11th November 2019
Dear Grazebrook families,
The weather has turned, the clocks have gone back and the Christmas songs have begun to ring out in earnest at Grazebrook! We know we are in for a treat with this year's concert on 13th December (it coincides with Christmas jumper day this year - get your fluffy best woollies out!) much sought after tickets will be available from 25th November from the school office. There are many other key dates, including parents consultations on 28th November, panto trips and more. These dates always form part of our calendar which for ease is embedded below. It is possible to sync the calendar with personal digital calendars so you are always up to date!
It was an exciting week at Grazebrook last week with our scientific investigation activities well under way - there's lots more information below. We have also had some of our amazing home learning projects coming in, Year One have been making robots to support their materials learning, some of our Year 6 pupils have made a working radio and the solar systems in Year Five have been incredible too. Please keep them coming.
Last week saw us host one of our English Hub events, where we welcome teachers and school leaders from across the region to see our provision. It is always good to share with our fellow professionals and the positive feedback we received was lovely to hear. Well done to our Early Years and Key Stage One teams for being such a great model of Early Reading practice they can teach other teachers.
This week on Friday we have our Year One Reading Breakfast - we'd love to see you there and as well as our reading breakfasts, there are details below about our incredibly exciting Joy of Reading Festival. We love a chance to dress up!
Jess Hutchison
Love of Reading
We are very excited about our first ever Joy of Reading Festival on 29th November.
The day starts with a whole school reading breakfast; if you are able to spare half an hour in the morning to come and read with your child or a group of children then please do let us know. There will also be the opportunity for children to dress up as their favourite character - doesn't need to be anything fancy, why not come in home clothes and be a character from a favourite story?
There are workshops, visits and visitors including storytellers, trips to libraries and reading related projects throughout the day. Our lovely PSA will be hosting a book swap in the afternoon so please do bring in any donations of no longer needed books so they can be re-homed and loved by someone new.
There will also be a number of reading challenges and competitions across the week in the form of a reading home learning maker mat - how many challenges can you complete?
We can't wait!
Curriculum
The first two weeks of term have been packed full of scientific learning and enquiry with pupils across the school researching and exploring a range of topics. We have been learning about scientists from a range of different backgrounds and disciplines and how a curious and inquisitive approach is so helpful when studying science. We know that being a scientist is all about asking questions about the world around us and seeking ways to find out more about the questions we have asked.
Year 1 have been identifying what different objects are made from while year 2 have been extending this idea by exploring why different materials are suitable for different uses. Year 3 have been finding out all about the different kinds of forces and Year 4 have been learning about our bodies and how to keep them healthy. In upper key stage 2, the Year 5 pupils have been looking at the rules that govern the solar system and in Year 6 the learning has been all about the properties and behaviour of light.
Everyone Can Create
We are very proud to share with you our iBook - New Wave Can Create! We have complied a great selection of some of the ways we use technology to support creativity within the Federation. Staff and pupils from across all three schools have contributed to the project and we think the results are impressive enough to publish.
Please do have a look!
The PSA first film night of the year was a great success, many of our families had a great time enjoying the hit film Trolls.
Volunteers are being sought for the Winter Fair on 7th December, if you are able to help in any way please do get in touch.
The next PSA event is the book swap as part of the Joy of Reading Festival which takes place on 29th November.
We have the PSA to thank for supporting the school with our Anti-Bullying Week drama workshops - Konflix theatre's acclaimed play in a day and also for supporting the upcoming Pantomime visits. Thank you so much for your support PSA!