Year 6 Blog - ‘Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.’ –Benjamin Franklin

What a busy week full of learning we have had in Year 6, we have not stopped! Our fractions work is in full flow, as we have now moved on from subtracting fractions to finding fractions of quantities. The children have used various cocrete materials to model finding equal parts (fractions) of amounts and as they have moved on to more abstract maths have now seen the link and the importance of knowing their multiplication and division facts. In English this week, we have got up to chapter 6 in our class novel and have delved deeper in to the plot and characters, as we prepare to write out diary entry next week.

During our class liturgy we looked at how to pray the rosary in more detail and mediated on one of joyful mysteries of Christ. During RE the children researched and wrote up information on two people who help to bring the Kingdom of God on Earth, Therese of Lisieux and Mother Theresa. Science today was all about challenging ourselves independently making a circuits, drawing them up and explaining why they would or would not work. We also looked at four famous gentlemen who contributed to invention and he progression of electricity- why not ask your children for more information and see if they can retrieve what they have learnt today!

This week, we have done our second kidsafe lesson. This week it was all about the nature of bullying. We learned the acronym STOP Several Times on Purpose. We thought about how bullying can make us feel and what to do about it.

Bikeability

Year 6’s ‘Bikeability’ training is set to start the first day back after half term (Monday 31st October) and then again the following Monday (Monday 7th November). Please remember to send your children in to school with their bikes, where they are able to keep them in our school’s bike rack, as you come in the school gates on Kenilworth Road. All Year 6 children with their bikes may come through this entrance on these days. Please note, that we will not be able to keep bikes here over night.

The first morning of their training will take place on the school playground, where they will complete level 1 of their ‘Bikeability’ course. Following assessment, only those that pass this level will progress on to the next stage in the afternoon and then the following week, where they will continue their training on the roads around the school. This gives you enough time to get those bikes out and get practicing in preparation for after half term. This will also be part of the children’s homework over half term.

Leading Learners

Well done to Stephanie and Julia this week.

Stephanie, Thank you for your wonderful Mathematics work over the last couple of weeks. You found the fractions work challenging to begin with, but you showed such determination and resilience in your approach, never giving up, seeking advice and learning from mistakes. All vital skills needed in Year 6 and look at you now- mastering your fractions!

Julia, thank you for your whole approach to learning. You show so many of the learning characteristics it’s difficult to decide which one t give you. You push yourself in every lesson challenging yourself, listening, reflecting and doing your best in every piece of work.

Kind and compassionate butterflies

We have been on the look out for acts of kindness and compassion this week. Pure love and kindness has been shown in abundance this week. It definitely makes our classroom a happier and a richer place for it. Thank you to Abi. There have been so many times this week when you have gone out of your way to help someone in class. Thank you for all that you do!

Helpers in the mornings:

This week we have the following children helping to take the younger children to their class:

Asher Mason Jacob M Holly

Notices

• Please send children in full school uniform in line with our school policy, children will not be allowed to wear hoodies or jumpers that are not part of our school uniform.

• Please check the home learning section for this week’s homework.

• Thank you for all of your donations of tinned fruit for Harvest. They are all greatly appreciated!

• Parents’ Day on Friday 21st October. Have you booked your meeting?

• The children finish at the normal times of 3:15pm and 3:25pm on Thursday 20th October for a well deserved half term break.

Year 6 Weekly Blog - "Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much."

Collaboration is key - especially in Year 6! This week we have collaborated and shared in every lesson - this has helped us to learn from each other. We have collaborated to understand mixed and improper fractions in Maths, converting, adding and subtracting them. We have collaborated in Geography, making graphs on Purple Mash to show the rainfall in two places in South America. We have collaborated in English, collecting descriptive phrases from the prologue of our class novel and performing freeze frames that depict character’s feelings and actions.

This whole notion of collaboration will stand us in good stead as we move forward as a class. Last week they each received their positions of responsibility and what a great start to the year they have made! They came back to school on Tuesday ready and raring to go and they have worked together beautifully, what a team they make. You will see this in full force on Tuesday 27th September 9:10am for our class assembly. Please make sure they are practicing their lines and song for next week- thank you.

It was lovely to see so many of you there for the Year 6 induction evening on Wednesday. This is such a crucial year for your children and we must work together to ensure each of them reach their full potential and have a real sense of achievement this year. If you would like to refer back to the induction presentation at all, then please feel free to access on the button below:

A desperate plea:

I am desperate to put photographs of your children on this blog to share all of the wonderful learning but I can’t do this until I have all consent forms back and I only have half.  Please could you make sure you have sent the following two forms, even if your child has no medical needs this form still needs to be completed.

Helpers in the mornings:

This week we have the following children helping to take the younger children to their class:

Amber Jacob O India Julia Hollie-Rose

Leading Learners

Well done to Jacob O and Harriet this week.

Jacob O- Focused Cooper Crab- Thank you Jacob for being so focused in every lesson, doing your best and being ready to learn!

Harriet- creative Kiki Chameleon - Thank you Harriet for embracing your leadership role and transferring your creative flare to your work, as it is always beautifully presented and reflects exactly what you are capable of!

Kind and compassionate butterflies

We have been on the look out for acts of kindness and compassion this week. Pure love and kindness has been shown in abundance this week. It definitely makes our classroom a happier and a richer place for it. Thank you to Lena. There have been so many times this week when you have gone out of your way to help someone in class. Thank you for all that you do!

Reminders

·         Check the sports page on the website through Engage. Make sure you are aware of all training: dance, football and netball.

·         Please return forms from last week if you have not already.

·         It is our class assembly on Tuesday 27h September.

·         please encourage children to complete homework on time and handed in on Thursdays- it is great preparation for High School

Have a lovely weekend with your family.

Mrs Harrison, Mrs Nel, Miss Forster and Mrs Webster

Welcome to Year 6!

We can’t wait to welcome you all back to school for a VERY exciting year, full of challenges, fun learning and service. The classroom is ready for you all to step in to and I know as soon as you come through the door, you are going to make such wonderful leaders of the school. This is your final year at Our Lady’s- let’s make it the best one yet, where we achieve everything we are capable of, love and celebrate one another and serve the school through inspiring all of our younger pupils. Don’t forget to send all of your House Captain Speeches in, your deadline is next Thursday- I have already had a few sent which are wonderful!

Next week we will be focusing on our leadership roles within school and how our two new virtues (love and compassion) will be at the centre of these roles. We will be applying for the jobs we would like, looking at how WE can make a difference in our school and looking at some inspirational leaders of the past.

Don’t forget to come equipped with your own pencil cases, making sure you have all you need in there.

Indoor PE days will be on a Monday and Tuesday (dependent on what group you are in), so please check which day you are on the table below. On these days you need to make sure you wear tracksuits but also have a pair of shorts either under your trousers or in your bag to get changed in to.

We will not be starting Indoor PE the first week back.

Outdoor PE for everyone is on a Wednesday.

Throughout the holidays, the school library has been completely re-organised and sorted, and we have found that we have many books missing. Please could you have a good look in your homes and return school books if you have any. Thank you!

Important Notices:

Please make sure all coats and school uniform is labelled- let’s get off to a good start.

Don’t forget to bring an art T-shirt in to school to keep in your trays.

On Wednesday 21st September at 6pm is the Year 6 induction evening where we will welcome you all in to the classroom and we can update you with with all the information you need about the upcoming year. This is a great opportunity to meet the teachers (although you know us all already), see the classroom and ask those vital questions.

We can’t wait to see you all on Monday and hear about your holidays!

We will welcome Marsden (Kenilworth Road entrance) and Harcourt (St Patrick’s Road entrance) at 8:45am and Bamber (Kenilworth Road entrance) and Plessington (St Patrick’s Road entrance) at 8:50am.
Enjoy your weekend,
Mrs Harrison and the rest of the Year 6 team

Year 6's final weekly blog 'Mary Poppins herself had flown away, but the gifts she had brought would remain for always' by P. L. Travers

What an emotional but beautiful week we have had in Year 6. It is always sad to say goodbye, but my goodness, are they all so ready to spread their wings and fly and High School! It has been such a privilege to have taught Year 6 this last term, they have risen to every challenge, worked their socks off and showed so much love and compassion along the way. They will all be greatly missed by everyone at Our Lady’s.

It has been a week of celebrations and goodbyes… the temperatures couldn’t have been any higher, but nothing could stop our leavers day out on Tuesday. After a beautiful leavers mass, we made our way slowly in the scorching temperatures to complete our crazy golf and then a play and a climb in the shade at Fairhaven. We kept hydrated, the ice cream Miss Hornby treated us to definitely helped, and we had so much fun altogether!

Today was a perfect way to end their primary school journey … this morning the staff performed their very own ‘professional’ pantomime of Cinderella, followed by the surprise flash mob for Miss Hornby and then a special leavers celebration assembly for Miss Hornby, Mrs Curtis and of course Year 6. We then all had lunch, a dance and an ice-lolly with members of staff. Such a lovely way to thank all of Year 6 for the time they have shared with us.

Finally, the Year 6 team would like to thank you all for your continuous trust and support throughout the year. We have loved reading all the children’s cards and kind words and really appreciate any gifts we have received, although the real gift has been to teach all of your beautiful children. Thank you.

Have a wonderful summer and remember what Miss Hornby said… ‘once an Our Lady’s, always an Our Lady’s’ so please do stay in touch.

Year 6 Weekly Blog ‘Winds In The East, Mist Coming In’ Mary Poppins

I can’t believe we are now coming to the end of the children’s Our Lady’s journey, but what a week we have had! The start of the week was the play, and oh my what a performance it was (we told you, you were in for a treat)! The children rose to having an audience and delivered a fantastic show to the rest of the school on Monday morning and then to all their family and friends in the evening. I am sure you all were as teary as we were, as we brimmed with pride, watching what they have all achieved together as a class. They sang, danced and acted their hearts out and of course enjoyed every minute …

On Wednesday we continued our learning on transition, we discussed and reflected on our time at Our Lady’, thinking about the times when we were ‘kid average’ and when we were ‘kid awesome’, learning about how our attitude towards our learning is all our own choice and how we can use this to drive our learning forward at high school. On Thursday/ Friday they then looked at the growth mindset in detail, how we can re-program our brains to never say we can’t do something, but know that we need more practice and how we will approach new areas or challenges. They were all so open and ready to share their feelings and thoughts around all of this. They might not know this yet some of them, but they are all so ready for their next chapter and they all will fly!

On the last day (Wednesday) we thought it would be lovely if the Year 6 parents came to collect your children at the later time of 2:25pm, this gives more time on the playground to say your goodbyes and to take any pictures that you may want to take of their final day at Primary School.

Our leavers day out looks like its set to be a hot one, we will still be going ahead with this day however, we have made some slight changes and will be further assessed on Monday. After the golf at Fairhaven, instead of a walk along the front and playing games on the beach, we have decided to stay at Fairhaven and have our lunch, as their is much more shade. It is imperative that all children MUST have a bag with them, containing plenty of fluids, snacks, hat and sun-cream. They are able to wear their own clothes on this day, however please could we be mindful of the appropriateness of outfits as attending mass first. Sensible shoes for walking must also be worn.

Well done to Emma and Adam

We have carried on with Mrs Gregan’s tradition of letting the children choose who they believe deserve the end of term certificates, I have to say it was a very close one but these two children got the most votes:

Emma for always being so helpful and Jolly. Adam for trying his hardest in all his work and going that extra mile to reach your goals. Well done to the both of you.

VITAL REMINDERS

Remember to bring a spare polo shirt to school on Monday for staff and Year 6 to sign.

Please remember water bottles, hats and sun-cream next week- it’s going to be a hot one!

On Monday could children please bring a couple of plastic bags ready for books to be sent home.

Monday 18th July- Mass to celebrate Miss Hornby at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church.

Tuesday Leavers mass 9:30am followed by the leavers day out.

Wednesday is the final day- pick up at 2:25pm on the playground.

Year 6 Weekly Blog 'A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down' Mary Poppins

What a busy week we have had in Year 6. We’ve managed to keep all of our learning going whilst finally finishing our play. This week we have been running all the way through, making small changes and improving what we have done. It has been a lovely week, where the children have shown so much dedication and enthusiasm, they are so proud of what they have put together. Our research in to the history of Blackpool is in full flow, as well as our class novel and Maths.

It is another busy week next week, with the play. Most of you have ordered and received your tickets now. The show starts at 6:30pm and will be approximately 2 hours long. The children need to arrive at school at 6pm, to get changed in to their costumes. They all look fabulous in their outfits, thank you so much for making such effort. Here is a sneaky peak at rehearsals, thanks to Victor’s photography skills …

Well done to Elise and Adam

Thank you to both for being so focused in class, learning all of your lines and giving your absolute best in everything you do! We are so proud of you both.

Final Notices:

Mary Poppins performance: Monday 11th and Tuesday 12th July at 6:30pm.

Spare school shirts (not to be worn) for signing need to come in to school on Monday 18th July.

Monday 18th July- Mass to celebrate Miss Hornby at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church.

Leavers Mass Tuesday 19th July 9:30-10:30am followed by the leavers day outing.

Wednesday 20th July- Break up at 2pm.

Have a lovely, restful weekend.

More pictures from day two ...

Wow, we fit a lot in, in one day at Water Parks! Wonderful time had by all as you can see …

More Pictures of day one ...

We love to take lots of photographs to capture all of those magic moments- as you can see there is rather a lot, but just look at all of their faces! They really are having the BEST time!

Water Parks Day 2

What an amazing day we have all had! After a surprisingly calm and restful night’s sleep, the children were up and ready to go this morning. We have been so proud of how all the children have eased in to their new routines and embraced every opportunity they have been given. There has been incredible team work, acts of bravery and a steely determination to try new activities.

To make the day even greater, it is Adam’s birthday and what an unforgettable day it has been! We have made sure throughout the day he got all the ‘birthday boy’ preferential treatments from being first up the magic ladder to leading his team up the ghyll (even ‘seconds’ at dinner time). After dinner, we all gathered together to sing for the third time today ‘Happy Birthday’ and celebrated with this magnificent cake, that we can’t wait to tuck in to as our evening snack!

Mrs Harrison and Mr Nay’s group today, enjoyed a lovely canoe across the lake to do a spot of climbing up a rock face. Then this afternoon, we had wind surfing on the lake- the children were fabulous at this!

Mrs Mather’s group had a wonderful walk up the ghyll this morning and then in the afternoon faced their fears on the ‘leap of faith’ challenge and balancing on top of poles.

Mrs Webster’s group this morning completed the high ropes challenge and climbing and then had a very wet walk up the ghyll this afternoon.

We really could not ask any more of these children, they are giving everything such a good go, but most importantly working as a team and really looking after to one another.

What a pleasure they are to take away! They will most definitely sleep well tonight after such an active day!