Parent Update Newsletter

Issue 15 Spring Term 2017 20.01.17

It has been a fun-packed start to the term! We have seen an exciting cave day in EYFS, where Nursery and Reception were both plunged into darkness. Anyone entering the rooms had to navigate their way around using only torches and an assortment of illuminous objects. Fluorescent phonics and neon numbers were a huge hit. The Torriano High Street was also open and ready for business in Year 1. Throughout the day, they welcomed a steady flow of very satisfied customers as parents, carers and children visited an array of friendly shopkeepers with their bountiful selection of products and produce. In the key stage 2 building there have been reports of a caveman on the loose in year 3. He was last sighted on the Earth Kingdom at last play today!

KS2 have been very studious in their approach to the special task set by the UN to evaluate a board game about the Sustainable Development Goals. This will be used to teach children across the world about the Global Goals. Great changemaking!

We are currently developing our new vision and values for the primary school with the school community. Children in both KS1 and KS2 have been learning about values in assembly and in class. Thank you to all parents who have completed their homework on this topic. It will be very useful as it will support the work of the steering group. We are inviting children, parents, staff and governors to join the group. The children have already been completing application forms. If you would like to be involved please contact Maria Lewis the Community and Leadership Support Assistant for further information. The first meeting will take place on Monday 30th January at 9.15 am in the Gatehouse.

Thank you to the parents who attended the EYFS reading workshop this week. Year 2 really enjoyed welcoming parents to their Stay and Learn session this morning. Details of upcoming workshops will be made available in the next newsletter.

Earl and Ted are busy looking out for children who are in school every day. Their new weekly raffle takes place during assembly where 100% attendance children are put into a draw to win an exciting prize bag. They counted 343 children in school every day last week!

The cold weather is forecast to stay with us for the beginning of next week so please ensure the children have suitable footwear and are wrapped up warm for playtimes and outdoor learning.

Have a lovely weekend.

Helen Bruckdorfer

Headteacher

Ted & Earl’s Attendance Results

KS1 Attendance: 96%

Well done to 1H for getting 97.9% and to 2C for having the fewest lates.

KS2 Attendance: 94.6%

Well done to 5B for getting 97.1% and to 4D & 6S for having the

fewest lates.

Weekly 100% Attendance Draw

149 children in EYFS & KS1

191 children in KS2

Values and Ethos Survey

This year we are developing a common core of values that will be integral to our

new school ethos and vision.

It will be important to involve the whole school community in this process and

consequently we would like our parents and carers to complete this short

survey: The role of Torriano in teaching about the wider world.

This is an exciting chance to share your views on Torriano's curriculum and the

world. To complete the survey please visit: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/

FKPTVNG

Sports Tournaments

Torriano teams have been busy attending a range of sporting events

this week. The Torriano Tigers basketball team played their first

match against secondary school children and were commended on

their team effort. Awards were given to two children at the indoor

athletics event for their determination and the dodge ball team

played an astonishing 16 games in one tournament.

Term Dates

Please note that the term dates for the 2017-2018 academic year are now available on the school website.

Year 2 visited the Foundling Museum last Friday. This helped bring to life what

the children knew about Thomas Coram and the Foundling Hospital. Ask Year 2 about the great work that he did and how he was a philanthropist.

Reception had a magical day

at cave school. The windows were covered, the lights were switched off and a magical world of alternative light sources emerged - including UV black lights, fibre optic lamps and torches!

Earlier this week there

was a special visitor in year 3, all the way from the Stone Age! Following this exciting visit, the children met Laura from the Museum of London who shared Stone Age artefacts with them.

Nursery have been reading ‘Whatever Next’. The children have been talking about

what it might be like in space and have enjoyed acting out the story using a range of story props.

Year 4 had a fantastic trip to the British Museum where they put their

coding and code breaking skills into action. Using the Rosetta Stone, the children deciphered ancient hieroglyphics and used their new found knowledge to code their names on computers to make a series of LEDs light up.

This week year 5 have be extremely lucky to have had an immersion in

the ancient culture of the Maya. Mexicolore joined us and shared huge amounts of knowledge and artefacts.

Year 6 have started their new topic on electricity and have learnt how circuits

work. Small charged particles, called electrons, whizz around a complete circuit and make components work. They discovered that if the circuit isn’t complete the electrons won’t flow.

Year 1’s High Street opened this week and many parent shoppers came

along and purchased a range of things, including cookies from the bakery and nails at the hardware store. The children worked very hard to research and prepare for the day. Thank you to all the parents and carers who visited the High Street!

Your child can plan and have fun

during the school holidays at

Camden Square Play Centre.

The play centre is open during the

February half term from Monday

13th February - Friday 17th

February. Opening hours are from

8.00am - 6.00pm for extended day

(£24 or £16.50 with subsidy) or

from 11.00am - 4.00pm for core

day (£12).

Flexible bookings are available, for

more information please call

Camden Square on 0207 485 6827

or visit the website at

www.maidenlanecommunitycentr

e.org

A Message from the PTA

The PTA would like to thank everyone who

volunteered at the Winter Fair last term, we

raised over £1000 after costs, which is

amazing! In anticipation of the Valentines

disco on Thursday 9th February, we would

like to invite children to post suggestions of

songs they would like to dance to. We will

place a box in the school reception from

Monday 16th and then compile all the

requests into a playlist.

Date & Time Event

Wednesday 25th January, 9.15am 4L Class Assembly

Wednesday 25th January, 10.00am 1H Class Assembly

Wednesday 1st February, 9.15am 3H Class Assembly

Thursday 2nd February, 9.15am EYFS Parent/Carer Writing Workshop

Thursday 2nd February, 2.30pm EYFS Parent/Carer Stay and Write Session

Friday 10th February Year 4 Trip - London Zoo

Friday 10th February Year 5 Trip - Wonderlab Science Museum

Monday 13th - Friday 17th February HALF TERM

Monday 20th February, 9.00am Children Return to School

ESOL Class - Change of Date

The ESOL course at Torriano has been

rescheduled and will now begin after the

Easter holidays. It will take place on a

Thursday afternoon. If you would like to

register for the course, please contact the

school office. This course is open to all

members of the community. For more

information please speak to Maria Lewis.