Primary Newsletter
IN THIS ISSUE: •
News from the Classroom
•
Birthdays
•
Student Achievements
Dear Parents and Caregivers, Last week, a number of our classes made the most of the opportunity to put books – and reading – at the forefront of their activities, because of this year’s Book Week. The theme for the event this year was “Dreaming with eyes open…” which is a wonderfully evocative way of describing just what reading allows us to do. As our eyes scan the pages and the words create pictures in our minds, we are transported to places and events far from our often-mundane lives. We really do hope that the students enjoyed the activities associated with Book Week and that they become life-long readers. There is another outlet for creativity, however, and it has a perfect synergy with reading. It is, of course, writing. Just as we might enjoy the stories and ideas which someone else has come up with, so writing gives us an avenue to express our own. This is certainly true for many of the students, who love sharing the stories they have written. One interesting article explores how we can encourage young writers, and their suggestions should provide for many opportunities for creativity. One is to write together for fun. Creating jokes, riddles, stories or creative lists can be an enjoyable pastime, and then displaying these around the house makes them even more praiseworthy. Also, writing for a purpose, which gives children the opportunity to use language in different scenarios. So, writing a letter to a family member, or creating a unique message for dad or someone special on Father’s Day, or helping to come up with the wording for a birthday invitation all help children to use language in different contexts. The two activities of writing and reading can then be combined, as a child is encouraged to read his or her own story – to an appreciative audience, of course. We really hope that the students here at Reddam are inspired to become creative thinkers and that their creativity finds an outlet in the words on a page. As one writer said, “I write for the joy of writing. It is the air I breathe and the joy of my life.”
There was an excited anticipation in a number of the classes this week, as students prepared something unique for their dads and other special men in their lives, in preparation for Father’s Day. The teachers deliberately kept the focus on dads and other special men, as we know only too well that not all families are exactly the same. What we do know, though, is that the children really value some wonderful men – and we hope that they enjoy making Sunday extra special for them. The Reddam House Primary School Newsletter
Volume 22 Issue Friday 2 September 2022
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