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What Key Workers’ Children Did at School

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The sun shone and there were Key Workers children at Chiddingly School this week.

The children started their Thursday with breakfast club and the spent an hour on online work on the laptops.

All the staff and children then took  half an hour with a workout in the hall following ‘Joe Wicks’ with his daily online PE session. It was tiring, but a great start to the day. Everyone then worked hard for over an hour with their set work from their class teachers.

We then all went painting and drawing. Easter cards, dinosaurs, birds and portraits. We explored paint and chalk pastels before heading out to the sunshine for lunch.

After lunch there was time to explore the trim trail and then explore the garden. The children started by weeding and cutting back dead herb growth from the flower beds. We collected the dried herb stalks to be good kindling for fire lighting for future forest School sessions.

The children tried tasting a few of the herbs growing. The gardening escalated and by the end of the day they had weeded a whole flower bed, dug up roots, shrieked at massive spiders, spotted tiny snails, made muddy holes and replanted lots of plants which were kindly donated to the school in January.

It was a great afternoon of engagement, learning and fun.

East Hoathly Vision

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You can download the School Vision and Bible Links Explained documents in printable (pdf) format.

school_vision

East Hoathly’s Vision Song

East Hoathly’s bell is ringing
Can you hear what it is singing?
It tells us of our mission
And what is our school vision

Ring the bell… Respect
Let it ring… Work together

Ring the bell… Excellence
Let it ring… Enjoyment

Ring the bell… Resilience
Let it ring… Creativity

Achievement for all, Learning together, Learning for Life,
Under God’s rule

Achievement for all, Learning together, learning for Life
That is our school

Song by Ellie White

Reception Term 2 – Noisy Nightlife!

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owlsClick here for a printable version of this newsletter

Dear Parents,

Welcome back, I hope you all had a lovely half term.

Our topic this term is ‘Noisy Nightlife’. We will be spending time learning about nocturnal animals and winter celebrations such as Bonfire Night, Remembrance and Christmas. As well as this, we will be learning about Diwali to develop our cultural awareness.

As part of this topic, we will begin to look at ‘Light and Dark’, non-fiction books and will be writing letters, lists and invitations.

Some of the texts we will be looking at are:

peace-at-last

the-owl-who-was-afraid-of-the-dark

owl-babies

the-jolly-christmas-postman

Understanding of the World

  • Learning about nocturnal animals
  • Light and Dark
  • Different celebrations such as Diwali and Christmas

Personal, Social and Emotional Development

  • Understanding differences
  • Safety and rules in different situations
  • Working together

Expressive Art & Design

  • Diwali art
  • Christmas craft
  • Cards & Decorations

Communication and Language

  • Listening and following instructions
  • Thinking and talking about feelings
  • Understanding and sequencing stories and events

balloons

Physical Development

  • Fine motor skills – Holding pencils correctly, threading,
  • Spatial awareness when moving
  • Letter formations

Religious Education

  • What is a prayer?
  • What is assembly?
  • What is Christmas about?

Mathematics

  • Counting skills & recognising numbers
  • Exploring capacity and money
  • Using mathematical vocabulary
  • Understanding ‘more’ and ‘less’

Literacy

  • Letters and sounds, matching the written letter with the sound it makes.
  • Writing captions, lists and letters.
  • Exploring non-fiction books

house-150x150Home Learning

I would like to thank you all for your effort with last terms home learning tasks including reading with your children. The children have already made great progress with learning sounds and every read will help this to become more secure.

Reading Please read with your child regularly, even if it is just for 5 minutes.

It is really important that the children bring their book bags, their reading record and their reading book into school every day.

When reading with your child please acknowledge the fact that the book has been read by signing and dating in the comments book, or you may like to add a positive or helpful comment in the reading diary. We will change their books when appropriate.
Letters & Sounds Starting this term, the children will bring home the sounds they have been working on in the week. In their home learning book, the children can practice these sounds by writing them, finding words that start with them and cutting pictures out of catalogues.

It would be really useful to support the children in identifying these sounds when reading with them.
My Maths The children will be sent home a My Maths letter with an individual log in. They can log on to the website and play mathematical games. This home learning activity in Reception is optional and the children can explore the different games on the site in preparation for set tasks as they move through the school.

hedgehog-300x226Key questions to ask your child at home:

  • Which animals come out at night?
  • Why does the world get dark?
  • Who works at night time?
  • What sounds can you hear at night time?

 Useful Websites

Friday Morning Learning Journey Sharing

Every other Friday morning, beginning on Friday 9th November, we will be opening our doors a little early for parents to come in and share their child’s learning journey with them. Please feel free to come in whenever you choose. There is no expectation for parents to come every fortnight as some weeks we have more to share than others but it would be lovely to see as many of you as possible over the coming weeks. We will be asking any visitors to add a small speech bubble to the learning journey to comment on a beautiful piece of work or an achievement that you are proud of. Please come to the classroom door as normal from 8.35 until 8.55am.

Quick Reminders

  • Please can you make sure your child brings in a water bottle and their book bags every day.
  • Can the children please always have a coat in school particularly as the British weather is unpredictable.
  • Our PE days are Tuesday & Wednesday but PE kits should be in all week.
  • Welly Boots – Please can all children have a set of wellies in school at all times, this is so we can use the field and outside areas when it is wet and muddy. All in one waterproof suits are essential too.

wellies-150x150We hope you all have lovely second term supporting the children in their learning and can see how much they have learnt already. Please do not hesitate to come and speak to us if necessary.

Thank you for your support,

Miss Denney & Mrs Smith

Year 5/6 Newsletter Term 3 – ‘The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr Morris Lessmore’

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Holes
Oliver-Twist
The-Day-the-Crayons-Quit
The-Fantastic-Flying-Books-of-Mr-Morris-Lessmore
Wonder

Click here for a printable version of this newsletter

Dear Parents,

I hope you had a great Christmas holidays! This term, we are beginning a new topic called ‘The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr Morris Lessmore.’ We will focus on different books throughout the term including ‘The Day the Crayons Quit’, ‘Oliver Twist’, ‘Wonder’ and ‘Holes’. In maths, we will be working on Fractions, Decimals and Percentages all term. This is an area of mathematics that a lot of children find tricky so any extra support you could give them at home for this would really help improve their learning.

Reading Please read with your child regularly, even if it is just one page.  Their books and book bags will need to be in everyday for 1:1 reading.  You may like to add a positive or helpful comment in their homework diary, but please acknowledge the fact that the book has been read by signing and dating in the comments space. A member of staff will be checking homework diaries on a Friday and children are expected to have read at least 3 times a week with an adult.
Spellings Spelling tests are every Thursday and your child will be tested on the ten spellings they selected in the previous week (from either the Year 3&4 or 5&6 curriculum spelling lists). Their spelling tests results will be recorded in the back of their books for them to share with you.
Maths Maths homework will be set on a Friday and will be expected to have been completed by the following Thursday. Maths homework will be set on ‘Mathletics’ and the children have their logins stuck in their Reading Record book. This homework should be completed independently and will be a follow-up of the work they have been completing in class. The homework should take around 30 minutes to complete. Your child can come to ‘Homework club’ either on a Thursday lunchtime (in Willow classroom) or on a Friday lunchtime (in Sycamore classroom).
Grammar Grammar homework will be sent home on a Friday and your child will have 2 weeks to complete this. The homework will be based on the grammar they will be learning within their literacy lessons. This should take around 40 minutes and should be completed as independently as possible. To help with our in-class assessments, please indicate when you have helped your child.

Helping to enrich our topics

It is always great to have items or visitors that support our topic, so if anyone has any experience or items that may help us with any of the work above that we could hear about or borrow, we would love to see and hear about them.

Reminders

Please can you make sure your child brings in a water bottle each day with fresh water; ensure all jumpers are labelled and bring a coat for any wet weather.

Many thanks for your continued support,

Miss Purcell

Reading at School and at Home

Useful Websites

Questions you could ask your child about their learning this term

  • What is your favourite book and why?
  • What should you include in a newspaper report?
  • Who would you write a letter to?
  • What happens in the ‘The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr Morris Lessmore’?

 Home learning tasks

  • Create a new cover for your favourite book
  • Research about a European city of your choice
  • Write your own story set in a different world

Learning Map

 

Eco Helpers 2017

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Last year we had a great set of Eco Helpers who did a tremendous job in helping make our school more eco aware! This year we are looking to recruit a new group to work with. Mr Herdman spoke to each class last week and explained what the Eco Helpers do and what a high standard the new Eco Helpers will have to reach following last year’s group. This year, instead of being chosen, the children have been asked to apply for the post.

The two strongest applicants from each class will form our new Eco Helper group.

We look forwards to announcing the new Eco Helpers soon!

Mr Herdman is Caretaker of the Year

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A CARETAKER who has raised more than £280,000 for the three schools he works at has been hailed for going ‘beyond the call of duty’.

Paul Herdman, who works at Laughton Community Primary, East Hoathly CE Primary and Chiddingly Primary schools, has been named East Sussex Caretaker of the Year 2017.

As well as working tirelessly to maintain the three sites, Mr Herdman has researched, applied for and secured a total of £285,024 in funding from various sources to improve the schools.

Projects delivered as a result include playground resurfacing, a new roof, play equipment, energy-saving LED lighting and restoration of Laughton’s school clock and bell tower.

He said: “It’s brilliant and came as a complete shock – I wasn’t expecting it at all. The kids are really enthusiastic and I’m really proud that they recognise what I do and enjoy the things I’ve helped to raise money for.”

Mr Herdman also manages to fit into his busy schedule running a breakfast club, leading the children’s ‘eco group’, managing an area of woodland and looking after the school chickens.

Victoria Brown, deputy head teacher at Laughton, said: “Paul works tirelessly for the school and is not only a brilliant caretaker but fantastic with people, with a great sense of humour the children love.

“We feel lucky to have a caretaker who is so passionate about the job and who is so driven to make the school a better place for everyone.”

James Procter, executive head teacher at East Hoathly and Chiddingly, said: “Paul is a friendly, hard-working caretaker and a real asset to our schools, who goes out of his way to be part of the school community.”

The winning nomination included glowing references from pupils, one of whom, Tom, said: “Mr Herdman is very generous with his time and has a massive effect on how happy we are at Laughton.”

Schools across the county were asked to nominate their caretaker of the year, with the winner selected by Stuart Gallimore, East Sussex County Council director of children’s services.

He said: “It was clear that all those nominated do an incredible amount of work and are highly regarded by staff, children and parents, but one person stood out.

“Paul not only works across three schools, which is impressive enough, but has raised a huge amount of money to improve the fabric of the schools – that’s what I call going beyond the call of duty.”

Narrowly pipped at the post was runner-up Mark Cornford, of St Andrew’s CE Infants’ School, Eastbourne, who has also raised money not just for his school but for the pupil it sponsors at a school in Uganda.

Head teacher Carol Meakins said: “Mark is keen to be involved in every area of school life, acting with integrity and a sense of humour. He knows each child and they know him.”

Reception Term 2 – Noisy Nightlife!

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owlsClick here for a printable version of this newsletter

Dear Parents,

Welcome back, I hope you all had a lovely half term.

The first week of Term 2 will be ‘Health and Wellbeing Week’. The children will be learning about healthy living and taking part in lots of activities in the afternoons based on this.  As well as this we will be learning about Diwali to develop our cultural awareness.

Our topic this term is ‘Noisy Nightlife’. We will be spending time learning about nocturnal animals and winter celebrations such as Bonfire Night, Remembrance and Christmas.

As part of this topic, we will begin to look at ‘Light and Dark’, non-fiction books and will be writing letters, lists and invitations.

Some of the texts we will be looking at are:

peace-at-last

the-owl-who-was-afraid-of-the-dark

owl-babies

the-jolly-christmas-postman

Understanding of the World

  • Learning about nocturnal animals
  • Light and Dark
  • Different celebrations such as Diwali and Christmas

Personal, Social and Emotional Development

  • SEAL – Getting on and falling out
  • Safety and rules in different situations
  • Working together

Expressive Art & Design

  • Diwali art
  • Christmas craft
  • Cards & Decorations

Communication and Language

  • Listening and following instructions
  • Thinking and talking about feelings
  • Understanding and sequencing stories and events

balloons

Physical Development

  • Fine motor skills – Holding pencils correctly, threading,
  • Spatial awareness when moving
  • Letter formations

Religious Education

  • What is a prayer?
  • What is assembly?
  • What is Christmas about?

Mathematics

  • Counting skills & recognising numbers
  • Exploring capacity and money
  • Using mathematical vocabulary
  • Understanding ‘more’ and ‘less’

Literacy

  • Letters and sounds, matching the written letter with the sound it makes.
  • Writing captions, lists and letters.
  • Exploring non-fiction books

house-150x150Home Learning

I would like to thank you all for your effort with last terms home learning tasks including reading with your children. The children have already made great progress with learning sounds and every read will help this to become more secure. The homework will continue as last term.

Reading

Please read with your child regularly, even if it is just for 5 minutes.

It is really important that the children bring their book bags, yellow reading record and their reading book into school every day.

When reading with your child please acknowledge the fact that the book has been read by signing and dating in the comments book, or you may like to add a positive or helpful comment in the reading diary. We will change their books when appropriate.
Letters & Sounds

Letters and Sounds Books can continue to be used for home learning. Please practise writing the sounds, finding pictures of objects that begin with these sounds, drawing, and writing short words that you can think of.

Please feel free to bring in small, named objects that begin with these sounds too!

hedgehog-300x226Key questions to ask your child at home:

  • Which animals come out at night?
  • Why does the world get dark?
  • Who works at night time?
  • What sounds can you hear at night time?

 Useful Websites

Friday Morning Learning Journey Sharing

Every other Friday morning, beginning on Friday 11th November, we will be opening our doors a little early for parents to come in and share their child’s learning journey with them. Please feel free to come in whenever you choose. There is no expectation for parents to come every fortnight as some weeks we have more to share than others but it would be lovely to see as many of you as possible over the coming weeks. We will be asking any visitors to add a small speech bubble to the learning journey to comment on a beautiful piece of work or an achievement that you are proud of. Please come to the classroom door as normal from 8.35 until 8.55am.

Quick Reminders

  • Please can you make sure your child brings in a water bottle and their book bags each day.
  • Can the children please always have a coat in school particularly as the British weather is unpredictable.
  • Our PE days are Tuesday & Friday but PE kits should be in all week.
  • Welly Boots – Please can all children have a set of wellies in school at all times, this is so we can use the field and outside areas when it is wet and muddy. All in one waterproof suits are essential too.

wellies-150x150We hope you all have lovely second term supporting the children in their learning and can see how much they have learnt already. Please do not hesitate to come and speak to us if necessary.

Thank you for your support,

Miss Denney & Mrs Eldridge

Year 3/4 Newsletter Term 6 – Romans

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Colusseum

Dear Parents,

I hope you had a lovely half term break. This term, we will be continuing our topic in Romans by learning about Pompeii, what the Romans did for us and comparing how Romans lived to our own lives. We are also going on a trip to Fishbourne Roman Palace and details will follow shortly. Please ensure that you send the reply slip back as soon as possible.

Colusseum

Reading Please read with your child regularly, even if it is just one page. Their books and book bags will need to be in everyday for 1:1 reading. You may like to add a positive or helpful comment in the reading diary but please acknowledge the fact that the book has been read by signing and dating in the comments book. A member of staff will be checking reading records on a Wednesday and children are expected to have read at least 3 times a week with an adult.
Spellings This term, we will continue to send out spelling investigations that will encourage the children to look at different patterns which link to their learning within the classroom.
Maths Our focus this term is mental maths and applying it in different questions. The children will have a set of questions which will test their knowledge of calculations and mathematical vocabulary.
We will also be focusing on learning our times tables. On the Pioneer website are ‘Singing Tables’ which we will be using to help us remember the pattern of each times table. Please do have a look and learn them at home with your child.

Helping to enrich our topics

It has been really great to have books from home that relate to our topic so if anyone has any experience or items that may help us with any of the work above that we could hear about or borrow, they would be gratefully received.

Reminders

Please can you make sure your child brings in a water bottle each day with fresh water; ensure all jumpers are labelled and bring a coat for the wet weather.

The last swimming is on 24th June, thanks you to all the parents who have helped at swimming and with lifts, it is greatly appreciated!

Trip to Fishbourne Roman Palace

Monday 4th July. This trip will be used to consolidate the children’s learning about Romans. They will have practical activities and opportunities to take part in workshops about how Romans used to live.

Home Learning

We are continuing to look at how Romans used to live and comparing this to our own lives. Can you find out some interesting facts about the Romans and present it in a creative way? You could use some of the websites below to help you.

For example: A PowerPoint about the fashion of the Romans, the sports they enjoyed, the food they ate or the daily life of a child your age.

Many thanks for your continued support
Mrs Mackarness

Reading at school and at home

Reading strategies the children use in school and can be referred to at home:

I could sound out the word

dog
sweet

I can miss out the word. Then I could read on to the end of a sentence and then go back and check what would make sense.

arrows

I look for smaller words in words.

butterfly
cat
handwriting

I talk through my ideas, thoughts and feelings about what I am reading so I understand it.

1

When I read I imagine what is happening and create a picture in my mind.

2

I use the pictures to help me.

3