Our Foundation Stage

This week, I was lucky enough to observe lots of fantastic teaching and learning in the Foundation Stage. I was really proud to see our youngest pupils so engaged in all their learning. I enjoyed watching lessons in maths, writing, phonics and understanding the world with both our Reception and  Nursery pupils. The children displayed excellent learning habits and showed great progress. When I popped back to see them later on that day, the children could still tell me what they had learned in the earlier session. Amazing! 

Lewis from Sunflowers showing his writing

Jolie had written a list of all the things that had kept Mr Bear awake in Peace At Last

Tilly had worked incredibly well and had even attempted to spell aeroplane!

Tilly's work up close

Mrs Gale teaching writing

Martin learning about his five senses

Louie showed me he could remember one of the five senses he had learned. He told me his ears help him to hear

Harry showed me he remembered the letter 'l' that he had learned in his morning phonics session

Mason showed me he had remembered all his numbers from 1 to 10

Next week, our Year 5 pupils are very much looking forward to going to Sayers' Croft for their residential. I walked in on their meeting this week where they were able to ask Mr Bibby questions about the trip. They all looked very excited. The school will be very quiet this week!

Also this week, we will be holding our Remembrance Assembly. Mrs Curtis and her group of helpers, have worked hard this week to get our poppy installation up onto the school fence. Many members of the community, not just from the school, have helped to create the poppies and I'm sure you will agree that it makes a very beautiful display for a very important event.

Many thanks,

Rona Mackie

Headteacher

Representing Guildford Grove

This week, our whole school theme is 'Representing Guildford Grove'. The children are thinking carefully about all the times that they are representing our school when they are either wearing their school uniform or their PE kit. This can be either attending an after school club or even walking to and from school. We are reminding children that their behaviour at these times should be exactly the same as the excellent behaviour they model in class. All our visitors to Guildford Grove always comment on how engaged and how well behaved all our pupils are.

This was really apparent during our first ever netball match. Our year 5 and 6 netball club played a game against St Bede's school on the MUGA after school. Lots of parents and teachers cheered them on and they really made us proud. Considering they had only been playing netball for a matter of weeks, they really preserved and made big improvements as the match progressed. We were very proud of how brilliantly they represented Guildford Grove. Thank you to Mrs Robson for organising the game and thank you to Miss Jones (5J) for coaching the team. 

This week is also our annual 'Book Week' and we are all looking forward to the week ahead.

Many thanks,

Rona Mackie

Headteacher

School Council

At Guildford Grove, we have a fantastic school council made up of Year 5 and 6 children. The school council meet weekly and feedback regularly to the other children in the school. 

Over the years, our school council have contributed to making improvements to our school including setting up activities on the playground at lunchtimes and leading anti-bullying week. Some of our school council have also been involved in the recruitment of teachers and have led workshops for staff, parents and governors. 

Today, I had a chat with our new chair of the school council, Lauren McIntyre. She was in school council last year and stepped into this important role in September. She has a clear vision about what the school council will focus on this year and is keen to have a positive impact. I have every faith that she will do this. Congratulations Lauren and well done school council!

Lunchtimes

I was so pleased to see our new Reception children enjoying their first ever lunchtimes at Guildford Grove last week. I popped out onto the playground on Thursday and I was delighted to see our youngest children enjoying the range of activities on offer to them. 

Our older pupils were fantastic and were so keen to help and play with their younger peers. It was really lovely to see siblings playing and supporting their younger sisters and brothers. It made me very proud of our school!

The lunchtime supervisors have also set up a quiet area in the courtyard where our Reception pupils can go to if the playground is a bit too big and busy for them. 

Here are some pictures to enjoy!

Rona Mackie
Headteacher

Theme of the week - Having good table manners!

This week, we focused on what it means to have good table manners. During our Monday morning assembly, we discussed what good behaviour looks like in the dining hall and came up with some fantastic ideas to have in a 'dining hall code of conduct'. They remembered that children should eat with their mouths closed and they should try and keep all of their food on their plate (rather than on the floor!). Some of our teachers also became pupils in the assembly and they acted out poor table manners. Our pupils came to their rescue and were able to help them correct their behaviour. They reminded them to have quiet conversations with the children on their table, to use a knife and fork correctly and how to sit nicely on their seat. This week, I spent a lot of time in the dining hall and was really impressed with our pupils' table manners. I enjoyed having conversations with them about their learning during the week and they all made sure they finished eating before they spoke to me.

Enjoy the photos of today's lunch. The children from Year One to Year Six really enjoyed their food today. You can see by their happy faces!

Have a lovely weekend.

Rona Mackie
Headteacher