We are now full steam ahead with our Christmas rehearsals and it is lovely to see our children engaged and happy as we learn new lyrics, explore characters and prepare for performing in front of an audience. This will be a big event for many of our pupils and it always brings about feelings of uncertainty or anxiety. But we are proud of their efforts, and we know the rehearsals are just as important as the performance.

We will endeavour to send song lyrics home for both respective year groups and also some YouTube links so you can practise when you have some time.

Our own Gems Christmas event is underway, and we are very excited to have our families coming to visit us on the 18th December to share in some carols and festivities. We hope as many of you can join us as possible. Y1 had a fantastic trip to St. Matthias church and enjoyed listening to the Vicar and exploring the beautiful setting.

Y1 pupils also had fun joining in with the Victorian classroom. This was an enriching, immersive experience and something very different for our pupils to partake in and enjoy. We have never seen the Year 1 teachers be so strict!

We are all continuing to work hard with our set one and two phonics. We are also increasing the amount of practical maths skills that pupils can work with and focusing on pupils' understanding of “one more” and “one less”. These maths sessions will hopefully have an impact on our learning when we access the local shops on Wednesdays.

Have a relaxing weekend.

All the Gems team.

    

   

Please email srp@vineyard.richmond.sch.uk with any queries and the Gems team will be happy to help.

 

Attention bucket makes up a large part of our timetable. Pupils have progressed and responded positively to the many stages of this process. It is a fairly easy process and something you could do at home should you be interested. 

https://www.kidztz.com/attention-bucket/

Please continue Phonics work at home if you can. There is no expectation to know all phonics. All pupils are on a journey, and we want them to work at the pace that suits them. 

We also recommend “reading for pleasure” as much as possible. If stories are too difficult, even just looking at the pictures and seeing what their attention is drawn to, is great for developing concentration and awareness.

We will continue to send home differentiated reading packs. Again, this is just for confidence building.

We find that LittleBig Foxes, Number Blocks and RWI songs on their websites are a great source of fun and education. 

 

Key messages​​​​​​​

• If are late in the morning and we have gone to OT, please bring your child to the main office and someone will help you from there.

• Reading Records will be sent home weekly. Please read with your child even if the text is too difficult. Looking at the pictures and exposing them to language will always be beneficial.

• Please practise writing and saying the Set 1 sounds at home, using the phonics website by Ruth Miskin to help you. 

        Y1 pupils will move on to set 2 and 3 sounds but at a pace that works for them.

• Would families please be so kind as to donate some general cooking supplies to help with our Thursday sessions. e.g., flour, oil, eggs, butter, lifelong milk, cupcake cases. This is not compulsory. Donations welcome.

• Drop off time is 8.40. Pick up time for Gems pupils is 3.05. Please try to be prompt so we can maximise the time we have to set up for the next day’s learning.

• Please ensure that you have notified the school if you are going to be late. Gems registers MUST be completed by 8.50.