• Present were Bobby, Seb, James, Edie, George, Hira, Billy, Maisey, Olivia, Becky, Curly Jack and Nell

•  The meeting is to look at sugestions in the new class folders

• Year 6 – have lost folder

• Year 5 – One suggestion – “ The new extra hygiene soap is smelly and gives me a rash.  Can we change it back?”  Seb will ask Mr Ray about why the soap was changed. 

• Year 4 – One suggestion – “Please can we have a bin in the toilets?”  The hand dryers are not very good and so people use toilet roll.

• Year 3 – Two suggestions – “Everybody should have at least one prize at the end of party day.”

                                                              “ Everyone should have a chance to go on the grass”

Maisey and James will speak to Mr. Brawley.

• The year 2 councellors will ask their teacher to put the folder up in the class room and Bobby will explain what it is there fore.

• Year 1 have had no suggestions as of yet.

Here is a brief outline of the work your child will be covering within the curriculum for the rest of this half term. Any resources or expertise you may have that would enhance the children’s learning in any of these areas would be much appreciated.

Literacy

Texts for shared reading and writing: traditional stories and non-fiction texts. Examples of other work that will be ongoing throughout this half term include the reading and spelling of common tricky words (please see attached list), listening with sustained concentration and following instructions accurately, exploring familiar themes and characters through improvisation and role play, guided reading (reading on sight high frequency words specific to books matched to the abilities of reading groups), guided writing, phonics and handwriting practise.

It is also important that you continue to hear your child read as often as possible. 

Numeracy

Read and write two and three digit numbers; recognise odd and even numbers; place numbers in order on a number line; estimate a number of objects; count up to a hundred objects and check by grouping in twos, fives or tens.

Addition and subtraction mentally and using written methods, addition and subtraction facts for numbers to 10, pairs of numbers which make 20 and pairs of multiples of 10 which make 100.

Handling data – lists, tables, diagrams and block graphs.

Measures – estimate, compare and measure lengths, masses and capacities using standard units of measure; read numbers on a scale and work out the numbers between them.

2D and 3D shape – name 3D shapes, sort and describe 2d and 3d shapes according to their properties, identify reflective symmetry in 2D shapes and draw lines of symmetry.

Timestables – continuing to practise 2’s, 5’s, 10’s and then 3’s and 4’s – please help your child to learn them!

Science

Forces and movement

ICT

Digital media and presenting

Other ongoing skills

Geography

Where in the World is Barnaby Bear? (ongoing all year)

Comparing Headingley andIslamabad

RE

Christianity and Hinduism – special books and stories

PE (Wednesdays and Fridays – please make sure your child has their PE kit in school)

Gym – spinning, twisting, turning

Dance – words from stories

Music

Exploring pitch

Art

Picture this!

Dear Parents,

We hope that you all had an enjoyable Christmas break and a happy new year. Here is a brief outline of the work that we will be covering over the next few weeks .It is by no means a list of everything that we intend to teach but we do hope that it will be of some interest to you.

Literacy

We will be sharing adventure and mystery stories, looking at characters and planning and writing adventure and mystery stories of our own. We will continue to work on joined handwriting and spelling strategies. We ask that the children continue to read regularly at home for homework.

Numeracy

We will be partitioning and rounding three digit numbers to the nearest 10 or 100 and giving estimates for their sums and differences. Deriving and recalling all addition and subtraction facts for each number to 20, sums and differences of multiples of 10 and number pairs that total 100 will be covered. We will be identifying patterns involving shapes as well as numbers, problem solving and continuing to learn multiplication tables along with corresponding division facts.

Science

Rocks and soil is our science topic this half term. We will be observing different types of rocks and looking at their uses. Testing rocks for hardness and permeability are always popular activities.

Topic

Year 3 will learn about weather and climate in our cross curricular topic. We will be looking at weather types and how these are communicated to others. By setting up our own weather station the children will measure and record, weather conditions. Looking at different climatic regions of the world involves the children in map work and improves knowledge and understanding of world geography.

Physical Education

PE lessons take place every Monday and Thursday. Dance and Games will be covered this half term.

CREATIVE PARTNERSHIPS

As a school we have been successful in a bid to bring into school creative partners who will work with our class, every Wednesday this term. We hope that through the arts the children will improve speaking & listening, which should in turn improve writing. This is a very exciting project! More details will follow.

 Happy New Year to all parents and children. Below are a few items of news.

Oxfam Writing Competition

Mike and Annette came to our school in the last week of term with the results of the Oxfam writing competition. The theme was “A Winter’s Tale”. Almost half the school took part raising £98 for Oxfam’s work inAfrica. All of the winning entries are on display in our main corridor outside Year 5 and are a great read. The winners, who Mike and Annette said were very difficult to choose, all received a bag of Oxfam goodies. They are:

Rec: Martha, Y1: Polly, Y2: Martha, Y3: Lizzie, Y4: Erina and Lucas, Y5: Kyra, Y6: Aidan and Charlie

Thanks to Mrs Ward who organised the competition for the second year and to Mike and the staff at Oxfam with whom we aim to work more closely in the coming year.

Christmas Events

Thanks to all staff and children who helped make all of our Christmas productions such a success and to the parents and carers who filled the hall on each occasion making a wonderful atmosphere.

Clubs

Clubs will start again over the next two weeks. Gym and language clubs will start next week and football clubs in a few weeks when the light improves. We have a new Zumba club for Y4-6 girls starting on Tuesdays led by Nicola, a specialist teacher who worked with the school in Health and Sports week. This new club and all other clubs remain free. We are looking to provide more clubs for KS1 children. If you feel you would like to run a club please see me.

PE kits

A number of children in different classes have had to miss PE this week as they had no kit in school. A polite reminder that children should always have a kit in school on their PE days.  At our school we have an optional school uniform but a compulsory PE kit.

Attendance Letters

At the end of last term all parents/carers received a report on their child’s attendance over the term. Overall school attendance has improved compared to the same term last year: thanks to everyone who has helped in this area. I was able to particularly mention a large number of children who had 100% attendance in the autumn term. I have told all the children that in this new spring term all children gaining 100% attendance between now and Easter will receive a certificate and a reward.

Events:  

Parents’ Evenings: Wednesday 14, Thursday 15 March

Harmony Week: 26-30 March

Y6 Ingleborough residential: 21-25 May

Training Day:18 June.

Health and Sports week: 9-13 July

Friday 20 July: last day of term.

Michael Brawley

Dear parents/carers,

      I hope you all had an enjoyable Christmas break and a very Happy New Year to you all!

   I have again attached the Y5 long term plan to give you some idea of the topics your child will be working on this year.

   PE days are now on Tuesdays and Thursdays, so please could you ensure your child has the correct kit in school. On Tuesdays, the children will do gymnastics, so white t-shirts and black/navy shorts or leotards will be needed (NOT tracksuit bottoms please as these are unsuitable for working on the apparatus) and on Thursdays they will be visiting Lawnswood High School to do some rugby with the coaches there, so long black/navy tracksuit bottoms and a jumper might be a good idea then.

  Miss Wood will be teaching the class for most of this half term, Elena and Mrs Mills will continue to teach Music and RE, and I will still teach some small groups during the week and the whole class on Thursday afternoons. I will be back into Y5 as normal next half term.

  Other notable dates this term include:

Friday 6^th January – Science: Sound workshop 

Friday 27^th January – Y5/Y6 visit to the Ice Cube

Wednesday 14^th March and Thursday 15^th March – Parents’ Evenings

Monday 26th March – Friday 30^th March – Harmony Week

   If you wish to chat to me about anything further, please call in and see me at any time. I look forward to talking to you all at Parents’ evening.

   Yours sincerely,

   Jo Ward

Dear Parents,

Year 6 have a busy term ahead, with any luck some of it, if not most, will be fun!

I have already sent out some information regarding our residential trip to Ingleborough Hall, thank you in advance for the prompt return of the consent form and deposit. I will be going up to the centre in the next couple of weeks to discuss the timetable of activities with the staff there; the children are already looking forward to their week!      

During this term Year 6 will continue to be taught by Mr. Brawley every Friday. Homework will usually be given out at the beginning of each week to be returned by the end of that week.Readingis still expected to be done at home either as part of homework or for enjoyment!

Dates for the diary:

• Friday 27th January – Ice Cube (details to follow)
• Tuesday 21^st February – K-NEX engineering (details to follow)
• Sunday 10th March - Music for Youth at St Aidan’s School, Harrogate (details to follow)

As far as the curriculum is concerned over the term your child will be covering the following;

Maths:

• Counting, partitioning and calculating
• Securing number facts, understanding shape
• Handling data and measures
• Calculating, measuring and understanding shape
• Securing number facts, relationships and calculating

Literacy

• ·          Journalistic writing – Disaster!
• ·          Arguments – Graffiti
• ·          Reading and writing narratives including plays – Shakespeare
• ·          Formal and Impersonal writing  - letters and invitations

Science: We are hoping to organise some workshops as part of University of Leeds festival – dates and details to follow

• Forces in Action
• How we see things
• More about dissolving

ICT:

• Animation
• Further skills in presenting
• Using digital media throughout the curriculum
• Spreadsheet skills

PE: Our PE days are Wednesdays and Fridays.

• Dance linked to our art projects
• CricketSchool

Art:

• What a Performance! – Making headdresses/ hats/ costumes for a character at a Carnival with a focus on reusing old things.
• We are also hoping to fit in a trip down to the Wardrobe at the playhouse

Music:

• Linked with art topic working with Victoria Jaquiss from Artforms

Geography:

• Natural disasters – Volcanic eruptions, Earthquakes, Extreme weather conditions.

RE:

• Buddhism

Thank you

Tracey Baruah.

Welcome back,

Hope you all had a good Christmas break. Here is a brief outline of the work that we will be covering in the spring term. It is by no means a full list of all that we intend to teach over the term but we do hope that it is will be of some interest to you.

Literacy

This half term we will be using our knowledge of Information Texts to help us create our own information text, based on our Geography topic. We will also be looking at texts from other cultures. After the half term we will be looking at the different styles of poetry and using these to develop our own. We will follow this with explanations.

Numeracy

We will continue to look at different ways of counting, such as in tens and hundreds, knowing the values of digits within numbers and developing our calculating skills. Securing our multiplication and division facts and extending our knowledge about shapes. Handling data and looking at different measurements. 

Science

This term one of our topics is Keeping Warm. This will involve looking at different ways of keeping things warm and what materials would be best to help with this. We will then explore circuits and conductors. We will look at the components that are required to complete a circuit. We will also explore a range of materials to see if they conduct electricity. The children will carry out a range of experiments in order to broaden and further their knowledge of these topics. They may be asked to bring in materials to help us with our investigations. 

Geography

This term we switch to geography. We will be concentrating on the area St Lucia. Through this topic we will learn what life is like and the differences between the island and the UK. We will look at the surroundings and comparing things such as jobs, schooling, clothing and what their living arrangements are like. Any artefacts, pictures or information about St Lucia would be appreciated. 

R.E.

The topic that we will be covering this term will be ‘The key figures in Faiths and Philosophies’ within the Christianity, Hinduism and Judaism faiths.

P.E

The children will continue to go swimming every Tuesday. A quick reminder that children need a swimming costume and a towel. Children with long hair will need something to tie their hair back and they may also bring a hair brush if needed. We ask that no spray deodorants be brought and the children do not need any money.

Our other PE session is on a Monday and children will need the compulsory PE uniform. It is suggested that children keep their PE kit in school at all times, so that they have the correct kit every week. Children will need shorts if they don’t already after the half term holiday, as we have gym and the children will be using the apparatus.

Looking forward to a great spring term.

Caroline Mitchell

Elena Fernandez – Corugedo

Dear Parents,

Happy New Year! This is a brief outline of the work your child will be covering this term as well as some general information.

Literacy

During the first half term we will be doing lots of work related to Traditional Tales and Poetry.

After the half term holiday we will be learning about Information texts and Recounts, particularly related to our topic on Houses and Homes.

Phonics, spelling and handwriting work is ongoing. Group guided reading takes place every week with books and questions matched to the abilities of each group. It is also important that you continue to hear your child read from their home reading book as often as possible. Books are changed weekly. Our class library day is Monday when children may select a book to take home and read from the library.

Maths

The main topics this term are counting, partitioning and calculating, measuring and understanding shape and learning number facts. We will continue to use different mental methods and practical resources to support learning.

Science

During the first half term we will be finding out about how materials can change.

After the half term holiday we will be focus on how plants grow.

History

We will be learning about different styles of houses and homes and how the Victorians lived.

We will be having a costumed visit to Thwaite Mills on Thursday 8^th March, further details to follow.

RE

We are already learning lots about Chinese New Year which takes place this year on Monday 23^rd January.

We are creating lots of art work and the children are taking part in other linked activities.

Art

We will continue to link art work to other subject areas and move into our topic on sculpture.

Music

Music and songs are used across the curriculum to enhance learning and we will also be using instruments and our voices to learn about pitch and rhythm.

ICT

ICT is used throughout the curriculum. We will be particularly focussing on adding sounds and pictures to files and creating e-books.

PE

PE this half term will take place indoors on Tuesday and Thursday and the children will be taking part in Gymnastics and Dance. Please ensure that your child has their PE kit in school at all times – white t-shirt, black pumps, dark shorts- and that each item is clearly labelled.

Play and Learn

We have really enjoyed these sessions and appreciate the parents who are able to come and join us. However, these sessions will be stopping after the half-term holiday to enable us to focus on other areas of the curriculum.

Helping at home leaflets

As mentioned to many of you at Parent’s Evening back in November, we will shortly be sending out leaflets with ideas for helping your child at home with literacy and maths work.

Finally if you have any questions or queries we are always happy to have a brief chat after school, however please be aware that we may have to ask you to wait while we see all the children safely out of the door. If you need a longer chat then please make an appointment so that we can discuss things fully.

Helen Mills

Amy Houldsworth

Vicky Loulie

Emma Garrod

Half Term 3

 Parent/Carer Information

Date:-  4/01/12

Class:- Reception

Teacher:- Mrs Lewis

Support:- Mrs Bhogal

    Spring Bank Primary    

School

Name:-

Maths – main focus

• Counting/ordering numbers (0-20)
• addition/Subtraction  within 10
• Shape
• Money, recognition of coins
• Problem Solving
• Measures, using non standard units

    Other Curriculum Areas – main focus 

• ICT…..to use information and communication technology to support their learning

• P.E to build short repetitive phrase with a clear beginning and end through Dance

• To transfer, ways of travelling and balancing, from the floor to the large apparatus

• RE….Noah’sArk– Promises

• Paintings of Kandinsky

• Van Gogh

Literacy – main focus

• Non-Fiction, linked to topic, Senses
• Traditional Stories
• Poetry
• Continued focus on developing recognition of sounds and further development of reading strategies

Topic – main focus

• Science-Senses
• Geography- Map Making

Things to remember

• P.E…..Wednesday and Thursday, children must have full PE kit in school on these days.
• Plain white t-shirt, black shorts. (Indoor P.E)
• Tracksuit, pumps/trainers (outdoor P.E.)

• Book-bags should be brought to school every day

• Showing concern for others
• Listening and responding to others
• Understanding forgiveness
• Resolving conflicts
• The importance of all individuals

• Readingbooks are changed once a week
• Children have reading books, words and sounds to learn during the week
• Don’t forget Play and Learn Workshop every Thursday morning 9 till 10