WINNERSH PRIMARY SCHOOLHeadteacher’s Newsletter: No. 52 12/9/16

SUMMER READING SUMMER READING SUMMER READING SUMMER READING

CHALLENGECHALLENGECHALLENGECHALLENGE

Did your child take part in the library’s

Summer Reading Challenge over the

holidays? We are making a display in

school of children’s certificates so if your

child would like to be included, please

bring their certificate into school during

the course of this week and we’ll take a

copy of it to include in the display.

ROALD DAHL DAY – TUESDAY 13TH SEPTEMBER

On Tuesday, we will be celebrating Roald Dahl Day which marks

100 years since the birth of the author.

All children are invited to dress up for the day as a Roald Dahl

character or dress in yellow, Roald Dahl’s favourite colour. If you

take a look at www.roalddahl.com you will find lots of ideas for

dressing up, including a very helpful section on creating an outfit

in just 10 minutes.

On the day itself, we’ll be organising a Roald Dahl parade for the

children and there will be a chance to watch a nationwide live

screening of Matilda in the afternoon.

We would like to ask children to bring a donation of £1.00 on the

day as we are collecting for Roald Dahl's Marvellous Children's

Charity. The charity provides medical and emotional support to

children with serious and rare conditions, and their families so is a

great cause.

Miss Home, our English Coordinator, has organised lots of events

and competitions for the children to take part in during the month

of September so keep an eye on our website.

WELCOME BACK

A warm welcome to the new school year. I hope you enjoyed the summer and are now looking forward to the term ahead. We are delighted that many new families have joined us this year; we

hope your children soon settle into school life at Winnersh. If you have any questions or concerns, please speak to your child’s class teacher.

Mrs Powell, HeadteacherMrs Powell, HeadteacherMrs Powell, HeadteacherMrs Powell, Headteacher

PHASE LEADERS

I would like to take this opportunity to remind you about the

important role of our Phase Leaders. The Phase Leaders are

responsible for the smooth day to day running of their

respective phases, including the development and delivery of

the curriculum.

• Mrs Nicola Davies is responsible for the Lower Phase

including Foundation, Year 1, Year 2 and Year 3

• Mrs Bev Norman is responsible for the Upper Phase

which includes Years 4, 5 and 6

Both Mrs Davies and Mrs Norman have a teaching

commitment so if you would like to contact them, please

leave a message with School Reception and they will contact

you as soon as they are able.

GENERAL REMINDERS

We are a NUT FREE school so please

do not send children in with any

foods containing nuts including

sandwich fillers such as Nutella

~

Please be considerate of our

neighbours and the safety of those

walking to school when parking

your cars in the surrounding roads

~

Letters have now been sent home

regarding our Smarter Way to Pay

scheme – please can we ask that

you return these along with

payment

~

Please make sure that you have

labelled all school uniform. Named

items are routinely returned to

children and unnamed items are

kept in the box in Reception

13th September Roald Dahl Celebration Day

13th September 8.45am New Foundation Children Start

14th September Year 5 Anglo Saxon Day

14th September 6.00 – 7.00pm RYG Meeting (Year 6)

21st September 9.05am Emerald Class Assembly

21st September Year 2 Science Centre Visit

22nd September Portrait School Photographer

30th September 9.00am Talk for Writing Workshop (Parents)

3rd October 9.05am Ruby Class Assembly

5th October 9.05am Amethyst Class Assembly

23rd October Hobgoblin Theatre Company Visit – Years 3 & 4

DATES FOR THE DIARY

NATURE AREANATURE AREANATURE AREANATURE AREA

You may have noticed that over the holidays, our pond area

has been given a makeover using the grants we received from

Tesco Bags of Help and the Green Redeem Scheme. We are

really pleased with the result and in particular, are looking

forward to filling our Bug Hotel. We will be using the area to

support our Science curriculum, and the Gardening Club will

be working hard too. We are filling one of the raised beds with

scented herbs such as lemon balm, mint, rosemary, lavender,

basil, curry plant or thyme. Donations or cuttings would be

gratefully received and can be brought into School Reception

or given to Miss Bebbington who runs Gardening Club.

PENS AND STATIONERYPENS AND STATIONERYPENS AND STATIONERYPENS AND STATIONERY

Children in the Lower Phase do not need to bring a pencil case to school. They are supplied with all

the writing equipment they need in class. However, children in our Upper Phase (Years 4, 5 and 6)

do need to have a couple of suitable pens for handwriting. Handwriting is carefully assessed within

the new curriculum and using the right pen is a good starting point. Children do not need

expensive pens but we do ask that they write in blue rather than black, and avoid the use of biros.

A rollerball or ballpoint type pen is best. Children sometimes need to try a few pens before they

find one that they are comfortable with so we ask for your support in getting to this point as

quickly as possible. Berol type pens can be bought for under £2.00 in many shops or we sell

handwriting pens at school for £1.50. These can be bought from School Reception, before or after

school or at breaktime. Children in the Upper Phase are also welcome to bring a pencil case with

other basic stationery but this is not a requirement.

Upper Phase Celebration Assemblies All assemblies will start at 9.05am and parents are

welcome to attend.

21st

September 2016 - Emerald Class

5th

October 2016 – Amethyst Class

19th

October 2016 – Ametrine Class

To be confirmed – Peridot Class

Lower Phase Celebration Assemblies All assemblies will start at 9.05am and parents are

welcome to attend.

3rd

October2016 – Ruby Class

17th

October 2016– Carnelian Class

14th

November 2016 – Sunset Class

21st

November 2016 – Amber Class

Do you have a Do you have a Do you have a Do you have a

child starting child starting child starting child starting

school next school next school next school next

September?September?September?September?

Look out for details

of our open events

coming very soon.

We can’t wait to

tell you about all of

the exciting

changes to our

Foundation stage.

TALK FOR WRITING TALK FOR WRITING TALK FOR WRITING TALK FOR WRITING

WORKSHOP FOR PARENTSWORKSHOP FOR PARENTSWORKSHOP FOR PARENTSWORKSHOP FOR PARENTS

Friday 30th September at 9.00am

Our mission is to help all our children develop into thoughtful

readers and creative writers and it is through the Talk for

Writing approach that we believe we can achieve this.

Through multi-sensory and interactive teaching, it enables

children of all ages and abilities to learn to write with

confidence. At Winnersh Primary School, we are all very

enthusiastic about this approach as it brings out the best in

the children and the teachers!

Learning more about Talk for Writing could help you to

support your child with their writing as well as understand the

expectations we have at school.

Miss Home, our English Leader, will be hosting a workshop for

parents on Friday 30th September in the school hall, starting

at 9.00am and lasting for an hour. She will explain what the

Talk for Writing process involves and how you can help your

child.

Miss Home ran this as an evening workshop back in June.

Sadly, we had a very low turn-out but every parent who

attended rated the session as ‘excellent’ and suggested that

we run it again in a daytime slot. So here is another

opportunity to attend the workshop.

There is no need to book; just come along on the day and you

will be made to feel very welcome.

Roald Dahl Reading Roald Dahl Reading Roald Dahl Reading Roald Dahl Reading

Marathon CompetitionMarathon CompetitionMarathon CompetitionMarathon Competition On Tuesday 13th we will be celebrating 100 years since the birth of

the world famous author Roald Dahl. From 13From 13From 13From 13thththth September to 13September to 13September to 13September to 13thththth

OctoberOctoberOctoberOctober you can take part in a special Roald Dahl reading

competition.

What do I need to do?What do I need to do?What do I need to do?What do I need to do?

Your challenge is to read as many Roald Dahl stories or rhymes

from Tuesday 13Tuesday 13Tuesday 13Tuesday 13thththth September to Thursday 13September to Thursday 13September to Thursday 13September to Thursday 13thththth October. October. October. October.

RulesRulesRulesRules

1. Even if you have read some of Roald Dahl’s books in the past, these do not count. You must re-read each story for it

to count in this competition.

2. Every time you read one of his books or rhymes you must

ask an adult at home to sign to say they have seen or

heard you read each story or rhyme.

3. You do not have to read the whole book alone, an adult

may read the stories to you.

4. Competition forms need to be handed back to your class

teacher on 14th October. Miss Home will go through the entries and select a winner.

5. Most importantly, have fun!

Please find the competition form on the back of these instructions.

Good luck!

Miss Home ☺