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Greysbrooke Newsletter
| Published: 14th May 2007 19:33 |
Dear Parents 9 May 2007
Yet again the first half of the Summer term is flying by and it is hard to believe that it is almost a year since we visited Shugborough and invigilated the Y6 SATs (Statutory Assessment Tests). The range and quality of work presented at our recent KS2 Celebration Assembly bears tremendous credit to our Y6 pupils as they prepare for their tests whilst still managing to contribute purposefully to the overall running of the school as Duty Team, School Council Members and ‘Reading Buddies' to our Reception class. We wish the children every success next week and remind them that.....Shugborough is just around the corner! The itinerary for this residential week has recently arrived in school and looks as exciting and adventurous as usual..... Mrs Grainger and I are preparing for the camp fire songs and rock-climbing events!! This is a super experience for our Y6 pupils and we have pre-booked an excellent weather forecast for the whole week.
‘Another reason to celebrate'
Following an extensive audit of provision on Monday 23 April, and in recognition of a tremendous input by children and staff, I am delighted to report that Greysbrooke has been awarded the Primary Quality Mark (Basic Skills) for a three year period after which time, we will be re-assessed. All of these National Standards recognise provision and the ‘living' operation of policy in school and the fact that we have been awarded three such kitemarks in this academic year is certainly something to celebrate. Well done, everyone!
The Renewed Framework for Literacy and Numeracy
The Numeracy and Literacy Strategies were introduced in 1999 to provide a consistent approach to the teaching of these subjects. Whilst these have been a success, recent developments in education have resulted in a need for an updated scheme to more accurately meet the needs of primary school children. Therefore the existing strategies have been updated and restructure as The Renewed Framework for Literacy and Numeracy.
The reviewed framework for Literacy is now much more flexible, and allows the teacher to deliver units of work with the children's learning styles in mind. There is a much greater emphasis on speaking and listening as well as using visual literacy as tools to develop writing. Children will continue to study a range of genres with a greater depth than previously.
As for numeracy, the revised framework has a greater emphasis on problem solving and the application of taught skills. The different areas of mathematics will now be taught in a way that will enable children to make links between different aspects of learning. Speaking and listening is also a key feature of the new framework for Numeracy.
The deadline for implementation of the Renewed Framework is September 2008. However, at Greysbrooke we strive to use the most effective resources available for our children, therefore we are already implementing the Framework and have received positive comments form Mr Gary Staddon, numeracy consultant. Subject leaders have attended training on the new materials and have shared this with all members of staff and will continue to provide updates and support. There will be changes to the way we plan and assess these subjects across the school. We are therefore confident that the
Renewed Framework will have a successful impact upon teaching and learning in our school.
Welcome to..........
Miss S Ruffell who begins her final teaching practice with us on Monday 4 June. She will be completing an 80% timetable commitment with Mrs Grainger's class and under the direct supervision of her University tutor, Mrs Grainger and myself. This is part of our commitment to the professional development of teachers and of our partnership with the University of Central England. Due to the reputation of our school in training past students I am delighted that Miss Ruffell was actually assigned to us by the Dean of Faculty and I am sure that her ‘art' specialism will be monopolised and extended during her time with us.
Choir
This musical group formed under the leadership of Mrs Angela Olney and will now meet on a weekly basis (Thursdays from 1.30-2.15pm). I have already heard some very promising ‘pieces' and the children certainly seem to be enthusiastic about this provision.
School Uniform
Whilst I appreciate our youngsters ‘following of fashion', I have been made aware that several girls are wearing ‘leggings' with their summer dresses which is unfortunately unsupportive of our school uniform policy. Whilst uniform is not compulsory at Greysbrooke, most parents are fully supportive of the benefits of all the children looking the same. The children are great ambassadors for our school and I am sure that you would wish to join me in preventing standards from ‘starting to slip'. Similarly, whilst we encourage the children to bring trainers to school for playtimes and lunchtimes when they are accessing the playing fields, the children should have shoes/sandals etc to wear around school itself. This prevents grass-cuttings, mud etc from being distributed around the school as many trainers today have large ‘treads' which attract these items. Once again, thank you for your support.
A Reminder
Y6 Shugborough week begins on Monday
4 June. Please can any outstanding forms/monies be forwarded to Mrs Ward as soon as possible as we need to settle our accounts. Thank you
Duck Race Support
Our annual Duck Race is scheduled to take place on Sunday 20 May at 3pm. As always, sterling volunteers will have cleared the course of excessive vegetation, prepared the course and hopefully sold lots of ducks. If you haven't yet purchased yours, there is still time!! We hope that many of you will be able to attend this event and support FROGS whilst enjoying a fun afternoon....the weather has got to be better than last year!!! I'm feeling confident about ‘my ducks' this year but you know what they say about ‘pride coming before a fall'!!!.....
Gala Selections
Y2 parents should have received separate notification that their children will not be swimming on Thursday 10 May as this swimming period has been allocated to our Y5 children who will be swimming for selection to the Greysbrooke Swimming Team. This team will take part in the Inter-Schools Gala on 7 June. Y6 pupils would normally take part but unfortunately this year, the Gala clashes with our Shugborough Residential date which had been booked in September 2006! I know that they wish our Y5 children every success as they represent our school. Incidentally, Y2 will resume their swimming lessons on Thursday 17 May.
Assessment Focus Weeks
To coincide with the Y6 SATs week, the remainder of our pupils (Y2 excepting) will be undertaking their termly assessment week which further assists and informs jour monitoring of pupil progress. No child should worry about these assessments as they are part of our regular process of monitoring and they are one indicator that combines with other systems to assist future teaching and learning.
Forthcoming Events
Friday 11 May
Reception Class Assembly (10.15am)
Thursday 17 May
Mrs Grainger and Mr Storer's children will visit ‘Poole's Cavern' as part of their Science/
Geographical studies. Separate trip letters have been issued.
Week beginning 21 May
‘Walk to School Week'
‘Tri-Golf' sessions led by Miss Towers and
Mr Storer
KS2 News
Football and Netball Clubs
Next Thursday will be the last football and netball clubs for this year. Thank you to all the children who have attended each week and parents who have helped with transport to matches. A massive thank you to Mr Whorton-Eales, Mrs Ollerenshaw and Ms Light who have given up their time to help run these clubs - Miss Towers, Mr Storer and the children are all very grateful.
FROGS NEWS
DUCK RACE
The duck race will take place on Sunday 20 May on Crane Brook, at 3pm. That's the brook that flows along the Lammas Land at the north of the village, and we'll be putting up signs from Millbrook Drive. You can park in Millbrook Drive, or the best way to get there is to walk - there is a footpath from Pinfold Hill that will be signposted.
Thanks to the Lammas Land Committee, the brook will soon be cleared of any vegetation and other debris that may cause a problem to our plastic ducks. So, as ever, the day promises to be a great spectacle. If the duck whose number is on your ticket wins, it's a £75 prize.
This is the big opportunity to raise serious funds that we can use for either facilities or events at our school. At £1 per duck, and with up to 1000 ducks raring to go, we hope to raise several hundred pounds.
This year we have had to find new venues for selling tickets, and we are more than ever in need of volunteers. We will be selling some this weekend - please can you spare an hour to help sell some? If so we'll pair you with an experienced volunteer and we're in business! Please let a FROGS volunteer know if you can - we can be contacted via the School Office.
Order forms for ducks are in school bags, and we'll be selling them on the school playground after school as well. Can you take 10 of them on a sale or return basis, and ask around at work or in the pub for people to buy them? Catch us after school and we'll let you have a batch for you to sell.
OUR OBJECTIVE
As you know, we are working with School to provide canopies to give shade in the playground over the summer months. It looks like the shade in the Key Stage 1 area will be go ahead at the same time as that in Key Stage 2 in the next few weeks. The shade in the KS 1 area will be jointly funded by us and others. We're pleased to say that we have reached the £5000 target for our contribution, thanks to your excellent efforts in supporting our activities. Particular thanks to all those who sent in blue bags of unwanted clothes and shoes. That brought us £117.
Our planning meetings have considered the topic of the 2008 celebration event to mark the 40th anniversary of Greysbrooke on its present site. We have even fixed the date, Saturday 5 July, 2008. It is unlikely to be fully self funding, and we took the view at a recent planning meeting that we should seek assistance from local businesses, and commit some of the funds we raise over the next year to making this event happen. We want it to be a big celebration for all, and are already planning activities for the day.
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