Year 1 Newsletter

 In Year 1 we have been very busy bees! In the last week we have enjoyed our new DT topic on moving pictures. We learnt about pivots and levers as well as sliders. We practised techniques for making moving pictures ready for our design and make this week.

In our topic lessons we have been continuing our seaside topic and learning about the RNLI. We learnt about the history of the RNLI and the different types of boats that have been used over the years to help rescue people who get into trouble at sea. We also learnt about safety at the beach and the flags that we might see and what they tell us.

The highlight of the week was definitely our trip to Frinton! We were finally able to put everything into practise and spot the key features of a coastal area. The children were so excited to spot the promenade, groynes, Walton pier in the distance and the sea wall. When we arrived at Frinton we enjoyed taking part in a scavenger hunt in groups to try and find some items on the beach such as seaweed, a feather, a shell and a pebble with a hole in it. The children then used these items to start their epic sandcastle creations! There were moats being dug, bridges constructed and feathers adorning the tops of many sandcastles. All of the creations were magnificent!

After lunch the classes took turns to paddle in the sea, all of the teachers ended up very wet much to the children's amusement! Mrs Watson-Clarke as splashed on more than one occasion but so much fun was being had. We then continued with our sandcastle creations until unfortunately it was time to go home! The day flew by because we had so much fun! Many children fell asleep on the coach ride home, definitely a sign of a brilliant day! What a fabulous end to our topic and to our year in Year 1. All of the children behaved impeccably and we are so very proud of every single one of them. Well done Seacole and Nightingale!

Year 2 Newsletter

 Whilst it might nearly be the end of term, year 2 have certainly not slowed down! 

In our art and geography lessons, we have been looking at Uluru (Ayer's Rock). We used our printing skills to print our own landscape picture of Uluru.  

In Science we have been testing materials for different properties. We have looked at absorbency, waterproofness and stretchiness. We've enjoyed being scientists and conducting fair tests.  

Year 5 Newsletter

 This week, Year 5 have been super busy, from preparing for the Year 5 and 6 show to finishing some fabulous writing - they have worked extremely hard and it has not gone unnoticed. We also loved welcoming you all to the Year 5 Celebration of Work, what a lovely afternoon!

Both classes have been working on their dance performances for the Year 5 and 6 production next week. The two dances are looking fantastic and we cannot wait to show everyone what we have been working on. 

In Writing, the children have just finished drafting a persuasive letter to a football team/ player of their choice, demanding them to use Fairtrade footballs only. The children were extremely shocked to find out that young children and adults were stitching footballs by hand for a small amount of money and this disgust was definitely portrayed in their writing. 

In Georgraphy, we have continued looking at Indonesia and have recently been joining the campaign to stop the production of palm oil ruining the beautiful archipelago of Indonesia. We are fighting to raise awareness of sustainable palm oil and convincing people to only buy products that are sustainable. 

Year 4 Newsletter

 Wow, what a busy week it has been in Year 4!

Writing

We have just started writing our own Viking myths in our Writing lessons. It has been fantastic to see so many children's creativity come to life as they imagine themselves as a fearless Viking God or Goddess. We have discussed our striking features and why we are Gods that should worshipped by the Viking society!

Topic

Finding out about the Vikings has really inspired so many children in Year 4 and it has been wonderful to see so many of them immersed in this topic. We spent last week looking at Alfred the Great, discovering what made him great and how he unified the country between the Anglo-Saxons and the Vikings. Using freeze frames, we explored what Alfred's life might have been like and how he worked tirelessly to improve Britain. 

Science

Wow! This week Year 4 have been making poo! Yes.. Poo! We used everyday materials to create the digestive system and replicate the journey that food goes on when travelling through our bodies. We were amazed with how the children threw themselves into this experiment and many of them acted like true scientists. 

Year 3 Newsletter

 Year 3 Newsletter

Topic

In topic, we have explored the importance of the Amazon Rainforest and its role in helping to prevent climate change and help us to breather. Additionally, we explored what crops we import from all over the world and what we specifically import from these hot, humid and heavily rained in areas. To do this, we took a close look at the packaging of this fruit and found their locations on a map. We even got to try some of these exotic fruits!

Science

As we near the end of year 3 science unit "plants", we are still continuing to push and challenge our learning. 

This week we have become experts in pollination and the process that follows. We also investigated what types of creatures can be pollinators and the importance of the role they play in helping plant life to grow.

Some key words we have learnt this week are: 

• nectar
• pollen
• attract

Year 2 Newsletter

Last week year 2 were finally able to show off their well-rehearsed singing skills at the Bishop's Stortford's Year 2 Music Festival. 

The children have worked so hard, practicing their songs and wow, didn't it pay off!?! For those that were able to come and watch, we are sure that you'll agree that the children were absolutely amazing!

They performed 'water' themed songs as a choir with two other schools, which was no easy feat as they had to make sure that their actions were synchronised and that they kept in time to the music.  

They also performed their very own class song too. They had the audience bobbing along in their seats and no one left the auditorium without a huge smile on their face. 

All the teachers in Year 2 would like to say a massive well done to the children! You were so professional and did a brilliant job! 

Reception Newsletter

The Reception children loved taking part in Equality Week. They immersed themselves in a book called And Tango Makes Three, about two male penguins who fell in love and had wrote their own versions of the story during their literacy lessons. The children then continued on with the penguin theme and learnt all about the life cycle of penguins. We looked at the features of penguins, labelled pictures and made their own collages and illustrations of the birds with oil pastels.

 

In maths we have been looking at doubling and relating it to odds and evens. The children did really well with this and were able to show us their own doubles and not-doubles with unifix cubes and Numicon. We were talking about the odd Numicon pieces looking 'odd' because they have a bit 'poking out'!

In our RAW lesson this week, we've been looking at homes. How homes are different all over the world and why. We then tried to make a home for Bertie the Owl and discussed what a good home would need. Some children then made their own homes out of junk modelling, drew their own homes and labelled them and went outside and made Bertie a different home choosing any resources they could find. And last but not least, we've been looking after all the beans that we planted and making sure they've got enough water in all this heat! Another busy, but fun, couple of weeks in Reception!