Dear parents and carers,

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

I finally found my vocation in life after many years of doing various jobs, including time spent in the armed forces. I have been teaching for ten 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 the topics of: Sow Grow Farm (teaches children about the features and characteristics of land use in agricultural regions across the world); Ancient Civilisations (teaches children about ancient Sumer, ancient Egypt and the Indus Valley civilisations and about the rise, life, achievements and eventual end of each civilisation); and finally, Off With Her Head! (develops children’s knowledge of the Tudor dynasty and helps them learn about Henry VIII and his marriages, life and legacy). 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 year six and beyond 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: 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 year five 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.