Monday 12th December

Well can you believe we have reached the end of our very first term...and what a packed one it was too!
As our Christmas preparations draw to a close, I am sure you are all gearing up at home and that the Christmas excitement is making everyone smile at home!

This week’s blog is to let you know what is happening during this week and also, we have included a few festive sites to keep everyone occupied.
Wednesday Dust off those party frocks and best clothes, as Wednesday sees our fantastic Christmas party! The children have worked really hard all term, so now is the chance for them to let their hair down and boogie the afternoon away. The children will be allowed to come to school ALL DAY in their own clothes, complete with hair gel, glitter and perfume!

Santa’s elves have been very busy wrapping all the gifts for the children AND organising all the party food. The Elf’s and Pixies have been fantastic this week, making sure that all the children will have a great time – a huge thank you!

Friday
The last day of term, sees a real treat. Our Christmas Carol Service, led by Years 5/6 will be held in the hall at 9.15am. The children are allowed to bring in toys and games. Please send in nothing expensive or electrical.
The afternoon sees the Parent’s Panto. It is always a really fantastic production and a fitting end to the year. All the children, (and staff) leave the hall in festive mood, ready to start our preparations at home.

Festive Fun

Lots of the children enjoy using the websites given on the blog every week. All of the sites, links and activities on the site are used in class to support our learning, but every now and again, we include sites which are ‘just for fun’.

 http://www.emailsanta.com/

 Write a letter to Santa and see the reply appear before your very eyes!

 http://www.northpole.com/

 A real favourite of mine! The disco dancing Santa is fabulous!

 http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/Xmas/

 A very interesting site, explaining all about the customs and traditions of Christmas.

http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/Xmas/meaning.htm

 I loved this story! Maybe one for Christmas Eve?

 http://www.star28.net/snow.html?msg=they

This made me giggle! Get the penguin to write your name in the snow. What about trying this to help with the spelling of those tricky words?

 http://www.learn-ict.org.uk/resources/rudolph/rudolph.htm

 Rudolf is missing! Read this lovely interactive story with your child. A great way of developing those comprehension skills.

 http://www.funranch.com/games/tree/index.htm

 Decorate the online Christmas tree

 http://www.kented.org.uk/ngfl/games/snowman_v4.html

Build your very own snowman...without getting your hands cold!

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/winter/

Some great ideas for Christmas crafts to do at home, using all those empty boxes.

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/christmas/ Christmas crafts

http://www.nevada.edu/~blake/Christmas.carols.html

Why not sing through some of these traditional Christmas Carols in preparation for Friday’s service?

http://www.kidzone.ws/math/christmas/index.htm

Although these are based on American ‘grades’, some of these Christmas themed Maths worksheets are still really useful.

http://christmas.iboard.co.uk/

Lots of Christmas online activities to try. I really like the writing ideas, which use a framework and a word bank to help. Why not print some off to bring in to show?

On behalf of all the staff, we wish you a very happy, peaceful and holy Christmas. We hope that Santa brings you everything you ask for and that we all return safe and happy in the New Year.

Merry Christmas!!!

Love from

The Key Stage One team.  XX

Monday 5th December

Welcome to our blog.We were every proud of all the children in the Christmas play. I will upload lots of pictures when my laptop gets fixed hopefully. I took lots of the children when we were performing the play.

Last week is the last week we have set homework. We have noticed quite a few children not learning the spellings. These are age related spellings and they are essential that the children know them.

Reading
We cannot stress enough how important it is to read with your child every day. Reading is the key that opens all other doors. It is a life skill that the children rely so much on. We are trying to have a real push on reading and understanding a book. We appreciate the support that you give us.

Assessment and Review week
This week we will be reviewing lots of work and will be giving the children some tests in reading and maths. Year one will be having a phonics test too and a few of year two. All the children will be reviewing previous work. We will be assessing their writing too by looking at the work they produce in their exercise books. We will also be busy testing their reading to see if they can move up a book band.


Christmas fair
The Christmas fair is on after school on Friday and it is another own clothes day. This week the children need to bring in a wrapped present.

Monitoring visit
On Thursday we have an RE monitoring visit by the Archdiocese. Mrs Harding's class will be leading a collective worship in class for our visitor.

RE
This week we will be continuing with the new topic WAITING. We will be thinking about Advent, Advent promises and Mary showed great kindness to Elizabeth when she found out she was going to have a baby. The children will also be learning about the visitation and the message given to Mary by Angel Gabriel.

Have a good week
The 1 / 2 team