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Quick links: Term 1 & 2 Newsletter – Class 5 | Term 1 & 2 Newsletter – Class 4 | Term 1 & 2 Newsletter – Class 3 | Term 1 & 2 Newsletter – Class 2 | Term 1 & 2 Newsletter – Class 1 | Spring Fling | Useful Downloads | Useful Downloads | Reading Parent Workshop | Monster Phonics Parent Session

Term 1 & 2 Newsletter – Class 5

Welcome back to school! I hope everyone was able to enjoy the summer weather and that you are all refreshed and ready to get going with a new year at school. We’ve had a great start to the year with Bikeability for the Year 6s, and we are all excited about heading off to PGL. There’s lots to look forwards to this term, especially as we head towards Christmas, and I hope we can continue with the positive start we have already made.

Our overall theme for this term is ‘Stone Age to Iron Age’. This will involve a study of what life would have been like in Stone Age times while also concentrating on its place within Britain’s historical timeline. We will also learn about the geography of the time, appreciating the changes to the British Isles in ancient history. The topic gives us a great opportunity to be creative thanks to the study of Stone Age Art /cave paintings and stone artefacts. After half term, we will then start to look at the development from the Stone Age to the Iron Age.

If you have any questions, or need to speak to me about any issues, please contact the school office in the first instance.

Mr Boorman

rboorman@blackboys.e-sussex.sch.uk

History

Maths

We start the year by learning about place value and number, the building blocks of mathematics. We then move onto working with all four operations, (addition, subtraction, division, multiplication), before starting our work on fractions before the end of term.

Art

In art, we will start the year by focusing on our drawing skills. We will then be using different natural materials to create our own versions of cave paintings.

DT

After half term, we will be learning about mechanisms like gears and pulleys.

PSHE

In PSHE this year we will be following the ‘Jigsaw’ scheme. In our first term, we will be looking at ‘Being Me in the World’ where children will learn about their role in making school a positive place. After half term, we will be studying the unit ‘Celebrating Differences’.

Computing

In computing, we will learning about search engines and handling data.

Music

Singing will continue to take place each week.

English

During the first part of this term, we will be studying a book called ‘Stone Age Boy’, a time slip story that also gives lots of information about the Stone Age. After half term, we will be reading the classic text ‘Stig of the Dump’. We will also be reading ‘Deadman’s Cove’ by Lauren St John during our whole class reading sessions.

Spellings

There is a spelling session each day Monday – Friday, where children in Key Stage 2 are split into their year groups in order to cover the year group objectives using Superhero Spelling. Children will also be given a list of words each term from their year group’s statutory spelling list. These lists will be need to be learned over the whole term, and we will be doing dictation sentences using the words each Friday. Each term’s list will be added to the class page on the school website.

Science

In science we will be learning about electricity, understanding what it is and how it’s made, before looking at simple circuits. We will then be studying light after half term.

RE

This term, we will be studying Hinduism, answering the questions: ‘What do Hindus believe God is like?’ And ‘What does it mean to be a Hindu in Britain today?’

PE

This term, our Tuesday PE sessions will be run by Bright Sparks, who will be teaching the class about football. Children will then be learning about basketball and rugby in our second PE lesson of the week, with rugby being taught by Heathfield Rugby Club. After half term, Miss Zara will be teaching the class about dance on a Tuesday.

Geography

Homework

Homework will be set each week on a Wednesday. A homework menu will be given
out which will feature mainly reading and writing tasks, with some extra maths
activities at times.
Don’t forget, you can do some extra work at home on Times Table Rock Stars, and make sure you keep reading – Reading records have been given out, and we are keen for children to earn some certificates! Please ensure that children do still get the chance to read at home with an adult – it is important that they get the chance to discuss their reading as much as possible outside of school as well as in class.

Monday: Homework handed in. PE with Mr Boorman
Tuesday: PE with Bright Sparks.
Wednesday: Homework handed out.
Friday: Spelling dictation sentences.

Key Dates

Monday 8th September – Year 6 Bikeabaility (all week)
Monday 15th September – PGL. Drop off at 4.15pm
Friday 19th September – pick up from PGL at 1.30pm
Wednesday 24th September – Cross country tournament
Friday 26th September – European day of languages breakfast
Tuesday 30th September – Harvest festival. KS2 children to hike back to school
Thursday 2nd October – Flu spray
Wednesday 8th October – Creation day
Thursday 9th October – Year 5/6 assembly
Friday 17th October – Maths parent meeting
Monday 20th October – Parents Evening
Wednesday 22nd October – Parents Evening
Friday 24th October – Last day of term 1
Monday 3rd November – Return to school for term 2. Pupil photos
Friday 28th November – INSET day
Friday 5th December – Senior citizen Christmas party. Uckfield late night shopping
Wednesday 10th December – Open the Book donkey walk
Tuesday 16th December – Whole school Christmas lunch. KS2 Carol concert.
Thursday 18th December – KS2 Christmas party
Friday 19th December – Cup assembly. End of term 2.

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Term 1 & 2 Newsletter – Class 4

Welcome back to school and the start of another great term. I hope everyone had a restful summer and is looking forward to the next academic year.  It has been fantastic to see the children so quickly settled back in and already showing a great enthusiasm for their learning. I have personally appreciated how much effort the children have made in trying to remember to call me my new name! The year 5s also have the added excitement of PGL this term. I will be accompanying them on the trip and the year 4s should look forward to a brilliant week with Mrs Hall covering the class.

I’m really looking forward to what is already looking to be a brilliant and busy year!

Mrs Taplin

dtaplin@blackboys.e-sussex.sch.uk  

History

Our theme for both terms will be The Stone Age.  We will start off term 1 by answering the question ‘What was life like in the Stone Age?’ which will involve learning all about how life worked so long ago. In term 2, we will be focusing on the question ‘Did life improve in the Iron Age?’ Our history learning will also help to inform our literacy work. 

Reading

This term we will be reading the book ‘The Firework Maker’s Daughter’ and ‘Clockwork’ both written by Philip Pullman. The children will be given regular opportunities to read aloud and answer questions both verbally and written.

Maths

We will start the year by learning about place value and number which are the building blocks of maths. After half term we will be looking at calculating with the four operations. We will also be having a big focus on times tables throughout the year, which children should be practicing at home regularly.  This will prepare year 4s for the Multiplication Tables Check in the summer.

RE

In RE we use the big question approach to organise our learning. This term we will be considering the questions, ‘What do Hindus believe God is like?’ and ‘What does it mean to be a Hindu in Britain today?’

Art

Before half term we will be working on our drawing skills. After half term, we will be linking our art topic to history by looking at Stone Age cave paintings.  

Music

This term in music we will be learning our harvest songs as well as some music inspired by the Stone Age!

Computing

In term 1 in Computing we will be learning about Search Engines, with a focus on online safety. In term 2 we will be looking at data.

English

Before half term, we will be reading the book ‘Stone Age Boy’ by Satoshi Kitamura. We will be using this book to inspire our writing and aim to produce some lovely work including an instruction text and a narrative. After half term, we will be moving onto the great book ‘Stig of the Dump’ by Clive King. Throughout the terms we will be re-capping sentence structure, grammar and punctuation to ensure we have a good foundation for writing. We will also be regularly practicing handwriting and children that are yet to earn their pen licence will be keen to earn them soon! 

Spelling

During these terms we will be using Superhero Spellings. This approach has 3 stages: learn, build and show. The children will be given opportunities to practice the words for the rule throughout the week, before completing dictation sentences on Fridays. These will be stuck in the back of homework books for the children to refer to if needed. The children will be split into year groups during these spelling sessions.

Science

We will begin by studying electricity before moving onto light after half term. 

PSHE

In the first term we will be looking at the topic ‘Being me in the world’. After half term our topic will be ‘Celebrating differences’. These lessons will be taught using the Jigsaw scheme of work.  

PE

We will be having our regular PE lessons Bright Sparks, learning about invasion games, such as football. In term 2 this will swap to dance lessons with Zara. In our other PE lessons, we will be working on basketball. PE sessions will take place on Monday and Tuesdays. Full PE kit is expected. 

DT

This term we will be looking at mechanisms and gears in DT.  

Homework

The children will be sent home with a homework menu for the term. Each week the children will select one task to complete. This is sent out on Wednesdays to be handed back in on a Monday.

Spelling

Each week the children will be working on a different spelling rule and receive 10 spelling words. A list of these can be found stuck into homework books for the children to practise at home.

These will also be worked on in class and at the end of the week the children will complete dictation sentences including these 10 words.

Dictation sentences will be stuck into the back of homework books each week in order to see progress and any words/spelling rules that may need to be worked on further.

Reading

Reading is required every night which is to be shown in their reading records. Please bring completed reading records in for reading certificates.

Times tables

Don’t forget to keep practicing times tables at home whenever you can. We have a leader board for studio speed/Rockstar status up in the classroom which is updated weekly.

If you need your TT Rockstars login, just send me an email.

Key Dates

Monday 15th September – Year 5 PGL drop off at 4.15pm

Friday 19th September – Year 5 pickup from PGL at 1.30pm

Friday 26th September – European Day of Languages breakfast

Tuesday 30th September – Harvest Festival & KS2 hike

Thursday 2nd October – Flu spray

Wednesday 8th October – Creation Day

Thursday 9th October – Year 5/6 PGL assembly

Friday 17th October – Maths parent meeting

Monday 20th October & Wednesday 22nd October – Parent Consultations

Friday 24th October – End of Term 1

Monday 3rd November – Start of Term 2

Monday 3rd November – School Photos

Friday 28th November – INSET day

Friday 5th December – Senior citizen Christmas party

Friday 5th December – Uckfield late night shopping

Wednesday 10th December – Open the Book donkey walk

Tuesday 16th December – Whole school Christmas lunch

Tuesday 16th December – KS2 Carol Concert

Thursday 18th December – KS2 Christmas Party

Friday 19th December – Cup assembly & End of Term 2.

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Term 1 & 2 Newsletter – Class 3

Dear all,

I hope you have all had a wonderful summer holidays and enjoyed spending time with family and friends.  Welcome to class 3! I am very excited to get to know the children and to begin their key stage 2 learning journey with lots of exciting experiences and engaging topics.

English

In term 1, our focus text is ‘Journey’ by Aaron Becker. Journey is a wonderful and engaging first text to ease the children in as they will need to use a lot of their imagination and detective skills as the book does not have any text. Journey follows a young girl who finds a magic crayon which takes her on an incredible adventure. During term 1, children will be developing their questioning and inference skills by analysing the images to make sense of the story and the key events. Journey gives children the opportunity to develop their descriptive writing skills and narrative writing skills.

In term 2, we will be showcasing all our history knowledge by writing a non-chronological report all about the romans. The children will be focussing on the key features of a non-chronological report and practice applying this into their writing. We will then be putting ourselves into a roman soldier’s boots and writing a diary entry as a roman soldier who is guarding Hadrian’s Wall.

Spellings

In key stage 2, we use the Superhero Spelling scheme which is the next level up from monster phonics. The outline of the weekly spellings can be found stuck into your child’s homework book as well as on class 3’s page on the school website. Children are expected to practise their weekly spellings alongside their homework by using the ‘look,say,cover’ sheet or handwriting sheet.

Science

In term 1, our topic is Rocks, Soils and Fossils. Children will be identifying and classifying rocks based on certain characteristics as well as learning about the process of fossilisation. We will also be taking part in an exciting experiment testing soil permeability which gives us the opportunity to plan, carry out and evaluate an experiment. In term 2, our topic is Animals, including humans. During this topic, we will be learning about the functions of the skeleton and how we move using our joints. We will be identifying bones in animal skeletons and try to answer the question ‘are all animal skeletons the same?’

Art / Design & Technology

Our art topic starts with a focus on creating art for the Harvest festival; the children will be experimenting with texture and shading to design, draw and shade a Harvest scene. We will then move onto experimenting with colour and how we can create different effects with paint.

We will then be moving onto DT in term 2, where we will explore how levers and linkages work. We will then use this knowledge to make a moving Christmas card.

Music

Children will have their weekly singing lessons on a Wednesday afternoon with Mrs Bayman. We will be focussing on listening and appreciating different genres of music and identifying different musical instruments in a piece of music. In music lessons, children will be taking part in body percussion sessions as well a learning songs about the Romans using the musical ‘Rocking Romans!’ by the BBC.

French

In French for terms 1 and 2 we will be learning how to greet one another in French before moving onto learning how to count 1 -31, the days of the week, months of the year and weather to create our own calendar.

History

We will start our History in Class 3 by recapping all events studied in Key Stage 1 to ensure that children have a strong understanding of how everything they have studied so far links chronologically. After this, we will delve into learning about the Romans. Our first question we will explore is ‘When did the Romans come to Britain and did everyone want them there?’ which will look at where the Romans based themselves in the UK and the conflict with the Celts. We will then move onto exploring our second question in term 2, ‘How did the Romans influence life in Britain’? with a focus on the Roman roads, architecture, number and calendar system.

Whole Class Reading

Our whole class text for term 1 is ‘Bill’s New Frock’ by Anne Fine, followed by ‘Revolting Rhymes’ by Roald Dahl. Whole class reading sessions will be taking place 4 times a week to build children’s reading stamina and comprehension skills.

Maths

To begin, we will be recapping our ks1 place value knowledge with representing numbers to 100 and using tens and ones when adding. This will be followed with representing numbers to 1000 and exploring part whole models to show different ways of making a number. We will be comparing numbers and learning how to find 1,10,100 more or less as well as exchanging. Our place value work will support our work with addition and subtraction with 2 digit and 3 digit numbers as well what happens when you cross 10 and 100.  In year 3, we will be focussing heavily on our 3,4 and 8 timetables. Children will be learning how to multiply and divide by 3,4 and 8 by equal grouping and arrays.

Times table knowledge is heavily implemented in Class 3 so I strongly encourage the children to be using TT Rockstars at home to build their knowledge. The children will be shown how to log on and how to use TT Rockstars in the first couple of weeks of term 1 and I will be sending the children home with a copy of their username and password for you to support them at home.

RE

Our RE topic for term 1 is around the big question of ‘What do Christians learn from the Creation story?’ Term 2’s big question is ‘What is it like to follow God?’

Handwriting

Mrs Hall will be running handwriting sessions with class 3 on a Tuesday morning to practice joining up our writing in order to obtain a pen license.

PSHE

For PHSE in term 1 we will be exploring what it means to be ‘Me’ in the world before moving onto ‘Celebrating Differences’ with a focus on anti bullying in term 2.

Computing

In computing this term will be looking at networking and how websites work and then we will be focusing our learning on what emailing is and why is it an important method of communication.

PE

In term 1, we will be developing our tennis skills by focussing on racket and ball control, how to use a forehand and back hand and learning the rules and how to score during a game. In term 2, we will continue to work on our ball skills by practicing dribbling both with our feet and hands, tracking, throwing, kicking and catching.

Geography

Our first two terms has a heavy History focus with the Romans and much of the learning will naturally be a combination of both History and Geography. We will focus discretely on recapping the UK countries and cities as well as the surrounding seas, particularly those areas with a Roman past.

Reminders

PE kits

Our PE lessons are on Tuesday and Wednesday, so please make sure children have their full kits. 

Reading Records

Your children are encouraged to be independent with choosing a reading book to read at home and changing their book when finished. We expect children to read every night, even if it is only for a short while. Please continue to record all reading in their Reading Records. (Small comments such as ‘Read well’ or ‘Confused with word…’ would be useful.)

The Reading Records will be stamped once a page is completed. Children will receive a certificate in assembly when they fill up their Reading Record. We will be checking children’s Reading Records once a week, so please do make sure it is in their schoolbags on Tuesday Mornings.

The highest number of reading records we have had on a Tuesday is 8 out of a possible 20 last year, we would love to have a full set. Whilst reading with your child, it would be beneficial to ask them some questions about the text or to find a key word they have read. This supports their reading comprehension skills which supports their whole class reading sessions.

Homework

Homework is to be completed once a week and children will be able to choose a piece of homework from a Homework menu.  The orange Homework books will be handed out to children to take home on a Wednesday afternoon and will be expected back in school on a Monday morning. Please make sure you ask your child about their homework for the week and are working with them to complete it.

TT Rockstars

As a school we are now celebrating children’s times table achievements in gold book assembly.  TT rockstar logins are stuck in the front of your child’s homework book. The times tables class 3 are expected to be confident with are their 3, 4 and 8 times tables by the end of the year. Mr Boorman is checking children’s progress weekly so it would great to see class 3 earning certificates in gold book assembly to show off their timestable skills.

Uniform

Please make sure children’s names are on their uniform so that we know exactly who owns what! In Class 3 children are expected to wear ties with their winter uniform. Please make sure your child has a tie and that it is named.

Water Bottles

Please make sure your child’s water bottle is clearly named and that they bring them home with them every day.

Forest School

Class 3 will have Forest School on a Wednesday afternoon. A rota will have been shared with you regarding which week your child will be participating in Forest School. Please make sure to check this carefully to ensure your child has all the necessary gear with them in school on the day that they have Forest School.

Please feel free to come up and chat to me at the end of the school day or email me if you have any questions.

Many thanks,

Miss Rietdyk

crietdyk@blackboys.e-sussex.sch.uk

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Term 1 & 2 Newsletter – Class 2

A big, warm welcome to Class 2! I hope you all had some lovely family time this summer and feel ready for the year ahead. We have already had such a great start to the school year and I know we’re going to achieve so much and have lots of fun along the way!

English

In English we will be reading “The Lighthouse Keeper’s Lunch” which will link nicely with our work on Grace Darling.  We will be writing recipes for sandwiches for Mr Grinling, the Lighthouse Keeper, to have for his lunch. We will also re-tell the story of “The Lighthouse Keeper’s Lunch” using the language and sentence structure of the original story.  At the end of Term 1 we will be looking at poetry, “The Land of Nod” by Robert Louis Stephenson, and describing our own dream lands.  Finally, we will have a chance to write our own Bonfire themed poems.  After the half term break, we will be looking at non-fiction texts about Florence Nightingale and will be writing a letter in role as Florence.

Computing

In Computing we will be recapping and developing our skills in programming the BeeBots.  In Term 2 we will be learning how to take and edit photos using the ipads and creating a photo collage from the results.

PE

PE – PE will be taught twice a week, one session with the coaches from Bright Sparks Sports and the other session with Mrs Hall, who will be teaching the class every Thursday morning.

Music

In Music, we will be learning and composing sea shanties to fit with our work in other subjects.

PSHE

PSHE sees us learning about Being Me in the World and Celebrating Difference in terms 1 and 2.

Spellings

The children will be learning their spellings through their phonics lessons, which may occasionally take the form of a spelling test.  There won’t be a weekly list of spellings to learn, but it would be super helpful for your child to learn to read and spell the common exception words on the list for Years 1 and 2.  You can find the lists for Year 1 and 2 at the bottom of the class webpage.

Phonics & Reading

We will be using Monster Phonics to teach our phonics, with the children generally being split into their year groups to access the appropriate level of phonics.  In some cases, where we have noticed gaps in understanding through our assessments, we will be teaching some children within a different year group.  We will communicate this with you separately if it relates to your child.

The children will continue to work in small groups on Guided Reading, working their way through the Monster Phonics reading scheme. 

As last year, your child will bring home a Reading for Pleasure book on a Monday.  This book will generally be a picture book that is above your child’s reading level.  The purpose of this is for you to share the book together to help to foster a love of reading.  This book is then returned the following Monday. 

On a Friday, your child will bring home their Monster Phonics book which we would like them to read several times during the week and return the following Friday.  When this book comes home, it will have been read 3 times in school already, so your child should be fairly fluent in reading it and talking about what has happened.  It is important in this stage of developing fluency that children re-read books several times to build their confidence. 

If you would like your child to read other books as well, then they can choose from the class book corner and change these as often as they like.  Even if your child is a strong reader, it is still important for them to continue to read aloud to an adult and talk about what they have read.  The comprehension of what they have read is as important as being able to read fluently.

Please continue to record all reading in the Reading Record Booklets and then your child can bring the booklet to school to be stamped – a certificate will be given out in Thursday assemblies for each completed booklet.  The Reading record Booklet will be checked once a week, so please ensure that it remains in your child’s book bag.

Maths

In Maths we shall be looking at number, focussing on reading and writing numbers and counting. We will have a focus on addition and subtraction for both year groups, with the year 2s moving onto looking at multiplication and division later in the term.  This term the focus will be on gaining a really good grasp of numbers; 0-20 for Year 1 and 0-100 for Year2.  Alongside all of this, we will be having a daily fluency session to practice doubling, halving, number bonds to 10 and other 1-digit number facts.  There will also be Early Bird Maths to complete each morning during the register.

We will continue to have a subscription to NumBots, which is a great app for practising the important skills of Maths that underpin all calculations.  We give out certificates each week in our Gold Book Assembly that celebrate children who have increased their accuracy in answering questions.

There is also the White Rose One Minute Maths app, which can be downloaded onto phones or tablets.  This tests the children’s fluency skills and they can select areas of maths that we have been learning.

History

In History we will be learning about Victorian women who inspire us and what they did that has made a difference.  We will start with Grace Darling, learning why she is famous and what impact her actions had.  After half term we will be learning about Mary Seacole and the impact she had on nursing in the Victorian times.

Science

In Science this term we will be learning about the human body, beginning by learning the different parts of the body and working through each of the five senses.  After half term we will be looking at animals and finding out about the different types of animals, eg mammals, reptiles, etc and learning which are carnivores, herbivores or omnivores.

DT

We will be doing a DT project in term 2 about fruits and vegetables, learning how to prepare them and we will be designing and making our own fruit kebabs for a Christmas party.

Art

In Art we will be learning some general drawing skills, how to make different types of marks and using different tools to draw with.  In Term 2 we will be working in 3D, focusing on techniques like rolling paper tubes, shaping paper strips, and constructing imaginative sculptures.

RE

In term 1 in RE we will be learning about Creation trying to answer the big question “Who Made the World?” learning about Christian beliefs and comparing these with other world faiths and secular views.  In term 2 we will be turning our thoughts to Christmas and the concept of incarnation, trying to answer the big question of “What is the Good News that Jesus brings?”

Homework

This year, homework in Class 2 will be Maths and English, and it will greatly help your child if you can get into a routine of completing the work each week and handing the orange book in to be marked.  There will be a Maths sheet, with a selection of questions related to the sorts of learning your child will have been doing in school, and a SPAG (spelling, punctuation and grammar) sheet which will help your child to practise the skills they have been learning in class.  Homework books will be given out on a Wednesday and need to be handed in on a Monday morning.

 

Children can earn house points for completing homework, so there is an incentive for them to do it!

Reminders

P.E. kits

Our P.E. lessons are on Tuesday and Thursday mornings.  Please make sure your child has their full P.E. kit and this is clearly named – thank you.  

Uniform

Please check that all of your child’s uniform is clearly labelled with their name – this saves so much time when trying to sort out clothing! We often have several children with the same shoes, so it is worthwhile naming your child’s shoes as well.

Water Bottles

Please send a named bottle of water for your child to drink in class. It is important to remind your child to take bottles home everyday to ensure they are clean and hygienic. Their water bottles go into a box by the sink but can be accessed whenever your child needs a drink.  They are not kept on the tables because of the risk of accidentally knocking them over!

Book bags

This year, I would like to keep the children’s book bags in the classroom, as they did in Class 1.  If your child has graduated onto a back pack, could I please request that your child keeps their reading books and reading record in a plastic folder that can be brought into the classroom each morning to assist our classroom organisation.  If you need a plastic folder, please ask.

The rest of your child’s things, eg PE kit, lunchbox etc can stay in the cloakroom.

Other Key dates

Friday 12th September – PTA Coffee Morning

Thursday 18th September – PTA AGM

Friday 26th September – European Day of Languages

Tuesday 30th September – Harvest Festival at Framfield Church

Friday 3rd October – Parental Phonics Workshop 9.00 School Hall

Wednesday 8th October – RE themed “Creation” Day

Friday 17th October – Parental Maths Workshop

Monday 20th and Wednesday 22nd October – Parents’ Evenings

Friday 24th October – End of Term 1

Monday 3rd November – Start of Term 2 and School Photos

Friday 14th November – Children in Need

Friday 21st November – National Takeover Day

Friday 28th November – INSET Day

Saturday 6th December – PTA Christmas Fair

Wednesday 17th December – KS1 Nativity

Thursday 18th December – KS1 Christmas Party

Friday 19th December – End of Term 2

Other INSET days – 13th April, 1st June and 22nd July.

 

Please talk to me at the end of the day or email if you have any questions.

Many thanks

Mrs Sullivan

hsullivan@blackboys.e-sussex.sch.uk

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Term 1 & 2 Newsletter – Class 1

Superheroes

Firstly, a very warm welcome to Class 1. We are delighted that you have chosen Blackboys C of E school and look forward to getting to know you and your families better. We are pleased to welcome back our Y1 children and hope that you have had a wonderful summer and are ready for an exciting year ahead.

In Class 1, Mrs Booth teaches the class from Monday to Wednesday, with Mrs Nobes teaching Thursday and Friday.  We have a super Teaching Assistant: Miss Butler a higher level teaching assistant

As it is the beginning of the academic year, and for many members of our class the start of their Primary schooling, we feel that it is essential that we spend the first few weeks of this term getting to know your children as individuals, as well as helping them to get to know one another. We will be encouraging them to share with us their likes, dislikes, their interests, as well as identifying their strengths and areas for development with regard to the curriculum. This information will then be used to inform and personalise our future planning. In addition to this, we will also be spending this period of time helping your children to learn about new routines, expectations, the school Christian Values and the Characteristics of Effective Learning. These key skills are all crucial for all children to learn as they will help support them throughout their school life.

Our theme for Term 1 will be ‘Local Heroes’ which will lead fluidly into our Term 2 theme Superheroes’. A copy of our planning grid can be found on the school website.

Our year 1 pupils will naturally start the year 1 curriculum straight away and they are already enjoying rising to the challenges of year 1.

Please may we ask that when you are waiting to pick up your children from school, it would be appreciated if younger children would not play with or on the equipment in Class 1’s outside area. This distracts the children already in the class and it takes a long time to re-organise ready for learning the following day.

Finally, if you ever have any queries or questions please do not hesitate to email us at:

sbooth@blackboys.e-sussex.sch.uk

jnobes@blackboys.e-sussex.sch.uk

Very Best Wishes,  

Mrs Booth, Mrs Nobes and the Class 1 team

Literacy

Children will be developing their vocabulary through role-play, drama, speaking and listening activities. We will focus on a number of different fiction and non-fiction texts to base our literacy work on, including:

People who help us/ Superheroes :

Non-fiction books about people who help us.
Super Daisy
Supertato stories
Super Duck
Superworm
Elliot and the Midnight Superhero
Superhero ABC
On the Way Home
…as well as many others!

Our writing focus for Reception children (YR) will be for them to gain confidence in their phonics to write simple words independently and for Year 1 children (Y1) to hold and write sentences independently using capital letters and full stops.

Mathematics

Through the use of practical maths sessions, in which we will promote the use of a wide range of concrete apparatus, the children will be covering the following objectives:

Your child will also be given a log in for an online maths learning platform called ‘Numbots’.  Your child is encouraged to use this as regularly as possible at home to help develop their maths skills.

Computing

In computing there will be a focus on developing our mouse skills to complete a computer program.

Forest School

In Class 1, pupils are extremely privileged to be having Forest School sessions every other Monday afternoon. These will be run by a qualified forest school leader and former Blackboys’ parent; Mrs Lydia Godfrey. She is very skilled in this area and has been delivering Forest School lessons for us for a number of years now. In addition to Mrs Godfrey, Mrs Harper (TA) will also be attending these sessions. Please be aware that additional parents will also be required in order for these sessions to run. If you are interested in helping please speak to a member of the Class 1 team or write your name on the rota and sign-up sheet displayed on the external classroom door.

For Forest School your child will need the following items. Please ensure that your child brings the following items into school on your child’s set Monday (a forest school calendar will be made available).

Wellington boots
Long sleeved top
Trousers (not jeans)
Waterproof coat
Waterproof trousers (if possible)

Please be aware that the children will go out whatever the weather and can sometimes get wet and muddy so do not send them with their best clothes.

Uniform

At Blackboys we pride ourselves on making sure that our children take pride in their appearance as well as in their behaviour and learning. Thank you for ensuring that your child is looking clean and smart for school each day. We do ask that you double check that your child’s uniform, including coat/lunch box, is clearly labelled with their name. We expect children to wear traditional black school shoes, not black trainers.

Water Bottles

Staying hydrated is very important for learning. The brain needs water each day to function effectively. Therefore we encourage the children to drink water at regular intervals. To aid us with this please send a named bottle of water for your child to drink in class. Children are able to drink from the water fountain but having a water bottle in the classroom is a lot easier.

Reading

In school, we will be starting to read daily with the children through our guided reading sessions. On some days this will be 1:1, on other days group or choral reading, but every day your child will be involved in hearing several shared stories.

Please continue to support your child with reading at home. The children will have a new phonic book sent home each Friday. These are the books your child reads to you. Please remember that the idea of this is that the books should be read and re-read. Whilst reading the same book over again can be ‘challenging’ for us as parents, this repetition is very important for early readers as it helps them to gain confidence; familiarity; build their vocabularies; develop an understanding of rhythm and pattern; as well as for developing comprehension skills. The larger ‘real book’ changed on a Monday is the book you can share together. 

The reading record is for you to use at home but please ensure that it is kept in your child’s book bag. In the reading record please write one comment for each day that you read. When 6 pages of the white book have been completed then a reading certificate will be given to your child during our weekly Friday assembly. We will also be checking reading records for these certificates on Wednesday so in order to avoid disappointment with delayed certificates please be sure that your child’s reading record is in school.

This half term reception children will be receiving a set of letter sounds and high frequency words to learn.

PE

We have two PE sessions a week. These take place on a Tuesday and Friday. Please ensure your child has their full PE kit (fully named) in school for each session. Whenever possible this session will take place outside so please feel free to also include jogging bottoms, a sweatshirt and trainers for this session to help keep them warm. Please ensure your child’s PE kit is clearly labelled and named.

Phonics

We use a phonic scheme called ‘Monster Phonics’. The children in reception and year 1 will be introduced to all the different letter sounds through a hook of a monster. The children will also learn to recognise common exception and High frequency words during the sessions. The sessions will then be followed up by Monster Phonic Reading books or other phonic decodable books, which will be sent home for your child to read with you. A phonics workshop will be on Friday 3rd October at 9am in the school hall which will give parents more details about how we teach phonics in school and how you can support your child at home.  

RE

In RE we will be thinking about why the word ‘God’ is special to Christians. We will also be exploring how Christians thank God the creator at harvest time. Towards the end of the term we will be learning about the Jewish story of Moses and the Israelites.

Art

In Art we will be focusing on drawing and mark making. We will be exploring mark making and line; working and experimenting with different materials to create an observational drawing for harvest. In the second half of term, we will be focusing on painting and mixed media.

Year 1 Homework

This year, homework in Year 1 will be Maths and English, and it will greatly help your child if you can get them into a routine of completing the work each week and hand in the orange book into be marked. There will be a Maths sheet with a selection of questions related to the sorts of learning your child will have been doing in school, and a spelling and grammar sheet. Homework books will be given out on a Friday and need to be handed in on a Thursday morning.

Parent Helpers

If you (or a Grandparent) can spare any time each week to come and listen to the children read we would be extremely appreciative as it is most beneficial to the children’s reading development.  Please let me know if this is something you would be able to do – we can be flexible with days and times.

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