NEWSLETTER 2 nd November 2016

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1 NEWSLETTER 2 nd November 2016 LETTER FROM MR MAY Dear Parents, Welcome back to all the children and staff after half term! In the last week of half term I was able to meet up with many of the Year 5 and 6 children who were at Osmington Bay for their 5 day residential experience. The children clearly enjoyed some wonderful activities from sailing and dragon boating to aero ball, archery and campfires. Even I was persuaded to join in the trapeze which I can verify gets far scarier the older you get (see photo as proof)! Most importantly, the children enjoyed themselves whilst developing lifelong skill such as teamwork, independence and problem solving. A huge thank you to Miss Collis and the Office Team for all their organisation and the staff for their hard work throughout the week. Photos are available on the school gallery: An update on the Music Room Many of you are aware that over the summer holidays we were able to refurnish our Music room, fitting it with a lot of new equipment that will allow your child to be creative with digital music as well the newly purchased instruments. Unfortunately we are still working with our IT companies to complete the configuration of the ipads but hope that the music room will be available for use very soon.

2 New Staff Member Please join me in welcoming Mrs Tessa Meldon who has joined us as a full time Learning Support Assistant in 5M and Mrs Clare Hogan who has joined us for 3 mornings a week working in 5B. Development of English As part of our drive to improve standards in English, our INSET day on Monday was used to plan in exciting hooks at the beginning of your child s English topic as well as developing the learning journey over the course of a three week unit. Many of you may know that we use rich texts to base our English topics around, these are specifically chosen books that we know will grab the attention of all the children in class and inspire them to want to write. Hopefully, with this approach there will be even greater motivation and engagement with your child s learning in reading and writing. Transition from Y2 to Y3 Thank you to everyone who completed the surveys regarding the transition from Year 2 to Year 3. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive with lots of comments in reference to the disco, meet the teacher sessions and general communication. The areas for development to improve on for next year included: Ensuring the spellings books go home weekly so that parents can track the results and that the tests are reliably on the same day each week. Improving the clarity of the initial homework instructions. Where possible, ensuring all teachers who may teach your child are available for the meet the teacher meeting. It is genuinely really good to receive the feedback so thank you and as always, do let me or any of the staff know if there is anything else we can support you with. Parents Evening Reminder that parents meetings are tonight, Wednesday 2 nd November and tomorrow, Thursday 3 rd November and this year will be held in the school hall. Please contact the Office if you have yet to make an appointment. Appointment times for each teacher will be displayed on the windows by the playground door should you wish to check your timeslot. Finally, a plea to all parents to make sure that their children have their PE kits in school with them every day. PE kits should include a white t-shirt, black or navy pe shorts, a tracksuit top and bottom and a pair of trainers. Thank you for your co-operation with this. SCHOOL NEWS Bonfire Lunch There is a special themed lunch on Monday 7 th November. All orders have now been taken. If you have not ordered your child a lunch that day they will need to bring in a packed lunch. Year 6 Author Visit We are lucky to have author Ruth Eastham coming to visit Year 6 on Wednesday 9 th November. She will have a selection of her books for sale at the end of her visit. If your child would like to buy a signed copy of one of her books please send them into school with money that day. Books should cost no more than 7.

3 Suggested Reading Lists On our website is a suggested reading list for Junior School children. It has been generated following research from Hampshire Library service and recommendations from staff and children. The aim of producing this list is to support parents in encouraging their children to widen their reading choice. Every child should develop a favourite author and enjoy the pleasure of reading all of their books, but we have often found that children can get stuck on the same author or style of writing unless they are directed in different directions. Hopefully this list might inspire your child into new styles of writing! Please click on the link below. Suggested Reading List Travelling Book Fair The Travelling Book Fair will be with us from 22 nd November 28 th November. More information will be coming out soon. Non-Uniform Day FOMS are holding a non uniform day in exchange for a donation of chocolate on Friday 25th November. Please note this date has changed from 2nd December. Cookery Helpers We are looking for parent helpers to assist with school cookery. If you are able to help on a rota basis please let the Office know. Thank You. Dogs on School Grounds Please can we remind parents that school grounds are strictly out of bounds for dogs. This includes the front of school and the playing fields. Thank you. AND FINALLY Please regularly check the Dates section of the newsletter and the website calendar as this is being added to every fortnight. FRIENDS OF MAYHILL UPCOMING EVENTS Our next meeting & AGM will be straight after half-term Thursday 3rd Nov. 1.30pm in the Conference Room (past the school office, upstairs). Please come along if you can! Happy Bags - Thursday, 3rd November. Please fill the sack sent home or a bin bag with any unwanted clothing, shoes, handbags, bedlinen, towels, soft toys, belts & accessories. School raises valuable funds. School Disco - Thursday, 10th November. 6pm-7.30pm. All years welcome. Forms were sent home this week. Non-Uniform Day - Friday, 25th November - in exchange for chocolate (NB This date has changed)

4 Odiham Christmas Extravaganza - Saturday, 26th November. 4-8pm We are selling our delicious Xmas Puds, sticky-toffee, triple ginger & chocolate sponge puds again. We'll also have games for the children. This is a fun village event, please come along and join in Christmas Secrets Room - Friday, 9th December - All Day This is a really great experience for all the children; they get to visit the 'shopping grotto' we create for them throughout the school day. There will be gifts for all the family at low, affordable prices for the children to secretly buy. More info & forms will be sent home soon. Mayhill Christmas Fair - Thursday, 15th December pm More info coming home soon! KEY DATES NOV 2 nd Parents Evening 5-7pm 3 rd Year 3 Flu Immunisation 3 rd Parents Evening pm 3 rd Happy Bag Collection 7 th Bonfire Lunch 8 th 4F Class Assembly 9 th Year 6 Author Visit 10 th School Disco All Years 15 th Year 4 Parent Lunch 18 th Children in Need 22 nd - 28 th Travelling Book Fair 22 nd Year 5 Space Dome 25 th MUFTI Day in exchange for chocolate donation 26 th Odiham Christmas Extravaganza 4 8pm 29 th 6BC Class Assembly DEC 5 th Clubs finish this week 7 th Christmas Production 6.30pm 8 th Rocksteady Concert 2pm. Rocksteady parents only. 8 th Christmas Production 6.30pm 9 th Secrets Room 9 th Whole School Exhibition of Work th House Colour Day 15 th Christmas Lunch 15 th Christmas Fair 16 th End of Autumn Term Finish at 1pm JAN 3 rd Start of Spring Term 16 th Houses of Parliament Trip School Council only 21 st Family Portraits pm 24 th 3DG Class Assembly 26 th Happy Bag Collection

5 FEB 7 th 5M Class Assembly 9 th Year 3 Egyptian Workshop 16 th UNICEF Day for Change 17 th INSET DAY 20 th 24 th HALF TERM 27 th INSET DAY MAR 2 nd World Book Day 7 th 4G Class Assembly 9 th Community Lunch 21 st Year 4 Maya Workshop 22 nd Year 5 Greek Play in Day APR 6 th Whole School Exhibition of Work 7 th End of Term 10 th 21 st EASTER HOLIDAYS 24 th Start of Summer Term MAY 5 th Year 5 & 6 Life Education Bus 29 th 2 nd HALF TERM JUNE 5 th INSET DAY 7 th Year 3 Trip Wisley Gardens 15 th Year 5 Families Open Evening at Robert Mays 22 nd Class Photos 26 th Year 6 Hampshire Fire and Rescue Visit JULY 17 th Art Week 25 th End of Term