Hilltop Infant School Newsletter Hill Avenue, Wickford. Essex. SS11 8LT Tel. No.: 01268 762531 Email: hilltopinf.admin@heartsacademy.uk Website: http://hearts-hilltopinf.uk

Thursday 14th November, 2019 Autumn Term Issue No. 9 Executive Headteacher: Mrs K Mackenzie

Diary Dates:

15th November

Hedgehog

Hilltop Infant Disco

18th November

Individual Photos

19th November

Open morning for New Intake Families, 9:30am and 11am

22nd November

Sharing Assembly for Squirrel class

29th November

Sharing Assembly for Rabbit class

30th November

Christmas Fair, 1-4pm

This Week in School

In Hilltots this week we have been reading 'Elmer' and learned all about colours and elephants. We have been making our own patchwork elephants, using mosaic, weaving and painting techniques. We counted, sorted and linked elephants in colours and made patterns. We made a giant elephant mask and have been sorting colours using balls in the garden. We also designed and made a Hilltots 'build your own elephant obstacle course'. What a colourful week we have had!

This week in Reception we have been thinking about different colours and how they make

us feel. We have been thinking about emotions too. We have been exploring colour mixing

and experimenting with paint!

We have learned about Remembrance Day too. We have made

poppy wreaths, poppy biscuits and we watched a short

CBeebies animation. https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/

b04p4zsl/poppies We also learned about the story of Noah's Ark

in Holy Space. In Maths, we have explored addition by

combining groups using autumnal objects. In Number sense we

have been learning about the number 6.

This week in Year 1, the children have been learning the number bonds to 10 and doubling numbers up to 10. In English, we have been writing a narrative about the Apollo 11 mission using some interesting vocabulary we learnt this week. In Computing, the children have been learning all about algorithms and creating their own. In DT, the children have been exploring and making a simple version of a lever and a slider. Another busy week for our Year 1 children.

In Year 2 children have been writing their stories of the Moon landing. They have been transferring all the knowledge they have built up over last week’s English and History sessions into a detailed story about this piece of history. We have explored levers and sliders in DT and created a lever or slider toy. We have developed our knowledge of the world by labelling the main launch sites across the world in Geography. In Computing we learnt what an algorithm is, and used this knowledge to direct a partner around the playground using these types of instructions only. If that wasn’t enough, we have been starting to learn the Christmas songs that you’ll hear in the KS1 performance whilst finely tuning our (already wonderful) singing voices.

W/C 11.11.19

Reception Homework

Don’t forget to check on the website for the

learning link information.

School Dinners Week 3 New menu

Forest School Group A

Non-uniform

Thank you to everyone who brought in donations of bottles for the Christmas Fair last Friday. We were delighted with the response. All donations have been passed to HSA, our PTA. They are working very hard to plan for the Christmas Fair.

Thursday 14th November, 2019 Autumn Term Issue No. 9 Executive Headteacher Mrs K Mackenzie

Change of Address and Contact Details

If you have any changes to any of the contact details we hold in school it is very important that you inform the school office of these changes so that our records are correct and up to date.

Anti-Bullying Week

As part of our work in school for Anti-bullying Week, Mrs Ready met with 2 children from each class for a Talktime session to discuss how we can be a good friend. The children had lots of great ideas to share! In this week's celebration assembly, Fabulous Friend Certificates will be awarded for children who always demonstrate what wonderful friends they are.

Reading Tip of the Week!

Borrow some Christmas books from the library or buy some as an Advent gift for your child. There are some wonderful Christmas books that can be purchased very cheaply.

Miss Kennedy will be hosting a School Book Shop starting w/c 2nd

December. This will be a wonderful opportunity to purchase some Christmas gifts.

Hilltots

Hilltots have a few afternoon spaces available for 3 year olds.

Contact hilltots@heartsacademy.uk for more information or pop in for an application form.

Sponsor Day

Thank you very much to all the families who have pledged money for our sponsored events this term. We will be announcing the class that has raised the most in next week’s newsletter so please return all money by Wednesday 20th so that Mrs Webb can count it before we announce the winning class. We are very happy to receive money after Wednesday but it won’t be included in the class total.

Open Days for New Entrants for September 2020

Tuesday 19th November 9:30am & 11am

Thursday 5th December 9:30am

Thursday 9 January 9:30am & 10:30 am

See teaching and learning in action

Sharing Assemblies this half term

2:30pm 15th November - Hedgehog 2:30pm 22nd November - Squirrel 2:30pm 29th November - Rabbit

2:30pm 6th December - Deer 2:30pm 13th December - Otter

All family and friends are welcome to attend

Reading Survey

In book bags tomorrow

we will be sending home

a reading survey. We

would be very grateful if you would

complete this short survey and return to

either the school office or class teacher.

We will share the results with you once

they have all been collated.

Mrs Lee

Thursday 14th November, 2019 Autumn Term Issue No. 9 Headteacher Mrs K Mackenzie

Christmas Performance Dates

Hilltots and Reception

11th December, 2pm (siblings are welcome to attend/sitting on laps)

12th December, 9:30am

Years 1 & 2

11th December, 9:15am (siblings are welcome to attend/sitting on laps)

12th December, 2pm

13th December, 9:15am

A letter will be sent out next week to confirm booking arrangements.

Parking

Our 3PR Parking Project, led by Mrs Adkins, works to encourage all adult to park as far away from the school as possible. Thank you to the parents and children who are supporting this work. Unfortunately two parents would not move their cars from double yellow lines on Tuesday even though our 3PR children were present. We do ask that parents or other carers do not sit in cars with the engines running as exhaust fumes are unpleasant and dangerous. Many thanks for your help with this.

Reception admissions for academic year starting in September 2020

As you may be aware, the primary school (Reception) admissions opens on 11 November 2019 for parents of children to apply for a Reception school place for the academic year that start in September 2020. The closing date for applications is 15 January 2020.

The website www.essex.gov.uk/admissions also has a copy of the Primary Education in Essex 2020/21 booklet and the Schools Admissions Policies Directories contain details of all admission policies.

Clubs after half term

Invitations will be sent home this week for clubs that will be starting next week. Lego, board games and photography clubs finished this week.

IQ Cards – Christmas Cards, wrapping paper and gift tags

It’s that time of the year when we all start to consider Christmas cards and wrapping

paper. Why not consider something different this year! we have linked up IQ Cards who provide a service whereby your child/children have the joy of designing one for you.

For every pack sold the school earns 30%. Today we have sent home with your child the order form which needs to be completed together with your child's design which must be drawn on the reverse. If you would like your child to participate please make sure you return to the school office the completed designs by Wednesday 20.11.2019

All orders will be returned to Hilltop Infant School for collection on Friday 13.12.2019.

Children In Need

Tomorrow is a non-uniform day for Children In Need, for a donation of £1 children can also wear odd socks and/or something spotty.