1. Year 5 Parent Information Evening - Thursday 18 th September 2014 Striving To Be The Best We Can Guided By The Light of Christ A warm welcome from Miss Graham, Mrs Woods & Mr Davis

2. The New Curriculum In 2013 the government announced plans to overhaul the national curriculum. For most children, these changes are now in effect (from September 2014), but children in Years 2 and 6 will follow the existing programmes of study until September 2015 in English, maths and science. From September 2013, schools will have the option of either continuing to teach the current curriculum or gradually transitioning to the new curriculum.

3. What will our child be learning in Year 5? Our Proposed Creative Curriculum Topics (a 2 year rolling programme: Yr 1 Term 1 & 2: Local History Study (Bristol at War) - a history/geography based project. Term 3 & 4: ‘Movers & Shakers’ (Who were the Ancient Greeks & how have they influenced us today?) - a history/geography based project. Term 5 & 6: Planet Earth (A study of Antarctica) - a science/geography based project.

4. Homework in 5GW Homework is set every week: Mrs Woods will set literacy homework on a Tuesday & Miss Graham will set the numeracy homework on a Thursday. MUST DO HOMEWORK: Weekly Spelling Lists to cover spelling rules & patterns being taught in class & statutory spellings. Times Tables {Club on Friday} – children should know all their times tables up to 12x12 Literacy Numeracy Reading (every day in year 5) – Reading Record book provided which parents should sign. Homework book provided (it should come in/out of school EVERY DAY) COULD DO HOMEWORK: Topic Linked Homework – often an independent project. The children could present this work to the rest of the class. We request a letter from parents if homework is not able to be completed for whatever reason.

5. Homework in 5D Homework is set every week: MUST DO HOMEWORK: Weekly Spelling Lists to cover spelling rules & patterns being taught in class & statutory spellings. Spelling Book handed out. Times Tables {Club on Friday} – children should know all their times tables up to 12x12 Literacy Numeracy Reading (every day in year 5) – Reading Record book provided which parents should sign. Homework book provided. COULD DO HOMEWORK: Topic Linked Homework – often an independent project. The children could present this work to the rest of the class. We request a letter from parents if homework is not able to be completed for whatever reason.

6. How can I help at home? Support with homework:  Learning spellings  Enjoying books, reading to your child, listening to your child read or discuss his/her book  Times tables (children should have a good grasp of all the times tables & division facts up to 12x12)  Encouraging your child to attempt the ‘Could Do’ homework at least once this year  Visit your local library  Read books around the main topic  If possible access to the internet for research & educational sites  Encouraging your child to present homework to a high standard  Finding a good space & time to encourage good habits  The children have been given a green homework book – it should come in & out of school EVERY DAY along with their reading book & record.

7. Spelling This year we will be returning to sending weekly spelling lists home for the children to learn in preparation for a test. (Spellings will go home on a Monday ready for a test the following Monday) The Look, Cover, Write, Check method is best for learning spellings. A list of Spelling Games will also be sent home to help the children learn their spellings. In class the children will be provided with a Spelling Journal. We will be highlighting words from their writing in class that we would like them to spell correctly. Although these words won’t feature in their weekly test; we ask children to practise them at home and we will check their application of this words in their independent writing. The words we will choose will often be key words or words which your child regularly spells incorrectly.

8. READING AT HOME Please sign reading record book when you hear your child read Listening to audio books together & discussing the story Link to our topic Reading to your child/family Visiting your local library Independent readers: discuss book, ask them questions about what they are reading

9. Safe Internet Search Engines Here are some Safe Internet Search engines the children can use at home: http://www.swiggle.org.uk/ http://quinturakids.com/ http://www.askkids.com/ http://www.squirrelnet.com/search/Google_SafeSearch.a sp http://primaryschoolict.com/ http://www.primaryt.co.uk/google2.html http://www.kidrex.org/ These are Safe Image Searches: http://gallery.nen.gov.uk/gallery-swgfl.html http://primaryschoolict.com/ http://www.swiggle.org.uk/ http://quinturakids.com/ http://www.askkids.com/ http://www.squirrelnet.com/search/Google_SafeSearch.a sp http://primaryschoolict.com/ http://www.primaryt.co.uk/google2.html http://www.kidrex.org/ http://gallery.nen.gov.uk/gallery-swgfl.html http://primaryschoolict.com/

10. E-Safety At school we use the SMART rules and Hector the Dolphin Children in all year groups learn about Acceptable Use and being a good digital citizen Information on the school website or speak to Lisa Harvey Reminder – Facebook's Terms and Conditions state that it is for children aged 13+

11. PPA (Planning, Preparation & Assessment) Allows teachers time to plan and assess children’s work Children will take part in drama/music & art lessons Mrs McGrath continues to provide the music curriculum & Miss Powell will be teaching art – both skills & application. The children should bring an old shirt or art apron into school for when they paint Term 1&2 PPA will be on a FRIDAY afternoon; Term 3&4 PPA will be on THURSDAY afternoon Term 5&6 PPA will be on WEDNESDAY afternoon. 5GW & 5D will alternate between music one week & art the next.

12. Behaviour – Rewards Praise Assembly: Star of the week! House Point Scheme - Excellent work/behaviour - Politeness/helpfulness - Homework: Effort & Achievement Golden Time – 20 mins free time at the end of Friday. The class collect points over the week (25 needed for Golden Time!)

13. Sanctions Clear expectations and classroom rules. Discipline procedures: Verbal Warning Yellow Card Red Card = detention (20 mins at the beginning of lunch hour) A letter goes home to explain the poor behaviour and keep you informed of what is happening in school (3 Verbal Warnings in a day=red card) 3 Verbal Warnings in one day = a red card New day, new start!

14. Class Management Bags 1 drawstring PE bag to stay on peg in school 1 small school bag to include their lunchbox Coats Please ensure your child has a tag on the back of their coat so that it will stay on their peg & that it is labelled with their name Clothes: Please label with child’s name Drink Bottles: Pupils may bring drink bottles into class in the warmer months of the year. Class Equipment: Children may bring a small pencil case/reading book from home but we cannot take responsibility for lost items.

15. SEN If any concerns please speak to class teacher in first instance. Ms Liz Kurzik, SENCO for this year: lkurzik@st-bonaventures.bristol.sch.uk

16. School Trips/Off site Visits To enhance the children's learning in the outdoor environment. Term 1/2: ‘M-Shed’ – Bristol in the War – Tuesday 9 th September 2014 Term 3/4: Residential trip : Kilve Court: Outdoor Centre. Dates: Monday 16 th March – Wednesday 18 th March 2015 Term 5/6: Zoo & Farm visits – (date to be confirmed) Explorer Dome – (date to be confirmed) St Bedes Catholic College: Morning in June (date to be confirmed) COLSON HALL CONCERT – June (date to be confirmed)

17. Dates & Events for your diaries: Class Assemblies: 5GW – Tuesday 11 th November: 2.45 p.m. 5D – Tuesday 18 th November: 2.45 p.m. Parents’ Evenings: 21 st & 23 rd October / 24 th & 25 th March 2015 Year 5 Cake Sale Friday 17th October: 3.15 p.m. Cycling Proficiency – (Dates to be confirmed but usually Term 6) All these dates & others are posted regularly in the school newsletter! http://www.st-bonaventures.bristol.sch.uk/

18. Swimming Times 5GW will be swimming from Wednesday 24 th September 2014 until Wednesday 19 th November 2014. (5GW will be late back to school as we have the last slot – due back at 3:30 pm) 5D will be swimming from Wednesday 14 th January 2015 until Wednesday 11 th March 2015. (5D have the first slot so they leave at 1.00 p.m. during lunch time & will be back at around 2.30 p.m.) Swimming List  Swimming cap  Long hair tied back (girls and boys)  No earrings  Boys must have shorts above the knee or trunks.  Girls must wear a swimming costume (no two pieces)  Towel and hair brush  We would really appreciate volunteers! We need to take one parent helper each time we go swimming. There is a list at the door, so sign up!

19. Questions?