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Our value for this half term: Respect
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Welcome to a festive Grayswood CE Primary School Newsletter, looking back at what we've been up to in December!
Our thanks to The Flower Stand Battersea for once again helping the school look its best with flowers, Christmas trees and our beautiful wreath.
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Grayswood's Nativity Stars
We must begin this newsletter by bringing you photos of our wonderful KS1 Nativity and KS2 Carol Concert.
Our students spoke their lines and acted their parts like true professionals, and everyone sung their hearts out.
As commented by Head Teacher Hannah Cole, "The Reception and Key Stage 1 Nativity was a joy to watch, with our youngest pupils confidently retelling the Christmas story through song and drama. Their enthusiasm, smiles and growing confidence were a delight, and I know how much it meant to families to see them perform."
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"Our Key Stage 2 Carol Concert was equally special. The children sang beautifully and conducted themselves with maturity and respect, creating a reflective and celebratory festive atmosphere. It was wonderful to see the children working together and representing the school so positively. We are very grateful to all who attended and supported the event and especially to the staff who worked so hard to put these performances together."
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Fundraising from the performances has raised £232 for Shooting Star Children's Hospices. If you would still like to donate, please visit our fundraising page
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Highly Commended
You may remember in the last newsletter we shared photos of our entry into the Haslemere Christmas Windows competition.
Today we learnt that our entry won "Highly Commended".
Our thanks to all of the children for their hard work. The window was definitely our favourite!
Caroline White, Showroom Manager for Charter Walk contacted us to say, "Grayswood Primary School really have made our showroom look lovely, lots of people have stopped to take a look.
Please thank your pupils for all their hard work."
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Mad Science
Our brand new after-school club, Mad Science, popped in to give the children an assembly earlier this month.
To find out about booking a place, please visit Mad Science
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Christmas Jumper Day
As has become a tradition here at Grayswood School, last Friday we held our Christmas Jumper Day, and also enjoyed a special Christmas Lunch.
Thanks to Michael for cooking up a storm and to parents for their generous donations- the day raised £305 for Save the Children.
If you would still like to donate, you can do so here.
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Festive Friday!
Parents from our Wrens and Kingfisher classes, as well as our wonderful PTA, FROGS, treated the children to an unforgettable Festive Friday fair last week.
We had tombolas, reindeer food, hot drinks, crafting and a delicious cake stall, to name just a few of the activities.
Thanks to everyone's hard work and incredible donations, we have raised over £1000 for the school!
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Swifts Christmas Church Service
On Wednesday, Swifts filled our Christmas Church service with warmth and wonder. Their beautiful narration and heartfelt performance of The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey captured the true spirit of the season—hope, love, and kindness. The service was enjoyed by all, bringing a long and successful term to a close.
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We didn’t let a little rain dampen our festive spirit!
When the weather tried to spoil our Reindeer Run, we simply moved the fun indoors to the hall! Each class took on relay challenges instead of dashing around the field, all while grooving to cheerful Christmas tunes.
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Even when the going got tough, the children showed amazing perseverance and kept going right to the end of their sessions.
A huge thank you to everyone who participated and donated — your support helped us raise money for a wonderful cause!
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Have you heard about the Haslemere Community Fridge?
In our town, we’re lucky to have a wonderful food bank that supports people in need. But we know that not everyone qualifies for that support, and some people find it difficult to ask for help because of the stigma that can surround food poverty. That’s where our community fridge comes in!
The community fridge is here to make accessing fresh food as easy and as normal as possible. By redistributing surplus food from local businesses, farms, and neighbours, we’re not only fighting food waste but also making sure that good food goes to people, not the landfill.
The best part? The community fridge is for everyone. Whether you’re picking up a few extra veggies for dinner, dropping off surplus food from your garden, or just curious to see what’s inside – all are welcome! This is a fridge for the community, by the community, helping us all live a little greener and a little kinder.
Christmas Opening Hours
Christmas Eve: 8.30am-9.30am
Christmas Day: 9.30am-10.30am
Boxing Day: 9.30am-10.30am
For more information visit:
https://www.lovehaslemerehatewaste.co/community-fridge
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Many children find the lack of routine and busyness of the Christmas break challenging. This may result in emotional outbursts or withdrawal. If your child finds changes to routine challenging, you could try using a visual timetable to support them.
What is a Visual Timetable?
A visual timetable is a simple tool that shows your child what will happen during the day using pictures, symbols or words. It helps children understand routines and reduces anxiety by making the day predictable.
Why Do They Work?
A visual timetable provides a clear picture of what’s coming next, helping children feel more secure and prepared. It also encourages independence because children can check the timetable themselves.
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How to Make One
- Start Simple: Use a strip of paper or a whiteboard with pictures for each activity. For example, breakfast, park, visiting grandparents for lunch, craft activities, TV time, storytime etc.
- Use Real Images or Symbols: You can draw, print pictures/photos, or use apps like Widgit. Widgit was used to create the timetable below – you could do this with your child.
- Update Daily: Involve your child in setting up the timetable each morning.
- Include Breaks: Show when there’s time to relax or play.
Tip: If plans change, swap the picture and explain the change. This helps your child learn flexibility in a safe way. You could call this an ‘Ooops!’ moment to help make light of it.
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Now/Next/Then
It isn’t always possible to map out the whole day, in which case you could make a ‘Now, Next, Then’ version. For example, Now – breakfast, Next – get ready to visit family, Then – lunch with family. This could be followed by another Now/Next/ Then.
Or you may need to provide more detail on what to do during a specified time. For example, to get ready to leave the house: Now – collect 3 toys that you would like to take with you and put them in your bag, Next – put your coat and shoes on, Then- wait by the front door for everyone to be ready.
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It is better to use pictures as prompts as this requires less cognitive load. Imagine if when looking at a clock you had to read out the time in words, rather than just glancing and knowing. Whatever your child’s reading ability, pictures will help them to focus on the task in hand.
Wishing everyone a peaceful and Happy Christmas.
Sophie Ireland
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Stars of the Week
5th December: Mila T, Lily W, Heidi, Olivia P, Ashlyn, Ivy, Hugh S, George W, Ivan, Izzy, Isla N, Autumn
12th December: Archie, Hugh N, Peggy, Etta, Daphne, Willoughby, Nina, Freddie R, Olive BD, Bobbie, Beth, Rafe, Arlo S
School Value Awards
12th December: Ned, All of Robins
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School Values Awards
Love - Forgiveness - Kindness - Respect - Perseverance - Teamwork
Congratulations to Laurie, Freddie P, Thomas C-Y, Tom N-T, George W and Tilly M on receiving their Values Award badges this term. Very well deserved!
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House Points
The house point totals for this half term are:
Darwin - 3079
Lovelace - 3131
Hawking - 2983
Burns - 2294
Congratulations to Lovelace who have won a non-school uniform day for
Friday 9th January
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Good attendance is not just valuable, it's essential. Good attendance promotes good outcomes for pupils and provides them with the very best opportunity to reach their potential.
We regularly track the attendance for each child and communicate with parents where any concerns may be emerging. The government class attendance below 90% is as 'persistently absent' and under 50% 'severely absent'.
The percentage attendance figures for each class as a whole in December are:
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1st. Kingfishers - 96.3%
2nd. Wrens - 96.2%
3rd. Swifts - 94.2%
4th. Swallows & Kites - 92.3%
6th. Woodpeckers - 90.3%
7th. Robins- 87.3%
Well done Kingfishers on topping the leaderboard for December!
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Just to remind parents/carers of our attendance policy which came into action in September 2024. If you take your child/children out of school without authority for 5 or more days (which do not have to be consecutive), then the following will apply:
1. If you have not incurred a penalty notice relating to this child/children in a rolling 3 year period since 19 August 2024, then the penalty notice will be charged at the rate of £160.00, per parent/carer per child, if paid within 28 days. This will be reduced to £80.00 if paid within 21 days of receipt of the notice. Failure to pay the Penalty Notice will result in Surrey County Council considering legal proceedings against you in the Magistrates Court.
2. If you have incurred a penalty notice relating to this child/children since 19 August 2024, the rolling 3 year period will be activated from the date of the first penalty notice and the second penalty notice will be charged at the flat rate of £160.00, per parent/carer per child, if paid within 28 days. There will be no reduction for payment within 21 days. Failure to pay the Penalty Notice will result in Surrey County Council considering legal proceedings against you in the Magistrates Court.
3. If you have incurred 2 penalty notices relating to this child/children in the rolling 3 year period since the first penalty notice was issued, then you will NOT receive a third penalty notice – Surrey County Council will have no option but to consider a prosecution, per parent/carer per child, in the Magistrates Court under s 444 Education Act 1996.
Surrey County Council is not responsible for authorising pupil absence and therefore cannot withdraw any Penalty Notice requests without the written permission of the Headteacher.
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Food Banks
As a school we are able to refer families who may need a little extra support to the local food banks in Haslemere (Haslemere Methodist Church) or Godalming (if you live in or around Witley).
Even if it's just a one-off visit you need to help you during a difficult time for you and your family.
If you would like to know more please email our Home School Link Worker, Sarah De Marcos (in confidence) at:
hslw@grayswood.surrey.sch.uk
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Hosting a party?
A reminder that you can hire our school hall for your parties, events or clubs. It's available after school, at weekends and during the school holidays.
To find out more please contact our School Business Manager, on sbm@grayswood.surrey.sch.uk
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