Dear parents and carers,

I am delighted to welcome you and your child to the final year of their primary school journey at Mab’s Cross. My name is Mr. Gray, and this year will be about preparing your child for that important transition to high school. I will be ably supported in doing this by the wonderful Mrs. Mitchell.

I finally found my vocation in life after many years of doing many different jobs, including time spent in the armed forces. I have been teaching for nine years now and in this time my passion for education has only grown stronger, especially since joining the amazing team at Mab’s Cross.

We believe that learning should be interactive, meaningful and engaging. We have high expectations for all our pupils because we believe that they can meet these. Also, in our classroom, we will focus on mutual respect, personal responsibility and teamwork. Creating a safe and supportive environment where pupils are encouraged to take risks, ask questions and build curiosity is what we strive for.

This year we will be covering polar landscapes, the Victorians and the Maya as our termly themes. Pupils will engage in practical learning, team projects, and will be emboldened to use their problem-solving skills and understanding in varied tasks. There will also be a focus on their social-emotional learning to ensure they are ready for the transition to high school whilst addressing the changes they are going through at this stage of their lives.

We believe that a strong partnership between parents and school staff is a key element to a pupil’s successful education. We will be sharing updates through the class dojo (please ensure you are signed up), Edulink, the bi-weekly newsletter and the school website. If at any time you have any worries or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me and I will be happy to help where I can.

We urge you to support your child’s learning. This can be achieved through listening to them read three times a week and recording it in their reading records (there are half-termly prizes for children who complete this every week), supporting them and ensuring that they complete their homework on time.

I am really looking forward to getting to know you and your child this year. Together, we can make their final year at Mab’s Cross a truly memorable one filled with learning, growth and lifelong memories! I would like to thank you in advance for your support in the upcoming year.

Kindest regards,

Mr. Gray.