Issue 3 Autumn 2017 Termly St Mary s Catholic Primary School Love God Love Others Love Ourselves As Christmas time is nearly upon us again this year, we have the Jesse Tree displayed outside the office. Traditions of the Jesse Tree: The Jesse Tree is used during Advent to show and to tell the story of the Bible up until the birth of Christ. The Advent Wreath and Advent Calendar help us count down the days until Christmas. The season of Advent begins on the Sunday that is four weeks before Christmas Day. Advent means coming in Latin. During Advent we are preparing and waiting for the coming of our Saviour, Lord Jesus Christ. 1
AINSLIE WOOD NEWS Issue 3 Autumn 2017 Termly Religious Education Our RE Themes this term have been: Church Community (Family):Under the Church Community theme the children will look at God s love and care for every family, that God is at every beginning and that He knows and loves every one of us. Baptism/Confirmation (Belonging): Under Baptism/Confirmation the children will learn that baptism is a welcome into God s family and explore the signs, symbols and promises made at Baptism. Year 1, Year 2, Year 4, Year 5 and Year 6 have each led a Friday whole school assembly with many of the parents taking the opportunity to come along for a school lunch on that day. I know parents enjoy this opportunity and these lunches make the children s assembly day even more special. Advent/Christmas (Loving): Under the Advent/Christmas theme the children will be looking forward to Jesus birthday and learn that Advent is a time to prepare and look forward to Christmas and that it is a period of waiting in joyful hope for Jesus. Collective Worship Our prayer services this term have centred round the theme of Advent. Reception and Year 1 shared their understanding of the different parts of the Advent wreath & how we can get our hearts ready for Christmas during Advent. Year 2 and Year 3 looked at Longing for Light in the Darkness. They thought about places and people in our world who are torn apart by conflict or held captive by poverty hunger and isolation. Their song, Christ be our light, reminded them of the importance of Jesus coming to be a light to the world at Christmas. 2
Issue 3 Autumn 2017 Termly Proposed Clubs For the Spring Term Mondays Multi Sports (Y5&Y6) (Elms) Construction Club Tuesdays NEW Yoga Club (before school) P r i d Tennis Club (Y5 & Y6) (Elms) Art Club (KS1) Wednesdays Karate Club (All year groups - before school) French Club (KS2) Lunchtime French Club (Y1) Lunchtime French Club (Y2) Helen O Grady Drama Academy Art Club (KS2) Music Tuition Music Tuition continues to be provided by the Borough s Music Service. Lessons take place during the school day and where possible over the lunchtime period. Tuesdays: Thursdays: Thursdays Karate Club (All year groups before school) Little Goals (Y1, Y2 & Y3) Choir Fridays Flipstars (Before school) Football Club (Y5 & Y6) NEW Yoga Club We are very pleased to welcome a new Yoga Club into school for the Spring Term All these clubs are due to commence week beginning 8 th January 2018. Music lessons are very popular this year with lots of children participating. We were very lucky to see a short performance from the guitar children this term.
AINSLIE WOOD NEWS Issue #3 Autumn 2017 Termly Events Isle of Wight The Autumn term is always marked by the Year 6 Residential to Little Canada the PGL activity Centre on the Isle of Wight. St Mary s have been visiting this Centre for a number of years and the trip never fails to live up to expectations and 2017 was no different. Peter Pan - Kenneth Moore Theatre Our annual whole school trip to the Pantomime took place on 8 th December and was a big success. Peter Pan captivated the children from Reception to Year 6. This year it was Mr McHugh s turn to be the centre of attention and he even went up on stage! School Football Team Tournament This term the year 6 boys went to Chingford goals and played a 6 aside tournament. The boys did the school proud and won their group with 5 teams in it. The team progressed into the semi final stages out of 30 teams. All 12 players listened to instructions, passed the ball well, scored lots of goals and played with a smile on their faces. Thank you to Mr Hughes for coaching the team and attending the tournament. Year 3 and Year 4 Rugby Festival Organised by year 10 at Chingford Foundation School, our Rugby team participated in rotation of Rugby skills from tag teams to line throwing skills. Taking part, listening to instructions by year 10, St Mary s played with enthusiasm and passion being presented with a participation certificate and an award for the best Primary participating with passion. It was a well organised event and enjoyed by children and staff alike.
Issue #3 Autumn 2017 Termy ermly Events Year 1 Trip to Gunpowder Mill BCCS Christmas Concert The Year 1s went on a trip to the Royal Gunpowder Mills to go with their Autumn History theme of The Gunpowder Plot. This was not, as many of them feared, to see how explosive gunpowder can be. The children enjoyed the humorous show which explained the story behind Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder plot, and were thrilled to be asked to help out on stage as props! They learnt all about games that children played in the 1600s, the (not so pleasant) foods that people ate and how people lives 400 hundred years ago much to their disbelief! They were creative when making their lanterns, fashioned just as the one Guy Fawkes used, and challenged themselves to write with their own handmade quills. It was a successful educational and fun outing for our Year 1 class. Year 6 represented the school at the BCCS Christmas Concert at Brentwood Cathedral. They worked hard in school to learn the songs and, following an afternoon rehearsal with other schools, they put on a combined concert which was enjoyed by their families and friends. Mr Andrew Wright, Brentwood Cathedral s musical director, described their singing as clear and exquisite. Well done Year 6! 5 Christmas Tree Festival This year, our Reception Class made decorations for a tree at the Christmas Tree Festival in the Methodist Church in Station Road. The church was filled with real trees decorated by church members and local organisations. The trees all looked beautiful and raised money for a local charity.
Issue 3 Autumn 2017 Termly Christmas Performances Infant Nativity Our EYFS/KS1 Christmas Nativity took place in the barn in Bethlehem and was told from the view of the animals who lived in it. The animals were very surprised to find a baby in their barn but as the story unfolded their excitement and understanding grew and they were able to proudly announce Jesus was born in OUR barn. Our reception children where amazing as they took to the stage for the first time in school and Year 2 were brilliant as they told the story for us. Our Year 1 class played an important role in introducing the animals and are to be commended for how beautifully they sang during the performances. They all enjoyed learning the songs and it was lovely to hear the children still singing them as they go around school. It was the perfect introduction to this very special season and we were all really pleased that everyone enjoyed it so much. Junior Perform KS2 have worked incredibly hard over the past few weeks in preparation for their Nativity performance, Rejoice! A Son Is Born. The Children in Year 6 spent time auditioning for parts and the whole of KS2 tried hard in all of their singing practices. The singing was phenomenal, the soloists were incredibly brave and confident, the dancing was enthusiastic and ultimately the children really enjoyed it. As a team we genuinely couldn t have been prouder of all the children achieved, the atmosphere was electric and the performance was enjoyed by all. Well done KS2!
Issue 3 Autumn 2017 Termly Information COMMUNITY Friends of St Mary s Every parent is automatically enrolled as a Friend when their child starts school at St Mary s. All proceeds raised from the Friends of St Mary s Association goes directly to benefit your children at school. Without your support this cannot happen. Please try to make a commitment to attend at least two events over the course of a year. The Committee would welcome any offers of help or ideas. On behalf of the school community I would like to say an extra special thank you to the Friends committee for the very hard work they put into these events planning and preparing behind the scenes to ensure every success. Communication Please remember to keep the school office updated with your latest mobile number and email addresses. It is your responsibility to inform the school when this information changes, otherwise you will not receive important information, flyers and telephone calls. Children Late to School If your child is late to school, please can you bring them into the school office. Although parents no longer sign their child in to school, parents still need to make sure that their child is marked as arrived. SCHOOL MONEY The school office is now cashless and we are pleased to see all parents using school money for payments and consent. All uniform and replacement badges are now available to purchase in the shop on school money. Once purchased, these items will be distributed to your child over the next few days. Parent assembly lunches are also in the shop. Please make sure all lunches are purchased the day before the assembly at the latest, as dinner numbers need to be given to the kitchen. If your child normally has a pack lunch and would like a school dinner on that day, please notify the office. Please can you make sure that dinner money is topped up in advance for your child. School dinners are current 2.35 a day. The default weekly top up of 11.75 is pre set on school money, although this figure can be changed if you prefer to pay for the month/half term. Should you encounter any difficulty, please contact the school office for assistance. School money is now used to obtain consent. Please click on the consent button on your screen and consent for that trip/activity. This will allow you to bypass paying the 1p. Please remember that we are unable to take your child on a trip if consent is not given.
Issue 3 Autumn 2017 Termly Information FORGOTTEN ITEMS Please can you try to remember all the things that your child needs for the day. Although the school office is very understanding, it is very time consuming delivering book bags/trainers etc, that have been left at home. Thank you for your consideration School Uniform Can I remind parents when buying school uniform to bear in mind that Black Coats are NOT part of the school uniform. Coats should be either navy blue or brown. Please also bear in mind, that the FOSM have regular uniform sales. If you have any uniform that your child has grown out of, please can you hand it into the school office for resale. Thank you. Loving Father, Help us remember The birth of Jesus That we may share in The song of the angels The gladness of the shepherds And the worship of the wise men. Close the door of hate and Open the door of love all over the world. Let kindness come with every gift and good desires with every greeting. Deliver us from evil by the blessing which Christ brings, and teach us to be merry with clear Hearts. May the Christmas morning make us happy to be Thy Children, and the Christmas evening bring us to our beds with grateful thoughts, forgiving and forgiven For Jesus sake Amen SCHOOL WILL RE-OPEN FOR THE SPRING TERM ON THURSDAY 4 TH JANUARY 2018 May I wish you all a peaceful and joyful Christmas with your families Philomena Egan December 2017