https://www.alexandraprimaryschool.co.uk 13th December Issue No. 6
Message from the Headteacher
This week got off to a fantastic start with Year Six exhibiting their learning by creating a World War Two museum at Alexandra. It was great to see their work displayed and listen to our Y6 pupils talking about the history of WWII and the impact it had on people's lives. Each year group visited the museum along with parents, staff and Governors.
We are now well into our festive celebrations of musical performances and events. Thanks to everyone who attended our Winter Fair on Thursday evening, it was a joyful event and raised vital funds for the school. A big thank you to everyone who donated items and the parents who helped with wrapping gifts. Still to come is Christmas lunch next Tuesday when staff and children can wear their Christmas jumpers and the last of our musical showcases from children in Years 1, 2, 5 and 6. Please check dates and times at the end of the newsletter.
As this will be the last newsletter for 2024 I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your support this term and wish all our families a peaceful and joyful Christmas and New Year.
What's been happening this week?
Winter Fair
Our Winter Fair was a wonderful celebration filled with festive fun and activities for everyone. Santa’s Grotto brought the magic of Christmas to life as children met Santa and received special gifts. Children delighted in face painting, cookie decorating and getting creative by making Christmas decorations. The Tombola was another great hit, adding to the excitement. Meanwhile, the school kitchen kept everyone warm with delicious mince pies, mulled wine, hot chocolate and cakes. Football fun added an extra spark to the day.
A huge thank you to all our staff for their incredible help and to our families for joining us and making it such a memorable event!
Year 6 at the Imperial War Museum
Year 6 enjoyed an inspiring end-of-term trip to the Imperial War Museum.
The highlight of the day was participating in the Documentary Challenge, where the children had the chance to record their own mini-documentaries. This hands-on experience allowed them to actively explore the History curriculum by engaging with real historic artefacts. Through the challenge, the children used primary sources as evidence to construct and present compelling arguments, honed their communication and filmmaking skills, and gained a deeper understanding of how conflict has shaped lives in the past and continues to impact our world today.
Well done, Year 6, for embracing this creative opportunity to bring history to life!
Year 6's WW11 Museum
This week, Year 6 showcased their impressive learning about World War II by creating their very own WWII museum.
They crafted detailed models of air raid shelters and informative posters to demonstrate their knowledge. Children proudly presented their work to parents, teachers, governors and other classes, making it a memorable and educational event for all!
A big well done to all our Year 6 children, as well as Ms Herda and Mr Smyth, for their hard work and dedication in putting this together!
Year 1 at the cinema
Year 1 had a wonderful time this week watching Paddington in Peru at the cinema. Here are the children waiting patiently for the film to start.
Exploring the River Thames and London Landmarks
The Year 4's recent trip offered an exciting opportunity to enhance geography learning by visiting the River Thames and discovering some of London’s most famous landmarks. The children explored iconic sites such as St Paul’s Cathedral, Tower Bridge, the Tower of London, the London Eye, Shakespeare’s Globe, and many more.
The experience left the children inspired, and they returned to school eager to apply their newfound knowledge to their geography lessons. It was a truly memorable day of learning outside the classroom!
TT Rockstars & NumBots Tea Parties
Mrs Kennedy continues to celebrate our fantastic maths achievements with weekly tea parties for children who show great dedication to their maths learning.
Remember to practice on NumBots or TT Rockstars to master your number facts or improve your recall speed and you could be invited to the next tea party!
Well done to everyone who attended this week for your hard work and commitment and thank you to Mrs Kennedy for getting us all excited about Maths!
Junior Raod Watch Scheme: Raising Awareness About Raod Safety
Last week, some of our children participated in the Junior Road Watch scheme, a project run in partnership with the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) and London boroughs. This initiative aims to reduce speeding near schools as part of a broader ‘road danger reduction’ education scheme.
As part of the project, some of our children took part in speed awareness sessions alongside police officers from the MPS Roads and Transport Policing Command. These sessions helped educate drivers about the dangers of speeding near schools and highlighted the importance of road safety.
It was a valuable experience for our children, helping them understand the impact of road safety measures while actively contributing to their community.
Thank you, Ms Lopez, for organising this event!
Our Drama Club
The last Drama Club session before Christmas was fantastic. Over the past weeks, the children have been reading scripts, stepping into the shoes of various characters and playing lots of engaging drama games. These photos capture the fun and creativity of this club.
Thank you to Ms Kirstie for her energy and enthusiasm during these sessions.
Mexico Class Assembly
We learned so much during the Year 4 Mexico class assembly! The children showcased their fantastic learning about the Romans, taught us Roman numerals through a lively song, shared their recorder skills and even led us in some yoga. What a brilliant display of their hard work and creativity!
Well done to all the children in Mexico Class for their fantastic assembly!
Year Design & Technology
In Year 2, we have been exploring free-standing structures in D&T. The children were tasked with designing and building a strong and stable playground using recycled materials they brought from home. It was wonderful to see their creativity and problem-solving skills in action!
Nursery Musical Showcase
Our musical showcases have officially begun! Last week, our wonderful nursery children kicked things off with an incredible performance. They sang their hearts out to Jingle Bells and, as always, Mr Ken had everyone on their feet for the final song. We are so proud of our nursery children, as this was the first ever performance for most of them.
Judging by the smiles in the audience, we think our families enjoyed the event just as much as we did!
Thank you to our nursery children and staff, to Mr Ken and to all our families for joining us and making the event so special!
Years 3 & 4 Musical Showcase
The Years 3 & 4 Musical Showcase was a joyous celebration of talent and holiday spirit! The children sang, danced, played instruments and had us all singing along. A wonderful way to say, "Merry Christmas, everyone!"
Thank you to all our staff who work with Years 3 and 4 and to our families who came to enjoy the show with us.
Festive Cheer from our Reception classes
Our Reception classes brought the holiday spirit to life with their wonderful performance, having us all singing along to "Jingle Bells" and other Christmas classics.
Well done to our little stars for their performance and to our families for coming along and supporting the event.
Christmas Decorations
The festive spirit is in full swing at Alexandra Primary as students and staff came together to transform the school into a winter wonderland! This week, the children have been busy crafting beautiful Christmas decorations, from glittery ornaments and paper snowflakes to colourful Rudolphs and holiday-themed artwork. Their creativity and enthusiasm have brought a warm and joyful atmosphere to every corner of the school.
The collaboration between students and staff is a wonderful reminder of the importance of community and teamwork during this special time of year. As we count down to the holidays, the decorations serve as a daily reminder of the joy, togetherness, and creativity that make our school such a special place.
Subject monitoring: RE review
Over the last two weeks, I have reviewed how RE lessons are taught. Both teachers and children enjoy these lessons because they teach about different religions and cultures. RE is an interesting and important part of school life. This approach develops curiosity and respect, making RE a valued part of the curriculum. As part of ongoing improvements, a new scheme of work will be explored to further enhance the teaching and learning of RE at Alexandra.
Parents can support their children at home by discussing what they have learned in RE, exploring family traditions, and encouraging questions about different beliefs and practices. Visiting places of worship or reading books about different faiths which will help to deepen children’s understanding.
As the festive season approaches, the whole school is embracing the holiday spirit. Preparations are well underway, with Christmas concerts being rehearsed and festive decorations being crafted, adding to the excitement and joy of the season.
Ms Ohemeng
Humanities Lead
Makaton Sign of the Week
We have been learning a new Makaton sign every week this term, which has encouraged our children to engage in communication in a fun and interactive way. By introducing these signs, we are helping to enhance their language skills and develop an inclusive environment where all forms of communication are valued.
With the help of our Inclusion Ambassadors, the children have enjoyed using the signs in class, and it's been wonderful to see how quickly they have embraced this new skill!
Thank you to Mr Brown and the Inclusion Ambassadors for helping to raise our awareness about sign language.
Panto in a Day
Our Reception, Year 1, and Year 2 children had an amazing time participating in the Panto in a Day experience this week! Delivered by Panto in a Day LTD, this exciting program brings the magic of live theatre directly to schools.
The children were captivated by this year’s enchanting pantomime, Cinderella, which offered a fresh take on the classic fairy tale. They joined the adventure, helping good triumph over evil and enjoying the fun and energy of live performance.
We are grateful to Panto in a Day LTD for providing this memorable experience and we look forward to more magical performances in the future!
Chickenshed's Pantomime PAN!
Our Years 3-6 children had a wonderful time at Chickenshed's PAN, the 50th Anniversary Christmas Show that captured hearts with its thrilling adventure and timeless magic.
This year’s production, chosen by an incredible 2,287 votes, brought Peter Pan’s story to life with a spectacular retelling of his daring quest to recover his lost shadow. From the dazzling night skies of London to the wonder-filled shores of Neverland, the show was packed with fairies, pirates, the Lost Ones and all the chaos and joy of an epic adventure.
Celebrating 50 amazing years, Chickenshed showcased its famously large and wonderfully diverse cast in a reimagining of this classic tale, inspiring both children and adults alike.
Thank you to Chickenshed for providing such an enchanting experience for our pupils - a perfect way to celebrate the season!
Parenting Course
We are excited to invite you to a Parenting Course focused on supporting your child’s emotional regulation. This course aims to provide practical strategies and guidance to help you support your child’s emotional well-being and build a positive home environment. The course will be led by our Mental Health Practitioner, Rebecca Ansa-Otu.
This course consists of 6 sessions and is designed to be interactive and supportive, offering an opportunity to learn, share experiences and ask questions in a friendly setting.
Session 4 will take place on Thursday 19th December, at 9 am in our house.
All parents are welcome!
Attendance
At the end of last week, the whole school attendance for Years 1-6 was 95.60%
Well done to the following class for having the best Attendance:
LKS1 – Argentina 96.51%
UKS2 –Puerto Rico 96.30%
EVERY DAY COUNTS Primary School Attendance
Going to school every day is the single most important part of your child’s education. Children learn new things at school every day –missing school puts them at a disadvantage.
Reminder to all parents
As we approach the holidays it is important to remember that family holidays during term time are not approved and count as unauthorised; request term-time leave with a form from the office.
What's on
Christmas Dinner & Jumper Day - Tuesday 19th December
UKS2 Christmas show (Yr 5 & 6) - Thursday 19th December, 2 pm
KS1 Xmas show - Friday 20th December, at 9 am
End of Term Children Finish - Friday 20th December at 1:30 pm
Staff INSET Day - Monday 5th January
First day back to school - Tuesday 6th January
Information for parents from our School Nurse
