WELCOME TO YEAR 3
Hello! This booklet has been designed for you to share with your child. It will help them to prepare for Year 3. If there is ever anything that you do not understand, please speak to your child’s form tutor: Mrs Lee. We want to make your child’s transition to Year Three as smooth as possible. The transition is often perceived as an enormous step in their lives and, whilst it is indeed exciting and challenging, it is not quite as daunting as it may first appear. Mrs Lee has been teaching Science to your children and has enjoyed getting to know them during this academic year. Your children have also spent some time in the Year 3 classroom and are becoming familiar with what will be their new working environment. Usually the children find the move an easy one and they enjoy the new opportunities that come their way. Parents are often more nervous and we would like to reassure you that this is commonplace and we do understand. We are all here to help and are happy to discuss any concerns or worries that you may have.
Everybody needs confidence. Children need to try things out for themselves, but they also need your support in order to succeed.
“Do things with them, but not always for them.” Year 3 children need to be able to: Tie their ties and shoelaces (however untidily!) Use a knife and fork correctly. Look after their own belongings (label everything please). Dress and undress themselves, including top buttons. Follow their class timetable and get to lessons on time. Remember to take prep and reading home and return it each day. Bring themselves into class each morning.
All of these things are achievable – it takes time, and we will need your help, but they can, and DO, manage it very quickly! We will gradually allow them to do more and more for themselves as the first term progresses. However, if they can learn some of these basic skills during the summer holidays, they will have a great head start.
Sport The boys will play rugby, football, hockey and cricket. Girls will play hockey, netball and cricket. If your child has their ears pierced, the earrings must be removed on the days that they have P.E., swimming or Games. Please ensure that all kit is labelled in line with school policy. Pupils may be selected at some point to play for a school team. This is a great honour and they are expected to behave in a way that represents the school in a positive light. There will also be opportunities for house matches at school where all children participate. Parents are very welcome at all school fixtures, both home and away.
Music & Drama If they are not already doing so, your child can learn to play a musical instrument. Please contact our Director of Music, Anri Adachi for more information: adachia@deanclosestjohns.org.uk Your child can also take LAMDA speaking and drama lessons. Please contact the Head of Drama, Mrs Shakeshaft for further details: shakeshaftr@deanclosestjohns.org.uk
Dean Close House System There are four houses: Dean, Gwent, Severn and Wye. Your child will be told which house they are in during the first week of term if they are new to the school. There are many house competitions during the year as well as our very popular house charity days.
Behaviour We encourage good behaviour at all times and this is actively promoted with credits, stickers and rewards. It is a natural part of growing up that sometimes we don’t always get things right. If there is poor behaviour, this will be dealt with in the first instance by Mrs Lee. If the poor behaviour continues then the Pastoral Lead (Miss Duncan) will become involved and parents will be contacted. In serious cases, the Deputy Head (Mr Richardson) will also be informed. Children will be encouraged to recognise what behaviour is unacceptable at Dean Close St John’s and in the wider world. Our aim is to help children to realise that certain actions are wrong and that there are consequences to these actions should they occur.
Arrival & Collection We like to encourage your child to be as independent as possible. On the first morning of the new term a member of staff and senior pupils will be available at the main door to help escort them to their classrooms. While parents are welcome to join them at drop off for the first few days, we do like the children to say goodbye at the main door and make their own way into school as soon as they feel able. Staff are very busy in the mornings and registration time is tight, so there is little time for chat before assembly or form time commences. However, staff are always available at the end of the day and will never turn you away if you have a pressing need. Children are dismissed by tutors to parents at the main door at 4.30pm or sent to the buses, late stay or clubs where appropriate. Communication with Mrs Lee can also be made via your child’s planner and by email. Mrs Lee’s email address is lees@deanclosestjohns.org.uk
Medical Issues If your child requires medication during the school day this must be administered by our school healthcare co-ordinator, Mrs Abi Martin. You also need to complete a medicine form as to the time and dosage required. These forms can be obtained from the school office. Should you need to contact Mrs Martin at any time, her email address is: martina@deanclosestjohns.org.uk Please ensure that information on allergy or dietary requirements is also up to date at all times. Please inform us of any changes immediately. The school provides a biscuit at morning break and again at 4.30pm for those staying late. Your child may bring in a piece of fruit from home for their break if you wish. Please ensure that they also bring a named water bottle into school so that they can remain hydrated throughout the day. Shop bought birthday cakes may be sent in, but please consult Mrs Lee or Mrs Martin regarding any pupils with allergies, and hand cakes directly to Mrs Lee on arrival. The school operates a NO NUTS AND NO SESAME policy and it is crucial that we adhere to this policy at all times.
Personal Posessions Please clearly name all kit and uniform. Staff will always do their best to try to locate lost uniform, providing it is labelled. All games kit needs to be clearly labelled, this includes games socks. All of this should be packed into a navy school kit bag with the child’s initials on the outside. Children in Year 3 need a rucksack which should be clearly named. You can purchase the school rucksack from the school shop. They also need a named pencil case which should contain the following items: 3 sharp HB pencils Rubber Ruler Colouring pencils (no felt tips or gels needed) Pencil sharpener Glue stick Children’s scissors This enables children to be ‘self-contained’ when working in different classrooms around the school.
Please check and update items on a regular basis.
School Planners This is a book which comes home each day. It will have your child’s timetable and prep recorded inside it, along with their login for Google and other useful information linked to online resources/websites used in lessons. Please check the planner daily for any messages and homework. Your child’s reading will be recorded in a separate reading record. You can also use the planner to send a message to your child’s teacher at any time.
Reports & Parents' Evenings There are two parents’ evenings during the year where you are invited to meet with all of your child’s teachers, either remotely or in person. These are usually in the Michaelmas and Lent terms for Year 3.
Daily Routine Year 3 has a full and busy timetable, which of course runs from 8.20am until 4.30pm every day. It will take time for your child to adjust to this longer day; please expect them to be tired and even a little grumpy or tearful at first if the longer day is new to them. Games is taught across Year 3 and 4 with girls and boys working on separate disciplines. Every day will begin with an assembly or Form Time followed by three lessons. There will then be a short break of 20 minutes in the morning then two more lessons. Lunch in the dining room and playtime with Year 4 then follows. After lunch, there are then three more lessons until the end of the day. All lessons are 45 minutes long. The children return to their form rooms at the end of the day for a form period and reading time. Please check the school website for regular updates and information. Your child’s timetable will be available at the start of term.
We look forward to getting to know you and your child and know that we can work together to ensure that their time in the Prep School is a very happy and productive one.