This week we have been learning about Road Safety. Mrs Jerman and Miss Khatun led assemblies sharing the ‘Be Bright, Be Seen’ message, which is particularly important at this time of year as the evenings become darker. Next week we are encouraging children to walk to school and take part in our pedometer challenge. Everyone should have received a letter with the challenge sheet but a copy can also be found here.
It was ‘No Pens Day’ on Wednesday and we saw some really creative learning across take place across the school. In Reception children painted Russian Dolls, in Year 1 children made moon buggies and in Year 2 children created Tudor portraits (whilst dressed as Tudors!). Year 2 also had a surprise visit from none other than Henry VIII!
Seve joined the Upper for the first time on Wednesday and was an instant hit! The children stroked and cuddled him on the gates. After that Seve visited each class for a more formal introduction and even more cuddles! Seve will be at the Upper School again on Wednesday to spend some time with groups of children and to hear some children read. Please see our gallery to view photos of Seve’s visit.
On Thursday KS1 had a special assembly where they learnt all about Diwali and the Hindu faith. Year 2 then had a workshop after this to find out even more and act out the Diwali story, complete with amazing costumes! Thank you to Nabhi from the London Institute of Vedic Education for coming to meet us at Cypress.
We celebrated lots of children’s achievements in our Rainbow assembly today at the Lower School. Well done to Yusuf and Nooria for winning a Word of the Week rosette. Next week our word is jumper. At the Upper School, Elsie from Larch class won the Word Wizard Rosette for using the word ‘overpowering; in an ambitious sentence. This week the word is ‘feud‘. Get your entries in before 9:00am to be in with a chance to win! Well done to all of our Rainbow winners this week!
This morning Sycamore class treated us to a wonderful assembly about Beowulf. They wrote descriptive narratives of the fight between Grendel and Beowulf! We were so impressed with their adventurous vocabulary and use of literary devices for effect! They finished the assembly by singing Coldplay’s ‘Viva La Vida’, an ode dedicated to the downfall of Grendel at the hands of Beowulf. Well done to Sycamore it was a great way to st
Cypress Superstars
Lower School – Well done to Frank, Axel and Emad for their fantastic maths this week, calculating amounts using coins. We are really proud of Oskar for his huge improvements in reading! We’ve also seen some great maths in Year 1 from Kalishan, Rose and Maqdis where they have been learning to add or subtract by 1 or 2. Kaden in Reception has worked hard to write the name of his friends on his magic carpet list, using his phonics to help. Great work from Ellie, Axel, Dylan and Finley for creating Tudor portraits; we are so impressed with their attention to detail.
Upper School – Well done to Mohammed, who has been working his phonics and can blend his sounds perfectly. It was great listening to you read with automaticity! Dara visited me to show me his free hand cutting of a dinosaur – very creative and nimble handiwork, Dara! Taylor has been working independently this week and showed me his Literacy work. He correctly sequenced and retold the fable, The Hare and the Tortoise by Aesop. Well done, Taylor! Evie, Leo, Harry, Dara and Tom, wrote descriptive narratives retelling the story of Fantastic Mr Fox – great vocabulary choices with a plethora of expanded noun phrases for additional detail!
Christmas performances, lunch and fundraising
We’re starting to feel festive! Please make a note of the arrangements and dates for our Christmas performances: Little Cypress, Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 and Year 5. We are collecting new toys and gifts for the Salvation Army Christmas Present Appeal, who will then distribute these to vulnerable local families. We are also supporting Christmas Jumper Day on Friday 9th December. Please return your child’s Christmas Lunch slips by Monday 28th November.
After School Club update
After 15 years of leading After School Club at the Lower School, Ms Shadbolt is leaving for a very well deserved break! Her last day at ASC will be Wednesday 30th November and we thank her for her many years of hard work within our popular Extended Schools provision. Ms Shadbolt will continue to lead our Breakfast Club and Rainbows. We welcome Lorraine Mangan as the new full-time Deputy Manager at ASC.
Support for families
Croydon Council are launching a new initiative to support families with children aged 0-7. Click here to find out more about the HENRY Programme.
There is a FREE Christmas holiday club available for children in receipt of Free School Meals (FSM). Please look at the attached leaflet here and contact Playzone to book a place.
Next week…
On Tuesday Green class (Yr1) are visiting the Science Museum so please ensure your child is in school ay 8.15am. On Wednesday the photographer is returning to the Lower School to take sibling photographs and we also have flu immunisations taking place for all children in Reception to Year 6. On Friday the author and poet James Carter is visiting us to lead an exciting KS1 assembly and workshops with children in Year 1 (rescheduled from this week). We’re looking forward to welcoming families at our Coffee Morning for Parents/Carers of children with SEND next Thursday 1st December at 9.15am in the Lower School Community Room. Our PTFA Winter Fair is being held after school on Friday 2nd December!
We hope everyone has a lovely weekend.
Mrs Carpenter, Mrs Sorensen and the Cypress Team
