Moon Hall, Dorking. Weekly Newsletter 2019/20 1

Dear Parents and Carers, It seemed only yesterday we were celebrating Christmas and yet, here we are at half term already! When we look over our year it is always hard to pick a favourite term. We have the excitement of Christmas in Autumn, the hope of Easter in spring and then the anticipation of fun and sun in Summer. Next half term we have so much to look forward to including WE day, preparing for our final assembly and remembering the meaning of Easter. Looking back to this half term we have seen some amazing work from the children. The year 6 team kick started the term with a wonderful assembly on nature which made us stop and reflect on the importance of taking time out from our busy life and getting back to nature. Growing up around birds and nature, the one thing that struck me leaving the assembly and discussing it with the children, was how few birds the children could identify . Taking time out with family, watching birds, building bird boxes or hanging bird feeders is a great family bonding activity, and supports our wildlife too. In year 5 the children always make us smile with their innate enthusiasm for learning. This is certainly a quality to be admired. Most recently they have been making their incredibly complex optical illusions in art which are coming on fantastically. The half term has finished in a whirl wind of fun with year 3 and 4 also having a class assembly. Their message to appreciate our own good fortune and health is an important one, and their 6-metre long dragon dance was impressive. Reflecting on the coronavirus was an important end and our thoughts and wishes go out to anyone impacted by this virus. Thank you to all of you for the concern, encouragement and support you have shown us in this transition period, whilst a new Head of School is found. Running a school is certainly challenging but also rewarding and until our new Head is in place we will continue to put our heart and souls into doing the best job we can in supporting the children in their learning journeys. Best wishes for a relaxing half term, Miss Wheeler, Mrs Domican and Mrs George

HALF TERM NEWSLETTER Moon Hall Dorking 14TH FEBRUARY 2020

In ME to WE news our main contact at the WE campaign headquarters was so impressed with the enthusiasm and work we have put into such a small amount of time, our children have been nominated to appear on the Wembley stage at the WE day. This may be a group actually appearing on stage or a video of our school. Fingers crossed we make the final selection! Even if we don’t the nomination itself is such an honour and it is because of all the hard work the children have put in (and dragged you into), so well done children and thank you as parents for your support. We have some incredibly thoughtful and inspiring children! This term as a school we have joined the ‘we won’t rest’ WE campaign. The children tackled some of their own stereotypes on those that are homeless, and we discussed ways that we could help without handing money directly to people, and the issues around this. The children have been incredibly insightful and caring which just goes to prove our next generation will be the making of this world! Our trip to WE day is on the Wednesday 4th March 2020. Please remember to be in school for 6am when the coach will be leaving.

It is important to raise awareness and discuss the importance of using digital technology safely & positively! In the United Kingdom, the UK Safer Internet Centre (SIC) marks Safer Internet Day (SID) by mobilising people across the country to get "Together for a better internet" and explore how they manage their online identity, and how the internet shapes how they think of themselves and others. This week’s theme throughout Computing lessons and when using any technology in school has been how we share our online identity. Years 3 and 4 have learnt what information they should not share and how they can enjoy creating an online identity using avatars, emojis or usernames appropriately. Year 5 have been recognising and celebrating their differences online and looking at the importance of being kind and tolerant in our communication.

Me and my phone by Zora

My online avatar

The following link will take you to an online training course for parents as a simple introduction to e-safety which will provide some much needed information to help parents start to understand possible e-safety problems and give them a foundation for making decisions about technology usage within the home. https://www.e-safetysupport.com/onlinetraining?course=8LV7CaSjXwr8&school=476

On Tuesday 11th February as part of ‘Safer Internet Day 2020’ the Delta Y6’s headed over to Moon Hall Reigate to attend a day long workshop hosted by Mr Besim, the Head of Computing. The children were supported to think about how we use the internet for a range of things (shopping, gaming, communicating, streaming, and researching) and were encouraged to think about when there are times that using the internet may not be so positive, helpful or safe for us. Ratings for games and videos were discussed and each child considered their own personal digital footprint. Some children had forgotten that their digital footprint will last for life and were shocked by this. We as a school emphasise that when using the internet it should be a positive experience for all involved. When leaving digital footprints (by

posting, when chatting, sharing etc.) then we encourage our children to only spread positivity. The workshop followed this theme and was based around supporting the children to really explore the idea of a positive internet. It was explained to the children that they would be planning and then creating a mini film which would be entered into a competition hosted by Childnet. The theme for the nationwide competition for this year is “We want an internet where we are free to…” The children were shown many sample film entries from previous years and were shown the different type of film techniques that they may want to use. These included green screening, animation, stop screen animation, or straight filming, and the children also decided on the style that they wanted to use: documentary, drama, song, news report, interview etc. In small groups the children storyboarded their ideas, considered the staging of each scene,

decided upon the characters that they needed to cast, and began to create scripts. Many groups chose to use a selection of methods to then edit together to complete their film. The children were so original and imaginative in all of their movie choices and scripts. Collaboration within each group was wonderful to watch and to support. Every team member seemed to find a unique way in which they could contribute. The attention to detail when searching for backgrounds on the internet or when modelling their characters

for their stories was also hugely impressive. Unfortunately we have not managed to finalise our edits yet but will get to do this in due course ready to enter our films into the competition before the deadline in June. Fingers crossed for all of the children. I think we have a few Steven Spielberg’s in the making!

Delta 5 have had an exciting half of term learning about Hinduism in RE; creating their own colourful Hindu Shrines. In English, Year 5 were looking at the poem ‘The Magic Box’ by Kit Wright. They each wrote their own beautifully creative poem thinking about what they would put in their box. Here is a chosen example written by Bertie.

The Magic Box

I will put in the box A swish of spring mountain water

A spark from a great fire A tiger’s tooth straight after its lunch

I will put in the box

A rock from a meteor that wiped out the dinosaurs A fresh drop of rain water

A Stone Age tool

I will put in the box The scale of a dragon

The flame of the Olympic torch The last dying sun

I will put in the box

An artefact from another dimension A piece of plankton

An animal on the brink of extinction

My box is fashioned from gold and silver

with carved wishes in Chinese, a round piece of diamond on the lid

and dragon heads in the corners. Its hinges are claws of dinosaurs

Sophie in Alpha W has just been awarded 2 new Cub badges! The Science badge and the new Cobra six badge

Josie Maltin Delta S (and her sister Myrtle) recently appeared in the pantomime ‘The Snow Queen’ with the Ockley Dramatic Society. It was a lovely production and both myself and Mrs. Domican went along to cheer her on. Josie multitasked roles with her amazing dancing, a Goblin and as Young Gerda. Josie is a talent to watch!! Mrs. Williams

Harvey in Delta W is another MHD budding Thespian. Harvey recently appeared with the Petworth Players in their Christmas production of Hansel & Gretel. It was a fun filled, interactive edition of the original Hansel & Gretel. Harvey played Klaus with great aplomb amongst many group scenes. Mrs. Domican and I enjoyed the performance enormously. Mrs. Williams

HALF TERM ACTIVITIES AT THE GLOBE THEATRE Parents might like to investigate these exciting activities at The Globe Theatre in London: https://www.shakespearesglobe.com/seasons/half-term-tales-2019/

This half term Poetry Club have been exploring personification: when you attribute human characteristics to a non-human object or thing eg. the sun was smiling today. Everyone chose a season to personify and imagined how this season would behave if it was a person entering and then leaving the world. We hope you enjoy reading our results – would be able to guess the season if it wasn’t named?

Winter by Melis Winter sneaks in quietly.

Winter moves with stealth like a slithery snake. She’s secretive and says nothing.

She is soft as snow and hard as ice,

She can have silent, cold anger, Destroying roads and chilling the air.

Spring pushes Winter away with a hard kick. Winter can’t say goodbye and leaves with a broken heart.

Autumn by India

Autumn arrives in a cold swish. He moves slowly to his next

Destination. He makes crunches and swishes.

He says kind, positive words. Autumn is golden,

He is like a shooting star in the night. Autumn sheds all of his colorful clothes

And in one second he is gone!

Summer By Zach Summer breaks though Spring,

Summer bobs in the air. He sings gracefully,

He says nothing. He is a fluffy white cloud,

He is very cheeky. His impact is happiness.

Summer leaves when it starts to get cold, He packs his bag and says ‘Goodbye’.

Spring by Holly

Spring slowly slinks down the catwalk, She is sassy, she says ‘I’m the boss’.

She is young and energetic, She is helpful and caring,

She helps animals. She will turn flower petals into a rosy dress!

Spring is happy, She is a angel in the sky.

She will leave like a shooting star in the sky at night. I think spring is here?

Summer by Ella

Summer arrives smoothly and calmly, She moves quickly around the world. She whispers quietly while you sleep.

Summer looks like an angel from heaven, A playful child.

She makes the world a better place, Spreading sunshine and love.

The world loves her and they respect her in every way.

RT CLUB This half term’s art club has been another success. The children have thoroughly enjoyed designing their own sketchbook front cover with some doing under the sea themes and others the night sky. We then looked at the African landscape and have produced some amazing scenes of the savanna at sunset.

Next Art club theme is ‘The green Man’…

RTist in the making! A special mention has to go out to Scarlett Couzens. She has been spending her evenings practising her art skills and has produced these amazing works of art all by herself:

Can we have your autograph? Photography

New photography Competition theme for February is ‘What’s Inside?’ Photos can be emailed directly to Mrs Fellingham by parents or carers to kfellingham@belmont-school.org or delivered to the Belmont Art Studio via a named flash pen. Children must remember to give their photograph a title. Entries need to be submitted by the first Monday back after half-term (Monday 24th February).

Reminders

Monday 2nd March – Entries due in today for the World Book Day ‘Potato Character Competition’

Tuesday 3rd March – Alpha trip to Dorking Library

Wednesday 4th March – Whole School Trip to Wembley for WE Charity Day 2020. 6.00am depart

Thursday 5th March – World Book Day. Costumes

Thursday 12th March – Alpha Trip to Sayers Croft

Friday 13th March – Sport Relief Day. Sports Mufti (£1) and School Council Cake Sale. (£2)

Friday 20th March, 3.30pm – Yr 6 Parent Meeting for the Isle of Wight trip in June

Mon 23rd March - Wednesday 25th March – Parents’ Evenings. 3.00pm – 7.00pm

Monday 23rd March – LAMDA examinations

Friday 27th March – 8.30am End of Term Assembly, followed by parent coffee morning in the MHD staff room

Friday 27th March - END OF TERM. 4.00pm

ST MARY’S CHURCH, HOLMBURY St Mary’s Church in Holmbury have asked us to advertise their ‘Toss and Sizzle’ Pancake Party on

Tuesday 25th February from 5.00-6.30pm at Holmbury Village Hall. All welcome. Donations towards costs would be appreciated. Please email marthataft@hotmail.com if you would like to go along.