16.12.22

Dear Parents/Carers

Happy Friday everyone!

This week, in Year 5 and 6, we have been in a very festive mood!

We have been making Christmas decorations, watching the KS1 performance, enjoyed Christmas dinner day on Wednesday and today, we watched an online pantomime performance of Jack and The Beanstalk.  

The children spent this afternoon visiting Santa in his grotto and did a bit of Christmas shopping.  

Next week, we say a sad farewell to Miss Haste, who has been working in Sapphire Class this term.  We would like to say a huge thank you to her for all her hard work and dedication to the class and wish her lots of luck and happiness in her future career as a teacher.  

She would like to share this message with you.

Hello everyone!

Just a message from me to say a massive thank you to all of the children and parents for making me feel extremely welcome at Down Hall for the term! I have absolutely loved being in the school and making lots of memories throughout my first term training. It has been amazing to be in a school that I will remember for the rest of my career. I’m sure I’ll be back at some point in the year to say hello to everyone again, but for now, it's been a pleasure to teach you all, and I wish you all the best for this next year at school!

Miss Haste

Have a lovely weekend

Miss Sharman, Mrs Devlin, Mrs Witherall and Miss Haste

09.12.22

Dear Parents/Carers

Happy Friday!

This week, our Youth Sport Board took part in their first Zoom meeting with Mr Bish from Deanes.  He explained that they would be taking part in some training sessions at Deanes next term and how their input will be valuable to the School Sports Partnership.

The children are extremely enthusiastic to work alongside Mr Bish and children from other local schools to develop the events provided through the SSP.

A message from Mrs Yuille about Christmas Jumper Day!

All the children looked amazing in their Christmas Jumpers today and we have raised money that will continue to sponsor Thoko and her local community in Malawi. We thought you might like to hear what Thoko wrote in her most recent letter to us. She writes:

Dear Down Hall

I am learning in Standard 4. I go to school everyday. I always work hard in classes and my end of term results are always good. When I finish school I want to be a nurse. Very soon we will start harvesting crops. Greetings to you!

Thoko

A local representative who oversees Action Aid's money also adds:

Dear Supporter

One of the problems in Primary Schools is the shortage of desks. As a way of addressing the issue, we bought desks and shared them with two Primary Schools in the Kalowe Zone. This initiative has helped increase the number of children who have access to sit at a desk. Thank you for your support which has really promoted education in the area.

It's amazing to think that from such a small act on our behalf, we can make such a big difference for the young people who live such a long way away but share our right to an education. Thank you all so much!

Don't forget......

Next week, we have our Christmas dinner on Wednesday and Christmas Bazaar on Friday.  Lots going on as Christmas fast approaches.

No homework this week as the children have been taking part in assessments.

Have a lovely weekend.

Miss Sharman, Mrs Devlin and Mrs Witherall

 

02.12.22

Dear Parents/Carer

Happy Friday!

This week, children in Ruby and Topaz completed their Bikeability course.  Well done to everyone across all three classes who took part.  Badges and certificates will be awareded soon.

There have been lots of sporting events this week.  Children have taken part in football, dodgeball and high 5 netball.  We are, as always, extremely proud of how our children conduct themselves at matches and tournaments and are delighted with how well they represent the school.  Well done everyone.

Children also received their flu immunisations this week.  If your child missed their immunisation, we would encourage you to get them booked in with your local health care provider.

Next week.......

Brrrrr!  According to the Year 5/6 weather expert (Mrs Devlin) the weather is likely to turn even colder next week.  Please ensure that your child brings a jumper/cardigan and a warm coat for playtimes and lunchtimes.  Scarves, gloves and hats are also encouraged.

CHRISTMAS JUMPER DAY - A message from Mrs Yuille

Our Christmas Jumper Day is Friday 9th December.  On this day, the children can wear their fabulous festive jumpers and make a £1 donation which goes to our continued sponsorship of Thoko.  The charity Action Aid use this money to ensure that Thoko and the other children in her community enjoy their right to an education, just like all of us at Down Hall!  

Homework has been uploaded to Google Classroom.

Have a lovely weekend.

Miss Sharman, Mrs Devlin and Mrs Witherall

25.11.22

Dear Parents/Carers

Happy Friday folks!

A huge thank you goes out to all parents who braved the rain and allowed their children to attend the big switch on of the Rayleigh Lights last night.  The children sang beautifully and, once again, did you and the school proud.  Thanks also goes to the teachers who gave up their lunch times for the past few weeks to help the children rehearse.

Thank you for supporting our PTA with their non-uniform day today with your kind donations.

YEAR 6 MATHS HOMEWORK

Year 6 have brought home new homework books this week.  These will replace the CGP books, which now need to be returned to school.  We will begin using them next week (so no maths homework for Year 6 this weekend).  

They contain a range of questions in the style of the ones they will face in their SATs tests in May.  We are confident that these books will be excellent when revising for the tests, nearer the time of taking them.

BIKEABILITY

This week, Sapphire and some children from Topaz took part in a Bikeability course.  Next week, children from Ruby and the rest of those from Topaz who signed up, will complete their sessions.

Bikes can be left at school overnight during the week of the course.  Helmets must be worn and coats are essential.  Girls may bring leggings or jogging trousers to change into if they usually wear a skirt to school.  All children need sensible shoes such as trainers please.

FLU IMMUNISATIONS

Next Tuesday, children will receive their flu immunisations in school.

MOVIE NIGHT

On Wednesday, the PTA will be hosting a KS2 movie evening.  Please see the PTA section of the school website for details.

Homework pages have been uploaded to Google Classroom.

Have a lovely weekend

Miss Sharman, Mrs Devlin and Mrs Witherall

18.11.22

 Dear Parents/Carers

Happpy Friday folks!

I forgot to add this to last week's blog.

On Thursday 10th November, some of our Year 6 children were invited to take part in a very special VIP table event at lunchtime.

Since the start of the school year, some of our children have been volunteering to help our Midday Supervisors at lunchtimes, supporting the Early Years children to get used to our lunchtime routine.

As a thank you, the Midday Supervisors and the Early Years children hosted a lunchtime party for all of the children who helped.  They made thank you cards, gave little gifts of toy puzzles and set a rather fancy table!

YOUTH SPORT BOARD

Congratulations to Ollie, Lexie, Amelie, Violet, Darcie, Tim, Zeni, Isabelle and Isla, who were all selected by Mr Bish from Deanes to be part of the Youth Sport Board this year.  Their first virtual meeting will take place in December.  I am sure they are all looking forward to having some input into the kids of sporting events Deanes will look to provide in the future.

THE DEANES COMMUNITY BIKE LOAN SCHEME

Through the work of the School Sport Partnership in partnership with schools across Castle Point and Rochford, The Deanes is pleased to be able to offer a bike loan scheme for families.

We will be offering a ‘free of charge’ bike loan scheme with a stock of bikes securely and safely stored at the cycle hub within The Deanes Sports Centre.

In stock, there will be adult bikes and a range of sizes for junior bikes.

Bookings must be made through the scheme coordinator (Ellie Turner-Powell) on email

deanesfamilycycle@yahoo.com

Families will be able to borrow bikes to enjoy recreational riding for adults and children via bike collection/return on either a Monday or Thursday between 4.30-5.30pm. It will be possible to borrow the bikes for a maximum of 7 days.

We will also provide bike accessories as required including: helmets, bike locks and boot racks all free of charge but a fee will be payable if any of these are lost/not returned).

PYJAMA DAY FOR CHILDREN IN NEED!

Today, we all came to school dressed in our pyjamas to raise money for Children In Need.  Thank you for your kind and generous donations.  Please see next week's newsletter to find out how much money was raised for such a worthy cause.

BIKEABILITY

Don't forget that Bikeability starts next week for some of the children in Year 6.  If your child has signed up for the course, they will need to bring their bikes into school from Monday.  Please take some time this weekend making sure that they are roadworthy.

Children need to wear sensible footwear (trainers will be fine) and girls can bring a pair of jogging trousers or leggings to change into if they usually wear skirts to school.  Please also remember a helmet.

Homework pages have been uploaded to Google Classroom.

Have a lovely weekend.

Miss Sharman, Mrs Devlin and Mrs Witherall

11.11.22

Dear Parents/Carers

Happy Friday everyone!

This morning, children took part in a Remembrance Day assembly.  We were fortunate enough to have Mrs Morgan join us for this event to play The Last Post on her bugle. 

The children showed great respect to the theme of the assembly and we thank Ollie from Sapphire Class for his wonderful reading of the poem In Flanders Fields.

Next Friday is Children In Need.

We will be supporting this by coming to school wearing our pyjamas.  Children are permitted to come into class in pyjamas and sensible footwear such as trainers (no slippers, flip flops or sliders please).  Please also consider the weather on that day, as they will still need coats for break and lunchtime.

Tag Ruby

Next Wednesday, some of the Year 5 and 6 children will be taking part in a Tag Rugby tournament against other local schools.  If your child has been selected for the team, please make sure that their permission letter is returned to Miss Sharman as soon as possible.

Bikeability

If your child is in Year 6 and has returned their form to take part in Bikeability, they will be bringing home a letter with their training dates on today.

Please make sure that their bikes are in good working order, with tyres pumped up and brakes which have been checked.  If the trainers feel that the children's bikes are not roadworthy or that the children are not competent enough riders, they will not be allowed to take the course.

Girls may bring leggings or jogging trousers to change into on Bikeability days and all children will need to bring/wear suitable footwear.

Homework has been uploaded to Google Classroom.  Please remind your child to bring their homework books into school by Wednesday.  

Have a lovely weekend.

Miss Sharman, Mrs Devlin and Mrs Witherall

01.11.21

Dear Parents and Carers

It was lovely to welcome the children back for the second half of the Autumn Term this week.  We hope that you all had a restful break.

Thank you to everyone who returned Christmas card designs.  If you placed an order online, it will be delivered in time for the end of term and will be given to you child when it arrives in school.

If you still need to return the yellow data sheets which were sent home, could you please do so as soon as possible, so that the office can update their records.

If your child is in Year 6 and brought home a Bikeability letter and would like to take the course, please return it to Miss Sharman.  The first group will take the course at the end of November.  Another letter will be given to the children with more details soon.  

Have a lovely weekend.

Miss Sharman, Mrs Devlin and Mrs Witherall.