What a scary bunch!

Class 1 is a Reception and Year 1 group this year. The class teacher is Tom Ottewell-Taylor, who is supported by teaching assistants Hilary Walker (Tuesday-Friday) and Sharron Wilde (Monday). Mr Ottewell-Taylor can be contacted directly at drop off and pick up time or by email: TomTaylor@harrowbarrow.cornwall.sch.uk

 Information from the teacher 

Some of us got covered in pumpkin!

Welcome to Harrowbarrow School to our new families and welcome back to our familiar faces!

Our topic for the Autumn term is Cornwall, a rough outline of what this term will consist of is available here. Please note that all plans are subject to change depending on the children’s interests, weather, etc. You can also view a copy of our weekly timetable here (Please note that at this early stage this is something which we are still building up to).

Our show and tell timetable is available to view here, as well as on the cloakroom wall. On their allocated day your child will be welcome to bring in an item from home to show their friends. Alternatively photos can be emailed to me at the above address and I can project these for your child to talk about. Show and tell is a great opportunity for children to develop their speech and self-confidence and self awareness whilst discussing something which they are very interested in.

Some of our pumpkins became cats, or catkins!

It would be great if parents could fill in WOW bricks to celebrate their child’s achievements at home. You would have received these sheets in your child’s book bag during your home visit. Additional sheets can be downloaded here, if you are unable to print any out then please help yourself to the sheets attached to the Wow wall in our cloakroom. You are more than welcome to email me photos, etc. linking to your child’s wow brick at tomtaylor@harrowbarrow.cornwall.sch.uk. The children love to share these wow moments with their peers, the bricks are then attached to the board in our cloakroom for everyone to celebrate.

I will be providing Melissa Meerkat for children to take turns in looking after over the period of a week (Ubercorn has retired after turning very grey). With Melissa Meerkat, I have attached a scrapbook so children can write/draw about their week at home with her, and attach photos, etc. if they would like. I have put up a blank timetable for you to fill in on the right side of the cloakroom wall; this is for the whole year in the hope that Melissa Meerkat will be able to join you on any exciting excursions/events/holidays you already have planned. This is not compulsory but as mentioned during our learning together meeting; this is a great opportunity for your children to share Melissa Meerkat’s adventures with the rest of the class.

We toasted marshmallows to celebrate Bonfire Night.

If your child is in reception they will soon be receiving reading books and work to be completed at home. This will be in the form of short, simple activities related to the week’s phonics learning. These will be stuck into your child’s phonics book (which will go into your child’s book bag) every Friday to be completed by the following Thursday. Your child will also begin to have high frequency word flashcards attached to their book bag.  I hope that you will find the opportunity to share these with your child throughout your daily routines. These words must be learned by sight, Mrs Walker will informally check how your child is getting on with these cards every Thursday/Friday, remove words that your child is confidently recognising and replace with new words. A rough overview of reception children’s phonics learning throughout the year can be viewed here. When your child begins to receive reading books please note that it is the expectation that these are to be read at least 5 times a week. This will give your child the chance to apply their phonics knowledge that they are working on in school. Children in Year 1 will be continuing with home reading, phonics homework and high frequency word flashcards/sheets. They will also soon start receiving weekly number homework.

For those new to the school, here is a quick reminder of the morning routine. The classroom will be open at 8.40am (please do not arrive before this) for children and parents to leave belongings. Book bags and liaison books can be placed in their labelled boxes. Children are to find their name card and attach it to the rocket. Any other belongings can be placed on or under pegs. P.E kits should be left on pegs throughout the week (P.E is  on Wednesdays) and wet weather gear should be left by the back door for Mr Ottewell-Taylor to place in the shed.  Reception children are to then make their way into our outside area. At some point during the next half-term reception children will join the rest of the school in the covered playground when they are ready. Children in Year 1 may choose to stay with their new classmates in our outside area or join the rest of the school in the covered playground.

We went home smelling very smokey!

Please can I also remind parents that all children must be bringing a name labelled water bottle into school. These should be filled with water only, and not fruit juice or squash.  Children are provided with a fruit snack for break time by the school therefore snacks coming in from home are unnecessary. If the weather is sunny please can you ensure your child brings in a sunhat daily. Sunglasses are not appropriate for children in Class 1 as they very often get damaged. High factor sun cream should be applied before coming to school as we are unable to apply it during the school day. Please note that this is essential as children in Class 1 have access to our outside area for the majority of the day. As we get further into Autumn/Winter your child will need a coat in school at all times. Your child is welcome to wear hats, scarves and gloves but they must be able to put them on independently. All sunhats, coats, hats, scarves, gloves, etc. must be labelled with your child’s name. A copy of the letter about uniform you received can be viewed here.

Thank you for your continued support. If you ever wish to speak to me about any questions or concerns you may have please do not hesitate to approach me before or after school. You are also welcome to write any messages to me in your child’s liaison book. Alternatively, I can be contacted at tomtaylor@harrowbarrow.cornwall.sch.uk if necessary.

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