FAMILY NEWSLETTER 9th October 2020 Issue: 24 Working together, we will achieve

@ApplegarthAc 01689 841 528 applegarth-academy.croydon.sch.uk

Miss Carr’s Message

Year 1

Inside the Newsletter this week, we have a peek in Year 1 to see what they have been up to. The children have been making excellent progress and we thank you for your support with this at home. From writing silly sentences for phonics to learning about their bodies and what happens when we exercise, there is a lot happening in Year 1.

Colder Weather

As the weather becomes colder please ensure your child brings in a warm, waterproof coat everyday. As we know, the weather changes quickly in the UK , so a sunny morning can become a wet and windy afternoon. Please put your child’s name inside the coat and label all items of clothing.

Cleaner Air

Our Cleaner Air Day was the 8th of October, but we want to continue this over the coming weeks. After such a long time stuck indoors for a lot of us, I know many of you are eager to make the most of getting out and about getting some exercise in. Lots of you have taken the opportunity to walk to school, ride on bikes or get out on a scooter which has been great to see.

Hutchinson’s Bank

Applegarth has been working alongside The Wildlife Trust on encouraging families to appreciate areas of natural beauty near them. Hutchinson's Bank is a national area of interest, having rare chalk soils which make it a prime breeding ground for rare and solitary bees. During the Summer break, The created our own chalk bank on our field, so we Friday Stars return! too will have a habitat for these rare species. During the last week of this term, some of our children will get the opportunity to help plant wild flowers on our bank to encourage butterflies to visit. Keep checking our twitter page for updates. You might want to have an older sibling take part in the ‘Step into Science’ project London Wildlife Trust are running, or visit Hutchinson's Bank yourself this weekend! Look out for the resident sheep herd, who move around grazing in the fields, maybe tweet us a picture if you spot them. Reminder: Please drive slowly up to our school and be mindful of pedestrians.

This week in Year 1

In Phonics we have been looking at the 'qu' and 'ay' sound. Some of the children wrote their own silly sentenc- es!

We have also been learning about different habitats (polar, ocean, rainforest, woodland, pond and desert) We discussed how animals live in different habitats and how they survive there. For example, polar bears have thick fur and seals have lots of fat so they can stay warm living in the polar habitat. Year 1 sorted differ- ent animals into the correct habitat.

During this half term, Year 1 have become little Scientists and have been learning all about Biology. Starting from looking at how humans grow and change, to understanding where animals live and the groups they belong to! Meet the Teacher

The start to the school year has been a slightly different one to how we normally meet our new teachers. In light of that, we thought we would share a little information on our teachers and put names to faces. Each week will be a different year group and getting to know the teachers.

Sloth Class– Year 4

Name: Mr Sorrell Favourite book: ‘The Witches’ By Roald Dahl

Favourite school meal: I loved the Jamaican stew! That food was "Scrumdiddly Umptious!" Dream holiday destination: I would love to travel throughout South America in a camper van! Fun fact: At 1.33 miles long, Southend Pier, Essex is the longest pleasure pier in the World! You can travel up and down it by train or by foot. There is also a Lifeboat station at the end. Shark Class– Year 4

Sloth fact: Shark fact: Sloths do not travel far, they generally only travel You will never find a shark skeleton. Sharks have no 38 meters per day! bones in their body, they have cartilage instead. Turtle Class – Year 5

Shark Class– Year 4 Parent Gym Name: Mrs Grant-Warsop Favourite book: ‘It’s OK to be Different’ by Todd Parr Favourite school meal: Chinese Chicken Curry Dream holiday destination: Disneyland Orlando Fun fact: I love playing netball and I have won trophies playing. If you wish to speak to a teacher they are available to speak to you by telephone request. Please call the Office on 01689 841528 and ask for a call back.

Nursery– Miss Bew

Bat– Mrs Robinson/ Miss Carr

Bee– Mr Quinnell

Dolphin– Miss Alveranga

Dugong– Miss Walker

Giraffe– Miss D (Deflorimonte)

Gorilla– Miss Joseph

Panda– Mr Ray/ Miss Takacs

Pangolin– Mr Wadsworth

Sloth– Mr Sorrell

Shark- Mrs Grant-Warsop

Tiger– Mr Radford/ Mr Robertson

Turtle– Mr Leggatt

Whale– Mr Johnson

Walrus– Miss Fielder

Step into Science!

London Wildlife Trust have an exciting and FREE opportunity for 14 – 16 year olds in your area. We are inviting them to “Step into Science” with our Keeping it Wild and Brilliant Butterflies teams at our Hutchinson’s Bank over half term and Saturday’s in November. They will have the chance to learn about the exciting wildlife that lives on the reserve, get hands on and use tools to help us manage the site for Wildlife, work towards a qualification in Media and Journalism and a John Muir Award, and end the programme with an exciting day of bush craft inspired activities. For more information and to sign up please visit here: https://www.wildlondon.org.uk/step-science-wild- action-programme

Hutchinson’s Bank is a large area of secluded chalk and woodland in New Addington. Supporting many rare plants and insects, which has benefited from the return of traditional graz- ing. It is free to visit and a great open space to view wildlife and enjoy nature. Entrances are off North Downs Road, Featherbed Lane, and Farleigh Dean Crescent. The North Downs Road footpath is a short walk from New Addington Tramlink stop. Follow the footpath to the left of the recycling centre, and turn left on to the woodland path. After a few minutes walking you'll see a metal kissing gate at the reserve entrance. Further along there are kissing gates and steps into paddocks to reach oth- er parts of the reserve. From Featherbed Lane turn off on to Farleigh Dean Crescent and at the far end continue through the gate into the reserve. Foot- paths are sometimes steep and stepped. Access to the cutting from Farleigh Dean Crescent is level and suitable for wheelchairs if the gates are unlocked by arrangement. There are occasional benches. The route from Three Corner Grove to Chapel Bank is across a narrow winding road with busy traffic. Street parking is available in Farleigh Dean Crescent and North Downs Road.

Clean Air Day!

The 8th of October was National Clean Air Day and to celebrate we are encouraging children who walk to school. Every school in Croydon has the air quality monitored and in April 2020 there was a 25% drop in air pollution due to Lockdown. Below are Applegarth’s air pollution levels for the beginning of this year. We all want our children to breathe in fresh clean air, so why not make a change today and ditch your car and walk to school. We understand more parents may be driving because they want to avoid using public transport, but where the option of walking is available, lets think about doing it. Can we also be mindful about driving slowly up to the school, as more people are walking and the speed limit on our road is 20 MPH. Clean air day!Friday Stars

Here are all the children that have shown great behaviours at break and lunchtime! Each will receive one of Mr Mukhtar’s stickers! Well Done! Araya, Layla H, Cairo, Jeremiah, Layla Rustum, Franki, Layla, Nathaniel,

KS1 Arya, Vikknayan, Jayden Mikkel, Zaine, Charlie, S, Baileymay, Isobel, Freddie Violet, Phillip, Ayjah– Marie

Bhavya, Louie, Frankie Fadimata, James, Amoy, W, Cara, Brooke Charlie, Kayleigh, Lisa- Marie

KS2 Cal’eb, Liam T, Zalika Betty, Leena, Joshua, Eveaisia, Jasmine, Aleena

Shanice, Ibrihim, Amy