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George Spicer Newsletter - 1st December 2023


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T: 020 8363 1406 
E: office@georgespicer.enfield.sch.uk 
W: www.georgespicer.enfield.sch.uk 
Twitter: @GeorgeSpicerSch 


George Spicer Newsletter - 1st December 2023

ARBOR PARENT APP - Thank you to all parents/carers who have logged in to the ARBOR App. Currently, only 65% have logged on and for those who have not yet logged on please check your email subject “ Welcome to ARBOR” and follow the instructions.  ARBOR App allows you to receive the latest messages from your child’s school, track attendance and update the information we hold about you and your child. IMPORTANT: Please allow notifications when installing the app. The notifications will alert you when you receive a message from the school.

Please ensure you communicate to the school via office@georgespicer.enfield.sch.uk and do not reply to ARBOR messages.  Please see at the bottom for help with setting up your app.

Attendance – you are now able to view your child’s attendance by logging into the Arbor App.  Please note that if your child’s attendance is below 90%, we will not authorise any absence without medical evidence (e.g., doctor’s certificate or letter, hospital appointment card, prescription or the prescribed medication, or text message appointment).

No dogs allowed - please be aware that no dogs are allowed on the school premises either on their lead or being carried.

Foodbank & Felix Project – Available to all our families struggling to make ends meet. Please come to the Sketty Road site every Wednesday from 2.30pm to 3pm.

BASC invoice - The BASC Autumn Term 2 invoice is now available in ParentPay. For any queries please email basc@georgespicer.enfield.sch.uk

Enfield Music Services - If you would like your child to learn a musical instrument in the Spring Term, the deadline to register is Sunday 3rd December. Please see below for details on how to register.

Welfare Donations - Please can we have donations of jogging bottoms and wipes for both of our sites. 

ASC - Please can we have donations of newborn baby clothes for our dolls in ASC.

Christmas Jumper Day - Children are welcome to wear a Christmas jumper alongside their uniform on Wednesday 13th December.


Important Dates for Diary

Tuesday 5th December - Daffodil class Nativity performance 2:30pm

Wednesday 6th December - Snowdrop class Nativity performance 2:30pm

Wednesday 6th December - Full Governing Body Meeting 6:45pm

Thursday 7th December - Poppy class Nativity performance 2:30pm

Friday 8th December - Year 6 Leavers' Doughnut Sale

Monday 11th December - Ash class parent's consultations evening

Wednesday 13th December - Christmas jumper & dinner day

Carol Service Dates:

Friday 8th December - Y3 & Y6 St Andrew's Church at 10am

Friday 15th December - Y5 St Andrew's Church at 10am

FoGS Dates - please see below in FOGS section for more info 

2nd February 2024 - Year 3 + 5 Glow Disco

9th February - Non-Uniform Day Fundraiser 

23rd March - Reception, Year 1 + 2 Glow Discos

7th June - Non-Uniform Day & Donations for Summer Fun Day

6th July - Summer Fun Day


Quote of the week

“Sometimes it takes only one act of kindness and caring to change a person’s life.”

— Jackie Chan

Attendance week ending 01/12/2023

Overall school = 95.04%  Lates = 91

Best attendance: 1st Apache&Cheyenne 98.17%  2nd Anubis 97.27%  3rd Osiris 97.07%

Punctuality: Well done to Elm and Ra class with 100% for punctuality.


Reception

As the weather drops in temperature, Reception have been learning about the season of Winter. We have been exploring a mix of cross-curricular activities linked to winter, such as fine motor and sensory tasks. The children enjoyed learning the names of winter animals and using our small world to create winter stories. 

“The winter animals have thick fur to keep them warm”, Leah said.

“Polar bears are white, like snow” Nico said. 

Lastly, we have also been writing our letters to Father Christmas this week, to ensure it arrives at his home in time! 


Year 1

This week in Year 1, we have started our 'Winter is coming' topic. In Science, we went on a winter walk and discussed the changes we could feel and see.  We then spoke about what clothes we should wear in winter and why. 

'We should wear a thick coat in winter to keep us warm'. 

'Our clothes are made of thicker material'. 


Year 2

This week in Year 2, pupils have completed some amazing sketching in art. They have learned how to use different types of pencil to create detailed facial features. In Maths, they have learned how to use coins to find different amounts of money.  As part of the Explorers topic, the pupils have been learning about Matthew Henson and his brave journey as one of the first people to reach the North Pole.


Year 3 

As part of Road Safety Week (last week), Year 3 took a walk towards the local Tescos to spot the different road safety signs. Some of these signs included the 20 mph zone, traffic enforcement cameras, yellow zigzag keep clear sign and zebra crossings. As a result, they were able to explain what features were needed on and around roads to keep them safe. They have also been learning about tectonic plates in Geography. As well as where volcanoes are located around the world (which they plotted on a map) and the names of different types of volcanoes.


Year 4 

This week in Science we were learning about Insulators and Conductors. In order to understand insulators and conductors better, we worked in groups to carry out fair tests by adding different materials into a complete circuit. We made predictions before carrying out our investigation and discovered that metal is a conductor of electricity!


Year 5 

Year 5 are nearly at the end of our learning about Genghis Khan. In History this week we have been learning how the Mongolian Empire came to be the largest contiguous empire the world has ever seen. We were surprised to learn that, despite being a ruthless and bloodthirsty ruler, Genghis Khan was incredibly tolerant and allowed the countries and tribes he conquered to essentially rule themselves and follow their own religious beliefs. This helped him become successful and spread his empire around most of the world at that time. In Geography we have also been honing our map skills. Drawing maps of Mongolia, creating a key and showing the types of land and vegetation in Mongolia. We learnt that Mongolia has a harsh and unforgiving landscape with deserts and mountains and extremes of weather making it very difficult for agriculture to develop. 


Year 6 

Writing

Continuing with their work on the basilisk last week, this week Year 6 have been inspired by the story "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets". We re-told the part where Harry and Ron find the chamber and enter to save Ginny (Ron's little sister). 

We have thought about how our use of noun phrases, similes, metaphors and personification can engage our readers. 

SCIENCE

Continuing with our Evolution and Inheritance unit, we looked at how the Smilodon had adapted to become the apex predator of its time. We discussed how its features enabled it to survive. 


Carol Service

Year 4 had a lovely Carol Service today at Enfield Baptist Church. Thank you to those parents who came along. Please see the link to the charity we are collecting for - The Sebbie Hall Kindness Foundation https://www.sebbiehall.com/


Gymnastics Festival

This week five children from Years 3 and 4 took part in the Borough's Gymnastics Festival. They represented our school beautifully and got lots of praise from the judges and made Mrs Hughes extremely proud. They had to learn, refine and perform a detailed routine in front of other schools in the borough and a number of judges. Check out their moves including the Arabesque, the Dish and the Bridge. 


Enfield Music Service



FoGs News   

Wow, that’s what community is all about! 

At one point, our George Spicer Winter Wonderland event was in jeopardy!  3 weeks before, there was a flood in the FoGS storage shed that damaged everything, and nearly derailed us!  But despite the challenge, we reached out to the George Spicer community (and beyond!) and with the support of you all through donations, ideas, making things and helping before, during and after the event, we managed to create a fantastic day for everyone

It was perfect, with a chill in the air giving a true winter vibe!    The brass band played , the choir sung , the teachers kept us fed by running the BBQ , the DoGS (Dads of George Spicer) kept the mulled wine flowing in the bar , and the MoGs (Mums of George Spicer) managed the activities and stalls, which were all super busy! And who can forget the unbelievable Grotto  that was pulled together by an amazing team.

The spirit of our school community thrived as we collectively enjoyed all the festivities, creating a true sense of togetherness.   Beyond the fun and festivities, the day held a greater purpose – raising funds for new climbing equipment at Sketty Road. The generosity of our school community was overwhelming, and together we raised (drum roll please!)

£6,700! 

Thank you to all the Parents/Carers/Teachers that got stuck in and helped to make the day so special for everyone! 

Raffle Prizes  Congratulations to all our lucky winners…

1st Prize - Michael McIntyre Tickets 

Lucas C

2nd Prize - £100 Voucher for Centre VR in Enfield 

Jane H

3rd Prize - Laser Quest Enfield Tickets x 4

Nate C

And the winners of our many other prizes will have been (or will shortly be) contacted about your prize and how to get your mitts on your winnings! 

Once again, a massive thank you to everyone from our George Spicer community that helped make this event a fantastic way to start festive season 

 

Until next time...

The FOGS Team

Email - friendsofgeorgespicerpta@gmail.com 

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