Newsletter 1 SpringTerm

8th January 2016

www.sunnyfields primary.co.uk

Dear Parents and Carers, Firstly I would like to wish you a very happy new year. It has been lovely to see the children return to school refreshed and keen to resume their learning. We have had some enjoyable assemblies talking about new year’s resolutions and you will be interested to hear that they all have had the opportunity to reflect upon their work and decide upon a new year’s resolution related to their writing targets. Please ask your child what it is in particular that they are hoping to improve in their writing over the next few weeks. Writing is, of course, an important priority for us this year. We will end the half term with Consultation Evenings so that you will be able to see how your child is getting on. Secondly I would like to remind you that excellent attendance is also a priority at the school. We all agree, I am sure, that we want the best for our children and naturally children make greatest progress when they are at school every day over the year. I was unable to authorise any absences before or after the Christmas holidays and would like to urge any parents who are planning holidays next December to book their flights early in order to avoid a fine from Barnet. I have already been asked for permission to take children out of school between the Easter weekend and the Easter holidays. Unfortunately, I will not be able to authorise any absences unless there is evidence in writing of a child’s medical need. We simply wish to ensure that children have every opportunity to learn and I do hope that you understand. Another aspect we would like to improve is the home page of the website. We would like to invite parents to add comments about the school. We have already consulted the staff and children and they have been given the challenge of thinking of one word to summarise Sunnyfields. We intend to make a word cloud on the home page of the website with the words that school community members think of as a reflection of Sunnyfields. For example, some words that the children have thought of are: Sunnyfields is ……welcoming…..friendly…..colourful

….but please think of your own words for the website!!

Finally, I would like to inform you that we are planning some exciting events over the half term and we look forward to the coming weeks filled with purposeful work and play. Please keep an eye on the dates in the diary. If you have any concerns or questions, please don’t hesitate to find me in the playground before or after school or come to see me in the office. Thanking you for your continued support. Best wishes,

Ms Meyer Headteacher

Sunnyfields Diary Jan 2016 Mon 11th After School Clubs commence Year 1 Parental Engagement in Maths at 9.00am Tues 12th Year 2 Parental Engagement in Maths at 9.00am Netball tournament at home 4pm until 5pm Wed 13th Year 4 Parental Engagement in Maths at 9.00am Thurs 15th Year 5 Parental Engagement in Maths at 9.00am Fri 15th Nursery, Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 Play Talk with Katie Fuller (Play Therapist)

Maple Class 1 Cake Sale Mon 18th Year visit London Zoo Year 3 Parental Engagement in Maths at 9.00am Bronze Ambassador Training Tues 19th Netball tournament at home 4pm until 5pm Wed 20th Reception Class Parents Phonics Meeting

Years 5 & 6 Girls Football Tournament Tues 26th Maths Parent Meeting at 9.00am. Details to follow. Thurs 28th High 5 Netball Tournament Year 5 visit the Ben Uri Gallery Feb 2016

Mon 1st National Challenge for parents. Details will follow. Thurs 4th Year 4 visit the Science Museum Mon 8th RE Week begins Year 4 visit the Natural History Museum Wed 10th Parent Consultations 3.45pm until 5.00pm Thurs 11th Parent Consultations 5.30pm until 8.00pm Fri 12th Last swimming session for Years 5 and 6 Break up for half term holiday at 3.25pm Mon 22nd Return from half term holiday Tues 23rd Year 5 Maths Challenge at Belmont School Wed 24th International Mother Tongue Day Year 2 Maths Challenge at Wessex Gardens School Year 5 Boys football tournament Fri 26th Years 3 and 4 start swimming lessons March 2016 Wed 2nd Year 4 Boys football tournament Thurs 10th Reception Class Hearing and Vision tests Fri 11th Year 5 visit the Science Museum Mon 14th Netball Tournament on the astro at 1.00pm Fri 25th Good Friday Bank Holiday—School is closed

Mon 28th Easter Monday Bank Holiday—School is closed April 2016 Fri 1st Break up for Easter holidays Tues 19th Return to school at 8.45am May 2016 Mon 2nd May Bank Holiday—School is closed Mon 9th Key Stage 2 SATS Week Fri 27th Summer Fayre Break up for half term holiday June 2016 Mon 6th Return to school at 8.45am Tues 21st eSafety Day Fri 22nd Break up for Summer Holidays at 1.00pm Sep 2016 Wed 7th Years 1 to 6 return to school at 8.45am Reception and Nursery start dates tbc

Reception Class 2016 Please be sure to

complete your online application for a

place in our Reception Class. If you need help, Mrs Barber is happy to

help you. The deadline is 15th January.

Repeating lessons and events Tuesday morning Brass—Trumpet, Tenor Horn and Trombone lessons Tuesday afternoon Clarinet lessons Wednesday afternoon Parent Beginners English in the hub at 2.20pm until 3.15pm Thursday morning Piano lessons Friday afternoon Classes 5 and 6 have swimming lessons until 12th February

Please make sure that your child has a PE Kit in school

EVERY day. Thank you

Parents are invited to the following Friday assemblies

at 8.50am: 22nd January– Ash Class 5 12th February—Cherry Class 2 18th March—Maple Class 1 22nd April—Ash Class 5 29th April—Beech Class 4 6th May—Birch Class 3 20th May— Maple Class 1 10th June—Hazel Class R

Mayor of London

Parental Engagement Project

A big thank you to all the parents/carers who completed the Parental

Engagement questionnaires.

I would like to share the report from the National Numeracy Strategy which

has enabled me to write an action plan that aims to address the points raised

by you.

96% believe that maths will be needed throughout children’s lives and it will

enable them to do well.

59% believe that ‘you cannot change how good you are at maths’.

The school will hold workshops to show how maths ability can be improved and

learnt.

The good news is that over 85% are always positive about maths around their

children.

Almost 56% felt unable to help their children with maths.

62% indicated they would be very interested in help with understanding their

children’s maths learning.

The school will be holding joint maths lessons with parents/carers and

children, sharing a new web site, workshops on methods of calculation.

78% do not talk about everyday maths.

The school will share resources to show how to include maths in everyday

conversations.

74% would like to improve their own maths.

The school will support the parents/carers in the use of the National

Numeracy Challenge.

You will also be pleased to hear that 94% of your children enjoy maths and

they are overwhelmingly in favour of doing maths with their family.

The school will send home scrap books on a weekly basis with an activity to

be completed together.

PLEASE LOOK OUT FOR ALL THE EVENTS LINKED TO THE PROJECT

An invitation to all the parents of children in Nursery, Reception Class, Year 1 and Year 2

Friday 15th

January at 9.00am in the hall

We are very pleased to invite you to meet our Play Therapist, Katie Fuller, who will be presenting a workshop for parents about the importance of play in the development of young children. This is a wonderful opportunity for you to learn about the relevance of different play scenarios and their place in children’s development.

Please do come along next Friday, bring your younger children if you need to, and enjoy this informal and friendly 30 minute session.

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