Year 6 Week Beginning 18.9.23

The children have had a very busy week filled with lots of lovely learning opportunities.

On Tuesday, they had a very special online lesson with Collette from the Safer Streets team. She held a workshop based on:

  • Active and sustainable travel
  • Seatbelt safety
  • Highway street design
  • Engine idling

She finished her session with a quiz and the children were able to demonstrate a clear understanding of how to keep safe on the roads and pavements.

In English, the class began their new unit of learning, based on the book Goodnight Mister Tom, by Michelle Magorian. This book has been our end of the day whole class read since the start of term. It is about a little boy who is evacuated to the country as Britain stands on the brink of the Second World War. The book itself fits wonderfully with our current learning in History too.

In Maths, Year 6 have been solving problems with negative numbers and have been rounding numbers to the nearest: 10,   100,   1000,  10,000,   100,000,   1,000,000,   10,000,000.

In RE, the children have been learning about the three Sacraments of Initiation, and the symbols, words and actions associated with each of them.

In Science, the class have continued their learning about the circulatory system and have planned their own comparative test which will be carried out next week.

In History, the class learnt about the Zeppelin crash in Potters Bar on October 1st 1916 and how the crash impacts residents even today. They discovered that our play area at Oakmere Park is themed on this historic event and that two streets are named after the man who shot it down (Tempest Ave and Wulstan Park).

Today, many of the Year 6 children sang at Ms Steff’s mother’s funeral. Both their behavior and singing were exemplary with many of the funeral party and parishioners commenting on how impressed they were. Well done children, you made us very proud!

This afternoon, KS1 and KS2 were treated to a theatre production of Alice in Wonderland; it was very exciting and a lovely way to finish the week!

Home learning this week is:

Mathletics– Recapping learning- rounding numbers. I have also set a ‘Quest’ for those of you that want a challenge.

Spelling Shed

SPaG.com– Grammar test and expanded noun phrases.

Daily reading for 20mins

In History on Monday, we will be learning about the national evacuation event. Please do a little background reading and/or online research over the weekend, to prepare yourself with some knowledge before the lesson.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Ms Pemberton

Year 6 Week Beginning 11.6.23

It’s been another week of wonderful learning in Year 6 this week!

It was lovely to see so many of you at the Meet the Teacher session on Monday.

Don’t worry if you couldn’t make it as the information will be added to the class page on the school website.

In Maths, the children have been comparing and ordering very large whole and decimal numbers numbers, as part of their learning about place value.

They have applied their new learning on persuasive techniques, through composing and editing letters of application for the school leadership positions. Once finalised, these letters will be given to Mrs Heymoz to consider, along with the results of today’s house captain elections. On that note, the children who put themselves forward and gave speeches in front of their houses this morning were absolutely fantastic- they spoke clearly, were well prepared and were so encouraging of one another! Well done Year 6! All leaderships roles will be announced in due course, so watch this space!

In Science, the children  have been learning about the circulatory system. They spent lots of time finding out about the heart and had lots of fun working in pairs to make a model of one of the chambers!

In History, the class began their new topic based around the theme of ‘Potters Bar at War’. They looked at the chronology of both world wars and looked at how they fitted in with history over time. They created their own timelines and plotted important dates and events that happened between 1900 and now. Please help your child to write down any key events in your own family history, such as birthdates of grand-parents, so they can add to them in class, thank you!

The children have been given a copy of their personal logins for: SPaG.com, Mathletics and Ed Shed. They haven’t been given the T T Rock Stars, although I believe they are the same as last year. I will locate these and give them out early next week.

Home learning has been set as follows:

SPaG– Relative clauses

Colons and semi-colons

Mathletics– Place value activities

Spelling Shed– this week’s Year 6 challenge words- dictation will follow on Friday

Independent reading– Please ensure that you are reading for a minimum of 20 minutes a day- parents are asked to kindly sign your reading record once a week.

Please let me know if there are any problems logging on or completing the tasks set. Thank you!

It has been a truly pleasurable week in Year 6 this week!

Have a lovely weekend,

Ms Pemberton

Year 6 Week Beginning 4.9.23

Welcome back!

Year 6 have had a fantastic first week in their new class and have settled really quickly. The weather has been hot, hot, hot; despite this, the class have worked incredibly hard and given their best, all week long.

This year, Pope Paul School is celebrating the Year of Diversity. The children have spent lots of time in class thinking about what diversity means to them and have learnt that it simply means difference.

In English, the children have been learning about persuasion. They used cohesive language when discussing what makes a good/bad leader and prepared short speeches to express their opinion about, ‘What makes a leader effective?’ Year 6 also listened to different persuasive speeches, such as Greta Thunberg’s motivational speech at UK Climate Strike, for inspiration.

Greta Thunberg’s speech at UK climate strike – YouTube

They learnt that rhetorical devices, when used well, are powerful techniques for getting what you want. Examples of these are: Flattery, hyperbole, using imperatives and personal pronouns, repetition (the rule of three), using anecdotes and emotive language. Next week, the children will be applying these techniques to their own writing, when they compose their leadership letter of application to Mrs Heymoz.

In Maths, Year 6 have been reading, writing and exploring large numbers: some children have been working with numbers well into the billions- very impressive!

In RE, the class have been focussing on the school’s Mission Prayer. They used the bible to locate where each part of the prayer comes from, and wrote about how they intend to live out the values of the Mission Prayer, this year.

In Art, the children began their new topic: Activism: Printing, drawing and collaging! This topic explores how artists use their skills to speak on behalf of communities. During this unit, the class will make art based on the things they care about.

In Computing, Year 6 learnt about what is necessary to have effective communication and the importance of agreed protocols. They applied this understanding to IP address and the rules (protocols) that computers have for communicating with one another. The children also learnt about the use of a Domain Name Server (DNS) to translate web addresses into IP addresses.

In Music, the class began their new unit about swing music and were given a taste of Glen Miller music!

The week was finished off by a special mass of thanksgiving for Ms Lawlor, who has dedicated 25 years of her life to the children and families of Pope Paul School- thank you Ms Lawlor!

Online home learning will commence again from next Friday.

This weekend, the children have been asked to compose a speech, to persuade the other children in the school to vote for them to be a House Captain, on Friday. All children have been encouraged to apply for these roles, however, if your child doesn’t want to, this is absolutely fine, but please note that they are still required to write a speech using all of the persuasive features learnt this week in class.

Things to consider when writing your persuasive speech:

What effect do you want to have on the audience?

  • To feel inspired
  • To gain trust and confidence between the persuader and the audience
  • For the audience to like you
  • For the audience to agree and act accordingly after
  • To change minds and convince people to accept a view or an idea
  • To sell the benefits that they will gain from choosing you

Some people, particularly politicians, use something called a rhetorical device.

Rhetorical devices are powerful techniques for getting what you want.

Examples are:

  • Flattery- complimenting your audience e.g. a person of your intelligence deserves better than this…
  • Hyperbole- exaggerated language g. It is simply out of this world –strong.
  • Personal pronouns- I, we, you e.g. You are the key to this entire idea succeeding- we will be with you all the way, I can’t thank you enough.
  • Using imperatives- instructional language. E.g. Get on board and join us!
  • Triples– grouping language in threes e.g. Safer streets means comfort, reassurance and peace of mind for you, your family and your friends.
  • Emotive language- language that appeals to emotions. E.g. There are thousands of animals at the mercy of our selfishness.

Other factors that contribute towards a successful persuasive piece are:

  • Use of modal verbs- could, should, would, possibly, obviously likely.
  • Anacdotes- a short, amusing or interesting story about a real incident or person.
  • Speaking clearly and confidently
  • Confident body language
  • Formal tone
  • Repetition
  • Making promises
  • Rhetorical questions- have you ever wondered…
  • Adverbs of possibility- I think, possibly, undoubtedly

 

Good luck!

I am looking forward to see you all at the Meet the Teacher, next Monday at 2.45pm.

Have a wonderful weekend,

Ms Pemberton

 

 

 

Friday 21st July 2023

Our final week has been filled with making memories. On Tuesday we spent time with our Reception partners having a movie and popcorn afternoon.

On Wednesday, it was wonderful to join together for a mass to celebrate the end of the children’s Pope Paul journey. We followed that with a fantastic pizza and ice cream factory lunch.

Click here for the photos.

Thursday was Fun Day and we certainly did just that! Take a look at what we got up to…

 

Today was filled with signing shirts and yearbooks.

We wish all the children and their families a wonderful summer and a brilliant start at their new schools.

 

Thank you parents for your wonderful gifts and beautiful cards.

We wish the class a fun filled disco evening and a wonderful summer!

 

Mrs Lines and Mrs McNamara

Reception Final Week!

We have finally reached the last day in Reception, after a fun-filled week!

Lots of our time has been spent with our very special Year 6 reading partners. On Tuesday, the class enjoyed a mini disco followed by a movie and popcorn  with them.

The highlight of the week was the School Summer Party Day, yesterday. Please see the photos below for a taste of what the day involved.

This morning, we were treated to a special visitor-Donnie’s pet tarantula. Donnie was amazing at telling the class all about Ricky the spider, and how he takes special care of it. Well done Donnie!

Parents, thank you for all of your support. It has been a very special year! Thank you too for all of your cards, kind words and gifts. They are very much appreciated it by us all.

Have a wonderful summer.

See you all in September,

The Reception Team

Friday 7th July 2023

Huge congratulations to Year 6 for their stunning performance of Jungle Book this week.

Click here to see glympse of the performance captured on camera.

 

Have a lovely weekend.

Mrs McNamara and Mrs Lines

Home Learning:

Gather together memories of your time at Pope Paul by speaking with your family .  These notes will be an aid to you when you are writing your memories of your time at the school during your English lessons next week.

Friday 30th June

Well, another week flying by! The highlights for this week were:  Sports Day and showing our production to our reading partners!!  Our  RE Diocesan Advisor for the school visited us today and he spoke with members of the class.  The children chatted about the impact of their leadership roles this year.

 

The Red House teams ‘lap of honour’.

The Sports Captains set up the Water Hydration station and many children enjoyed the pleasure of strawberry flavoured water.

 

Home learning:

Children to revisit the songs of the production and remember the dance routines.  Click here for the pdf of all song links etc..

Research Nelson Mandela.  Nelson Mandela has one of the most inspirational and interesting life stories. In RE we have been learning about Christian Beliefs and we would like the children to understand how faith was an important influence on Nelson Mandela’s life choices. Please bring into school on Wednesday morning to share with the rest of the class.

See you next Wednesday evening!

Have a lovely weekend.

Mrs McNamara and Mrs Lines

 

 

Friday 23rd June

This week has been filled with many things including having visitors from the NSPCC and Bejiing!

On Monday I delivered an assembly on NSPCC’s Speak Out and Stay Safe focus.  In the assembly the children learnt  about who their trusted adults are; what Childline is; and the importance of speaking out if something is wrong.  On Tuesday morning, Year 6 had a workshop delivered by two of the NSPCC Team about their Speak Out and Stay Safe Programme and the children felt empowered and enlightened because of this powerful message.

On Wednesday a group of children from Beijing, China visited our school and Year 6 spent time with them during breaktime and lunchtime and in the afternoon.  During the afternoon session, they paired up with a student and asked them questions about themselves, their school in Beijing and their life there. Our visitors also found out about Year 6.  They then took part in a maths reasoning and problem solving activity and it was lovely to see our Year 6 children work alongside them on a subject and language they both know so well.

Our children are growing up in a world where they are global citizens and it’s important for them to learn about life beyond Potters Bar and the experience of this visit has given them a taster of this!  The children were a credit to the school;  they were welcoming, engaging, enthusiastic and active participants. The Chinese students gave the children some gifts to thank them for their friendship shown to them on this day.

NSPCC Workshop

On Wednesday afternoon,eight children went and took part in a Netball Tournament.  Miss Pringle said that the children played well as a team in ALL their matches. Their primary objective was to shoot a ball through the defender’s goal ring while preventing the opposing team from shooting through their own goal ring and Caroline, Ela-Maria, Elle, Kian, Max, Sophie, Violet and VJ did just that!!  They returned to school the following day buzzing, coming 4th in the overall competition. Well done!

We have continued with our rehearsals for the production and the children are working on their dances for the songs. There are still some children who have not brought n their costumes.  Please send them into school by Tuesday.  In PE, we have been practising for the Sports Day races. Sports Day is on  Wednesday 28th June  (AM).  Please see more details on sports day arrangements in the newsletter. All children must have a sunhat and a bottle of water.

Today our Year 6 took part in the first of two transition (Year 6 to Year 7) workshops led by the
Hertsmere Schools Partnership. This provision forms an important part of our Year 6’s preparation for
secondary school and the children participated fully in the workshop activities.

Have a lovely weekend.

Mrs McNamara and Mrs Lines

 

Home Learning:

Please encourage your child to learn their lines for the play.

  1. Click here to listen to some of the songs we are singing.    Songs
  2. Log onto Mathletics (work on problem solving has been set).

 

Friday 16th June 2023

Healthy Eating Week

 

The big message for this week is Healthy eating for Everyone!!

Our sports leaders: Alfie, Kian, Sophie and Vihaan, have been very busy this week assisting all classes with their hydration points in their classes.  They have been preparing each morning water that has contained many different ingredients: strawberry, lemon, lime and mint.  Today, they carried out a whole school survey on the most popular flavoured water and the result was ‘strawberry’.  Alfie announced this good news to the whole school this morning in assembly. From this survey, the sports captains will be preparing strawberry flavoured water for Sports Day on Wednesday 28th June.  On top of that, they have visited each class and assisted with cutting up their fruit for the class to sample and also assisted the class teachers during their PE lessons where the focus has been on Sports Day. [This insert has been written by Sophie]

Well done to each of them for their time, enthusiasm and hard work!

In English the children completed their healthy eating explanation text on the areas of: fibre, stay hydrated and five-a day.

We have continued with the production and have made more props!  The children have painted beautiful jungle flowers which will be added to our scenery. The children are learning their parts (spoken and vocal parts). A gentle reminder: can all costumes be in school by Monday 19th June as we would like the children to practise the scenes in them from Monday.

In Maths the children have looked at expressions and equations and were fantastic in solving these and in RE we have continued our work on parables.

Home Learning:

  1.  As part of the Healthy Eating Week focus, we are inviting the children to take part in the Aldi Competition answering the question:

How can we inspire people to enjoy healthy, sustainable food?

The children have been asked to design a lorry to inspire people to enjoy healthy, sustainable food. They have been given a template to use.  Please can this sheet be handed back into school by: Tuesday 20th June.  Thank you.

2. Please encourage your child to learn their lines for the play.

  1. Click here to listen to some of the songs we are singing.    Songs

 

Year 6 Learning Week beginning Monday 12th June 2023

 

The focus in Maths is ‘Transition’

here for the Maths 1              Click here for Maths 2

Algebra