Hobb Lane

Hedge End, Southampton Hampshire, SO30 0GG

Telephone: (01489) 782295

E-mail: admin@freegrounds-jun.hants.sch.uk

Website: www.freegrounds-jun.hants.sch.uk

Headteacher: Mrs Deborah Johnson, BEd, MSc

No. 5 School Newsletter December 2017

Tesco Bags of Help Scheme – Please vote for Freegrounds Junior School to help us re-ceive funding for an outdoor library and reading garden.

Please can you ask for a blue token when you pay for your purchases - big or small. You may need to ask for the blue token during the transaction. You can vote at the following Tesco stores:- Tesco Extra, Bursledon Towers, Bursledon Tesco Express, Shamblehurst Lane, Hedge End Tesco Express, Tanhouse Lane, Hedge End Please can you ask your friends and family to vote for us and help us to make our outdoor library and

reading garden a fantastic learning environment for our children to enjoy. Thank you.

Wonderful Vocal Festival at Wildern School

On Tuesday 28th November the choir walked to Wildern School to sing at the Vocal Festival. There were 5 schools singing together and it was really exciting for everyone. We were feeling nervous as, when we got there, we found out just how many people we were going to be performing in front of. Some people were brave enough to have solos and Ava, Scarlett, Melissa and Keira sang the last line of “Sing”, by Gary Barlow, in a quartet. We had mixed emotions, excited and happy that we were chosen to sing in a

quartet but nervous and scared in case we made a mistake. The choir sang: “Drop in the ocean”,“Ain’t no mountain high enough”, “Sing”, “Build it high” and our grand finale, and most of choir’s favourite, “Can’t stop the feeling!” This year’s theme was “Believe in yourself and don’t give up”. The concert went really well and we all left with big smiles on our faces. Thank you to everyone who supported the choir. By Ava and Scarlett (Year 5)

School Closure Emergency Procedure

As the cold weather is once again upon us it is a good time to remind everyone about the emergency school procedures that are in place during the winter months.

In the event of icy conditions the front playground will be closed off and children/visitors will be asked to follow the gritted path to the gate at the top of the playground and to the main entrance. In extreme conditions if a decision is taken not to open the school, a message will be sent to all Parents/carers who have signed up to the school email system and will be posted on the school website. We will endeavour to make a decision as early as possible in the morning, by 7.30am at the latest. In addition we will notify BBC Radio Solent although, from experience, we know that there can be a time delay in getting the message broadcast. Please do visit the school web site for the most up to date information.

Freegrounds Junior School Association

Winter Wonderland Christmas Fayre Saturday 2nd December

11.30—2.30pm Family fun at Christmas

Festive crafts and stalls, Elf games, Rudolph’s Raffle, photo booth and carols Delicious gammon rolls, mince pies, candy floss, mulled wine and hot chocolate

Plus a visit to Santa’s Grotto from a very special guest… (be sure to pre-book your child’s slot via the school office)

Attendance

Well done, to all 224 pupils who received their 100% attendance certificates for the first half of the Autumn term.

A quick reminder that the school day begins at 8.55am and all pupils are expected to be in school at this time. The register officially closes 15 minutes after the start time. If your child is absent, you must contact the school as soon as possible on the morning of the first day of absence and on each subsequent day. Any unrecorded absences will be followed up by a phone call, this is because we have a duty to ensure your child’s safety as well as their regular school attendance.

Sports Desk

What a successful November for our teams who have represented the school in local events in Indoor Athletics,

Football and Dodgeball. Our Girls’ Football team travelled to Castle School in Portchester in the Hampshire Cup.

What a fantastic game! The girls were up against a good team and we spent the first ten minutes blitzing their goal

only to find their goalkeeper in amazing form with save after save. We eventually scored, followed shortly after

with a second goal. However, in a strange turn of events we ended up 3-2 down at half time! One positive team

talk later, and the dark closing in, we went on to win the match 7-4 with a fantastic all round performance. Special

mention must go to Darcey Maxted for scoring an amazing six goals and Sophie Lunnon the seventh. We are now

at home in the quarter final with two teams from Portsmouth playing to see who will meet us. Well done girls!

This half term we also travelled to Hamble School for a Year 5/6 Indoor Athletics competition. This was the second

event with the overall winners of the two competitions going through to the Hampshire County Finals. With six

field events, three running and two relays, we took eight boys and six girls from year 6 and two girls from year 5.

During the competition points were awarded for places in each event in rank order. Overall the boys finished in

first place with a total of 120 points and the girls in second place with a score of 92. This was a brilliant result

meaning that we finished in second place overall, but sadly just missing out on the place in the county

finals.

For the final event this half term we visited Wildern School where six schools from the Wildern Primary Partnership

joined together in a Dodgeball Festival. This was a fun event enabling pupils to experience participating in a

competitive event. Freegrounds took a team of Year 4 and 5 children, who represented the school with a great

attitude. Not only did the team have a great time, but they won four of their five games and drew the other! Not

only was this a super achievement, but they were recognised as the fairest team too!

Well done Freegrounds!

Learning To Learn

The Learning Council have been busy

reviewing how we celebrate when children

have worked towards different Learning to

Learn skills. They have decided that

instead of a certificate they would like

children to be recognised with a sticker and

a Housepoint. Our new stickers will be

arriving soon so do look out for them!

Lunchtime Award

Each Friday, our Lunchtime Assistants nominate up to 6 pupils who have demonstrated our

school behaviour code by being caring, helpful, polite and kind at lunchtime during the week.

Each pupil is presented with a certificate in our Celebration Worship on a Friday afternoon and

they are invited to sit at top table with Mrs. Johnson to eat their lunch the following Monday.

We would like to share with you the names of the pupils who have been nominated.

Sadie Gallagher Evie Rogers Oliver Cunliffe

Matthew Taylor Cameron Berry Remy De-Rose-Dean

Max Appleton Maggie Rose-Smythe Dylan Harfield

Evan Foster Lucy Collins Keira Bradley

Joe Cook Max McIntosh Molly Rooney

Erin Bailey Poppy Spashett Sophie Lunnon

Sophie Broom

Freegrounds Junior School - Governor Profile

Terri became a co-opted governor in February 2015 and was appointed Vice Chair after the reconstitution in March 2015. She is also the Chair of the Finance, Personnel and Resource committee. Terri has had several years experience as a governor across a range of schools from when her children where in the education system. Terri brings to the governing body her skills and experience in strategic planning, risk management and data analysis. In her spare time she loves spending time with her family, watching her sons and grandsons play rugby. She also loves to knit and crochet. The FJS value that resonates best with Terri is 'aspirational'. She shows this by being ambitious, wanting the best for our community and making a positive contribution towards achieving it.

http://freegroundsjunior.schoolvle.org/index.php/vision-and-values/

Christmas card to Gambia

This year the children have sent a very special

Christmas card to a school in Gambia. Our school

councillors and house captains helped to make a

personalised card and then decorated the envelope with

Christmas designs. The card was hand delivered by

Natalie Ford and Theresa

Bickle on their visit to

Gambia this month. Both

Natalie and Teresa have

children who previously

attended Freegrounds so it was a lovely opportunity to send a

personalised, hand delivered, card. PS They also delivered a few treats!

2017-18 Diary Dates Saturday 2nd December - FJSA Winter Wonderland Christmas Faye 11.30am—2.30pm Wednesday 6th December - Prospective Year 3 Open Morning for parents Thursday 7th December - Prospective Year 3 Open Morning for parents Thursday 7th December - Eco Council ‘Loose Change’ Day—collection for school grounds. Monday 11th December - FJSA Secret Shopping Event Tuesday 12th December - Christmas Lunch Wednesday 13th December - iRock Christmas Assembly for children followed by a Concert at 3.45pm for parents of children who attend iRock. Thursday 14th December - FJSA Secret Shopping Event Friday 15th December - School Open Afternoon for parents from 2.30pm—all parents/ carers welcome. Tuesday 19th December - Christmas ‘Thank You’ Assembly for invited guests. Wednesday 20th December - Christmas Parties—all year groups Thursday 21st December - INSET Day -School Closed for children

Christmas Holidays - Friday 22nd December 2017 - Wednesday 3rd January 2018

Friday 12th January - Openbox Theatre Panto—Whole School Monday 15th January - Year 6 Parents’ Evening—3.45—7.00pm Wednesday 17th January - Year 3 visit to Winchester Cathedral Thursday 18th January - Year 6 Parents’ Evening—3.45—7.00pm Tuesday 30th January 2.30pm - Year 3—Class assembly—Elm Weds 31st January 2.30pm - Year 3—Class assembly—Ash Thursday 1st February 2.30pm - Year 3—Class assembly—Oak Tuesday 6th February 2.30pm - Year 5—Class assembly—Larch Thursday 8th February 2.30pm - Year 5—Class assembly—Cedar Friday 9th February 2.30pm - Year 5—Class assembly—Willow

Half Term - Monday 12th February 2018 — Friday 16th February 2018

Thursday 1st March - World Book Day—Dress up day Wednesday 7th March - Mothers’ Day Shopping Thursday 8th March - Mothers’ Day Shopping Friday 9th March - INSET Day -School Closed for children

Health and Safety

Due to safeguarding, please can all parents/carers report to the school office if they need to see a teacher, make an appointments, use the toilet facilities or look for lost property. I’m sure you can

appreciate the importance of doing this to ensure the safety of the children in our care.

Health & Safety

COATS—With the cold weather well on its way can we please ask that you ensure your child wears a named coat to school as all children go outside at lunchtime and breaktime. WATER BOTTLES—Staying hydrated even in the winter months is very important. Please can all children bring a named water bottle to school

everyday. Please note that we are a NUT FREE school. Please take care to check that items in packed lunchboxes do not contain nuts.