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Our value we're focusing on this half term: Respect
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Welcome to the December edition of the Grayswood School Newsletter. What a wonderfully festive month we have had!
We hope you enjoy a look back at all the fun and the memories made.
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KS1 Nativity
Our youngest pupils kicked off December with two wonderful performances of their Nativity Performance, A Midwife Crisis.
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KS2 Carol Concert
It was then the turn of our older students who performed a wonderful collection of songs to tell the story of the Nativity.
We loved seeing the children getting into the Christmas spirit, singing their hearts out and speaking so confidently!
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Our thanks to https://www.skyfireimaging.com/ for providing photography for us this year!
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Carols for Oak Hall and All Saints
A selection of students, led by Mrs Burrell, travelled to Oak Hall Care Home to spread some festive cheer and perform a small selection of carols. This was followed by a performance at our local church.
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Grayswood Christmas Lunch
The highlight of the Christmas period for many of us, the annual Grayswood Christmas Lunch!
Our thanks to Michael and Gwen in the kitchen for providing such a feast, and to FROGS for all the crackers!
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Swifts Church Service
Our Year 5 students this week provided the rest of the school with a superb telling of the Nativity story in our neighbouring church.
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Reindeer Run
To end the festivities, all Grayswood pupils had lots of fun taking part in our annual sponsored run, in aid of Phyllis Tuckwell.
Our thanks to our neighbours at Grayswood House for the use of their beautiful grounds once again.
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Poppy Appeal Update
We have just received a wonderful letter from the RBL Poppy Appeal thanking the school for its fundraising efforts this year.
We are extremely pleased to say we raised a total of £200.99.
Thank you to everyone for your generous contributions.
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A reminder of the Eco-Warrior Advent Calendar
Our Eco Warriors created a special Eco Advent Calendar to inspire everyone to make sustainable choices this festive season!
Each day in December reveals a simple, eco-friendly act, from reducing waste to conserving energy. Don't forget to continue all the good work over the holidays!
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Stars of the Week
6th December: Iris, Margot, Etta, Leo A, Isabelle I, Wilfred, Viva, Max, Bobby, Riley, Noah W, Izzy, Isla N, Amelie
13th December: Elspeth, Misha, Milo, Peggy, Maxi, Mila Y, Thomas C-Y, Samuel, Nancy, Ava D, O.J, Jacob B, Olivia W, Dylan, Toby L, Rayne
School Value Awards
6th December: Hugh N, Kyra, Audrey W
13th December: Agatha, Ashlyn, Harvey
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Congratulations to the recipients of a Values Award this term: Rafe, Hugh, Reuben, Isla, Mabel, Rose, Jacob and Zachary.
We hope you wear your new green star badges with pride!
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House Points
The house point totals for this term are:
Hawking - 1629
Darwin - 1293
Lovelace - 1270
Burns - 1096
Congratulations to those in Hawking who can come in Mufti on Friday 10th January.
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Good attendance is not just valuable, it's essential. Good attendance promotes good outcomes for pupils and provides them with the very best opportunity to reach their potential.
We regularly track the attendance for each child and communicate with parents where any concerns may be emerging. The government class attendance below 90% is as 'persistently absent' and under 50% 'severely absent'.
The percentage attendance figures for each class as a whole in December are:
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1st. Kites - 96.85%
2nd. Robins - 95.66%
3rd. Swifts - 94.74%
4th. Wrens - 92.08%
5th. Swallows - 91.26%
6th. Kingfishers - 89.46%
7th. Woodpeckers - 88.77%
Well done Kites on topping the leaderboard for December!
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Just to remind parents/carers that our new attendance policy will come into action from September 2024. If you take your child/children out of school without authority for 5 or more days (which do not have to be consecutive), then the following will apply:
1. If you have not incurred a penalty notice relating to this child/children in a rolling 3 year period since 19 August 2024, then the penalty notice will be charged at the rate of £160.00, per parent/carer per child, if paid within 28 days. This will be reduced to £80.00 if paid within 21 days of receipt of the notice. Failure to pay the Penalty Notice will result in Surrey County Council considering legal proceedings against you in the Magistrates Court.
2. If you have incurred a penalty notice relating to this child/children since 19 August 2024, the rolling 3 year period will be activated from the date of the first penalty notice and the second penalty notice will be charged at the flat rate of £160.00, per parent/carer per child, if paid within 28 days. There will be no reduction for payment within 21 days. Failure to pay the Penalty Notice will result in Surrey County Council considering legal proceedings against you in the Magistrates Court.
3. If you have incurred 2 penalty notices relating to this child/children in the rolling 3 year period since the first penalty notice was issued, then you will NOT receive a third penalty notice – Surrey County Council will have no option but to consider a prosecution, per parent/carer per child, in the Magistrates Court under s 444 Education Act 1996.
Surrey County Council is not responsible for authorising pupil absence and therefore cannot withdraw any Penalty Notice requests without the written permission of the Headteacher.
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Termly update
The Autumn term is always especially busy for our School PTA, Frogs. Just some of the highlights have been:
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Colour Run
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Crazy Hair Day
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Cake Sales (Year 6 and Year 5)
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Christmas cards
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Christmas Fair (huge thanks to Fiona Bradley for organising)
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Christmas Raffle
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Refreshments at Christmas events
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Grayswood puddings
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Uniform sales
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FROGS Lotto
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Things FROGS have funded this term:
- Portable BBQ
- Hostess trolley food warmer
- Books
- Decimal place slider
- Storage boxes
- Stationery
- Changing Shadows Kit
- Letter chart
- Fridge and lock
- Children’s Christmas dinner supplies
- New projector for the hall
Thank you to everyone who has supported FROGS, by helping out at events, baking, buying uniform, raffle tickets or some delicious Christmas treats!
We wish you all a very merry Christmas.
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Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)
'Tis the season to be jolly'... and enjoy reading a new book. The video clip in the link below demonstrates a perfect way to share your child's new books with them. It provides a warm and reassuring way to support your child to read not just their school reading books but interest books, magazines, comics and so on.
Wishing you all a peaceful and happy Christmas, Mrs. Ireland
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l23wV6JKCpo
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Food Banks
As a school we are able to refer families who may need a little extra support to the local food banks in Haslemere (Haslemere Methodist Church) or Godalming (if you live in or around Witley).
If you would like to know more please email our Home School Link Worker, Sarah De Marcos (in confidence) at:
hslw@grayswood.surrey.sch.uk
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Hosting a party?
A reminder that you can hire our school hall for your parties, events or clubs. It's available after school, at weekends and during the school holidays.
To find out more please contact our School Business Manager, on sbm@grayswood.surrey.sch.uk
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