Class teacher
Mrs Jackie Crisp
jcrisp@greatwilbraham.cambs.sch.uk
(Monday and Tuesday)

Mrs Julie Myles jmyles@greatwilbraham.cambs.sch.uk
(Wednesday, Thursday, Friday)

Teaching assistants
Mrs Annie Raw
Mrs Rebecca Horsfield

Ely Cathederal photos......

NEWSLETTER January 2012

Dear parents,

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL!!

Firstly, thank you very much indeed for all the lovely cards, warm wishes and presents that we received over Christmas. It was very kind of you.
Our topic this term will be: ‘OURSELVES and OUR PLANET’:
We will be focusing on moving and growing and habitats in Science.  We will also be looking at how we can help our planet by reusing and recycling.  We are hoping to organise a class trip to the recycling centre in Waterbeach but we are just awaiting confirmation of this.  This will be a great opportunity for the children to see how they can really make a difference and get involved with recycling.
In Numeracy this term the children will be working on a wide range of strategies, in particular focusing on: place value, the four rules of number, mental calculation strategies, problem solving, money and ‘real life’ problems, making decisions and checking results.
All children will be having weekly times tables test every FRIDAY.
In Literacy, we will be looking at Calligrams, Shape poems, Instruction Texts and after half term - Plays and Dialogues. This will culminate in our class production: ‘A LOAD OF RUBBISH!’ linked to our recycling theme which we will perform on TUESDAY 27th MARCH at 6.30p.m, to which all the family and extended family are warmly invited!
We will also keep focusing on neat presentation and correctly joined handwriting!
Other subjects are as follows:
 P.E. Dance and Gym.
 Art: The work of some famous artists, plant and line drawings.
 D.T: ‘Moving Monsters’
I.C.T: Simulations, digital cameras and microscopes

Homework: This term, the children will be having weekly spelling tests too. These will take place also on a Monday. Please try to practise spellings regularly throughout the week, and putting the word in context/ in a sentence, using the ‘Look, Cover, Write, Say, Check method, rather than on the way to school on a Monday morning!! The children will also be set weekly Numeracy and Literacy homework.  This will still be given out on a Thursday and need to be handed in on the following Monday.  Please encourage your child to tick their name on the homework chart in class to show that their homework is complete.
Creative Homework: This will be linked to our topic of ourselves and our planet.  We would like the children to complete two pieces of creative homework every half term.  The first piece of creative homework will be sent out shortly.
Please can you make sure any homework is also neatly presented, with titles underlined with a ruler etc.
REMINDERS: PLEASE!
** P.E. Kit to be in school every day
** Reading ‘homework’ is ongoing! Please try to read regularly- ‘little and often’ throughout the week.
**Reading Record books to be given in every Monday morning
** Any children who wear glasses- DON’T FORGET THEM!

If you have any queries, do please come and see us.
Kind regards,
Mrs Crisp and Mrs Myles

Class Assemby

Dear parents,
                     Please could your son / daughter bring their “Evacuee costume” to school on Monday 21st November in a named bag or on a coat hanger, ready for our assembly on Wednesday,23rd November at 9.15 am.

On the day, if possible, could the girls have a ‘Forties’ style hair-do and boys a side parting with ‘slicked-down’ hair!

Please could Alice, Toby, Thomas, Samuel, Ben, Harry, Eleanor and Toby bring their gas mask boxes also - and make sure they have an evacuee label attached to their costume. If they have a small ‘old-fashioned’ suitcase, teddy or doll, it would be very helpful if this could come too. Thank you.

Please can children come straight to the classroom on the morning of our assembly, as soon as possible after 8.35 am.

Does anyone have access to an ARP Warden’s helmet, by any chance? If so, please could we borrow it? We need 2! They will be carefully looked after.

If there are any problems, do not hesitate to come and see us,                                   
                   
Many thanks for all your help,

Jackie Crisp and Julie Myles

Stibbington evacuee day

Griffin Class will be visiting Stibbington residential Centre near Peterborough on Friday 11th November to participate in an evacuation day.  The aim of the day is for the children to use role play to empathise with a child evacuated from London in the 1940’s and to understand the feelings and experiences of evacuees.  This experience will give the children an insight into the impact the Second World War had on home and school life in the countryside.  This links in with our current history topic of WW2.

We will be travelling to Stibbington by coach. As part of the experience the children will be dropped off at Nene Valley Railway Station as if they have been evacuated from London by train.  They will then find out information about the homes that they are going to be billeted to.  The children will then walk to the Stibbington centre where they will take part inWW2 themed activities such as completing identity cards, buying rationed souvenirs using old pennies, quizzes, gas mask drill, take part in an air raid practise, general war time lessons and a period style lunch.

It is essential that the children dress in 1940’s costume, carry a gas mask box, make luggage labels and carry a small old style teddy to make this a realistic experience.  This will be set as a creative homework on Thursday 20th October but don’t worry we will give clear instructions to help.  Please can the children wear their costumes on the day of the trip.

The cost to parents of this visit will be £20. This is made up of the cost of the coach (£270 which is £12.85 per head), the cost of Stibbington residential centre (£290 which is £13.80 per head), and a period style lunch provided by Stibbington (£1.50 per head), so the actual total cost per child is £28.15 The difference is being subsidised through donations from the PTFA towards transport costs.
 Please complete and return the attached slip, with payment by Tuesday 8th November (Cheques should be made payable to ‘Great Wilbraham Primary School’). 

Yours sincerely,

Mrs Julie Myles and Mrs Jackie Crisp

"…………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Stibbington Evacuee Day

Name _______________________________

Signature ____________________________                                                                       Date ________________

Please reply by Tuesday 8th November

Ely Cathedral Day

Griffin Class will be visiting Ely Cathedral on Tuesday 11th October to participate in this year’s music and craft festival along with other primary schools in the diocese. 

We will be travelling to Ely by coach. All children will need to wear school uniform and bring a back pack containing a packed lunch (no glass bottles or fizzy drinks please) and a small cushion to sit on (the cathedral floor is cold!).
The cost to parents of this visit will be £5. This is made up of the cost of the coach (£210) and admission to Ely Cathedral (£1.40 per head) so the actual total cost per child is £10.90. The difference is being subsidised through donations from the PTFA towards transport costs.
 Please complete and return the attached slip, with payment by Wednesday 5th October (Cheques should be made payable to ‘Great Wilbraham Primary School’). 

Yours sincerely,

Mrs Julie Myles and Mrs Jackie Crisp

News Letter Autumn 2011

Welcome back to the new school year! We hope you all had an enjoyable and relaxing summer and are ready for the challenges of the new term! Mrs Crisp and Mrs Myles are really looking forward to teaching Griffin Class.

Mrs Crisp will be teaching on Monday and Tuesday and Mrs Myles will be teaching on Wednesday, Thursday    and Friday.

Our Term’s Topics

This first half term our Topic is ‘The Home Front’.
In this topic, we will be learning about what it was like to be a child in World War Two, learning about different war artists including Eric Ravillious; reading and exploring texts based on historical settings, information texts; learning how to keep things hot or cold by investigating insulation and Harvest.

After half term, our Topic will be ‘Performance’
In this topic, we will be learning about electricity and making circuits; authors and letters, shape poetry and calligrams; textile art; making photo frames, Christmas ceremonies and traditions as well as preparing for the Christmas production.

In both terms, reading, spelling, handwriting, maths, music, ICT, Languages, PHSE and PE will be ongoing. 

To further enhance our topic on World War Two, an exciting school trip has been arranged on Friday 11th November to Stibbington Education Centre.  Further details will be given out at a later date, but be warned your child will need to come dressed as an evacuee on that day!

P.E.

Children will need a named PE kit in school all week. This includes appropriate footwear and a hair tie for long hair.  Please ensure that earrings are not worn on PE days. Children will have to remove and take responsibility for their own jewellery.

Homework

Homework is split into two areas – essential weekly homework and creative termly projects.
Weekly homework consists of daily reading and a weekly Literacy and Maths activity. This is set on a Thursday and due in on the following Monday. Reading Records will be checked at the beginning of the week by the class teacher, to monitor your weekly progress. Stickers will be awarded for consistent effort with reading at home.

This half term’s creative homework, which is based on our ‘Home front’ topic, will be sent home after the ‘Meet and Greet’ evening on Monday 12th September.

Belongings

Please can you ensure that your child’s belongings are clearly named, especially jumpers and coats.  This makes it much easier to find or return named items.

Art Overalls

Your child will need an art overall. This can be an apron, Dad’s old shirt, a baggy T-shirt – or anything that is manageable and protects their clothing.

World War Two Artefacts

Do you have any World War Two artefacts or memorabilia that could be displayed in Griffin’s classroom? If so, please bring in to school, but make sure it is named!

Helpers

We would really appreciate any help in the classroom. If you are able to spare any time, especially on a consistent, weekly basis – please come and see us!

A message from Mrs Crisp!

Please come and introduce yourself to me, I am really looking forward to meeting you over the next few weeks - I am very excited to be teaching Griffin class.

On a similar note….

Do come and see us if you have any queries, we are always available and willing to share any concerns. If you require a longer appointment, then these can be booked through the ‘other’ Mrs Crisp at the office.

Dates for your diary

Tuesday 11th October       Ely Cathedral Trip
Friday 11th November       Stibbington Education Centre World War Two trip

Mrs Jackie Crisp and Mrs Julie Myles