Current Newsletter

20th December 2024

Dear Parents and Guardians,

As we end this term, I want to thank you for your support and involvement in our school community. I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a joyful break. May this time be filled with happiness, relaxation, and special moments with your loved ones.

Event Highlights:

• Carol Service: Fox and Hedgehogs brought festive cheer with a beautiful carol service at St. Giles church. A favourite was "Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer" performed with Makaton.
• Nativity Shows: Squirrel’s nativity shows were a big success, showcasing the children’s talents and hard work.
• Celebration Worship: We celebrated a range of achievements at St. Giles. Next term, children are invited to bring in any certificates or awards they earn outside of school to celebrate in Friday worship.
• Golden Time Activities: This term, activities included:
  • Coding with micro:bits
  • Making balloon-powered cars
  • Snowflake crafts
  • Mindful colouring
  • Party games
  • Bingo!

See the photos below for a glimpse of the fun.

• Panto Trip and Christmas Party: Thanks to the Friends for organizing our trip to the Salisbury Playhouse to watch Sleeping Beauty. The Christmas party afterwards was a hit with musical statues and a giant, whole-school circle for pulling crackers. Thanks also for the party bags which rounded off the celebrations perfectly.

Thank You:

• To our Reading Team, who come in each week to listen to the children read. Your support is invaluable!
• To our wonderful teachers and staff for their hard work and dedication throughout the term.

Online Safety: As we head into the holiday, please remember the importance of online safety. Visit the NSPCC's online safety guidance for tips and resources: Keeping children safe online | NSPCC 

Reception Places: The deadline for Reception places is 15th January. Please spread the word that Great Wishford is a hidden gem, offering a supportive and enriching environment for young learners. We would love to welcome more families to our school community. Applying for a school place - Wiltshire Council 

Enjoy the Christmas break, stay safe, and take this time to refresh. I look forward to seeing everyone in the new year for more exciting adventures and learning opportunities.

Warm regards,

Hannah Shillito

Squirrels 

This term, Squirrel Class has been busy with lots of exciting learning! Reception children have been exploring fairytales, using stories to inspire creativity and play. Year 1 and 2 have been working on place value to 100, strengthening their number skills through hands-on activities. In writing, Year 2 students created fact files about the Great Fire of London, showcasing their research and writing skills. The highlight of the term was the Boogie Woogie Nativity, where the children performed a lively, fun retelling of the Christmas story. In PSHE, we’ve been celebrating differences, focusing on inclusivity and respect for one another. It’s been a fantastic term of learning and growing. Mrs Johnson and I are so proud! 

- Miss Bishop

Hedgehogs 

This term, Hedgehogs have taken part in a wonderful carol concert, showcasing their musical talents and spreading the Christmas spirit. The excitement continued with a thrilling visit to a local pantomime, where they experienced a magical performance that brought plenty of laughs and joy. In DT they have been making stockings, a perfect way to prepare for the Christmas holidays. Additionally, the children have enjoyed reading The Iron Man and have written a character and setting description based on the story. It’s been a wonderful term of learning, creativity, and fun!

- Miss Marks

Foxes

What a great time we have enjoyed togther in Fox Class. The pupils have been positive and industrious throughout this 'tinsel-term'. I hope you enjoyed our Carol Service as much as the children did performing it. In Enligh we have been reading Midngiht Guardiuans, an exciting World War II fantasy story that has captured the pupils' imaginations. Our maths learning has been mostly fractions and times tables. We have enjoyed the Materials experiments in scaience and learnt new skills in a stone carving workshop. In PSHE we have been celebrating differences and learning about the importance of protecting certain characteristics of people. Thank you for a great term and have a good rest - see you next year!

- Mr Macey

We have a selection of clubs on offer in Term 2: 

Lunch time clubs

Monday: Crafty Club 

Tuesday: Recorder Club - come and learn to play a Christmas song on the Recorder

Thursday:Quiet Club - Lego and book club in the library 

Friday: KS2 Drama Club run by Year 6 children

After school clubs 

Monday: 3.30-4.30 - Sports Club. TBC

Tuesday: 3.30-4.30 - Musical Theatre Club

Thursday: 3.30-4.15 - VIP Club - Year 6 only. 

Friday: 3.30-4.30 - Fun Football Kick Around - TBC

As ever, if you have an idea for a club, please contact the office.

This term the children will enter Collective Worship to the “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy” from Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker.  This delicate and enchanting piece of music features the celesta, a keyboard instrument that produces a bell-like sound, which gives the piece its magical quality. The arrangement is characterised by its light, staccato notes and a gentle, flowing melody that creates a whimsical atmosphere. Different instruments, including strings, woodwinds and percussion come together to create this piece of music which helps us imagine the fairy-tale world and beautiful ballet of The Nutcracker.