GPS Newsletter

Dear Parents

Another great week at GPS.  We had a lovely assembly by the seniors of the school to mark International Sight Day.  We learnt a lot so thank you all!  Some amazing bridges were built in STREAM class and FS dressed in the clothes of the profession they 'want to be when they grow up.'

Parents- teacher meetings went very well and we thank you for all your positivity and interest in working with us to make a great school and experience for your children.  Please remember you don't have to wait for 'official events' you can make an appointment to meet the teachers at any time they are free during the week.

We ended the week in our pyjamas - promoting reading and having a bit of fun.  I loved seeing the children's faces when they saw my pink fluffy dressing gown including ears on my hood!  

Gentle reminder:  School on Monday will finish at 12.00pm.

And finally your opinion matters to us.  I have put together a quick survey that is literally only 9 questions to see how we are doing.  Please spare 2 minutes to give us feedback so we can see how we are doing.  Thank you.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GVVDJV9

(It will also be posted on Seesaw)

Dates to remember:  Half term break from Tuesday and reopening on the 30th October

Halloween "Spooks and Sparkles" dress up 31st October with a small concert from the younger year groups.

Have a lovely break and we'll see you on the 30th

Ms Jan

Dear Parents,

Let me start our discussions by bringing your attention to social wellness this week.  Though we all say we live in a society or community physically the harsh reality is we are still isolated or to just connected to ourselves.  If we can put in some effort to help ourselves we can change. Let me give you some thoughts.

MAKE CONNECTIONS

Social connections might help protect health and lengthen life. Scientists are finding that our links to others can have powerful effects on our health. Whether with family, friends, neighbors, partners, or others, social connections can influence our biology and well-being. Look for ways to get involved with others.

"TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF WHILE TAKING CARE OF OTHERS”

 Many of us will become caregivers at some point, the stress and strain of caregiving can take a toll on your health and if you are not healthy you will not be able to support others. To find time for yourself is the difficult task, however excuses apart and time for act. When you are healthy and happy you will feel motivated and confident  to care for others and to socialise. 

FIND TIME FOR YOURSELF

Set apart minimum of half an hour time as the ‘ME TIME’ out of the 24hrs. I believe this is not difficult. Keep away your gadgets that’s the best solution. Let every body know the time you choose as your ME TIME, to avoid conflicts and confusions.

BOND WITH YOUR CHILD.

Raising kids is both rewarding and challenging. Being sensitive, responsive, consistent, and available to your kids will help you build positive, healthy relationships with them. The strong emotional bonds that result help children learn how to manage their own feelings and behaviours and develop self-confidence. Children with strong connections to their caregivers are more likely to be able to cope with life’s challenges and social challenges much better.

GET ACTIVE TOGETHER.

Being active together as a family is important however being active socially is also vital. Where you live, work, or go to school can have a big impact on how much you are on your emotional and psychological Well Being. It can also impact your health and even how much you weigh. Being active with others in your community can have a positive effect on your health habits and create opportunities to connect. 

BUILD HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP

Strong, healthy relationships are important throughout your life. They can impact your mental and physical well-being. As a child, you learn the social skills you need to form and maintain relationships with others. But at any age, you can learn ways to improve your relationships. It's important to know what a healthy relationship looks like and how to keep your connections supportive.In order to make sure your social well-being is healthy; it is important to nurture your relationships. They should be mutually beneficial. If you find that you are in a relationship that increases your stress level or drains you of your energy, it may not be a healthy one. This can happen when you are with someone who is critical and negative or involved in unhealthy and self-destructive behaviour consistently. You must give yourself permission to end a relationship if it is hurting you.

Let me conclude for this week with some more thoughts.

In this era of non-face-to-face digital social networking, people are becoming more isolated than ever. The health risks of isolation have been proven to be comparable to those of smoking cigarettes, high blood pressure and obesity. The reason why social wellness is so important is that people who have healthy relationships, and a strong social network tend to live longer and respond better to stress. This reduction in stress and anxiety results in a healthier endocrine system, healthier cardiovascular functioning and an enhanced immune system.

Start practising these tips in these days and make maximum use of time during the upcoming Mid Term Break and if possible share your experiences with me too.

Ms.  Jikku  

Vice Principal/ Inclusion and Well-Being champion. 

What we've done

This week in year 2 we have been creating story maps for The Gingerbread Man in English. In maths we have been continuing our learning on addition and subtraction. The children have been busy creating props for their tv show in IPC . In science we have now come to the end of the unit on living things and their habitats and this week children had a go at creating their own food chains using different materials.

Mastering Addition and Subtraction using number blocks, column method and number bonds. 

What we've done

Year 4 have had a fantastic start to year throughout Term 1A. They have been working hard and succeeding in many ways throughout! This week in English, they finished writing their play script conversations, reviewed their Term 1A SPaG topics and completed an end of unit test. They also worked on their reading comprehension skills. In maths, Year 4 learned how to subtract 4-digit numbers using either no exchange, one exchange or more than one exchange. They also worked on their problem solving skills. In science, the class completed their unit on electricity, by playing Who Wants to be a Millionaire and then completed an end of unit test. They also made a start on their new unit; States of Matter, by identifying solids, liquids and gases. In IPC, the class used Google Earth and also began their independent research projects on a country of their choice. Soon after the half-term holidays, they will be starting a new unit.