15th September 2020
Dear Parents and Carers,
Welcome to Year 5! I hope you have all had a relaxing summer break and your children have settled into the classroom over the last couple of weeks. This letter will provide you with useful information so you and your children can look forward to a successful year.
This year we are using the Class Dojo platform that some of you may already aware of from last year. Thank you if you have already downloaded the app and have signed up to an account. Dojo is a free platform and if you are prompted to ‘subscribe’ to the home version please feel free to ignore the request. I will be open to communicate through the messaging service that the platform provides and will try to answer any messages as soon as I can. I will also be sending out photographs of your children’s work for you to see at home as well as linking ‘Dojo Points’ to our school House Point system. I will also be posting any class news or events on the ‘Class Story’. I hope you enjoy the features that it has to offer.
Class Topic
Our topic this half term will be “World War II”. Pupils will learn about the Second World War in Europe and why the Battle of Britain was such a significant turning point in British History. They will learn about the timeline of events such as the outbreak of the war, the Battle of Britain, the heroic rescue at Dunkirk, the Blitz, the D-Day landings and the celebrations of VE Day. During the topic, pupils will research the lives of the ordinary people who faced the Blitz and had to deal with rationing and evacuation. If you have any personal stories or artefacts that you would like to share with the class then please let me know. I’m looking forward to telling them about the inspiring stories and achievements of significant people such as Anne Frank and Sir Winston Churchill.
Additional Adults:
Mrs Pratt will be in the classroom to help with the reading, Spelling-Quest and many other administrative duties! We will also have Mrs Trott, who the children are familiar with from last year, taking the class for French, R.E and P.E. every Wednesday morning. The children will also have Mr Alexander from Premier Sports to help assist with P.E. every Wednesday morning and Friday afternoon.
P.E. Kit/ Stationery:
P.E. will take place on Wednesday mornings and Friday afternoons.
Please keep P.E. kits in school every day as there may be additional activities where P.E. kits are required. This should be contained in a small bag and should be clearly labelled. I will arrange to send P.E. kits home every half term and holiday break for washing.
As the weather gets colder, children may wish to bring in black or navy tracksuit bottoms and a pair of trainers for outdoor games.
Please ensure that children have tape to cover any ear piercings.
Drinking water:
This is available in class to drink. Please make sure you have a labelled water bottle in school. I will send bottles home every Friday for cleaning. Children have access to their water at any time of the school day.
Personal Journals / Organisers:
This year your children have been given a ‘Personal Organiser’ to help start recording important information. These organisers will replace their old Reading Records. There are sections in the organiser for the children to record their reading at home as well as a section that will contain their Spelling-Quest words to learn. I will collect their organisers in every Thursday to check through.
Ear Piercings / Jewellery / Watches
Children with ear piercings are asked to wear a stud only and not come to school wearing ear-rings. Please do not send children into school wearing any items of jewellery other that ear piercings. The children can wear an analogue watch if they would like to.
Reading:
We have a well-stocked book corner in the classroom, in addition to the many interesting books available from the library. You are more than welcome to bring a book, comic or information text from home to read during our ‘reading for pleasure’ reading times. Please try to remember to have at least 3 entries a week in the organiser to show that the children have read at home.
Homework:
The school homework policy is currently under review and further details of how homework will look this year will follow soon. I do ask that the children read at home as well as learn their Spelling-Quest words. The children are also asked access to Times-Table Rock Stars and check MyMaths accounts to help with number facts.
Healthy snack:
As part of our ‘Healthy Schools Campaign’, we ask that your child’s break time snack includes fruit and vegetable snacks only. Boxes/packets of dried fruit are fine if they are pure and not laden with sugar!
I am sure that the children will settle quickly into Year 5. I will do everything that I can to ensure that your child is happy at school. If you would like to discuss any queries or concerns with me, please don’t hesitate to contact me on Class-Dojo.
Best wishes, David Swindells
