Diary Dates
February
- Tuesday 11th - Year 1 Gardening at Garons
- School Council meeting with Chef David
- Wednesday 12th - Author Visit - Colm Field
- Monday 17th - Friday 21st - Half Term
- Monday 24th - INSET Day
- Tuesday 25th - Year 1 Gardening at Garons
March
- Tuesday 4th - Year 1 Gardening at Garons
- Wednesday 12th - Infant Music Festival
- Year 6 Essex Fire & Rescue visit
April
- Wednesday 2nd - Thursday 3rd - Parents Evening
- Monday 7th - Thursday 17th - Easter Break
- Friday 18th - Good Friday
- Monday 21st - Bank Holiday Monday
- Wednesday 30th & Thursday 1st April Years 3 & 4 Spring Performance
May
- Monday 5th - Bank Holiday Monday
- Monday 12th - Thursday 15th - KS2 SATS Week
- Wednesday 21st - Reception Height & Weight, vision & hearing checks
- Monday 26th - Bank Holiday Monday
- Tuesday 27th - Friday 30th - Half Term
June
- Monday 2nd - INSET Day
- Monday 9th - Friday 13th - Phonics Screening Check
- Wednesday 11th - Class Photos
- Monday 16th - Wednesday 18th - Year 6 Residential
- Monday 23rd - Friday 27th - Year 5 & 6 Swimming Week
July
Wednesday 23rd - Last day of term
Author Visit
We have the fantastic author Colm Field visiting next Wednesday! Check out more information on this link which gives you the option to order his books in advance here
Children that order in advance (via the link) can meet Colm Field or you can join your child after school in our library to purchase and get the books signed too. His stories look super exciting!
Nursery
This week we have enjoyed the stories about ‘Supertato’. We have used potatoes and carrots to make our own superhero's and have also made-up stories about them, which has been amazing fun. We have also enjoyed our ‘Letters and sounds’ time where we have shown lots of listening skills and are enjoying all the activities and the rhymes.
REMINDER: Please remember if your Child is unable to attend their nursery session, please let the school office know.
Reception
This week we have been learning about the numbers 6, 7, and 8. We have been learning to find and represent these numbers, 1 more and 1 less and the composition of these numbers e.g. 5 + 1 = 6.
We have been brushing our teeth in small groups following instructions carefully. Aswell as listening to fun toothbrushing and handwashing songs!
In music we have been learning to tap along repeating patterns using the instruments.
This week we enjoyed helping the teachers to make playdough. If you would like to try this at home, it's a very simple ‘no bake’ recipe.
1 cup of salt, 4 cups of flour, 4tbs oil, 1 ½ cups of water, (food colouring optional).
REMINDER: We have a dental visit next week on 13th February. This will consist of a workshop on oral health and a dental check-up. Please return the permission slip by Monday 10th February.
Year 1
Year 1 have been very busying planting sunflower seeds as part of their science unit this week. We will be keeping a log of progression to see if our seeds start to germinate. How exciting!
In maths we have been subtracting. Remembering to always start with the larger number. In English we have been authors! We have made adaptations to Jack and the Beanstalk and created our own versions. Some children changed the giant from a boy to a girl, others decided he would in in a flat and not a castle and one even changed the plot, so Jack was arrested for ‘stealing’ the coins from the giant!
REMINDER: Shell class will be starting their outdoor learning with Mrs Britton. Your class teacher will advise you as to what day your child will go when it is there turn. Keep an eye out for emails/reminders on ParentPay.
Reading books and reading records must be in school every day. It is a year 1 expectation.
PE kits need to be in school for Thursday.
Year 2
The children have been learning to write a diary entry, looking at past tense –ed suffix to describe what happened in the past. In maths, we are continuing to learn about money and how to make a £1 and also give change. Please give your child an opportunity, when you go to the shops together, to pay for an item in cash. You could ask them how much money they need and how much change they would receive!
Science has been great fun, recalling facts about Charles Macintosh, who invented the rain mack and then completing a fun quiz! The children made a prediction about which items would be waterproof or absorbent. We will test the materials out next week!
REMINDER: Please do not send your child in with lip balm unless your child’s lips are extremely chapped. If your child’s lips are continually chapped and there is no sign of healing then please take them to the doctors.
Year 3
In English we have been looking at different artists and writing about their lives and artwork, ensuring that we write good quality sentences. We have started a new unit in maths about length and perimeter and made sure that we use a ruler accurately. In geography we have been learning about extreme weather and finding out how it affects people around the world. In science we discussed what we found out in last week's experiment. We also discussed the three branches of science (physics, chemistry and biology) and decided where the science we have learned so far fitted into these categories.
REMINDER: There are still a few children who have not yet brought their PE kits into school. We do PE on Tuesday and Friday.
Remember to read at home and practise your times tables using Times Table Rockstars.
Letters sent home this week
Year 4
This week year 4 have been exploring the use of persuasive language comparing the UK and America. We have been writing some detailed sentences to describe the locations using our imagination. In science we have discussed how states of matter can change and why some things cannot change back.
REMINDER: Remember to send in your child’s PE kit ready for Monday/ Wed if they take it home to get it cleaned please!
Letters sent home this week
Year 5
This week year 5 have been working hard in English, looking at instructional writing. We modelled how to create a running stitch, before shared writing a set of instructions for others. In maths, we have been grappling with fractions, decimals and percentages. In PSHE, we have planned an activity that we will complete next week, looking at sustainability and helping the environment in the local community.
REMINDER: Please remember reading books and reading records on Thursdays please, as this is the day they are checked.
Please also ensure your child has a suitable PE kit in school as the weather is cold.
Letters sent home this week
Year 6
In English, we have finished writing our balanced arguments about whether the Ancient Greeks in Athens or Sparta had better lifestyles. They have been very successful because everyone has included lots of argument language eg, Many people believe that, In contrast, On the other hand. In maths, we have started revising our knowledge of decimals to three places (tenths, hundredths and thousandths). We have also completed and looked at some past SATS papers.
In PE, we have continued been playing small hockey matches using the passing skills that we have been improving. In art, we have had great fun planning our own human animation videos. In history we have made Top Trumps cards about Ancient Greek Gods.
REMINDER:
Homework
- Handed out on Thursdays and due on Wednesdays.
- Please encourage your child to ask for help on Friday, Monday or Tuesday lunchtimes.
Reading
- We are very impressed with everyone who is increasing their reading stamina. By now, your child should be aiming to read 15 –20 pages at least 5 times a week.
Letters sent home this week
French
This week, year two have been testing their knowledge of Spring in French; year five have been extending their vocabulary knowledge on the topic of the future; year four have been learning about the months in French.
Music
Future Events
- Southend Makes Music – 6th March (Choir)
- Infant Music Festival – 12th March (Music Making Club)
- Cliffs Pavilion Music festival – 13th June
Music Clubs
- Band – Tuesday 12.00-12.30
- Music Making – Tuesday 3.30-4.15
- Choir – Thursday 3.30-4.15
Instrumental Tuition
- Tuesday am Guitar – Mr Brown
- Wednesday am Guitar – Mr Elliot
- Wednesday am Keyboard – Mr Hockey
- Wednesday am Drums – Mr Peters
Online Safety
While misinformation and ‘fake news’ are well-known concerns online, it's also the case that scammers and other cyber-criminals can try to utilise this phony material to manipulate, frighten or otherwise persuade their victims into cooperating.
With constantly evolving scams and such a high volume of misinformation online, it's vital that parents and educators know how to safeguard the children in their care against these kinds of tactics. Our guide breaks down the most prominent ways in which scammers attempt to use ‘fake news’ to their advantage, as well as how to protect youngsters from being manipulated by such techniques.
Year 1 Outdoor Learning
At Garon Park, Year One children enjoyed outdoor learning with an egg and butterfly game, exploring the butterfly life cycle. They also played Environment Bingo, spotting plants, animals, and other features in the park. These activities helped develop their observation skills and sparked curiosity about nature.
Second Hand Uniform Shop
Our Uniform shop is located within the front reception area of the school and is open Monday-Friday 8.30am - 4.00pm. All items are 50p each (cash only please). We always have a good selection of skirts, trousers, jumpers, tops, dresses and P.E items. Please ask at the office to point you in the right direction.
We always welcome school uniform donations for us to sell at our school uniform shop. Could we please ask that the clothes are in good, clean condition. All items can be dropped off at the school office between 8.30am - 4.00pm. Thank you so much for doing this for the school as it helps our parents out tremendously.
Thank you
Attendance
Pupil Registration Certificates
On Monday individual registration certificates were sent home with all the children across the school. These documents give you a snapshot of what your child’s current attendance figure is and what marks have been recorded in the register to explain any absences.
Our school attendance target is 96%. That target can be achieved when most of the children in the school also have an individual attendance figure of 96% or more. The more children that have on or above target attendance, the closer the whole school comes to meeting our school target.
If you have any queries about this certificate please don’t hesitate to get in contact with the attendance team, who will be more than happy to answer your questions.
“Being here is half the battle won!”
Punctuality week- 2025
Next month we will be having a focus Punctuality Week where we will be encouraging the children to make an extra push to be on time each day. Improving attendance also includes being punctual, as it is just as important to make sure your child is on time for school as well as being in each day. Regular lateness can result in your child missing key parts of the teaching that would support their learning and progress. The number of minutes that are accumulated because of regular lateness have a very negative effect on learning.
So, as a reminder - Our school gates on Lancaster Gardens and on Southchurch Avenue open at 8.40am and close at 8.55am promptly, during this time the class register is taken. Class registers are completed by at 8.55am, so if any children arrive at school after this time, they will need to be registered as being late at the school office.
“When pupils improve their attendance, they improve their academic prospects”
Contact us
If you would like to talk to someone for support or advice on attendance or punctuality, please do not hesitate to contact the Attendance Team and ask to speak to, Mrs S. Wyer, Attendance Administrator or Mrs D Morris Assistant Principal and Senior Leader for Attendance, you can also pop in to the school office to request to speak to one of us face to face, alternatively you call the school or send us an email to attendance@pgps.porticoacademytrust.co.uk we are here and we are always happy to help!
“Being ready for every day and getting in on time is the challenge you set yourself to achieve greatness!”
Weekly Attendance Report
Healthy Schools
Dinner Menu
Week 3
Monday
- Homemade Pepperoni Pizza with Baked Wedges
- Margherita Pizza with Baked Wedges
- Pasta with Tomato & Vegetable Sauce
- Sweetcorn
- Cinnamon Apple Crumble with Custard
Tuesday
- Chicken Biryani with Vegetable Dhal
- Vegan Aubergine & Courgette Tagine with Cous Cous
- Jacket Potato with Baked Beans
- Broccoli & Cauliflower
- Sultana & Oat Cookie
Wednesday
- Slow Roast Beef & Root Vegetables with Gravy
- Vegan Country Vegetable & Bean Pie
- Pasta with Tomato & Vegetable Sauce
- Roast Potatoes, Seasonal Greens & Carrots
- Fruit Jelly
Thursday
- Spiced Beef Paprikash with Spaghetti
- Vegan Vegetable Jambalaya
- Jacket Potato with Salmon or Baked Beans
- Cauliflower & Roasted Carrots
- Lemon Drizzle Cake
Friday
- Fish Fingers, Chips & Ketchup
- Mexican Roasted Vegetable & Bean Quesadilla
- Wholewheat Pasta with Tomato & Vegetable Sauce
- Baked Beans & Peas
- Chocolate & Courgette Rice Krispie Cake
Children's Mental Health Week
3rd - 9th February 2025
Community
NHS - Together with Baby (Essex Parent Infant Mental Health Service)
Together with Baby (Essex Parent Infant Mental Health Service) is a specialist parent and infant mental health service. We help parents better understand their baby’s emotional responses and communications, and strengthen the relationship between them.
Many parents find that they have not bonded with their baby in the way that they had hoped. Some may also have difficult feelings about being a parent. Which can be confusing and uncomfortable. We work with parents and their infants in the first 1001 days of their life, from conception to age two.
Please click on the link below for more information.
Cost of Living Advice
Click here to access cost of living advice from Southend City Council. It contains information on housing support, energy cost advice and benefits and support for those with children.