Newsletter

March

2017

Dear Parents and Carers,

Since returning from our short February half term break, we had a very busy start to the term.

First of all our Year 4 children have started their three week block of swimming sessions. So far, I have been really impressed by the children’s progress during the first two weeks and I look forward to see and to hearing about their newly acquired skills next week. During the last few days I have heard the children saying, “I can float, I can do a full length of the pool, I jumped from a 3m board!” I can…, I can… I can. True spirit of Laira Green children! We are so proud of their achievements and most of all the progress made within such a short period of time. Well done children!!

In the first week back, we also held parents’ meetings to update you on the progress and attainment of your child. Thank you to all the parents, who attended their appointments last week and for the positive comments about your children's learning and progress at school.

This is a very busy term for all the children, but especially for Year 2 and Year 6 before their tests. The children are working very hard but some would benefit from additional home support. I would like to say thank you to all the parents who are regularly supporting their children at home with doing homework, learning spellings and times tables.

This week we were also celebrating World Book Day. To help the children to make the most of this special occasion and to further develop love of reading, the teachers shared their special books. The children enjoyed listening to the stories and discussed the plot and the settings. We have lots of amazing photos, which will be shortly appearing on our website.

This year to raise the awareness of Fairtrade we started Fairtrade fortnight with a whole school assembly and the sale of pancakes with Fairtrade jam and lemon juice. It was well attended and the children really enjoyed the pancakes as it is also coincided with Shrove Tuesday (Pancake day). The children will continue learning about Fairtrade in their classes next week as well as taking part in a Fair trade sticker competition.

Today, we are seeing off our Year 5 children on their much anticipated residential trip to Nethercott Farm. This has become a lovely tradition in Laira Green and a very important shared experience that the children will remember for many years to come.

As you know, Mrs Bryan will be leaving us this month and will be moving to Hooe Primary Academy. I would like to say a big thank you to Mrs Bryan for her hard work and commitment to Laira Green. She will be missed by everyone.

Mrs Norgate,

Acting Headteacher

Head teacher Awards

Clyde and Amelia F for beautiful handwriting.

William W for learning to put his tie on unaided.

Class %

Bumblebees 96.75

Ladybirds 89.68

Caterpillars 95.78

Fireflies 92.83

Butterflies 93.88

Dragonflies 90.70

Chestnut 94.12

Sycamore 96.52

Oak 96.31

Cherry Tree 93.09

Hazel 95.83

Ash 92.55

Birch 94.07

Attendance

February 2017

94.12%

School Bank

Don’t forget the School Bank is open every Tuesday morning during term time from 8:30am until the bell

rings.

I know lots of you now have bank accounts - well done for opening one - but I only see a few regular

savers.

If you have an account and haven't paid anything in yet, pop along soon. Even if you only have 20p a

week to pay in, it will soon mount up.

Hope to see you next Tuesday.

Mrs Barker

Life at Laira Green. Here are a few photographs from a very busy few weeks in Foundation Stage.

In Hazel during English, we have been studying Prince Ivan and the Firebird. A Russian artist called Bilibin did the art work for the story and we have copied his style and ideas in our art lessons. We had a go at creating our own borders in a similar style and then worked on our sketching, colour mixing and painting. It was hard work but great fun. Here are some examples of the work we produced.

World Book Day at Laira Green.

Terrific Scientific

Ash, Birch, Cherry, Oak and Hazel have been taking part in a national science programme run by the BBC called Terrific Scientific!

We looked at the papillae on our tongue to see how many were in a tiny circle (the size of a whole punch). In order to see them clearly we painted our tongues with blue food colouring!!

We then analysed whether we were a non-taster, taster or super-taster. There was a BBC TV programme to follow up on this work which we all watched in our classrooms.

Whilst the programme was underway, the teachers were encouraged to email questions to the presenters and Cherry Class had their email read out live on air - it was a very exciting moment!!!

If you would like to watch the Terrific Scientific programme at home, they are available on iplayer. But if you just want to watch the clip where Laira Green (they called us Lara Green - oops) are mentioned, then go to the Laira Green website where you will find a link.

If you would like to go onto the Terrific Scientific website, here is the link.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/terrificscientific

Budding Scientists

Birch class has been having a lovely time recently - cultivating mould! It has been suggested that mould

might prevent bacteria growth and could pathe the way for new antibiotics so we have been seeing in

which conditions mould grows best. Our investigations are ongoing but so far dark, damp, warm

conditions seem to generate the quickest growth. We’ll let you know our final results and conclusions

next month.

Our Year 3 children visited the Eden Project on Thursday this week. Luckily, the weather was kind and

the sun shone most of the day. Once again, our pupils did Laira Green proud. The teachers were

complimented on how well the children behaved. We will post some photographs on the school website.

Efford Christian Fellowship (on Torridge Way, Efford) hold a children’s club

every Friday, from 6.30pm to 7.45pm. It is for all children in Years 1-6 and

is free to attend. They have a tuck shop so make sure you take some

money for sweets and chocolates! They have games, singing,

quizzes, football, crafts and stories from the Bible. Why not go along to

Efford Christian Fellowship on Friday at 6.20pm and give it a try?!

Any questions? Please telephone Stuart on 01752 767711.

Friday 3rd March Nethercott Farm Year 5

Wednesday 8th March Chestnut Forest School AM

Friday 10th March Chestnut Assembly 9am Lower Hall

Friday 10th March Year 5 return from Nethercott Farm

Wednesday 15th March Cherry Tree Forest School AM

Friday 17th March Biscuit Sale at break 50p for Red Nose Day

Wednesday 22nd March Cherry Tree Forest School AM

Thursday 23rd March KS1 Disco 4.30-5.30pm. KS2 Disco 6-7pm

Friday 24th March Red Nose Day Mufti £1

Wednesday 29th March Cherry Tree Forest School

Friday 31st March Non pupil day

Tuesday 18th April Return to school

Thursday 20th April Bags2School

Friday 21st April Caterpillars Assembly 9am Lower Hall

Friday 28th April Hazel Class Assembly 9am Lower Hall

Friday 5th May Sycamore Class Assembly 9am Lower Hall

Friday 5th May Hot Dog Sale-Lower Playground 3pm

W/C Monday 8th May KS2 SATS

Thursday 8th and Friday 9th June Ice Cream Sale Lower Playground 3pm

Saturday 8th July Forum Summer Fete

DATES FOR DIARIES

Contact information for Laira Green Primary School

Telephone Number: 01752 660427

Website: lairagreen.com

Email: laira.green.primary.school@plymouth.gov.uk

School Nurse: 01752 434119

PCSO: Megan Davis-Butler

Non emergency Number 101