academisation update teaching and learning · welcome back to the second half of the autumn term. i...
TRANSCRIPT
Newsletter 8 Week ending 2nd November 2018
Believe
you can
achieve!
Dear Parents and Carers,
Welcome back to the second half of the Autumn Term. I hope that you all had a wonderful half term break,
the children have returned refreshed and with renewed enthusiasm.
This eight weeks is always an exciting and busy time as we move towards Advent and Christmas. This week
we have had several sporting events which have taken place alongside excellent learning. In our liturgies this
week we have been focusing on being Saint like. Yesterday we celebrated the Feast of All Saints, thank you to
Father David and the Parish of Jesus Christ Redeemer of Mankind for inviting us to join them for Mass.
I wish you all a wonderful weekend.
Natalie McCarthy (Headteacher)
Teaching and Learning
On my visits to classrooms this week I have seen a range of teaching and learning opportunities as children
continue with their cross curricular learning. Reception St David’s Class have made the most of the new
outdoor classroom. This has encouraged more active play and independent learning. In Year One, St
Andrew’s Class began the week by hunting for a mysterious egg left by an alien as they blasted off into
space. They also have a new space station in their classroom complete with rocket and launch pad! Year
Two have been number detectives and done some marvellous addition in maths. They also showed a
growing understanding of how to keep themselves safe online during their half termly internet safety
lesson. Year Three have been enjoying a range of learning including learning how to subtract using the
exchanging method. They have also learnt about the human skeleton. Year Four St Bernadette’s Class have
been been delving deeper into Ancient Egypt as they learn about the boy king Tutankhamun. Year 5 St
Catherine’s Class have been immersed in World War Two through their cross curricular learning. Year 6 St
Teresa’s Class have been learning to write playscripts and have been using Wind in the Willows as a stimulus
for a courtroom scene involving Mr Toad. They have been learning the correct legal vocabulary such as
postulate and misdemeanor. I look forward to seeing these being acted out next week.
Academisation Update
As of the 1st November, we are now officially an academy and a member of the Xavier
C.E.T. We are excited by the increased opportunities that this will bring for our school in
terms of teaching and learning and the opportunity to work closely in partnership with 10
other Catholic Schools in our diocese.
For further information please look at the website. https://xaviercet.org.uk/index.html
Year One St Andrew’s make an Egg-citing discovery
On Monday we noticed a mysterious object had landed in a tree in our playground. After a bit of climbing and lots of
teamwork we retrieved the extra-terrestrial item and took it back to our classroom. We had lots of questions about it:
Where did it come from? Why has it come to our planet? What is inside it? The next day we noticed a crack in the egg
and a hand poking out! Inside we discovered….E.T! We are excited to have a new alien friend to join us in our learning
about space and have written some descriptions of him in our writing.
Report by Year One
Year One are also able to fly into space, courtesy of their new space station, rocket and astronaut equipment.
Thank you to the Year One team led by Miss Rowe for planning these exciting learning opportunities.
Celebration of Arts in Cranleigh
‘A Celebration of the Arts in Cranleigh’s Schools’ which is being held by the Cranleigh Arts Society.
The evening concert will be held at Cranleigh Arts Centre on Friday 9th November from 7pm. The concert will observe the Centenary of the Armistice which brought WW1 to an end and look ahead to the role the Arts can play in uniting future generations. Free tickets are to be allocated to the school so that families can enjoy the evening too. The children have also been asked to attend a rehearsal at the Arts Centre on Wednesday the 7th November from 3.30 - 5.00. Staff will take the children to the Arts Centre from where they can be collected at 5pm.
Thank you to Mrs Woodhams for co-ordinating this event and thank you to all of the children who have supplied the fantastic art work and will be attending the event.
Talented Artists
Well done to everyone for completing your art work for the
Christmas cards. Thank you to the Friends for organising this.
More information to follow about how to purchase these handmade
cards designed by the children which will be available in time for the
Christmas post.
Reception Refurbishment
Over the half term holiday the Reception area was transformed and extended and the old sandpit and
platform have been removed. Children in St David’s Class love the artificial grass, complete with mound and
tunnel and also the additional space to learn and play in.
The area will be further developed when the new equipment including a purpose built mud kitchen, sand
and water play space and a waterwall.
If any parents are clearing out in the run up to the festive seasons, then please consider donating any fancy
dress or dressing up outfits to Reception St David’s Class.
World War One memorial garden in Cranleigh
The children in Key Stage Two have also been very busy designing and making poppies to go in the Cranleigh
Centenary memorial garden at Snoxhall which commemorates the 415 soldiers from Cranleigh who have lost
their lives over the last 100 years through conflict. Each of our poppies will have the name of one of these
soldiers on them and we will pray especially for them during the month of November.
The poppies will be on display in the garden from next weekend.
We also have poppies in school which will be on sale for the children during the school day to enable us to
once again support the poppy appeal.
Beebots in Year Two
Well done to Year Two who are learning how to
program the Beebots to follow instructions. It was
interesting to hear all of your ideas about how to keep
safe on the internet during your half termly E Safety
lesson this week.
Amazing home learning
Once again there has been a huge range of home learning projects being shared by the children.
Thank you to talented parents and carers who have supported the children with this extended
learning.
ATTENDANCE
Attendance
figures for w.e.
19th October
2018
Congratulations
to Year 2 and
Year 3 for 100%
attendance
School Target
96.5%
Diary Dates
NOVEMBER
6th November NO Netball Club
8th 2.45pm CYE meeting for Year 6 St Teresa’s parents
9th 11am Cranleigh Peace Walk Year 6
9th School Discos-see poster
9th 7pm Cranleigh celebration of Arts
10th Children’s artwork on display in Cranleigh centenary
memorial garden
12-16th National Anti-bullying week
13th 2.45 pm Year 4 Class assembly. Parents invited.
16th Christmas Fair donations
19th Romanian shoe boxes to be returned to school
23rd Christmas Fair donations Mufti day
22nd 10am Open Morning for prospective parents
25th 12.15-2.15pm St Cuthbert Mayne Christmas Fayre
29th St Cuthbert Mayne Feast Day and Mass
DECEMBER
3rd School Closed
6th 9.30am EYFS/Key Stage One Nativity to parents
6th 3.15-3.45pm Open Classrooms
6th Friends wreath making event
7th Parent Forum 2
7th 1.30pm EYFS/Key Stage One Nativity to parents
13th 9.30am Key Stage Two Nativity to parents
Class %
Reception 98.4%
Year 1 92.9%
Year 2 100%
Year 3 100%
Year 4 98.8%
Year 5 95.2%
Year 6 99.6%
Whole School 98.0%
A book for my birthday
Please can I thank parents and carers for
their generosity around children’s birthdays.
However, in line with Healthy Schools and
concerns raised by our parents, it is our
policy not to give out sweets at birthday
times.
Please can I encourage you to buy a book for
the class library instead.
NO MORE NUTS PLEASE
Thank you for supporting this and ensuring that only
fruit and vegetables are allowed for break time snacks.
Children in St David’s, St Andrew’s and St Patrick’s class
are provided with a fruit snack and do not need to bring
anything in addition with them to school. Children in Key
Stage Two should only bring in fruit or vegetables as a
snack.
New baby
Congratulations to Harry in Year One (who is now a big,
big brother) after the birth of baby brother Max. Good bye and Welcome
This week we said a fond farewell to Mrs
Clarke our business manager of 12 years. Mrs
Clarke has been a huge support to the school
as both a parent and then staff member. Her
final day with us marked her 7000th day of
involvement with the school. We wish her all
the best for the future and look forward to
her staying in close contact with us.
We welcome Mrs Clare Benbow, who joins us
as our new Business Manager. Welcome also
to Ms Kirsty Jimmison who joins our
administration team as Office Manager and
Headteacher’s P.A. We are delighted to have
you both on the team.