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.

Earl Shilton Methodist Church are starting a family community cafe on Tuesday afternoons between 3pm and 4.30pm. This will be starting on Tuesday, June 21st. Due to the current rising cost of living affecting families there will be no charge for the cafe and in return the church are asking for donations only IF you are in a position to do so. They will be offering tea, coffee, sandwiches and snacks.

We would like to share with you some diary dates for the end of term, where we are looking forward to welcoming you back into school. Please save the dates for -

Tuesday 28th June – Sports Day.
Key Stage 2 – a.m
Early Years and Key Stage 1 – p.m
Times to be confirmed.

Monday 4th July – KS2 Book Look afternoon 2:30pm.
Tuesday 5th July – EY and KS1 Book Look afternoon 2:30pm.
Come into school to look through your child’s book with them and celebrate all of their learning from the year. Weather permitting, we are hoping to host this on the field/playground – bring a picnic blanket if you can.

We hope you can join us.

Summer Term 2
Personal, Social, Health Education (PSHE) curriculum update

A reminder that the Personal, Social, Health Education (PSHE) curriculum at Newlands is taught on a 2-year rolling programme and focuses on four themes:

Myself and my relationships
Citizenship
Economic wellbeing
Healthy and Safer lifestyles
because ‘children and young people need to know how to be safe and healthy, and how to manage their academic, personal and social lives in a positive way.’ (Secretary of State)

The units which will be taught after half term (Year B, Summer Term 2) are:
EYFS - Healthy Lifestyles
Years 1-6 - Managing Change
Further information regarding the individual teaching frameworks can be found under the Curriculum and PSHE tabs on the school website, or via the following link:

https://www.newlands.leics.sch.uk/pshe/

Here you can see the questions and issues that will be considered during the teaching of the units, and may help enable you to prompt discussions with your child at home should you wish to do so, or to answer any further questions they may have.

No Outsiders

The ‘No Outsiders’ programme has been introduced into school through assemblies during this half term. It promotes an ethos of respect, equality, inclusion and tolerance, and aims to prepare children for life in modern Britain. It will help to equip children for their future lives, where diversity is understood and there is no fear of difference.

This programme sits alongside our current PSHE curriculum. It aims to assist us to deliver our provision in accordance with Ofsted guidance, ensuring that we are successful in promoting:
• Equality of opportunity so that all pupils can thrive together, understanding that difference is a positive, not a negative, and that individual characteristics make people unique.
• An inclusive environment that meets the needs of all pupils, irrespective of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

As the weather is starting to warm up, please make sure your child is prepared with a sun hat, sun cream and a water bottle.

The 'once-a-day' type of sun cream is preferable as then children will not need to reapply the cream whilst at school. If you do send sun cream into school, please check the ingredients. There have been reports recently that some Nivea creams contain almond oil. As we are a nut free school, this type of cream cannot be sent into school as it may cause a severe reaction in some children or adults.

Please make sure sun cream, sun hats and water bottles are named.

Please be aware that Jo, who covers our school crossing patrol, will not be on duty during the week commencing 23rd May. Please remind the children about crossing safely - we will also talk to the children in school.

The deadline for handing in disco and photograph money is the end of the day Monday 16th May.

Change to menu this week:

Thursday 19th May (Census Day) Fish Fingers, Veg Nuggets or Jacket Potato with cheese

Friday 20th Battered fish as normal

Change to menu next week:

Thursday 26th May (Jubilee and disco celebration day) Fish Fingers, Veg Fingers, Jacket Potato with Tuna

Friday 27th May (last day of term) Jubilee Street Party picnic 

I hope this curriculum newsletter finds you all well. Our whole school attendance last week was 94.9%, which is below our whole school target of 97%. Well done to Mrs Johnson’s class who had a fantastic 99.5% attendance. We are still having a high number of holiday requests coming in. Just a reminder that term time holidays are not authorised unless in unavoidable and exceptional cases.

This week, we have been very busy with our learning.

Mini Meteorites have been busy planting begonias this week which will make our courtyard look amazing. We have enjoyed our time out on the field exploring all of the circus skills equipment and activities; the streamers and pom poms were great. In the room we have loved messy play this week – mud and foam have been a particular favourite!

Early Years have been learning about ladybirds and writing ladybird facts. We've been working on our quick recall of number bonds to 5 and also learning subtraction facts to 5 in maths. We've also released the tadpoles back into Forest School and we saw two newts and ground bees. We've also had a brilliant visit from a local beekeeper today and we are all experts on bees now!

Key Stage 1 have been working hard on their end of unit pieces of writing this week. They have used a computer programme to design a new animal which combines body parts of lots of other animals. We have had lots of weird and wacky creations! The children have written information texts based on their new animals and we have seen some fabulous writing. In Topic, we have been comparing animal features and learning about the words ‘omnivore’, ‘herbivore’ and ‘carnivore’ – can they remember what they mean at home?

Lower Juniors have extended their river learning further this week by looking at the features of rivers. Can they remember any at home? This video and poster pack gives a really good explanation if they have forgotten any - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIK3bgjiEEk, http://www.longsutton.lincs.sch.uk/documents/homelearning/wb%2029%20june/y5/Features%20of%20a%20river%20lesson.pdf .
In English, the children have been working hard to use their model Warning Tale to start to write their own using class ideas. Next, they will write one completely independently – we look forward to being spooked!

Upper Juniors have started their new unit, Stargazers. During this Topic, we will develop our knowledge of the Solar System, the Moon, planets and significant individuals including Newton and Galileo. This week we have taken our inflatable planets onto the field to learn more about their size and distance from the sun. Can they remember the order and distance?

Our Year 6 pupils have completed their SATs tests this week. Although we will not get their test results until the last week of term, we do know that they have all worked extremely hard. They showed real determination, focus, concentration and resilience to all of the test questions. We cannot underestimate how important these skills will be for them throughout their life and you should all be incredibly proud of your children – we certainly are in school.