Three weeks until Easter and we are pleased to say that everyone is full of the joys of spring in Gems. It is a good time to be starting on our new books which will see us through to the end of term. The Day The Crayons Quit is a beautiful story that helps our Y1 pupils learn about feelings, letter writing and compromise.

In YR, That’s My Flower will prepare pupils to understand sharing, nature and the act of friendship. We look forward to exploring both these books over the next few weeks. 

Y1 are also getting very excited about their trip to London Zoo on 28th March. What an amazing day this will be! We hope the sun shines for all of Y1.

On the same day, YR will make another trip to Little Bears café in Hampton.

I wanted to highlight how well all our Gems pupils have been doing in PE. They are really focused and hardworking and we are so impressed with how they are following instructions and coping with a busy lesson.

We continue to work with all mainstream classes to prepare our Y1 children for the phonics screening. There is no pressure with any of this and pupils work at the level that is appropriate for them.

All the Gems team.

Please email jrigby@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 you 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.