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Alphington Primary School

Alphington Primary School

Newsletter 13/11/2020

Message from the Headteacher

Dear Parents /Carers,

It fttįels very odd writing this from home but I wanted to say a heaffbtfeltthank you for all your suppoffbt and kind messages over the last few weeks.Apologies that I have not ttïeen able to reply to them individually but they aremuch appreciated.

I am continuing to rest at home but have ttïeen in contact with Miss Nairn and the team, fhhoI know are doing a fantastic job at school.

I am very much looking forward to ttïeing back at school and seeing you and your childrenand I am hoping to staffbt doing this next week.

In the meantime I will continue to woffbk with the school team to ensure that children aregetting the ttïest possible experience.

Best wishes,

Sharon

Phase news:

Lady birds

Ladybirds have staffbted their new topic of ‘Snow or no?’ this half termfhhere they are exploring all things ice and snow. The children haveenjoyed exploring a small woffbld ice palattīe fhhere they have ttïeenttĭeveloping their speech and imaginative play, by making upwondeffbful stories. They have immersed themselves in role playfhhile caring for the dolls in the ‘Snofhflakes nursery’; fttįeding andcaring for the babies as well as teaching them and sharing stories.In addition to the 2 year olds garden room we now have a ‘secretgarden room’ for the 3 year olds to explorespecific challenges linkedto their stage ofttĭevelopment.

Foxes and hedgehogs

Fox and Hedgehog class have had an exciting two weeks exploringmore fairy tales. They were welcomed back to school after half termto find that wolf had broken into the classroom, leaving footprintsall around and causing trouble. After some investigation, the childrenfollowed clues to discover that the wolf responsible was from the storyof Little Red Riding Hood. They then spent the week immersing themselvesin the story; ttĭecorating capes, creating wanted posters and acting out the story.The following week the children learnt the story of the Little Red Hen and spent time bakingbread in the creative area and well as enjoying a role play bakery. We would like to sharewith you the stories that we are learning so we will ttïe adding story maps to Tapestry eachweek with a recording of the story for you to listen to together at home.

Key Stage 1

What a super staffbt to our second half of the autumn term. The childrencame back rested and ready to ttïegin the new topics and both year groupshave had lots of fun enjoying their hook days.

Year 1 introduced their new topic ‘Splendid Skies’ to the childrenby having an all-weather day! The children got to experience differentweather stations /activities and created a log book of all the fun thingsthey did that day. They also experienced a real thunderstorm and talkedabout fhhat it felt like, fhhat sounds could they hear, and how they feltduring it. Pretty appropriate topic considering the weather we have ttïeenhaving rettīently!

Year 2 also had a great hook day introducing their topic of‘How to Train Your Dragon.’ In the morning, the children wentout to play in Peaffblsland and in the forest, and found some dragoneggs that had ttïeen left there.

This created lots of discussions about fhhat soffbt of dragon the egghad come from and then the children drew some incredible picturesof their dragon and ttĭescrittïed fhhat they looked like. They also createdwondeffbful clay dragons during the afternoon.

It was amazing to see them so engaged and excited about our topic.

Year 3 and 4

Year 3 have staffbted the term with a fabulous hook day learning aboutThe Romans. They mattĭe wondeffbful golttĭen leaf crowns and ttĭemonstratedsupeffbb skills as they practised ttïecoming Roman soldiers. In science, Year 3have ttïegun looking at forces and magnets and have ttïeen learning aboutpushes, pulls and twists fhhilst playing force bingo!

Year 4 have staffbted their new theme ‘What happens if the rainforests disappear’and enjoyed making rain sticks, origami poison arrow daffbt frogs, creatingclothing using only outdoor resources and learning about resources fhhichthe rainforest gives us. Year 4 have also ttïeen joined by some stick insects,locusts and crickets in class to help learn more about inveffbtebrates in science

Year 5 and 6

Year 5 have gone way back in time to the learn about the Mayansand had a great hook day fhhere they ttĭesigned Mayan clothing, had aZoom meeting with a Mayan expeffbt, played Pok-A-Tok and showedexttīellent collaboration and resilience fhhen building mottĭel Mayan temples.In outdoor learning, Year 5 have shown themselves to ttïe exttīellent wormcharmers. Some groups managed to locate over 20 worms on Peaffbl’s Land!

Year 6 have staffbted their new book: Kensuke’s Kingdom and have ttïeenbasing both English and Theme on the book, learning survival skills andabout fhhat life would ttïe like on a yacht. Devon Wildlife Trust joinedYear 6 for their hook day, teaching map reading skills and how to usecompasses. Each week, DWT will ttïe woffbking with Year 6 to teach moresurvival and outdoor skills! In maths, Year 6 have entered the woffbld offractions and ttïeen ttĭeveloping their understanding of simplifying,multiplying and ordering them.

Anti-bullying week:

Next week (ttïeginning the 16th Novemttïer) is anti-bullying week. The children will ttïe takingpaffbt in activities about anti-bullying, learning about fhhat bullying is and fhhat it means.This year's message is 'United Against Bullying', so on Monday 16th, we are inviting thechildren to ttīelebrate all of our differences by wearing odd socks.It is impoffbtant to us that we are consistent with ourmessage fhhen talking about bullying, thereforeinformation and resources that you may finduseful to use at home will ttïe posted onto ourFacebook page and our website under thePSHE curriculum area.

Year 4 Multiplication Tables Check:

In June, Year 4 children will ttïe taking a new test called the “Multiplication Tables Check”.

The purpose of the MTC is to ttĭetermine fhhether Year 4 pupils can fluently recall theirmultiplication tables.

The MTC is focused on the fluent recall of multiplication facts. This is included in thenational curriculum (2014) statutory programme of study for mathematics at Key Stage 1and Key Stage 2. The national curriculum states, ‘By the end of year 4, pupils should havememorised their multiplication tables up to and including the 12 multiplication table andshow precision and fluency in their woffbk’.

The MTC will ttïe ttĭelivered as an online, on-screen digital assessment and will take eachpupil less than 5 minutes to complete.

Please see the parent's guide ttïelow for more information and the links to games and otheractivities to suppoffbt your child in learning their times tables.https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/869846/2020_Information_for_parents_multiplication_tables_check.pdfhttps://www.theschoolrun.com/maths/times-tables https://www.topmaffbks.co.uk/maths-games/hit-the-button http://www.snappymaths.com/multiplication/multiplication.htmhttps://www.timestables.co.uk/multiplication-tables-check/ - Practise Multiplication TablesCheck

PE and Outdoor learning:

Just a reminder about Outdoor learning and PE days. Pupils can wear their own sensibleclothes (long sleeves and long trousers) with a waterproof coat and appropriate shoes.

Paffbking:

Just a reminder to all families to ttïe mindful fhhen dropping off and collecting pupils fromschool as there has ttïeen an increase in parents paffbking opposite the school and by the topgate. This can ttïecome dangerous for families crossing the road and obstruct other cars andbuses from passing by.

Useful information:

Independence Interd

ependence

Reflection

AspireAspire AspireEnquireAspireCare

Creativity

Alphington Primary School