Dear Parents/Carers, It has been such a busy Term 4. The children have been working so hard and we have particularly noticed the improvement in their writing. Spelling and grammar continues to be a big focus in the classroom work and your support with the children at home is really paying dividends this term in the children’s writing. Parent consultations start this afternoon and the teachers will be able to identify your child’s gaps and strategies to close any gaps as quickly as possible. End of term assessments are taking place next week and following marking and analysis, the staff will share these results the beginning of next term. You will also receive your child’s attendance record and an amber or red letter - if there are concerns. Tomorrow, we sadly say goodbye to Mrs Holmes, one of our much loved teaching assistants. Mrs Holmes has been at Hellingly for over 5 years and I remember she started the same day as me. She has supported so many children with their learning and we have all benefitted from her amazing talents in art. The legacy of her murals fill the corridors and will bring enjoyment to many children and parents to come. Although we will miss her, we also recognise that it is important for people to progress in their career. Mrs Holmes will start at Ringmer Community College after Easter and is really excited to be working with older children, supporting children with special educational needs. Last week, we celebrated Red Nose Day and enjoyed dressing funny for money and had a fantastic visit from Brian Moses, our Patron of Reading – I hope you enjoy the photos on pages 5 and 6. Galaxies: Orla – for her ‘Can Do’ approach to school which has seen her make excellent progress in phonics! Galaxies: Orla – for making such good progress in her Read Write Inc with a great Can Do attitude! Asteroids: Abigail – for consistently doing her best and taking her learning home to develop further. Comets: Daniel R – for his superb contribution to learning and his enthusiasm. Cosmonauts: Millie – for being an amazing role model and an asset to the class. What a superstar! Satellites: Tabitha – for her excellent independent instructions on how to be a good gymnast. Meteors: Gemma – for her amazing instruction writing and always being ready to learn. Planets: Kyle – for excellent progress with his handwriting. Stars: Jasmine – for her incredible attitude to learning & 100% commitment. Galaxies: Heidi – for excellent description of 3D shapes. Asteroids: Oliver – for being a super learner and writing some great instructions. Comets: Niamh – for her work in Maths on multiplication and division. Cosmonauts: Sophia – for her amazing explanation about multiplication facts. Satellites: Morgan – for trying so hard with his learning and being ready as soon as he is asked. Meteors: Sol – for his effort and progress with his handwriting which has wowed Miss Whyman! Meteors: Enesha – for being such a brilliant learner. Planets: Jack – for his positive and enthusiastic attitude to learning and fantastic CHIMPING. Stars: Perri, Charlie, Dominic & Monty T – for taking part in the Hailsham 2017 Year 6 Quiz. We were all so proud watching them and coming 2

nd was the icing on the cake. Well done!

Galaxies: Bailey – for amazing improvement in his Read, Write Inc work. Asteroids: Carla – for her amazing instruction writing – her handwriting was superb! Comets: Freya – for her hard work and dedication with learning spellings and using them in her writing. Cosmonauts: Oscar – for his superb descriptive writing about the Chocolate Classsroom. Satellites: Keeva – for her great effort with CHIMPING her Maths. Meteors: Finley – for his huge improvement in his handwriting and spellings. Planets: Coby – for his amazing report about Rattlesnakes. Stars: Lillie – for her 100% commitment to Maths – coming in at 08.25am every day!

March 2017 Issue 11

A Message from

the Head

Headteacher: Kyra Ward

Hellingly News 2016- 2017

Headteacher Awards Monday 6th March 2017

Headteacher Awards Monday 13th March 2017

Headteacher Awards Monday 20th March 2017

The Cosmonauts have been busy investigating which bottles are the best to squirt ketchup on chips! They found out that it needs to be in washing up liquid bottles to squirt out the most ketchup! TESCO have received a complaint from a customer who was unhappy with her shopping and the Cosmo Scientists investigated to find the solutions. They also found the stretchiest tights and discovered how to fix a hole in plastic cups. They had lots of fun investigating in the sun.

This term, Comet Class have been investigating different materials in Science. They were set a task to find out which materials would be the best to make a child's shoe that has plenty of grip and that is comfortable to wear when running around.

We Love Learning

Cosomonauts Science

Comet’s Science

In Asteroids class, the children have been learning all about space and they have begun to build their very own model of the solar system - using their papier-mache skills. They have learnt lots about the planets and have written facts about the planet Mars in Literacy. Asteroids have also been TV chefs in Computing with Mrs Single, using their understanding of instruction writing to make their own video on how to make a sandwich!

Asteroids in Space!

Galaxies Visit to Bodiam Castle

We Love Learning

Galaxies enjoyed a beautiful sunny day at Bodium Castle, exploring the castle ruins, spotting all the different parts of a castle they had learnt about and climbing lots of steps to walk along the battlements.

Galaxies then enjoyed a story about a young boy called Arthur who worked as a chef at the castle. The story told his journey to becoming a Knight. They had the chance to try on parts of a Knight's armour and see how heavy and uncomfortable it was to wear. The children were not sure how anyone could go to battle wearing these heavy items!

Thank you to all the parents and helpers that came on the trip

4

We Love Learning

Red Nose Day

Well done to the school council for organising the Red Nose Day events. It was great fun seeing all the funny outfits. Many thanks for your generosity – we raised a total of £241.35 for such a worthwhile cause.

Video Conferencing Ugg Ugg from the Stone Age

Mrs Single organised for Satellites to make a call back in time as part of their Computing topic linked to the history of the Stone Age. The children wrote some questions they wanted to ask following their research and made a conference call via Skype to Ugg Ugg, our Hellingly Stone Age resident. The children wrote some really interesting questions and loved finding out more about what it was like to live during that time.

5

Brian Moses Patron of Reading

It was great to welcome Brian back into school for a day of poetry and the buzz in the school was electric. Brian gave another outstanding performance and then worked with Planets and Meteors developing their writing and grow into amazing poets. We are so lucky to have Brian as our patron and he is so supportive of the school.

Last week, Brian joined the staff for an INSET twilight and shared some inspiring ideas and resources to provoke imaginative writing. I know the children have enjoyed some of these already and the teachers have lots more planned for next term. At Hellingly, we have a lifelong approach to learning and as the Headteacher I enjoyed some of the creative ideas he shared so much that I felt like going back into the classroom!

Brian has helped the PTA out by setting the Easter Poetry Competition – see details in your child’s bookbag this week. I know Brian wants to publish the winners on his blog and I cannot wait to see the children using all their imaginative creativity to produce some amazing poems.

Don’t forget to enjoy some reading time over

the Easter holidays!

We Love Learning

6

Term 4 2016-2017

Monday 27th March @ 3.30pm – 7.00pm Parent Consultations (online booking in due course)

Wednesday 29th March from 3.30pm – 6.00pm Parent Consultations (online booking in due course)

Friday 31st March Term 4 Reward Morning

Friday 31st March School closes for Easter Holidays

Term 5 2016-2017

Tuesday 18th April School opens for Term 5

Wednesday 26th April @ 9.05am Comets Celebration Assembly – Parents Welcome

Monday 1st May May Bank Holiday – School Closed

Wednesday 3rd

May @ 9.05am Cosmonauts Celebration Assembly – Parents Welcome

Monday 8th May – Thursday 11

th May Year 6 SATS Week

Monday 15th May – Friday 19

th May Stars Year 6 Activities Week

Wednesday 17th May @ 9.05am Galaxies Celebration Assembly – Parents Welcome

Monday 22nd

– Friday 26th May Sex & Relationships Week

Tuesday 23rd

May NSPCC Assembly and workshops

Wednesday 24th May @ 9.05am Planets Celebration Assembly – Parents Welcome

Thursday 25th May @ 3.15pm – 4.00pm Book Look Year 1 – 6 Parents Welcome

Thursday 25th May @ 2.45pm – 3.30pm Galaxies Reception Tea Party - Parents Welcome

Friday 26th May Term 5 Reward Morning

Friday 26th May School Closes for Half Term

Term 6 2016-2017

Monday 5th June School opens for Term 6

Monday 12th June – Friday 16

th June Asteroids Year 1 Phonics Screening Test

Wednesday 14th June @ 9.05am Satellites Celebration Assembly – Parents Welcome

Monday 19th June – Friday 23

rd June Planets Year 5 Residential Trip

Wednesday 21st June @ 9.05am Meteors Celebration Assembly – Parents Welcome

Wednesday 28th June @ 9.05am Asteroids Celebration Assembly – Parents Welcome

Saturday 1st July Hellingly PTA Summer Fair

Monday 3rd

July KS1 Sports Day am & KS2 Sports Day pm

Monday 10th July Reserve Sports Day

Monday 10th July Stars Year 6 Dress Rehearsal

Tuesday 11th July @ 7pm Stars Year 6 Production (online booking in due course)

Wednesday 12th July @ 7pm Stars Year 6 Production (online booking in due course)

Thursday 13th July from 6pm – 8pm Stars Year 6 Leavers BBQ

Friday 14th July @ 9am Stars Year 6 Leavers Assembly

Wednesday 19th July Term 6 Reward Day

Wednesday 19th July School Closes for the Summer Holidays

Thursday 20th July INSET Day School Closed

Friday 21st July INSET Day School Closed

Diary Dates