Caring Curious Courageous

Enabling all children to learn and grow

Dear all families,

The children have done a fantastic job at coping with the heat this week. They have made a lot of use out of the newly surfaced slope in the main playground which is providing some much-needed shade.

Our Year 1 children have been taking the Phonics Screening Check (statutory assessment for all Year 1 children) and have done very well. This is down to the hard work they have put in during their phonics lessons, the support they've received from home and the highly effective teaching from all staff who work in Year 1. Year 4 have also completed the Multiplication Table Check (statutory assessment for all Year 4 children) where they have to answer random questions and have only 6 seconds to answer. Well done to all our children in Year 1 & 4 and a huge thank you to all staff and families. The results will be in the end of year reports coming out in July.

There has been a real air of excitement across the school - X factor has come to The Vineyard. The children have been auditioning in round 1 of the competition. Next week will be round two which we are all looking forward to. It has really inspired the children and as I walk past the halls at lunchtime I can hear children playing the piano in there which is wonderful.

I am really looking forward to seeing many of you at the summer fair tomorrow. Thank you so much to the volunteers who have worked tirelessly to ensure an excellent, fun, community event.

Wishing you a wonderful weekend,

Frances Bracegirdle

Headteacher - headteacher@vineyard.richmond.sch.uk

Summer Fair tomorrow - 12 to 4pm! 

The Summer Fair is finally (almost) here! We are very excited to welcome you all to the biggest Vineyard event of the year! We hope that everyone will have a fun time! We will have games, petting zoo, bouncy castles, face painting and lots of food and drink! 

Please note that this is a weekend family event and parents/carers are responsible for their children at all times, not the school. Children cannot attend without a responsible adult. No dogs please. 

First aid and Lost children station will be in Y3 Emerald classroom. Marshals will be around wearing hi-ves vests, organisers will be wearing pink vests. 

Most stalls will accept cash, token (1 token = 50p) and card, but externals operate cash only. To avoid disappointment bring some cash with you. 

Bouncy castles are wristband only, and the petting zoo operates with timed slots to avoid overcrowding. Slots available in advance and on the day (in limited numbers). https://buytickets.at/thevineyardschoolpta/905296

Raffle draw at 3.30pm!

Safeguarding

Dog safety Defra, the Child Accident Prevention Trust, the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities and leading animal welfare organisations have put together a range of resources with practical dog safety tips that families can use in their everyday lives - here.

Attendance

Another great week. Well done to Years 1-6 for all having attendance above 96%!

Miss McArdle- Assistant Headteacher 

We can’t wait to see the science you have been up to at home - science at home during STEM week

At home, during STEM week, children can carry out their own scientific investigations to bring in for the STEM fair on Friday 30^th of June.

These theme of this year’s STEM week is connections – please see this link for more information on the theme https://www.britishscienceweek.org/the-theme-for-2023-connections/

Children can bring their projects in on the morning of Friday 30^th and these will be displayed outside classrooms after pick up for all of The Vineyard community to see and explore.

Project ideas:

https://www.stem.org.uk/primary/resources

https://www.britishscienceweek.org/activity-packs/

Ms Reilly- AHT Teaching & Learning

Music Update

The school orchestra have spent the day at The Barbican for an immersive musical event with the London Symphony Orchestra. They have watched a performance and sang some songs. Thank you to Miss Bracegirdle for organising.  

Lunches

Thank you to all who joined the nutrition committee on Wednesday. It is always important to hear views from families, children and the kitchen team so we can provide the best we can at lunch. Please remember that you are all invited to join us for lunch. If you would like to then email info@

Joyful June – mental wellbeing at The Vineyard 

To celebrate Joyful June, Ms Reilly is running mindfulness workshops and we have set the challenge of Smileforfive. Emerald, Carnelian and Ruby class took part this week in a smile workshop and managed to reach the forest and the refreshing rolling waves of the ocean using their IMAGINATION!

They were invited to repeat positive affirmations and use their senses to notice the present moment. We reminded each other of our strengths and how our smile is always with us as our anchor.

Ukranian Culture workshop

On Monday June 12^th, Year 6 took part in a Ukrainian-English translation workshop run by Cheryl Moskowitz-a translator, poet and novelist from Stephen Spender Trust. Joined by three Ukrainian language speakers from Year 5, the children explored ‘My Grandma’, an amazing picture book by Tania Stus, and together translated it into English. During the workshop, the children and adults had a chance to talk about people, pets of objects that were special to them and share what they call their grandmas in various languages they speak. For many students​, it was the first time translating a longer text and they have all done a fantastic job. It was wonderful to celebrate the Ukrainian language and culture through translating and reading together. ​]

Parent Talk- Monday 19th June

On Monday 19^th June, we will be holding a Parents’ Talk on Executive Functioning, delivered by one of our attached Educational Psychologists, Minoushe Grant. These skills are a key part of our learning and regulation toolkit. Executive functioning skills facilitate the behaviours required to plan and achieve goals. The fundamental skills related to executive function include proficiency in adaptable thinking, planning, self-monitoring, self-control, working memory, time management, and organisation. If you would like to attend, please sign up using the Eventbrite here.