Happy Easter and welcome back to the summer term! I hope you all had a lovely Easter break and enjoyed some quality time with your families.
This week, alongside celebrating the Resurrection of Jesus, we have spent time reflecting on the life and legacy of Pope Francis. We explored his focus on human dignity as a key principle of Catholic Social Teaching – recognising that every person is made in God’s image and has inherent worth.
The children were inspired by quotes from his book Let Us Dream, which sparked thoughtful reflections and some beautiful artwork. You’ll be able to see some of this in a special memorial display at church this weekend.
Today, the children wrote heartfelt letters to Pope Francis in heaven, expressing their thanks for his life and considering how we can continue his mission as Pilgrims of Hope, building a better world. Their letters will form our RE display this half term – I was truly proud of the care and thought that went into each one.
In PE, we’ve begun a new unit on cricket. On Wednesday, Mr Moretti introduced us to close and deep catching techniques, which we revisited again on Friday. Please note that our PE days this term are Wednesday and Friday.
Home learning for this week is as follows:
Maths
Please complete the following tasks on Mathletics:
· Multiplying a unit fraction by an integer
· Multiplying a non-unit fraction by an integer
· Multiplying a mixed number by an integer
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 that are homophones or near homophones
It’s been a busy and rewarding final week of term. Year 5 narrated beautifully during Wednesday evening’s Way of the Cross service at the church – they made me incredibly proud.
On Wednesday afternoon, we were treated to a fantastic music concert by the Year 5 and 6 musicians. The standard was impressively high, and it was great to see so many children performing so confidently to an audience.
Today, we ended the term with a sunny Easter Egg Hunt and Bunny Hop – a fun way to finish the term!
Wishing you all a restful Easter break – see you on Tuesday 22nd April!
This week, we have been rehearsing hard for next Wednesday’s Way of the Cross service. The children are reading their lines beautifully, and their singing grows more confident with each rehearsal. Please continue practising both your lines and the lyrics before next Wednesday.
Wednesday was World Maths Day! Ms Varga led a fantastic assembly and organised a range of exciting activities and investigations for the children to enjoy.
In English, the children planned their journalistic reports, which they will write and edit next week to conclude our unit on The Boy at the Back of the Class.
A big thank you to Brody, Leo B, and Siofra for leading us in Collective Worship this week.
We hope you love your Mother’s Day cards and flowers and have a wonderful day on Sunday!
Art – We designed our own typography, inspired by our personal interests.
PE – In groups, the children created their own versions of the haka, incorporating unison and canon movements in the style of the traditional New Zealand war dance.
RE – We explored ideas about what heaven might be like.
Geography – With Mrs McDonald, the children began their new topic on climate change.
Maths – We focused on mastering short division.
English – We examined bias in journalistic writing, then had a go at writing our own short newspaper reports, using sensationalist language to grab readers’ attention.
Next Tuesday, Year 5 and Year 6 will be leading the 10am Mass at church for the Feast of the Annunciation – all are welcome!
Next Wednesday is World Maths Day! Ms Varga has set a whole-school Maths Scavenger Hunt for home learning – an exciting challenge to explore maths in the world around you. Here are the instructions and ideas to guide you on your quest!
This week, we celebrated British Science Week, exploring the theme ‘Change and Adapt’ through exciting investigations and practical experiments.
On Monday, we discussed the meanings of ‘change’ and ‘adapt’, brainstorming their links to science before exploring how animals have adapted to survive in their environments.
On Tuesday, we had a fun session with Mr Adu from NBS School, where the children designed mazes and guided ball bearings through them using magnets. Later, we planned an investigation to answer the question: ‘How does sugar content affect how well a biscuit stays intact when dunked?’ We discussed fair testing, ensuring only one variable changed.
On Wednesday, we conducted our experiment and were amazed that the shortbread lasted 30 minutes in hot water without breaking!
On Thursday, we combined our oracy and science skills to debate: ‘Would animals be better off without humans?’ We also welcomed Mr Friedlander from Dame Alice Owen School, who led us in an incredible ‘Fire Snakes’ experiment. By mixing sugar and baking soda and carefully igniting it, we watched as long, black ‘snakes’ grew before our eyes—demonstrating how substances transform with heat and energy!
To end Science Week, we welcomed two guest scientists. Marie, from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, explained how our immune systems adapt to protect us. In the afternoon, Dr Alan, a microscopist from UCL, guided us in investigating microscopic life in the school grounds. We collected samples from different areas, examined them under a microscope, and identified the adaptations that help species survive in their environments.
Your home learning between now and the Way of the Cross Service (Wednesday 2nd April at 6:30pm) is to learn your lines (which were given to you today) and the lyrics to the songs, which can be found here. Continuing with the the spirit of British Science Week, your optional home learning is to try one (or more!) of these fun science investigations at home. Observe what happens, record your findings, and be ready to share them with the class!
1️⃣ Fizzing Balloons (Chemical Change)
How does a chemical reaction create change?
👉 What to do:
Pour 125ml vinegar into a plastic bottle.
Use a funnel to put 3 teaspoons of bicarbonate of soda into a balloon.
Carefully stretch the balloon over the bottle’s opening (without tipping the powder in yet!).
Lift the balloon so the powder falls into the vinegar.
Watch what happens!
🤔 Think about:
What is causing the balloon to inflate? Could you change the experiment (e.g., use warm vinegar or add more bicarbonate of soda) to see what happens?
2️⃣ Dissolving Dilemma (Physical Change)
Does changing the size of sugar affect how quickly it dissolves?
👉 What to do:
Get three cups of warm water.
In one cup, put granulated sugar, in another put caster sugar, and in the last one, put a sugar cube.
Stir each cup for 30 seconds and see which one dissolves fastest!
🤔 Think about:
Why does the size of the sugar affect how quickly it dissolves? Could you try other substances (e.g., salt, flour) to see if they dissolve differently?
3️⃣ Reusable T-Shirt Bag (Adapting Materials)
How can we adapt old materials into something new?
👉 What to do:
Take an old T-shirt (with an adult’s permission!) and cut the sleeves off.
Cut slits along the bottom and tie them together to create a no-sew bag.
Use your new bag instead of a plastic one!
🤔 Think about:
Why is adapting materials into reusable items good for the environment? What else could you repurpose?
4️⃣ Sound Wave Spoons (Adapting Sound)
How does sound change as it travels through different materials?
👉 What to do:
Cut a piece of string 1 metre long and tie it to a metal spoon.
Wrap the string around your fingers and press them gently against your ears.
Ask someone to tap the spoon with a wooden ruler.
Try changing the string length or using a different material (e.g., wool, fishing line).
🤔 Think about:
Does the length of the string change the sound? Why do you hear the sound better through the string than through the air?
5️⃣ Melting Race (Changing States)
How do different materials change from solid to liquid?
👉 What to do:
Get three small pieces of chocolate, butter, and an ice cube.
Put one on a plate at room temperature, one in the fridge, and one in a warm sunny spot (or near a radiator).
Check every 5 minutes—which melts first?
🤔 Think about:
Why do some materials melt faster than others? How does this link to real-life adaptation (e.g., why do polar animals have thick fur to keep warm)?
Stay with me
Remain here with me
Watch and pray
Watch and pray
The Servant King
From heaven you came helpless babe
Entered our world, your glory veiled
Not to be served but to serve
And give Your life that we might live
This is our God, The Servant King
He calls us now to follow Him
To bring our lives as a daily offering
Of worship to The Servant King
There in the garden of tears
My heavy load he chose to bear
His heart with sorrow was torn
‘Yet not My will but Yours,’ He said
Come see His hands and His feet
The scars that speak of sacrifice
Hands that flung stars into space
To cruel nails surrendered
So let us learn how to serve
And in our lives enthrone Him
Each other’s needs to prefer
For it is Christ we’re serving
My Soul is Sad
My soul is sad. My heart is breaking tonight.
Could you not watch and comfort me until light?
Am I alone, surrounded only by night?
Could you not watch one hour with me?
Could you not keep awake for one hour with me?
Is it so hard that you should do this for me?
I die for you that you might always be free.
Could you not watch one hour with me?
And so I weep, and there is no one to hear.
I am in pain; will no one witness my tears?
I am your God, and as my Passion draws near,
Could you not watch one hour with me?
Walk Alone
Take your cross now Jesus man.
Walk the road to Calvary alone.
Your innocence a mockery Nazarene for what crime do you atone?
Walk alone.
Battered bruised and bloodied now, stumbling on the long and dusty road.
Stripped of all your dignity.
This final journey holds a fate well known.
Walk alone.
Death’s dark journey calls your name.
Crown of thorns, crown of shame.
Faces filled with hate and blame.
The good you’ve done forgotten now.
Take your cross now Jesus man. Walk the road to Calvary alone.
Walk alone.
Walk alone.
Walk alone.
Born For This
Born for this. You were born for this.
Born to walk this road and bear that rugged cross.
But it’s breaking my heart to see you like this.
My son, my precious child.
The agony, Oh, the agony.
I see you suff’ring and there’s nothing I can do.
But I’ll walk by your side till we come to the end.
My son my precious child.
I see the anguish in your eyes.
I’ve prayed this cup will pass you by, but I know that it has to be so. Though I don’t understand the reason.
So much pain so much confusion,
but you were born for this,
you were born for this.
My son, my precious child.
Fallen Again
Fallen again. Kneeling in shame.
Frightened, rejected unbearable pain.
Suff’ring in silence such patience unknown, not moving.
Can he go on?
Fallen again. Face to the ground. Soldiers abusing, heckling crowd.
Slowly he rises feet heavy unsure.
Strength fading still he goes on.
All Hail, King of the Jews
O great king O royal one, your cross awaits. Is there anything your majesty desires?
Is your cross too heavy sire?
May I shine your crown?
Let us relieve you of your splendid royal attire!
All hail king of the Jews!
All hail King of the Jews!
Come now king and rest awhile you’ve walked so far!
We bet you’re very glad the journey’s almost done.
We like your regal garments so we’re sharing them around.
Casting lots to see what can be won.
All hail king of the Jews!
All hail king of the Jews!
Murderers and brigands,
We thought we’d seen it all.
Every kind of criminal there can be.
But this one they call Jesus is the strangest of the lot!
A self proclaimed Messiah is he!
All hail King of the Jews!
All hail king of the Jews!
All hail king of the Jews!
Father, Forgive Them
Father forgive them for what they have done. They know not the scale of their crime.
Guilt in their eyes and my blood on their hands.
Forgive them dear father forgive.
Father why have you forsaken your son.
Alone I am left here to die.
My flesh and my spirit both wounded the same. Forgive them dear father forgive.
Eli Eli lama sabachtani. Repeat
Precious Saviour
Precious Saviour laid to rest.
Shattered hopes, such emptiness.
Lifeless Lord. It is over now.
Night has come, the darkest hour.
Our hope has gone.
Here in this stone-cold grave the one we thought would save us, where is solace to be found?
It is over now.
It is over now.
Song of Hope
We are pilgrims on a journey, Journeying together, Journeying together with you, O Lord.
We are called and chosen, Called and chosen, Called and chosen by you, O Lord.
To sing a song of hope, Hope for all the world; To bring the grace of jubilee alive!
Fan the flame of hope, Bringing light to all the world. May my song of hope Rise to you, God of love, Lord of all.
We have hope within us, Hope within us, Hope within us from you, O Lord.
We are called to shine bright; Children of light, Children of light and truth, O Lord.
To sing a song of hope, Hope for all the world; To bring the grace of jubilee alive!
Fan the flame of hope, Bringing light to all the world. May my song of hope Rise to you, God of love, Lord of all.
Given gifts of service, To serve one another, Serve one another, and you, O Lord.
https://popepaul.herts.sch.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/The-Way-of-the-Cross.jpg306748Margaret Joycehttp://popepaul.herts.sch.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/ppnewlogo.pngMargaret Joyce2025-03-12 09:00:202025-03-28 22:35:45KS2 Way of the Cross - lyrics to learn
This featured Mardi Gras celebrations on Tuesday, bringing colour and energy to our day with purple, green and gold outfits, pancake races, delicious pancakes, vibrant masks, and a joyful carnival dance in the playground.
The following day, the mood shifted as we marked the start of Lent with an Ash Wednesday Mass at church, joining the rest of KS2 for this special time of reflection and prayer.
On Thursday, we were back in costume again, this time to celebrate World Book Day. Well done to everyone for your efforts—there was a great range of characters on show!
Here is your home learning for this week:
Maths
Please complete the following tasks on Mathletics:
· Multiplying up to a 4-digit by a 1-digit number
· Multiply 2-digit by a 2-digit number (area model)
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 where ‘ei’ can make an /ee/ sound
· deceive
· protein
· conceive
· caffeine
· receive
· seize
· perceive
· either
· receipt
· neither
SPaG
Log on to Spelling Shed using your EdShed login, and take the quiz: Add all punctuation to a given sentence including speech
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’
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
It’s the end of another week in Year 5; here’s a snapshot of what we’ve been doing:
On Thursday, as part of Children’s Mental Health Week, this year themed ‘Know Yourself, Grow Yourself’ and focused on self-awareness, we had a Mental Health Assembly and workshop with Beth Cullen, our Education Mental Health Practitioner. She encouraged us to think about how we can check in regularly with our emotions and led us through a calming guided relaxation session.
In English, we continued reading The Boy at the Back of the Class, learning more about refugee Ahmet’s journey and the reasons he was forced to flee his home country, Syria. The children particularly enjoyed getting into role as Brendan the Bully to understand his motivations and actions.
In Maths, we made further progress with fractions, focusing on adding mixed numbers. The children are becoming increasingly confident with this skill!
In RE, we explored the Lord’s Prayer in detail, breaking it down to understand the meaning behind each petition. The children worked in groups to write their own modern versions of the prayer, reflecting on its relevance in their lives today.
In Science, we evaluated last week’s enquiry into thermal insulators. While we had mixed results, we had thoughtful discussions about why this might have occurred and how to identify anomalous results in scientific investigations. We then turned our results into a line graph, which was a good challenge!
In PE, as part of our gymnastics unit, we focused on making shapes when jumping off apparatus.
In Computing, the children used Chromebooks to create vector drawings. This required careful copying, pasting, and resizing of shapes to build their designs.
In RSE, we discussed some of the pressures that adolescents may face, including expectations from others, their own self-expectations, and influences from the media. The children shared some insightful ideas about how to manage these challenges.
In History, the children investigated how recent archaeological discoveries have reshaped our understanding of the Vikings.
This week’s home learning:
Maths
Mathletics assignments:
· Adding to a mixed number
· Adding 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 with silent letters
