Dear Parents and Children,

Welcome to Terms 3 and 4 at Borough Green Primary School

We wish you all a Happy New Year and want to say a huge thank you for the cards and gifts we received at the end of term. They are all greatly appreciated. Crafternoon on 19th December seems a long time ago, but we recall the sense of joy and fun in the classrooms as family members came into school to be creative with their children. Thank you for your support with this lovely event. 

The Curriculum in Terms 1 and 2 

Our second Cornerstones topic this year is ‘Rocks, Relics and Rumbles’. This topic will run throughout Terms 3 and 4 and will focus on aspects of Geography, Science, Art and DT. Our English and Reading lessons will link to the Geography, while Maths, RE, PE, Computing, Music, PSHE and Spanish will be taught discretely.   

‘Rocks, Relics and Rumbles’ is an exciting geography-led topic. It teaches children about the features and characteristics of the Earth's layers, including a detailed exploration of volcanic, tectonic and seismic activity. Children will also learn about rocks, soil and fossils. Art will focus on drawing techniques using L. S. Lowry as an inspiration, while DT will look at mechanisms to create an automaton. 

You will shortly find Knowledge Organisers for this topic on the school website.  Please do read these and discuss them with your child both before and during the topic.  The Knowledge Organisers contain the key knowledge and vocabulary we expect children to know by the end of the topic and in school we refer to these during and after their learning to assess what children know and can retain. 

Parental involvement: reading, spelling and times tables 

We will be sending home reading records each day, along with your child’s reading book. These are to be brought into class each day.

Reading at home

At the start of the New Year, please take the opportunity to re-establish daily 15-minute reading sessions with your child. This is one of the most valuable things that you can do to support your child’s education. Children should be completing Accelerated Reader books regularly and completing a quiz on that book, either at home or in school. Please sign your child’s reading record each time your child reads at home and they will be awarded one house point.  

Spelling

On a Friday, children will take home a list of spelling words to learn for that week.  Regular practice of small groups of words at home will help children to retain their knowledge of the key spellings and will reinforce our spelling lessons at school. 

Times tables

At the front of the reading record, you will find a Times Tables Rock Stars username and password for your child. Children should use this regularly so that they continue to develop and feel secure with their times tables.  Year 4 children will be taking the statutory Multiplication Tables Check in the summer term and it is expected that most children will know all the times tables up to 12 times 12 by this point.   

Arrival at school & Equipment 

All children in Years 3 and 4 should enter by the door from the nursery playground. An adult will be on duty to welcome them in between 8.40 and 8.50 each day and the register will then be taken, and lessons will begin. In the afternoon, Poplar Class will leave from the same door. Cherry Class leaves from the middle door opposite the car park (to the left of the main entrance). All equipment that your child needs in Year 3 and 4 is provided by the school, which means that pencil cases are not needed in school. Children will be allocated their own locker, so any bags and belongings must fit into their locker. Please note that children should not bring toys or fidgets to school unless prior agreement is obtained from Mr Wheatley, our Inclusion Manager, or as a result of a conversation with a class teacher

Uniform 

Uniform promotes a sense of belonging and equality. We expect our children to demonstrate pride in their appearance and respect for the school uniform. Please ensure your child is in correct uniform at all times. 

We expect our children to demonstrate pride in their appearance and respect for the school uniform. 

Children should be well-presented and their white shirt/polo shirt must be tucked in at all times.  Children must wear sensible black shoes to school, NOT TRAINERS or BOOTS.  

Makeup and nail varnish are not permitted. Excessive hair accessories or extreme hairstyles or colour are also not permitted.  No jewellery except for one, small, stud earring allowed in each ear.  Analogue watches are encouraged but SMART watches are not allowed. 

Many items are available from the school office. To order uniform please click on the link https://www.brigade.uk.com/parents/  or visit the uniform section on our website.  

The Parent and Teachers’ Association also runs an excellent second-hand uniform shop on site. 

PE 

This term, we have PE on Monday (outside) and Thursday (inside). Please ensure that your child comes into school wearing their PE kit on this day. If a child is unable to join in with the PE lessons due to injury, they should still come in their full PE kit as they will contribute to the learning and assessment of skills covered.  Pupils with long hair should have their hair tied back at all times and earrings must be taken out or protected with tape during PE lessons. Teachers are not allowed to take earrings out for children, so please ensure it is done before they arrive at school that morning.  

Outdoor Learning

We hope to have lots of opportunities for outdoor learning so please make sure your children have suitable footwear and waterproof jackets in school every day. Please send a named pair of wellington boots, old trainers or boots into school with your child. These can be left at and stored in school so that they are to hand should we need them on a wet day!  

Many thanks for your continued support. 

Happy New Year from 

Mr Ashe, Mrs Bowers and Miss Wilson