Tuesday 3 May 2016

Poster winners

Congratulations to Abigail (6K), Rahma (3A) and Mayar (2P) for winning our dining hall poster competition organised by our school council. All three girls designed eye catching posters that help to remind all our pupils about how to ensure a positive dining hall experience. Well done girls!


I am looking forward to seeing these posters up in the small hall in the near future.

Rona Mackie
Headteacher

Friday 26 February 2016

Showing commitment!

This week's theme has focused on how children can show commitment to our school or to interests outside of school.

On Monday, a number of our children celebrated 'Thinking Day' and came to school dressed in their Brownies, Rainbows, Beavers and Scouts uniforms. They all stood up in assembly and talked about the commitment they make to their club outside school. They also talked about the different skills they have to learn to gain badges. I was so impressed and really hope they inspire more children to join similar groups.

Layla and Isla in the Rainbows' uniform
Miles in the Beavers' uniform
Dillan, Jamie T and Jamie G in the Scouts' uniform

Brownies were the most popular!

I also had the privilege of speaking to another pupil in Year 2 who came to talk to me about a commitment he has outside of school. Callum in 2P came to show me his golf clubs and explained that he goes to play golf every week. I was so impressed and think he might be the next Tiger Woods!



I also mentioned the commitment many of our children show to our after school sports clubs and we celebrated the recent achievements of our 5/6 netball teams.

Throughout the week, I also witnessed all our pupils showing great commitment to their learning in all subjects including literacy, maths and science.

What a great start to the second half of the spring term!

Rona Mackie
Headteacher

Monday 8 February 2016

Fantastic learners at Guildford Grove

Last week, I had lots of children sent to my office to show me their excellent work and talk to me about how engaged they were in their learning. I also enjoyed several walks around the school where I visited classes and witnessed high levels of engagement and excellent behaviour.

I really enjoyed visiting the Foundation Stage where they have created amazing under the sea displays for the children to enjoy. I spent a lovely half an hour enjoying the KS2 children singing with Mrs Schollar and Mrs Pedder and I also had a very useful meeting with our school council who talked me through the work they have been doing on finding out how our pupils feel about eating in the dining hall. 

Also well done to our Year 5 and 6 netball teams who represented our school so well when they played QE last week. They are such committed players.


KS2 singing
Hollie's amazing Science!
Emerald's fantastic effort in Science.
Another great Science book from Chantelle
Miliena and Kaela created their own computer timer using the scratch programme.
Michael and Aliye had a great week and came to see me several times!



Rona Mackie
Headteacher

Monday 11 January 2016

The start of a new year!


Happy new year! The children have settled quickly into the new term and are already very engaged in their learning in class. It is always a delight to see them so eager to return back to school and seeing them so happy to catch up with their friends and teachers.

On Wednesday, our Year 6 pupils went up to London to visit the Science museum and see 'Wicked' at the theatre. I was lucky enough to attend this trip and I was so proud of how well our pupils conducted themselves both at the museum and in the theatre. We had several members of the public come up to us and comment on how well behaved our pupils were and what a pleasure it was to see them enjoy the show so much. Well done Year 6!

I know the Year 5 pupils will do the same when they visit London this week to go to the Natural History museum and to go and watch 'The Lion King'.



Look how close we were to the stage!

Many thanks,

Rona Mackie
Headteacher

Wednesday 25 November 2015

Celebrating Success

What I love about being a Headteacher are the visits I receive from pupils showing me what they have recently learned in class. This week has been no exception. I have had regular knocks on my door from proud children desperate to tell me why they have been sent down to see me. I thought it would be nice to share some of these stories with you.

Leo, Callum and Mary had demonstrated excellent knowledge in their science lesson with Mrs Donald. They were able to tell me what scientific words like soluble and viscosity meant. Fantastic!

Tegan and Aliye were proud to tell me that they had been supporting other children in their class with their learning. They are excellent role models!

Jude was delighted to show me what Ozzie the Owl had got up to when he visited Jude for the weekend. He was very proud of the pictures and writing he had completed with the help of his family. Ozzie looked like he had a great time and Jude seemed pleased to get a chance to sit in my chair!

Charlie amazed me with his science book. He was able to tell me what he had learned from the experiment he had completed on separating mixtures.
 

I am very proud of all our pupils and the hard work they put into their learning. 

Rona Mackie
Headteacher

Amazing Achievements at Guildford Grove

Guildford Grove seem to be on a bit of a winning streak at the moment. I was delighted to hear that two of our pupils had been chosen as runners up for our Member of Parliament's annual Christmas card. Well done to Alisha-Mea from 1T and Chantelle Miles from 5J for their fantastic designs. 

Another big well done to Miriam Perez from 5B. She was picked as a winner of a 'Road Safety Banner' competition. She was one of just 12 national winners across the UK and this is the second time Guildford Grove has won the competition. On Monday, representatives from the competition presented Miriam with an engraved cup and presented the school with a large banner of Miriam's design. You can see her design on our school fence. Well done Miriam!


What fantastic achievements!

Rona Mackie
Headteacher

Sunday 8 November 2015

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