Organisation
It is important to arrive at school before 8:45am to ensure your child is settled into the class before the first bell rings at 8.55am. Room 7 is open for you and your child at 8.30am. Before this time I am attending meetings, duties and preparing for the day.
Come on into the classroom and place your child’s coat/bag together on the named hook. On subsequent days encourage your child to be responsible for their own belongings and preparing for the day. Once the morning session has started, please use my guidance as to the best time to leave.
All children will finish school at 3pm. Please discuss fully with your child where to meet, and who will be meeting him or her at the end of the day. Please let me know if arrangements change.
Could you please ensure your child has the following items ready for the first day:
Terms 1 and 4: a brimmed Malfroy hat is required to be worn outside at all times.
Come on into the classroom and place your child’s coat/bag together on the named hook. On subsequent days encourage your child to be responsible for their own belongings and preparing for the day. Once the morning session has started, please use my guidance as to the best time to leave.
All children will finish school at 3pm. Please discuss fully with your child where to meet, and who will be meeting him or her at the end of the day. Please let me know if arrangements change.
Could you please ensure your child has the following items ready for the first day:
- Personal articles/clothing which must be clearly named.
- Backpacks – if you are purchasing, please ensure the backpack is big enough to fit items
- comfortably i.e. lunchbox, reading book bags etc., but not too big for the child’s size.
Terms 1 and 4: a brimmed Malfroy hat is required to be worn outside at all times.
School Lunches
I hope you would promote a healthy attitude to food by providing ‘healthy’ morning teas and lunches:
- lots of fruit and vegetables, (including breads)
- limited fats and sugars and processed foods (please note, we do not allow sweets at school).
- Please ensure children can cope with yoghurt containers, and are provided with a spoon from home!
- Water is a fine drink (great ‘brain juice’!).
- Drink bottles will be sent home daily to be cleaned/refilled and can be stored in the classroom.
Reading
Through a background of sharing experiences and talking and reading widely to your child, you provide the rich language background that is so important to enable a child to gain meaning from print. Your child will be given a book to read at home as soon as they start school. These books will come home most week nights. Unless indicated, it will be a book the child has read that day and is to be read to you for your child to have the additional practice to gain confidence. This book should never be difficult. Sometimes the book is best shared, with you and your child reading together, or sharing the reading if your child is tired. It is absolutely vital you make time to share a love of books with your child. Join a library … visit it together frequently.
Please ensure the books are returned to school. Encourage your child to place the book in his or her own book bag and to return it to the book basket every morning. A new book will only be given out as each book is returned. Any lost or damaged books will be charged for.
You will be able to record your child's reading behaviours and any comments in the back section of their Homework book. Please date and sign and return daily to class.
Please ensure the books are returned to school. Encourage your child to place the book in his or her own book bag and to return it to the book basket every morning. A new book will only be given out as each book is returned. Any lost or damaged books will be charged for.
You will be able to record your child's reading behaviours and any comments in the back section of their Homework book. Please date and sign and return daily to class.
Writing
Development in learning to read usually goes hand in hand with learning to write. Encourage your child to be interested in writing … maybe to help you write a letter or email to someone.
When your child is wanting to write at home please …Encourage him/her to ‘have a go’.
At school we encourage the children to learn through making attempts, even if some are not completely successful. With help they increase their writing skills and come closer to excellence.
Do not spell out words; rather, ask the child to say the word/words slowly and think what letters they may need to represent the dominant sounds they hear, with particular emphasis on initial sound. We want children to be independent writers.
Model the correct script when the child has finished recording his/her own ideas.
Use lower case print script (John) not capital letters (JOHN).
Recognition of the alphabet is heavily emphasised in the initial stages of schooling and it is beneficial if the child does have a background of alphabet knowledge, including recognising the letters on sight, and linking letters and their sounds.
When your child is wanting to write at home please …Encourage him/her to ‘have a go’.
At school we encourage the children to learn through making attempts, even if some are not completely successful. With help they increase their writing skills and come closer to excellence.
Do not spell out words; rather, ask the child to say the word/words slowly and think what letters they may need to represent the dominant sounds they hear, with particular emphasis on initial sound. We want children to be independent writers.
Model the correct script when the child has finished recording his/her own ideas.
Use lower case print script (John) not capital letters (JOHN).
Recognition of the alphabet is heavily emphasised in the initial stages of schooling and it is beneficial if the child does have a background of alphabet knowledge, including recognising the letters on sight, and linking letters and their sounds.
Maths
Each year your child will cover the following mathematics strands:
Most of our junior mathematics programme is in the number strand.
There is an emphasis on:
- number & algebra
- geometry & measurement
- statistics
Most of our junior mathematics programme is in the number strand.
There is an emphasis on:
- knowledge and strategy learning in number, with children expected to articulate the process used to gain their answers.
- problem solving
- application of mathematics in everyday experiences
- independent discovery
- knowing the basic facts