Friday 28th February, 2025

This week we have been exploring Community and Participation which is part of our Catholic Social Teaching principle in our RE lessons.   The children have been discussing ways to use their talents to contribute to their community.

As Pope Francis said:

“Dear young people, please, don’t be observers of life, but get involved.

Jesus did not remain an observer, but he immersed himself. Don’t be observers, but immerse yourself in the reality of life, as Jesus did.”

Watch this space to find out what we as a class have decided to do to contribute to our community!

On Tuesday when the weather was drier and sunnier, the Liturgy Leaders organised a special liturgical Palm Burning Service with the children in Key Stage 2 to burn last year’s Palm Sunday leaves to create ashes for next week’s Ash Wednesday Mass. Watching this old tradition reminded us all of the journey towards Lent. A special thank you goes to our Liturgy Leaders: Michael, Sophie, Chloe, Mya and Tiya who led this service with such confidence and reverence.

 

                                                                                                

In Maths this week we have been finishing off our work in Algebra by focusing on formulae, forming equations and solving two-step equations. We have also being working on our pace in answering mental maths questions.

Our English lessons have been dedicated to completing and editing our reports on Spiderwick. They are looking really impressive.

In PE, Year 6 completed a gym and dance display for their reception partners. It was really well executed and the younger children were very excited to watch.

 

Have a lovely weekend.

Mrs McNamara and Mrs Lines

 

Home Learning:

Mathletics (complete the work that has been set) and TTRs (Log in to practise your tables)

Spag.com

Spellings on spellingshed

 

 

 

Spring 2 Week 1

I hope you had a wonderful half term!

This week we have had a lot of excitement in Reception! On Monday, we received a letter from the Natural History Museum, asking us to look after a dinosaur egg. The children wrote letters to say that we would look after it and we would be careful. On Tuesday, the egg was delivered! The children observed and described the egg and made posters warning people to be careful and do not touch the egg. They predicted what dinosaur could be inside the egg. On Thursday, the egg was cracked, there was mess on the classroom floor and we found footprints on our door and windows. We compared the footprints with pictures of dinosaur footprints and identified the dinosaur as a Tyrannosaurus Rex. We researched facts about a T Rex and made posters warning people that a dinosaur has escaped. Some children demonstrated their oracy skills by telling different classes about what we had found. On Friday, the Natural History Museum called to say thank you for looking after the egg. During the week, the children have made artwork and amazing pieces of writing.

 

In Maths, we have been learning about odd and even numbers. We have also been learning about doubling. Please practise doubling to double 5.

In Religion, we have been learning about Community and Participation. They children have been thinking about the groups in the community and the groups they are involved with. They dressed up as police, nurses, doctors and firefighters. We thought about he importance of sharing and discussed the stories we have read in the Bible about Jesus sharing.

Next Week

Tuesday – Mardi Gras – wear purple, gold or green

Ash Wednesday – EYFS and KS1 service at 2.45pm

Thursday- World Book Day- dress up as your favourite character or in pyjamas and bring in your favourite book.

Have a lovely weekend.

Mrs Carey and The Early Years Team

Year 1 Week Beginning 24.2.25

It’s been another busy week of learning in Year 1 this week!

In English, the class finished their unit on The Storm Whale, ending with a debate on whether they believed the story had a happy ending or not. The children used the sentence starter, ‘In my opinion, I believe…” to formalise their speech and give their conversation structure. By the end of the lesson, the children had built their sentences even further by including, “On the other hand…”. The children then recorded their opinions in their writing books, using the same sentences to structure their writing!

In RE, the class learnt about the next area of Catholic Social Teaching- Community and Participation. They heard the Parable of the Good Samaritan and linked this to their own lives, thinking about how they can help their neighbours, just like Jesus asks us to in the bible.

In Maths, the children finished the unit on place value and began the next unit on addition and subtraction. They have been learning how to perform addition by counting on, and they have used their knowledge of number bonds to add numbers within 20.

In Science, the class had lots of fun experimenting with floating and sinking as part of their materials topic, and in History, they began their new topic on Kings and Queens, where they learnt about the role of a monarch.

In PE, Year 1 enjoyed the sunshine as they learnt and  played some new invasion games!

Spelling games set on Spelling Shed focus on words where the digraph ‘ea’ makes an /ee/ sound.

Have a wonderful weekend,

Ms Pemberton and the Year 1 team

 

Spring 2 Week 1

During RE this week, our ‘Rooted in Love’ focus has been on ‘Community and Participation’. The children read scripture about community, shared what communities they belong to and how their participation helps others and themselves. They also witnessed the palms being burnt in preparation of Ash Wednesday next week.


In Maths, the children have been calculating perimeter of rectilinear shapes.


Their new English unit is persuasive writing. They have been busy this week, creating their own dragon pets and thinking of alliteration and persuasive language to use in their writing.

In Science, they have been exploring how the ear works and how sound is made. The children enjoyed investigating how different instruments create sound.

It has been wonderful to celebrate the children’s progress and books with you at parents evening this week.

Please ensure your child has their reading record and library book in school daily and encourage them to record their reading. There are many sniffles in class, so we would appreciate any boxes of tissues please.

Have a restful weekend

Miss Pringle

Home learning

English – Please check your child’s bag as I have sent home a writing task for them to complete. Using the picture prompt, story starters and interesting words (if they wish to) I would like them to write a short story or the opening of a story. They will receive a similar task each week. Please return the stories on Friday, so that we can be shared and celebrated. The task should be completed neatly, in blue handwriting pen or a handwriting pencil.

Maths – Timetable rock star activities and challenges have been set.

Spelling – words with the prefix ‘bi-’ – please log on to EdShed to play the games and learn this words.

bicycle
biplane
biped
bicentennial
biannual
bilingual
biscuit
biceps
binoculars
bisect

 

Year 5 – 28/02/25

This week in RE, Year 5 began exploring our new Catholic Social Teaching principle: Community and Participation. This teaching reminds us that we are called to be active members of both our local and global communities. It challenges us to support one another and use our gifts and talents to contribute to the wider world. Rather than simply observing problems, we are encouraged to get involved and help build a better society. To put this into action, we have planned a visit to Mayfair Lodge Care Home, where we hope to bring joy to the elderly in our local community. Please see the newsletter for Hanna and Dudley’s more detailed explanation of Year 5’s endeavour!

On Tuesday, Year 5 joined the rest of KS2 for a special liturgy, where we went outside to burn last year’s Palm Sunday leaves to create ashes for next week’s Ash Wednesday Mass. This meaningful tradition reminded us of the journey towards Lent and the importance of reflection and renewal.

In Maths, we have been revisiting and consolidating our fractions skills from before half term, ensuring we are confident in our learning.

In English, we have been working on formal writing, applying this skill to letters addressed to the Prime Minister and the King, inspired by The Boy at the Back of the Class.

In Oracy, we have been developing our discussion skills, learning how to agree, disagree, build on ideas, clarify, and summarise effectively. We put these skills into practice first in pairs, then in a wider ‘consensus circle’, debating the question: “Are sports stars the best role models for children?”

In PE, the children finalised and performed their brilliant gymnastics routines, which were based on the theme of space.

In Art, we started our new unit: Typography and Maps. This week, we explored creative typefaces.

In Music, we continued working on body percussion and cup rhythms, using the Wellerman Sea Shanty as our inspiration. Please find the videos below.

Finally, if the skies stay clear tonight, we have a rare chance to see seven planets aligning! I recommend downloading a night sky gazing app like Stellarium to help spot them more easily.

Home learning for this week:

Maths On Monday, I set multiple Mathletics assignments to help revise the fractions concepts we have been learning in class. For your home learning, please complete at least two unfinished assignments from the following:

·         Adding fractions with total greater than 1

·         Adding two mixed numbers

·         Subtracting fractions

·         Subtracting from a mixed number

·         Subtracting two mixed numbers

Reading 5 tests on Readtheory or 20 minutes of reading per day
Spelling Log on to Spelling Shed using your EdShed login, and play a variety of games to practise this week’s spelling rule: Words spelled with ‘ie’ after ‘c’

·         ancient

·         glacier

·         science

·         scientists

·         species

·         sufficient

·         efficient

·         emergencies

·         deficient

·         inefficient

Friday, 28th February 2025

Happy last day of February!

The children in Year 2 had a busy start to their new term.

On Monday, the class participated in a whole school Collective Worship to introduce our 4th Catholic Social Teaching principle, Community and Participation.

 

The children first reflected on the Scripture reading, ‘Love your neighbour as yourself’ and created Community nets, whilst later they  designed a formal invitation for a Community Picnic.

In English, the class completed their learning based on our book, ‘The Dark’ and planned their own 3 part narrative based on Lydia Monks’ entertaining book, ‘AAAArrrggghh Spider!’ The children will write their own ‘fear’ stories next week, introducing the characters and their fear of spiders before detailing a resolution to this problem.

In Maths, the class completed their learning of multiplication and moved on to division, using manipulatives to consolidate their understanding between grouping (when the group size is known but not the number of groups) and sharing (when the number of groups is known but not the size).

In Science, the children looked at changing materials and carried our practical investigations, using a large variety of materials, to stretch them, squash them,etc.

In Geography, we used secondary sources to compare housing in the UK and Kampong Ayre reflecting on the significant differences we noticed.

In PE, the class enjoyed their first 2 sessions of specialty basketball training provided by PSD (Primary Sporting Development). Coach Moretti was very impressed with the children’s discipline and hard work!

A few key dates:

Tuesday, 4th March 2025- Mardi Gras Day. Children can come to school in ‘festival’ colours of green, purple and gold.

Wednesday, 5th March 2025- Ash Wednesday Service for KS1 in school.

Thursday, 6th March 2025- World Book Day. Children can come dressed as a book character or wearing their pyjamas.

Friday, 7th March 2025- Year 2 Class Collective Worship @ 9.15. Parents are invited!

PE DAYS WILL MOVE TO TUESDAYS AND WEDNESDAYS STARTING FROM NEXT WEEK!

Have a lovely weekend,

Ms Varga

Home Learning:

Please use the link below to practice our class song: Amazing Grace. The children need to learn the first 3 verses by heart. We have practiced the song in class and in the hall accompanied by piano.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjcfQZtgwAI

Amazing grace, how sweet the soundThat saved a wretch like meI once was lost, but now I’m foundWas blind, but now I see
‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fearAnd grace my fears relievedHow precious did that grace appearThe hour I first believed
Through many dangers, toils, and snaresWe have already come‘Twas grace that brought us safe thus farAnd grace will lead us home
Please also learn your lines for our Collective Worship. We will have further rehearsals next week.
Spelling:
Consolidation: Words where ‘y’ makes an /igh/ sound
Next week’s: Words where ‘-es’ is added to words ending in ‘y’

Year 3 Week 1 Friday 28th February

RE
This week in ‘Rooted in Love’ we focused on our new branch ‘Community and Participation’. The children read scripture about community and then shared their ideas on how to make a ‘perfect community’.

Maths
In Maths, the children have been learning the multiples of 10. They have also explored related calculations and reasoning about multiplication. They discussed when to add a zero and explored the relationships between numbers when multiplying by 10.

In capacity and mass this week the children have been adding, subtracting and finding the difference of grams and kgs as a unit of measure for mass.

English
The children have started their new unit, Stone Age Boy. They have been busy this week making predictions about what will happen in the story, exploring facts about the Stone Age and also asking questions about what they hope to find out.

Geography
This week we completed our topic but exploring why volcanoes are located in similar places to recorded earthquakes.

P.E. days are Wednesday (Swimming) and Friday

 

* We would appreciate any boxes of tissues please as we are down to our last.

*Tuesday 18th March is our class trip to Celtic Harmony in Hertford. We are looking for some parent volunteers who have not yet been on a school trip please.

 

Homelearning:

Spellings: Spellingshed

Maths: Mathletics and TT Rockstars.

 

We wish you a peaceful weekend and look forward to next week,
Mrs Poyiadzis and Miss Lambie
Mon, Tu & Wed Th & Fr

 

Please find the multiplication videos that we use in class below. They have been added to the maths section on our Year 3 web page too. 

Activities Monday 3rd March

Thursday 6th March

Reasoning Practice

Reasoning Quiz 1

Reasoning Quiz 2

Reasoning Quiz 3

Reasoning Quiz 4

Reasoning Quiz 5

 

 

 

Monday 3rd March

WALT: understand decimal and fraction equivalents

Worksheet  Click here

Challenge:  Click here

 

Activities

 

 

Thursday 13th  Click here

Thursday 27th

Worksheet Click here

Challenge  Click here

Tuesday 25th February

Worksheet Click here

Equations  sheet  1     2

 

Monday 24th February

Formulae  Questions to solve    Click here

Formulae   Challenge 1

Challenge:  Forming and Solving Equations  Click here

 

 

 

Reading Comprehension Practice  reading booklet               answer booklet

mark scheme

 

Arithmetic Papers (15 mins)

Click here for your arithmetic activity  1st    2nd

Paper 2  1st  2nd

Paper 3  1st   2nd

Algebra Challenge Click here

Worksheet for lesson:  click here

Year 5 – 14/02/25

This week has been Inter Faith Week, and we’ve been learning about Islam. On Wednesday, we visited the Central London Mosque, located on the edge of Regent’s Park. The mosque is impressively large, topped with a stunning gold dome. During our visit, we had an introduction to the main aspects of Islam and saw models of mosques in Medina and Jerusalem. We then stepped into the main hall where worship takes place, removing our shoes as is customary. Some of the children had the chance to stand under the dome and call out “Welcome Pope Paul School,” hearing their voices amplified within the magnificent space. We ended our visit in the exhibition area, where we were challenged to find and memorise 10 facts about Islam. Many of the children were intrigued to learn that Islamic prophets include familiar names like Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus.

   

Also this week:

  • English: We continued reading The Boy at the Back of the Class, practising our summarising skills and exploring the differences between formal and informal language.
  • Maths: We wrapped up our first fractions unit, learning how to subtract from mixed numbers, including breaking the whole, and subtracting two mixed numbers.
  • RE: We learned about Blessed Carlo Acutis, a young person who lived a short but inspiring life, using his technological talents to spread the message of Jesus while dedicating himself to the Eucharist and helping those in need. The children loved researching his relatable story and were excited to learn that he will become the first millennial saint when he is canonised in April this year!
  • Science: We explored the practicalities of different material properties and discussed the advantages and disadvantages of using specific materials for different purposes.
  • PE: In gymnastics, the children worked in groups to create sequences that told a story about space. They also had an energetic dodgeball taster session on Monday, which was a big hit!
  • History: The children delved into Viking settlements, studying place-name endings to uncover what they tell us about Viking influence.

Have a brilliant half-term break, everyone – see you on Monday 24th!

Home learning:

Maths Mathletics assignments:

·        Subtracting two mixed numbers

Reading 5 tests on Readtheory or 20 minutes of reading per day
Spelling Log on to Spelling Shed using your EdShed login, and play a variety of games to practise this week’s spelling rule: Words from the Year 5 and 6 Statutory Spelling List

·         amateur

·         foreign

·         ancient

·         pronunciation

·         awkward

·         symbol

·         criticise

·         yacht

·         excellent

·         equipment