This week...

Another half term over. We are already half way through our year at nursery…tempus fugit - time flies (when you are having fun)!

We have crammed so much into this week. It has been Online Safety Week and Mental Health Week. To help us understand how to stay safe online. We read the stories Once Upon an Online, Chicken Clicking and Smartie the Penguin. This stimulated a huge discussion about when and how often we should use our tablets and what we should do if something happened that worried us -who are safe people to sort the problem.

If you want to read the stories at home:

Click here for Chicken Clicking

Click here for Once upon an Online

Click here for Smartie the Penguin

I hope these stories help you approach the difficult topic of staying safe online at home.

Throughout the week we have been looking after our minds. We have talked about how our brains can sometimes become ‘overloaded’ and too busy’ and it can make us sad and fuzzy. To help us reconnect with ourselves and others we have been doing yoga and mindfulnes techniques…we are all so zen now. On Friday we will be having a Spa Day at nursery where we we be relaxing our minds and bodies, doing hand massages and breathing exercises. Here are a few links for you to try at home.

Bubble bounce

Smell the flower, blow out the candle

Rainbow relaxation

Thought bubbles

Body Scanner

Emma’s Blog

Hello everyone,

I can't believe it's our last week before half-term. Time goes so fast when your having fun at nursery. 

We have been busy enjoying helping the dinosaurs escape from the ice. We put some toy dinosaurs in water and popped them in the freezer. The children then used pipettes with warm water to melt the ice. We were working on our pincer grip and strengthening our muscles. We also used toy hammers, as some dinosaurs were very tricky to get out. As the ice melted, we talked about how the ice was solid at first, then as it melted it turned back into a liquid. The children ended up releasing 10 dinosaurs from the ice, it was great fun.

The children have been little artists outside, drawing their own dinosaurs with chalk. They came up with some fantastic dinosaurs. We did have some sad news though… the stegosaurus that we had made has gone on a new adventure to find a new home. The children have followed its footprints, but just can't seem to see where it has gone. I think the stegosaurus will enjoy a bit of peace and quiet wherever ever it has gone to.

The children did make another dinosaur with Justine, a small t-rex and a pterodactyl. They used the children's arms as a template for their wings. Why don't you have a go at home and see if you can make your own dinosaur over the holidays. Here is a video to give you an idea.

Click here Have fun!

Continuing with the dinosaur learning thread and improving our fine motor skills and hand strengthening, the children have been putting pegs onto dinosaurs. The dinosaurs all had a number on them and the children were working out how many pegs to put onto the dinosaur to match the dinosaurs number. Good counting everyone!!

We have been working hard giving our house outside a 'Spring clean'. We have spruced it up with some curtains, lampshades, fairy lights, and pictures on the wall. We have also added our nursery family pictures…IT LOOKS FABULOUS! The children have really enjoyed going in and playing, as well as looking after their new house. 

This week has been 'online safety week' at nursery, and we have been reading, watching and singing about how to be safe online, and what we should do if ever something unexpected pops up on screen whilst online (tell a safe grown up).

We have been so busy, and now its time for a well deserved rest.

Have a wonderful week off, and see you all soon.

Emma 

Michelle’s Blog

Hello everyone and welcome to this week's blog.

We have had a lovely week this week concentrating on our mental health.

We have had lots of lovely calm moments. One of our favourite moments was rainbow breathing. This is a good technique to use to have a calm moment. Click here

We have also continued to practice our letter sounds and have been playing a game to help. This has helped us with the letter sound g. Here is a link

Playing board games is a great way to practice taking turns. This week we played snakes and ladders and we had to throw the dice and say the number. Subitising is an essential skill to master that will make us maths wizards.

Our wellness week finished on Friday as we had a spa day. So relaxing, what a great way to start the half term

See you all soon and have a lovely half term.

Michelle 

 Worship

This week we linked our worship word of the week ‘HEAL’ to mental health week. Our lively discussing as always came back to be kind and loving just like Jesus. Everyone, including Mrs Gregan was given two smiles to give away to someone who has lost theirs. We were inspired by two quotes one which said “if you see someone without a smile, give them one of yours” and …in a world where you can be anything, BE KIND. The impact has been astounding, without being prompted the children noticed if a friend needed an extra bit of love, and gave them one of their smiley faces.

Half term Wednesday Word click here

We have been practising our new hymn Shine Jesus Shine and we are getting FABULOUS. We sang so loud that Mrs.Gregan heard us in her office and came into nursery to join us.

Art Exhibition

Don’t forget to pop along to the Art Exhibition at the Heritage Centre in Lytham to take a look at our exhibit along with exhibits from the rest of our school, and other local school! I believe it will be there during February.

Lenten Boxes

As in previous years we will be joining in with school and producing Lenten Almsgiving boxes. Over half term we would like each child to make a Lenten box to swap with a child from our Class link (YR 3). The children could use a margarine tub, small cardboard box or container and decorate it how they choose. Please ensure Lenten Boxes are brought back into nursery by Wednesday 21st February ready to swap.

Spa Day

Such a wonderful way to finish our Mental Health week….

Half term

Nursery closes for half term Friday 9th February and reopens on Monday 19th February. As always I would like to say a huge thank you for all your support of nursery… you are wonderful.

When we return we will be exploring a new learning thread so watch this space (that’s a clue!)

Enjoy a well earned rest if you can and I will see you all on Monday 19th, bright and early.

God Bless and stay safe.

Barbara

Year 5 Half Term Homework

Reading

We are currently at just over 4 million words as a class on our word count for the year. At Christmas, we set a target of 10 million words before the end of school in summer. We are currently halfway through the year so the more everyone reads- the closer we will get to the target!

Spelling

This weeks focus has been words ending in ‘shus’ but spelt -cious. After half term, we will then be focusing on words with -tious endings so it is important we that we practice over half term to learn the difference.

  1. spacious

  2. vicious

  3. precious

  4. suspicious

  5. conscious

  6. delicious

  7. ferocious

  8. luscious

  9. malicious

  10. precocious

  11. atrocious

  12. pugnacious

Maths

We will be beginning our big multiplication and division topic after half term so it is vital that the children keep practicing their times tables over the week and they feel confident with all tables up to x12.

Science

For anyone who has not finished their planets fan project- this will need to be competed over half term. The research side has all been done and it is onto the colouring and making of the fans.

They will need to make a small hole through the circle, which is at the bottom of each sheet. Then you will need to place a split pin through each sheet (one by one) to create the fan.

When you have finished, take a picture of your child with their fan project so that the photo can go in their book for evidence.

Lenten Boxes

Easter will soon be approaching us after half term so the children will need to make a lenten box in order to swap with another child. The children could use butter tubs, plastic container, small cardboard box- it’s up to you! (Just make sure it is fully cleaned first)

Here are some examples of last years to help you out.

Year 6 Weekly Blog - 'Don't be afraid to take on the biggest of challenges, they offer the greatest reward.'

We have reached the end of a very busy and full half term. I know I say this most weeks, but I really am in awe of the work that the children are completing and the expectations that they have of themselves. Whether it be Science, Maths, RE or Art, the children always get fully stuck into their learning and become immersed by what they are being taught. I am so very proud of them all.

Online Safety

In the midst of our busy week, we devoted a large amount of conversation time to online safety. Tuesday was National Online Safety Day. Children from all over the country will have been looking carefully at their online behaviour; hopefully they will have learnt a thing or two.

In class we started by taking part in the BBC live lesson- looking at all of the ways technology enhances our lives and Artifical Intelligence, reflecting on both the positive and potential dangers of this. We then went on to talk about how online beahviours can influence us, both positively and negatively- there was lots of very deep and open conversations around this. Today we spoke about scoial media and how there are age restirctions for a reason. We relefcted on positive and negative behviours at using these platforms.

WELL-BEING…

On Wednesday, we looked at and discussed, all the ways we can look after our emotional well-being and looked at some strategies we can use when we feel overwhelmed by certain emotions. Today, we read a book about ‘tapping your way to a great big smile’ which focuses on a different strategy of tapping to relieve stress or as a way to manage feelings. All great tools to have under our belt as we progress to the end of the year!

Where has our learning taken us this week?

  • English - ‘Romeo, Romeo, where for art thou Romeo.’ This week we have explored Romeo and Juliet’s first encounter and written a recount in role- very romantic!

  • Maths - We have continued with our long division practice and consolidation- this will be ongoing now, so please do not worry if we are not 100% confident with this just YET- we WILL get there, we just have to be Sadie Spiders! Fractions has been a big part of the week, we have been simplifying fractions byt finding the highest common factor!

  • RE - What happens during the Liturgy of the Eucharist- we have looked at the main parts and discussed how Jesus is present.

Amended version of the video from last week. I am very sorry I missed off our final group!

Being an active and curious learner.

I am sure the children have come home to tell you that this week we sat our first mock SAT’ paper. We have really played these assessments down this year, focusing on the children’s learning, development and any gaps they have, rather than teaching them how to take a test. Year 6 knew just days before that they were going to complete this, as I didn’t want to give them too much time to dwell, however, they came in to school yesterday with great resilience and such a positive attitude. It is often really hard plunging into the unknown, but that is exactly what the children have done. After half term, we will continue to complete the Maths and Reading, but they all understand the importance of this and I am sure lots of lessons will be learnt which will enable us to build and move forward together as a class. Once they have completed these assessment, they will of course be marked and handed back to them where they will be encouraged to think about their progress and where they want to be next time they take a set of papers. Marginal gains is what it is all about. Over the next few weeks, the children will be bringing folders home, with their papers in them. This is their opportunity to share their work with you, to purple pen, celebrate their successes and reflect on their mistakes. At this point, it is really important to remember that the Year 6 curriculum has not been fully covered yet and we still have plenty of time. Please celebrate your child’s achievements and help them to develop their own targets. You may also find, over the next few weeks, past papers or SAT examples may come home as part of their homework. This can be completed the best way you see fit- whether this is alongside your child, independently or even, if they independently start and then go over their answers after. Homework is not always about assessing your child, this is done in class, homework is all about consolidating what they have learnt in class, revising and practicing skills they will need, so this may not always be formally marked, but what they have gained from carrying out these practice papers will have helped them greatly.

LEARNER OF THE HALF TERM

Voted for by your classmates for being an excellent learning role model within our classroom. The class think you have shone this half term …

Connor-Sean and Christian

Eloquent and Truthful butterflies

This half term we will be on the lookout for all the children that are eloquent in their words, that show the language to ask questions, express emotions, speak beliefs, talk about matters of faith and hope, debate points of view, and engage in conversation. Those who are truthful, who speak the truth about themselves and others. These children are the role models of the school. This week we thank Rosa for always being eloquent and truthful.

Lunch Time Awards …

Marvelous Manners awards … Charlie

Role Model of the week … Evan

Helpers in the morning

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

Evan Owen Harvey Matilda

Notices

  • World Book Day 7th March- dress up as your favourite BOOK characters and bring with you a magical object to help spark our imaginations to create our own cllass story! This ‘magical object’ could be linked to the character you’re dressed up as, but it doesn’t have to be- but be prepared to share your story and get creative! Some magical objects may include: a magic feather, a magic stone, a magic jewel- be creative!

  • Wednesday 6th March Year 6 Book Look at 2pm- we will also be doing a brief talk on SAT’s - what to expect and on the end of year residential, so please come along!

  • Parent meetings will be going live on Mrs Gregan’s blog so please book an appointment- these virtual meetings will take place on either Wednesday 13th March or Wednesday 20th March 2pm- 5:20pm.

  • Please do continue to keep up to date with your child’s homework (particularly spelling). The vocabulary that the children are being asked to spell are getting more complex and they will need your support to figure out the best strategy to use. Learning them over time, rather than bulking them the night before, always seems like the best route to use. Over half term they have some key areas to focus on- especially the long division which we have been doing this week- we don’t want them to lose this skill and forget! Have a look at this great video some of our Year 6 put together, to remind themselves and their grown-ups how to do long division (it is also on the homework page) …

Have a wonderful and restful half term.

Mrs Harrison, Mrs Webster and Mrs Barker

Year 6 Home Learning 9.02.24

Maths

Long division- Please complete the division questions using our new long division strategy. This week our focus is just on 3 digits divided by 2 digits without a remainder. Thanks to our wonderful helpers who have made a short video to help you remember the strategy …

You may need extra practice with short division and you will have a sheet for this, but if you would like to have a go at the long division over the holidays then please do!

Please complete the following IXL strands:

L6 Write fractions in lowest terms

Reading

Please do lots and lots of reading over half term- read independently and read with an adult! Some of us are very behind on our quizzing!

Spellings

We have reflected and the spellings last week were tricky! We are going to give you over half term to learn these …


Mrs Barker’s Group

large learn letter listen men mother

Research (needed for 2nd week back)

Can you research William Shakespeare - what information can you find out about him? Then bring back your research after half term please for our English lessons. Think about the following titles: Early life; education; how he became a playwright; late life and legacy

LET’S GET CREATIVE

Two creative tasks for you to do over half term:

  1. Can you design and make a special lenten box for your Reception partner. This needs to be a specially designed and decorated container that you can give to your partner the first week back after half term ready for them to take home and collect money during lent for our chosen charity. Think about what your partner likes and what their interests are, this may help you when planning what to do- refer to your partners card they wrote for you. You could make your box out of any plastic container, cardboard box, it is up to you- just make sure it is fully cleaned out first!

  2. Start thinking about what character you want to become on World Book Day! Be creative with what you have!

Year 3 Homework - Tuesday 6th February

Lenten Boxes

Over half term we would like the children to make Lenten boxes to swap with another child. The children could use a margarine tub, small cardboard box or container and decorate it how they choose. Please ensure Lenten Boxes are brought back into school by Wednesday 21st February ready to swap with a child in Nursery. Here’s a few photos of last years Lenten boxes to inspire you.

Geography (ongoing from last week)

Your challenge is to consolidate your learning about Mount Vesuvius and the destruction of Pompeii. We are building on the skill of communicating geographically; everyone will have the oppourtunity to share their learning with the rest of the class. We will be listening out for key vocabulary (e.g. mantle, magma, eruption, volcano, lava, ash, gas, rocks) and understanding about what happened. You can present your learning however you choose e.g. in your homework book; on Purple Mash; a news report; a poster; as a 3d model etc. Be creative, but don’t forget the learning focus.

Below are some resources to support you, click on the pictures to open the document. Parents, this event was of course devastating and I’m aware that there are photos on the internet that the children may find unsettling. I kindly ask that you monitor their research. Thank you!

You have got until Thursday 8th February to complete this challenge.

Spellings

Prefix - mis
misspell misplace mislaid mislead misbehave misfortune misunderstand misunderstood mistreat misuse

Your spelling quiz will be on Monday 19th February


Year 5 Weekly Blog 02.02.23- ‘ If January is the first month of change, then February is the month of lasting change’

As we approach the end of another half term, we also come to an end of our first month of the new year. Although it is our shortest half term of the school year, in Year 5 it is an significant one as the change of maturity becomes more visible while we enter the halfway mark of the year. Routines and expectations are fully settled in and the children understand the importance of the work.

In English, we are coming to the end of our sci-fi writing unit and we have began to plan for our own independent sci-fi novel. The children have been eager to do this as they can put their own spin on some already famous sci-fi novels and to apply their descriptive skills such as extended noun phrases, personification, relative clauses and similes.

In Maths, we have finished our topic of factors, multiples and primes and have began to introduce our multiplication topic- starting with multiplying by 10, 100 and 1000. Our focus for after half term will be to multiply larger numbers together that are not in our normal times tables such as ‘63 x 8’.

In Science, we have started our planets project by collecting research about all 8 planets in our solar system- including the moon and sun. We will then finish our project next week by adding decoration and making a fan fact file out of these.

In RHE, began to touch base with a continued topic of bullying. This is to retrieve on knowledge that we know and to prepare us for safer internet day- which is next Tuesday. The session focused on social dilemmas that discussed the difference between ‘bullying and banter’ and how the terms ‘rude’ and ‘mean’ are different.

In RE, we have been looking into some inspirational people within the catholic faith who live within the beatitudes and how their actions portray this. This week we looked a Father Damien who later became St Damien after he was beatified.

In Geography, we have looked deeper into some of the bigger countries of North America and found their capital cities. We used statistics to compare these cities based on population and land area.

Let’s Celebrate

  • Luke for being a reflective learner: Over the past two weeks, we have seen such a big shift in your attitude towards your learning and how you conduct yourself in the classroom. You have taken ownership over your learning by increasing your focus to give yourself the best chance to learn. Keep this up!

  • Liam for being a co-operative learner: This week I have seen you be very adaptive. You have worked alongside various people this week and yet your attitude and work ethic is just as high- no matter your learning partner. An excellent learning quality to have.

  • Virtue Butterflies- Our butterfly this week goes to Ruby for being so eloquent around the classroom. You have been going the extra mile in making sure the classroom is in the right condition and you are always helping to tidy the classroom even if it is not yours to clean.

    Lunchtime Certificates

    • Role Model of the Week- Layla

    • Marvelous Manners- Erin

Notices

  • World Book Day- This is fast approaching us and this will take place during the first week of March, giving us plenty of time to think about your costumes.

  • Enrichment Afternoon- Our third enrichment will be on Monday in which the children will be ballroom dancing with Mrs Harrison. If you would like to wear your PE kits on Monday then feel free.

  • Eco Trip-We will be on Tuesday 6th February. We will be going to the sand dunes to plant Christmas trees so the children will require old but warm clothes that they don’t mind getting muddy, including a coat and gloves. For those parents who have volunteered to come, we will be leaving at 9:15am.

  • Trip to St Bedes- We will be going to St Bedes on Wednesday 7th February. We are going to watch a performance of ‘The Lion King’. This will be in the afternoon and we will be back at school between 3:15-3:30. There is a £2 fee to cover the travel costs which is live on parent pay.

Year 1 Homework 2.2.24

Reading

Please keep reading as much as possible and please can you ensure that your child’s reading folder comes in to school every day. As we aim to listen to all children read to an adult at least once a week, change their books and quiz. We are aiming to develop fluency so keep reading little and often. Please can you sign in their reading record if you have read at home.It helps us when we are quzzing and changing books.


Spellings

It’s our big spelling test, these consists of all the words we have learnt so far:

a do I is to

has no so go by the

was she of he his

we full me some they you

Our spelling test is on Thursday 8th February.

Have a lovely weekend

Miss Drummond

This week....We're going on a dinosaur hunt...we're going to catch the big one!!!!

Such an eggciting week (sorry about the pun). Our dinosaur egg has finally hatched. Wait till you see what was inside it!

Worship-Forever Friends

This week we listened to a story about Freddy Teddy struggling to share at a picnic with his friends. We then children consider how to resolve conflict in friendships through saying sorry and asking for/receiving forgiveness. Children learnt that when we hurt others, we also hurt Jesus – but that Jesus teaches us how to forgive ourselves and others! Click on the button below for the slides.

Michelle’s blog

Hello everyone and welcome to this week's blog.

We have continued our exploration of all things dinosaur. Finally our dinosaur egg has hatched and we were amazed to watch as a triceratops was filmed in our nursery. Luckily, it was a herbivore so only eats plants. We saw evidence of this on our potted plant it where it has nibbled the leaves.

If you would like to experience having a AR dinosaur in your house I can recommend the app ARLOOPA.

Did you know that if you Google the name of a dinosaur you can see it in 3D?

We also enjoyed practicing our throwing skills in PE.

On Wednesday we made another volcano and watched a short film about volcanoes. We learnt there are volcanoes in parts of the world but none here. 

We continue to practice our counting skills as we had to count out the correct number of plates for the stegosaurus.

What a busy week!

Have a lovely weekend and we will see you all next week.

Michelle 

Emma’s Blog

Alert! Alert! Alert!
What a fantastic week we have had.

Dinosaur egg update... The children have been really good looking after the dinosaur egg in nursery, keeping it very safe. However, on Wednesday morning the children were very shocked to find that the egg was broken on the floor. Before nursery opened, Barbara and Michelle caught the dinosaur, and sent it back to the dinosaur zoo, but they managed to record a video to show the children. When the children saw the video, they couldn't believe their eyes as they watched a baby triceratops hatch from the egg, and saw it eating one of the plants in nursery. We were so lucky that Barbara found the egg. The children then each took a bit of the dinosaur egg shell to colour on and take home. What a exciting morning we had.

Justine has been adding some fantastic skin to our stegosaurus, and it even has a pair of eyes now. The children have been really looking after it and have been on some more dinosaur hunts, exploring all the areas of the garden to see if they can find any more eggs or dinosaurs.
The had their nets and explorer backpacks with pairs of binoculars, and although they didn't find any eggs or dinosaurs, they did find some friends who were pretending to be dinosaurs. They found it so funny being caught.

We have a new exciting area in nursery. Our café has now closed its doors for now, and a shoe shop has opened in its place. The children are so excited about this and are really looking after their shop. They like to take turns being a shoe shop person or a customer, but they especially like trying on all the shoes. The children's role playing in the shop is so nice to watch and listen too. If you have any adult shoes you no longer use and would like to donate to our 'shop' it would be much appreciated.

We have started to join in assembly on a Friday afternoon with the whole school. We have been learning a song that the school children sing in assembly called Shine Jesus Shine. The children are trying really hard to practice it so we can join in with the school. The children especially like singing the chorus of the song. Click on the button below to sing along at home!

The children have been very busy learning to write number 6 on paper, on tubes, or outside on the floor, and we have seen lots of fantastic 6's. Here is the saying used on the Numberblocks programme to help when you are practicing at home.
'Start with a curve, then round with a swish, that's the way to make a 6’.

Have a wonderful weekend. Only one week left before half-term. I wonder what fun we are going to be getting up to.


See you all next week.
Emma 

Here’s the video you have all been waiting for...don’t be to scared, it’s a herbivore!

Isn’t that amazing!!!

I think that is enough excitement for this week! Watch this space to see if another egg appears…and hatches!

Have a lovely weekend and I will see you on Monday.

Stay safe and God bless

Barbara