Dear Parents and Carers,
It has been another great week at Hamstel infants, with lots of great work happening inside and outside of our classrooms along with some fabulous fun events and lots of opportunities for you as parents and carers to come into school.
On Tuesday, we held our Nursery curriculum days for parents, where lots of information was shared about the plans for this year’s Nursery children. While on Wednesday, Miss Goodman led our fabulous Year 2 maths workshops for parents and children to work together to solve some maths problems involving crocodiles!
Thank you so much to everybody who came along to support these events. It means a great deal to have your support!
Friday was a fun-filled day as we had a visit from the author Stephanie Taylor, who came to lead an assembly all about books, stories and writing for our KS1 children. Over in Nursery….children were seen walking the plank, digging for treasure and setting sail for desert islands as they took part in our pirate themed day. The children all looked amazing and had a great time!
Just a polite request to all parents/carers to please park respectfully around the school at drop off and collection times as we have had several complaints from local residents. Thank you for your consideration to our wider school community.
Don’t forget that in just two-weeks’ time we will be visited by the brilliant Happy’s circus. Tickets are still on sale via ParentPay or the school office but please get in quickly to avoid disappointment as we are about to hand some tickets out to our partner trust schools. If you are part of any organisations or charities who may be interested in a discounted group ticket, please contact the school for details ASAP.
Apologies to those classes affected by our swimming pool closures this week. The good news is that the pool is back in action next week.
Next week, it’s also our Multi-cultural week and Harvest festival. Please see the letter that came out this week for more details.
It is hard to believe that we are already 3 weeks into this term. Have a fantastic weekend and we look forward to welcoming you back on Monday morning
Scott Roche
Celebration Assembly - Caring.
This weeks value has been 'Caring', below are highlights from around the classes.
Nursery
This week we have been reading the story ‘Sunk’ and looking at the environments in the story. In Maths we have been looking at different patterns such as spots, stripes, zig zags etc.
We have also been naming different facial features.
Thank you for supporting our Pirate Dress up day the children looked fantastic and had great fun!
We had activities such as walking the plank, looking for treasure in the sand and making Pirate hats.
Outdoor Learning
Friday - Please bring your child in suitable clothing for the weather (not uniform) Could you also bring in wellies if you haven’t already. As the weather is changing please ensure that your child has a coat everyday. Thanks
Letter home this week
Rainbow & Starlight
Rainbow
This week in Rainbow Room the children have been learning about the “Three Little Pigs,” they made some lovely houses, and the pig's face out of paper plates using different materials and media to create different textures. The children are enjoying adult-led activities, such as numbers, letters (letter families), shapes, and colour activities, they have been playing matching games and experimenting with the iPad. The children are enjoying Attention Autism (Bucket Time), building focus and anticipation with every instrument taken from the bucket.
Starlight
This week in Starlight the children have been looking at the story book “Our House” and have been learning to describe pictures and label a house. In maths the children have been learning to find ways to make number bonds to 10. The children have produced some fantastic Dinosaur Suncatchers. It has been good to see the children learning to take turns when playing a game and how to deal with not winning.
Reception Year
This week we have been reading the book ‘I’m Growing’. We have been learning about the human life cycle and how we change from a baby to an adult. We loved bringing in our baby photographs and using full sentences to talk about how we have changed. We have been learning to identify and name our facial features. In handwriting we have been learning to write circles, learning to start at 1 o’clock and moving in an anticlockwise direction. In Maths we have been learning to subitise to 3 (know how many there are without counting) and represent quantities on our fingers in different ways.
How to help at home:
RWI
This week the children have learnt to say and read the following sound: t, i, n, p, g
Please click on the links below to access the virtual classroom videos for these sounds.
Reading
- Spend time reading stories to your child.
- Encourage your child to share their school reading book with you.
- Encourage them to talk about the pictures using full sentences.
Handwriting
- Encourage your children to draw circles, remembering to start at 1 o’clock and move in an anticlockwise direction.
- Continue to practise the RWInc letters learnt so far.
Reception Phonics Workshop and Watch a phonics lesson: Tuesday 26th September at 9am
Outdoor Learning:
- Owl: Monday
- Peacock: Tuesday
- Woodpecker: Wednesday
- Kingfisher: Thursday
Letter home this week
Year One
This week we have been learning about our different houses and homes. We have learnt to describe our homes during literacy and have been looking at the book ‘This is our house' by Micheal Rosen.
In Maths we have been working with number bonds and solving word problems. During science lessons we have learnt about our body and our 5 senses.
Letters home this week
Year Two
It’s been another busy week in Year 2! We have thoroughly enjoyed welcoming Year 2 adults to join us for our Maths workshops, we hope you enjoyed having an insight into how we teach Number in Year 2 and spending time with the children carrying out some activities. Thank you as well to everyone who took part in our mini ‘raffle’ to win a Maths basket.
The children have enjoyed Outdoor Learning this week even with the weather being very changeable! All the classes have explored the artist Andrew Goldsworthy, who produces natural artwork. The children looked at some of his ground art and then created some of their own using a variety of natural resources such as pine cones, sticks and shells.
In Literacy we have been making ‘shrinking potions’ and then wrote some instructions to tell someone else how to make one. In Maths the children have started our unit on addition and have been adding a single digit to a 2-digit number, we have been exploring this concept practically and learning how to show this through a pictorial representation.
Letters home this week
Diary Dates
September
- Monday 25th - Multicultural week (food tasting in class for children)
- Tuesday 26th - Phonics workshop 9am
- Friday 29th - Rev Goodliff leading KS1 Harvest Assembly
- Extended open door 3pm
October
- Monday 2nd - Black History Month
- Tuesday 3rd - Year 1 RWInc phonics meeting - 9am
- Year 2 Hyde Hall visit - Hedgehog & Otter Classes
- Wednesday 4th - Year 2 Hyde Hall visit - Fox & Squirrel Classes
- Friday 6th - Flu Immunisation Team in school for Reception Year, Year 1 & Year 2
- Monday 9th - 4.15pm - 8pm Happy's Circus
- Tuesday 10th - 4.15pm - 8pm Happy's Circus
- Wednesday 11th - Nite Owl visit Year 2
- Parent Council Meeting - more information to follow
- Thursday 19th - Handwriting workshop 9am - Kingfisher & Owl
- 2.30pm - Woodpecker & Peacock
- Friday 20th - INSET DAY
- Monday 23rd - Friday 27th - October Half Term
- Monday 30th - Year 1 Outdoor learning week at The Hive
November
- Friday 3rd - Non Uniform Day
- Monday 6th - Year 2 Library visit Fox & Otter
- Tuesday 7th - Year 2 Library visit Squirrel & Hedgehog
- Wednesday 8th - Year 2 Reading Rocks Day
- Friday 10th - Share a book Open Door 3pm
- Remembrance event
- Monday 13th - Odd Sock Day
- Tuesday 14th - Phonics workshop -
- 9am - Woodpecker & Peacock
- 2.30pm - Kingfisher & Owl
- Wednesday 15th - Year 1 Maths workshop
- Friday 17th - Children in Need
- Monday 27th - Friday 1st - Reception walk to the postbox
- Wednesday 29th - KS1 Christmas Fair
- Thursday 30th - EYFS Christmas Fair
December
- Wednesday 6th - Reception Nativity 9am
- Thursday 7th - Reception Nativity 9am
- Friday 8th - Christmas Jumper Day
- Wednesday 13th - Nursery Christmas Production 9am
- Year 2 Christingle
- Thursday 14th - Nursery Christmas Production 9am
- Year 2 Christingle
- Friday 15th - Year 1 Christmas Crafts
- 9am - Newt & Heron
- 2.30pm - Duck & Daragonfly
Dinner menu
Week 2
Monday - Beef Burger in a Bun with Baked Jacket Wedges - Vegetable Burger in a Bun with Baked Jacket Wedges - Wholewheat Pasta with Arrabiatta Sauce - Cheese Sandwich - Ham Salad Wrap - Carrot Sticks - Lemon Drizzle Sponge
Tuesday - Beef Lasagne - Vegetable Fajita Wrap - Jacket Potato with Cheese - Egg Mayonnaise Sandwich - Cheese Salad Wrap - Sweetcorn - Flapjack
Wednesday - Honey Roast Gammon with Roast Potatoes & Gravy - Ratatouille Pasta Bake - Jacket Potato with Baked Beans - Cheese & Tomato Bloomer - Ham Sandwich - Pan Fried Leeks - Orange Shortbread Biscuit
Thursday - Chicken Tikka Masala & Rice - Vegetable Pasanda with Rice - Pasta with Tomato & Vegetable Sauce - Cheese Sandwich - Chicken Mayonnaise Baguette - Broccoli - Apple Crumble with Custard
Friday - Breaded Fish Fingers - Spiced Squash & Spinach Samosa - Pasta with Cheese Sauce - Egg Mayonnaise Sandwich - Ham Salad Baguette - Chips & Baked Beans - Apple Cake
Freshly Baked Bread: Tomato & Herb Bread or Wholemeal Bread
Messages from the Office
FLU IMMUNISATION – Friday 6th October
The local EPUT Flu Immunisation team will be visiting school on Friday 6th October and offering consented children the flu nasal spray.
Flu can make children very ill. Remember to give consent and keep your child protected.
The consent forms for this year’s school flu session have been sent home please check your child's school bag for the paper consent form. Please complete and return the consent form as soon as possible.
If we do not receive a completed consent form before the day of the session your child will not be able to be included.
A copy of the NHS letter which will come home with your child is available here and a video with information about the flu immunisation is available at the link below.
UNIFORM REMINDER: If your child wears earrings, please ensure that during school time these are stud earrings, hooped earrings can pose an accident risk.
We follow the Local Authority Health and Safety advice regarding the wearing of earrings during PE and Swimming. We would prefer that children have earrings removed before coming to school on their PE and Swimming days. If they are worn children will have to remove their own earrings and place them in a small named container. After the physical activity, including swimming, they must be able to replace their own earrings.
Thank you for supporting us in keeping your child safe.
Reporting Parking Issues
Issues with parking near schools can be a source of concern for parents, carers and local residents. We often receive comments regarding safety and inconsiderate parking. This really should not be happening, we are all responsible for our actions and we ask everyone to be considerate when driving and parking near to school and to respect our neighbours too.
If you could support us with this issue please contact https://www.southend.gov.uk/report-parking-roads-problem to raise any issues or concerns around parking. As a school we have no jurisdiction over the highways and paths, it is more powerful for our community to contact Southend City Council to support us.
HAPPY'S CIRCUS - DON'T MISS YOUR CHANCE TO SEE A (BIG) TOP PROFESSIONAL TOURING CIRCUS
Outdoor Learning
Week commencing 25th September - Reception & Nursery
- Monday 25th - Owl Class
- Tuesday 26th - Peacock Class
- Wednesday 27th - Woodpecker Class
- Thursday 28th - Kingfisher Class
- Friday 29th - Nursery
Swimming
- Tuesday - Heron, Squirrel, Rainbow & Starlight Classes
- Wednesday - Newt & Hedgehog Classes
- Thursday - Dragonfly & Otter Classes
- Friday - Duck & Fox Classes
PE Days
Rainbow
- Friday
Nursery
- Thursday
- Friday
Reception
- Monday - Woodpecker
- Tuesday - Peacock
- Wednesday - Kingfisher
- Thursday - Owl
Year 1
- Monday - Duck
- Tuesday - Dragonfly
- Wednesday - Heron
- Thursday - Newt
Year 2
- Tuesday - Otter Class
- Wednesday - Fox Class
- Thursday - Squirrel Class
- Friday - Hedgehog Class
Attendance
Weekly Attendance Award
Reception Year: Kingfisher Class - 97.3%
Overall Reception Year attendance for the week 95.2%
Year 1: Dragonfly Class - 99%
Overall Year 1 attendance for the week 96.7%
Year 2: Squirrel Class - 97.3%
Overall Year 2 attendance for the week 95.1%
Whole School: 95.7%
If your child is going to be absent from school please contact the school office by 9am and leave a message on our answerphone or via ParentPay giving your child's name, class and specific reason for their absence.
Any planned absence for example medical appointments should be advised to the school office with a copy of the confirmation letter or text being provided. For other absence i.e weddings, holidays etc then a Leave of Absence Request form should be completed in advance. Copies of this can be obtained from the school office.
Clubs
Premier Education Clubs
Clubs for after the Summer holidays are available to book now using their website at this link www.premier-education.com Please see the flyer for details of clubs and how to book.
Open to children in Year 1 & Year 2 for the Autumn Term.
For before school clubs run by Premier Education drop-off is in our Infant School Hall. Enter through the Poynings Avenue gate and walk across the playground. The register will be taken by the club coach and once the club is finished children will be taken to their classrooms. Please arrive promptly.
For clubs after school run by Premier Education collection is from the Infant School Hall. Enter through the Poynings Avenue gate and walk across the playground. Children will have been escorted to the club by school staff for the start.
Collection time for all Premier Education after school clubs is 4.15pm. Premier Education staff will telephone parents/carers of any uncollected children after 5 minutes. Any child not collected after 10 minutes will be escorted to Hamstel Infant School & Nursery After School Club and a fee of £7.00 will be charged.
If you are unavoidably delayed please telephone the school emergency telephone number on 07526 079300 to speak with a staff member of our After School Club.
Bricks4Kidz Club has returned for new sessions in September, club will be held in our Welcome classroom. Collection for this club is from the Reception Learning Garden (No mow) outside Woodpecker Class.
Collection time for the club is 4.15pm. Any child not collected after 10 minutes will be escorted to Hamstel Infant School & Nursery After School Club and a fee of £7.00 will be charged.
If you are unavoidably delayed please telephone the school emergency telephone number on 07526 079300 to speak with a staff member of our After School Club.