Learning This Week
This week the children have been learning all about shapes, and spotting 2D shapes on the faces of 3D shapes. They have had great fun exploring activities inside and out and printing pictures using 3D shapes. In writing, the children have enjoyed planning how to keep Spike the hedgehog warm. There were some fabulous ideas.
This week Year 1 have been talking about what they like to do in winter. The children have also been talking about verbs - reading some verbs of what they could do in winter and putting them on a line from the least to the most.
The children then sat in a 'triangle of trust' to promote positive listening and attention skills with their peers, to discuss their reasons as to where they would put the verbs on their line. The children enjoyed discussing their reasons and listening to others as to where they think the verbs should be placed on the line.
This week in Geography, the children tackled the statement, "Everywhere is hot," by exploring and labelling countries, continents, and oceans to see if it was true. They took a walk around the school to investigate hot and cold areas, thinking about why they differ – and absolutely loved the adventure! In DT, they had loads of fun baking while learning about weight, measurements, and the importance of following methods precisely. It’s been a fantastic week of curiosity, creativity, and hands-on learning!
Parent/Carer Behaviour Information Online Session
Please see an invitation from Freegrounds Junior School to join in with an online session on the Empowerment Approach. More information is in a letter attached to the newsletter email sent 24.01.25
Dear Familes,
Parent/Carer Behaviour Information Online Session - 3rd February at 7.30pm
We are hoping that someone from every family in our school will be able to attend this online meeting. We have chosen to make it a virtual session in the hope that this makes it more accessible and the session will be led by Leslea Markwick who works for Changing Chances who created the Empowerment Approach.
Getting behaviour right for our children underpins all that we do. When children feel better they do better.
Implementing the Empowerment Approach at Freegrounds Junior school is one of the school's main priority areas this year and we feel passionately that this approach is right for our children.
Please find the link below to the online zoom session link as well as the google docs sign up sheet, please complete the google docs sheet if you are able to attend the online session.
Google doc link: https://forms.gle/wwuJX2omUHMjaMW38
Changing Chances is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Parent Session for Freegrounds Schools
Time: Feb 3, 2025 19:30 London
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86218339946?pwd=TsAlrYnpEmLiK5c5ukA85FcdZiwbrb.1
Meeting ID: 862 1833 9946
Passcode: 396086
Kind regards
Mrs Sarah Robinson
Inclusion Lead / SENDCO, Freegrounds Junior School
Resources Needed
Thank you for the donations already received!!
We are looking at having a revamp of some of our communal areas, with a view in particular to improving our SEN provision. If you have any of the following items that you would be able to donate, please drop them into the school office. Thank you in advance for your kindness!
Blankets / throws
Fidget poppers / spinners
Complete puzzles
Smooth pebbles
Bubble wrap
Small trampoline
Pool noodle
Small paddling pool
Old CDs
Fairy lights
Simple board games
Football Club / Kit
Just a reminder that children attending after school clubs, such as football, should have their kit as well as their PE kit, not instead of.
All children should be wearing their PE kits as usual, and getting changed into their after-school club kit as needed.
Parent Governor
We currently have an exciting opportunity to join the governance board of Freegrounds Infant School. The role of school governor is very rewarding and it will enable to you to meet new people and work as part of a team. Don't worry if you have no experience as full training and support is available and you will be well supported by your colleagues on the governing body.
We currently have a vacancy for either a parent governor (your child must be a pupil at the school) or co-opted which means you do not need to be a parent or in the education profession. If you have an interest in education, and want to give something back to your community and you are keen to see future generations thrive then this maybe an ideal role for you!
If you are interested in finding out more or for an application form please contact Carly in the school office. The closing date for this is 31st January 2025.
Wear Your SCARF Day
This year's Wear Your SCARF Day will be taking place on Friday 7th February, during Children's Mental Health Week (3-9 February 2025). We're inviting everyone to wear a scarf on this day as a symbol of support for children's mental wellbeing, while celebrating the values of SCARF - Safety, Caring, Achievement, Resilience and Friendship. Throughout Children's Mental Health Week we will be providing activities relating to the theme 'Know Yourself, Grow Yourself'.
FISHES News
Bags2School
Thank you to everyone that kindly donated to Bags2School today. All your donations helped us to raise £77.20.
90s Disco
Tickets are selling really well for this event, get yours soon to make sure you don't miss out!! Tickets are available via our ticket platform: https://buytickets.at/fishes
Sponsored ParkRun Event
We are looking forward to taking over the Junior ParkRun in Hedge End on Sunday 23rd March. We are doing this as a sponsored event so if your child would like to take part and run the 2km route (or challenge themselves by running the equivalent of a half / full marathon by running 11 / 21 Junior ParkRuns - they will receive a certificate and wristband from Park Run for this) you can set them up with their own Just Giving page and linking it to FISHES via this link https://www.justgiving.com/freegroundsfishes or we will be sending home paper sponsorship forms.
Thank you to everyone that has already donated to our marathon just giving page. Any donations are gratefully received and all money will be going to FISHES https://www.justgiving.com/page/carly-haines-1734518093440?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL
To add this our amazing cook Mrs Shephard is taking part in Tough Mudder and has also decided to raise money for FISHES! https://www.justgiving.com/page/karla-s-3?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL
Thank you as always for your continued support.
Nut Free School
We would like to remind parents that we are a nut free school. We have members of both the staff and student community who are anaphylactic to nuts of all varieties. This includes obvious things like hazelnut spread in sandwiches, but also many types of cereal bars and biscuits also contain nuts. Please check the ingredients list of all food items that you send into school.
Year Group Home Learning Newsletters
Attendance This Week
If you are struggling to get your child/ren to school on time each day, please do get in touch so we can try to help.
Blue Class - 93.04% attendance with 4 episodes of lateness
Red Class - 92.73% attendance with 1 episode of lateness
Yellow Class - 97.27% attendance with 0 episodes of lateness
Green Class - 99.23% attendance with 1 episode of lateness
Orange Class - 96.55% attendance with 3 episodes of lateness
Purple Class - 97.41% attendance with 2 episodes of lateness
Scarlet Class - 100% attendance with 1 episode of lateness
Turquoise Class - 99.33% attendance with 3 episodes of lateness
Attendance Guide for Parents / Carers
What YOU must do:
Try to telephone the school before 8.30am each day of your child’s absence.
Tell the school in advance, of any medical appointments and bring in appointment cards/letters.
If you are not sure whether your child is well enough to attend school, send them in anyway as they often perk up on arrival.
If you and your child are experiencing difficulties with school attendance then talk to us as a first step so we can help!
What WE will do:
Check your child’s attendance every day.
Phone home to discuss your child’s attendance with you.
Invite you into school for attendance meetings if we are concerned.
If we cannot establish a reason for absence, then we may make a welfare home visit.
Dates for Your Diary
Friday 31st January - EYFS "Pirate Day"
Friday 7th February - Wear Your SCARF Day
Thursday 27th February and Tuesday 4th March - Parent's Evenings
Thursday 6th March - World Book Day
Friday 7th March - Year 2 to SeaCity Museum
Friday 14th March - EYFS to Longdown Farm
Monday 31st March - Year 1 to Hillier Gardens
FISHES Dates
Friday 28th February - 90's / 00's Disco (Adults)
Friday 21st March - Non Uniform Day for Rainbow Raffle
Sunday 23rd March - Infants takeover of Junior Park Run
Saturday 29th March - Easter Fayre
Tuesday 1st April - Easter Bake Off
Sunday 6th April - Southampton Marathon
Friday 9th May - Quiz Night
Monday 19th May - World Baking Day
Thursday 19th June - Non-Uniform Day
Saturday 28th June - Summer Fayre
Friday 11th July - Disco
INSET Days 2024/2025
Friday 14th February 2025
Friday 20th June 2025
You can view Hampshire term dates at any time here.
Head Teacher Awards
Blue Class - Arabella for Thinking & Independence, Noah for Respect & Resilience
Red Class - Reo and Archie, both for Resilience
Yellow Class - Barney and Elsie G, both for Thinking
Green Class - Jessica and Marley, both for All The Values!
Orange Class - Orien for Resilience, Rose for Independence
Purple Class - Bea for Independence, Henry for Creativity
Scarlet Class - Toby for Thinking & Independence, Tiarah for Resilience & Thinking
Turquoise Class - Piper for Independence & Thinking, Harrison for Independence
Grounding Technique