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National Storytelling week has truly inspired the learning at school this week. Learning to read is important, we all know that. Research shows that people without good literacy skills do worse in education and are more likely to be unemployed or even suffer from health and
relationship problems. However, there’s evidence to suggest that the benefits of being read to frequently as a child go way beyond just literacy skills. The stories we hear as children shape our view of the world. Most small children live their lives in quite a narrow environment. Reading stories to children can show them far-flung places, extraordinary people and eye-opening situations to expand and enrich their world. It can also be a great way of helping them deal with real life situations. Researchers have found that the brain activity that occurs when we read fiction is very similar to experiencing that situation in real life, so reading about a situation helps
children work out how to solve it in reality. Scientists have discovered that children who have fiction read to them regularly find it easier to understand other people; they show more empathy and have a greater ability to understand that other people have different thoughts and feelings to us, which is essential for understanding and predicting other people’s thoughts and behaviour. One of my favourite story tellers for children is Michael Rosen. The Year 3 children have listened to him read Chocolate
Box this week and I heard the Reception children very excitedly listen to ‘We’re Going on a Bear Hunt’ read by Michael Rosen himself, who wrote it 32 years ago, years before he became Children’s Laureate. You may not be aware that Michael has been incredibly poorly in the past year with Covid-19, having been hospitalised and admitted to Intensive Care for 48 days. He is now recovering, learning to walk again and, undeterred by his experience, is championing the NHS and has now finished the book he started before he fell ill last March. His publisher has spoken about how amazed they were to receive his manuscript after he had been so unwell and Michael himself has said, “When I’m writing, I feel very contented in myself. So even when it’s difficult and a bit of a struggle, it feels like a good place to be.” Children’s Mental Health has been the focus this week at school with many activities and challenges set for the children. On Wednesday the whole school community came dressed ‘Inside Out’ to encourage us all to understand that no matter what people look like on the outside, you never know what is going on in the inside for someone. The most important thing one can do is to be kind to one another. Mrs Clarke challenged everyone in our Monday assembly to say ‘Good Morning/Afternoon’ and to ask one another how they are doing and the importance to listen to their reply. It will be great to continue this approach for the rest of the term. I have had great fun receiving parcels this week from Year 1 children, I received so many I thought it was my birthday. I was tricked by the children who sent eggs to me as part of a science experiment. I enjoyed opening each parcel to investigate whether each child’s packaging enabled a raw egg to reach me at school intact. I loved the children’s creativity and ingenuity in designing their packaging and most of the eggs have made it safely to school. There will be a second opening of boxes on Monday and I can’t wait. Well done to all of the children for their efforts. Following our Monday assembly, we asked children to perform their funniest jokes. Well done to so many of you for taking part. The film that has been created is extremely funny and even has a few guest appearances. We will announce the winners of the joke competition next Friday in our Celebration assembly. On Tuesday, 9 February, we will celebrate the 18th edition of Safer Internet Day with actions taking place right across the globe. Please see below for further details
Newsletter No: 17 Friday, 5th February 2021 Once again, the children have excelled themselves this week and I am so proud of all they are achieving in these difficult times. As you can see throughout this newsletter the teachers are delivering inspiring and creative lessons for the children that are engaging them in their learning – I cannot thank them enough for their extraordinary work. The teaching assistants, support staff, teachers from the wider school and Graduate Sports Assistants are doing an amazing role supporting the Critical Key Workers who are in school facilitating their online learning. The parents
and grandparents at home are doing such a tremendous role in supporting the children’s online learning at home. Finally Mrs Hallgate and Mrs Farrotini for all they do for staff, children and parents – a huge thank you to you all; such a remarkable team effort from the STP school community. Parents’ Evening will take place online towards the end of term. A link to the bookings form will be sent closer to the time, but the dates are below for your diary. Have a lovely weekend,