The Riverside Reporter

ISSUE 11 – 4th December 2015www.riversideprimaryschool.org.uk

THIS TERM’S SCHOOL VALUES ARE TO SPOT OUR CHILDREN WHO ARE:

ASPIRATIONAL & CONFIDENT

The audience enjoying the performance of Jack and the Beanstalk!

Parent PartnershipThis week the FS Team invited Foundation Stage parents to view and discuss the outdoor learning area. They asked them what they felt was needed and what would benefit their children. A lot of FS parents produced great ideas however, we would like more input from our parents. If you have any ideas for the new outdoor play area please pop in and speak to a member of the Foundation Stage team.

Christmas FairOn Saturday 12th December, it’s the Riverside Christmas Fair from 11am – 2pm. We have lots of great stalls and activities for the children and their families to enjoy. There are a few things that we would be very grateful for from parents. We will be having a cake stall, selling lots of delicious homemade cakes. If you are able to bake a batch for us to sell please bring in on Friday 11th December. **Please note that any cakes made MUST NOT contain nuts. Thank you to those of you who have already returned your filled pint pot. If you haven’t had the chance to send them in to school yet, please bring in to school next week. There will also be a Raffle, if you would like to donate a prize for this (new and unopened) please drop these in to the Main Office before the 11th December. If you would like to run a stall at this event please let Miss Porter or Mrs Arnold know. It would be great to have a variety of activities for all members of the family to enjoy. We look forward to seeing you there

Anti - Bullying WeekThank you to those of you who donated a £1 to ChildLine on Blue Friday. We raised a fantastic £211.00. The money raised will go towards supporting thousands of children and young adults.

Jack and the Beanstalk

This week:Dates for your diary, Parent Partnership, Christmas Fair

The children thoroughly enjoyed the performance of Jack and the Beanstalk on Monday. Thank you to Mrs Barnes for organising this for the whole school. It was a great treat before the end of term!

INSET Day – Monday 4th January 2016On Monday 4th January we will be having a staff training day. Therefore the first day back for your child, after the Christmas holidays, will be Tuesday 5th January.

From the Head’s Chair

This has been such a special week for me. Joining your wonderful children and amazing staff has been such a treat.

The enthusiasm, the politeness, the cuteness, the thirst for learning, the beautiful smiles, the welcome from parents, staff and children, I really could go on and on……

Whilst I am only here for a short while, I am endeavouring to add value to your school as much as I am able. This is a difficult act to follow after the talented, lively and much loved Mr Stevens, I can tell you! However, this won’t stop me from trying though, so, my plans for the next two weeks include:

A tree with our school development plans and priorities for all to see in the foyer

New notice boards to indicate where the office is New display boards around the school, complete with quality writing (one

of our school focus – especially encourage our boy writers!) Inviting some key members of the community to visit our year six class to

share their journeys to becoming successful (we have a doctor coming in next week!)

Planning for a school trip to meet an other school in a very different location

Completing paperwork to ensure we tell Ofsted (we are awaiting an inspection) all of our strengths (too many to count) and detail exactly what it is we need to do and how we will do this.

Ensure recruitment for January is of good quality; good enough for our children, and that induction for new members of staff is planned well to ensure that everyone knows their responsibilities and what they need to, to teach!

Next weekend we have the Christmas Fair planned, whilst I hope you can make this special event, I want to make sure that we make it as good as can be – so, if you are able to help out for a few hours, perhaps run a stall, consider an activity, sell a craft, bake a cake, help with face-painting, we would love to hear what you can do. Thank you

Finally, we are in need of an additional member of support staff for a few hours a week. If you are interested in supporting pupils, have high quality English and Maths skills and are good to work with, we would like for you to visit our website to see our vacancy list. Thank you again!

Bronwyn Hamilton BrownInterim Executive HeadteacherTel: 01628 621741 Email: riverside@rbwm.org.ukVisit our Website on: www.riversideprimaryschool.org.ukWe are on Twitter @RiversideMhead

TALKING HOMEWORKSpoken language lies at the heart of communication and without it there would be no books and no writing.  One of the best ways for children to improve their work at school is for them to become confident and articulate speakers.We believe that your involvement in your child’s learning is crucial and that you can make a real difference to the progress your child makes.  With this in mind I am introducing a new simple form of Talk Homework.  Each week in the newsletter I will send home a simple discussion task; it will be same for all children in school so families can do it together. The aim is to get children sharing ideas with their families and developing their vocabulary and imagination.Please help your child to discuss the question they have been given and particularly focus on why they think that.  It is vital for children to try to talk in full sentences and to use words such as 'because'. Please discuss the question at home and let the children know your opinions. Here are some simple guidelines for how to do it:

Set aside some time for ‘Talk Homework’; Encourage as many family members as possible to be home on Talk

Homework evening and consider discussing the question while having a meal together.

Don't just give your opinion, use the 'because' word to explain why you think that.

Give the possible opinions of two contrasting family members who are not present for

the talk, and use the 'because' word to explain why they may be different. Ask others around the table to give their opinions and to use the 'because'

word. Ask your child his/her opinion and ask them to use the 'because' word. You could link the topic back to something you remember from when you were

a child and say why things may be different now. We do hope you will enjoy joining in with this learning.

This Week’s Challenge:Do you have a special talent? If you could be brilliant at something,

what would it be and why?

2015 DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

DATE OCCASION WHO?Monday 7th December Y4 trip to Maidenhead Heritage Centre Y4 Peepal

TreeThursday 10th December

Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1 Nativity Production 2.15pm, Main Hall

N – Y2 Parents/ Carers

Friday 11th December

Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1 Nativity Production 2.15pm, Main Hall

N – Y2 Parents/ Carers

Saturday 12th December

Christmas Fair / Winter Festival 11am – 2pm All

Monday 14th December

KS2 Mid Winter Warmers performance for Parents / Carers 2.30pm Main Hall

KS2 Parents / Carers

Wednesday 16th December

Caterlink Christmas LunchAll

Friday 18th December

Save the Children – Christmas Jumper Day AllLast Day of Term All