Benhall Infant and Pre-School Parent Portal - 13th January 2023

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Friday Letter - 13th January 2022

Dear Parents,

We have had our first full week of the New Year and what a wonderful week it has been. Mrs Spence kick-started the week that has really inspired the children to use their questioning, research and persuasive letter writing skills to help Miss Morris decide if we can have some pet gerbils at school. As I have wandered around the school this week the begging pleas have turned into, "Miss Morris come and see what I have found out about Gerbils!" "Miss Morris, Did you know Gerbils play fight, they even box!" Watch this space to see if Mrs Spence and the children succeed in their mission to get gerbils into school.

Love from Miss Morris and team xx

Welcome to our Benhall Family

Over the Christmas Holidays two of our families celebrated the longed for arrival of their new baby sisters. Hasvi and Monty were so excited to share their news with the rest of the school in assembly. They will make excellent big siblings and I am sure they will show them exactly what fabulous purple learners they are.

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Pre School News

In Pre-School this week what a busy time we have had. Our focus theme has been Goldilocks and the Three Bears. We have shared the story, and then looked at and had a go at creating our own story maps with some very well thought and creative ideas. The children have explored textiles, materials and different media creating a Goldilocks or a bowl for the porridge from salt dough, which we then had to bake. We have explored and compared different sizes small, medium and large, looking at the bears, bowls, chairs and beds. The children have enjoyed using their imagination playing with the Goldilocks & Three Bears small world play, the builders yard role play area has seen some interesting creations using assorted sized bricks and using a selection of builders tools. We have had a matching patterns activity using various coloured and assorted sized bears. On the interactive board we have watched an animated version of the story, the children have also used story cards to sequence the story. On Tuesday hall time we played ring games and on Friday hall time we worked on developing our ball skills and being in small groups, passing the ball over, under, round and through. Our Little Wandle letter Sound this week has been ‘t.’ In Gold family we have a HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Poppy and Harry this week. Next week our focus theme will be the story “The Three Little Pigs.” Thank you to those parents who joined us for the Little Wandle letters and sounds meeting. Have a lovely weekend, The Pre-School Team.

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Year Group In Focus - Reception

Our first full week back and the Reception Team have immersed themselves fully into all things Gruffalo. They have been learning to tell the story using language, actions, rhythm and rhyme of the wonderful Julia Donaldson. They became animal detectives and researched non-fiction texts and information to find out fabulous facts about Owls in Orange Class and Foxes in Yellow Class. They presented their information together and have been 'Tiny Teachers' today, sharing everything they have learnt with their friends in the other class. It is an absolute joy to learn with you all Team Reception. Thank you!

School Lottery - please consider signing up to our weekly lottery draw. Guarantee one person from Benhall will win a small prize each week and entry to the larger £25k too. https://www.yourschoollottery.co.uk/lottery/school/benhall-infant-and-pre-school?fbclid=IwAR0rUMXuSJkEwlSv70blK4UUdKENqdBxoF-bk_MQ1-nfMgxgef-7zEQpwQs

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PTA News

We have lots of uniform in storage and will be holding uniform sales across the rest of the term. Following feedback from parents about the timing of these sales we are mixing up the days so hopefully there will be a day everyone can make.

Monday 16th January at 3pm
Tuesday 24th January at 3pm
Wednesday 1st February at 3pm
Thursday 8th February at 3pm
Friday 17th February at 3pm

Forthcoming PTA events

Friday 24^th March Beetle Drive in school hall – details to follow

10^th February – Disco – details will be released on 30^th January

School Council

Oh what an exciting week it has been! The children in each class have had the school council election and votes have been counted. The children who wanted to stand for election were all so fabulous, standing up in front of their peers and explaining why they would make a super member of the team and how they could help improve the school. The staff are all very proud of the children who stood for election and want to say a special well done to all. We have discussed in classes that during an election only one boy and one girl from each class can be elected and we have spoken about how we can still be good role models if we did not get to stand this term. Miss Bilton has said that lots of children will be invited as VIPs to join us at our meetings and other things we get up to so that lots of children have the opportunity to be part of this team.

We are over the moon to announce that our School Council team for Term 3 and Term 4 are:

Violet: Oliver and Tegan
Indigo: Henry and Eva
Green: Oscar and Florence
Blue: Dexter and Carys
Yellow: Ben and Molly
Orange: Arthur and Ava

The previous School Council came out in assembly to give the new team their badges and shake their hands to congratulate them.

The first school council meeting of this term will be on Thursday 19^th January.

Purple Learning Focus

This week our main focus in school is all about being respectful. We can link this to a number of our purple learning skills, showing respect and excitement when celebrating friends, listening respectfully to adults when learning from feedback and respecting each other when completing learning challenges. It would be super if you could chat with your child about the word ‘respect’ and what it means to them at school and at home.

Please do email Miss Bilton on rebeccabilton@benhall.gloucs.sch.uk if your child has shown purple learning skills outside of school and we will share this in our weekly purple learning celebrations.

Purple Learners of the Week

Elizabeth
Bea C
Edward
Sophia T
Sidney
Freddie C

Well done everyone, we are all really proud of you.

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We would like to wish members of our Benhall Family who have celebrated their birthday a really happy birthday. Happy birthday to:

Autumn
Henry J
Freddie C

Class Routines

PE Kit

What a great start to wearing school PE kit on PE days – thank you parents for your help with this.

PE Kit reminder:

Navy blue shorts or tracksuit bottoms
Plain white or purple T-shirt
Navy blue hoody or sweatshirt
Trainers

If your child has joined an after school sports club they can wear their school PE Kit on club days too (no football strips).

Orange Class
PE Days - Monday and Wednesday
Forest School Days Starts 27/9/22 - every other Tuesday
Book Bags - Every day please
Book Changes - Bring in on Wednesday go home on Friday
Sound Books - Back in on Wednesday
PPA Day and Cover - Weds am by Miss Everett

Yellow Class
PE Days - Monday and Wednesday
Forest School Days Starts 27/9/22 - every other Tuesday
Book Bags - Every day please
Book Changes - Bring in on Wednesday go home on Friday
Sound Books - Back in on Wednesday
PPA Day and Cover - Weds am by Miss Bilton

Green Class
PE Days - Wednesday and Thursday
Forest School Days - Starting on 29th September then every other Thursday
Book Bags - Every day please
Book Changes - Friday
PPA Day and Cover - Weds pm by Miss Bilton and Mrs Smurthwaite

Blue Class
PE Days - Wednesday and Thursday
Forest School Days - Starting on 29th September then every other Thursday
Book Bags - Every day please
Book Changes - Friday
PPA Day and Cover - Weds pm by Miss Bilton and Mrs Smurthwaite

Indigo Class
PE Days - Monday and Friday
Forest School Days - Starting on 28th September then every other Wednesday
Book Bags - Every day please
Book Changes - Friday
Homework - Thursday (Tapestry)
PPA Day and Cover - Tues by Mrs Aitken

Violet Class
PE Days - Monday and Friday
Forest School Days - Starting on 28th September then every other Wednesday
Book Bags - Every day please
Book Changes - Thursday
Homework - Thursday (Tapestry)
PPA Day and Cover - Tues am by Miss Morris