Beaconsfield Road ∙ Langley Vale ∙ Epsom ∙ Surrey ∙ KT18 6HP
Telephone: 01372 273639 ∙ Facsimile: 01372 279349
Email: [email protected] ∙ Website: www.vale.surrey.sch.uk
Co-Headteachers: Mrs Claire Regnard MA BA(Ed)(Hons) and Mrs Sarah Leyland BEd (Hons) NPQH
WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
Friday 19th May 2017
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
The thought this week is:
‘Good things come to those who wait, but greater things come to those who act.’
CONGRATULATIONS
Congratulations to the Belcher family and the Down family who have a new baby sister in each household. IvyGrace is a new sister for Lacey, Charlie B, Albi and Rocco, and Sophie is a new sister for Charlie D.
SCHOOL TO SCHOOL REVIEW
This week we welcomed senior colleagues from local schools, who undertook a review of our school at our
request; these were Southfield Park, Riverview and Wallace Fields Juniors. They identified:
- the strong rapport that the staff and children have
- the evident philosophy of a growth mindset across the school
- children felt confident, safe and secure and proud to be at The Vale
From next week members of our Senior Leadership Team are visiting each of the other 3 schools to undertake
reviews. These partnerships across schools are an essential ingredient to a school’s development.
HOW TO SUPPORT YOUR CHILDREN’S LEARNING AT HOME
At the recent Family Council meetings parents indicated that they would like to be able to discuss their
child’s school day with them and receive greater information. We suggest that parents avoid questions
which allow a yes/no answer and instead use questions such as:
What made you think at school today / this week?
What did you find interesting at school today / this week?
Please refer to the attached ‘questions to enhance conversations at home about school’.
OUTDOOR LEARNING DAY
This Thursday was officially outdoor learning day. As part of our School Development Plan we are working to
‘Enrich learning by creating further learning opportunities outside the classroom’. Each class has therefore
spent time learning outside for different reasons, here are some examples:
- YR: mini beast hunt and being creative
- Y1: science plants exploration
- Y2: science walk
- Y3: maths in the woods, building a fraction wall
- Y5: art in the playground, making a tree from natural materials
- Y6: word hunt
CREATIVE HORSE COMPETITIONS
You may have seen or heard about the life size model racehorse that is currently standing in our front
entrance! It is part of a competition that the Epsom racecourse is running. We plan for every child and staff
member to contribute to the decoration. The horse will then stand proudly on The Hill at the Derby Festival on
Friday 2nd and Saturday 3rd June; people then vote for the best horse and the winning school receives £1000 in
art materials.
We have had the idea of putting a jockey-style cap on the horse in the shape of our Woodpecker (our logo) –
are there any budding sewers out there who could do this by next Thursday?
JUNIOR CHOIR
The ‘one off’ trial on Thursday lunchtime at 12.45pm went well and was attended by some Year 3 children new
to Junior Choir. Choir will continue on Friday morning before school.
THERE IS NO INFANT CHOIR NEXT WEDNESDAY 24TH MAY.
YEAR 1 & 2 TRIP
Last Friday Moon, Star and Orion Classes visited Amberley Museum as part of their topic learning on how
travel has changed over time. They learnt about different forms of transport and enjoyed a ride on an old bus
and looking at various vehicles and machinery.
PHOTOGRAPHS & VIDEOS
During school events and assemblies, parents are permitted to take photos and video focused on their child for
their own personal use. No school based photographs must be uploaded to social media sites. As you know
we have a very strict policy on seeking authorisation for the taking and use of photos.
We are very grateful for the support that parents give on trips, but we do ask that photographs are not taken by
people other than school staff.
BIKEABILITY
Well done to the Year 5 children who took part in the Surrey County Council Bikeability 1 initiative on Thursday
– it was a shame that nearly half the class did not join in with this life skill of safe bike riding.
SCHOOL COUNCIL
Congratulations to Jayden and Daisy from Sun Class who were elected as class representatives.
PTA UPDATES
Friday 9th June, school Disco – details to follow along with ticket request form.
Ice lolly sales are taking place as follows:
Year 5 – Friday 19th May
Year 4 – Friday 9th June
Year 3 – Friday 16th June
Year 2 – Friday 23rd June
Year 1 – Friday 7th July
Year R – Friday 14th July
FACEBOOK PAGE
Thank you for following and liking our Facebook Page. Search for ‘The Vale Primary School’ and our icon is
our woodpecker logo, with a white background.
CELEBRATION ASSEMBLY
Well done to:
Sun: Oscar, Albie
Moon: Charlie Sal, Charlie San
Star: Ben, Madeline
Orion: Aidan, Ewan, Ronni
HALL HIRE
Our hall is available for hire over the weekend. It makes a great venue for parties from £12 per hour plus a £6
insurance charge. There is a minimum hire of 3 hours, for example a half hour set up, 2-hour party and half
hour clear up. Please contact Mrs Potter if you are interested.
LETTERS THIS WEEK
Parentmail
The Breck Foundation
E & E Scouts Newsletter
Hardcopy
COMMUNITY NEWS
ONLINE SAFEGUARDING TALK
We are delighted that our Vale parents have been invited to attend the important talk given by the Breck
Foundation on 19th September at 9.15am at Epsom Primary School. If you wish to attend this free session, you
must sign up using this link https://booking.bookinghound.com/fe/book?og=a43f6040-4369-4d28-a07cf49cc8155422 .
BEATING THE BOUNDS OF THE PARISH
Christopher from St Martin’s and St Stephen’s Churches came into assembly this week and talked to the
children about the 8.5 mile walk, starting and ending at St Martin’s.
Marking the Parish boundary is an ancient tradition and it will take people through the back streets of Epsom
and the heights of the North Downs.
- 10:00 Start from St Martin’s
- 12:30 Lunch at St Stephen’s, Langley Vale
- 16:30 Return to St Martin’s
To help them with catering, please register your interest by signing on the sign up sheets at back of
our Churches or email [email protected]
It is a 4 day week next week. As we have an INSET day on Friday 26th May focusing on assessment, recording
and reporting. School finishes at the normal time of 3.15/30pm on Thursday 25th May.
Have a great weekend.
Claire Regnard and Sarah Leyland
Co-Headteachers
CLASS ASSEMBLIES:
parents and well behaved pre-schoolers are welcome to attend from 9am (for about half an hour) for the child/ren’s class assembly
Friday 9th June
Apollo Class – Y5
Friday 16th June
Orion Class – Y2 (Miss McFeeters)
rd
Friday 23 June
Star Class – Y2 (Mrs Maidment)
Thursday 29th June
Moon Class – Y1
Thursday 20th July
Voyager – Year 6 Leaving Assembly and presentation (9-10.30am)
MAY 2017
Monday 22nd May
Class & Team photos
Through day
Wednesday 24 May
Year 3 & 4 visit THEN Y4 sleepover
Day, THEN Y4 overnight
Thursday 25th May
Year 4 topic workshop
END OF HALF TERM
Day
3.30pm
INSET DAY: no school for children
Day
Monday 29 to Friday 2 June
Half term: no school for children
1 week
TBC
Summer Fair planning meeting & textiles collection
TBC
Monday 5th June
JUNE 2017
Back to school & Golden Boot week (points for walking, scooting
and cycling to school).
Day
Thursday 8th June * NEW DATE *
SEND Coffee morning hosted by Sarah Roberts, SENCo
TBC
Friday 9th June
After school disco for infants then juniors
Activities in school through week
Monday 12 June
Feeling Good Week
Monday 19th June
5 days
Day
Y6 residential
E&E Dance Festival rehearsal: Epsom Playhouse
Evening
E&E Dance Festival
3 days
Wednesday 21 June
Hooke Court
On the gate at school drop off
Wednesday 28th June
PTA textiles collection
9am TBC
Friday 30th June
Bottles and chocolate collection (for fair)
At gate drop off please
TBC
PTA AGM
TBC
Monday 3 July
Community week in school – various activities
Through week
Tuesday 4th July
Change over morning
Morning/day for new Secondaries
Wednesday 5th July
Sports Day
a.m juniors & p.m infants
Lunchtime – family picnic, families
invited to eat lunch with the
children on the field
Thursday 6th July
Strawberry Tea
Time TBC
Friday 7th July
Mufti day – bottles and chocolate please for school fair
Day
Saturday 8 July
Summer Fair – The Great British Seaside
Time TBC
Wednesday 12th July
Open Afternoon for parents to visit current and new classes
3.45-5.30pm
Junior Production
Afternoon
th
Friday 26th May
th
nd
th
Tuesday 21st & Wednesday 22nd June
st
JULY 2017
rd
th
th
Thursday 13 July
Friday 14th July
Junior Production
Afternoon
Monday 17 July
Whole school Woodlands Walk
Volunteer helpers please
a.m
Thursday 20th July
Year 6 leavers party
After school - time TBC
Friday 21st July
End of school year
1.30pm
Monday 4th September
INSET day: no school for children
Day
Start of school year for Y1 to 6
By 8.50am
th
th
Tuesday 5 September