Welcome to our October Newsletter: the first half term has been wonderful in school with lots of fabulous events and learning. The children have all be taking part in our 'Global Warriors' topic and have learnt a lot - they've been teaching me some very interesting facts too! I wish you all a lovely half term and we look forward to seeing all the children back on November 3rd.
In this issue:
Harvest Collection
A huge thank you to everyone for the amazing donations for our Harvest Collection. The People's Kitchen were blown away by your generosity.
The children learnt some lovely songs to celebrate this event and our Year 4 children taught the rest of the school about the meaning of Harvest and importance of helping others. Reception also entertained everyone with their wonderful singing.
The School Grounds
Children are welcome to use the yard and sensory garden when they are waiting to come into school in the morning, but you should remain supervising your child at all times. Staff are not responsible for your children until they come into school and no child should be left in the yard without an adult. Children are not able to use the field or bushes to play in at this time. Please also ensure they do not play with any of the learning equipment which may have been set up, especially in Early Years and Year 1. At the end of the day, please ensure the children leave school quickly - we must secure the school site promptly for those children who remain in school at clubs.
Please can I also remind everyone that children should not be riding scooters or bikes on the school yard. There are at least six hundred children and adults on the yard at pick up and drop off and it is unsafe at these busy times to be on a scooter or bike. Can all adults ensure children push bikes and scooters when they are entering the school gates. This includes pre-school children who may be coming to collect older siblings.
School Trips
Over the half term, many of our year groups have attended school trips or had visitors into school. Following these opportunities we have had lots of comments praising our children for their wonderful manners, respect and positive attitude. These lovely comments have come from other professionals working with them, and members of the public who might have seen our school children out and about. Well done Regent Farm; you are fabulous ambassadors for our school and set a wonderful example to others.
Christmas Jumper Day and Decorations Day
On Tuesday 16th December we are having a Christmas Jumper and Decorations Day. We would love it if children can come into school wearing something festive for a £1 donation for charity. The children will be taking part in Christmas craft activities and we will be opening the doors for parents to join in the glittery fun and help your children make some fabulous decorations! We hope you will wear your festive jumpers too!
To try to keep numbers in classrooms manageable for everyone, we will be splitting the session by surname. If your child's surname starts with the letters A to K we would like to invite you to come along between 9:00 and 10am. If your child's surname starts with L to Z please attend between 2:00 and 3:00pm.
We need to limit numbers to one adult per child. If you have more than one child in school you can either bring two adults, one with each child, or split your time between their classrooms. (Please do not attend twice, this is not fair on the other children, or parents.)
We hope that by running the sessions straight after drop off and just before pick up, it will make it easier for families. If you are really struggling with your allocated slot please speak to your child's class teacher and we will do our best to accommodate you. We do have to be mindful of numbers in each classroom though so please bear with us if you ask for changes to be made. If you request a change to be made with one teacher, we will also apply this change to any siblings in school.
Christmas Fayre
We have started planning for our Christmas Fayre which will take place after school on Wednesday 10th December and we really need your help with a few things.
- We will be holding a non-uniform day on Friday 5th December to collect any donations for our bottle tombola; this can be any bottle shaped item! (Please ensure they are unopened and in date.)
- We really need your help to gather raffle prizes; if you have any contacts who may be able to donate an item or voucher, please let us know.
- If you can donate any cakes for the bake sale we would be very grateful. These just need to come into school on the morning of the fayre.
- Finally, if you are able to help on the day running a stall, please let the office know.
Illness and School Absence
If your child is unwell and not able to attend school please telephone the office and leave a message on the answer phone before 9am so we can record their absence correctly.
Please leave the following information in your message:
- Your child’s name
- His/her class
- Reason for absence (please do not just say illness)
We understand that there are times when it can be tricky to decide whether you keep your child off school if they appear unwell. We encourage children to come to school whenever possible, and fully appreciate there are times they may feel a little under the weather, for example with a cold. Please be reassured that if your child deteriorates in the day, and we feel they are too unwell to remain in school, we will contact you. We have also attached a summary guide about the most common childhood illnesses, this will give you further information about whether your child can attend school or should remain at home.
Messages
- We will be selling Poppies (and other remembrance merchandise) in the school office between 3rd and 11th November, we hope you will support this very worthwhile charity. The children are welcome to wear these items in school.
- We have noticed an increasing number of children arriving into school late. Please remember the gates shut at 8:45am. As you are all aware the government have made changes to attendance rules. If your child has 10 sessions of unauthorised absence in 10 weeks that means you could be fined by the Local Authority. This includes children arriving late after the register closes; the 10 sessions do not need to be on consecutive days for a fine to be applied.
- All clubs continue next half term, children do not need to reapply. Clubs finish in the penultimate week of term; there will be no clubs in the last week other than Bumblebees which runs until 5:45pm on Thursday 18th December.
Curriculum Information - Early Years
Early Years have made a wonderful start to the year with everyone settling into their classrooms and new routines. Lots of new friends have been made and a lot of fun has been had. Everyone is ready for a nice half term holiday and a big rest before we get ready to learn even more when we return.
The Nursery children have been busy learning all about life in school. They are becoming very independent and learning all of the different parts of the school day. Dough disco is a favourite part of the day and in Squiggle whilst you Wiggle the children are already onto the second movement. Nursery's books have all been traditional fairytales this half term and there has been lots of huffing and puffing, fe-fi-fo-fuming and even some trip-trapping over bridges! The children have been involved in solving lots of problems along the way including things like trapping the witch from Hansel and Gretel or milking the cow from Jack and the Beanstalk. Three has been the number of the half term - with goats, pigs and bears all appearing in the stories and there has been plenty of measuring (beanstalks) and comparing sizes (bowls, chairs and beds) The "baddies" of the books have definitely been the stars of the show. With trolls, big bad wolves and grumpy giants to deal with, the children have been very busy making sure everyone can get to live "happily ever after".
In Reception the children have become superheroes this half term, thinking very carefully about what it takes to become "super". They quickly realised that real life heroes live among us every day and were so eager to meet all types of heroes including firefighters, police officers, nurses, doctors, dentists and supermarket workers. The children have learnt that superheroes have fears just like the rest of us and explored their own fears and ways we could help each other overcome them. They also explored their own super powers and how this makes them unique and special. The books for this half term have centred around fictional superheroes such as Eliot Jones the midnight superhero who tamed escaped lions and helped bring a stranded ship back to shore. A visit from the RNLI coastguard was a real highlight and helped bring the story to life. In maths the children have been focusing on subitising numbers - seeing a quantity without needing to count it (for example on dice) and also the skills of counting collections such as lining the objects up and touching them as we count. Everyone agrees that Reception really have made a SUPER start to the year and are already HEROES after all of their hard work this half term!
Curriculum Information - Key Stage 1
Year 1 have had a fantastic start to the school year, diving into a wide range of subjects including Science, Geography, Art, and R.E. The children have settled beautifully into their new routines and continue to impress all the adults with the incredible progress they’ve made in reading and sentence writing.
In line with our whole-school theme, this half term has focused on the small steps we can take to make big changes for our planet. Year 1 have explored important environmental topics such as the effects of plastic pollution in our oceans, the impact of deforestation for palm oil, and creative ways to repurpose items we no longer need. This learning came to life during our inspiring Environment Day, where Year 1 took action to improve the environment at Regent Farm. After surveying the school grounds and bins, the children knew something had to be done. They created informative posters, designed reusable bags, and even took part in litter picking on the school field. A small group of children also joined the Friends of Wansbeck Road to help plant and weed in the local area, making it bright and beautiful for everyone to enjoy. Mrs Moore even came to thank all the children for their amazing efforts!
We are so proud of Year 1 for their enthusiasm, teamwork, and dedication to protecting our planet. Keep up the brilliant work—you’re making a real difference!
Year 2 began the term with the story The Unexpected Visitor, which explored the effects of overfishing on marine life. In Science, the children have been learning about animals and their survival needs, deepening their understanding of the importance of protecting food sources and habitats. A highlight was their exciting trip to Northumberland Zoo, where the children met a wide range of animals and asked some truly brilliant questions about how they live and thrive. In Art, creativity has flourished as they explored different styles, including the vibrant patterns of Aboriginal art, known for its colourful dots and lines. Bringing everything together, the children created stunning collages featuring Aboriginal-style animals which was an inspiring blend of their Science and Art learning.
Curriculum Information - Key Stage 2
Year 3 have explored the enquiry question 'Is it too late to save our oceans?’ The children have been particularly interested in how and why plastic is so damaging to our oceans. They used debating to discuss whether shops should stop selling plastic bags. The children were shocked to discover that turtles confuse plastic bags for jelly fish, and that it takes 250 years for a plastic bag to decompose. They wrote letters to a local supermarket to try and persuade them to stop selling plastic bags completely. They also visited St Mary's Lighthouse to discuss how we can help our local wildlife. The children learnt about the impact that plastic pollution has on our local wildlife and what we can do to decrease this impact. The children were also involved in a rock pooling workshop where they learnt all about the animals found in British rock pools. Year 3 showed great curiosity and asked lots of questions in both these workshops.
This half term, Year 4 have been diving into the big enquiry question: "How can our actions affect the planet?" The children have been passionately exploring the topic of endangered species, uncovering the many reasons animals like tigers and leopards are at risk. In English, they became persuasive writers, crafting heartfelt letters to parents to encourage adopting endangered animals — a wonderful way to make a real-world impact! In Geography, they’ve been weather watchers and climate detectives! The children have investigated the difference between climate and weather, explored natural and human causes of climate change, and had some brilliant discussions about how we can all help protect our planet. Their ideas and enthusiasm have been inspiring!
In Science, they have been learning all about living things — and it’s been a wild adventure! From bug hunting around the school grounds, to welcoming the incredible Crazy Creatures team, the children have had hands-on experiences with a variety of animals. They were thrilled to meet everything from soft, fluffy chinchillas to a real python snake 🐍 — a truly unforgettable experience that brought our learning to life!
Dates for Next Half Term
- Monday 3rd November - School reopens to pupils
- Wednesday 5th November - Storyteller visiting Nursery
- Wednesday 5th November - Wonderdome visiting Reception
- Friday 7th November - Flu Immunisation
- w/c Monday 10th November - Parents’ Evening Appointments and Anti-Bullying Week
- Monday 10th November - M&M Theatre Production of Sleeping Beauty
- Wednesday 12th November - Children’s Photographer in School
- Friday 14th November - Children in Need Children can come to school in Children in Need merchandise or get spotacular and wear spots!
- Friday 28th November - Author visit from Philip Kavvadias
- w/c Monday 8th December - Whole School Christmas Book Week
- w/c Monday 8th December - Christmas Book Fayre
- Tuesday 9th December - Reception and Year 1 Christmas Performance 9:15am – show for parents from Miss Blanden’s Class (each child is able to bring a maximum of 2 adults)
- Tuesday 9th December - Reception and Year 1 Christmas Performance 2:30pm – show for parents from Miss Beale’s Class (each child is able to bring a maximum of 2 adults)
- Wednesday 10th December - Christmas Fayre 3:30pm
- Thursday 11th December - Reception and Year 1 Christmas Performance 9:15am – show for parents from Mrs Sisk’s Class (each child is able to bring a maximum of 2 adults)
- Thursday 11th December - Reception and Year 1 Christmas Performance 2:30pm – show for parents from Miss Drury’s Class (each child is able to bring a maximum of 2 adults)
- Friday 12th December - Year 2 Carols around the tree 2:45pm (each child is able to bring a maximum of 2 adults)
- Monday 15th December - Year 3 Carols around the tree 2:45pm (each child is able to bring a maximum of 2 adults)
- Tuesday 16th December - Christmas Jumper Day and Decorations Day and Christmas Lunch
- Wednesday 17th December - Year 4 Carols around the tree 9:00am (each child is able to bring a maximum of 2 adults) - this has changed from the previously advertised date.
- Wednesday 17th December - Nursery Mini Christmas Show 2:45pm (each child is able to bring a maximum of 2 adults)
- Thursday 18th December - Whole School Rock Band Performance
- Friday 19th December - Christmas Movie Day and children break up for Christmas at 3.15pm
Monday 5th January 2025 School reopens to Pupils
If you need any further information about the detail of this newsletter, please don't hesitate to contact the school office.