Caring Curious Courageous

Enabling all children to learn and grow

Dear Families,

It’s a very busy time of year at school, with lots of exciting things happening. Year 1 students dressed as Victorians and experienced what it was like to be a Victorian child at school. Year 3 are preparing for their trip to Buster Farm next week. They will need to wrap up warmly, as they’ll be outdoors learning about life in the Stone Age. Year 4 recently visited the Buddhist Temple in Wimbledon, and Year 6 have been busy learning how to ride their bikes on the road safely. Year 5 enjoyed the Space Dome experience and have also rehearsed and presented their class assemblies to their families. The orchestra has also performed for their families - see below for the link to hear them in action.

In the midst of all this, the children are practising for their upcoming Christmas performances and continuing with the regular curriculum.

A big thank you to those who joined us for the Launching the Anti-Racist Pledge workshop last week. While we were a small group, we had a very thought-provoking discussion, which was incredibly useful.

We would also like to wish those of you who celebrate a very happy Thanksgiving.

I hope you all have a lovely weekend.

Best wishes,

Frances

Frances Bracegirdle

Headteacher - headteacher@vineyard.richmond.sch.uk

Attendance

Well done to all the year groups getting above 96%. The overall school attendance since the beginning of the academic year is 95.97% which is just about at our 96% target but only just!

Punctuality

Many children arrive at school late. Please remember that a few minutes every day really does add up to a large amount of missed learning time.

Frances Bracegirdle - headteacher

Teaching and Learning at The Vineyard

The curriculum overviews for each year group have recently been updated on the school website. You may find these helpful in understanding what your child is learning in school throughout the year, such as science topics, significant people from history, places around the world, PE skills etc. Along with the half-termly learning bulletins and fortnightly newsletters, these overviews are also a great way to guide discussions with your child about their learning at home. The curriculum information could also be used at home to support children with learning about their new topic or subject before the lessons or unit of work. 

Ms Reilly and Mrs Dempster 

Assistant Headteachers for Teaching & Learning

Launching the Anti-Racist Pledge Workshop 

Thank you to all the families that attended our anti-racist workshop last week, where we introduced our anti-racist pledge and shared our racial justice action plan. This workshop was about celebrating diversity and how all families can help us to become more inclusive as a community. We will hold this workshop again for any families that missed last week's and would like to hear more. This will be on Friday 6th December at 2.00pm using this virtual link.

Instrumental lessons

Now is the time to start thinking about whether you would like to continue with instrumental lessons next term.

If you know that you won't be renewing, please check the cancellation policy and act as soon as possible:

• TotallyRAD: email support@totallyradmusic.co.uk 
• Richmond Music Trust: email admin@richmondmusictrust.org.uk
• Vineyard Music Hub: email music@vineyard.richmond.sch.uk

Smartphone Free Childhood (SFC)

If you would like to join The Vineyard SFC what's app group, please scan the QR code. Here is the link to the SFC website for more information.

Keep your eye out for more information about an up and coming family workshop in the New Year. The Vineyard is of the view that if children need to have a phone they should have a very basic brick one rather than a smartphone.  

The Christmas Box Project is open to all families at the Vineyard School

The project delivers a Christmas box filled with supplies for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day, alongside a Boots voucher.

Vineyard families can either:

Donate money to the project or

Email the coordinator Desiree to be a recipient of a box. This information is not shared with the school.

As a school, we are keen to be able to help any of our families facing a disadvantage (financial, emotional, social), and we are aware that the need often comes when it is least expected and in most instances is short term.

We ask that you open up communication with us if you haven’t already by contacting the Headteacher or Pupil Premium Lead. The school may be able to help.

Barnes Children's Literature Festival needs our help to grow!

We have taken part in the literature festival for the last couple of years and the children have enjoyed wonderful workshops there.

They are looking to expand their Primary Schools Programme. Please see here to find out how you can help.