Hello R2 Families!

Mrs B and I have loved getting to know your little people this week! It has been a busy week, getting routines and expectations established, forging friendships and exploring all the exciting opportunities to play and learn. 

This week we have been celebrating the fact that we all the same but different and unique. We have shared lovely books that have encouraged discussion around what makes us special. We have been enjoying looking at our lovely faces in the mirror, talking about our facial features and creating self-portraits with correctly chosen colours. We all participated in Dough Disco too! This helps us to exercise our little hands. We also exercised our bodies in Gymnastics with the coaches. They had a wonderful first PE lesson. At home, please let your child practise putting their own socks and shoes on to help them to be independent.

On Monday we will take our first member of R2 from the picking pot to be our celebrated Medal Winner.  We will also begin to participate in Time to Talk time each morning and share a thought provoking photograph to generate discussion, questions and to develop the skill of answering who, what, why, why, when, how questions. We will also introduce our whole school word of the week. Ask your child after school what it is and try to bring the word into daily home life. 

Next week we will begin to talk about and find out about our families. The Chatterbags are gradually being shared. When your child brings theirs home you know that they have shared it in class. The children are being super patient waiting for their turn. 

On Friday everyone brought home their own reading folder. Please take the time to read all of the guidance provided in your child's yellow home/school reading record. This will clarify what home reading is all about. Importantly, please indicate that you have read in the children's yellow book. If there is no note then I will assume that their books haven't been read yet and I will not therefore need to change their books for new ones. If you have any questions or queries around home reading then please don't hesitate to chat to me on the playground at the start or end of the day.

Well done to the children for being brave and having their flu vaccination on Friday 

There will be a Meet the Teacher meeting in the R2 classroom with myself on 24th September after school. Please attend, even if you have had children come through reception before. I'll give you guidance around phonics, reading, writing, early maths and what a day in R2 looks like. 

Lunch times are going well. This is a big step and I'm proud of how they are settling into this part of the day. I will always talk to you if I am concerned that your child isn't eating an adequate amount and Mrs B and I are with the children as they eat, as they settle into lunch times.

It would be helpful if you would email me to let me know that you are attending. My email is adelecook@victoriaparkinf.co.uk 

A Few Gentle Reminders

• Green book bags and reading folders need to be brought to school every day.
• Your child needs a fresh bottle of water in school every day NO JUICE PLEASE
• PLEASE PUT NAMES INTO YOUR CHILD'S JUMPERS/CARDIGANS, WATER BOTTLES, COATS.
• If your child wears earrings then, to keep them safe, please make sure that their earrings are removed on their PE days, which are Tuesdays and Fridays. 
• Thank you for the family, baby, toddler, current photos that you have sent in or emailed to me so far. If you haven't yet given me your child's photos please get them to me asap as we will be using them as part of our learning. Thank you.

Have a really lovely weekend!

Mrs Cook x