Spring 2 Week 3

This week the children have been scientists for Science Week. Our whole school question was Does taller mean faster? The children predicted what they thought and then gave fantastic ideas to plan how we would find out the answer. The next day, the children got into groups and measured each other. The children made another prediction based on their group. Then we timed each children running the same distance and recorded our results. 4 groups found that the answer was no and one group found that the tallest was the faster.

During Science Week, we have also been learning about seasons. We went on a walk to look for signs of Spring.

We have been predicting and testing whether something will float or sink and sorting obejects into magnetic and not magnetic. We also did some observational drawing.

The children were excited to watch our tallest adult in the school (Mrs Heymoz) and our shortest adult (Mrs Martides) running. Mrs Martides was faster so this was an example of how the tallest does not mean the fastest.

On Tuesday, Michael’s mum (Dr Holly) who is a scientist, came into school and demonstrated lots of different science investigations and then the children got the opportunity to predict and then take part in the different investigations. Thank you Dr Holly for your hard work and giving up your time to support the school. Thank you to Michael’s dad and Freya’s mum for helping too.

On Thursday, we walked to Dame Alice Owens school. The science teacher, Mr Friedlander took us to their Science lab and we did an investigation to find out who had drawn a picture of him. We were very proud of how the children walked around the school quietly and listened carefully. Thank you to Freya’s mum and Aiveen’s mum for walking with us.

In our outdoor shed, we made a police station. We had fund investigating crimes and helping people.

In Maths, we have been learning the days of the week. Please continue to practise at home. I have put the links of the songs we sing at school below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwWzDTf0yBc

We have been sequencing the things we do each day, for example, getting out of bed, brushing our teeth and getting dressed. We also played the game, What’s the time Mr Wolf? We read the story Jasper’s Beanstalk and sequenced the things he did each day. We had a challenge to see how many times we could write our name in a minute. Then we tried again to beat our score. Try at home to see how many different things you can do in a minute.

In Phonics, we have been learning the ow, ear, air and ure sounds. We have one more Phase 3 sound to learn and then will be revising the sounds learnt so far and applying them to their reading and writing. Please complete all phonics sheets in their phonics books and practise the sounds that your child cannot remember.

On Friday, it was St Patrick’s Day. We watched Year 3’s assembly and the irish dancing. After, we made painting of shamrocks, made green pictures and made rainbows outside.

Home Learning

Take a Science Selfie! Can you complete a science experiment at home and take a selfie of you and your family? Below are some websites with some ideas. Please bring in a photo to your class teacher.

https://learning.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/resources/kitchen-science/?fbclid=IwAR3pgsL9Z4JzVUVbdci8OqeDSw9x1Dg3i7lxaAUawWtZgMihAmqwjfqZYzE_aem_Admn5arF3jT7xcfVN1DfUBA7wIol_zEdHihfnVfpWenDYAdSWmn7C7TFFUpdPYK4EBU

 

https://pstt.org.uk/resources/science-fun-at-home/?fbclid=IwAR1QCsKUdVQhkCpHGs1GVh1-YSnWJJr6hF8DIGHG0mhUVAA-f3mtgasuD88_aem_AdlWck7NCJkc74ueKc12WHPDa3cPBlycv3YRIcjGlrLE3ECWC1KTmZE-9eWEzrq1-ds

Have a lovely weekend.

 

Mrs Carey and the Early Years Team.

Spring 2 Week 2

This week, our story was Jack and the Beanstalk. The children retold the story through role play using masks. They drew maps to the castle and they made beanstalks with clouds. Outside they built castles in the clouds and built beanstalks using bricks and playdough. The children thought about what would the giant do if it came to Pope Paul School. We had breaking the toys, playing with toys, reading a story, playing in the sand pit and with the cars. Then we planted our own beans and we are going to observe them over time to see how they grow. We discussed what they will need to grow so we watered them and stuck them on the window so they will get sunlight.

 

In Maths, we have been learning about length and height. The children have been measuring with cubes, pencils, playdough, counters and lots more. They made different size worms using wool and compared the sizes using the vocabulary longer and shorter. Then they put the sizes in order. Then we looked at height. We estimated who we thought was the tallest and the shortest in the class and then measured by standing next to each other and we made a measuring wall with all the children’s heights.

 

During our esafety workshop, the children learnt the importance of being kind online, what information we should never give to others and what to do if we feel unsafe or upset. Some children took part in role play to demonstrate these important messages.

The children looked amazing on World Book Day. First we had assembly and then we had some visitors to read a story. Thank you to Jack’s gran and Mrs Lines for reading to us. Then we read the story Supertato and decorated potatoes.

 

Savannah’s dad read a story on Friday. The children enjoyed using the props he bought in to retell the story.

In Phonics we have been revising the digraphs we have learnt this term and we learnt the oi sound. Please practise the digraphs we have learnt this term and complete the oi sheet. Next week, we will be learning the rest of the Phase 3 sounds.

On Friday, we listened to the story of Palm Sunday, the children made palms and we acted out the story.

Next week is Science Week. On Thursday, we will be walking to Dame Alice Owen to see what a science lab looks like and  will take part in some activities.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Happy Mother’s Day to all the mums, we hope you have a relaxing day.

Mrs Carey and the Early Years Team

8th March 2024

We’re not sure we could have fitted more into this week if we tried!

On Monday, we went to Celtic Harmony for our History trip. Year 3 made shelters, hunted mammoths, made soup, listened to a story and saw how flint tools were made. Thank you to Lucas’ mum who was a helper on the trip.

On Tuesday Year 3 joined Year 4 in an e-safety workshop about keeping safe online. They were set challenges to solve and they enjoyed watching their class mates participate in the workshop through acting, answering questions etc.. They came away from the workshop empowered to become digitally resilient.

On Wednesday, along with Year 4, Year 3 attended a parish mass at OLSV as part of their Lenten preparations. Thank you to Noemi and Dafne who took up the offertory gifts.  We also had a visit from Louis’ mum to read her favourite books. The class really enjoyed her storytelling.

Yesterday it was World Book Day. Everyone looked fantastic in their outfits. WBD is a highlight in the school calendar, recognising the power of books. We know that reading is important every day, not just once a year. World Book Day provides an opportunity to come together and share a love of reading, We also watched the live lesson on the BBC like hundreds of schools around the country. Miss Pringle came to Year 3 to read to the class in the afternoon and the children enjoyed seeing her in their classroom too.  Your child has been given a World Book Day token.   The £1 tokens and £1 books give all children the chance to experience choosing and owning a book – for free. So do encourage your child to take their token along to the relative shops to receive their free book.

We also did a book swap this afternoon.  Some members of the class brought in a reading book and got one back in exchange!  The children are keen to do this again…so please send in a reading book that your child no longer wants and your child should come home with another!

Wishing you a restful weekend!

Mrs Lines and Mrs McNamara

Home Learning

Next Friday, Year 3 are doing the St Patrick’s Assembly.  They have been given their parts already and we would like them to practice them.  Also, the class are singing two songs:

Christ Be Beside Me… and May the Road Rise to Greet You.  Please give your child time to learn the lyrics to both songs by clicking on the name of the songs above.

Spelling shed for spellings and grammar task.

TTRs – log on and revise your 2, 3, 4, 5 and 10 times tables.

Mathletics – complete the tasks set.

Spring 2 Spellings: Spring 2 Spellings

NB: Some children have mentioned that their accounts are working properly.  I have been in touch with Mathletics and they are going to get back to me early next week.  In the meantime, we hope that if your account is working, your child can complete the work set.

Year 6 Week Beginning 4.3.24

What a busy week Year 6 have had!

In English, the class have continued their exciting unit on Spiderwick. This week, the children have written and performed radio broadcasts and have shared lots of lovely learning experiences with each other, through role play.

In Maths, Year 6 have been finding the area and perimeters of rectilinear shapes.

In RE, the children have continued to learn about the prayer The Examen. They have also reflected on the theme Dignity of Workers, through Catholic Social Teaching and Fairtrade lessons and they have also continued to focus on the Stations of the Cross during prayer time.

On Tuesday, the class participated in a very engaging e-safety workshop, where they revisited the vital message of keeping safe online.

On Wednesday, the children were visited by Max from The Passage; he spoke about the important work he does for the charity.  The Passage is based in the heart of Westminster, and provides practical support and a wide range of services to help transform the lives of people who are, or are at risk of homelessness. The Passage takes its values and ethos from the teachings of St. Vincent De Paul, who was a Christian and social reformer and who co-founded the Daughters of Charity in 1633. Vincent believed in action rather than words, and in hands-on service to vulnerable people. The class were very inspired by what he had to say.

Yesterday, the class celebrated World Book Day, along with the rest of the school. The children looked FANTASTIC in their costumes/ pyjamas- thank you so much for supporting them with this. After a special WBD assembly, the children met up with their Reception reading partners and spent some time with them. Following this, the class participated in a speed book sharing event in class. In the afternoon, the class had a very special visitor read to them- Ms Donatantonio!!!

 

 

Home Learning

SPaG- Parenthesis activity

Spelling Shed- Words that can be nouns and verbs

-Identifying antonyms and synonyms

Mathletics- Area and perimeter

Daily reading

Well done to those of you who complete every single piece of home learning set for you. 

Please do your best to catch up if you haven’t!

Year 6 Week Beginning 26.3.24

Welcome back! I hope you all had a lovely break.

It was lovely to see you all at the parent consultations this week!

On Monday, the children were introduced to the new RE Lenten focus on Catholic Social Teaching (CST).

Throughout the duration of Lent the whole school will be exploring a different principle of CST every week.

This week, the CST focus was ‘Care of Creation. The children had a special assembly in order to explore this principle,; this was followed by a class discussion based on this painting:

The class have also been reflecting on the Stations of the Cross and writing prayers in response.

In Maths, Year 6 have been learning about the order of operations (BODMAS) and in English, the children have been participating in lots of drama work based on the book Spiderwick. The following photos depict the class acting out the role of a Boggart making mischief in the classroom!

In Science, Year 6 have been learning about Inheritance and that living things produce offspring of the same kind, but that normally offspring vary and are not identical to their parents. They had lots of fun demonstrating their understanding of this, by drawing pictures of the Little Miss and Mr Men characters and creating what they thought their children would look like!

This week’s home learning has been set on:

Mathletics 

Spelling shed- Spellings and a SPaG quiz

SPaG.com – Active and Passive sentences

Daily reading

Have a lovely weekend,

Ms Pemberton

 

1st March 2024

Welcome back!

This week has whizzed by!

We would first like to remind you that we have a class trip planned next Monday 4th March to Celtic Harmony.  Please see the reminder below:

Year 3 Trip – Stone Age Day, Monday 4th March

The children in Year 3 are  on a trip to a Stone Age Day at the Celtic Harmony Camp, as part of their creative topic for this term.  The class will be travelling by coach to the Celtic Harmony Camp, Brickendon (near Hertford), Hertfordshire SG13 8NY and will be experiencing a range of exciting activities including:

  • Watching the Friction Fire lighting display
  • Gathering food in the forest and cooking with prehistoric herbs
  • Building their own woodland shelter.
  • Seeing the flint knapping demonstration, viewing a range of stone tools and hunting the mammoth!

We will be leaving school at 9.15am and expect to return to school before the end of the school day.

We will be outside all day so your child should wear their PE kit, with extra layers to keep warm.  Your child should have a coat, gloves, a hat and scarf. Children can wear thick socks with their wellies/old trainers. Your child will also need to bring a packed lunch, with no glass bottles or fizzy drinks, and no nuts please.

 

This week in Maths the children have been working hard  on subtraction with exchanging 10s for 1s and 100s for 10s.  In English, we have begun our new unit based on the book Flotsam. The children built up their inference and deduction skills by searching though trays filled with flotsam that gave clues about a character.

In RE the class have spent time explaining what they already know about Lent and Holy Week as well as recalling the three practices of Lent. This week we have also launched our RE focus on the Stations of the Cross and Catholic Social Teaching (CST).  Throughout Lent  we will be emphasising a different CST principle each week, employing art as a medium for exploration. Following a launch assembly about this by Miss Donatantonio, the children contemplated the concept of “Care of Creation,” discussing and reflecting upon the painting below:

It was so lovely to hear how the  children responded to this work of art on multiple levels.

 

 

Home Learning:

TTRs Log on and practise your 2, 3, 4, 5 and 10 times tables.

Sing along times tables songs:  3 times tables

4 times tables

Log onto Mathletics : complete the times tables activity and Maths assessment that has been set.

Spelling shed. New Spelling List can be found here:  Spellings spring 1

A SPaG activity has also been assigned on spellingshed.

UPDATE******************************************
Spelling sheet for this half term found here: Spring 2 Spellings

Apologies for the error in initial uploading.

Spring 2 Week 1

It has been lovely welcoming the children back to class this week and hearing them share their half term news with their friends.

In Maths, the children have been working hard to solve subtraction and addition word problems.

In RE they have spent time explaining what they already know about Lent and making Lent Prayer Pebbles, which they have ‘planted’ around the school. This week we have also looked at the first three Stations of the Cross and discussed the care of creation using this painting to inspire them.

They also took part in a reconciliation service, where we discussed the act of forgiveness and how important it is to say sorry to others.

In English, the class have been busy finishing their adventure stories, which are now proudly on display in our classroom.

Please remember that it is World Book Day on Thursday 7th March; children can wear their costumes or pyjamas!

Have a lovely weekend

Miss Pringle

Home Learning – for Friday

Spelling and SPaG (noun) – set on spelling shed.

Reading and reading comprehension.

Spring 2 Week 1

Welcome back! We hope you had a wonderful half term This week we have been reading the story Farmer Duck. The children have been predicting what happened to the farmer next. They have been planting vegetables outside and playing in the farm shop. The children took on the role of the farmer or the duck and the other children asked them questions. We have made farms using boxes. The children have been learning about what a farmer does and what we get from some farm animals.

 

In Maths, we have been learning doubles to 10. The children have been playing games with dice to find doubles, sorting dominoes into doubles and not doubles and making doubles using a range of resources. The children made butterflies and ladybirds to show doubles. Then they wrote number sentences to show how we record a double. Can you practise doubling at home?

 

On Tuesday, we had a Reconciliation Service where we thought about the things we have done wrong and asked God to forgive us. We talked  about how imporatant it is to say sorry and to forgive others.

In Religion, we have been learning about Lent. We talked about how Lent was represented with the colour purple and we had lots of purple around the class and in our outdoor area. We thought about the three practices of Lent. Give, Pray and Fast. The children went on a hunt around the classroom and outdoors to find signs of these practices. They found items for the food bank and clothes and shoes for the charity shop to represent giving. We found chocolate and cakes to represent fasting and the children found candles, prayer books and rosary beads to represent praying. Then the children made a prayer area outside to encourage us to pray more during Lent.

 

In our phonics lessons, we have been revising the digraphs we have learnt this term. Please practise using their phonics books because we will be moving onto some new sounds next week.

This week was the start of Fairtrade Fornight. We learnt about why we should buy Fairtrade products. The children made lunchboxes with fairtrade items in and painted the Fairtrade sign. Can you find a Fairtrade item when shopping this weekend?

In Ten Ten, we learnt about how Jesus is our role model and we should be good role models for the people around us. The children made name cards and decorated them to show that we are all followers of Jesus and he loves us.

 

Have a lovely weekend.

Mrs Carey and the Early Years Team

Spring 1 Week 6

Our story this week has been The Elves and The Shoemaker. The children have been describing what they think the elves would look like, designed clothes for the elves and designed magic shoes for themselves to wear. Some children pretended to be the old man, the old woman or an elf and the others asked them questions.  In our creative area, the children have been decorating shoes and making elves. Our outdoor shed has been turned into a shoes making workshop where the children have been making shoes and trying shoes on.

In Maths, we have been learning about pairs. The children have been matching pairs of socks and shoes, finding pairs in the class with their friends and talking about how sometimes there is someone left out.

The second group of children visited Seabrook Retirement Home. The children sang and spoke to the residents. Then they were treated to a drink and a biscuit. They were all amazing.

On Shrove Tuesday, we decorated pancakes and ate them. Outside the children made their own pancakes with flour and lemons.

On Wednesday, the children were fantastic at responding to the prayers and singing during our Lent Service. They made Lenton promises which we added to the hall display in Friday’s assembly.

This week we learnt the sounds ur and the short oo. Please practise the sounds we have previously learnt.

Have a wonderful half term!

Mrs Carey and the Early Years Team

Friday, 16th February 2024

The children in Year 4, had a very busy last week to their first Spring term.

On Monday, we solved a real life mathematical problem involving fractions of chocolate,

whilst on Tuesday, we celebrated Mardi Gras day by first researching the festival then decorating Mardi Gras masks and sampling some delicious pancakes with Golden syrup. We also solved a Pancake Maths mystery, whilst performing an impromptu ‘Pancake Dance’.

On Wednesday, the class attended the Ash Wednesday Mass and wrote Lenten promises as a reflection to the service thinking about the three practices of Lent: praying, fasting and alms giving.

On Thursday, we planted bulbs whilst also revisiting learning from Year 3 about the basic parts of plants and their function as well as the life cycle of a flowering plant.

Later that day, in Art, we looked at contemporary still life artists from around the world such as Hiroshi Sato or Hilary Pecis and after studying their themes and technique, the class made visual notes of their impressions in their art journals.

Thank you to all of you who came to see me during Parent Consultations this week; it has been a pleasure to celebrate the children’s achievements so far.

I wish you a restful, healthy half term,

Ms Varga