Message from Mrs Bana

"Children learn to succeed by discovering that getting something wrong is often the first step towards getting it right.”

One of the greatest gifts we can give our children is curiosity, perseverance and the confidence to keep going when something feels difficult. At home, simple activities such as puzzles, board games, reading, drawing, building, cooking or completing practical challenges together can develop concentration and problem-solving skills in ways that passive screen time cannot.

We have noticed that some of our older pupils can become frustrated when faced with a tricky maths problem or challenging piece of work and may want to give up quickly. Our message at Grafton is simple: it is okay to get things wrong. What matters is that we learn, try again and keep going. We would really value your support in reinforcing this message at home.

The same principle applies to behaviour. Children will make mistakes as they grow. They may fall out with a friend, say something unkind, hit another child or make a poor choice about following our school rules. Our role is not simply to punish the mistake, but to help children understand what happened, take responsibility, repair relationships and make a better choice next time. This restorative approach is an important part of our Behaviour Policy and helps children develop responsibility, empathy and self-regulation.

Finally, a huge thank you to all the parents and carers who attended our SEND workshops this week. Working together makes such a difference to our children, and we look forward to welcoming even more families to our workshops, events and activities throughout the year.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support and partnership.

 INSET Day – School closed for children 

Friday, 2 October

Please note that school will be closed to all children on Friday, 2 October, as this is an INSET (staff training) day.

Our Story, Our Faces

We were lucky enough to be featured in the LBBD newsletter this month. Our Year 6 children took part in an art event in association with Valence House Museum.

BBC 500 Words Competition 

This year we would like to promote the BBC 500 Words competition with our pupils.  This is a fantastic opportunity for your child to show their creativity and develop their own ideas. 

Further information, including stories from previous winners, can be found on the website:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/500-words

Parent/Carer Workshops

We are pleased to share details of our upcoming Parent/Carer Workshops taking place this term.

These workshops are a great opportunity to find out more about different aspects of your child’s learning and development, and to learn how you can support your child at home.

To help us plan effectively, please complete the Google Form to let us know which workshop(s) you would like to attend. This will help us to prepare resources and ensure we have enough space for everyone.

Please complete the Google Form to register your attendance:
https://forms.gle/WWiVvG2iQsXFZSBZ8 

For those unable to attend, we will add all the slideshow presentations to the Parent/Carer Workshops & Coffee webpage. 

https://www.graftonprimary.co.uk/parent-workshops/coffee-mornings 

We look forward to welcoming you to our workshops and working in partnership with you to support your child’s learning.

Thank you for your continued support.

🗓️ Dates for Diary

Keep up with key events and activities this term

 Wednesday, September 30

📷Individual Photographs

Thursday, October 1

🎂 Mr Nourish’s Birthday – Special Lunch Menu

📷Siblings Photographs

 Friday, October 2

⛔ INSET Day – School closed for children

Tuesday, October 6

🦉 Owl Visit – EYFS/KS1

Wednesday, October 7

🧑‍⚕️School Nurse Drop in 9:30-10:30am

 Thursday, October 8

👥 Head Teacher Forum

 Monday, October 19

📚 Book Fair Arrives

 Wednesday, October 21 – Thursday, October 22

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Parents’ Evening

 Monday, October 26 – Friday, October 30

🍂 Half Term – School closed for children