Term 1

Welcome back to a new school year.

We hope you will find the following information useful for settling your child into his or her new class in Years 1 or 2.

Reading book / reading record book

Your child should take his or her reading book home every evening.  We would like your child to change his/ her reading book whenever you feel it is appropriate.  Reading boxes are stored outside Robins and Kingfishers classrooms. Higher level book boxes are stored in the library.

Your child will read regularly to an adult in school. In addition, reading is taught in class through guided reading groups and through shared reading and writing in Literacy lessons.

Homework books

Each week on a Friday your child will be set homework. The children will be given a task in their homework book to be completed and returned by the following Wednesday. Your child will also have a separate spelling book with suggested activities to help them practise and learn these ready for testing on a Friday. It is important these books are kept at home throughout the week and not returned until Thursday to ensure you have them available for regular practise.

P.E.

Please make sure that your child has his/her P.E. kit in school every day.  Please ensure that all clothing is clearly named in a named bag to be left on your child’s peg.  This term we will be doing both indoor and outdoor P.E.  Your child will need the following items:

School Items

Please can we remind you to clearly label and name all items children bring into school in permanent pen - this will ensure they are quickly returned to your child.

Water

Your child may bring a small, named, clear plastic bottle of still, unflavoured water to school each day.  All bottles do need to be taken home each day.

Parent Helpers

Teachers are always appreciative of any support parents can give to help in the classroom.  If you are interested please see your child’s teacher to arrange convenient times.  Please can we remind you that all parent helpers must have had a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.  If you are interested in helping, but haven’t had this done, please enquire at the office.

Term 2

This term we have had a geography themed topic, ‘Dazzling Deutschland’. We have been finding out about the country of Germany. We located the country using maps and sorted some of the physical and human features. We have learned about some of the cultures and traditions and compared them with our country. As part of our literacy, we learned the story of The Pied Piper. In Science we have been making observations about the seasonal changes and looked for signs of Autumn around the school.

“I like doing the actions to the story of The Pied Piper.” Lemuel

“I found out they don’t wear school uniform in Germany.” Zach

“My favourite bit was finding out about Germany and making my poster.” Joshua

The German flag has black, yellow and red stripes.” Ryan

“The countries that border Germany are: France, Belgium, Poland, Denmark, Austria, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Netherlands and Luxembourg.” Elliot

Term 3

This term Robins' class are studying a geography themed topic, 'Best of British'. We have begun to find out about where Britain is in the world and how it is the same or different to other places. Here are some thoughts about our learning so far....

"Wales and Scotland are joined to England." David

"The biggest mountain is in Scotland, it is Ben Nevis." Joshua

"We know London is the capital city of England." Jessica

"Giant's Causeway is a physical landmark in Ireland." Archie

"The U.K. is an island because it is surrounded with water." William.

"I have enjoyed learning the story of Handa's Surprise, set in the continent of Africa." Samuel

"I have enjoyed doing the 3d shape work in maths and I did some shapes at home too." Katie

"I can now tell the time to the nearest half past." Roxi

Term 4

Here are our thought so far about the term:

“I loved the songs in the performance about Shackleton.” Sam

“I liked it when we wrote about our own lives.” David

“I liked it when Mrs Crocker visited and told us about her old toys.” Grace

“I like doing maths with fractions of shapes and numbers.” Luca

“I liked it when Polly came and showed us pictures of the house she worked in.” Zach

“I liked doing the letter to Jack pretending to be Jack’s Mum.” Lemuel

“I liked doing the story of Jack and the Beanstalk.” Harrison

Term 5

This term our topic is, 'How Does Your Garden Grow?' We started the term looking at how plants start as a seed. We have been planting our own sunflowers and cress. We are investigating what a plant needs to stay healthy. In Literacy we have learned the story of 'Jack and the Meanstalk'. Professor Jack had a disaster trying to make his plants grow faster! We helped him create better magic potions in maths, measuring liquid accurately. We have continued looking around the school at seasonal change. Here are some of the questions raised from our observations:

'Why do trees get blossom?'

'Why is the blossom different colours?'

'Why do the leaves become bright?'

'Why does the blossom fall off the trees?'

'What are the green and yellow bits on the bark of the tree?'

“I know all about growing, because you need water, soil and sunlight.” Jessica

“I liked Jack and the Meanstalk – it was fun because we found the body parts of the monster.” Joshua

“I enjoyed planting a sunflower.” Grace

“I had a surprise, that the cress without light or water actually still grew.” George

“I liked it when we did the actions to the story.” Harrison

“I really liked doing my shape poem. The words are as important as the presentation. I used alliteration to describe the sun as ‘blindingly bright’.” Katie

“I learned what a mezuzah is. Jewish people place them on their doors. Inside is a piece of paper with the 10 commandments on there.” David

“My journey across the year to now…I can’t believe how much my writing has changed.” Zach

“I liked the mosaics. I did the sun.” Izzy

“I liked doing my story map-I did really well. I did brilliant skipping. I’ve not done that before.” Brandon.

“I was proud of my shape poem because I like the words I chose.” Edward