Easter Church Visit
March 2023
We have been offered a brilliant opportunity to visit the Parish church for an Easter Experience! It is a visit that will enhance your child’s RE curriculum and their understanding of such an important event in the Christian calendar.
It is during the school day, so no travel arrangements are needed, no costs incurred. The dates are Tuesday 28th March for Year 3 and Redwood class and Wednesday 29th March for Poplar and Sycamore classes.
We will leave school at 1pm and return to school before end of day.
If you are able to come as a parent helper for these visits, please see the letter sent with your child, or email their teacher directly.
Thank you,
Year 3 and Year 4 Teams
Spring Term Newsletter 2023
Dear Parents/carers,
Happy Spring Term! We would like to share information about the forthcoming term:
The Year 4 Team
Sadly this term, we have said a fond goodbye to Mrs Lawrence – Poplar Class thanks her for everything she has done. Mrs Pegg has now returned after her maternity leave, joining Mrs McGibbon in Poplar Class. Our teaching assistants in Year 4 are Mrs Seeds (in Sycamore with Mrs Worthington), Mrs Gibbins, and Mrs Winfield. When Mrs Winfield goes on maternity leave, Mrs Lloyd Anderson will cover for her.
PPA (Planning, Preparation & Assessment)
On Tuesday mornings and Wednesday afternoons, the Year 4 teachers will be out of class on PPA time. Mr Wardle will continue to cover lessons across the Year 4 classes.
Our Curriculum
Our main topics this term are, ‘The Ancient Egyptians’ and ‘Project Arctic: Poles apart’. If you have any specialist knowledge or resources linked to the topics, we’d love to hear from you!
Work in other subjects will include:
Homework
Reading
It is an expectation that children will read a minimum of four times a week, preferably aloud to an adult. This recognises the importance of practising this vital life skill. Many reading skills, such as expression and intonation, can only be developed when reading aloud. Please record and sign all reading in homework diaries. Children, who meet the minimum target by the weekly diary check, will receive a reading reward.
Home Learning
If your child is absent from school for a prolonged period of time (with Covid 19 or other illnesses) and they are well enough to do schoolwork, please contact the school via teacher emails or through the office. We will then be able to set up work according to the circumstances.
P.E.
Our P.E. days this term are as follows:
Poplar Class – Wednesday morning and Friday afternoons
Sycamore Class – Tuesday morning and Friday afternoons
Children should come ready for PE on their allotted days. It is recommended that a tracksuit is worn during this term as it is cold outside. A note would be appreciated if your child is to be excused from his/her P.E. lesson. For health and safety reasons, earrings should be removed and long hair tied back.
We look forward to working in partnership with you to ensure that your child has a happy and productive year. If you have any queries, please email your child’s teacher or the office – the latter is the better option for a more immediate response. You can also use your child’s Home School diary (but please remind your child to show us the diary as we only have the diaries in once a week).
Mrs Worthington, Mrs McGibbon and Mrs Pegg
Autumn Term newsletter 2022
Dear Parents/carers,
Welcome to the new school year at Melbourne Junior School as your child moves into Year 4. We would like to let you know a little more about the Year 4 team and what we will be doing over the forthcoming term.
The Year 4 Team
We have a team of dedicated adults working with the children to support their learning. In addition to our class teachers: Poplar - Mrs McGibbon, Mrs Lawrence, Sycamore - Mrs Worthington and Redwood – Mr Radburn, our teaching assistants, Mrs Donnachie, Mrs Fortin – Tobin, Mrs Gibbins, Mrs Seeds and Mrs Winfield will also be working with and supporting groups of children.
PPA (Planning, Preparation & Assessment)
On Tuesday mornings, Mrs Worthington will be out of the classroom on PPA time, Mrs McGibbon and Mrs Lawrence will be out of class on Wednesday mornings on PPA time and Mr Radburn will be out of class on Friday mornings on PPA time. Mr Wardle will be teaching the Year 4 classes during these mornings.
Our Curriculum this term:
Dates for the Diary:
Thursday 15 September Project String Quartet concert for the whole school- Vivaldi
Monday 19th September Bank Holiday for The Queen’s Funeral
Thursday 22 September Online Safety workshops for all classes
5pm: On line safety workshop for parents – details to follow
Thursday 6 October National Poetry Day
Thursday 20 October Parents evening
Friday 21 October School closes for half term
Monday 31 October School reopens - Flu immunisations this half term
Tuesday 1 November Parents evening
16/17/18 November Y3/4 visits to Cresswell Crags (More details will follow)
Wednesday 21 December End of Term
Homework
Spelling
All children will be able to log-on to Spelling Shed in order to work on their weekly spellings.
Spelling activities also take place in the classroom each week.
Spellings are tested and new wordlists will be given out each Friday.
Reading
It is an expectation that children will read a minimum of four times a week, preferably aloud to an adult. This recognises the importance of practising this vital life skill. Many reading skills, such as expression and intonation, can only be developed when reading aloud. Please record and sign all reading in homework diaries. Children who meet the minimum target by the Friday diary check (Sycamore and Redwood)/Monday diary check (Poplar), will receive a Reading Reward.
P.E.
Our P.E. days this term are: Sycamore - Tuesday (indoor) and Friday (outdoor), Poplar – Wednesday (indoor) and Friday (outdoor) and Redwood – Tuesday (outdoor) and Friday (indoor).
Children should continue to come to school in P.E. kit on their P.E. days.
A note would be appreciated if your child is to be excused from his/her P.E. lesson. For health and safety reasons, earrings should not be worn on P.E. days and long hair tied back.
Parental Support
Parental support is highly valued and we are indebted to those parents who are able to provide consistent, or occasional, help within school with tasks such as reading, practical tasks or helping to prepare resources. If you can offer any help, please contact your child’s teacher.
Getting in touch
There are a number of ways you can contact us. We encourage the use of the homework diary for simple messages or queries and to contact the office in person or via the school email:
info@melbourne-jun.derbyshire.sch.uk
We are also available to be contacted via email using the following email addresses:
jmcgibbon@melbourne-jun.derbyshire.sch.uk
kelly.lawrence@melbourne-jun.derbyshire.sch.uk,
sue.worthington@melbourne-jun.derbyshire.sch.uk
mradburn@melnourne-jun.derbyshire.sch.uk
We will endeavour to respond to emails as soon as it is practicable to do so.
In addition, we are usually available after school. Alternatively, an appointment can be made for a mutually convenient time.
Thank you.
The Year 4 Team
Mrs McGibbon, Mrs Lawrence, Mrs Worthington, Mr Radburn,
Mrs Donnachie, Mrs Fortin-Tobin, Mrs Gibbins, Mrs Seeds and Mrs Winfield.