Our Trip to Parkview - Dinner time

Next Wednesday is our trip to Parkview. If you normally have school dinners Jackie will prepare children a packed lunch.

If you are not normally school dinners on Wednesday but you would like to pay for Jackie to prepare one on this day that is also fine.

The choices of sandwich are tuna, cheese or ham. Please could you talk to your child and decide together what they would like and let me know by Friday so that Jackie is prepared!

Kind regards,

Mrs Lyons

Copy of Year 6 Blog - 'Be brave, take risks and allow the unexpected.'

Welcome to Year 6!

Mrs Webster and I have absolutely loved getting to know your children this week, and my, what a start to Year 6 have they made. Mrs Webster has had the pleasure of working with your children before and she keeps on telling me just how much they have grown into the children we now have. The first two weeks in Year 6 are always a whirl wind but I am looking forward to meeting you all on Wednesday night at induction Evening. Please make it a priority to come as Year 6 is such an important year with lots of new experiences for the children.

‘Feel the fear, and do it anyway.’

This has been a bit of a slogan in our classroom this week! On Tuesday, a group of nervous children entered the classroom all eager to ask lots of questions about the year ahead. After a lovely liturgy, we all discussed our worries for the year and also the things that we were looking forward to. No surprise that The Pleasure Beach and Water Parks were mentioned.

I told the children the story about, ‘The Jesus Nut,’ a nut that was used in the Vietnam War to hold the blades in place. If the nut ever came loose, the blades would fall off and the helicopter would crash to the ground. This small, hexagonal nut was referred to as the Jesus Nut - something that holds everything together. I have made all of the children in class a key ring with a Jesus Nut on. When things get challenging this year and the children find things hard, they need to just remember the story and that no matter what, everything will be OK if Christ is with us. He holds us together! Ask your children to see the key ring and see if they can tell you the story.

Bravery is so important this year. The children will be given lots of opportunities and I really want to challenge them to overcome any worries that they have. So many children have already done this exact thing this week - we are in for an exciting year!

Diving straight into learning

Year 6 is such a busy year, it was important that we dived straight into learning this week. One of the first jobs that the children had to do was to write their letter of application for a position of responsibility. Listening to what the children have written has brought a tear to my eye. They really care about Our Ladys and see their final year as an opportunity to give something back and provide real service to their community. Once house captain speeches have been completed on Monday, the final decisions and positions will be awarded in assembly on Thursday afternoon.

We started to dip our feet into maths this week. The children completed an arithmetic challenge and we started to look at place value and numbers up to 10 million! Place Value underpins all mathematical concepts - it is such an important skill.

On Thursday we started to read our novel - Skellig. We spent 50 minutes predicting what the book was about before reading the first chapter. We were all on the edge of our seats and wanted to read on. Mrs Webster has continued to read the book with the children today. We also started our science topic, electricity. It is fascinating to discuss electricity usage in our world today.

Homework will be set on a Wednesday next week and then due in on a Tuesday. The children have access to the computers in school for support.

New Year Mass

On Thursday we shared a lovely welcome mass with our school community to pray for our year ahead. We also gave thanks for all mothers as it is Our Lady’s birthday this Sunday. Well done to all of the children who read and carried the gifts in the offertory. You acted with such reverence and spoke so beautifully.

Welcome the the new members of our class

We have got two new members of our class who will be joining us for the final year. Marwa has joined us this week from Syria, along with her sisters lower down the school. The children have been so supportive, helping her to develop her English and to get to know our class routines. On Monday we will be welcoming Hirumi from Yorkshire. We look forward to having a full cohort of 30 ready to continue our year together.

Reminders

  • Induction Night - Wednesday 11th September at 6pm

  • Netball and football starts next week and dance the week after. Please check the sport page on the website to see the timetable for this half term.

  • Our Assembly is coming up on Tuesday 24th September - date for your diary.

Apologies for the really long blog. I think it is nice to know what has happened this week when it is such a special year for your children.

Have a wonderful weekend

Mrs Gregan & Mrs Webster

Home Learning 6.9.19

The children have each been given a Home Learning book. Homework will be given out each Friday and will need to be returned to school by the following Thursday.

The children have two special tasks this week. Firstly, please could you support the children to back their home learning book; this will help to protect the books when being brought to and from school. The children can choose to do this in whichever way they like - the more creative the better. The home learning book could be covered in wrapping paper, stick back plastic, newspaper, photographs etc. When the home learning books are returned next week I will stick a name label on each of them, so do not worry about making the name visible.

On the first page of the Home Learning book please could the children draw a picture of their family (furry friends included). Next week the children will have the chance to talk about the special people in their lives; an opportunity for the children to see how everyone’s family is unique and precious.

You will notice that the children will not be bringing a reading book home with them this weekend. Reading books will be coming home with the children from next week. Please encourage the children to read as much as they can over the weekend, prompting them to use their Fred Talk to sound out words they are struggling with.

"One smile can start a friendship..."

We have been overjoyed with how well all of the children have settled already. New friendships are forming and we have already started to see their confidence grow, it has been magical. Miss Neves and I have been so impressed with how well the children are able to share and take turns independently. Like our school mission statement says, “You are precious in My eyes.” and our new Reception children are certainly making each other feel this way.

Some reminders:

1. Our PE days are on Tuesday and Thursday. Children are able to wear their tracksuit uniform all day, saving their time getting dressed and undressed.

Please bring (or wear) shorts for our PE days.

Remember all jewellery must be removed before school on PE days.

2. Our school lunch menu is on our school website under: Engage—Lunchtimes.

(Week beginning the 16th September, we will be on the week 2 menu)

3. Show and tell will be every Friday. You will find out what the theme is in your child’s Learning Log (Home Learning book) each week.

4. Please remember to send your child into school with a coat each day.

We hope that you have a wonderful weekend!

Miss Bassett and Miss Neves

All about Growth! Our First week in Year 4.

What a lovely start to the year. It has been lovely getting to know all of your children this week. We began with our mission statement, ‘You are precious in my eyes,’ and we thought about what this meant. We have spent a lot of the week thinking about what we want our new class to be like and how we want to grow this year -knowing and loving ourselves, God and other people. In one week, children have already really matured as they have started to reflect on themselves.

We have been thinking about rights, responsibilities and how we need to follow them so that others can learn effectively.We have been using the learning characters to find out how to be an effective learner. Children have loved hearing how Tommy Turtle learned to be brave, how Sadie Spider learned not to give up and how Cooper Crab learned to concentrate. We have been thinking about how we can do this too, so that we are optimum learners and can get those lovely learning points for our house team!

We have also started our new Science topic which is all about plants. Many children in the class are already avid growers which is lovely! We took apart a broad bean seed and looked closely at lots of different types of seeds, drawing our findings in our books. We are currently running two investigations - ‘What does a seed need in order to germinate?’ and “How much water does a plant need?’ Children have asked lots of fantastic questions already.

We have started to learn about the language of explanation in English and we will be creating our own leaflets explaining all about plants in a few weeks. Unfortunately, although most children have done their Star reading test, the library would not scan books out today, so we hope for them to have a reading book on Monday.

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Notices:

Accelerated Reader

In Year 4, we normally allow children to choose from the orange AND BLUE level books in our library. This is nothing to do with the difficulty of the book, but it is about the ‘interest level.’ This means that it will have content which interests 9 year olds and above. There may be some scary bits or more complicated issues in it. If you do not wish your child to choose blue books, please let me know by Wednesday. We find they are fine for this age group and it opens up a lot more choice.

A school trip to Parkview

We are going to learn about Seed dispersal on Wednesday 18th September for the morning. Children who are normally a hot dinner will have a packed lunch made by Jackie, the cook. Others can bring their dinner in a named plastic bag. It is normal pick-up and drop-off times. The cost of the trip is £8.00 now payable on parentpay.

PE

PE times have changed! Wednesday is Yoga, Thursday is swimming and Friday is now outside PE with Mr Nay.

Swimming will start this Thursday. Children need to be at school by 8.30am. They need a plastic bag with a towel, goggles if needed and appropriate swimming costume (see letters sent home) If children have long hair or a fringe which may end up in their eyes, they need a swimming cap. Please could you send them in wearing this on Thursday morning? They do not have time to wash their hair as another class is straight in afterwards.

Induction evening is this Wednesday. Please come along to meet the team and find out all about life and learning in Year 4.

Thank you for being patient with me as get to know your faces - I am great at learning the children’s really quickly! It is such a privilege to teach your children and I am excited about the coming year.

God bless, Mrs Lyons and Mrs Mather

'Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom' By Aristotle

Well, what a wonderful week we have had in Year 3! It has been so lovely getting know all of your lovely children and we now look forward an an exciting year ahead. The children have come back, most of the time, with their junior heads on. They are all so eager to contribute in class and enthusiastic about their learning, we just need to remember not to shout at out times- something to work on for the rest of the year.

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Year 2 Home Learning - 6.9.19

This week the children have been given their new home learning books and folders. They have both books and folders as sometimes the children may be given sheets to complete which can either be stuck into their books or placed into the folder. Other weeks the children may be asked to complete something in their books.

This week, please could the children back their books in order to protect them whilst being carried home and back to school each week. This can be done using wrapping paper, sticky back plastic, newspaper - what ever you fancy. It would be brilliant if the children could decorate their books and folders to make them unique to them - please do remember names on these too.

On the first page in the home learning books, it would them be great if your child could draw or write about the different people in their families. This can include siblings, aunties and uncles, grandparents, carers, and even pets! This will then help us when your child talks to us about different people in class.

Finally, we are in the process of completing different reading assessments with your children in order to ensure that they come home with the correct reading book for their level. As the children don’t yet have a reading book, please do read, read and read as much as you can at home.

Thank you

Miss Woodend

"You will never regret being brave"

What an absolutely amazing start the children have had to their Year 2 journey. It was a joy to see so many smiling, excited faces eagerly waiting for me to open the door to the classroom on Tuesday morning. I can’t believe just how quickly the children have settled into their new surroundings and how well they have taken to their new routine - it’s like they’ve been here forever!

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Your first Year 4 homework

Reading

Now you have your new ZPD I would like you to read for 20 minutes every day in Year 4. Make it a real priority!

Homework books

As usual, please back your books in something that reflects your personality - you can use stickers, wrapping paper, photos anything you like but please make sure we can see your name on the front.

Purple Mash

We have an exciting new program which can be done on any device or computer - purple mash You have had a go in class. I have stuck your username and password in your new homework books.

This week I would like you to log in (click link below) and CREATE YOUR AVATAR. You do this by clicking on the silhouette of a person by your name. It can be whatever you like!

Your second task is in your 2DOs list (in red at the top) You need to complete the 2DO ‘When I grow up,’ so that Mrs Lyons can find out more about your ambitions. Dont worry if you are not sure yet, (its not necessary to be sure at age 8!!) just think about what you might like to be and tell me why.

I hope you enjoy it!

Welcome to nursery

Welcome to nursery!

A very warm welcome to all our children and their families.

I hope that everyone has managed to have a restful summer and are ready for a very busy term at nursery.

It has been a lovely start to the year. All the new children have enjoyed exploring the both the indoor and outdoor environments, and for the returning children it has been great to see their friendships pick up from where they left off in July.

Next week your key person will be making contact with you via a welcome newsletter. You will also be either invited to come along to nursery to meet your designated person, or alternatively arrange for a home visit.

As always there will be dates for you diary, these too will be listed on your newsletter. The nursery blog is usually live from Thursday afternoon, please try to check it weekly to avoid missing any important information.

In the meanwhile, if there is anything you need to know or discuss please do not hesitate to contact me.

 

Welcome Back Year 2!

I hope you have all had a wonderful summer holiday filled with laughter, rest and bundles of memory making! I bet it’s hard for many of you to believe (particularly parents) that you will be starting your new adventure in Year Two TOMORROW!

I am very much looking forward to seeing all of your fresh faces in the morning and telling you all about the exciting year of learning we have ahead. Mrs Connolly, your new Year 2 teaching assistant, is also incredibly excited to meet you all.

Just a few notices to keep you up to date in the first week:

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