Dear Glebe Families
Spring has most definitely sprung! It has been a real pleasure to welcome the children back to school after what I hope was a happy and restful half term. The lighter mornings and longer evenings seem to have brought with them renewed energy and enthusiasm, and there has been a wonderful buzz around the school this week.
A huge thank you to all the staff who have organised the many trips, visits and events that have taken place over the last couple of weeks – and those still to come in the weeks ahead. From the athletics tournament (with results to be announced soon!) to the Year 5/6 and Year 3/4 football matches – great job to all involved. We are also incredibly proud of our choir who represented the school so brilliantly at the O2 for Young Voices. What an unforgettable experience to sing alongside thousands of other children – a truly special event.
Year 5 and Year 6 visited Duxford today and I very much hope they return full of excitement and new knowledge. Exploring the historic aircraft, learning about significant moments in history and experiencing such an inspiring setting brings classroom learning to life in a powerful way. Trips like this spark curiosity and deepen understanding, and I look forward to hearing all about it.
Next Friday, Year 3 will be visiting the Church as part of their learning. This will be a valuable opportunity for them to explore the building, ask thoughtful questions and develop their understanding of faith and community. We are very grateful for the experiences that enrich our curriculum in this way.
I have greatly enjoyed spending time in classes this week. On Wednesday, the sunniest day of the week, our EYFS children were making the most of their amazing new outdoor environment. It was wonderful to see such purposeful play, curiosity and collaboration in action. Our curriculum is designed to inspire and challenge, and I was so impressed by the high expectations, the independence shown by the children and the thoughtful conversations I had with them about their learning.
In KS1, children have been busy story writing based on the theme of finding lost items. I thoroughly enjoyed hearing about imaginative train journeys, jungle adventures and many other creative tales. Their enthusiasm for writing and developing confidence as storytellers is fantastic to see.
Year 4 have also been working hard on their writing, and some of the narratives I have read and heard showcase exemplary descriptive language. The children are clearly taking pride in crafting their work and making thoughtful vocabulary choices to bring their stories to life.
Thank you, as always, for your continued support.
I hope you all enjoy a lovely, restful weekend.
Warm regards
Mr Clarke
Headteacher
Certificates
A huge well done this week to:
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RBC: Roen B & Arthur D |
RS: George B & Jimmy N |
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1D: Duru Y & Ronnie D |
1P: Jayden M & Ariella M |
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2A: Hartley B-G & Lewis B |
2N: Japer W & Finlay S |
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3MH: Ruby G & Molly K |
3VB: Vinnie G & Ayla M |
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4A: Eleanor H & Kieran O |
4L: Harry T & Jacob P |
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5R: N/A |
6/5P: N/A |
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6CH: N/A |
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Attendance: Our school target is 97%
Year to date 93.9%
We expect pupils to be in school everyday.
We will not authorise term time absence except in exceptional circumstances and where appropriate, Essex County Council will issue fines.
Classes:
| RBC: 96.5% | 3VB: 96.6% |
| RS: 96.8% | 4A: 96.9% |
| 1D: 96.4% | 4L: 95.5% |
| 1P: 94.3% | 5R: 90.3% |
| 2A: 92.2% | 5/6P: 89.3% |
| 2N: 90.4% | 6CH: 96.6% |
| 3MH: 97.1% |
This week, the class with the highest attendance was 3MH with 97.1%. Well done! The attendance reward will be coming your way.
News from EYFS
We have loved being back in our classrooms and enjoying our learning environment this week!
Our new topic for this half term is Mini Beasts and Big Beasts. The children have been exploring The Very Hungry Caterpillar. They have learned the story and, to support their understanding, have used their knowledge of BSL (British Sign Language) to show the days of the week. We also created actions to help remember the events in the story and the foods the caterpillar eats. Using fantastic descriptive vocabulary, the children wrote about their favourite foods the caterpillar ate, describing them as delicious, yummy, tasty, and juicy, while applying their phonics knowledge.
In maths, we have learned the days of the week, how to sequence them, and what a weekend is. We used this knowledge to think about our daily routines – such as walking to school, having lunch, and going to bed – and explored the concepts of day and night, discussing why we eat lunch in the daytime and dinner at night.
Across our learning areas, the children have:
-Printed a hungry caterpillar using bottle tops
-Painted a butterfly using symmetry
-Set up minibeast habitats and discussed which minibeasts live where, what they eat, and how they camouflage themselves
It has been a busy, creative, and fun week in Reception!
News from the Resource Base
RBH: This week in English we have been planning our own stories. The children have been innovating the story ‘Handa’s hen’. They have chosen their own main characters, friend of the main character and missing animal. They have also written their own exclamation sentences in their planning. Can you remind your grown ups at home what an explanation is?
In Maths we have been learning about finding change. We have had a particular focus on finding change from one pound, using a blank number line. The children have been remembering to use ‘p’ as their unit of measurement. We have also been making the right change with coins.
RBR: This week, we have moved on to the more challenging task of adding and subtracting any fractions. The children are applying their times table knowledge to find the lowest common multiple of the denominators before completing their calculations. It has been great to see them using their prior learning confidently to support this new step.
In English, we have begun a new narrative unit inspired by the opening of The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, where we see The Blitz. We have created our writing toolkit and analysed examples of other children’s work to identify how tension and suspense are built. The children are exploring how to recreate the same dramatic atmosphere in their own writing.
RBN: This week the children have been enjoying experimenting with nonsense words and nonsense poetry. Although challenging, they have enjoyed making words which sound silly, confusing and absolute gobbledygook. I look forward to continuing this work with them next week where we will be mixing nonsense words with nonsense instructions to create a truly nonsensical poem!
In Maths, the children have been using and applying their multiplication and division knowledge to identify and label product, multiple, factor, and array. They have been looking at the effects on a number when multiplied or divided by 10, 100, 1000.
Influential Figure – Sir Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Churchill was an important British leader who is best known for guiding the country during the Second World War. As Prime Minister, he encouraged people to stay strong, hopeful, and united during very challenging times. He is remembered for his powerful speeches, determination, and belief in working together to overcome difficulties. Learning about Churchill helps children understand the importance of resilience, leadership, and standing up for what is right.
Music Moment
Our music moment this week was Something Inside So Strong – Labi Siffre.
Focus: Resilience
Over the next 7 days, our focus will centre on resilience, centered on building an open mindset.
Day 1 – Define Resilience for You
Focus: What does resilience mean in your life right now?
Action: Write a short personal definition.
Reflection: When have I already shown resilience before?
Day 2 – Adopt a Growth Mindset
Focus: See challenges as learning opportunities.
Action: Replace “I can’t do this” with “I can’t do this yet.”
Reflection: What is one skill I’m currently developing?
Day 3 – Reframe a Current Challenge
Focus: Change the story you’re telling yourself.
Action: Identify one current difficulty and list 3 possible benefits or lessons.
Reflection: How could this situation make me stronger?
Day 4 – Strength Awareness
Focus: Recognize your internal resources.
Action: List 5 strengths you rely on during tough times.
Reflection: Which strength do I underuse?
Day 5 – Emotional Regulation
Focus: Respond, don’t react.
Action: Practice pause breathing (inhale 4, hold 4, exhale 4) when stressed.
Reflection: What triggers me most? How can I prepare for it?
Day 6 – Flexibility in Thinking
Focus: Be open to new perspectives.
Action: Ask someone for a different viewpoint on something you’re facing.
Reflection: What did I learn by listening?
Day 7 – Weekly Reset
Focus: Celebrate progress.
Action: Review the week. Identify one win and one lesson.
Reflection: Where did I handle something better than I would have a year ago?
2 March – Essex Vibrations workshop for RB children.
5 March – World Book Day.
6 March – Year 3 visiting Holy Trinity Church, 1.30pm-2.45pm.
9 March – KS2 children at Sweyne Park School for the matinee performance of Beauty and The Beast (afternoon).
11 March – African drumming workshop for Year 2. Performance to parents 11.30am-11.45am, KS2 hall.
13 March – FOGP Mother’s Day event.
18 March – Online parents’ evening from 1.20pm to 6.30pm.
19 March – RBR Colchester Zoo trip.
20 March – Red Nose Day.
23 March – Class photographs.
24 March – iRock concert to parents at 9.15am, KS2 hall.
26 March – Year 2 Hyde Hall trip.
27 March – Author visit for RB children.
30 March-10 April – Easter holiday.
*New Dates*
28 April – Year 6 children height and weight screening and Reception children mop-ups.
1 May – Class 4L parent lunch.
6 May – Class 4A parent lunch.
8 May – Class 5R parent lunch.
11-14 May – Year 6 KS2 SATs.
15 May – Year 3 Natural History Museum visit.
22 May – Sports afternoon and picnic.
25-29 May – Half term.
2 June – Class 6/5P parent lunch.
3 June – September 2026 Reception intake welcome meeting at 2.30pm, KS1 hall.
4 June – 6CH parent lunch.
4 June – FOGP summer disco.
7-10 June – Year 6 PGL Bawdsey Manor residential.
18 June – Year 6 Aviation WW1 simulator.
19 June – Father’s Day event, KS1 hall.
23 June – Meet the teacher event, 3.30pm-4.30pm.
26 June – Year 6 transition to Sweyne Park School.
1 July – Nursery sports morning and picnic.
3 July – FOGP summer fete.
3 July – District sports at Garon Park.
7 July – Year 6 production to parents at 5.00pm.
9 July – Year 6 production to parents at 2.00pm.
17 July – Year 6 Glebe fest leavers’ event.
20 July – Year 6 leavers’ assembly to parents at 9.00am, KS2 hall.
Last week, after six whole months of rehearsals, Edie took to the stage in the Southend Guide and Scout Gang Show at the Palace Theatre.
It was a very busy and exciting week, with dress rehearsals followed by matinee and evening performances every day from 13th to 21st February – not finishing until 10.30pm each night! What a superstar!
She absolutely smashed it and was amazing on stage from start to finish. To top it all off, she even earned herself an award for her consistent effort and wonderful smiles throughout the week!
We are so incredibly proud of her dedication, resilience and confidence – what an achievement!
A big well done to all the children who took part in the indoor athletics event at Deanes School on Wednesday. We competed against six other schools in the afternoon session, participating in a range of exciting track and field events.
Due to this event being held over two sessions, we are still awaiting the final results – watch this space!
Thank you to Miss Whitham and Mrs Larkin for their help and support by attending with Mr Acquah.
Our league fixture against Edward Francis Primary School yesterday was an entertaining and highly competitive game of football against a good opponent. Despite the challenge, we scored two very good goals in the first 10 minutes of the contest.
From the first whistle, it was clear just how much progress the team has made in such a short period of time. Their teamwork, determination, and growing confidence shone throughout the match.
In the second half, EFPS came back into the game strongly. Both sides had chances to score more goals, but our opponents took theirs. In the end, we lost narrowly by 3 goals to 2.
Overall, it was a hugely encouraging display and another strong step forward for the team.
Thanks to all the parents who came to support the team.
Find the signs in action on Glebe’s social media pages.
