Keep up to date with all the latest news happening in school at the moment.

• Oak and Maple Hampton Court Palace Trip

  Mon 22 Jan 2018 Mrs Osborne and Miss Hunt

  Year 5 and 6 had an excellent day at Hampton Court Palace. It kicked off with a great workshop where they found out about the games and sports the Tudors played. following this, they then had time to explore the palace and its grounds. Some particular highlights were visiting the Royal Chapel, where Jane Seymour's heart is believed to be buried under the altar and looking around the Great Hall. We are sure the children will have lots of stories and new facts to tell you all tonight. Take a look at some of the photos from today to find out more...

  

• New E-Safety Learning for the Whole School Community

  Fri 19 Jan 2018 Ms Rogers

  Like in previous years, in addition to our on-going whole school e-safety learning, Spring 1 is where we have a sustained focus on e-safety. Yesterday, our children, staff and parents had new e-safety training which was led by Harrap IT. Harrap works closely with our school to ensure our school IT systems work effectively and safely.

  Mr Andrew Woods used to teach Secondary IT and joined Harrap to assist with topics such as those discussed at the meeting. Everyone involved were made aware of how great using IT can be but we just need to be aware of the risks too. Lots of top tips were shared so that we can keep safe on line. I think everyone can safely say they learned lots of new things through the sessions.

  Here are some of the key messages:

  • When you pop a photo on the web, you can not take it away.
  • Taking Selfies - can be damaging for self esteem... 10 likes are never enough!!!
  • We teach about stranger danger and road safety - we have a duty to teach our children about e-safety too.
  • Keep your passwords private
  • Cyber bullying - screenshot it and keep it as evidence.
  • There are some really good parental control apps which are free.
  • Are you 'sharenting' - are you having valuable conversations with your children about e-safety so they feel safe to come to you when things go wrong?
  • Growing up online is as normal as TV was to us!!
  • The internet was not designed for children however they are its biggest user!
  • Are bedrooms a safe place
  • Charging of phones to be down stairs
  • Keep phones downstairs
  • Just because they say they are the same age as you they probably are not

  Any further information you require please do go onto our online safety page hwer there are lots of useful websites or ask a member of staff at school.

   

  

• African Drumming begins at GBP!

  Thu 18 Jan 2018 Ms Rogers
  Our Y3 children experienced their first drumming lessons this week and wow, they really enjoyed it... and half of the school heard them too!!!!  Ha ha! The HMS teacher was playing lots of rhythm games with them and the children did a lot of call and respond activities too so they could get used to what the drums can do. We are very much looking forward to seeing how the children develop over the next 9 weeks before they share their learning with their parents/carers.

  

• Kiddie Konga

  Fri 12 Jan 2018 Ms Rogers

  Our Year 1 children are certainly being put through their paces on a Friday morning when they do a Kiddie Konga  work out to music. The children are definitely getting their heart rates going but they are also developing a stronger sense of rhythm too.

  This 5 week course has been a real success in previous years and from the children's reactions so far - we are pleased that we have made this a part of the children's Y1 PE curriculum.

  

• Happy New Year Everyone

  Mon 08 Jan 2018 Ms Rogers

  Happy New Year Everyone,

  It was lovely to see you all this morning and the children have already settled back into school routines very well.

  Let's hope that this continues throughout the week. Lots of great activities planned for this half term and the children are very much looking forward to their new topics.

• Christmas Card Recycling 2018

  Fri 05 Jan 2018 Miss Lyddon

   

   

  For the last 20 years the Woodland Trust has collected Christmas cards for recycling with collection points at various retailers across the UK, most recently with collection boxes in branches of Marks and Spencer.

  However they have decided that they are not going to run their recycling scheme in 2018, having changed the way that they work with Marks and Spencer's, who are allowing customers with Sparks cards to donate the Woodland Trust via that scheme.

  So what can you to with your Christmas cards when you take them down on Twelth Night in 2018?

  Where You Can Recycle Your Christmas Cards in January 2018

  The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) have taken up the mantle of Christmas card recycling and will be collecting your Christmas cards for recycling with collecting boxes in branches of Sainsbury's.

  They will also be collecting used wrapping paper and defunct fairy lights as well.

  But you will have to act quickly - the collecting boxes will only be available from Boxing Day until 8 January 2018.

  How You Can Save More Trees This Christmas

  They are also urging us to buy cards made from FSC labelled Christmas cards.

  Many retailers sell cards with the FSC label, good places to look are with FSC licensed retailers, such as Sainsbury's, Marks and Spencer's, Morrison's, The Woodland Trust and The National Trust.

  If you are not able to take your cards to a branch of Sainsbury's you can still recycle them by putting them in your household recycling collection. However you should not place cards that have glitter or embellishments such as bows, jewels, ribbons etc. Either remove these from the cards before recycling or place those cards in your domestic waste.

  Here are some other ideas for recycling old Christmas Cards and some charities which collect used postage stamps to raise money.