: Blog items
Date: 16th Oct 2023 @ 9:35pm
Over the last couple of weeks, Year 4 have been celebrating Black History Month in our PSHE and Reading into Writing lessons. This year, the main theme of Black History Month is 'Celebrating our Sisters.' Furthermore, our year group focus was sporting achievements. Therefore, in PSHE, we researched a range of Black British Women athletes who have made a significant impact on the sporting industry. We then used this to create our own artwork. This allowed us to discuss key words, such as diversity and culture, and emphasise the importance of appreciating similarities and differences between everyone.
In Reading into Writing, we have been working towards writing a non-chronological report about Lauren James. Firstly, we looked at some existing non-chonological reports about Lauren James before researching interesting facts about her early life and football career, including her biggest achievements. After this, we collated these facts into our own non-chronological reports.
We have found it very interesting to learn about all of the incredible Black British athletes and their amazing achivements and impact they have had on our history.
Reception- Holly Class meet the owls from SMJ Falconry
Date: 13th Oct 2023 @ 5:57pm
This week Reception had some very exciting visitors- owls!
They met Tike, Casper, Bugs and Twiglet. The owls were all very different. Tike was a burrowing owl who lives underground. Casper has huge brown eyes which can see for miles. The children enjoyed learning about the different owls. They found out what they like to eat and how they use their senses to catch their prey. We enjoyed watching the flying demonstrations and were amazed at how silent their wings were when they flew. We were lucky enough to hold Twiglet- the youngest of all the owls. His feathers look just like the bark of a tree so he can camouflage himself from predators. He had sharp talons to help him catch his food too.
We then spent the rest of the week reading the story 'The Owl Babies', painting owls, drawing owls and making owls out of play dough. We even tried to write the names of the Owl Babies using the sounds that we could hear.
Date: 13th Oct 2023 @ 1:26pm
Well done to all of our Reading Champions so far in Year 1! Remember, the criteria for how to be a reading champion is in your reading diaries and includes reading three times a week and sharing your favourite book either on Seesaw or in class.
'My favourite book is any book about dinosaurs!' Lennox
'I like my Paw Patrol book and my favourite character is Skye' Dolly Anne
'My favourite book is The Dinosaur Who Pooped The Plannet!' Eliza
Year 6 - Formulas in Speadsheets
Date: 12th Oct 2023 @ 3:25pm
We continued our computing journey through spreadsheets byt learning about formulas. We learned how to use formulas to multiply, add and subtract the values in different cells.
Date: 12th Oct 2023 @ 3:07pm
Today was our final forest school session of 2023. We started by sharing one of our favourite books by Julia Donaldson, Superworm. We then searched the area to see if we could find any worms. We looked under logs and dug in the mud. We even pretended to be rain and made a pitter patter sound with our feet to try and trick the worms to the surface. We then made worm habitats using soil, leaves and bark. We are all looking forward to our next sessions in the new year.
Date: 12th Oct 2023 @ 2:51pm
Today in Science we learned that light is actually made up of the 7 colours of the rainbow. In order to actually see this, we used prisms to separate white light into the 7 colours. We also used DVDs as it is clear on their surface that light is made up of the colours of the rainbow.
Year 4 - Maple's Reading Champions
Date: 12th Oct 2023 @ 9:16am
We are so proud of our first Reading Champions in Maple Class! They have read every day and accessed Reading Plus for at least 30 minutes a week. Between them, they have ready over 10 books since we came back to school in September.
Date: 11th Oct 2023 @ 8:17pm
Year 2 have been working hard on telling the time over the last 2 weeks. On Tuesday we consolidated our learning on telling the time 'past' the hour by working in pairs to solve a matching puzzle. We matched analogue clock images with 'past' and 'to' times. We also used stem sentences to help us read the clocks - For example, "The minute hand is pointing at the 2 so it is a ten past time" and "The minute hand is pointing at the 8 so it is a 20 to time." We then looked at the position of the hour hand to complete reading the time.
Year 4 RE- What does love your neighbour really mean?
Date: 11th Oct 2023 @ 8:01pm
This half-term, we have been investigating the key question 'What does love your neighbour really mean?'
We have been discussing how important messages and guidance are passed on through stories and parables. We have also looked at the morals of these parables and how these teachings help to guide Christians in their daily lives.
In one of our lessons, we discussed how Christian charities show a selfless love of others and have researched the work that they do to help people in need.
We have also talked about how Christians show a love for their neighbour and how this message can pass onto future generations through messages and quotes from the Bible.
Date: 11th Oct 2023 @ 7:25pm
This week, we have held our first Spelling Bee of the year. Four children from each year group were selected to represent their house. They were each given three words to spell from our 3/4 statutory spelling words.
We are extremel proud of the children in Year 4 who represented our year group and their houses. They got all of their spellings correct which shows hard work and dedication to learning their spellings. Well done!
Date: 11th Oct 2023 @ 6:22pm
Over the past few weeks we have been learning about baptism. This week we had a visit from Reverend Thompson, who came into our classroom to tell us about his job and talk to us about baptism. We revisited our previous learning about baptism with Reverend Thompson and the important artifacts, such as the font, candle and water. He also told us the important part the Godparents and vicar play in a baptism ceremony. Reverend Thompson then showed us how he conducts a baptism and explained to us that new members of the congregation are also given a candle as a symbol of light. After our visit we then created baptism certificates, thinking carefully about what images, symbols and words we could include to show that a baby is now a member of the Christian family.
Year 5 R.E - Why Is It Sometimes Difficult To Do The Right Thing?
Date: 11th Oct 2023 @ 12:47pm
This half-term we have been investigating the key question Why Is It Sometimes Difficult To Do The Right Thing?
We have been discussing sources of guidance, beginning with the definition of the word guidance
First in a group, then as a class, we discussed the sources of guidance we have in our lives. We split them up into categories including; at home, at school and at a club.
In one lesson we looked at a source of guidance for Christians: The 10 Commandments
We talked about their meaning and how they were given to Moses from God. Our task, as a group, was to put them into what we thought was the order of importance…but there were only 9 squares! Each group then had to justify why they had left one out.
Date: 11th Oct 2023 @ 11:49am
We have held our first Spelling Bee of the year and what a wonderful event it was! 4 children in each year group represented their house and were given three words to spell from over a list of 30 possible words. Every child showed courage and determination when it came to spelling their words. It was a very close contest, with Chepstow winning overall with 15 out of 15. We are very proud of all the children who represented their house and are looking forward to the next one.
Date: 11th Oct 2023 @ 11:26am
Nursery have been working on their social and emotional development. It can be quiet over whelming when chidlren start nursery with lots of new faces and having to share and take turns with new friends. Sometimes chidlren can experiences some big emotions and it is important to help the chidren to understand that these feelings are ok and help them to manage these feelings. We have been doing lots of sharing and turn taking with adults there to mdoel and support the children.We've had actvities that encourage the childern to work together and we made a friendship chain. The children have done so well and have been trying extra hard to be a good friend.
Date: 11th Oct 2023 @ 8:12am
On Tuesday Year 3 took part in ‘Take 10’. This was provided by the National Literacy Trust and Susie Dent talked about her latest book and her love for words! The children were then guided into taking 10 to read their books.
Reception- A visit from SMJ Falconry
Date: 10th Oct 2023 @ 10:42pm
The children in Reception had a very exciting visit today- they met four owls! The children went to meet their feathered friends in the dance studio and waited patiently for their handler to take them out of their boxes. They met Tike, Casper, Bugs and Twiglet. The owls were all very different. Tike was a burrowing owl who lives underground. Casper has huge brown eyes which can see for miles. The children enjoyed learning about the different owls. They found out what they like to eat and how they use their senses to catch their prey. We enjoyed watching the flying demonstrations and were amazed at how silent their wings were when they flew. We were lucky enough to hold Twiglet- the youngest of all the owls. His feathers look just like the bark of a tree so he can camouflage himself from predators. He had sharp talons to help him catch his food too. What a fantastic experience for all the children.
Date: 10th Oct 2023 @ 5:38pm
Today, all of the children in year 5 were given an amazing opportunity to take part in an African drumming workshop. Pupils learned about the different percussion instruments from west Africa and had a go at playing a djembe - an African drum. We learned different dances and rhythms and performed what we had learned in a whole school assembly at the end of the day. What an amazing experience!
Date: 10th Oct 2023 @ 1:26pm
Nursery had a very exciting visit this week - we met four owls! We went to meet our feathered friends in the dance studio and waited patiently for their handler to take them out of their boxes. We met Tike, Casper and Twiglet. and a beautiful owl with bright orange eyes. We were excited to learn that Tike burrows under the ground and Casper comes from Africa. One of the owls had bright orange eyes and these help him to see over long diatnaces so he can catch his prey. We also got to hold Twiglet. Twiglet's feathers look just like the bark of a tree so he can camouflage himself from preditors. Thank you SMJ Falconry for bringing your owls to see us.
Date: 10th Oct 2023 @ 10:22am
This morning the children participated in a whole school spelling bee. The children represented their houses and went head to head in front of the whole school. Well done to Elliott, Chelsea, Advait and Rehaanvir who were excellent going up for Year 3!
Reception- Holly Class Bake Bread
Date: 8th Oct 2023 @ 10:16pm
After reading the story, Little Red Hen, Reception decided to bake bread. They all worked together, helping each other to weigh the ingredients, mix the ingredients and knead the dough before placing it in a bowl to allow it to rise. Then it was baked in the oven and eaten.
Unlike the story, where Little Red Hen had to do everything herself, all the children worked togther showing kidness and respect.
"It feels sticky" Loui- Tony
"We all helped to make the bread" Lucy.
"Mmm it tastes delicious!" Meriya.
"Little Red Hen's friends didn't help her" Kierah.
Year 5 - Biographies for Black History Month
Date: 6th Oct 2023 @ 4:27pm
This week the pupils in year 5 have been using what they have learned to write a biography about a famous black musician. They reseached the musician's family background and their music career, before planning, drafting and editing their writing. Today, pupils wrote their finished biography!
Date: 6th Oct 2023 @ 3:59pm
This half term, Year 2 have been enjoying their Music lessons as we have explored different genres and had the opportunities to play a variety of instruments. We have been focusing on learning key vocabulary including: pulse, rhythm, dynamics, tempo and ostinato. This half term, we have learnt the song 'Music is in my soul' as well as 'Hey Friends' both of which we loved the meaning of. We have also had the opportunity to play and improvise to these songs using glokenspeils as well as a range of percussion instruments. Last week, we learnt the term 'scatting' and found it funny to make up our own words and say it repetitively to a beat.
Date: 6th Oct 2023 @ 12:18pm
Every Friday is Fun Friday in Nursery! We try to do an exciting activity each week to celebrate another super week in school. The activities often invlove working as a team and sharing a taking turns which is great for developing the children's social and emotional skills. This week is was baking! We made some delicious star biscuits.
Date: 6th Oct 2023 @ 12:10pm
Nursery have throughly enjoyed reading the story "We're Going on a Bear Hunt". They have learnt the pattern of the story and are great at retelling it using a story map or just by themselves. We added instruments to make the sounds of swishy swashy grass and squelchly sqerchy mud! The chidlren loved going on a mini bear hunt outside and making theiir own story mats.
Date: 6th Oct 2023 @ 11:14am
This week the children have been exploring the traditional tale 'Little Red Hen'. The children have enjoyed role playing the story, making little red hens at the creative table, making bread, completing Little Red Hen maths activities and writing about the characters using their phonic knowledge. What a busy week we have had!
