We are really pleased to announce an exciting, new FREE messaging service that we will be using to keep parents up to date with what is going on at Fairlands!

Here's how to sign your mobile phone up for FREE text updates. It is as easy as 1-2-3!

The service is totally free, apart from the cost of the first couple of texts which are just standard rate.

For more information, go to our Twitter page.

We have been getting creative at Fairlands at the start of Spring 2008 with the introduction of 'Creative Curriculum Time' - or CCTime, as we like to call it!

Children in KS2 have signed up for half a term to an exciting programme of activities on a Friday afternoon, including Dance, Cooking, Remote Control Cars, Construction Design and Film Review Club.

The first sessions have been spent giving the children the opportunity to plan out what they will be doing - a real chance for the children to take ownership over their own curriculum.

The children in Cooking Club have been making some amazing creations, decorating gingerbread men. The end results looked delicious, if not very healthy!

Here also are some lovely examples of design work undertaken by Nichola Adom, Kalem Norris and Thomas Robertson-Joy during their Construction Club. They did a great job following the design briefings they were given!

For more information, check out Creative Curriculum Time in the Learning Zone.

Every half term, the whole school brushes up one aspect of Reading, Writing and Maths, with the aim of getting every child up to the right level for their age in this focus area. Please support your child at home, using the ideas on the Reaching High Target Flyers that are coming out on Friday.

You can also go to the Learning Zone to find out more about the Targets.

'Who Are You?' is our Reading Target. We will be making sure we can use our knowledge of punctuation and character to read aloud with expression.

'Get Organised' is our Writing Target. We will be making sure we know how to organise our non-fiction writing, using captions, sub-headings and paragraphs.

'Step It Up' is our Maths Target. We will be making sure we become experts in counting up and down in steps of 1-12, using all our knowledge of multiplication and division tables facts.

Fairlands enjoyed its first ever Christmas Celebration on Thursday 20th December! Children from every Year Group performed songs on a Christmas theme, including 'The 12 Days of Christmas' and 'Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer'.

Mr Staples then read us a Christmas story - 'Russell's Christmas Magic', the story of the sheep who saved Christmas!

We then had a very special part of our Celebration - Year 6 made a Circle of Light by standing around the whole school in a large circle, each holding a candle. It was a really magical moment, and helped us remember the light that family, friends and loved ones bring into our lives.

Children in Key Stage 2 brought a touch of Christmas magic to Holy Trinity Church on Monday 17th and Tuesday 18th December. The children performed Christmas songs and gave readings which told the story of the nativity and reminded us all of the true meaning of Christmas.

Reverend Geoff Tickner shared a special Christmas message - we also learned how the Robin got his red chest and how the holly tree got its berries!

The children really enjoyed themselves - Billy Smith (Year 5) said, 'I loved the stained glass windows - the atmosphere was brilliant!'.

The whole school enjoyed a lovely Christmas Dinner on Friday 14th December! We had lots of fun - crackers, songs and our amazing party hats looked brilliant!

Thank you to cook and her staff for making such a tasty meal and thank you to Miss Franklin and all the dinner ladies for getting it all organised!