Welcome – We are pleased to welcome two new children to our school, Scarlet Allen in Hornbeam class and Bella Harley in Rowan class.
Harvest Festival, Wednesday 2nd October – This year we have split our festival into two distinct sessions due to the larger numbers of pupils that we now have. Oak, Hornbeam and Beech Classes will be performing their celebrations first, starting at 9.15am and then Ash, Rowan, Maple and Willow will perform after a short intermission where parents are welcome to leave or enter. This intermission will be at 9:40am. I am afraid that this is an approximate time so apologies in advance if we are running a little late! You are more than welcome to stay for the whole Harvest Festival, especially if you could help with the distribution of boxes around Woodcote.
School Photographs – This week all children should have brought home their photograph proofs. If you would like to order please send in your order by Friday 4th October so that we can send the order to the photographer. After this date parents will need to send orders direct to the photographer.
School Uniform – Could we please ask all parents to check their child/children’s school uniform to make sure they have their own items as one or two sweatshirts have gone missing although they may have been named. Also, please make sure that your child’s name is marked clearly in permanent marker so that they can be returned to them if found in the playground or elsewhere in the school.
Boxtops – Please keep saving the tokens on the packets of cereal and bringing them into school. This is the last year Nestlé will be giving books away so we would like to get as many free books as possible before March.
Jumble Sale – St. Leonard’s church will be holding a jumble sale on Saturday 5th October from 2pm to 4pm. If you have any jumble, please deliver it to the village hall from 10am, or contact Lucy Carr on 01491 681927.
Barn Dance – St. Leonard’s will also be holding a Barn Dance in the evening. Tickets are £8 each or £20 per family (2 adults and 2 children) or £5 for concessions. Please contact Chris Bernard for tickets.
After School Club – The Annual General Meeting will be held on Monday 7th October in the school hall starting at 7.30pm. Please come along and if you are interested in joining the committee please let any of the ASC staff know. It would be great to have more committee members.
LIST OF CURRENT GOVERNORS (September 2013)
The Governors listed have taken on the responsibility to work with the school on planning, developing policies and keeping the school under review. Their responsibilities and powers are exercised in partnership with the headteacher and the staff.
Community Members Dr Tim Mason – Chair of Governors
Mrs Diana Hadaway (Member of the Parish Council)
L.E.A. Appointed Mr Simon Palmer (parent of Joseph)
Mr. John Carr (parent of Andrew and David)
Parent Governors Mr David Warren – Finance Governor (parent of Theo)
Mr Paul Clifford – Health & Safety Governor (parent of Lara)
Mr Tom McAuslin – Buildings and Premises Governor (parent of Finlay and Anya)
Mrs Sarah Bentley – Special Needs Governor (parent of Ellen, Elizabeth & Phoebe)
Mrs Helena McBride – Community Outreach Governor (parent of Adam and Toby-Joe)
Staff Representatives Mrs Alison Lecorgne (Year 6 Teacher)
Miss Kelly Gould – Teaching assistant (parent of Jacob)
Headteacher (Acting) Mrs Amy Fletcher (Year 2 teacher and KS1 coordinator)
Clerk Mrs Alison Mason (School Secretary)
Parents wishing to contact Governors regarding school matters may do so via the school office or on governors@woodcote-primary.co.uk
LIST OF CURRENT GOVERNORS (September 2013)
The Governors listed have taken on the responsibility to work with the school on planning, developing policies and keeping the school under review. Their responsibilities and powers are exercised in partnership with the headteacher and the staff.
Community Members Dr Tim Mason – Chair of Governors
Mrs Diana Hadaway (Member of the Parish Council)
L.E.A. Appointed Mr Simon Palmer (parent of Joseph)
Mr. John Carr (parent of Andrew and David)
Parent Governors Mr David Warren – Finance Governor (parent of Theo)
Mr Paul Clifford – Health & Safety Governor (parent of Lara)
Mr Tom McAuslin – Buildings and Premises Governor (parent of Finlay and Anya)
Mrs Sarah Bentley – Special Needs Governor (parent of Ellen, Elizabeth & Phoebe)
Mrs Helena McBride – Community Outreach Governor (parent of Adam and Toby-Joe)
Staff Representatives Mrs Alison Lecorgne (Year 6 Teacher)
Miss Kelly Gould – Teaching assistant (parent of Jacob)
Headteacher (Acting) Mrs Amy Fletcher (Year 2 teacher and KS1 coordinator)
Clerk Mrs Alison Mason (School Secretary)
Parents wishing to contact Governors regarding school matters may do so via the school office or on governors@woodcote-primary.co.uk
School Photographs – Next Tuesday 24th September the photographer will be in school to take photographs of all the children. Brothers and Sisters will be photographed together and individually and you will be able to choose which you would like to order when you receive your proofs. If you have pre-school children who you would like included in your family photograph please come into the school hall at 8.30am.
Willow and Maple classes will be swimming that morning so please make sure your child has a brush or comb with them to tidy up their hair after swimming.
Harvest Festival – A reminder that this is due to take place on Wednesday 2nd October at 9.15am. If you have any boxes that you could bring in for this purpose please bring them in as soon as possible for decoration. Also if you know of any elderly residents in Woodcote who would appreciate a box please let the school office know.
Judo lessons – No Obligation Taster Day – Lessons will start again next Thursday 26th September from 8am until 8.40am. As well as being for children who have attended lessons before, on the first day (26th September) this will be a No Obligation Taster Day, so anyone interested in a trial session is invited to come along.
Lunchtime Supervisors – We are looking for extra lunchtime supervisors (could be every day or just some days). If you or someone you know, would like to take up this position, please ask in the school office for more details.
Asthma Inhalers – If your child needs an inhaler, please make sure they have one at school as we keep these in the classrooms for use when necessary. These should be clearly named and a medication form should be completed giving details of when this may be required.
Packed Lunches – Please can we remind everyone not to include ‘frubes’ or ‘munch bunch’ squeezy yoghurts in the children’s lunchboxes as they cause problems for our staff because they can be very messy. Children often have a problem opening these yoghurts and tend to get themselves and others very messy!
Colder Weather – Now that the colder and wetter weather has arrived, please make sure your child has a suitable warm and waterproof coat in school every day as the children are encouraged to go outside whenever possible.
Messy Church – This Sunday, 22nd September, St Leonard’s Church will be holding ‘Messy Church’ 2.30 – 4.30pm in Woodcote Village Hall. This will be an afternoon of family fun with crafts and games, a lively 15 minute service and to finish …tea and cakes. Free admission but all children must be accompanied by an adult.
After School Club – The Annual General Meeting will be held on Monday 7th October starting at 7.30pm. Please come along and if you are interested in joining the committee please let any of the ASC staff know. It would be great to have more committee members.
School Photographs – On Tuesday 24th September the photographer will be in school to take photographs of all the children. Brothers and Sisters will be photographed together and individually and you will be able to choose which you would like to order when you receive your proofs. If you have pre-school children who you would like included in your family photograph please come into the school hall at 8.30am.
Willow and Maple classes will be swimming that morning so please make sure your child has a brush or comb with them to tidy up their hair after swimming.
Harvest Festival – A reminder that this is due to take place on Wednesday 2nd October at 9.15am. If you have any boxes that you could bring in for this purpose please save them for us and bring them in nearer the date. Also if you know of any elderly residents in Woodcote who would appreciate a box please let the school office know.
Morning Snack – Fruit is provided for children in Oak, Hornbeam and Beech classes but unfortunately there is none available for children in the rest of the school. Therefore if your child would like a morning snack, please send this in each day but remember that it should be a healthy snack, no crisps, sweets or chocolate bars. Also nothing with nuts in as we have children with nut allergies.
Boxtops – Please keep bringing in your boxtops from the Nestlé cereals so we can obtain more free books for our classes. We will send in the next batch of tokens at the end of September.
Morning Arrivals – Please be aware that the side gate by the Head’s office will be locked at 9am so we would please ask that all parents leave the school grounds by this time. If, for any reason, your child is late coming into school then they will need to come through the front entrance and report to the school office.
Parents on school premises – Can I please remind parents that they should be dressed appropriately when coming onto the school premises and that smoking is not allowed. Also we cannot allow animals to be brought into the playground.
Newsletter by email – If you would prefer to receive the weekly newsletter by email please let the school office know your email address. You can also find the newsletter online on our school website
www.woodcote-primary.co.uk
After School Club – The Annual General Meeting will be held on Monday 7th October starting at 7.30pm. Please come along and if you are interested in joining the committee please let any of the ASC staff know. It would be great to have more committee members.
Dear Oak, Hornbeam, Beech and Ash Parents,
This letter contains information about our systems for borrowing books from our school library. Your child will also bring home a leaflet with more practical tips for reading at home when they are given their first book.
Over the next few days we will assess the pupils in Hornbeam, Beech and Ash Classes to find out which coloured book band they should be borrowing books from. Your child will choose a book from our library within that band to bring home on Monday 9th September. Children in Oak Class will choose a book from our new Sharing At Home book box in the library. These books are to be read with an adult and there is no expectation that the children read the words. However some pupils may like to sound out some of the words. Later in the year, Oak Class will be assessed against the book bands as they are introduced to phonics and reading in class.
From Monday onwards, you and your child may choose to take books home as often as you like (one at a time); just ensure that they are placed into the correct band or with the Sharing At Home books when returned. Each banded book has a coloured sticker on the spine to help you. There is no particular order in which the books should be read, so you can pick the ones which interest your child and there is no requirement to read all of them.
They will also bring home a bookmark which will indicate the band that they should choose books from. You can use this as a record of the picture books that they have read and it will also give you information and ideas to support your child at home. As they move to another band they will be given a new bookmark.
We will carry out regular assessments to check which bands the children are reading within. Additionally, you may feel that particular books are too easy or difficult for your child. In this case, speak to your child’s teacher.
You can access the library from 8:40 to 8:55. Please use the door that faces the field. We do understand that not all parents are able to come to school regularly. If you are unable to visit the library, each class will have a designated place where book bags can be put if books need changing.
So that we can keep track of the books, there is a sheet for each child to record what books they have borrowed. These are clearly labelled in class trays in the library. Please note down on the record sheet provided the name of the book and date borrowed and returned. There will usually be a member of staff in the library, but if there’s no one around and you need some help come and find Mrs Fletcher in Beech Class or on the playground. There is a small charge of £3 if any books are not returned.
Thank you for giving this your attention.
Yours sincerely,
The Oak, Hornbeam, Beech and Ash Class Teams
Welcome back after the Summer break. You will soon receive the Headteacher's Newsletter which will contain more information about classes, policies, events and dates.
Welcome – to Mrs McDowell our new Teaching Assistant in Hornbeam class. Congratulations also to our Hornbeam class teacher on her marriage, she is now Mrs Donnai.
Welcome back also – to Miss Allen who is teaching in Ash class again after her wonderful year of travelling.
Oak class – We are delighted to welcome our new children this term. They are Oliver Bainbrigge, Lola Bassett, Phoebe Bentley, Mackenzie Blithing, Jacob Bonner, Alice Botham, Daniel Clark, Elizabeth Davis, Ava Dowman, Freya Evans, Charlie Frankum, Emily Humphrey, Josephine Hurst, Kieon Levett, Kirsten Lillywhite,
Corrin McAuslin, Ethan Myhill, Kirsty Newrick, Leah Norman-Yates, Amelia Ochocinska, Hannah Towers and Sienna Wright.
Bronze, Silver and Gold Badges – Now that a new school year has started, children should only be wearing gold badges from last year. They can keep any silver and bronze badges that they received. However, as they have started to work towards their next bronze award, the old bronze and silver should be removed from school clothing. All gold badges achieved can be worn for the remainder of their time at the school.
Harvest Festival – This is due to take place on Wednesday 2nd October at 9.15am. All produce brought in by children is distributed to elderly people in Woodcote and to do this we need boxes (shoe box size). If you have any that you could bring in for this purpose please save them for us and bring them in nearer the date. This would be very helpful to us.
Toys – Children are now not allowed to bring toys into school as they get damaged or lost easily. This includes trading cards and footballs. We provide playground equipment for the children at lunchtime.
Dinners – There is a menu available in the school office for hot dinners. The price remains £2 per meal and payment should be brought into school on a Monday morning in an envelope marked with your child’s name and the days when dinner is required that week.
Free School Meals – are available for children in families claiming Income Support, Income Based Jobseeker’s Allowance or Child Tax Credit. If you would like to claim free meals for your child/children (even if they will only require a dinner occasionally) please ask in the school office for a form to complete so that your entitlement can be checked. It is important that we have this information since it affects school funding.
Packed Lunches – We would ask that these contain healthy foods including fruit. There should be no sweets, frubes or similar squeezy yoghurts and there should be no nuts (even in cereal bars) as we have children who have nut allergies. If you include yoghurts in pots please make sure your child has a spoon as we are unable to supply them. They are also allowed only one sweet item such as kit-kat or similar.
Newsletter by email – If you would prefer to receive the weekly newsletter by email please let the school office know your email address. You can also find the newsletter online on our school website
www.woodcote-primary.co.uk
After School Club – The Annual General Meeting will be held on Monday 7th October starting at 7.30pm. Please come along and if you are interested in joining the committee please let any of the ASC staff know. It would be great to have more committee members.
Amy Fletcher, Acting Headteacher
Holiday Leave Entitlement
Following many statements regarding school attendance by the Secretary of State, Mr Gove, the Government is now introducing some significant changes to attendance regulations for pupils at school, some of which you need to be aware.
The most important of these is in relation to term-time family holidays. Below is a quotation directly from the Department for Education circular:
‘Amendments to the 2006 regulations remove references to family holiday and extended leave as well as the statutory threshold of ten school days. The amendments make clear that headteachers may not grant any leave of absence during term time unless there are exceptional circumstances.’
(www.education.gov.uk/schools/pupilsupport/behaviour/attendance/a00223868/regulations-amendments)
I draw your attention particularly to the second sentence of the paragraph. Although it is not possible to define exceptional circumstances, examples of what might be considered as such are:
These amendments come into effect this school year. Therefore, may I ask that you respect these new regulations under which we must now work. If you do need to take your child out of school during term time, you make very clear in your request how the circumstances are exceptional. If this is not clear then under the new legislation, I will not be allowed to grant leave.
https://www.gov.uk/school-attendance-absence/overview
Welcome to Beech Class
. We hope that you and your family had great summer.
This letter contains important information about life in Beech Class, curriculum content and other school activities for the Autumn Term. It is also available on the school website (which we update as much as possible with news, photos etc…)
Curriculum Content
Literacy:
Writing: We begin the term by thinking about stories in different settings. After that we will look at instructions. The children will work in groups to create their own presentations on the computer. We will also investigate and make poems with patterns. After half term, we will study different stories by the same author: Mairi Hedderwick. These are the Katie Morag series of books. The children will look at the features of the books and then create their own. We will continue ‘Big Writing’ where the children write independently after discussing ideas for a piece of writing. It is a fun session where we fill the room with candles and fairy lights, listen to classical music and use ‘special’ pencils.
Reading: Now that the children are in Year 2 they will take part in guided, group and shared reading lessons at least once a day. As the children become more fluent, they will focus on comprehension skills. In addition to this, if children need extra help with their reading they will be given individual support.
Mathematics: Counting and number sequences, place value, + and – strategies, money and real life problems (in our Robot Factory), length, time, shape and space, data handling.
We have a large focus on DT this term as the children have a Robot Factory in their role play area. They will use it to look at the processes involved in DT and also make robots with axles and wheels. We will link in Science by studying materials and electricity. We will need lots boxes, of various sizes, for our robots so please send in any empty ones that you have at home. (We also need any old video cases.)
Geography: Contrasting Localities – comparing Woodcote to the Isle of Coll, the inspiration for the Isle of Struay in Mairi Hedderwick’s Katie Morag books;
Music: Sounds (linked to Science) and singing Harvest songs;
PSHE: New beginnings, including class rules, routines and safety;
RE: Harvest (see the Newsletter for details of our Harvest Festival), Prayer, Ramadan, Eid and Diwali.
Trips
We have organised two trips for Beech Class this term. We will be visiting the Oxfordshire Museum and the Science Museum. These trips have been arranged to enhance work that we will be doing in the classroom. Next week, we will send a separate letter home with more details.
Homework
Homework will start this week. You should help your child to complete their homework without giving them the answers. We will mark your child’s work when it is returned to school. Homework will be given out on FRIDAYS and should be handed in by the following WEDNESDAY. It will usually follow up on work completed in class so that you know what the children have been learning that week. Spellings will usually be tested on Wednesdays but will not start until next week. Children will not receive homework before holidays, but are welcome to take books home.
Reading
Your child will be given a reading book to take home next Monday after assessments have been carried out this week. You will be able to change books as often as you would like. If you are not able to get into school, there is a box for your child to put their book folder in so that their book is changed that day. You will receive a letter explaining the process for changing books more fully.
Friday Mornings
We will open the doors to Beech Class at 8:40 on Friday mornings so that you can visit the classroom with your child and look at work, displays or even play in the robot factory! On all other mornings Mrs Fletcher will be on the playground to greet children and parents.
PE
Beech Class will have their PE lessons on Wednesdays and Thursdays. However, please ensure that the PE kit is brought into school on Monday and left in school during the week, in case we need to change our PE days, due to bad weather. We aim to hold our PE lessons outside as much as possible. Please ensure your child has the following kit in school: shorts, leggings/tracksuit bottoms (if desired for outdoor PE in the winter), T-shirt, trainers/plimsolls.
In addition, Beech Class will be swimming on Fridays. A separate letter will be sent home in relation to this.
School Uniform and PE kit
Please make sure your child's name is clearly marked on all their clothing. Children often leave clothing around the school and if they are not named the owner cannot be identified! They are welcome to bring in a water bottle to keep on their table during the day, which should be labelled too.
In addition, children do not need their own pencil cases in Beech Class. We would appreciate it if they did not bring them to school, as they take up lots of space on the tables and cause problems with items in them being misplaced.
Class Rewards
In addition to the school’s system of team points, children in Beech Class can earn other rewards for good behaviour, effort and work, which are given out in Celebration each week. Children who have won particular awards will be displayed in the class. Every week we will choose a ‘Star of the Week’. If your child is chosen, they will be given a trophy to take home for the weekend. Please make sure that it is returned on the Monday/Tuesday of the next week.
Class Timetable
Finally, as you will already know, Mrs Fletcher has taken on the role of Acting Headteacher. This role entails time out of the classroom to deal with whole school matters. The Beech Class timetable has been arranged to make sure that there is as little impact on the class as possible. Mrs Bodeker (our PE coordinator) will be taking the children swimming on Fridays, as would be normal, and she will be also teaching their PE lessons on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Mrs Wise, our Higher Level Teaching Assistant, will be taking the class on Thursday afternoons (Mrs Fletcher’s usual Planning, Preparation and Assessment time) and Friday afternoons for Celebration and Goldentime. She will also take the class for certain procedural activities, such as collecting in homework, spelling tests, practising handwriting etc… (All of these activities are planned by Mrs Fletcher.)
Therefore, a typical week would look like this:
|
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
|
|
English |
English |
PE (Mrs Bodeker) |
PE (Mrs Bodeker) |
Short Maths Lesson
|
|
|
9:30 Swimming (Mrs Bodeker) Handwriting (Mrs Wise) |
|||||
|
Assembly |
Singing |
Assembly |
Assembly |
||
|
BREAK |
|||||
|
Maths |
Maths |
English |
English |
||
|
Short English Lesson/ Guided Reading |
|||||
|
LUNCH |
|||||
|
Guided Reading
|
Guided Reading |
Guided Reading |
Maths: Time
Team Point Review
Visit library
(Mrs Wise)
|
Celebration Assembly |
|
|
Topic (incl. Science/PSHE) |
Topic (incl. Science/PSHE) |
Maths
|
Goldentime (Mrs Wise) |
||
|
Give out homework/ spellings/ newsletters |
|||||
|
Handwriting Maths Game Story (Mrs Wise) |
Handwriting Show and Tell Story (Mrs Wise) |
Story
|
|||
|
Celebration |
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In addition, Mrs Fletcher will be on the playground every morning and at the end of each day. Therefore, Mrs Wise will let the children go at the classroom door but please see Mrs Fletcher should you have any questions or concerns.
There will be a Parents’ Evening soon where you will be able to find out more about Beech Class and how your child is doing (keep looking at the Newsletter to find out when).
Thank you for your support.
Yours sincerely,
The Beech Class Team