Year 4 blog "What we learn with pleasure, we never forget." (Alfred Mercier)

It has been a super week! Children have as usual thrown themselves into all learning. They have written their own story, based on the Firework Maker’s Daughter. They have tried hard to include humour, description, excitement and all the wonderful Year 4 grammar skills learned this year.

Children have been learning all about angles, polygons and triangles in Maths week - along with keeping our number skills ticking over. They have learned that angles are the measure of a turn.

On Thursday, we learned all about Fossils in Science and children have brought home their own fossil that they have made.

RHE

This week we have focused on Relationships and distinguished between friends, family and others. We have learned how to help keep relationships healthy and kind. We have learned that although there are many different types of family, one family type is not better than another.

Let’s Celebrate!

Together, as a class, children have received 15,125 learning points over this half-term! AMAZING!

This is because of how hard all children have tried to develop their resilience, self-belief, concentration, courage, reflection, creativity, co-operation and curiosity. The winning team was Bamber this half-term but, as we said in class you are all winners for developing your brains and hearts so much that you earned all these points!!!!

I had to give out 3 certificates this week too - I have just been so impressed with the focus, independence and effort!

Clara Clownfish/Lizzie Ladybird certificate: To Kiefer for being a pattern spotter - being super with angles this week and always seeking to improve yourself!

Kiki Chameleon/Roger Robin certificate: To Jack for always trying hard to have original ideas and for being such a co-operative learning partner.

Kiki Chameleon/Sadie Spider certificate: To Amber for going for it with her reading target and trying so hard to think up ideas for her story.

Music stars this week were Esme and Mason

PE stars this week were Holly and Kai

This half term these children met their reading target:

Esme, Harriet, Abi, India and Lena.

These children met their reading target twice!

Mason, Christian, Kai and Isabella

Excellent!

Here are some super limericks done for homework last week!

Notices

Some people have still not returned their Holy Communion letters. Please could we have these on the first Monday back.

PE change after half term: Inside PE on Monday has now changed to outside PE on Tuesday. Wednesday/Thursday PE is as normal.

I have put some optional home learning on the homework section to practise key skills which you may want to dip into to keep learning ticking over in the holidays.

I hope this weather improves for our half-term break! Whatever you do, we hope you have a lovely break with your families and stay safe.

God bless and take care,

Mrs Lyons, Mrs Mather and Miss Forster.

Year 4 blog "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart." (St Paul, the apostle)

This week I have enjoyed so much sharing your children’s great success on returning to school after such a tumultuous time and yet making such amazing progress! It has been so nice to put faces to names - I feel like I have finally met you all properly, albeit towards the end of the year! If you feel there was anything you needed to ask and didn’t, please feel free to email me and I will do my best to help.

This week in RE, children learned all about Saul and his conversion to St. Paul. This story gave them such a good opportunity to talk about how they have changed and grown this year in so many marvellous ways as individuals and as a whole class team! There is a real atmosphere of love for their work - like he quote above.

Children written with great love of words and enthusiasm this week - character descriptions of the Goddess of the Emerald Lake and Razvani the Fire-Fiend, from our novel. I had to include some below as they are really special and showcase many of the year 4 skills mastered this year, used effectively to impact the reader.

In maths this week we have done all sorts! Doubling, halving, reading various scales, solving lots of number problems using all of our methods… Next we will move on to understanding shape, angles and symmetry.

We have also had a super time learning about weathering and erosion of rocks in Science. We shook different types of rocks for 400 seconds and then observed which had eroded to decide on the rock type which erodes the easiest. Children had a lot of fun shaking!

Let’s Celebrate!

A beautiful, creative worship about the Holy Spirit was led this week by Esme, Kiefer and James. It had a lot of nice touches, such as a minutes silence to talk to God at the end. Well thought out you three!

This week it is Sadie Spider Certificates for facing all the challenges I have set with determination and grit! This week 3 certificates have been awarded to Hollie-Rose, Julia and Saul for persisting at challenges and being determined to succeed. I am very, very proud of you!

Music stars this week were Kiefer and Max.

PE stars this week were India and Kiefer.

Marvellous manners certificate from the lunchtime team went to Hollie-Rose and Thomas.

Notices

Next week on Friday the winning house team will be able to come in their house colours or own clothes. I will let you know the winning team by Wednesday evening.

Please could I ask that all Holy Communion slips be in early next week - we have most of them.

Let’s go for it with the reading targets this weekend- one more week!!

Year 4 blog "Our similarities bring us to a common ground; Our differences allow us to be fascinated by each other." (Tom Robbins)

It has been a fascinating week in Year 4! We have made Scientific discoveries together when learning about how different rocks are formed and how this affects their hardness, permeability and response to acid.

We have been fascinated by the story of the Prodigal Son in RHE and how God is like the Father waiting to welcome us with open arms. Also, in RE we have learned about the first Christian martyr, St. Stephen and how his great faith in Jesus shaped his life.

We have been fascinated in maths when solving problems which require us to calculate and understand - what part of the calculation answers the problem? We have also been fascinated by analysing the wonderful world of words in all we do. Each time there is a new word mentioned, Dictionary Divas look it up, children may cry out, “That is a homonym!” or “Its a homophone!” Children are seeking to understand with more depth what they read by searching the meaning of new words. Add to that some excellent character descriptions and a lovely shared write together of a setting in class and it has been a great few days.

A lovely worship was presented by Saul, Julia and Thomas this week on the theme of love. What a calm and beautiful atmosphere you created.

Let’s Celebrate!

This week, I have been looking closely at how we work together in partners. I have awarded 2 Roger Robin certificates this week for super partner work and collaborative learning. You treat each other with such respect and kindness! These go to: Abi and Jacob O.

PE stars this week Harriet and Mason.

Notices

1. Holy Communion letters will be sent on Monday. Thank goodness- children will be able to make their Holy Communion before the end of Year 4.

2. Parents meetings on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday next week - I look forward to seeing you. Please note that the dedicated time slots will begin automatically so please make sure you are prompt, so that we can make the most of the time we have. If you are yet to do so, please see Miss Hornby’s blog to watch the video, explaining how it all works.

Have a lovely weekend full of joy!

Mrs Lyons, Mrs Mather and Miss Forster

Year 4 blog Friday 30th April "Gratitude and Attitude are not challenges - they are choices."

Well the week has whizzed by in Year 4! There have been lots of challenging experiences - writing an explanation text to explain the Water Cycle was one. It required an utter focus on the task in hand - as there are lots of tricky processes to put into words and a lot of ambitious science vocabulary. However, children rose to this challenge and the result were astounding! Children also wrote persuasive letters in English - wow! They were emotional and jam-packed with persuasive language!!

RHE

This week’s focus was on how strong feelings can make you want to react in certain ways which are not always favourable. However, by stopping and thinking, showing resilience and reminding yourself of what you are thankful for about the person, or situation, things can have a happier conclusion for all concerned. We have been practising this resilience within class and on the playground and it is helping us become so much more mature! We have also learned about Pentecost in RE lessons this week and thought about the fruits of the Holy Spirit. Children have reflected on how they can use them in their own lives.

We had a truly beautiful worship about Hope this week, from Kai, Isabella and Grace. This was so thoughtfully put together with music and even an extract from a book Kai had read, which reminded him about having hope. Absolutely gorgeous!

Thursday was a highlight of the week, as we started our new topic about Rocks and Soils. Children became rock detectives and learned to classify, observe and name certain rocks. The questions they asked were superb. Have a look at our little scientists in the movie below.

Let’s Celebrate!

This week, it was hard to pick after such a high standard of work. Our certificate winners are:

Christian for being such a co-operative and creative learner. You are so lovely to others Christian and so much thought goes into your work.

and Evie for being such an inquisitive and reflective learner - you always think deeply about what you do and you listen so intently.

Well done to both of you.

PE stars this week are: Jack and Hollie-Rose - serious determination shown!

Music stars are: Asher and Olivia.

Notices

Thanks to everyone for signing up to parents’ meetings. I look forward to speaking to you properly.

Have a great bank holiday weekend. I have set children a nice task for homework involving going to the beach to collect rocks. Let’s pray for some much needed warmth and sunshine after this strange, cold week!

God bless,

Mrs Lyons, Mrs Mather and Miss Forster

"What is this life if, full of care, we have no time to stand and stare?" W.H Davies

It has been a week of many interesting learning opportunities in Year 4! We have begun our fantastic new novel, “The Firework Maker’s daughter in English. Already we are falling in love with it and have been practising all our Year 4 comprehension strategies. We also now have two ‘Dictionary Divas’ in class who always look up words for us. Each day becomes an opportunity to expand our repertoire of words we understand.

RHE

This week we have learned that sometimes our emotions can be confusing and complicated as we grow up. After collecting lots of different emotion words, children reflected on strategies they could use to help them deal with their own emotions in a healthy way. We learned that this is called our ‘Emotional Health.’

We also looked together at the poem above, ‘Leisure,’ by W.H Davies and talked about how good it is for us sometimes to just do nothing and appreciate the beauty around us!

Engagement in Science this week has been great! We have been learning about how water changes state and the processes of evaporation and condensation. We made our own puddle (called Bob) and drew round it all day, watching it shrink until it no longer existed because it had all evaporated into gas. We have carried out class experiments to discover how to speed up the process of evaporation and even today made it rain in the classroom! Now we are putting it all together to learn about the Water Cycle.

A beautiful class worship was carried out by Steph, Amber and Asher about God’s power in our lives. This was my favourite part of the week as it is so special seeing children leading us all in reflection.

Let’s Celebrate!

This week, Kai received a Tommy Turtle/Lizzie Ladybird certificate for having such a good go at everything and striving to get better. Asher received a Kiki Chameleon/Sadie Spider certificate for always giving his best and reflecting deeply on all learning.

PE stars this week: Jacob O and Isabella - super effort!

Music stars were Lena and Jack for excellent participation and listening.

Notices:

Nearly everyone has signed up for our Virtual parents’ meetings. I really look forward to touching base with you all and talking about how your child is getting along. Please sign up if you have not done so.

Who can predict this weather! One minute it is like the middle of Summer and the next day it is freezing! Whatever the weather, have a beautiful weekend and have some time to stand and stare!

Mrs Lyons, Mrs Mather and Miss Forster.

Year 4 blog: "Teamwork can build friendships that last lifetime."

What a lovely week we have had full of excitement and teamwork! We have enjoyed sunshine, giggles and so many deep learning experiences.

RHE learning

This week we learned a story about a land where everyone shared friendship tokens with each other… until one old lady came along to spoil the harmony. Whispering and turning others against each other - the land became unfriendly until one child recognised the pain behind the old troublemaker’s eyes and showed compassion. We learned about how we can keep our class friendly and build relationships by giving tokens of friendship such as forgiveness, compliments, including others and being fair and just. By treating everyone in this way, more and more friendship tokens are produced! Here are some children role-playing the story below.

Tuesday was very exciting! To launch our Science topic on Solids, liquids and gases children worked in teams to make ice-cream! It was a success! We lowered the freezing point of ice by adding salt - then added our ice-cream mixture to the inner bag. Then the fun part - ten minutes of shaking vigorously! Complete with sprinkles - the perfect ice-cream!

Other highlights include writing super stories about ‘The Dragon Slayer,’ deep understanding in maths with fractions and children making videos defining what makes something a solid and what makes something a liquid.

This week we have started worships led by the children. Jack, Lena and India led a beautiful class worship about how Jesus cares for us and used the story of ‘The Lost Sheep.’ It was a lovely experience.

Let’s Celebrate!

This week, Mrs Lyons needed to give out 3 certificates! A Focused AND enthusiastic learner certificate went to Jess for always participating with joy in her learning and remaining focused so she could write her whole story.

A Brave and improving learner certificate went to Jayden this week for trying so hard to have a go and improving his participation.

Finally a Focused AND improving learner went to Max because he has shown massive improvement in his maturity and concentration. You are becoming such a good learner!

Well done children!

Music stars this week were the whole class - absolutely brilliant said Mrs Maddocks!

PE stars this week go to a group of brilliant listeners who are determined to try their best: Julia, India and Jacob M. Well done!

Notices

Please could we have a big push on completing homework on time and handing in on Thursday. There will be 10 class hugs if everyone does their full homework! I always set activities which reinforce what we have learned in class. We are focusing this last term on mastering spellings, handwriting and ticking along maths skills, so we are ready for year 5.

The sun is out! The flowers are growing! Enjoy your weekend and have a lovely time. Good luck to our parents that are completing the three peaks challenge!

God bless,

Mrs Lyons, Mrs Mather and Miss Forster.

Year 4 blog "We are the Easter People and Hallelujah is our song!" (Pope John Paul 2nd)

What a lovely treat this week to have some glorious sunshine! The children have made the most of it with all sorts of games outside. Football is growing more popular by the day and we have even had some children who do not want to play, being the ‘football commentators’ which has been very entertaining!

This week has seen us journeying through Holy Week. We have taken a part of the Easter story each day and dramatised it. Children have reflected deeply upon the feelings of Jesus, their own feelings and growing faith. His Resurrection brings hope for all our futures and a chance for a new life. Please share in our Easter journey and watch our class video below.

Let’s Celebrate!

Well done to Marsden for narrowly winning the class learning points competition this half term. Teachers watched closely to see when you were demonstrating our important learning qualities within class and in your work. All of Year four - you have been amazing this last few weeks - resilient, enthusiastic and so courageous, all stepping out of your comfort zones to come to school and re-connect with each other. Well done. We are very proud of all of you.

This week, we have three double whammy certificates! Olivia, Harriet and Esme have received Kiki Chameleon/Sadie Spider certificates. All three of you consider your ideas so carefully and try so hard to be original in your writing. Your RE work reflecting on Good Friday events and what the death of Jesus meant to you, was poignant and heartfelt. Every task you tackle is done with enthusiasm and thought.

PE stars this week were Grace and Christian for getting really stuck in!

Music stars this week were: Asher and James

This week, Jayden, Harriet, James and Julia have met their reading targets. Well done!

We hope you all have a happy and holy Easter with your families and a good rest. God bless,

Mrs Lyons, Mrs Mather and Miss Forster

Year 4 blog. "Jesus is our shelter. We are the people inside it because He protects us. " (Kai in Year 4)

It has been an amazing week in Year 4! It feels lie we are really soaring with our learning! Children have enjoyed so much this week creating their own Brer Rabbit characters and then beginning to write their own stories. The quality of them is really good. We are just trying hard now to master the grammar skills we need for Year 4 and use them in all our writing. In maths. we have found equivalent fractions tricky this week - but we have got there in the end.

Most importantly, we have been on a journey through Holy Week together this week. It has been so hard, as a school, not to be able to share our Holy week journey with you in the form of class assemblies. We all miss that community reflection and sense of shared experience we get when as parents, teachers and children, we come together.

However, in class, imagining how Jesus felt every step of the way is helping the children develop their compassion and love for Jesus and others. Children asked questions such as, “How did God feel, seeing his only Son on the cross?” and “Did heaven open when Jesus died?” We have been role playing each part of the story, which we will share as a special video in next week’s blog. Yesterday, children wrote their reflections on the Crucifixion of Jesus and they were so very beautiful and personal to them.

Let’s Celebrate!

I would like to celebrate the growing maturity of all our children this week by awarding a Cooper Crab certificate to the whole class. They are so utterly focused and also have a real desire to do well. I LOVE teaching them!

I have also awarded this week a Bobby Bee certificate to Holly for trying so hard with all learning and being so enthusiastic!

Also, a Lizzie Ladybird certificate to Grace for doing her utmost to listen, contribute all the time and strive to improve in all she does. Well done to two lovely young ladies!

Music stars this week were Kiefer and Olivia.

PE champs this week were Max and Asher - super football and sportsmanship.

So far in year 4, these children have met their reading targets: Max, Harriet, Christian, Isabella, Saul and Mason. Well done!

Notices.

We have been busy competing in class houses this half term. Children receive learning points all the time when they display the attributes of our learning characters. They also get learning points for work in books.

Next week, the winning house will be able to come on the final day (Thursday) in their own clothes with maybe an element of their house colour eg a belt, cardigan, hair band if possible.

We will let the winning class house know via text on Wednesday.

We break up on Thursday for Easter at 3.30pm

Well Spring has finally definitely sprung! We hope you have a lovely weekend with your hard-working, lovely children. God bless,

Mrs Lyons, Mrs Mather and Miss Forster.

Year 4 blog "Love is appreciating your differences as well as your similarities."

We are well and truly in our school stride now as we complete our second week being back together. One boy commented that it is lovely to feel part of our class family again and I completely agree. Children have had so much fun in the playground together and have been bouncing in their chairs with enthusiasm in class - quite literally!

In our RHE lessons this week, we have been learning about how we don’t have to be the same and like the same things to be good friends. We also learned in RE how we can try to be like Jesus as truly human and aspire to follow him. We revisited our Lenten promises we made and had a ‘halfway through Lent’ reflection to get us back on track. Each day we are remembering our key Jesuit values to grow in love and compassion for each other.

We have loved our Geography this week - finding out all about tectonic plates and earthquakes using oranges and Oreo biscuits! Your child has a task in homework to demonstrate this to you - see what they have learned!

We have had a great giggle writing persuasive letters from Brer Fox to Brer Rabbit then replying back again. We are also getting to grips with that tricky apostrophe for possession. Fractions learning in maths is also coming along nicely - we are now up to finding equivalent fractions.

Let’s Celebrate

This week , double whammy certificates!

I am awarding three Kiki Chameleon/Roger Robin certificates to three children who really considered their ideas and were so entertaining in their letter writing this week. These three children also receive Roger robin on their certificates because they are helpful, kind and level-headed when playing games on the playground and so co-operative within class too. Well done James, Stephanie and Isabella!

Our PE stars this week are Jess and Abi for super gymnastics but also getting really stuck in at team sports too!

Music stars this week were: Abi and Grace

Have a beautiful, Spring weekend everyone. I need to get in my garden and do some planting so lets hope for a good one! God bless.

Mrs Lyons, Miss Forster and Mrs Mather.

Year 4 blog: 'Kindness creates a special sweetness in your mind and a super softness in your soul.'

What a memorable experience! Seeing children come together with such joy, laughing and playing together with such total exuberance this week! After the initial and understandable nerves of Monday morning the children have settled down so beautifully and with a new kind of confidence. Their focus and thirst for learning this week - their first week back has left me in awe!

We started the week by reconnecting and discussed our hopes for the rest of year 4. We made Adonis Blues butterflies to remember our beautiful lockdown story - ‘The Butterfly Lion,’ and to represent our eagerness to fly in Year 4! One boy said that when he thinks of love he thinks of this story because of how kind and supportive the lead character was.

In our relationships education, we thought about growing to become more loving and compassionate. Children read the story, Be loving Layla Lioness,’ and then we brainstormed what compassion truly is. They made hearts with messages of compassion which are now on our classroom wall. ‘See the world through the eyes of others, ‘Don’t judge because you never know what someone else is going through,’ and ‘Love never fails,’ were some of the inspirational messages they came up with. They have really been practising compassion with each other this week - what a lovely, kind class they are.

We have laughed along with our Brer Rabbit stories and reflected on the cleverness or foolishness of different characters. We have found out about the layers of the earth in Geography and then made an eatable model of it with a Malteser, (core) some red icing (mantle) and biscuit crumbs for the crust. Apparently the earth is delicious! After erupting our class volcano we then wrote some stunning explanation texts about how volcanoes erupt. Add to this recorder playing, gymnastics, Art and the children getting very excited about Fractions in maths - its like we never left!

Let’s celebrate!

We have a winner!

Great news! Amber has won the Lancashire school library service’s AMAZING CONFECTIONARY competition for the whole of Lancashire! Children needed to invent some form of sweet treat for a book character. Have a look at her entry below - so creative!

She has won a lovely bundle of books for our school.

Christian has already met his reading target! Wow! All that lovely lockdown reading has served you well!

Saul and Harriet were our recorder stars this week - very focused and deserved you two!

PE stars were very hard to choose. This week Lexi and Jack just pipped others - excellent effort you two!

Certificates of the week:

A Sadie Spider certificate went to Thomas for super determination in all subjects and being so hard-working. Two Bobby Bee certificates go to Evie and Julia who are showing a new level of self-belief and confidence which is allowing them to soar!

Notices

Homework will be given again now and is on the ‘Weekly Home Learning’ part of the Year 4 page. Please ensure it is handed in promptly on Thursdays and any online homework is completed by then too. Homework will mainly back up skills in maths and English learned in class that week - so is vital to complete.

Have a lovely weekend and I look forward to seeing your lovely lot on Monday.

God bless,

Mrs Lyons, Mrs Mather and Miss Forster.

Year 4 blog: 'Coming together is a beginning; staying together is progress and working together is success!

I think you all deserve a medal! We are all so ready to come to school again - but what is marvellous is that we have still all managed to stay together and work together during this testing time. We have learned so many skills and I think we have all got better at figuring things out for ourselves and ‘having a go’ at things- which is such a crucial life skill.

This week I have seen some lovely volcano creations and I have greatly enjoyed your responses to Brer Rabbit stories. I know we all may feel a bit nervous about coming back to school after such a long time - but rest assured that you will be nurtured and supported. We are going to focus on growing to be loving and compassionate as our Jesuit virtues this half term - we can look after one another and have understanding of each others’ needs.

Here are some of our lockdown highlights!

It is crucial that you revisit the updated guidance regarding the return to school on Monday. The first button below takes you to the organisational features.

The others take you to the guidance for children and parents for keeping safe. Please go through these with your child before Monday.

There is further guidance and information on the ‘Keeping Safe’ part of our website under ‘Discover.’

Let’s Celebrate!

This week, a Tommy Turtle certificate has gone to India for having a super go at all learning. A Sadie Spider certificate has gone to Kai for striving to do his best.

Some of us are doing so well with our reading targets - if you have not taken a quiz on a book you have read yet this half term, do one at the weekend, then we can move your seed towards its sunflower target!

Notices:

All children need an Art shirt to keep in their trays at school.

PE is on Monday (inside) Children need shorts under their tracksuit bottoms as we are doing gymnastics. Bare feet - unless verruca - then they will need verruca socks.

PE outside is on Wednesdays for these children:

Esme, John-Joseph, Kiefer, James, Olivia, Jayden, Holly, Jacob M, Max, Jess, Christian, Mason, Evie, Jacob O, Abi and Harriet

Thursdays for these children:

India, Jack, Amber, Lena, Isabella, Asher, Hollie-Rose, Thomas, Kai, Grace, Saul, Stephanie, Julia and Lexi

Recorder lessons are on Monday afternoon - first day back!

Children can bring a school bag with reading book, water bottle, snacks and their packed lunch but should not be bringing anything else in from home according to ‘Keeping Safe’ guidance.

Homework will continue to be handed in on Thursdays. Could we try and find homework books and bring them into school.

We cannot wait to welcome the children back on Monday and have spent all week preparing lots of exciting learning!

Have a lovely last weekend together and children, give your parents a big hug for supporting your learning through this time.

God bless,

Mrs Lyons, Mrs Mather and Miss Forster.

'Hard times don't create heroes; It is during hard times when the 'hero' within us is revealed.'

Dear Year 4 parents and children,

You are my heroes in these times! The way that you have risen to the numerous challenges I have set; the way that you have worked your way through difficulties taking things in your stride and have continued to work so hard for the sheer love of learning! Despite being apart, we are all still here together learning as a Year 4 community.

This week we have been touched by an amazing story - The Butterfly Lion. Although the ending was a bit chilling, it shows us that we can be there for each other in times of need as Millie was there for the boy. It shows us that with good intentions , we can make a big difference as Bertie demonstrated with his heroic deeds. He did not allow himself to be taken over by fear - he simply acted to help others.

When we get back to school, (which I am so excited about!) we will be revisiting how to go forward with love, compassion and bravery. I cannot wait for us all to be together again, in person, and I will support you with any of your worries or cares.

Also this week, we have started to learn about Volcanoes! Just as we begin to study it, Mount Etna is erupting! They are a force of nature and so fascinating. Next week, I would like you to make your own erupting volcano!

Let’s Celebrate!

This week I had to give out 4 certificates. I have been noticing these 4 children for a few weeks now for their consistency and perseverance through difficulty. Julia, Asher, Lexi and Olivia you have received this week each a Tommy Turtle certificate for having a great go at everything set. Keep it up for one more week!

Notices:

Look out for guidance on the discovery page for our return on Monday 8th March - by reading Miss Hornby’s blog you will gain a clear understanding of school organisation and guidelines.

One more week Year 4! Show me how resilient you are! You will need to engage fully in all learning next week so you are ready to fly with your learning on Monday 8th March in school.

Have a gorgeous weekend - the birds have started to sing and we have…. SUNSHINE at long last!!

God bless,

Mrs Lyons, Mrs Mather and Miss Forster

"None of us, including me, ever do great things. But we can all do small things, with great love, and together we can do something wonderful." – Mother Teresa

Well Year 4 - we have done a half-term of online learning! Incredible. Throughout it all, your love of learning has shone through. I know there have been some hard times for all - but when you work through challenges you become stronger, better and you have all done this. A really massive well done to you all. You need a good rest! After the holidays, I want to see the same amount of commitment. Keep going with those resilient little spirits of yours.

This week has seen us do so many different things. We have mummified, explained, divided, gobbled sweets, promised, pledged, replied, inferred, done Samba, disco and Pilates, quizzed, summarised, prayed, reflected and many more things! Wow!

Let’s Celebrate!

This week I have given three certificates out.

Abi and Steph have both received a Reflective learner certificate. Girls you are both such Lizzie Ladybirds because you always put a lot of effort into responding to my feedback and you act on any advice I give. This helps you to reflect more deeply and improve yourselves. Well done!

Jess has received the Enthusiastic learner certificate because she is such a Bobby Bee. It is so lovely to receive your work because time and love has gone into it - well done!

Reading Target!

This half-term , these children have met their reading targets: John-Joseph, James, Olivia, Asher, Lexi, Mason, Esme, Kai, India, Isabella,

These children have met their second reading targets! Jacob O, Lena, Amber and Max.

A massive well done to you all.

No notices this week - only to have a lovely rest in your week off but do curl up with a good book and keep your times tables ticking along with TTRRockstars!

Make sure you are rested and ready to learn on Monday 22nd February - when we will be kicking off with an exciting English competition!

You are all wonderful! God bless and take care,

Mrs Lyons, Mrs Mather and Miss Forster

Year 4 blog Friday 5th February 'Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day which says, I will try again tomorrow.'

What a great amount of courage we have seen this week. It takes courage to be faced with tricky work and have a good go at it. I am seeing children really going for it. Sometimes you just have to dive in and give things your best try. What is wonderful is the pride that is felt when you do and you realise you can do hard things!

Children, you have one more week until half term. I am so incredibly proud of you for your hard work, resilience and courage. I know it has not been easy but you will have grown so much as learners and as people for facing these hardships and coming out the other side. Parents, your support has been phenomenal. Together we are all achieving great things!

I loved our Zoom today! It reminded me of our class PE lessons when we always do our workouts together. For next week’s Zoom I think we will have a house team quiz! We will begin with Bamber. I will let you know further details this week.

Your final mission Year 4 is to meet your reading targets next week and to just keep going!!

Let’s Celebrate!

I could not pick just 2 learners for certificates this week, so I went for four!!

Max could have had any certificate as he is demonstrating the skills of so many learning characters. He received a Tommy Turtle certificate for having a go at all learning and also so many other things!

Mason has received a Cooper Crab certificate for being so organised and getting all his work done each day to a very high standard. Everything is well thought through Mason. Well done!

Evie received a Kiki Chameleon certificate for her original ideas and for trying so hard with everything!

and last but not least…

James received a Lizzie Ladybird certificate for striving to improve at everything he does and putting so much effort into doing so.

Mason also met his reading target this week! Excellent!

Notices

Madame Jefferson has asked that children have a shoebox for their French lesson on Tuesday at home. Or it can be a cereal box. Do not worry though if you don’t have one - it can be drawn instead.

You will need sweets for our Wednesday maths lesson on division with remainders. Smarties would be good. You could use counters if not!

As I know we are all looking out for ways to get good books for our children to read, the button below takes you to a link where you can order and collect books from the library.

Have a lovely weekend and enjoy the first signs of Spring!

God bless, Mrs Lyons, Mrs Mather and Miss Forster.

"It's life that matters - nothing but life - the process of discovering - the everlasting process. Not the discovery itself, at all!

Well year 4 we have learned about an amazing discovery this week, from Ancient Egypt and we have had lots of fun showing what we have learned - see pictures below!

I am very proud of how much you are discovering about yourselves each day. You are discovering that you can be so resilient and you try to solve problems as they arrive. You are discovering that you have become so excellent at understanding what you read and can analyse language to see what it means. You have learned that you can do very tricky multiplication when you look for patterns and connections. You have learned how to email, blog, type and zoom - all these different ways of communicating what you feel and think! It is truly amazing and I am blown away by your enthusiasm. You make me smile every day, but like

all teachers, we long to be teaching you in the classroom. This is why I was so over the moon to see you all in our class Zoom today. We had a lovely chat!

Let’s Celebrate!

This week our school learner goes to John-Joseph. He received the Kiki Chameleon Certificate for his creative writing ideas and the way that he thinks creatively when solving maths problems. You have become such a super learner and are a pleasure to teach!

Our home learner this week goes to Christian. He has received a Bobby Bee certificate for really throwing himself into all learning and enthusiastically trying his best at everything since lockdown! Christian you are engaging so well with everything you are doing and have become such a super learner. Keep it up!

We also have a home/school learner this week. Esme, you are such a Clara Clownfish! You love to figure things out for yourself and then explain them to others. You put so much thought into all you do. You always make sure you are up to date with your home learning so you are ready for your learning in school and can take that next step.

Reading targets: These children have met their target this week: Lexi, Amber, Kai and Jacob O! Well done Year 4 - we have moved you to the top of the sunflower in class.

11 children have now met their targets. Wouldn’t it be great if we could get the whole class meeting it by half term! Two weeks left - so many of you are so close!

Notices:

With the success of this week’s Zoom call, we will be doing a class zoom every week on Fridays at 11.35 until half term.

I have put a video on help section about how to insert a phot into Purple mash, in case anyone is still having any issues.

We are all working so hard! I hope you get some really good rest at the weekend everyone and I love that you are all keeping in touch through emails.

Remember, we are all here to help so do not hesitate to ask any questions or ask for asisstance if you need it.

Have a lovely one - I saw some snowdrops the other day - an early sign of Spring!

God bless,

Mrs Lyons, Mrs Mather and Miss Forster.

Year 4 blog Friday 22nd January. "You have been my friend. That in itself is a tremendous thing. I wove my webs for you because I like you!

Well what a special book and a tremendous week! It has been so lovely to share our thoughts about this story and the characters over the last few weeks. We decided in class that the characters have certainly taught us a lot about life and about how to be a good friend to others. We think the other characters learned from Charlotte’s wonderful example of friendship and we learned from her too.

This week, the children have learned how to email each other through Purple Mash and, as I approve each message before it is sent, I have seen so many touching signs of deep friendship - not to mention lots of funny jokes! I know the children are missing each other so much and I am missing them too but we are finding so many new ways to communicate.

Each day, for everyone, so many obstacles are being overcome - many of them technical I know! Just think about how brilliant children will be at computing after this experience! I am blown away with children’s resilience and effort - it is so good to read their responses each day and see them grasping concepts and keeping up so well. I can see that we are making excellent progress with times tables and completing some tricky maths. The ‘tributes to Charlotte’ this week made me cry - as did the end of the book! The understanding children showed of the characters was really superb. Some great inference in history work too.

I hope you are enjoying your recorder lessons from Mrs Maddocks on Charanga. I know we are in class!

Well done Year 4 - we are all very proud of you!

Next week, we are going to launch a new novel which the children will love! Watch this space!

Let’s celebrate!

It was so difficult to single one person out as there is so many hard-working children at home - well done all of you!

This week, our home learner of the week, Amber receives a Sadie Spider Certificate - the determined learner. We are so impressed by your determination to succeed. All of the work you have handed in is thoughtful and considered. I can tell you are trying your very best and you listen to any feedback given. You are thriving during this lockdown – keep it up Amber

Our school learner of the week, Lena, receives a Tommy Turtle Certificate for being a brave learner. You are always being willing to have a go at anything. You give your absolute full self to all your work and you are an excellent learner. You listen to feedback and improve every time you learn. You are such a loving friend to others too. I am so proud of you and you should be very proud of yourself.

Reading Targets this half term

So far, these children have already met their reading target: James, Lena. Olivia, Isabella, Max, Esme and India! Excellent children!

Notices

Each Friday, we are hoping to have a live Year 4 zoom meeting at 11.35-11.55. There is a guidance document below that has been written in order to safeguard all of the children and staff involved in the meeting. Please can you read the document carefully and discuss it with your child. If you child is involved on Friday, I am assuming that you both agree to the document and the things that have been put in place. I will send you an email later on in the week to give you further details.

For school learners, don’t forget:

PE on Monday’s and Thursdays

Recorder on Thursday

Have a lovely, restful and peaceful weekend - thank you for the photos of your lovely children. We love to see their faces!

God bless and take care,

Mrs Lyons, Mrs Mather and Miss Forster

Year 4 blog Friday 15th January 'Individually we are one drop. Together we are an ocean!'

Even though many of us have been apart this this week, there has been a great sense of togetherness through our shared Class blogs on Purple Mash! I think we have all loved sharing thoughts with each other this week and children, you have responded to each other with respect and interest! From deciding whether children should wear school uniforms, to deciding which is best out of cats or dogs - you have made fantastic arguments and have dived into this new experience with gusto! I know Miss Forster and Mrs Mather have loved keeping in contact with you through blogging this week and I’m sure you will agree they have helped you with any problems too!

Whether remote learning or home learning, the standard and amount of work has been phenomenal this week. We have learned the language of persuasion and wrote some amazing letters in English this week. Watch out parents - they can work their powers of persuasion on you even more now!

We have covered some important multiplication and division skills in maths. Children have researched Judaism and produced lovely slideshows showing what they have learned. You are all becoming so skilled at using the computer or tablet to communicate your learning - I know there have been some teething problems with some of the maths sheets - but everyone has given it their all. I will be making them simpler to fill in next week!

You have also asked your teachers and classmates for help on our blog. We have all given advice and pulled together.

This week has also seen the launch of our Egyptian topic - which I know in school we are loving so far. I hope you are at home too! It is such a vibrant period of history!

Thank you so much for the effort and sheer hard work you are all putting in, both children and parents.

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Let’s Celebrate!

Our school learner of the week goes to Kiefer. You are receiving a Clara Clownfish certificate for the links you make and the way you consider the best approach in your learning. Your letter was fantastic and you listen to every word said! Well done young man.

It was really difficult to award the home learner certificate this week because you have been so fantastic!!!

Our home learner this week goes to Jack for having a go at everything set. Also for improving your work after you have received teacher feedback - so you get a double whammy Tommy Turtle/Lizzie Ladybird certificate!! I will send your certificate to you!

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Notices

School learners!

There are some changes to your PE days from now onwards - we have needed to jiggle things about to accomodate all classes.

PE in school is now on a Monday and a Thursday.

Recorder lessons in school are now on a Thursday.

Home learners - you will continue to do this on a Monday.

It is so comforting in this time of hardship to feel part of our wonderful school community. Although we miss seeing each other, we are all pulling together helping those beautiful children continue to grow and thrive - thank you.

Have a restful weekend everyone, God bless and keep safe

Mrs Lyons, Mrs Mather and Miss Forster

Year 4 blog: 'Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.'

Well what a week! We started back on Monday so full of enthusiasm and dived straight back into our learning. Then we were plunged back into lockdown! On reflection, it was so good that we came together even if just for one day so we could share our Christmas experiences and discuss our hopes for this half term.

Then from Wednesday onwards the majority of us are now learning from home. My priority is to keep the learning the same for the children in school and the children at home so that we can continue to grow together as learners and meet our Year 4 goals. Children will be receiving the same lessons in both settings.

I know how much you enjoy Charlotte’s Web children so we are continuing this and watch out next week to learn the art of persuasion in your English lessons! By the time you have finished you will be SO good at persuading - a valuable life skill! It is also perfect because in maths we are learning multiplication and division skills - you can really master those times tables and be intentional about developing a really good understanding ready for Year 5.

This week has seen us making our New Year’s intentions based on home learning. Thank you for these children - it is lovely to see you looking to the future.

Thank you to those who have been keeping me updated with pictures. I love to see your faces - I miss you all. Please send me more next week - maybe you could take a picture of yourself with your work - double whammy!

Let’s celebrate!

Each week, we will give one certificate to a school learner and one to a home learner. This week I have selected two Bobby Bee learners - whose enthusiasm has been fantastic.

Saul, your enthusiasm for all learning in school has been incredible and you get better and better every day. You are growing into such a mature young man.

Jacob O I can see how hard you are trying with your learning at home even though you miss school. Keep up this hard work and you will continue to grow. Well done young man.

Notices this week:

School learners:

1. Please wrap up each day. Thermals are a good idea since all the classroom windows are open for ventilation. Two pairs of socks and vests, extra tops etc can go under uniforms.

2. PE is on Wednesday and Thursday - tracksuits with extra layers! It would be a good idea to bring a pair of trainers in to keep in school for impromtu runs around the field!

3. Monday is also still recorder for home and school learners - so try hard to remember this for Monday.

4. Please ensure you have filled in the School learning contract sent last week.

All learners:

You can now quiz at home on Accelerated reader - your targets are set. You can use the link on the ‘help’ section.

No homework set at weekends - have a rest!

Thank you for your continued support. It is so good to be able to stay in contact with you and keep our class together as one, even though it might be virtually.

Please do continue to email us and keep in contact. We are here to help where we can and to keep the children learning.

Take care and stay safe

Mrs Lyons, Mrs Mather and Miss Forster.

Mankind is a great, an immense family... This is proved by what we feel in our hearts at Christmas.

Although we have not been able to share in our celebrations as our whole school family this week, our class has felt like a family. We have been taking care of each other, still working hard but having so much fun too along the way!

This week has seen us complete our lovely class nativity - portraying the Three Wise Men’s visit (see school blog) Then we had a fantastic time on Tuesday, taking part in our Danceathon in classes and also, by request on the playground too! Thanks so much for all your kind donations. So far, our class has raised £122.00 for streetlife! We’ve even had some Christmas French.

For English, we have also been studying this Christmas poem. The children have loved learning it and putting it together. Enjoy!

Thursday was our Christmas party day and what a jolly lot the children were! We played party games in class such as good old musical chairs and our special secret santa game. A beautiful Christmas dinner was shared by all. Then time for a movie and some popcorn too.

The children were astounded when a video appeared on our screen of Santa in our class - he delivered presents to all classes around the school! Many theories were flying about - How did he get here? Why didn’t we see him? All very exciting!

Let’s Celebrate!

This week a Lizzie Ladybird certificate goes to Saul for making so much improvement this last term. A Sadie Spider certificate has gone to Max for being so determined to meet his reading target and improve his spellings. A Bobby Bee certtificate has gone to Mason for often doing his own exciting poems and stories to bring in for us all to enjoy.

20 children have met their reading target this half term! Excellent Year 4. We are very proud of you.

PE stars this week were John’Joseph for getting into spaces and confidently calling for others to pass to him. Also Lena who did some amazing interception to get the ball in basketball!

Your children have all worked so hard this term and have each overcome so many obstacles. The class feels like a big family, growing in trust and love for one another. I have loved helping them to grow and learn and look forward to the new year to teach them again.

But as we are all exhausted, all that is left to say is have a lovely Christmas and a good rest. Best wishes and God bless,

Mrs Lyons, Mrs Mather and Miss Forster.

Year 4 blog 'Only in the Darkness can you see the stars.' (Martin Luther King Junior)

The class has been full of song this week! We have worked hard to do our part in a lovely nativity which will be ready to view soon! In RE we have focused on the full story of the Three Kings and children retold it as one of the kings.

We have done a lot of performing this week! We have put together a lovely recorder show for your viewing pleasure! Children have come such a long way in such a short time!

Another way we have performed this week is in reading aloud in parts to the class, from our novel, Charlotte’s Web. Children learned that authors use italics to tell us which words to emphasize when we read. Why not practise when your child is reading aloud at home? We also learned the fate of poor Wilbur the pig - and we did a conscience alley drama activity - ‘Should Wilbur be told that the farmer is planning to kill him for Christmas?’ Children were very emotive!

In Science we have had great fun learning all about how to change volume and pitch. We learned that to amplify sound, we need a greater amount of energy or force - which makes vibrations - soundwaves larger. Then we conducted a pattern-seeking survey to discover how Pitch is changed. We decided that it must be the speed of the vibrations that alters pitch - we proved it with recorders, guitars, glass bottles, straw whistles and chime bars. The longer or thicker the sound source, the lower the pitch. Children had a big giggle making their own straw whistles!

We have also loved our History this week - finding out about how Vikings threatened to take over our country during Anglo-Saxon times and how King Alfred managed to keep them at bay. Children were asked the question, ‘King Alfred. Was he really great?’ They argued reasons for this but also included doubts as to the truthfulness of some of his achievements since he employed someone to write the good bits about himself!

In maths, we have been learning how to find the perimeter of shapes. Some super thinking has gone on!

Let’s celebrate!

This week I had to give 4 certificates out!

Jess received a Clara Clownfish certificate for excellent thinking and figuring things out in Science. Amber received a Bobby Bee certificate for putting so much effort and participation into lessons. Jack received a Sadie Spider certificate for excellent effort and always giving more than expected and finally, James received a Lizzie Ladybird certificate for really striving to meet targets.

The PE stars this week went to Lexi for excellent focus and to Hollie-Rose for not giving up.

Our recorder stars were Mason for some superb singing and India for super playing.

Notices

Christmas Danceathon Day - Tuesday 15th December - This much anticipated annual event will return with a slight twist this year. The children can come to school wearing their PE kits and we will dance the day away to Christmas music when Miss Hornby sounds those school bells. Unfortunately there will be no gathering on the school playground to dance as a school community but we will dance our socks off in class! Again, donations of £1 for this event in the single coin.

Christmas Party Day - Thursday 17th December - This year we will be enjoying those Christmas party games in our classrooms. On this day, children can come to school in their best party clothes. A small snack of a chocolate bar or a packet of crisps with a drink (no fizzy please) can also be brought into school to be enjoyed after the party. We will also be enjoying a Christmas dinner for lunch.

We all hope you have a lovely weekend with your family. God bless,

Mrs Lyons, Miss Forster, Mrs Mather and Miss Edmondson