Habs Weekly - Junior School edition - Friday 13 January 2023

Habs

Head of Junior School’s Message

Mrs L Flynn

Welcome back to the start of the Spring Term. I hope that the break allowed you and your families time to rest and rejuvenate ready for the busy term ahead. As ever, it has been wonderful to welcome the pupils back into the Junior School this week and hear of their holiday adventures and excitement to be together again as a community, throwing themselves into the excitement of the activities planned for the term ahead.

Despite having only been back in the building for a week, the term has got off to a flying start; as I write this message Rainbow have just headed out to a rather muddy Forest School, rehearsals for the Year 4 play and Year 2 class assemblies are underway, the first swimming gala of the term took place this week with many more fixtures planned for this term, music ensembles, choirs and performing arts clubs are starting to think ahead to the Spring Term Performing Arts Evening, pupils have begun their new rotation within academic enrichment, there are a number of trips planned for later in the term and of course we look forward to our Family Friday events with a new selection of parent talks to choose from, details of which will shared in the coming weeks.

I look forward to meeting you at one of the many events this term and send every good wish for the Spring Term.

Looking ahead

Whole School

Children’s Mental Health Week

MONDAY 6 TO SUNDAY 12 FEBRUARY

Children’s Mental Health Week is taking place from Monday 6 to Sunday 12 February. This year’s theme, Let’s Connect, will aim to encourage children (and adults) to look at how we can make meaningful connections. When we have healthy connections – with family, friends and others – this can support our mental health and our sense of wellbeing.

We will be participating in Inside Out Day for Children’s Mental Health Week on Wednesday 8 February.

Inside Out Day calls for all children and adults to wear an item of clothing (school uniform) inside out to help us stop and think about how appearances can be deceptive. Someone may look fine on the outside but inside they may be feeling sad or worried.

The aim of Inside Out Day is to remind everyone to always be kind and think of others, as no one knows how another person may be feeling. This initiative is also a meaningful way to engage pupils in discussions around emotional wellbeing.

We hope that you will show your support by encouraging your child to wear an item of school uniform inside out and hopefully do the same yourself, reminding us all that talking about mental health is an important thing to do.

Outgrown Uniform Sale

INFORMATION

Click here to see a flyer regarding an upcoming Outgrown Uniform sale.

Y2 Looking ahead

2 Alpha Class Assembly

NOTICE FOR PARENTS AND GUARDIANS

We would like to formally invite parents or guardians of 2 Alpha to their class assembly on Monday 23 January, from 8.45am to 9.15am in the Performance Space.

We very much hope you will be able to join us. Please follow signage for the Performance Space and wait outside by the dining hall doors where you will be signed in and directed to the Performance Space by Mrs Bakrania.

Looking ahead

Year 4 Senior School Talk

TUESDAY 24 JANUARY, 7PM

Year 4 marks an important milestone in your child’s educational journey here at Habs Girls. Whilst your child’s move to Senior School may seem like it is still a long way off, over their time in the Junior School we have gradually been putting in place the building blocks for your child’s future move to Senior School and will continue to do so over the coming academic years.

Parents of pupils in Year 4 are invited into school to talk about the process for the Junior to Senior School transition at Habs Girls, the foundations for which have already been laid, and how these are built on across Year 4 to Year 6.

The talk will be held in the Performance Space on Tuesday 24 January at 7pm and we very much hope you will be able to join us. Please follow signage for the Performance Space and wait outside by the dining hall doors where you will be signed in and directed to the Performance Space.

Reminders

Whole School

Spring Term curriculum overviews

INFORMATION

The Spring Term brings exciting new learning across the whole of the Junior School and once again there is a lot to look forward to. The curriculum overviews below, for Years 1 to 6, outline the topics that will be covered in class when we return in the new year.

Learning in Rainbow will continue to be led by the children’s interests and key events.

Year 1 Year 4

Year 2 Year 5

Year 3 Year 6

Family Fridays

INFORMATION FOR RAINBOW TO YEAR 6

Now that all the Rainbow children are very well settled into Habs life and as we slowly start to think about their transition towards Year 1, Rainbow Family Friday will be held fortnightly in the Spring Term. This will remain an opportunity for you to come into the classroom with your children, share a book with them and see the wonderful work that they have been doing. We very much look forward to continuing to welcome you into our Habs community.

Please see below dates for all year groups. These sessions are held 8am to 8.30am:

Rainbow 27 January, 10 February, 24 February, 10 and 24 March

Years 1, 3 and 5 10 February

Years 2, 4 and 6 24 March

Reminders Whole School

Car parking and safety

HIGHLY IMPORTANT - PLEASE READ

Click here to read a letter regarding car parking and safety from our Chief Operating Officer, Mr Rob Dunn.

After School wraparound care provision

IMPORTANT NOTICE

update

As per letter sent on Monday 9 January, following parental feedback last term regarding after school wraparound care provision based in the Boy’s Prep School, the Girls’ Junior School after school wraparound care provision from 3.30pm to 5.30pm will be based in 2 Alpha's classroom.

Mrs Walsh will continue to supervise the provision from 3.30pm to 4.30pm and we are pleased to announce Miss Rees, Year 3 Learning Support Assistant, will supervise the provision from 4.30pm to 5.30pm.

Please collect your child from within the Rainbow Garden, using the set of doors nearest to the Junior School office.

Swim Squad - ACE Provision

TIMING UPDATE

Please be aware that the times for Swimming Squad will remain as 4pm to 5pm in the Spring term. A finish time of 4.45pm was originally published in the ACE documents in error.

Stellar Strings video

FINAL CONCERT RECORDING

Click here to read a letter with a link to the Stellar Strings Final Concert.

Wraparound Care

INFORMATION

Information about our Wraparound Care provision can be found in the resources section on Firefly and in the Parent Handbook. Please use this link for quick booking access.

Click here to view our Rainbow and KS1 menu.

Click here to view our KS2 menu.

Reminders

Rainbow to Y2

The Night Before Christmas Production

PHOTO ORDERING AND RECORDING LINK

A reminder that photos taken at the dress rehearsal are available to order in sizes A5 (9x6) for £5 each and A4 (12x5) for £9 each. A gallery of the photographs is available to view via this link. The cost of any photographs will be added to the next term’s bill.

If you wish to order any, please place your order via this link clearly stating the photo number/s, size and quantity you wish to order. The order form will remain open until 8pm on Friday 20 January 2023 and, once the orders have been processed, these will be sent home with your child. All proceeds from the sale of photographs will be donated to the St Catherine Parents’ Guild. A recording of the production is available through this link.

2A Class Assembly

NOTICE FOR PARENTS AND GUARDIANS

2A's class assembly is taking place on Monday 16 January, from 8.45am to 9.15am in the Performance Space.

We very much hope you will be able to join us. Attending parents or guardians please follow signage for the Performance Space and wait outside by the dining hall doors where you will be signed in and directed to the Performance Space by Mrs Tiller.

Reminders

Y3 to 6

Forest School

INFORMATION

We are very pleased to share with you that all the Key Stage 2 classes will continue to enjoy a Forest School experience during the Spring or the Summer term. Forest School provides a valuable opportunity for children to connect to nature and understand more about the world around them. Research has shown that it helps to foster teamwork, problem solving, risk taking, independent thinking and creativity alongside developing practical skills.

Please click here for further information, including dates and outdoor kit advice for your child.

PE Event with Boys' Prep School

SATURDAY 4 MARCH

On Saturday 4 March, students in Years 3 to 6 are invited to attend a collaborative sporting morning with the Prep School where they will take part in activities centred around netball and football. Students will be grouped in mixed abilities and there will be opportunities for skill development, match play and fun.

Further details will be shared in the newsletter closer to the event.

Reminders

Year 4 Play INFORMATION

We are thrilled to announce that this year our Year 4 Play is Rock Bottom. Your child has now been given their part and a script. The script is also available in the performing arts folder in Showbie, along with the songs. We would like your child to read the script and learn their lines and the songs between now and the start of next term, so that we can make a start on rehearsals when we return in January. It is important they read the whole script, so they have an understanding of the storyline and characters.

We are excited to allow the pupils ownership of their role to develop and think creatively about their character portrayal. We intend that by the end of the process the children will see the value in being part of a production; regardless of the part and number of lines, all pupils will develop their performance skills. We hope to give them a full appreciation of stage craft including the devising process as well as the opportunity to perform on stage. I hope they end the production with the understanding that there is no such thing as ‘a small part’.

We always ensure children get as equal as possible stage time. Along with performing to a large audience, the pupils will learn about teamwork, dealing with pressure, creativity, and most of that takes place during the rehearsal process, not on stage.

Not all opportunities are evident within a script, so please remind your child that we will be working creatively as a production company on the play and all creative contributions are welcome! We hope that all will enjoy being part of this team.

It will be a really creative and exciting time for your child, and we hope they make the most of this performance opportunity.

Reminders

Y5&6

Year 5 and 6 lacrosse lessons

INFORMATION

The PE department would like to remind parents that for lacrosse lessons this term, children will need protective lacrosse goggles. We recommend DeBeer, Vista, STX 4sight. For pupils who wear glasses during sport, please ensure that you purchase suitable protective lacrosse over-glasses.

A mouthguard will also be required: these can be custom fitted by a dentist or alternatively purchased from a sports retailer or on online. Many pupils purchase Opro, Shock Doctor or Under Armour mouthguards.

All pupils will also require a pair of football boots (studs or cleats) and red football socks; both of these items will be worn for both football and lacrosse lessons. Shinpads and lacrosse sticks will be provided by school.