 themes which are covered during the school year. Each half term we will be looking at a particular theme. The theme will start with an assembly and be followed up in class.

The theme for this half term is New Beginnings. During the term the children will be exploring how to create a learning environment that helps them learn together in a happy, busy and safe way. They will also learn about the feelings they have when they are happy, sad, scared and excited, and how to manage these feelings in the classroom.

Over the year we will introduce activities to do at home. These will be published in the newsletter. Some of these will be best done together with an adult. We hope you will enjoy doing these with your child.

Thank You to all of the families who came to the Ground Force Morning. We were able to weed the Grandparents' bank, empty the pots ready for Harvest Day, make a new entrance to the butterfly garden, make two new flower beds for year 1 to plant and put in border edging, make a path to the butterfly garden, slab under the bike shed at the top of the field and generally tidy up and clean up outside.

Thank you so much, it makes such a difference to the children. They will enjoy playing in the butterfly garden again.

Once again we are amazed at the confidence of our children .

The reception children have only been in school just a few weeks and they performed beautifully today.

It was lovely to see so many families walking during the Wellie Walk.

A huge thank you to everyone who helped with the planting.

As part of the School Development Plan we are aiming to develop our outdoor environment. In doing so we hope that the children will become confident learners who are happy to explore the great outdoors!

We are hoping to create an outdoor musical area made entirely from recycled materials. Please see any members of The Music Team' (Mrs Afzal, Miss Ben-ham or Miss Hogg) if you have any old or unwanted items from the list below:

saucepans

frying pans

metal spoons

wooden spoons

wok

old piping (plastic or metal)

chimes

barrels/bins

This week year 2 having been working hard on yet another enthralling African story. The children are now experts on one African animal who has become the main character in their imaginative stories. Some of us have been completing challenging one minute activities, leaving us quite out of breath while others have become clock makers.

The children have been practising very hard for the Harvest Festival and it was lovely to see so many of you there. Thank you for our gardening experts who helped the children to plant a variety of bulbs. We will look forward to seeing the flurry of colour in Spring.

Next week we are planning an exciting fun filled Science week. If possible, please could you lend us a mixing bowl, wooden spoon and measuring jug for a lesson on Monday? You child will also be coming home on Monday with an empty cup please can they fill it with water to the given line. Then can you place it in the freezer to bring in on Tuesday, we will be making an Ice Mountain. Which class will have the tallest Mountain!

Desperate plea!! Owl and Rabbit class still don't have a link parent. Can you help? If you're not sure about doing it by yourself, trick someone into sharing the load with you.

Homework challenge:

We have become increasingly aware of the large amount of sweeties being given out as birthday treats. While we do value celebrating special occasions, we are endeavouring to do this in a more healthy way. If your child does wish to bring something in for the class (although this is not expected) here are a few alternatives to the usual sweetie treats:

• Portions of fruit.

• Raisins.

• You could even look at party packs for inspiration.

Or your child could bring any of the following to share with the class on this special occasion.

• A favourite book.

• A game/puzzle.

• A CD to listen to.

The Oaktree School hall is available for hire for children's parties on Saturdays and Sundays. Included in the price: benches, tables, fridge, freezer and sink.

Cost £46 + 15% insurance for 3 hours ( allows ^1/2 hour to

set up, 2 hours for the party, and ^1/2 hour to clear up and

sweep the floor)

£9 + 15% insurance for each additional hour

HEALTHY EATING TALK

TUESDAY 13TH October at 2 pm

With: School Nurses Jenny King and Julia King

Information and advice on feeding your babies and youngsters—giving them a healthy diet.

At St John's Knaphill Children's Centre located within St Johns Primary School in Victoria Road.

No need to book—just come along

Do not park on dropped kerbs these are for people with buggies etc to cross safely.

Please do not park near to corners because people can not see round the corner.