Dear Parents and Carers

Welcome to the penultimate newsletter of the term. This morning and this afternoon, our Nursery and Nest children performed their festive songs to parents and carers. Despite lots of tall adults in the room, the children performed brilliantly. It was lovely to witness our youngest children taking part. We look forward to the rest of the performances next week - we are busy rehearsing across the school.

On Wednesday, we hosted Christmas lunch and festive jumper day. The whole school was engaged and it was great to see a wide range of colours. We managed to raise some funds which will be split between the charity ‘Save the Children’ as well as for school funding for trips. The Christmas lunch went down a storm with all - a massive thank you to our kitchen staff for preparing and cooking over 500 meals on Wednesday!

Yesterday, we hosted a visit from Fr Sam who led an assembly with KS1 and KS2 around the religious celebration of Christmas and what that means for Christians. 

Next week is our final week of term with our last day being Thursday 21st December. 

We hope everyone has a good weekend!

Iman Atwal

Headteacher

We expect pupils to maintain a high standard of attendance here at Woodside. We want all our pupils to be able to achieve their very best and in order to do this, they need to be in school as much as possible so they don't miss out on any learning. Everyday is a new learning opportunity!

You will have received an email or text message from (hello@holidayactivities.com) with a link to view your voucher - please check your spam if you cannot see communication from HolidayActivities.com. Additionally, click on the links to take you to further information on what parents can expect when they are assigned these vouchers:

HAF Christmas.docx

HAF Croydon School Guide 2023.pdf 

Click on this link Christmas Holidays Discounted or Kids Eat Free  for a  list of restaurants and cafes that are offering discounted or free children's meals for the holidays. Follow links to the relevant websites for further information on each offer - please ensure that you check the terms and conditions before you set off.

Support and Advice

These continue to be very challenging times for everyone with the increase in the cost of living and now families are facing even further pressures as the festive season quickly approaches but there is a lot of help available. Just click on the link which will take you to a page containing website and contact details of a number of organisations to go to if you need help or advice, both locally and nationally:

Money & Debt - advice, information and resources to help you manage your money.

Food - list of local free or low-cost food schemes including a link for low-cost recipes ideas..

Energy Support - information about local and regional schemes to help you reduce your fuel bills

Housing - advice on homelessness, private renting and eviction. Includes a directory of Warm Spaces in Croydon.

Health and Wellbeing - support for mental health, including help with a mental health crisis or emergency

Families - parenting advice and support. Also includes details for clothes and hygiene banks.

Support and Advice Groups - support for individuals in their time of need including victims of Domestic Abuse and Sexual violence..  

Getting Help

We understand that it can be hard to talk to someone about the difficulties that you and your family may be facing. People often try to sort things out themselves or hope that their worries will go away and do not seek help until the situation has become very difficult. Whatever your circumstances, we would encourage you to seek advice before things become more difficult. There is no shame in seeking support and both the school and the organisations listed in the links above, will help with sensitivity and confidentiality.

Please talk to us about your concerns so that we can work together to get you and your family the best possible support.

You can pop into the school office or email admin@inspirewoodside.co.uk and ask to make an appointment to see Mrs Georgiades.

Nest

We have had an exciting week in the Nest, as children are enjoying the festive season. Children have been provided with lots of opportunities to learn about Christmas. They have been very creative and made hand prints using the colour of their choice. This activity had numerous benefits for the Nest children, which supports their various development areas, for example colour recognition, counting their fingers and they also talked about texture and how it feels. Children also have been enjoying building structures using duplo, which has supported children’s fine motor skills. It has also supported children with mathematical concepts, counting the blocks, creativity and imagination, and most of all their communication and language skills while being independent.

Nursery

This week in Nursery, children have been learning about ‘The Stickman Family.’ They first talked about their own families to identify the similarities and differences in the family activities and celebrations. They then created a stickman using sticks, gluing them to create a ‘Stickman’. In Maths, children were learning about repeating patterns using different resources and pattern cards. They talked about the different colours. Children were able to explain why the pattern was called a repeat pattern. They enjoyed using fruit of the day to create their own patterns.

Year 1

This week in English, Year 1 wrote a diary entry pretending to be Red riding hood. They use lots of different adjectives to describe how they felt wearing their new red cloak compared to when they met the wolf. They wrote in first person and past tense, learning that it is the verb in a sentence that needs to be changed. 

In maths, we have continued with our topic of shape. We created different patterns using 2D shapes and thought about how we could sort them into groups depending on their names and colour of shape. We then went on to explore different 3D shapes, matching the shape to its name. They orally discussed what they noticed about each 3D shape. 

It was lovely to see all the children wear their festive jumpers on Wednesday. Their bright smiley faces and we even were able to join in and sit with them at lunchtime, giving us a chance to listen to their stories about their families.

Year 2

This week Year 2 have applied their knowledge of 2D shapes to create patterns and categorise them into different groups depending on their size, colour, number of vertices and number of sides. They then used this knowledge to identify what 2D shapes can be used to create different 3D shapes. Year 2 recognised the difference between both 2D and 3D shapes and learnt the different names and properties of each. 

In English this week, the children have explored diary entries, we discussed what it was and what is written in a diary. They had a chance to tell us if they had diaries at home and if so what they choose to write about also. We have explored the different features including, first person, past tense and emotive language. This week the children have had lessons focusing on each feature so that next week they are able to create their own diary entries, looking at how they overcame their fear of the dark.

On Wednesday, it was lovely to see all the children in their festive jumpers! We had lots of fun in the afternoon filled with festive different arts and craft activities. It was a lovely chance for us as teachers to sit down with our classes and enjoy a christmas meal altogether, it was a chance for the children to share jokes, discuss their own family traditions and what they like and dislike in the festive time.

Year 4

Year 4 Addresses Climate Change: A Persuasive Speech in the Making

Our passionate Year 4 pupils have embarked on an inspiring endeavor to raise awareness about the pressing issue of climate change. With determination and a genuine desire to make a difference, they have been working tirelessly to craft a persuasive speech that eloquently conveys the urgency of this global concern.

Their journey began with a deep immersion into the world of climate change by reading their core text: Greta’s Story and exploring the causes, effects, and potential solutions for issues facing our current climate. They delved into research, reading articles, watching videos, and engaging in lively discussions with their teacher and classmates. Their curiosity and enthusiasm grew as they grasped the complexities of this issue and its far-reaching implications for our planet and its inhabitants.

Driven by their newfound understanding, the Year 4 pupils embarked on the creative process of crafting their persuasive speech. Armed with facts and figures, they began to weave compelling narratives, highlighting the detrimental impact of climate change on our environment, ecosystems, and human communities. They also explored innovative solutions that individuals and communities can adopt to mitigate climate change and foster a more sustainable future.

As the speech took shape, the pupils practised their delivery, refining their arguments and ensuring their message was clear and impactful. Their efforts are not merely a class project; they are a testament to their budding activism and commitment to addressing a global challenge. They are eager to share their knowledge and inspire others to take action, believing that their collective voices can make a difference.

We are immensely proud of our Year 4 pupils for their dedication and passion. Their work is a beacon of hope, demonstrating that even young individuals can make a significant contribution to addressing one of the most pressing issues of our time. We eagerly await the opportunity to witness their persuasive speech and applaud their efforts to champion a sustainable future for our planet.

Year 5

Year 5 edited and published the newspaper reports this week. The children’s work was then celebrated, and some examples are displayed on the walls in our school’s corridors.

During Autumn 2, our Science lessons were dedicated to materials and their properties. We conducted some interesting experiments involving reversible and irreversible changes, and this week, we captured our learning in a double-page spread.

We're feeling excited about the Christmas concert and are rehearsing this week to ensure that we dazzle the audience.

Primary Admissions

Closing Date Monday 15th January

If your child was born between 1st September 2019 and 31st August 2020 you are now able to apply for them to join Woodside for a Reception place in September 2024. Applications for Reception next year should be made via the Local Authority. Information about the application process can be found HERE

Existing Nursery children will also need to apply for a Reception place.

If parents would like any support with the process, Ms Georgiades would be happy to help - 

Please contact the school office

Late applications will be processed after Primary National Offer Day (Tuesday 16th April 2024) which could severely reduce your child's chances of being offered a place at your preferred school.

There are a number of dates on which you can visit - use this form

or call the office to let us know when you will visit.

Belongings and equipment

Please remember that children should not bring pencil cases, toys or other items to school - we cannot be held responsible if these items go missing or are damaged. Pencil cases are a distraction - we provide all necessary equipment for our students to use during lessons.

In line with our school policies, we ask that children do not wear smartwatches during school hours. This ensures a fair and uniform approach to the use of technology within the classroom setting. 

To avoid confusion and loss of personal items, please ensure your child's name is clearly written on all of their clothing. This includes uniforms, PE kit, jackets or coats, and any other items they may bring to school. This simple step greatly aids in the quick and accurate return of lost belongings. Please regularly check that your child is returning home with their own property.

Thank you for your support with these requests.

School Request

Please check at home for a large Zara Royal Blue Boys Jacket, in case it has been taken home by mistake. If found, please return to the school office. Many Thanks

Please note that this year, we are asking children to change in school. They should bring in their PE bags and keep them in school for the term and take them home at the end of the term. Thank you for supporting us with this.

All children need elastic fronted plimsolls for indoor/outdoor PE which are best kept in a drawstring bag on their cloak peg. Children will need black/blue shorts and a white t-shirt in their PE bag to wear for PE lessons. 

Collaboration matters   Excellence in everything   Community first   Equity for everyone   Continuous growth