Stanmore Post - 25 September 2020

Dear Parents, 

Children have really enjoyed spending time outdoors using our fantastic grounds to take our curriculum outside. Children in Year R have continued with their Woodland Wednesday or Physical Friday, which is becoming An Early Years Tradition. Maths has been the focus in Year 1 / 2 with children exploring place value outside.  Year 3 / 4 have been investigating trees and plants, using the school environment to recognise features that plants need to survive. Oak class were inspired, by a local artist called Lizze McKellar, to try to paint using acrylics. Like Lizze, the children used photographs of the River Itchen to paint reflections of trees on the water. Children in Elm also enjoyed trying different brush strokes using acrylics to recreate the landscape. Juniper have made good use of the bikes that the Friends of the School organised for the children to have during Lockdown. Year 5 and 6 are also investigating the water cycle and noticing what happens to rivers from source to sea. An exciting outdoor learning Day at Stubbington Study Centre has been booked for Year 6 to replace their residential that we have unfortunately had to cancel due to the current situation.  

This week Hampshire Music Service have begun live lessons back in school and it has been lovely to hear some music in the school again, including Listen to Me. If your child is interested in learning to play a string instrument, a brass instrument, piano or drums please contact the school office.  Visit our website to see more. https://www.stanmore.hants.sch.uk/news/2020/9/25autumn-term-2020-work-and-house-points-f87bc

The children are telling us that they would like some variety in their play spaces. From next week, we will do our best to rotate the outdoor play spaces, allowing the weekend for the area to be quarantined. It is hard because there are so many rules and the children feel like there is a lot that they can’t do. We are responding and adapting as much as we can within the guidance to keep playtime a positive experience. We have some tyres that we are including in the quad area for a circuit challenge next week. We would welcome any good ideas for games or activities that would meet the Covid regulations.  

At the beginning of October we will begin to make use of Google Classroom to provide remote learning if a child or class bubble has to isolate. We will also begin to move homework to this platform. This should be accessible through Google Chrome. More details will follow, including a log on for your child and a guide to setting up Google Classroom at home. If you do not have any access to the internet or a device, including a phone, that your child can use to access Google Classroom, please let your child’s class teacher know as soon as possible so that we can make alternative arrangements with you.

Best Wishes

Sharon Taylor