Last week at Gainsborough…
Black History Month Celebrations
We have had a fantastic week publishing poetry, performing poetry, completing art work and working alongside Yaram Arts. We had an incredible Family Feast, with a huge turn out, incredible food, excellent entertainment and a wonderful fashion show. Thank you to all of the wonderful Gainsborough staff for setting up and hosting the event, and to our wonderful families to brought food, fashion a a huge amount of passion!
This week children learned and performed poems by the below black poets, the videos of their performances will be on on our Instagram page very soon! The children have also been asked to publish and perform one of these at home for homework:
| Poet | Oracy skills to focus on | |
|
Nursery Reception The Nest |
https://clpe.org.uk/poetry/poems/what-turkey-doing John Agard |
To chant known rhymes and songs |
| Year 1 |
https://clpe.org.uk/poetry/poets/valerie-bloom Valerie Bloom |
To be filmed speaking and use this for reflection To use the appropriate tone of voice To speak clearly and confidently in a range of contexts |
| Year 2 |
https://clpe.org.uk/poetryline/poets/lyons-john John Lyons Granny’s Sugarcake |
To use gesture to support delivery of ideas. To adapt how they speaking different situations (audience). |
| Year 3 |
https://clpe.org.uk/poetryline/poets/nichols-grace Grace Nichols |
To consider movement when reciting To use pauses for effect To speak in front of a larger audience |
| Year 4 |
https://clpe.org.uk/poetryline/poets/berry-james James Berry |
To consider movement when reciting To use pauses for effect To speak in front of a larger audience |
| Year 5 |
https://clpe.org.uk/poetryline/poems/i-am-writer Joseph Coelho |
To speak with flair and passion To project their voice to a larger audience For gestures to become increasingly natural |
| Year 6 |
https://clpe.org.uk/poetry/poets/benjamin-zephaniah Benjamin Zephaniah |
To have a stage presence Consciously adapt tone, pace and volume of voice with a single situation To speak fluently in front an audience |
Carol’s Community Kitchen
Our black history month feast also saw the official opening of the community kitchen! We have named the community kitchen, Carol’s Community Kitchen. Carol Lewis worked at Gainsborough for over 25 years, unfortunately Carol passed away in December 2022. She gave her heart and soul to the Gainsborough community and community cohesion was one of her passions in life. It seems only right to dedicate this wonderful space to someone who would have really enjoyed using it with our community. Thank you Carol for being kind, caring about our community and putting families first. We will continue this good work in your name.
Reception Class Expansion
Over half term we have started to move Reception class to the room next door and expand their provision by giving them a second classroom, the old ICT suite. This will give reception more space for small group work, larger areas to play in and support their engagement and progress in learning better. We had planned to make this move during the summer break however withe the extent of the building works to the front entrance and kitchens, this was not possible.
ICT Suite move
We have moved our ICT suite! Children in Years 1 -6 use our ICT suite weekly for computing lessons and to complete work on online learning platforms. We hope that with moving the ICT suite to the top floor of the school, where the Year 5 and 6 classrooms are, we will be able to use it more frequently for small group work and for older pupils to complete reading plus lessons independently at lunchtime.
Parent’s in Class Autumn 1 – Black History Month focus
Thank you to all of our wonderful families who came into school this Friday to complete some art work with the children. These sessions are not taught sessions but activities children are confident in and can share with visitors in class. We really enjoy the half termly parent in class sessions with you and we know working with you closely is hugely important to our home school relationships. Thank you families!
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 Olivia
Year 2 Faith
Year 3 Joseph
Year 4 Micheal
Year 5 Jay
Year 6 Natasha
GOLDS!
Each week we celebrate an amazing achievement from each class. Children are celebrated in assembly, receive a gold certificate and their name in the newsletter. Please celebrate their learning at home too!
Nursery Geese
Jessica was awarded a Gainsborough Gold Award for joining in our class story time sessions and have a ‘have a go’ attitude towards everything. Well done Jessica!
Nursery Swans
Alesya was awarded a Gainsborough Gold Award this week taking great care of our pets this week in Nursery and completing some great mark making! Well done Alesya.
Reception Doves
Christian has been awarded a Gainsborough Gold Award this week for showing great compassion and always being kind to his freinds. Well done Christian!
Year 1 Wrens
Ayaan was awarded a Gainsborough Gold Award this week. He has completed his homework every week to a very high standard. Well done Ayaan!
Year 2- Owls
Micheal Pius was awarded a Gainsborough Gold Award for working really hard on his 2 and 5 times tables and supporting friends with their times table work too. Well done Micheal!
Year 3 – Hummingbirds
Zivah was awarded a Gainsborough Gold Award this week. Zivah has written a beautiful story, based on the story Eco Girl. It was beautifully presented and detailed. Well done Zivah!
Year 4- Herons
Jacinta was nominated for a Gainsborough Gold this week. She has worked brilliantly in science to classify plants. Well done Jacinta!
Year 5 – Skylarks
Romario was awarded the Gainsborough Gold Award this week. Romario has shown kindness inside and outside the classroom all week. Well done Romario!
Year 6 – Magpies
Ibrahim has been awarded the Gainsborough Gold Award this week. He has demonstrated excellent mental maths skills and reasoning in maths lessons. Ibrahim, keep us the great work, it is very impressive. Well done Ibrahim!
Next week at Gainsborough…
Autumn 2 Dates for your Diary
Please note the important events, trips, non uniform and donation days recorded in the dates to note column. More information about each event will follow in the newsletter each week, or via emails. We look forward to working with you in Autumn 2.
Friends of Gainsborough (FRoG’s) Annual Halloween Ball
On Friday 8th November we are inviting children and families to our annual Halloween event. This event is scheduled from 3.30-5.30pm. Families will be able to change children at the end of the school day in school, we will allocate changing areas so families will not have to take children home and can come back to school. This is event is a fundraising event, we hope to build funds for the school. We will have some suggestions of what the fundraising should be for and families can vote for the items they would like to see the funds spent on. There will be food and drinks for sale, and the £5 entrance gets children % tickets to play games and win prizes. We hope to see you there!
Nursery and Reception Class Donations
Running the EYFS is an expensive business. We are always grateful for donations! This half term are are looking for second hand:
- dolls clothes
- wooden, plastic or fabric toy food
- toys, resources and packaging relating to pets
- pine cones, twigs, stones, conkers and leaves for our mud kitchens
Reception 2025 Admissions and Tours
If your child was born between 1st September 2020 and 31st August 2021 you must apply for a reception class, place for a start in September 2025, by 15th January 2025. All families must apply via www.eadmissions.orh.uk If you would like help to apply for a place please speak to Charlotte Harris, our Children’s Centre Manager and Pastoral Support Officer. We are offering tours of the school for prospective reception class parents every Friday in the Autumn term at 9-10am or at 5-6pm. These tours are with the Headteacher and give families the opportunity to see the whole school, our specialist subject spaces, unpick how the school vision and values of the school are lived through. It is also a chance to ask any questions about the school and consider what sending your child to Gainsborough offers you.
Year 6 Secondary School Applications
If your child is in year 5, born between 1st September 2013 and 31st August 2014, you must complete a secondary school application by 31st October 2024. You must apply via www.eadmissions.org.uk If you require support to complete this application please email the school, admin@gainsborough.hackney.sch.uk, or speak to a senior leader on the school gate. Late applications mean you may not be awarded your first choice. National offer day is Monday 3rd March 2025 and you will be emailed your secondary school place allocation then.
