RS
Dear Parents/Carers,
Online Learning for Reception / Year 1
Happy New Year to you all and welcome back to a slightly different term to what we were expecting! Let’s hope that all the children can return to full time school as soon as possible.
This letter is to outline how we are hoping to manage online learning and contact with your children over the next two weeks in Reception and Year 1. It will be different across the school.
By 8.45am each day we will set some tasks/activities/work for the children to complete at home during the course of the day. This will be set on Google Classroom and your child’s logins will be sent via email, if they haven’t already. Please let us know if you have any trouble logging in. The activities will be in line with what we will be doing in school with the children who are attending.
We will organise one, short ‘meet’ per day with your child, as part of a small group. This might be a phonics activity, story or group discussion with the children. You will be given a time for your child’s ‘meet’. This time is for us to interact with the children only – if parents have any questions, queries or concerns, please can you email us separately.
The first contact tomorrow will be to say hello and talk to the children about the Christmas holidays; this will give us the opportunity to iron out any technical issues moving forward and for everyone to get used to the format. As you will be aware, the youngest children are the most difficult for us to engage with in this way and we will adapt as we go depending on what suits individual children and their circumstances best. We appreciate that it may not be possible for everyone to login at the given time; please contact us if your child is unable to join their ‘meet’. Please be aware that we are teaching children in school also, so may not be able to answer emails immediately but we will get back to you as soon as practically possible.
Children are being taught on Google Classroom across the school so please bear with us if we have technical issues.
You may be asked for a class code when you login on Google Classroom
The code for RJ is paaoxoz
The code for RS is dzvz4j3
The code for 1O is lsftzpo
The code for 1S is kqymmpe
Thank you for your support and do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.
Mrs James – claire.james@buckhursthill.essex.sch.uk
Mrs Stephens – angela.stephens@buckhursthill.essex.sch.uk
Mrs Ovel – annette.ovel@buckhursthill.essex.sch.uk
Mr Stuckey – francis.stuckey@buckhursthill.essex.sch.uk
The Welcome Song
Mary and Joseph’s Song
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
The Shepherds Song
The Kings Song
Another song about The Kings
The Innkeepers Song
Baby Sleeping
Jesus is Born!
Merry Christmas Everyone
Last but not least.....
Tuesday 15th December
Dear Parents/Carers,
Firstly, a big thank you to everyone for your cards, presents and good wishes for Christmas. We would also like to thank you for your support this term; we have enjoyed getting to know the children and look forward to seeing them continue to flourish in the New Year.
Show and Tell
After the Christmas break, please can the children talk about their holiday news. They can bring in a drawing or photo, if they would like (please do not bring in any Christmas toys).
PE Kits
Please can the children continue to wear PE kit to school on a Monday and Tuesday, until further notice.
Christmas Party – Wednesday 16th December
We will have a little Christmas party in Reception tomorrow, with a surprise visitor! The children will be able to come in a party outfit but it must be suitable for school, including the playground, in all weathers. We also ask that children do not wear fancy dress. We will provide party food for the children.
School finishes – 1.45pm on Friday 18th December for Reception children.
The finishing times for children are staggered to aid social distancing around the school grounds.
Dates for your diary
Friday 18th December – Last day of term – 1.45pm finish
Monday 4th January – Back to school
Have a lovely, relaxing break and we will see you in 2021! Stay safe and well,
Mrs James Mrs Stephens
Welcome to our Reception Nativity. We have had a few problems uploading the songs, but will now add a song each day until we break up. We hope you enjoy them.
Remember, please do not share the videos on social media. Thank you.
Reception Nativity
Tuesday 1st December
Dear Parents/Carers,
Show and Tell
We will be putting our Christmas trees up in the classroom this week. For ‘Show and Tell’ next week we would like the children to bring in a Christmas decoration to add to the tree. They can make a decoration, buy one or bring a spare one from home. Please do not send in anything precious and make sure that it is named so that we can return them at the end of term.
Start and Finish Times
Please can we remind everyone that Reception children start school at 9.00am and finish at 3.05pm. If they have a sibling who begins earlier, they may be brought to the classroom at the earlier time but only if they have a sibling.
Our phonics session begins straight after morning registration so it is also important that children are not late to school.
Children with older siblings can be collected at the same time, but the younger child should be collected first and no later than 3.15pm. Children without a sibling should always be collected at 3.05pm.
Currently we have children waiting for collection until 3.25pm.
PE Kits
Please can children continue to wear PE kit to school on both a Monday and Tuesday until the end of this term. Please don’t worry if they are not wearing regulation navy PE kit, as long as they are wearing something warm and suitable.
Tuesday 15th December – Christmas Dinner / Christmas Jumper Day
Children can wear a Christmas jumper with non-uniform and will be having their Christmas school dinner.
Christmas Party – Wednesday 16th December
We will have a little Christmas party in Reception on this date, with a surprise visitor! The children will be able to come in a party outfit but it must be suitable for school, including the playground, in all weathers. We also ask that children do not wear fancy dress. We will provide party food for the children.
PTA Grand Prize Draw
You will find raffle tickets in your child’s bag. Please ask if you would like some more.
Dates for your diary
Thursday 10th December – Flu immunisations
Tuesday 15th December – Christmas Dinner / Christmas Jumper Day
Friday 18th December – Last day of term – 2.00pm finish
Monday 4th January – Back to school
Thank you,
Mrs James Mrs Stephens
Tuesday 24th November
Dear Parents/Carers,
Show and Tell
Thank you very much for all of the lovely ‘Incy Wincy Spider’ ‘Show and Tells’; the children are really enjoying sharing them with their class friends.
Next week our rhyme will be ‘Hey Diddle Diddle’. For ‘Show and Tell’, please can your child learn the rhyme (if they don’t already know it) and bring in, create or draw something relating to it.
PE Kits
Please remember that children should wear PE kit to school on both a Monday and Tuesday. Please don’t worry if they are not wearing regulation navy PE kit, as long as they are wearing something warm and suitable.
Inset Day – Friday 27th November
This Friday is an inset day; children do not come to school on this day.
Class WhatsApp
We have been asked to put the link for the RS Class WhatsApp here in case any more parents wish to join.
This is the link:
https://chat.whatsapp.com/GqW9y7zfza0GiCAbGYsD7W
The class WhatsApps are a great way for parents to communicate with each other, particularly during this time of social distancing, but please be mindful of comments regarding individual children and ensure that your class teacher is your first port of call regarding school matters. Please see the school policy on the website in relation to this.
Dates for your diary
Friday 27th November - Inset Day
Thursday 10th December – Flu immunisations
Tuesday 15th December – Christmas Dinner / Christmas Jumper Day
Friday 18th December – Last day of term
Monday 4th January – Back to school
Thank you,
Mrs James Mrs Stephens
Tuesday 17th November
Dear Parents/Carers,
Show and Tell
Next week our rhyme will be ‘Incy Wincy Spider’. For ‘Show and Tell’, please can your child learn the rhyme (if they don’t already know it) and make, create, draw or paint a spider to share with the class.
PE Kits
Please remember that children should wear PE kit to school on both a Monday and Tuesday through November. Please don’t worry if they are not wearing regulation navy PE kit, as long as they are wearing something warm and suitable.
Inset Day – Friday 27th November
Next Friday is an inset day; children do not come to school on this day.
Christmas
As previously mentioned, we will not be having our usual Nativity show but we will endeavour to share a Christmas celebration with you this term via the school website. We will keep you informed.
PTA Virtual Christmas Market – Monday 23rd November until Friday 18th December (Market Day – Saturday 28th November)
Please watch out for notifications from the PTA regarding this event and contact them if you would like a stall.
Dates for your diary
Friday 27th November - Inset Day
Thursday 10th December – Flu immunisations
Tuesday 15th December – Christmas Dinner / Christmas Jumper Day
Friday 18th December – Last day of term
Monday 4th January – Back to school
Thank you,
Mrs James Mrs Stephens
Tuesday 10th November
Dear Parents/Carers,
Show and Tell
Next week our rhyme will be ‘Old Mother Hubbard’. For ‘Show and Tell’, please can your child learn the rhyme (if they don’t already know it) and make a shopping list of food that they would like to fill Old Mother Hubbard’s cupboard with. They can draw pictures or attempt to write the food words.
Last Call - PTA Matchbox Challenge
Please return any matchboxes by tomorrow, thank you.
Children in Need Day – Friday 13th November
Children can wear non-uniform on Friday, in exchange for £1 or any donation to the Children in Need appeal.
PE Kits
Throughout November, we are having both of our PE sessions with Coach Liam, so please can the children wear PE kit to school on both a Monday and a Tuesday. We will let you know when this finishes. Please don’t worry if they are not wearing regulation navy PE kit, as long as they are wearing something warm and suitable.
Dates for your diary
Friday 13th November – Non uniform day / Children in Need
Friday 27th November - Non Pupil Day
Friday 18th December – Last day of term
Monday 4th January – Back to school
Thank you,
Mrs James Mrs Stephens
Wednesday 4th November
Dear Parents/Carers,
We hope that you had a lovely half-term break last week; the children have settled back into school very well.
Show and Tell
Thank you for all of the lovely ‘Show and Tells’ about the Humpty Dumpty rhyme. Next week, our focus rhyme will be ‘Jack and Jill’. For ‘Show and Tell’, please can your child learn the rhyme (if they don’t already know it)and show/talk about something related to rhyme.
Reading / Phonics
The children are doing very well with their reading and sounds. Don’t forget to put a comment in their reading diary so that we know how they are getting on with their reading books at home.
Last Call - PTA Matchbox Challenge/Christmas Card Designs
Please return any matchboxes (last day to return is next Wednesday 11th November) or Christmas card templates (tomorrow is the last day to return).
Reception Nativity
Unfortunately, due to the Covid restrictions, we will not be able to have our usual nativity performance. However, the children will still participate in Christmas-based activities and will celebrate this festive season in school.
Dates for your diary
Friday 27th November - Non Pupil Day
Friday 18th December – Last day of term
Monday 4th January – Back to school
Thank you,
Mrs James Mrs Stephens
Reception Newsletter 21st October
Dear Parents/Carers,
It was lovely to have parent evening chats this week, to talk about how your child has settled into school. Thank you for all of your kind comments and positive feedback. The children have settled into school brilliantly and deserve a well-earned rest over half-term.
Show and Tell
After the half-term we will begin some work based on different nursery rhymes. We will begin with the rhyme ‘Humpty Dumpty’. For ‘Show and Tell’, please can your child learn the rhyme (if they don’t already know it)and show/talk about something related to rhyme. They could bring something in or could draw a picture.
Labels
Please ensure that coats, jumpers and shoes are labelled with your child’s name so that we can return them to the right owner when they are taken off.
PTA Matchbox Challenge
Our fantastic PTA are still coming up with creative ideas for fundraising. In your child’s bag you will find a matchbox for them to fill with as many things as they can. There are prizes for the most items in a matchbox. Please see the rules for what should and shouldn’t be in the box!
Dates for your diary
Friday 23rd October – Non Pupil Day
Week beginning 26th October – Half term break
Monday 2nd November - Back to school
Friday 18th December - Break for Christmas
Thank you,
Mrs James Mrs Stephens
Dear Parents/Carers,
Show and Tell
Next week, we are going to be learning about ‘shape’. Please could the children look for different shapes around the house, or when out and about, to talk about. They could draw some different shaped objects, e.g. a clock, a door…..
We will be encouraging the children to use everyday language to describe the shape of things, such as ‘round, curved, straight….’
Parent’s Evening – Monday 19th & Tuesday 20th October
A slip with the appointment time for your phone call with the class teacher was put into your child’s bag last Monday. The phone call will be no more than 10 minutes. Please see your child’s teacher if you will be unable to take the phone call at the given time.
Reception Photographs
If you wish to order photographs, your forms must be returned by this Friday 16th October. A proof of your child’s photo was put into your child’s bag on 5th October. You can also order photos online.
Non-pupil day – Friday 23rd October
Don’t forget that children break up for half term on Thursday 22nd October at 3.00.pm. We will welcome them back on Monday 2nd November.
Harvest Festival Donations
We are not able to celebrate Harvest Festival in the same way as we usually do, due to the Covid restrictions. However, we thought it would be lovely for the children to bring one sealed, non-perishable food item or toiletries and a voluntary donation of £1.00 into school. We will collect all of the items in and take them to the local Epping Forest Foodbank.
Labels
Please ensure that coats, jumpers and shoes are labelled with your child’s name so that we can return them to the right owner when they are taken off.
Snack Money
Thank you for all of your donations, they are much appreciated.
Dates for your diary
Week beginning 19th October – Parent’s Evening week/telephone appointments
Friday 23rd October – Non Pupil Day
Week beginning 26th October – Half term break
Back to school – Monday 2nd November
Thank you,
Mrs James Mrs Stephens
Wednesday 7th October
Dear Parents/Carers,
Show and Tell
Next week, we are going to be talking about harvest festivals and our favourite foods. For ‘Show and Tell’ please can the children talk about their favourite foods. They can bring in a wrapper, carton, picture or could create a collage plate of their favourite food items.
Lunch Time
The children continue to do very well with their school dinners; we eat with them daily so are able to see how much they are enjoying them. Thank you to Gabby and the kitchen team for working so hard to ensure that every child in school has the option to enjoy a school meal served in the hall with their class friends, whilst still adhering to the Covid guidelines. This is quite an achievement, as the alternative provided in many schools is a packed lunch brought in from home and eaten in the classroom.
Parent’s Evening / Telephone Appointments – w/c Monday 19th October
A slip with the appointment time for your phone call with the class teacher was put into your child’s bag on Monday. The phone call will be no more than 10 minutes. Please see your child’s teacher if you will be unable to take the phone call at the given time.
Labels
Please ensure that coats and jumpers are labelled with your child’s name so that we can return them to the right owner when they are taken off.
Snack Money
Thank you for all of your donations, they are much appreciated.
Dates for your diary
Week beginning 19th October – Parent Evening week/telephone appointments
Friday 23rd October - Non Pupil Day
Week beginning 26th October – Half term break
Thank you,
Mrs James Mrs Stephens
Wednesday 30th September
Dear Parents/Carers,
The children have been amazing during this first full-time week and are coping very well with all the new routines, including lunch and play time.
Show and Tell
Next week, we are going to be talking about the things which make the children unique. For ‘Show and Tell’, please can the children talk about themselves and why it is good to be them, e.g. “it’s good to be me because I am a really great helper / am always kind / am good at football…..”
They can draw a picture of themselves, if they would like.
Jeans for Genes Day – tomorrow, Thursday 1st October
Tomorrow, your child is able to join the rest of the school in wearing jeans in exchange for a donation, in order to support this charity event. They are able to wear any suitable top with their jeans or their school top, if you’d prefer.
https://www.jeansforgenesday.org/
Individual Photos for Reception children only – Monday 5th October
The children SHOULD NOT WEAR PE KIT on Monday, as they are having their individual school photos taken by the photographer. If they have an older sibling/s in school, they will also have a photo taken with them.
9.00am start for Reception children who do not have older siblings in school.
The Reception classes open at 9.00am for Reception children, unless they have an older sibling whose year group begins at an earlier time (in which case, they can also arrive earlier). Please do not arrive earlier than 9.00am if there are no older siblings, as the staggered time is to aid social distancing around the school. Thank you.
Snack Money
We ask for a voluntary donation of £5 per term to purchase additional snack items such as rice cakes, breadsticks and biscuits and to contribute to classroom activities, such as cooking, or additional items such as spare pants or special craft materials. Please put the donation in an envelope and give to the class teacher or put in your child’s book bag. Thank you to everyone who has sent in a donation so far.
Dates for your diary
Jeans for Genes – Thursday 1st October
Individual School Photos for Reception children – Monday 5th October
Thank you,
Mrs James Mrs Stephens
Monday
Abigail
Archie
Artemis-Lydia
Bohdie
Cody
Defne
Tuesday
Elliott
Florence
Georgia
Harrison
Hugo
Isabella
Wednesday
Jessica
Leo
Liev
Lukas
Matvie
Max
Thursday
Maya
Reece
Rosa - Maria
Ruhi
Savannah
Sofia
Friday
Thaddeus
Thea
Trinity
Violet
Wilf
Zain
Please find below the notes which replace the Early Year Information Meeting for parents, which is usually held in early September. Unfortunately we are unable to go ahead with this meeting due to the current restrictions surrounding group gatherings. Please email me if you have any questions.
Thanks
Claire James
Reception Information Meeting notes
Wednesday 23rd September
Dear Parents/Carers,
It has been lovely to welcome the children into Reception this week. They are settling in brilliantly and it has been wonderful to get to know them all.
Each week we will post a newsletter on the school website and it will also get sent to you via Parent Mail. If you have any other questions, please do not hesitate to speak to either Mrs James or Mrs Stephens.
Each class has a class page which is in the ‘Children’ section of the school website.
https://www.buckhursthillprimary.co.uk/class-pages/
The majority of children begin full-time next week, Monday 28th September. Children should arrive at school at 9.00am and be brought through to their class. Please make sure your child doesn’t run ahead and that we all abide by the social distancing measures. School finishes at 3.05pm and children are collected from their classroom. Please do not wait in our outdoor area for older siblings to finish.
Please can children start to bring in their book bags daily; they will be placed outside the classrooms for collection at the end of the day.
Show and Tell
Each week, your child will be asked to either show or talk about something to the rest of the class, relating to our learning (don’t worry, they get lots of help with this and no one is forced to say anything if they don’t want to). We will post the children’s ‘Show and Tell’ day outside the classrooms and on the ‘Class Page’ on Friday.
Next week we would like your child to talk about their family. They might want to bring in a photograph of the people they live with, or they might want to draw a picture of their family to talk about. It would be lovely if we could keep these for our classroom displays so do not send in anything precious! If your child forgets to bring in their ‘Show and Tell’ on the appropriate day, don’t worry, we can always do it on another day!
Jeans for Genes Day – Thursday 1st October
Your child is able to join the rest of the school in wearing jeans in exchange for a donation next Thursday, in order to support this charity event. They are able to wear any suitable top with their jeans or their school top, if you’d prefer.
https://www.jeansforgenesday.org/
Early Years Curriculum
There is an overview of our Early Years Curriculum on the school website but we will also post some slides on the class pages from the information meeting we usually have for parents at this time of the year.
Reading
We read with the children and change their books on their ‘Show and Tell’ day (the children will all be given a book this Friday). Every child will begin with the same level book, which will be picture books or will have just a few words on each page. Your child will be put onto the appropriate level in the next few weeks. Please share the book with your child, asking them to describe/ answer questions about what is happening in each picture. Encourage them to point at each word and repeat it after you. They might be able to recognise a few letter-sounds, or find a particular letter-sound/word on each page. Please write a comment in their reading diary every week so that we know they have read. Your child will also begin to bring home letter-sounds and words to practise at home.
Outside Area
We are very proud of our outdoor classroom. Please can you refrain from allowing your child and their siblings to use the resources in the outdoor area before and after school. When you have collected your child, please leave the area promptly to avoid mixing with other year groups.
Friday Fun Walk
Please bring in a pair of wellies, to remain in school, for your child to wear when we go on our ‘Welly Walks’. Weather permitting, these will begin next Friday.
P.E.
P.E. will take place on a Monday and Wednesday, from 28th September. Please send your child into school in their PE kit on a Monday, being mindful of the weather, as the children will remain in their kit all day. On Wednesdays the children should wear their uniform and do not need to bring their PE kit into school.
Labelling uniform
Please ensure that your child’s clothes are labelled as it makes it impossible for us to match a jumper/cardigan to a child without it.
Individual Photos for Reception children
The Reception will have individual photos taken at a date yet to be arranged. On this morning, they will also have photos taken with older siblings who attend our school.
Snack Money
We ask for a voluntary donation of £5 per term to purchase additional snack items such as rice cakes, breadsticks and biscuits and to contribute to classroom activities, such as cooking, or additional items such as spare pants or special craft materials. Please put the donation in an envelope and give to the class teacher or put in your child’s book bag.
Dates for your diary
Children start full time – Monday 28th September
Jeans for Genes – Thursday 1st October
Individual School Photos for Reception children – to be confirmed
Thank you,
Mrs James Mrs Stephens
Starting School Reminder
Week beginning 21st September - part time
Morning session - 9.30-11.30am
Afternoon session - 1.00-3.00pm
Children are not having lunch or doing PE this week.
Week beginning 28th September - full time
Reception children - 9.00am - 3.05pm (unless your child is continuing with part time hours which will be 9.00am - 12.00pm). Please adhere to these timings to aid social distancing.
If your child has a sibling in another year group, Reception children are able to fall in with their siblings drop off and collection time.
Children will be doing PE this week and should come in their PE kit on Monday only. They do not need to wear or bring their PE kit on a Wednesday.
Wellies - children should have a pair of wellies which can remain in school.
Arrangements for drop-off and collection
Parents and children should enter through the side gate which is at the far right of the school and continue round to the Reception classes.
RJ should follow the red feet in the Reception outside area, queueing with a 2m space where possible.
RS should follow the blue feet in the Reception outside area, queueing with a 2m space where possible.
To exit, you should then turn right up the ramp and follow the one-way system through the upper playground and car park to the exit gates.
Don't worry, we will be directing you on the first day!
(If someone other than a parent is collecting your child, please ensure your teacher knows in advance)
Illness
Children should not attend school if they have a high temperature or new, continuous cough (please inform the school if this is the case). Please follow the school guidelines which are on the school website.
Book Bags
Children can bring their book bags from Monday 21st.
Water bottles
Children should not bring a water bottle to school as we will provide water for them.
Sun hats / sun cream
Children can bring a sun hat to school. Please apply sun cream, if necessary, at home.
Medication
Please ensure asthma pumps and other medication is in school on Monday.
Please contact us - claire.james@buckhursthill.essex.sch.uk/angela.stephens@buckhursthill.essex.sch.uk if we have missed anything out.
Enjoy your weekend, we are looking forward to starting next week.
Reception Key Info
A warm welcome to RS' class page!
Mrs Stephen's is the class teacher. Your child will also be supported by Mrs James (the other Reception teacher), Mrs Tassie, Mrs Clements and Mrs Collischon.
We will inform you of the children's ' Show & Tell' and reading days once they have settled in. P.E. is on Monday & Wednesday
Each week, we will upload the Reception newsletter to the website along with any other information you might need. Please check the class page regularly for updates.
Please email me if you have any questions or concerns - angela.stephens@buckhursthill.essex.sch.uk.
We are looking forward to meeting all of the children this week!