Author: Linda Farruggio

Friday 24th November 2023

Friday 24th November 2023

Dear Parents and Carers,

This week our children have been completing their Autumn Term Assessments and taking part in our termly Spelling Bee. The results of the tests will be combined with our teachers’ ongoing assessments, to inform the end of term reports which will be shared with you in our up-coming Open Evenings. Booking forms were sent home earlier this week; I encourage you all to make an appointment to meet with your child’s class teacher to discuss progress so far this year.

As you will all know by now, the children greatly enjoy taking part in our termly Spelling Bee. There were children rehearsing spellings in their class lines, whilst lining up for lunch and then when skipping at break time in readiness for the event. Hot off the press, I can reveal this terms winners – congratulations to them all!

Autumn Term Spelling Champs
Year One – N’raeah – Dickens

Year Two – Ariana – Dickens

Year Three – Melajah – Augustine & Rahma – Franklin

Year Four – Zacklyn – Garrison

Year Five – Geneva – Dickens

Year Six – Taiwo – Augustine

Below is a summary of all other learning that has taken place across the school this week.

Early Years
In Early Years we have enjoyed another wonderful week learning about ‘Travel and Transport’. The children in Reception have been reading ‘My Granny went to Market’ and have used it to learn about other parts of the world. The children in Nursery have been reading ‘The Naughty Bus’ and had their naughty buses make some bad choices in the classroom like knocking over the vegetable rack in the home corner. Of course, they then helped the Naughty Bus to make the right choices and put everything back as it should be!

In Maths, Reception have extended their number knowledge to 5 and the children in Nursery have been ordering bears from smallest to biggest.

Year One
Year One have worked extremely hard during assessment week this week and they have all tried their best to show how much they have learnt over the past three months in class. In other news, the children have also learned how to use a Carroll diagram to sort out a range of different animals in Science. The children were able to sort the animals into two groups: animals that have two legs or four legs and animals that can or cannot fly. In RE, we learnt about the importance of Light, and particularly how it is used in pictures of Jesus – the children then used their findings to produce their own paintings.
Year Two
This week in Year Two we have been busy sharing our learning, completing a range of assessments. However, we have continued to deepen our learning within our connected curriculum, finding out all about climate change and the impact it has had in places such as the Arctic and Antarctic. In RE this week, we have been exploring the message the Angel Gabriel gave to Mary and the significance it had on Mary. On Wednesday we were also given the opportunity to choose two free books from a wide range of genres to take home to read for pleasure – we love reading in Year Two!
Year Three Year Four
This week we have been trying hard and persevering in Assessment Week, including writing diary entries inspired by ‘The Way Back Home’. We also enjoyed challenging ourselves in our Spelling Bee. In R.E., we learnt what the candles in an Advent Wreath represent and reflected on how we could show love, hope, joy and peace in our day-to-day lives. In Connected Curriculum, we used different sources to learn more about mummification. On Wednesday, we relished a chance to choose books from our pop-up book store. In P.E., we continued developing our ball control and team work in football. In Maths, we developed our confidence with estimating using close and rounded amounts. This week the children in Year Four have been pushing themselves and demonstrating their resilience; we have had our assessments and even though the children may have found parts challenging, they have persevered and learnt new things. We have also had a week full of ‘book-loving fun’. Not only have we had the chance to visit the Minet Library to borrow some books, but we were also visited by a pop-up book shop where we were allowed to choose some new books. Finally, we have also learnt all about carnivores, omnivores, and herbivores and researched some chosen animals in our Science lesson.
Year Five
Well done to all the children this week for getting through assessment week. It is always a testing week but the children showed determination and positivity throughout. To break up the week, the children have demonstrated their beautiful singing voices as we began rehearsing for our Christmas carol service in church.
Year Six
In Year Six it has been assessment week! We have been doing a variety of assessments based on maths, reading and writing. In our writing assessment we have been exploring ‘The Way Back Home’ by Oliver Jeffers, and writing a diary to recount the boy’s adventure and his attempts at finding his way home. We have also managed to fit in some regular lessons such as learning and reflecting about the Holocaust and understanding the role of women in The Second World War in the Connected curriculum. Everyone has worked fantastically hard this week and they should all be proud of their efforts! Next week, we will be moving onto Poetry in English, continuing with Fractions in Maths and going back to our regular routine!

 Head Teacher awards were presented to the following children in this week’s celebration assembly.

EYFS Valentina for working really hard at her writing

Zahra for using the classroom strategies and getting the timer to help her share

Year One Nevaeh-Rose for writing a recount of our trip to the Young V&A independently.

Azaria for working on the ‘Grass Grasshoppers’ table during my maths lessons and challenging herself to do the purple sheet.

Year Two Francisca -Francisca has been consistently working hard in every lesson, Francisca has also started to deepen her learning by questioning mathematical reasoning. And being efficient and proactive in her learning. Super proud of you!

Ariana- This week Ariana was a fantastic role model when working in a group in science, she showed resilience and really helped her peers when the developed a fixed mindset. Super proud of you!

Year Three Ruby for the careful thought that she gives to her questions and contributions in lessons, and when planning her writing out loud

Komari for persevering when challenged, especially in Maths but also in our Art lesson this week

Year Four Aisha for always taking an active role in her education by taking part in class discussions

Amina for impressing me with her geographical skills when reading an OS map

Year Five Michaela – Michaela works hard in every lesson, ensuring that she is completing her work to the best of her ability! She attempts the task independently before asking for help and is responsive to advice and actions.

Chloe – Chloe has really applied herself this week. She has not been distracted by people around her and has remained focused on each task. Well done Chloe, keep this up!

Year Six Jose Ricardo for always following instructions promptly and improving his confidence in speaking in class discussions and taking care to explain his answers clearly and accurately

Marley for listening carefully and showing a passion for History, especially about The Second World War on the class trip.

Anyah to the awards for this week for consistently producing neat and excellently detailed homework and for producing a colourful and informative poster about BODMAS.

The house point totals for this week are:

 GARRISON 41  AUGUSTINE 45
 FRANKLIN 33  DICKENS 52

 

To draw the week to a close, we recognised ‘Buy Nothing Day’ in our Collective Worship. Held on the same day as ‘Black Friday’, one of the world’s busiest shopping days, the intention is to raise awareness of the difference between ‘wants’ and ‘needs’ and the temptations of overspending in the sales which can be crippling for many families. We discussed the alternatives to shopping that we can take advantage of today, such as enjoying time with friends, getting lost in a good book, or finding new adventures whilst playing outside without spending a penny. We also talked about the importance of remembering the lessons of the day in the run up to Christmas.

On a final note, we have reviewed and revised the collection of children at 4:30 when after school clubs have finished. Now that the nights are drawing in, the front office gate will be opened at 4:25 and parents will be invited into the playground where the children will line up to be dismissed, much the same as we do at the end of the school day. This will help to keep everyone safe and reduce the confusion when there is more than one group of children being dismissed at the same time.

Kind regards

Mrs Warland

Head Teacher

 

Low Cost/No Cost Family Fun in London   

Please look at the organisations’ websites to double check times and arrangements

 

 

Upper Norwood Library: Storytelling Workshop – FREE

Saturday 25th November 3.00pm – 4.00pm, suitable for ages 2-8 yrs.

Upper Norwood Library, 39-41 Westow Hill, SE19 1TJ

Join author Ella Phillips for a multi-sensory workshop that blends storytelling, interactive fun and creativity to spark your imagination. Enjoy the story and take part in craft activity to create an adventure book. Book a place in advance:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/join-author-ella-phillips-for-a-sensational-childrens-workshop-tickets-740795438097?aff=ebdsoporgprofile&keep_tld=1

 

Clapham Library: Saturday Link Up (11-16yr olds)– FREE

Saturday 25th November 2pm – 4.00pm – drop in

Mary Seacole Centre, 91 Clapham High St, SW4 7DB

A dedicated meeting spot for 11- to 16-year-olds to meet up, play games and to debate

Contact Liz Buchanan, Library Manager: 020 7926 0717 or email: ClaphamLibrary@lambeth.gov.uk

https://www.lambeth.gov.uk/events/saturday-link

 

National Maritime Museum – Polar Day & Safe Harbour FREE

Saturday 25th November

Maritime Museum, Romney Rd, Greenwich, London SE10 9NF

Tube: North Greenwich, DLR: Cutty Sark, Trains: Greenwich & Maze Hill

Polar Day 11am – 4pm Calling all budding polar scientists! This Saturday come and meet the UK Polar Network at the museum for a fun-filled day of events and activities where you can dress like a Polar Scientist, learn about indigenous groups in the Polar regions or find out more about Climate change in the Arctic.

https://www.rmg.co.uk/whats-on/national-maritime-museum/polar-family-day

Safe Harbour, 12.30 – 2.30pm Safe Harbour is a series of free workshops created to provide a safe space for foster and adoptive families with children under 13 years. Join us from 12.30pm, bring along a snack or lunch and say hello to other families, take part in creative activities inspired by the items in the National Maritime Museum. During the activities you can pop in and out as your family needs – session created in consultation with support organisations including We Are Family and local foster and adoptive families. Book free tickets in advance via link:

https://www.rmg.co.uk/whats-on/national-maritime-museum/safe-harbour

 

Clapham Picturehouse cinema – Kids Club – ‘The Lego Movie 2’ (U)

Saturday 25th November 11.45am Tickets: £3.30. No unaccompanied adults.

76 Venn Street, London, SW4 0AT; 020 7326 2649; www.picturehouses.com/cinema/clapham-picturehouse

Every Saturday morning at Clapham Picturehouse cinema is Kids Club – tickets are all £3.30.

 

 

Barbican Centre – Visit the Conservatory – FREE

Sunday 26th November 11am – 5pm

Level 3, Barbican Centre, Silk St, EC2Y 8DS  – Closest tube: Barbican)

Visit the second biggest Conservatory in London and explore our hidden tropical oasis, featuring spectacular suspended sculptures by Indian artist, Ranjani Shettar. Admission is free but book online in advance.

https://www.barbican.org.uk/whats-on/2023/event/the-conservatory-x-ranjani-shettar

 

 

 

Rachel Thomas, Windmill Cluster (rthomas@sudbourne.com)