Grazebrook Primary School Bulletin
Monday 6th December 2021
Message from Mrs Beecroft
Dear Grazebrook families
It's definitely starting to feel a lot like Christmas at Grazebrook. The celebrations begun this weekend with the PSA's Christmas Trail. Thank you to everyone involved in the organisation of the event and to everyone who visited the stalls and bought raffle tickets, helping to raise funds to support the school with our sustainability, diversity, well-being and enrichment projects.
Our Christmas celebrations continue this week with our KS1 and KS2 trip to the Hackney Empire to watch the incredibly well-reviewed pantomime, Jack and the Beanstalk. I know the children are really looking forward to this trip and are hoping that once again a member of the school staff will be called upon to take part and join the pantomime dame on stage! As a reminder, the children will be back at school for collection by 5pm. Collection will be from the classrooms using the normal gates.
On Monday 13th, we have a jumbo day of Christmas celebrations. Please send the children into school in a Christmas jumper, festive clothing or a homemade creation. Please do not feel the need to spend lots of money or buy something new. I will be wearing the same Christmas tree sweatshirt as I have been since I joined the New Wave Federation in 2014! Please consider making a donation of £1 or £2 to Save the Children to support their work protecting vulnerable children in our society. Children can hand their contribution to their class teacher on the day. Christmas lunch, which will be a scrumptious festive feast, will also be served on that day. This annual tradition is a highlight of our year because we decorate the hall and share our special meal together. The children in Nursery and Reception will be visited by the Hobgoblin travelling pantomime, The Snow Queen. The school hall will be transformed into a mini-theatre for them to enjoy the performance together. Their end of day and pick up arrangements will be the same as usual.
A huge thank you for making parent consultation such as success last week. The staff really enjoyed speaking with you about the children's progress. If you have any further questions or you were unable to attend an appointment, please contact the office to arrange a meeting this week.
Our Learning
December has started off with some incredible learning experiences for our children. The drop in temperature has not stopped the children taking their learning outside with trips to Leyton Great Hall to listen to a chamber orchestra concert from Apollo music and to the British Museum to discover more about the Romans and the Kingdom of Benin. Year 1 had an amazing virtual visit from Hackney Museum where they explored the contents of migrants' suitcases to learn more about where people in London come from and what made them move here. Year 2 were incredibly excited to meet David Litchfield, the author of their current class book, The Bear and the Piano. They asked lots of great questions about the inspiration for the book and what it's like being an author.
Across the school, children have been very creative, with Reception learning how to create colourful collages inspired by the work of Kandinsky. They also mixed their own colours inspired by their class book, The Colour Monster by Anna Llenas. Year 3 demonstrated their expert clay modelling skills inspired by their Royal Academy workshop. Children in Key Stage 2 have written their own Recipe of Reading poems about their favourite books and authors. These are being shared digitally with our Connecting Classrooms partner school, Mahd-Deen Islamic Primary School in Ghana. We can't wait to read and hear their poems about the stories they love.
COVID-19 Update
As there are a number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in our community, we are continuing to follow our contingency plan which includes these measures:
All staff (unless exempt) are wearing face coverings in communal spaces
No large gatherings such as assemblies are taking place
Staff meetings and training sessions have been moved online
The number of external visitors to the school has been reduced
Classroom windows are remaining open to allow for good ventilation and air circulation
Ventilation monitors are installed in classrooms and shared spaces and readings are being taken twice daily to monitor ventilation
Where possible, lessons such as PE are taking place outdoors
Additional cleaning of classrooms and high touch points such as door handles is taking place during the school day
Public Health England has asked that we urge families to carry out regular lateral flow tests at home. We ask that you support us by continuing to do this and informing us of any positive test results. Test kits can be ordered here.
If your child has any of the main three COVID-19 symptoms – a new continuous cough, a fever or high temperature or a change or loss of sense of taste or smell – please take them for a PCR test and do not send them to school until you have the result. Local public health are also advising that a precautionary PCR test should be taken if an individual experiences any wider symptoms which are new, persistent or unusual such as: shortness of breath or wheezing, fatigue, loss of appetite, muscle ache or pain, sore throat and/or hoarseness, persistent headache, runny or blocked nose, nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea.
Reception Applications
If you are a parent of a child aged 3 or 4 (born between 1 September 2017 and 31 August 2018) who will start Reception class at primary school in September 2022, you should apply for a primary school place by 15 January 2022, even if your child is already in the nursery. Further information about the application process for all children can be found on the Hackney Education website.
Autumn Term Key Dates
December/January
09/12/21 Hackney Empire Jack and the Beanstalk pantomime (no clubs and limited Our Space)
10/12/21 Hackney Foodbank donations after 3pm at 15 Grayling Road
13/12/21 Christmas Lunch and Christmas Jumper day
13/12/21 EYFS Hobgoblin Travelling Panto, The Snow Queen
13/12/21 - 15/12/21 Winter Sounds Recording
15/12/21 Karl Nova poetry workshops for Years 3, 4, 5 and 6
17/12/21 Last day of the Autumn Term - school closes at 2pm
04/01/22 Inset Day for staff
05/01/22 Children return to school
15/01/22 Hackney deadline for Reception applications
Key Contacts
If you have any queries regarding you child's learning the first point of contact is your child's class teacher. You can speak to them at the end of the day or contact our school office to arrange a phone call or face-to-face meeting with them. At times, you may wish to contact the member of staff in charge of your child's year group. At Grazebrook, these are our phase leaders and assistant headteachers:
Nursery and Reception: Ms Joanna Ichim
Years 1, 2 and 3: Mr Harry Spencer
Years 4, 5 and 6: Ms Lucy Spreckley
SEND: Ms Lindsey O'Shea
All email queries should be sent to gboffice@newwavefederation.co.uk in the first instance with the addressee and/or topic in the subject line. These will be forwarded to the relevant member of staff.