Commotion in the Ocean Released Today!

News Letters

Assembly Welcome Presentation

Please note: Some of the videos may not play - under construction

Dear Parents,

Welcome to the new school year! We are so excited to have your child in our school, and I am even more excited to have your child in my class. I get a chance to guide your child through a wonderful and fascinating inquiry experience full of creative thinking and curiosity during the upcoming school year. I hope to share with your child my passion for learning with hopes that your child will learn to share with their friends their passion and learning. It is a new experience and I want it to be an experience that they will treasure for the rest of their lives.

As of Monday 17th August 2020, the doors open from 8:15 - 8:45, lessons begin at 8:30. Please email me if you are running late. (Being late for school causes disruptions for the entire class and is not respectful to all involved. Your understanding is greatly appreciated) Due to the continuation of COVID 19, we have decided as a team that parents are unable to enter the building the during drop off and pick up times. We will make an exception for new students and their parents to come into the school with their child ONLY on the 1st day of school, in order to calm first day jitters for these children. Thank you for your understanding in this matter. Please note that Group 1 students will enter from the playground at the front entrance, Along the bicycle path in front of the school.

It is also important to note that GYM is on Tuesdays and Fridays, starting this Tuesday. For Gym your child needs gym shoes with a white sole that are not used outdoors ( Please ensure that the shoe is a sports shoe that provides the foot with sufficient stability). There is NO need for a change of clothes for gym. It is advised that the children do not wear any jewellery on the days they have GYM for safety reasons.

I ask that you provide a full set of clothing( underwear, socks, shirt, pants etc.) as bathroom accidents are always possible or having too much fun jumping and playing in puddles. Please provide a comfortable pair of indoor shoes that do not restrict your child’s foot. These slippers will only be worn indoors and will remain at school every day. I have provided an individual bag for your child to place their extra clothes in. A small backpack to transport your child’s lunch or snack is advised. Please, not a big and bulky school bag as space is limited. For the first week your child may bring a cuddle toy with for security (PLEASE, no toys!).

You will notice that your child will bring a book pouch with and inside is a message book for parents. This is for us to communicate between home and school. If you have a question or concern this is where you can jot down your note and it will be checked every day and I will respond. Also check it daily as I might send you a message if I need to communicate with you. It is not a book for your child to scribble and draw pictures. Please, return it everyday to school as it becomes a daily routine for your child to place it in the basket when they check into class. I need to place an emergency allergy or medical note in my class to be aware if there are any medical concerns I need to be aware of. Please, write this in your child’s message book. Also just make a note, NONE if there are no concerns.

The other book is a reading log book. We do not need it right now but I will let you know when we will begin to use these. I like to keep things organised so this is its “home” for the school year. I will send a picture frame home and I ask that you place a family picture in here – siblings included.

You will see that I have added practice name writing sheets in D’Nealian style font. This is the writing font we use and this is the font they will need to learn to write in. The red arrows are the direction your child will form the letters. Please start to practice this at home as this is the first great milestone they need to learn. Only ten mins per day. Not longer than that. We do not provide homework and we ask you not to force or do any work other than instructed by me. There is a certain system we use to build on basic knowledge and we build on learned knowledge in school.

I have created a website and this can be accessed through the link on the school website. This is where I will post monthly newsletters and helpful links to use with your child. Feel free to browse through it and become familiar with this platform. You will notice that there are old weekly lessons that I created during the Covid – 19 lockdown in the last school year. You can ignore this section. The website is a working platform and it will be continually updated.

Due to Covid - 19 birthday celebrations will be done at school but unfortunately we can't accept any goodie bags or treats coming from home. Having said this, we will still make your child’s birthday special.

Please feel free to contact me by e-mail ( b.vanderdussen@ogamstelland.nl ) any time with any concerns or question. Good open communication between home and school is important to the success of your child. I'm looking forward to working with your child during what promises to be an exciting year.

Enjoy your weekend and look forward to meeting you all on Monday.

Kind Regards,

Ms. Bea – Teacher

Mr. Craig – Teachers Assistant