Dear Parents,
Two weeks into the Summer Term and the children are now enjoying visits into the local community. This week sees all classes actively engaged in educational activities spanning across all aspects of the curriculum. Following the bank holiday, on Tuesday Year 1 children were out and about in Danbury developing their mapping skills, whilst the afternoon saw Year 2 and Year 5 children in Chelmsford, where music and art were the focus of attention. Both Mrs Carn and Mrs Dines came back to school singing the praises of the childen for both their behaviour as well as their manners, this was also commented upon by several passers by who enjoyed seeing happy and well presented children with excellent manners. Today it is the turn of Year 3, 4, 5 and 6 to visit Sandford Mill for science investigations. What a wonderful time they will have. Sandford Mill is a fantastic educational resource that allows children to explore hands on science on a large scale, thereby adding great reinforcement to our work covered in school. Mrs Hobbs and Year 5 will also be seen at the churchyard this afternoon viewing inscriptions on gravestones as part of their literacy work. I wonder whether they will come across some Latin that can be translated. PreSchool and Kindergarten children will also seen in Danbury today on their McMillian walk. Events planned for Thursday include Year 1 continuing to develop their mapping skills around Danbury, whilst Year 4 will be conducting a river study in South Woodham Ferrers. In the afternoon the whole school will be treated to a Falconry display which will be held on the top playground.The study of birds forming part of our science studies. The children are particularly excited about this visit and haven’t stopped talking about it all week, I just hope that the weather stays good for us. The week finishes on Friday with Year 5 on a team building exercise in the morning and the Heathcote Sports Tournament in the afternoon. A great way to complete an invigorating week of activity and learning opportunity.
Over the following two weeks the children in Year 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 will be focussing on applying their knowledge to the summer term assessments, subjects being assessed are English, Mathematics, Science, French, Geography and History. These assessments will take place during subject lesson time, thus enabling us to maintain the school curriculum timetable. Individual subject staff will be talking to their classes about assessment times. Year 6 will complete their SATs papers during the second half of the summer term.
This takes us through to half term where Mrs Cerikci has organised another holiday club with more new and exciting ideas and adventures. I know that she has already had a number of requests for places but they may be limited so book early to save disappointment.
The week following half term I will be leading a party of year 5 and 6 children when we take a five day visit to The Isle Of Wight. Here we stay at a PGL Camp participating in a range of activities spanning across outdoor pursuits, ICT, and Field Studies. Accompanying us on this trip will be Mrs Collins and Mrs Rae. Mrs. Collins and I have a wealth of experience of taking groups of children on these field study weeks and we extremely value the experiences that they gain from being away from home for five days.
As an exercise for younger children to experience being away from home over night, Mrs Hobbs and Mr. Sadikali will once again be taking Year 4 children to Danbury Outdoor Centre in June, where the children will have the opportunity to experience new and exciting challenges.
Sport always plays a big part in the summer term and this year is no different, with the ISA athletics event at Garons Park, Southend on Friday 12th June and of course Sports Day on Friday 3rd July. We will also be competing at the Chelmsford Primary Schools Swimming Gala at the Riverside, Chelmsford , on Saturday 6th June where we will be defending last year’s victory. In addition to this our 6 a side cricket team will be participating in the Maldon Cricket Club Tournament for Primary Schools and our rounders team will also be in action this term.
Bringing subjects to life is so important in education and to this end some of our children have school visits this term to places of social and cultural interest. These visits have a specific place in the children’s learning development. Year 2 and Year 6 will also have a series of visits from The Body Care Roadshow Team, who will be focussing on understanding how our bodies work and how to keep them in tip top condition. Year 6 children are now starting to consider their end of year science projects which this year we have combined with an ICT package to present their findings. Mr. Sadikali and I are looking forward to assessing the children’s work and we hope to be able to put them on display at Open Day.
On a lighter note we all looking forward to our whole school visit to “Bewilderwood” on Friday 19th June, it should be a fantastic day out.
As I hope that you are aware, your support is always valued at school and your Parents Association would really appreciate help of any kind. You may have specific skill areas or you may be able to offer your time which can be extremely valuable. The more people involved the stronger the Parents Association becomes. Why not give it a try, it gives you a real opportunity to meet with other parents and feel a greater part of the Heathcote Team. The next Parents Association coffee morning is Wednesday 13th May 9.00’ ish in the small hall. Hope to see you there.
Ken. Gladwin
