22 September 2023

Message from the Headteacher 

Dear parents

We've come to the end of the school year and what an incredible year it has been at Grange Park Primary School! We've seen our children achieve great things, both academically and in terms of their personal development. We've had some amazing experiences together, such as the The Jungle Book production, the Summer Fayre, and the Sports Days.

I'm so proud of everything our children have accomplished this year. They've worked hard, they've been kind and supportive to each other, and they've made me so proud to be their headteacher.

I'd like to thank all of our staff for their dedication and hard work this year. They've gone above and beyond to provide our children with the best possible education.

I'd also like to thank the GPPSA for their fundraising efforts. They've raised a huge amount of money for the school, which has enabled us to provide even more opportunities for our children, 

As the school year comes to an end, it's time to say goodbye to some of our children, parents, and staff. To the Year 6 children, we wish you all the best as you move on to the next phase of your education. To those children who are moving schools, we hope you continue to enjoy learning. To the parents who are leaving our school, we thank you for your support over the years. And to the staff who are moving on, we wish you every success in your new jobs.

Thank you again for your support this year. I'm so grateful to have such a wonderful community of children, parents and staff.  I hope you have a chance to relax and recharge, and I look forward to seeing you back on Tuesday 5 September.  Have a wonderful summer! 

With my very best wishes

Tijen Hassan

Headteacher 

Term Dates, Holidays and School Closures

Dates for Meet the Teacher - September 2023

We are pleased to be inviting parents to come into school to Meet The Teacher in your child’s new classroom.  This is an opportunity for you to meet your child’s new teacher as well as finding out about key information and dates for your child’s class. 

Keeping Children Safe

 Attendance

Attendance: Every school day counts!

At Grange Park we know that regular attendance is vital for our children to achieve their full potential at school. We want to share our expectations around attendance with parents to ensure we work together to support our children to excel.

Please encourage your child to continue to attend school every day and on time. 

How can parents help?
You can support us with securing excellent levels of attendance by:

Your child’s attendance will continue to be monitored as part of our whole school attendance monitoring process.  If at any point you experience difficulties in relation to your child’s attendance, please do not hesitate to contact the school attendance officer, Debbie Miller, so that we can offer support and guidance. Debbie Miller can be contacted by telephoning the school or by email. 

Thank you for your continued support.

At this time of the year we celebrate a cumulative result, instead of just this half term. The following results are for the entire year and therefore should be highly celebrated!


This academic year we celebrate 34 children who have achieved 100% attendance, this means they have been in every day of 2022 2023. We are very proud of these children and they have been celebrated in our assemblies this week. Keep it up!

Congratulations goes to Grovelands family - the winning family this academic year!

Well done to our classes that achieved our whole school target of 97% for the whole academic year, we are proud of you for this achievement. The winning class in this family is…Lowry again - it was so close Robin - Keep up the great work!

Unfortunately no classes in Grovelands family managed to meet our whole school target for the academic year, but Neptune came the closest - 96.9% - making them this year’s winning Grovelands class!

Unfortunately there were no classes in this family that reached our whole school target of 97%, but Cedar came close with 96.49% making them this academic year’s winners in Oakwood family - this is not the first time they are coming out winners - keep up the good work year 3!

There is only 1 class in this family that hit our whole school annual attendance target, therefore the winner of attendance in Trent family… Tiger class. Keep up the good work year 4’s!

School Uniform 

We believe uniform is important because it plays a valuable role in contributing to the ethos of the school and setting an appropriate tone.  It also gives children a sense of pride in themselves and the school. It is a powerful tool in ensuring all children are included - not made to feel left out for the tracksuit or trainers they are wearing.  Please ensure that your child is wearing the correct school uniform in September.  This also includes children wearing the correct  PE uniform (grey joggers and sweatshirt with a logo as well as plain black trainers) to school on their PE days. 

You may have also noticed that some children have been wearing purple PE T-Shirts.  These are being phased in as well as grey polo shirts to wear with purple cardigans/jumpers.  Don't worry you can still wear the white ones in the meantime.  A full list of our uniform can be found here.

Curriculum News

Anti-Racism and Me Workshop

On Tuesday 4th July, Years 4, 5 and 6 were lucky enough to have a workshop on racism and discrimination. The workshop was run by an organisation called ARISE (Anti-Racism in Schools and Education). During the workshop, the children were introduced to Miss Lawton (co-founder), who discussed - What racism is, gave examples of racism, stereotypes and slurs and finished off by thinking about how we can stand up to racism. 


The children found out that ‘Racism is a type of prejudice. Prejudice is when someone dislikes someone from a particular group of people, without knowing them. Racism is mistreating people based on the colour of their skin, religion or ethnicity.’


Miss Lawton discussed her own experiences of children she has worked with that have experienced racism and gave scenarios to highlight these. She asked the children to think about how they should act to support one another and to stand up against racism. 

They discussed what the words stereotype, slur and racism meant and the impact racism has on everyone.  

What is a stereotype?


A stereotype is a mistaken idea or belief many people have about a thing or group that is based upon how they look on the outside, which may be untrue or only partly true.

They discussed what the words stereotype, slur and racism meant and the impact racism has on everyone.  

What is a stereotype?

A stereotype is a mistaken idea or belief many people have about a thing or group that is based upon how they look on the outside, which may be untrue or only partly true.


What is a slur

A slur is a word that is used to insult someone. It can be about the person’s skin colour and can make someone feel really upset or uncomfortable. 


The children were asked, What do you want your legacy to be? They discussed whether they wanted to be remembered for being sporty, artistic, intelligent, or a good person. 


The workshop spoke about the internet and how we use different apps such as Tik Tok, Instagram, Youtube and Twitter and discussed how we have seen racism online, mainly when reading the comments section. 


Miss Lawton asked, ‘Think about what it must feel like to be a victim of racism.’ We spoke about the importance of telling someone and that it is your right to feel safe and respected. Miss Lawton reminded us that we are not ‘snitches,’ or, ‘tell-tales,’ if we report racism. It is important to stand up against what we know is wrong. 


“Racism is never okay. It is never funny, it is never clever, it is never acceptable.”  


“People can be anything they want to be. Race has nothing to do with it.” The workshop spoke about the internet and how we use different apps, such as Tik Tok, Instagram, Youtube and Twitter and discussed how we have seen racism online, mainly when reading the comments section. 


All of the teachers were so impressed with the maturity, respect and kindness that was shown by the children during the session and were so pleased with how well they engaged. Well done Years 4, 5 and 6!

Year 6 Production of The Jungle Book 

In an unforgettable display of talent and creativity, Year 6 students recently took centre stage with their breathtaking production of The Jungle Book. The school's main hall was transformed into a magical jungle setting, and the young performers showcased their artistic prowess to create an awe-inspiring experience for audiences.

Under the guidance of their teachers, the Year 6 students embarked on a theatrical adventure, bringing Rudyard Kipling's beloved characters to life. From Mowgli's heartwarming journey of self-discovery to the playful antics of Baloo and Bagheera, the young actors' commitment and passion were evident in every scene. The success of this production hinged on the exceptional performances delivered by the young actors. Their ability to inhabit their characters and deliver dialogues with confidence and flair left the audience spellbound.


Behind the scenes, a dedicated crew worked tirelessly to ensure the production's success. Thank you to the lighting team, the sound team and the prop handlers.


The Jungle Book production not only showcased the students' artistic abilities but also instilled important life skills in them. Throughout the rehearsals and collaborative efforts, the young performers learned the value of teamwork, discipline, and perseverance. For many, this experience will undoubtedly be one of their most cherished memories of primary school.


Well done to everyone involved!

Sports Update 

Last week the children in reception, year 1 and year 2 enjoyed taking part in tennis taster sessions run by PH Tennis.   PH Tennis run Summer Holiday and Tennis courses for primary school children as well as sessions during term time.  See below more details. 

Times Tables Rockstars

As the summer holidays approach, we wanted to take a moment to discuss the importance of times table expectations for each year group and encourage you to support your child in learning them during the break.  Mastering times tables is a fundamental skill in mathematics and serves as a building block for many concepts your child will encounter throughout their education. Not only does it enhance their mental maths abilities, but it also lays a strong foundation for problem-solving, fractions, algebra, and more advanced mathematical topics.  

In each year group, children are expected to develop their times table knowledge at a progressive pace. Here is a general overview of the expectations for each year group:


It is crucial to emphasise that these expectations are not limited to the confines of the school year. Learning times tables is an ongoing process that requires continuous practice and reinforcement. This is where your support comes in.  During the summer holidays, we encourage you to incorporate times table activities into your child's routine. Here are a few suggestions:


Remember, consistency is key. Encouraging your child to spend a few minutes each day practising times tables will yield significant results. By incorporating these activities into their summer routine, you can ensure that your child maintains and enhances their multiplication skills, giving them a head start when they return to school.


Thank you for your continued support in your child's education. We wish you and your family a wonderful summer break filled with joyful learning experiences.

Information for Parents

My Young Minds Enfield

My Young Minds Enfield (MYME) are offering workshops over the course of the summer to support parents with learning strategies to help their children if they have: anxiety, sensory issues, behaviour issues, sleep issues, concerns about their child's emotional wellbeing and also support for transitioning to secondary school.  Please click on the links below for further information about these supportive workshops and sign up if you're interested.

HAF Programme

Enfield’s Holiday Activities and Food Programme (HAF) offers lots of fun ideas for keeping active, being creative and trying something new over the Easter, summer and winter school holidays.  Children and young people in receipt of benefit related free school meals can receive up to 16 days during the summer holidays.


The programme is fully funded by the Department for Education (DfE) for children and young people from reception to Year 11 who are in receipt of benefits-related free school meals.

Extend Summer Holiday Club- Few spaces left! 

Volunteering

We are asking if anyone in our community would be able to offer a bit of their time each week to help us grow and nurture the pupils at our school. There are a range of different roles, including; classroom support, reading hub volunteer and listening to children read 1:1 or in groups.

If you interested please contact the office for an application form.

Supporting your child with English as an Additional Language 

The summer is a great time to support your child who may require additional support with English, catch up, prepare yourself for the following school year — and have some fun! In this section of the newsletter you will find ideas and resources to support your child as they learn English.

Did you know you can visit your local library and join for free? 

Please see the link to libraries in the Enfield area https://www.enfield.gov.uk/services/libraries

https://www.gamestolearnenglish.com/ 


⭐ In the Autumn term, each year group will have a focus story book. Why not get ready by ordering the book or audio version on Amazon.   

You can also find bilingual versions. 

Year 1- The elephant and the bad baby

Year 2- ‘The Dark’ and ‘Wolves’

Year 3- Bill’s New Frock

Year 4- Toro Toro

Year 5- Beowulf

Year 6- Podkin- One ear

Other News

       The Partial Replacement of Pipework & Emitters Project

The pipework distribution and radiator system are believed to date from the original build date, circa 1930. There is a small water leak in the system underground. Due to the age of the system we have been advised that if this escalates into a larger leak the school will then be without heating in some areas of the school. Although in good visible condition and operational, the pipework and radiator system are in operating far beyond their normal life expectancy. The radiators are generally not fitted with thermostatic radiator valves (TRV). This results in the heating system being difficult to control and is also inefficient.

Therefore I am pleased to inform you that the pipework and radiators will be replaced in parts of the school. The radiators will be replaced in all the year 3, 4, Puffin and Woodpecker Classrooms as well as the Dining and Main hall and Reading Hub (the part of the school this impacts). The contractors are hoping to begin this work in the summer holidays and the expected timeframe for the project is 20 weeks. This may have an impact on some of these classes. If this is the case, the children will relocate classrooms for a couple of days, however individual classes and parents will be informed if this happens.

We are lucky enough for this to be fully funded by the School Capital Funding. This is funding that the Connect Education Trust receives directly from the Department for Education because we are part of a Multi-Academy Trust. The Trust has allocated the funding to Grange Park in order to fund this project.

  Pets for Therapy 

We are extremely lucky to have 'Pets as Therapy' join us at Grange Park Primary, for the last four weeks.  We have welcomed  Bella & Izzy.  

The children have enjoyed spending time with both the therapy dogs and their volunteers but both Bella and Izzy have also enjoyed the attention.   We look forward to Bella coming back to visit us again in September. 

Stationery for Schools 

From September we are asking children from Year 1- Year 6 to bring their own pencil case and stationery to school which many schools are requesting now.  This enables children to take care and have a sense of responsibility for their own belongings.  Please see the list  with a link to Amazon to where you can order the items from: 

Items should be clearly labelled.  Thank you for your ongoing support.

School Parliament

Grange Park’s School Parliament has had yet another incredibly busy year.

They have been involved in the organisation and delivery of UK Parliament Week which included a questions and answers session with our local MP Feryal Clark. They have supported various charity events throughout the year, organising activities and initiatives to support the fundraising and they have taken on board ideas on how to improve lunchtimes, including helping to organise and run family lunches, which in turn has supported the wellbeing of pupils.

During our recent family lunch, the MPs and Councillors  encouraged children of all ages to join them on a nature hunt. They travelled the length of the school to identify different trees, plants, and wildlife. It was amazing to see how many children got involved and groups of children working collaboratively together.

In addition to this, a responsibility that the MPs carry out with pride are the weekly family assemblies and the termly  ‘Inspirational People’ assemblies. These assemblies teach the children about a diverse range of people who have had an impact on the world. 

More recently the MPs conducted a lunchtime learning walk with Rebecca and Clare, Senior Play Leader, observing children’s wellbeing  and enjoyment in the  lunch hall and playgrounds. They looked at manners, children taking part in Acts of  Kindness, engagement with the new Playground PALs and thought about improvements that could be made next year, so watch this space. They have also introduced food recycling bins to the playgrounds. 

Well done School Parliament! What a tremendous impact you have had on Grange Park this year. Thank you for all of your hard work and we wish our MPs the best of luck as they move on to pastures new. Here are some final thoughts from our MPs...

Connect Education Trust 

Dear Families,


I would like to thank you for choosing to send your child/children to one of our Connect Education Trust schools.  Each of our schools is unique and an amazing place for our wonderful children to learn and grow. Please browse through The Connect Welcome Brochure when you get a moment. May I take this opportunity to wish you all an enjoyable summer break and we look forward to welcoming you all back at the start of the Autumn term in September.


Androulla Nicou- Chief Executive Officer

Eco-Schools Green Flag Award

The children at Grange Park have earned an international accreditation this academic year, recognising their amazing work in making our school more environmentally friendly and raising eco-awareness in our community. 

Grange Park formed an Eco-Committee in the Autumn term, then collaborated with Michael to conduct an environmental review, assessing how eco-friendly our school already was. They reviewed everything from biodiversity within their school grounds to how children and staff members travel to school! Building on their findings, they then planned a year of action designed to advance Grange Park’s green credentials, improve our local environment, and protect our planet.

After submitting all the evidence of the wonderful work our children have done, we were awarded the Eco-Schools Green Flag award with Merit! We are so proud of our school and will be flying the eco flag high in the new academic year.

Allotment Help

Elaine Tatch, Oak class teacher will be coming into school on various dates to look after the allotments. Elaine, parent volunteers and the children have worked very hard on these allotments over the year so we need to maintain them over the Summer. If you are available at any stage over the Summer holidays and are able to spare an hour or two please complete this google form and Elaine will contact you directly to advise which days she will be in school. Thank you in advance.

Talents and Interests 

Well done to Elleniya who won a gold medal and Chiara-Mia who won two silver medals in the Dance World Cup World Finals which took place in Portugal.  They completed against countries from all over the world and there were 7,500 participants. WOW!  

Always Stars

Grovelands Family

Trent Family

Oakwood Family

Broomfield Family

Farewell Year 6! 

Dear Year 6 Superstars,


As the school year comes to an end, it’s time to bid farewell to our wonderful Year 6 children, who are about to embark on an exciting new chapter. You’ve all grown so much, not just in knowledge, but in character and resilience as well.


We’re incredibly proud of each and every one of you for the hard work, dedication, and kindness you’ve shown throughout your time at primary school. As you step into the next phase of your educational journey, remember that you carry with you the memories and experiences that have shaped you into the incredible individuals you are today.


Always believe in yourselves, for you have the power to achieve greatness. Embrace challenges, learn from mistakes, and cherish the friendships you’ve made. Keep exploring, questioning, and discovering the world around you.


Although we’ll miss you dearly, we know you’ll go on to achieve amazing things. Be brave, be kind, and never stop dreaming. Farewell, Year 6, and may your future be as bright as the smiles you’ve brought to our faces.


With love and best wishes,


Ian, Sylvana, Laura and Michael

Year 3/4 Sleepover

What a wonderful night we had! Throughout the day and the evening the children enjoyed many adventurous activities such as problem solving, orienteering and hot chocolate and roasted marshmallows around the campfire. Breakfast was well received after a night of very little sleep - until next year!

GPPSA- News and Updates

We are the official fundraising arm of Grange Park Primary and look to bring parents, families, friends, staff and local communities together socially to support our school.

The GPPSA would like to thank parents and pupils for all of their continued support this year.  We have had an amazing year and have raised £25,000 that will be put towards building a farm, starting with chickens, and will also be used to purchase new playground equipment, resources for reception and nursery and update existing apparatus.


The summer term has been packed full of brilliant events that the children have really enjoyed:  discos, careers non uniform day, souvenir class tea towels, Bags2school and our fabulous Summer Fayre!  Thank you for supporting us and making all of this possible.


We want to extend a huge thank you to everyone who attended the Summer Fayre and all the reps, volunteers and The Pantry, who helped put on such a fantastic event! Hopefully everyone had a great time!  The DJ was a great touch, courtesy of Leah Hawkes-Petrou. We couldn't do it without everyone's kind donations and generous support - so thank you again.  Our star prize in the raffle - an iPad, was also won by Zachary in Dragonfly class.  Congratulations!


And lastly a reminder about the GPPSA AGM meeting which will take place on the 2 October 2023 at 7pm at the school.  Details will follow at the beginning of term.


Thanks again for all your support and we hope you enjoy the summer holidays and have a well deserved break!


GPPSA Committee

Please also bear in mind the initiatives that are available year round:

Click to go to our Facebook page. 


Go to instagram and follow us @Grangeparkprimaryassociation


Here is a fund page for anyone that would like to donate, any donation of any size will be gratefully received and help fund the items for the children that the school has prioritised for this year.

Signing up to easyfundraising which turns your everyday online shopping into FREE donations. 

Please click on the image.

Using the Amazon Smile link when buying items by pressing the logo and search for Grange Park Primary School Association. If you are buying anything from AMAZON please use the AMAZON SMILE app on your phone. Just go into your settings and convert your original app to the smile version and pick Grange Park Primary School as your charity.

Entering our school lottery - tickets are only £1 per week.  There is a guaranteed winner each week and a chance to win £25,000! Click on the image to find out more. 

Looking to get some new name stickers to personalise all your child’s uniform, shoes, books etc? Simply log onto the website as normal, shop and at the end add in our unique code 65741 before you check out. 24% from each order will be donated to our school. See the flyer on our website page for more information. Click on the image to find out more. 

Stamptastic is the fastest way to name all your belongings. A personalised stamp made in the UK, usable on fabric, metal, wood and some plastics. No more sewing or ironing in labels! Please note that 20% commission from each order will be donated to our school. Click on the image to place your order. 

One of the easiest ways for us to make money on our two Fayre/Festival days is through stall matching. If you work for any of these corporates or another company, please ask your HR department about Stall Matching and let the committee know.  

Looking for a fun and crafty activity your kids will love?  Try a Free ToucanBox  (Click this link), P&P only and our school will receive £5. You can cancel the subscription at any time. 

GPPSA - Looking to Help

The GPPSA would like to remind all that without your support none of the fundraising is possible. If you would like to get more involved please let us know at gppsa@hotmail.co.uk or speak to any of the committee directly.

We have a WhatsApp helpers group where information is shared and everyone is welcome to join! Please contact us to find out more.

Please also follow us on Facebook and Instagram @Grangeparkprimaryassociation.

THANKS AGAIN FOR ALL YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT FROM ALL ON THE GPPSA COMMITTEE!

Year Group News 

Nursery

Our little Acorns have spent lots of time experiencing the outdoor area with the Reception children. Beginning their transition journey into reception.  

Reception 

What an incredible final term Reception have had. The children have grown so much this year. All of the teachers were so proud of the children for performing in their class assemblies.  We have also enjoyed a grandparents craft morning to end the term. The children were so excited to show their relatives around their classes and spend some quality time together, playing and crafting.

Year 1

In Maths Year 1 have been working hard at exploring time. The children explored different ways of measuring time and used clocks to tell the time to the nearest hour and half hour. We now know where the clock hands must be when telling the time to the nearest hour. 


“If the time is showing 3 o’clock the hour hand will be on the 12 and the minute hand will be on the 3” Elijah - Grasshopper 


“We need to know the time so we can plan our day” - Andreas - Dragonfly 


“We can measure time using stop watches” - Emily - Ladybird 

Year 2

This term in Year 2, we have been developing our artistic skills to create a class collage for our Learning Quest topic, Mad for Madagascar.  

Our work has been inspired by the famous artist, Henri Rousseau, consisting of animals, tropical flowers and leaves. 

We have practised various skills including sketching, painting, smudging and using close observations to recreate Rousseau's work. Take a look at our amazing collection of art!

Year 3

Another busy week for Year 3! This week, we visited the British Museum. It was an amazing day where we got to see ancient artefacts such as the Rosetta Stone, Egyptian statues and carvings. During this visit, we listened to a talk about everyday life in Ancient Egypt and looked at Egyptian art. It was incredible to read about and see so many interesting artefacts that we have been learning about in class.

Year 4

In Art, the Year 4’s have been learning about a UK artist called Giles Davies. We found out that he uses recycled magazine cuttings to recreate beautiful sunsets and landscapes in Britain in the form of a collage! The children in Year 4 have been inspired by one of his most well-known pieces; ‘Early sun, Oxwich Bay’ and have created their own masterpieces using his techniques.

Year 5 

This term, Year 5 created ferris wheels as part of their D&T unit. Using hacksaws, glue guns and an array of wood, dowels and lollipop sticks, the children created ferris wheels that can complete a full revolution. 

We created levers and handles to turn the ferris wheel and began to discuss how to implement a motor to turn the wheel.

 The children showed fantastic teamwork and collaboration and tremendous resilience. Well done Year 5! 

Year 6   

In the Year 6 art lessons, the pupils took part in an exciting project where they created totem poles using clay as their medium. What made this activity truly special was that the designs of their totem poles were based on their personal ‘spirit animals’ or animals they could relate to. This allowed the students to model their sculptures with a deeper sense of connection and meaning. As they explored various clay techniques, such as cross hatching, modelling, and carving, the students skillfully shaped their totem poles to reflect their chosen animals. The range of techniques employed brought texture, depth, and character to their creations. Once the sculptures were complete, the students painted their totem poles using their carefully chosen colours. 

Created by Erin

Created by Sophie G

Created by Sophie K

Twitter

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