Recent letters shared with parents and carers.
7 September 2018
Dear Parents/Carers,
Welcome to Galley Hill Primary School’s Reception classes. Please speak to any member of staff if you have questions, we are here to help. I have included in this letter information that you may need for the year.
All children do need a waterproof coat at school every day (unless we are having a heatwave of course). They will go outside in the morning, at lunchtime and during the afternoon.
Every week the children will spend time outside at either woodland school or gardening. In all weather the children will have their lesson in the woodland area. So they do need a waterproof coat. If they have a pair of waterproof trousers, then please send them in for them to wear. A pair of their own wellies and waterproof trousers can hang on their peg all year. This means they can keep dry whenever they wish to go outside.
Reception’s PE day for the autumn term is a Thursday. We will start PE lessons with our PE coach on 20 September. Their PE kits should be on their peg every day.
Please label all your child’s clothes, PE kit, coat, hat, gloves, etc. Please be aware that if you have written their name in with pen, it might wash off after a few washes! We do try our best to find all lost items.
Children can bring into school their own water bottle to drink from. Please make sure the bottle is named and contains water only. Children should also bring their book bag into school every day.
Children will be given a home reader book when they are ready. This could be at any time during the school year. We will not give them books before they can blend together all letters confidently. Once your child knows all the sounds that single letters make you can help them at home by writing simple three letter words and practise blending the sounds together to read the word e.g. cat, dog, bin, pin, peg, etc.
In Early Years we plan our topics every week due to the time of the year or the interests of the children. Every Monday we place the week’s topic and lesson headlines on the classroom window and on the Reception website page. We also place the nursery rhyme of the week on the classroom window.
We place all dates on the school website calendar so please check throughout the year.
Reception Open Lessons
Every class in the school has three lessons a year when parents can come along and join in with their child’s learning. Our open lessons are
Phonics- Wednesday 3 October 8.50am until 10am.
Maths- Wednesday 7 November 8.50 until 10am.
Writing- Friday 22 March 8.50 until 10am.
Parent Consultation Evenings
During the autumn and spring terms all parents are given the opportunity to discuss their child’s progress with the class teacher. During the summer term you receive a written report. This term the consultation will be on Wednesday 17tOctober 3.30-6pm or Thursday 18tOctober 5 - 7.30pm. A letter will be sent home nearer the date for you to make time and date choices for the meeting.
Christmas Play
Reception put on a Christmas play for their family to watch. Our performances will be on Tuesday 18 and Wednesday 19 December at 2.15 - 2.50pm. A letter will be sent out nearer the date so you can ask for the date of tickets that you would prefer. We can offer 4 tickets for each family. This can be 4 for one date or 2 for Wednesday and 2 for Tuesday. A family cannot have 4 tickets for each performance. There just is not enough space in the hall!
Sports Day
Morning Nursery, Reception, Year 1 and 2 sports day will be on the morning of Wednesday 19 June. 10am until 11.30am. You are all invited to come along and watch the children taking part in sporting activities on the school field.
Please read the school newsletter when it is sent to you via email on a Friday. This will let you know all information you need and keep you up to date with dates and events.
Children always like to bring in a toy from home. But children are not allowed to bring in toys or items from home into school. I am sure you can understand the sharing and losing issues this creates if all 30 children bring in a favourite toy from home or sneak it into their bag!
Thank you
Mrs Parsons, Mrs Turner and Mrs Cook
Reception
5 September 2018
Dear Parents and Carers
Due to scheduling conflicts we have had to rearrange the Year 1 Toy Workshop to Monday 3 December. The cost will remain the same and if you have already paid you do not need to do anything.
Also, if you are able to volunteer to help with the workshop, please indicate below and return the form to the office.
Thank you
Mrs A Reynolds Mrs F Birtchnell Mrs A Yates
Year 1 Toy Workshop – Monday 10 September
I have enclosed £6.00
I have paid £6.00 via the School Gateway online payment system
Name of child______________________________
Signed____________________________________
I am able to help with the Year 1 Toy Workshop on Monday 3 December
Name_________________________________________
5 September 2018
Dear Parents/Carers
We have arranged to take the Year 5 children on a trip to St Albans Cathedral Education Centre. This will take place on Wednesday 12 September 2018.
In class we are learning about the Saxons and will be taking part in a Saxon Food workshop creating herb butter and apricot conserve. They will also be studying artefacts and how they impacted the Abbey.
All children must be dressed in school uniform.
The coach will be leaving the school at 9.15am and aims to return before 3.00pm. We will keep you fully informed regarding the return journey.
The children will need a packed lunch that is in a clearly labelled carrier bag. However, they can bring their lunches in a rucksack as this will be easier to carry and lunchboxes can be awkward to carry around all day. NO glass bottles, cans or sweets please.
Those children who receive Free School Meals can be provided with a pre-ordered packed lunch on the day. Please specify below if you wish your child to order one.
The cost of this trip will be £4.50 per child, which will cover the cost of the coach. The St Albans Cathedral Education Centre will be kindly subsidising the cost of the workshops from its bursary scheme. This can be paid by cash, cheque or via the School Gateway online payment system. Please can any cheques be made payable to Galley Hill Primary School.
Unfortunately, if insufficient funds are received, the trip will have to be cancelled. If you have any queries or difficulties paying this, please do call the office.
Please kindly fill in the permission slip below, with payment and return it to school by Tuesday 11 September 2018.
Yours sincerely
Mrs Cole Miss Duggan Mrs Larner
Year 5
………………………………………………………………………………….……………………………….…………..…
Year 5 Trip to St Albans Cathedral – Wednesday 12 September 2018
Child’s Name ………………………………………………………….…….…… Class ………………….………….
Tick accordingly
Signature ………………………………………………………….……………………………………. (Parent/Carer)
Good Afternoon
Welcome back all, please see below some useful information regarding school meals;
All children from Reception to Year 2 benefit from the government school meal scheme, which entitles each child to free school meals.
For children in years 3 – 6 the cost is £2.40 per day/£12.00 per week
(payments can be made via School Gateway, Cash or Cheque)
Herts Catering Ltd (HCL) is an independent Company which provide the school with its services and catering staff. Therefore, any meals that are to be ordered need to be paid in advance or on the day. We appreciate and understand that debts are eventually cleared however this causes extra administration for the school and HCL.
If you claim any income related benefits you may be entitled to free school meals. Please call the Helpline on 0300 123 4048 to register.
For children starting in Year 3 - If a child does not re-apply at the end of Year 2 then they will NOT automatically be eligible for Free School Meals in Year 3.
A new application is needed by the start of Year 3 and this will then roll over until the child leaves school, again assuming that eligibility does not end before this time.
PUPILS WITH ALLERGIES OR DIETARY NEEDS
HCL offers specifically adapted menus in line with our mainstream offer for selected food allergies and intolerances. HCL have a rigorous process in place to provide a safe meal service to pupils with food allergies or intolerances. HCL have an online account which simplifies the application for a Special Diet Menu, please go to specialmenu.hcl.co.uk to find out more and to apply.
*Please note that we will not be able to supply a school meal for your child if you have advised us of any food allergies or intolerances and an online application has not been completed.
Kind Regards
Ms Teakle - School Office Administrator