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 The calendar for the Autumn Term is incorporated into the Sandroyd Calendar - see under 'Term News' ----------------------------------------- Autumn 2008 Breaking News! The Walled Garden is at last connected to Broadband! No need to explain the advantages! New Faces We have ten new faces this term, all keen to learn new skills and to tell us what they know. Welcome all! Parents’ Drinks Party 26th September, 2008 This was an evening enjoyed by around 50 adults: parents, School Governors, teachers, music teachers, support staff, husbands and guests. Wine and canapés, elderflower pressé and juices flowed in abundance and sound levels in the hall were high on the decibel scale. This was an event much enjoyed by all. Year One We have had a busy and exciting start to Year 1. This term the children have a busy and varied curriculum with an hour of Literacy and Numeracy every day. We are going to map the adventures of Barnaby Bear as he travels around the world to different places within the UK, Europe and even Mexico. We will be investigating “Ourselves” and looking at different parts of our bodies such as our eyes, bones and fingerprints. As ever the children will be doing a lot of sport. Not only will they have their weekly swimming lesson but they will also be working towards their British Gymnastics Level 7 Proficiency Award and in games sessions they will be learning team games and ball skills. We are very excited to be using the interactive whiteboard in the classroom! Foundation Stage: Nursery & Reception This term the topic for Foundation Stage is Food and Farming. This has included a trip to Long Crichel Bakery and a visit from the Chairman of Salisbury Poultry Club. We have had great fun making a tractor big enough to sit in and a combine harvester made of wheat, barley and oats. The children are also looking forward to visiting a farm, and to being given a talk by a local vet and visiting a butcher. Topic work will be used alongside the core curriculum to develop the children’s skills in all six areas of learning. Nursery children are taught separately from the Reception class in the mornings but combine for afternoon activities which include Gym, Games, Drama and French.  We have all been learning our phonic sounds and blends and working hard on our cursive writing. The children have explored mathematical concepts through a variety of practical games and activities. They thoroughly enjoy using the brand new ICT suite at Sandroyd and have begun to use their own log-in and password. The Interactive White Board has proved a huge success! After the half-term break our topic will be “Seasonal Festivities”. 
Long Crichel Bakery trippers examining the produce – 14/10/08 
Harvest Festival We went to the Theatre along with the “big ones” for a service led by Mr. Harris. Sandroyd’s choir sang from the stage and when our turn came we sang the Harvest Samba, an unforgettably jaunty tune. Explaining the process of farming, leading to the harvest, Mr. Harris called on pupils to bring to him seeds, soil, water, sunshine, tools, ears of corn. Farming made simple. Open Morning On Saturday, 11th October we hosted an Activity Morning. Children were keen to start straight away. There was pony riding, food art, mask making and ball games. We were glad of help from several parents, two of whom were husbands in place of their wives. Their ball skills were so good as to be in constant demand in the grassy playground. The weather was sunny and bright - a happy time was had by all. 
Have a break Storyteller A wonderfully interesting visitor, Great Aunt, came to see the children and brought stories to life for them. They were excited and enthused by the ideas she inspired. We were all uplifted! Class News – Year One The children have settled very quickly into Year One and have been working very hard. In Science this term we are learning about ‘Ourselves’. We are investigating our five senses and have been smelling some strange smells and feeling some exciting things in the feely box. Class News – Year Two Our topic this term is “The Great Fire of London” and we have been examining the eyewitness account of Samuel Pepys. We are making box models of the thatched wooden houses of 1666 and in art have been studying Monet’s “House of Parliament” and various types of sculpture. In Science, we will be focusing on “Health and Growth”. The children will be looking at themselves as babies, and there will also be a great deal of practical hands on work which the children love. In literacy we will concentrate on creative imaginative writing. In Religious Studies we are studying Judaism, and learning about the Torah Scroll, trying to write our names in Hebrew and will even have a go at playing the Dreidl game. Late Club and After School Activities The Late Club continues to be a very popular facility for busy parents, to keep their youngsters even busier! Children can stay from 3.30 to 5.00 p.m. They enjoy a variety of creative activities, then a drink and a bite to eat. In addition, they can choose from the following after school clubs: Football, Recorder, Gardening (in first half of term) and Cookery (in the second), Pony Club, Dance and Choir. 
Pony Club is very popular this term and any help from parents with riding would be gratefully received. Nicky Beament says thanks to those of you who are already involved. Your help is invaluable. Future Events Bonfire Night A bonfire night party will be held at Sandroyd on Saturday, 8th November, to which all children at The Walled Garden are invited. It starts at 6.00 p.m. There will be a spectacular firework display, after which there will be hot dogs and burgers for the children and mulled wine for parents. We do hope you will be able to join us. Parent and Toddler Group Parents are welcome to come and relax every Wednesday between 2.00 and 3.15 p.m. to enjoy a sociable get together over a cup of tea or coffee here at The Walled Garden. Toddlers can play and learn to share toys in a stimulating environment. Watertots This is a class run by a fully qualified and experienced Swimming Teacher, Gillian Patterson. Watertots is for youngsters from 4 months to 4 years. Classes are on Fridays from 9.00-9.30 a.m. and from 9.30-10.00 a.m. in the Sandroyd pool. For more information telephone 01747 850856 or email: Gill@Strokemasters.co.uk Nativity Play This year the Nativity Play will be at 2.00 p.m. on Friday, 5th December and will be held in the Theatre at Sandroyd, followed by refreshments. ---------------------------- Circle and Golden Time At The Walled Garden we have circle time meetings every week where the children talk about issues which specifically concern them and learn the importance of sharing and taking turns. We also follow the six “Golden Rules” set out below. This helps the children to know how to behave, creating a disciplined environment in which to work and play. If they follow the Golden Rules, they are rewarded with “Golden Time” where they can choose a range of activities each week. The Golden Rules | Do be Gentle | Do not hurt anybody | | Do be kind and helpful | Do not hurt people’s feelings | | Do work hard | Do not waste your or other people’s time | | Do look after property | Do not waste or damage things | | Do listen to people | Do not interrupt | | Do be honest | Do not cover up the truth |
Rainbow Road At The Walled Garden we follow a programme known as Rainbow Road. This was originally designed for children with co-ordination difficulties, and those needing to develop further their handwriting and perceptual skills. However, it soon became evident that all children benefit from these activities and hence the programme. Six foundation areas are covered and all children will improve their skills in these different areas. They are: Sensory Motor Skills ٭ Fine Motor Skills ٭ Motor Planning ٭ Visual Motor Planning ٭ Visual Perception ٭ Memory From these different areas the Rainbow Road programme covers 18 different “foundation” skills. There are a number of different activities for the children to work on in the different foundation areas. Every activity is designed to last from 5 to 15 minutes. Sometimes the children will be working independently, with a teacher or in small groups.
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