September 2019
Mystery Readers
Each week in KS1, a mystery reader visits each classroom to read the children a story of their choice! The children are thoroughly enjoying this session and wait with great anticipation to find out who their mystery reader is every Wednesday.
Author Visit: James Campbell
We have already had a visit from children’s author, James Campbell. He spent the day in school working with every class. There were roars of laughter throughout the day and the children thoroughly enjoyed working with him. The book signing was also a huge success! On the same day, James, alongside our School Councillors and Mrs Corker, our School Governor, officially opened our School Library. Please feel free to pop into the library with your children after school on Thursdays to share a book together during our Family Open Session.
Harvest Collection
Thank you to our wonderful and generous families for your Harvest Donations. These were greatly appreciated by the Food Bank! On Wednesday 25th September, all the children celebrated Harvest by producing some fabulous artwork for a display
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
All of your Year 5s and 6s were filmed performing the theme song from ‘Chitty, Chitty, Bang, Bang’. This was used for promotional material on Facebook and during the interval of the show being performed by the Lowestoft Players at the Marina Theatre. What a fabulous opportunity!
Dictionaries
Year 3 all received dictionaries from the Lowestoft Rotary Club on the 25th September 2019 to use at home to support their learning. Thank you to the Rotary Club for presenting these to the students for the 8th year running!
October 2019
Writing Enrichment Day
A number of our Year 5/6 children attended a writing enrichment day at Carlton Colville Primary School with an author called Tamsyn Murray. They day was a great success!
Andy Cope
Our Year 4 children and Year 5 children had an excellent day at Red Oak Primary School working with the author Andy Cope. The workshops focussed on positive mental health, emotions and feelings.
November 2019
Bedtime Stories
Bedtime Stories was a huge success, as always, and was very well attended again this year. It was wonderful to see so many families enjoying listening to some well-known (and lesser well-known) stories being read by staff, and enjoying their hot chocolate and biscuits. Thank you to all staff for their help in organising this annual event.
Book Fair
Thank you for your support at our most recent book fair. Our Year 5/6 volunteers did a super job assisting customers with their purchases after school, and recommending books to the younger children.
Private Peaceful
On Wednesday 13th November, some of our Year 4, 5 and 6 pupils had an evening trip to the Marina Theatre to watch Michael Morpurgo’s Private Peaceful, performed by the National Production Company. It was a very moving production and the children thoroughly enjoyed the experience of bringing a book to life and watching it on the stage.
My Choir Rocks - Britain's Got Talent
Many of our children who attend Rock Choir travelled to London to audition for Britain's Got Talent. They made it through the first stage, onto the second stage. They will hear in February whether they will get to perform to the judges! Well done.
KS1 Walk
KS1 walked to Westwood Primary School this month to observe the local area and identify similarities and differences between the two. The children thoroughly enjoyed their walk to Westwood. On their way, someone remarked on their good behaviour—a credit to our school.
Children in Need
On Friday 15th November, the School Council organised a super Children in Need event. We raised
an incredible £331.45! All classes participated in Joe Wick’s Big Move. Our School Councillors also ran a Healthy Bake Sale at the end of the day which was well received by all those who bought delicious baked goods.
December 2019
RSPCA Assembly
We had a special visitor in school this week from the RSPCA. The children were all part of a special whole school assembly and Leanne from the RSPCA told the children all about the welfare needs of animals, the work of the RSPCA and what they can do to help. After the assembly, the Eco-Warriors had a special session discussing the importance of recycling and litter. They all learnt a lot from these sessions.
The Dogs Trust
On Tuesday 3rd December, we welcomed Jo from The Dogs Trust into school to work with the children in Years Three and Four about Safety around dogs. The session included information about how to act around unfamiliar dogs and how you need to ask permission to stroke other people's dogs. Jo also led a whole school assembly about dog safety and the children were very well-behaved.
Outreach on the Streets Charity boxes
Our School Council members have been working hard with their classes to create special shoe boxes with a variety of winter and Christmas items to donate to those less fortunate than themselves. The children have been collecting items such as; hats, scarves, gloves, toothpaste, toothbrushes, combs and small Christmas gifts. Some children have even created individual boxes at home to bring into school ready to donate. We really have some very thoughtful children and families at Grove.
Pantomime at The Marina Theatre
The whole school were lucky enough to attend the Snow White Pantomime at the Marina Theatre in Lowestoft. The children thoroughly enjoyed the performance and are extremely grateful to the PTFA who part funded the experience.
School Christmas Performances
EYFS, Key Stage 1, Lower Key Stage Two and Upper Key Stage Two rehearsed and performed for the parents. The EYFS performed Stickman at Christmas, KS1 performed Little Angel gets her wings, LKS2 performed Victorian Christmas and UKS2 performed a
January 2020
Carlton Marshes Twinned School project
We are really excited to now be part of the Carlton Marshes Twinned Schools Project. As a twinned school we will be visiting the marshes to explore nature and to further support our learning. The staff from Carlton marshes will also be coming into school to do assemblies and work with the children to raise awareness of the importance of looking after our environment and further encourage the children to explore our beautiful locality.
Wild Poems project
As a Carlton Marshes twinned school, we will be taking part in the Wild Poems project. Two poets will be coming into Westwood to work with some children in Key Stage 2 to write wildlife poems. These poems will be recorded and played at the opening of their new visitors centre.
KS1 Visit to the Fire Station
As part of their Great Fire of London topic, the children in KS1 have visited the Lowestoft Fire Station. They got to use the hose as well as explore the different training areas of the Fire Station. They compared modern Fire Fighting to the events of 1666.
February 2020
Friends Forever (Antibullying and Well Being) Theatre Production
March 2020
Benacre Estate
The day involved a range of activities including; sheep shearing, birds of prey, farm machinery, pond dipping and dog handling.
World Book Day
The children have taken part in World Book Day activities in school.