October 2017 – Page 2 – Pope Paul Primary

Year 6 – 13/10/17

October 13, 2017/0 Comments/in Year 6 /by Margaret Joyce

In Maths this week, the children have been using the skill of multiplying and dividing by 10, 100 and 1000 to solve problems and investigations.

In English, they have drafted a short story based on the poignant film, The Piano. These will be edited next week and added to their writing portfolios.

Our Science learning took us into the playground this week to make a giant human electrical circuit. Using our bodies as conductors and an energy tube that flashes when the circuit is complete, we investigated which materials were conductors or insulators of electricity. We were all intrigued to find that a leaf is a conductor because of the moisture in it, as well as a lemon and a potato! If you come across any objects over the weekend and you’re curious to know if it conducts electricity or not, bring it in on Monday and we’ll put it to the test!

Our circuit training module in PE came to a close this week with a cardio blast. Well done for pushing yourselves until the end!

In art, we experimented with a wax-resist technique by using white crayons and black water colours.

Next week is One World Week, during which we will be learning all about Poland (correction from original letter). For Home Learning this week, all children in the school are asked to carry out a research project on their class’ country and present it how they wish. For more information and ideas, the letter is here.

The week will culminate with Friday’s Celebration Morning, when you have the opportunity to see the children’s projects and everything that they have been learning about and creating related to Poland! I hope to see lots of you then.

Miss Donatantonio

Pope Paul Catholic Primary School awarded Primary Science Quality Mark!

October 13, 2017/0 Comments/in General News /by Liz Heymoz

In September Primary Science Quality Awards have been awarded to 347 infant, junior, primary, middle and special schools to celebrate a commitment to excellence in science teaching and learning. So far, since its national launch in 2010, over 2500 schools across the UK have achieved the award.

The Primary School Quality Mark scheme enables schools to work together to share good practice and is supported by professional development led by local experts. It encourages teacher autonomy and innovation while at the same time offering a clear framework for development in science subject leadership, teaching and learning.

The Primary Science Quality Mark is led by the University of Hertfordshire, School of Education in partnership with the Primary Science Teaching Trust. It is supported by the Royal Society for Chemistry, the Ogden Trust and the Association for Science Education.

Jane Turner, PSQM National Director said: “Gaining a Primary Science Quality Award is a significant achievement for a school. The profile and quality of science teaching and learning in each awarded school is very high. Children are engaging with great science both in and outside the classroom, developing positive attitudes towards science as well as secure science understanding and skills. Science subject leaders, their colleagues, head teachers, children, parents and governors should be very proud.”

We are delighted to announce that Pope Paul Catholic Primary School has been awarded this Quality Mark. Congratulations to Miss Chandler who has led us in working towards this award and to all the staff who have shown great commitment to ensuring that we continue to provide an exciting, stimulating science curriculum.

Year 2 Blog Week 6

October 13, 2017/2 Comments/in Year 2 /by Margaret Joyce

There was great excitement on the playground this week as we watched the combine harvesters at work.

Thank you for the harvest

Thank you for your goodness

For all of the fruit and vegetables

And the wonderful things that grow!

Year 2 were in full voice as we rehearsed the harvest songs for next weeks harvest assembly.

In English this week we have been looking at non-fiction texts and perfecting our spellings. We have been learning about suffixes and how to add ed, ing and y to our root words. We were also busy creating some magnificent magpies for our new magpie learning wall. The children used a mosaic effect for their marvellous magpies.

In P.E. this week the children enjoyed a range of indoor activities from hurdles to hockey and tennis to long jump. It was great fun!

Maths Question

I think of a number and I add 2. The answer is 17. What was my number?

I think of a number and I subtract 5. The answer is 24. What was my number?

Week 6

October 13, 2017/0 Comments/in Year 5 /by Margaret Joyce

This week, we have been writing biographies in English about author Anthony Horowitz. We have researched his life and found out what inspired him to write. Many of the children have taken books from our ‘Featured Author’ area to read his work.

In maths, we have been learning about negative numbers and using our knowledge to reason and problem solve.

In geography, Year 5 improved their map reading skills by identifying symbols and finding out what they mean. They focused on their local area to see what they could find.

In science, we learnt about night and day. We saw how we can tell the time by using shadows and how the sun’s position changes in our sky. The children then wrote explanations of why this happens.

Next week, you have the opportunity to join us in our classroom twice! Our class mass is on Wednesday and the children will be bringing home invitations for you today. On Friday, we have our Harvest Festival Assembly, followed by a celebration morning. We will be sharing all of the exciting things we have learnt about Australia.

Home Learning

As it is One World Week next week, a creative homework for the whole school has been given. If you would like to consolidate some of this week’s class objectives, home learning has been supplied on SPAG.COM and Mathletics.

Spellings:

Naughty, notice, occasionally, often, opposite, ordinary, particular, peculiar, perhaps, popular, position, possession, possible, potatoes and pressure.

Have a fantastic weekend

Mrs Lines

Week 6 Blog

October 13, 2017/5 Comments/in Year 1 /by Margaret Joyce

This week the children learnt about the importance of friendship. They were inspired by the book, Imaginary Fred. This lead them to think about what qualities they would like their own imaginary friend to have and they made a wanted poster to advertise for one. During art sessions they made an imaginary friend and even put on their own puppet shows! In science they carried out a test to find out which material was the most absorbent for the caretaker to use. They had lots of fun finding out and learnt about the importance of a fair test. Lastly, Year 1 made Father Shaun a thank you card for our recent visit to the church where he baptised the baby. We also made a 60th Birthday card to Father Shaun – Happy 60th Birthday!

Busy Year 3

October 6, 2017/3 Comments/in Year 3 /by Margaret Joyce

Year 3 have been very busy this week improving their handwriting, applying their maths knowledge and developing their scientific skills In maths they have used their rounding, estimating and measuring skills to solve tricky problems.

They have also been carefully observing differnt rocks, making notes about textures and patterns. They have also learnt how the 3 main rock types (igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary) are made – our starburst experiment was quite a hit!

We also now have a playtime science box, which children can use to follow their own lines of enquiry – it has been fascinating to see what they have found.

I hope you enjoy researching famous rocks around the world. I look forward to seeing your information posters.

The children’s dodging skills are really improving in P.E. and they have learnt many new dodging games.

Have a lovely weekend,

Miss Pringle.

Week 5: 6th October

October 6, 2017/2 Comments/in Archives, Year 4 /by Margaret Joyce

This week we have been doing a lot of writing….adding a new chapter to our Dilemma story of Lost and Stolen. Today the children have been doing role play as part of developing the characters within their writing. Also in grammar we looked at the use of direct speech and how to add this to enhance our skills further.

In RE we have been continuing with our focus on Initiation, learning about the importance of Baptism, The Eucharist and Confirmation and what words, actions and symbols are used in these sacraments.

The children also looked at designing a new web page for our school website with the focus on welcoming. They worked really well and the results were amazing. We hope to show them to Mrs Heymoz next week to ask for her opinion.

The Friday Rosary started today led by our Liturgy Leaders and some of the Y4 children attended it which was lovely to see.

Have a lovely weekend.

Homework Link October 6th Home Learning

Preparing for our role plays to the rest of the class:

Year 6 – Trip to Bletchley Park

October 6, 2017/0 Comments/in Year 6 /by Margaret Joyce

This week in Year 6, we had our first main class trip of the year. As part of our History topic on WW2, we spent the day at Bletchley Park in Milton Keynes. This was the most secret location in England during the war, where female code breakers worked day and night, deciphering the coded German radio transmissions. Ultimately, their monotonous but incredible work won us the war.

Here is a recount of our day, written by Daniel and Jessica:

When we arrived, we watched a brief video of how Bletchley Park affected the war. Then we went to a gallery to have a look at lots of machines and equipment used to crack codes. There were even 2 working Bombe machines! After lunch, we were given a guided tour of the grounds. The tour guide told us that the 54 acres in Bletchley Park only cost £6000! Then we were taken to a big garage where there was a motorbike. The bikes were used to transport different codes to different places. He also took us to a courtyard where a bomb had landed but had never gone off! Some say it’s still there… Finally, we had an Inception and Intelligence workshop, where we decoded and deciphered Morse Code to be able to locate German ships in the Atlantic.

Things we learnt:

“I learnt that the code cracking machine is called the Bombe” – Grace

“I learnt about Morse Code” – Harvey

“I learnt that girls were very important in WW2” – Martyna

“I learnt that Polish mathematicians played a big part in Bletchley Park’s success” – Asti

“I learnt how they chose the girls that came to work at Bletchley Park” – Nathan

“I learnt that code breaking was a big part of the war” – Ben

“I learnt that girls had to do a tough interview to do the code breaking” – Maisy

“I learnt that Bletchley Park was a secret place” – Rory

“I learnt how to make words in Morse Code” – Tom

“I learnt that the people who worked at Bletchley Park didn’t know what it was for” – Jan

“I learnt how important girls were in WW2” – Meghan

“I learnt that when Germany invaded Poland, some people hid in the sewers” – Deji

“I learnt that the Enigma Machine was worth more money than Bletchley Park itself” – Madeline

“I learnt that the Germans never knew about Bletchley Park during WW2” – James

“I learnt that everyday the Germans changed the code, so the code breakers had to start again” – Krystian

“I learnt that Polish people helped England during the war” – Gloria

This week’s home learning letter is here.

Have a great weekend.

Miss Donatantonio

Year 2 Blog Week 5

October 6, 2017/3 Comments/in Year 2 /by Margaret Joyce

Time flies when you are having fun. This week the children put their science hats on and looked at different materials and their properties. We know that some materials are chosen for specific uses based on their properties. Plastic can be thin and transparent or thick and opaque. The children investigated the flexibility of different plastic bottles. The results were very interesting.

We continued work on our Topic – The Great Fire of London. The children produced some wonderful recount writing and put the finishing touches to their artwork.

Maths Question of the Week

I am thinking of a number.

My number:

Is an even number.

It is between 20 and 25

It has two different digits.

What is my number? Explain your reasoning

Week 5 Reception

October 6, 2017/7 Comments/in Reception /by Margaret Joyce

This week we have been thinking about when we were babies. We have spent a lot of time talking about the things that we could or couldn’t do when we were so small and comparing it with the things we can do now. The children have really enjoyed sharing their baby photos with each other.

On Tuesday, we were joined by baby Rocco, brother of Matteo in Year 1, and his mummy. The children were told all about how Rocco’s family keep him safe and happy. The Reception children had lots of interesting questions. We were amazed by how much they remembered about him the next day! Eraldo’s mummy has recently had a baby, and so Eraldo taught us all how to hold a baby properly, explaining how important it is to support the baby’s head.

This week we took our PE lesson outside and had a go at some team games. They children were brilliant at listening to instructions and turn taking! Next Wednesday, we are looking forward to PE with Mr Dugan, the PE teacher from Dame Alice Owen School.