An overview of what's been happening in school this week

I hope this curriculum newsletter finds you all well in the sunshine. Our whole school attendance last week was 94.8%, which is below our whole school target of 97%. Well done to Mr Causon’s class who had a fantastic 99.3% attendance. Last half term’s highest attendance goes to Miss Hunt’s class – well done to all of you.
This week, we have been very busy with our learning and have enjoyed receiving our Gold certificates in assemblies.

Mini Meteorites have been busy getting close to our natural world this week. We have completed lots of different activities including; cloud gazing, bare feet walking, bug hunting and more. What shapes can you see in the clouds over the weekend? With Sunday in mind, we have been thinking about people we love and the reasons why.

Early Years have been learning the story of The Three Billy Goats Gruff. We have also hot-seated the troll and asked him lots of questions. Can you come up with any more at home? What would he say back? In Maths, we've been learning how to solve problems. We read the story of Mr Gumpy's Outing and then had to work out how many legs were inside the boat when different combinations of animals and people went aboard the boat.

Key Stage 1 have learnt the story of The Tiger Who Came to Tea in English, ready to change the tiger to a different character next week. We have thought really hard about using exciting words to describe how an animal moves. In the afternoons, we have learnt about different food and where it comes from.

Lower Juniors have been focusing their English learning on apostrophes this week – a tricky skill to master! They have been learning their model newspaper text – can they perform to you at home? In Topic, we have started our new theme, Traders and Raiders, and have looked at where the Saxons and Vikings come in history by placing them onto a timeline. Can they remember any dates?

Upper Juniors have been their finishing learning on the solar system and have produced a double page spread to showcase this. We are now beginning to explore light and shadows. Year 5 have represented Newlands at Heath Lane at a rounders event and they enjoyed a Jubilee lunch.

Children from year 2 upwards who access music lessons have performed for their parents and carers this week. They blew everyone away with their fantastic playing and were a credit to you all.