Parental class called Goed, beter, best
We already received a number applications for the parental class. We do, however, still have room. Tomorrow (Wednesday) will be the first meeting. Even if you had not handed in your application do not hesitate and attend the meeting to get to know more about the programme. The parental class is meant for parents with children attending Ukkepukkies and/or infant groups (groups 1 and 2) at Oranjeschool.
Our school would really like it if children will be able to achieve their full potential. It goes without saying that you like to see that as well and we would like to work on that with you (educational partnership). Every month you receive a newsletter on the themes for infants and toddlers containing many tips and activities. This class is a follow-up of this newsletter. The class, however gives more extras than just the tips from the newsletter. Everyone interested can join the class on Wednesday morning in the class room upstairs next to the elevator. In case you still have doubts on whether the class is interesting for you, you can always visit the group for the first lesson on Wednesday 28th January and still apply for the classes that continue until the end of this school year.

Swimming for diploma
For a number of children of groups 5 and 6 this morning was an exciting one. They were allowed to swim for a diploma. Around 11.30am they returned to school feeling quite relaxed since they all received a diploma, which is nice and we like to congratulate them with the achievement.
national infant activity: Voorleesdagen
During the last week and also this week schools have a national infant actvitiy: Voorleesdagen (children are being read to). The Ukkepukkies have also joined in the activities. The book the children read from is called Boer Boris gaat naar zee. The farmer called Boris is heading for the sea but does not just take a suitcase with clothes with him… The children get to come to school dressed like a farm animal. Perhaps the farmer called Boris will come to the groups to read for them!
School family service For Sunday 8th February, we have planned the annual school family service in the church called Prinses Julianakerk located at the Tesselseplein. A number of children are busy rehearsing for the choir or playing the violin! Some children will even recite a poem.
We hope you will all be able to attend the service where the theme will be “Welcome in church”. The children of groups 5 and 6 will prepare themselves on 5th February by visiting the church for a quest.
Birthday celebrations: handing out treats
Children celebrating birthdays get to hand out treats to the teachers as well. We like to start the year with a minor change: Children only go to groups located at the same floor as their group. This way, things do not change for the infants who were not allowed to use any stairs. For groups 3 and 4 this means that they stay at the ground floor. The only exception are children of groups 5-8 who are allowed to go to group 6 and vice versa (group 6 is allowed to visit groups 5,7, 8 including Taal). All this is to guard that children spend their time doing school work. We would however, like to see more healthy treats. Check out some ideas at www.kindertraktaties.nl. During the past week we saw a number of healthy treats, which we really appreciate! Candy being treated to the children will be given to the children to be eaten at home.
Lice check:
Hooray, we are still free of lice. Unfortunately, we are no longer free of nits. The groups concerned received a letter and will have extra checks. Please keep checking the children’s heads by combing the wet hairs, since the next check will be on Friday 6th February 2015.
Lunch hour
Children can only spend their lunch hour at school when a card for lunch has been bought with Ms Hannie in the kitchen upstairs. Ms Hannie is available on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Could you also please fill in the form at our school website? This way we get to make an overview for the teacher what the children’s regular days will be for having the lunch hour at school. Without a card for lunch hour children cannot spend their lunch hour at school. We like to thank you in advance.
Coming to school too late:
Many children still enter the school after the second bell, which is too late. We would like to stress that coming to school on time is a necessity. It is not good for anyone if children enter the classroom late. When children of groups 3-8 are late: it is no longer necessary to get a “red” card, since sometimes that could mean loss of time (and at times even disturbing the group twice). The teacher makes note of children that enter the group late. The first bell is at 8.25am, if everyone could make sure to be in the group at that time, the lessons could actually start at 8.30am. (second bell) When children come late to school too often we have the obligation to notify the Hague department for leerplicht, which is when children are late 9 times or more.
It goes without saying, that children will not go home earlier without any particular reason. The teacher or member of the direction needs to be informed prior to taking your child home earlier with a legitimate reason.
School trip Thursday 30 April 2015 we can look forward to the annual Oranjeschool school trip! This time, we made arrangements for amusement park Drievliet.
The expenses will be estimated at an amount of €25 per child. For now, we are busy calculating and you will be informed additionally about exact amount.
Applying as guide for the group is not necessary just yet, since it is not clear for us yet what number we need to think of per group.
The school trip will be for the groups 1-6, since groups 7 and 8 will be off to Werkweek. We will inform you separately as soon as possible.
Calling sick/ absence
Could you please contact our school when your child is ill before school starts (which is at 8.30am) using phone number 070-3540457. This is new policy which we are obligated to do on account of leerplicht. We need to get a phone call from home as long as your child is ill(or not feeling well)every day, preferably before the lessons start. This is another obligation of the department of leerplicht. The administration makes a round along the groups and in case the teacher had not yet received a message from you then you can expect a phone call from school. If we still do not get contact with you we are obliged to report that your child is absence illegitimately and when a child is absence more than 2 days we need to inform the department for leerplicht. That is the reason why we like to stress that you please let us know on daily basis that your child is absence, for which we like to thank you in advance. In case of an appointment for doctor(GP), dentist or any other appointment, please hand your child a note to inform the teacher. The teacher has a standard note that can be used.
Taalklas for infants At our school, a pilot just started on 12th January; a Taalklas for infants. In this group the teacher likes to emphasize learning Dutch in a playful way, particularly for children of the ages 4 and 5 years. The teacher’s name is Saskia van der Schans who will be guided by HCO (The Hague organisation for guiding primary education)!
Trips/ activities
Friday, 30 January 2015 a morning with games in the infant groups. Tuesday 3rd February, the groups Zeehondjes and Zeesterren will visit the library. Groups 5v and 6 will visit the Pr. Julianakerk for a quest.
Spelenderwijs
Every Wednesday between 8.30am and 10.30am we have the group called spelenderwijs at the Ukkepukkies. Children in the ages of 2-2.5 years play with a parent. The group works along with the themes that the Ukkepukkies work with. This way, children get to get used to the teachers, the structure and rhythm of the day.
Ukkepukkies
Activity for Spelinloop with theme called Hatsjoe!
Thursday 29th January, for all the groups.
At the start of the part of the day your child usually visits the group we like to ask you to stay for an extra fifteen minutes. We like you to join in an activity with your child. You will come, won’t you?
On Thursday 29th January the toddlers (blue group) have breakfast with someone who reads to them. We would realy enjoy it if all children would come to school in diguise. We are now working with the theme called the farm, so for instance like a farmer or a farm animal. During breakfast we like to read from the story called Boer Boris gaat naar zee (Farmer Boris will head for the sea) the children will receive a snack that has been provided by the cow. The children attending the red and yellow group already had their breakfast with the story on Tuesday morning.
In the month of February, we like to visit the library.
The dates and schedules are mentioned below: please put the dates in your agenda so you will be able to visit the library with your child!!!
Thursday 5th February, at 10.15am the blue group will visit the library.
Thursday 5th February, at 1pm the yellow group will visit the library.
Monday 9th February, at 1.00 pm the red group will visit the libary.
You might have noticed that Ms Wilma had not been feeling very well for quite some time now. She has been suffering from a severe cold with symptoms from influenza (with a sore throat and her voice that is bothering her a lot). While she is absence we try to fill in for her as much as possible.
We wish you a nice week!