This week at Gainsborough…

This week at Gainsborough we reflected on our own mental health for World Mental Health Day. We took time out of our normal lessons on Tuesday to work collaboratively to produce some incredible portrait art. We made class portraits of our Black History Month scientists in our classes. We were inspired by a range of African fabrics to make some pretty impressive, bold and beautiful frames for our portraits. Our final exhibition can be viewed during parents evening, Tuesday 7th November and Thursday 9th November. The exhibition will be in the attic at Gainsborough and you can visit, before or after, your parents evening with your child’s class teacher.

Reader of the Week

Each week we will award one child from Years 1-6 with a new book, as the Reader of the Week. The award is for commitment, reading progress, engagement or sharing their love for reading. Please support your child with reading at home! After all, reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.

Year 1 Jenson

Year 2 Savannah

Year 3 Moyosore

Year 4 Jasmin

Year 5 Natasha

Year 6 Daniella O

Keep Kind

Each half term we focus on a different Gainsborough Keep: kind, connected, safe, healthy, green or giving. We would like to give a special mention to an organisation who has been very KIND to us! Rahim’s cash and carry, located just off Berkshire Road has helped us significantly by lending the use of their fork lift truck and it’s driver. We have needed the fork lift to move the planters in the playground while we prepare the space for our growing project. It was incredibly helpful and they have saved us thousands of pounds, reducing the need for us to hire one. Thank you Rahim’s, your are our Keep Kind champions this week!

Keeping Connected in our Community…

FRoG’s 

Our school PTSA has been running for over 10 years. They work as a team to run a huge amount of social events to raise funds for school. We are holding the Annual General Meeting on Thursday 2nd November, 4-5pm, at school. The meeting will include voting for a Chair, Treasurer and Secretary. The PTA will also decide a series of dates to meet and social events to host this year. We desperately need more parent support. If you are able to come along and offer fund raising ideas, time, agreement to help with events then please come along. We are a friendly group and happy to have whatever time you can offer.

Parent’s Evening 

Families are invited to attend the Autumn term parents evening. This will take place on Tuesday 7th, 3.45-7pm,  and Thursday 9th November, 3.45-6pm. The meetings will take place at school. School staff will meet with parents to discuss their children’s well being at school, progress in their learning and share any areas for development. There is also the opportunity to visit our Black History Month Exhibition in the attic. We hope to see you there.

Run Gainsborough Run 

We have been invited to take part in a fundraiser run on Sunday 5th November at the London Community Track, from 2-4pm. Those who took part last year will remember how much fun it was! Children are asked to raise funds from the run and add their fund raising to the school Just Giving page. The more children who turn up on the day and join in, the more match funding the school receives so please come along. Check your email inbox for detailed information about how to join, the school Just Giving page for donations, and for how to spread the word! Come on Gainsborough, let’s RUN!

At Gainsborough Next Week…

Get ready for the Gainsborough Annual Halloween event.

Children are invited to come back to school from 5-7pm on Thursday 19th October. We will fund raise for school equipment. We will work with school council this week to decide what the children would like to fund raise for. We have planning permission for a large climbing structure on the grass area, the children would also like to upgrade our i pads (which are really old) and we always want more playground equipment and games! The Halloween event is for all families and all ages. Children are asked to pay £10 for entry and will access 10 activities for £10. These activities are spread out around the playground and include: bouncy castle, chocolate apple decoration, Halloween cakes, what’s in the box, a photo booth, pin the heart on the skeleton and a variety of Halloween games. Children will leave with a goody bag of prizes, cake and a drink. We will also have hot dogs and other food and drinks on sale for adults. The children can dress up as whatever they want and families are welcome to bring others with them. We hope to see you there!

Attendance 

Next week we will review Autumn term attendance. Families are reminded that the Government set target for attendance is 96%. Families whose children’s attendance fall under that will receive a letter detailing ways to improve attendance next week. We will be inviting families to attendance meetings for those with attendance below 90% and looking at ways we can hep improve attendance. We will of course be celebrating those who manage to achieve 100% attendance and certificates will go home for those with attendance over 96%. Children with better attendance are happier at school and navigate learning better. Those will good attendance also make better progress. Please ensure children are in school when they are well and consider your reasons for keeping children off school very carefully.

Inset Day – please be reminded it is a school inset day on Friday 20th October. Hatchlings and Ducklings classes are open for those in paid provision only.