JUNIOR DEPARTMENT NEWS

‘Piglet noticed that even though he had a very small heart, it could hold a rather large amount of gratitude.’ A.A. Milne    

With shorter days, darker evenings and wet and windy weather, November can be quite a difficult month where we might find our outlook and feelings taking a downward turn. I was delighted then, when I came across a thirty-day gratitude challenge by @positivelypresent on Instagram. Each day they challenge you to find something to be grateful for related to the following categories.  

An attitude of gratitude can have a significant positive influence on our physical and mental health, but like other healthy habits, even though we know it’s good for us, we often struggle to practice it consistently. Deciding to practice gratitude is a commitment to do it even when we don’t feel like it. Gratitude is easy when things are going well, but when problems are piling up, the world seems to be falling apart, and we don’t know how we’re going to get through the day, it’s hard to feel grateful. This is where a gratitude journal or a gratitude list might help us. Keeping a journal or visible list of all of the things you are thankful for can help you keep track of and refer back to the positives in your life when you are feeling low. Here are a few prompts to get you started and if you would like more then click on the link below: 

1. What’s something that you’re looking forward to?
2. What’s a simple pleasure that you’re grateful for?
3. What’s something that you are grateful to have today that you didn’t have a year ago?
4. Write about a happy memory.
5. Write about someplace you’ve been that you’re grateful for.
6. What’s something about your body or health that you’re grateful for?
7. Open the door or window and look outside. What’s something you’re grateful for outside?
8. What’s an accomplishment you’re proud of?

https://www.developgoodhabits.com/gratitude-journal-prompts/ 

With young children we can start this habit early by asking them to tell us 3 good things about their day and focusing on what they enjoyed and made them happy. That is not to say that we don’t acknowledge and support them when they feel other emotions but rather help to learn to look for the good amongst it all.  

Have a lovely weekend.

Mrs McIntosh

Notices

Junior Department Christmas Productions

We are all busy rehearsing for our Christmas Productions.

The dates of these are:

Reception – Thursday 1 December @ 0900

Year 1 – Tuesday 6 December @ 0900

Year 2 – Wednesday 7 December @ 0900

After drop off on these dates you are warmly invited for a cup of tea or coffee and a mince pie in the Junior Hall while you wait.

A link to the Google doc for tickets will be in the newsletter next week so look out for that.

From the Maths Department

We’re celebrating Maths Week England by taking part in a friendly times tables (and division) competition. The competition runs from 07:30 GMT Monday 14 November to 19:30 GMT Wednesday 16 November. It’s all done online via play.ttrockstars.com.

Children can play in any game-mode with every correct answer to a multiplication or division question, earning themselves, their class and the school a point. The Times Tables Rock Stars platform will calculate the class average (the number of correct answers per pupil in the class who play during the competition hours, subject to a daily 60-minute limit (see below)). Winning classes in the school and in the competition as a whole will be the ones with the highest average.

To support player well-being, there is a daily time limit of 60-minutes per player. In other words, each player can earn competition points for up to 60-minutes between 07:30 GMT and 19:30 GMT on 07:30 GMT Monday 14th November to 19:30 GMT Wednesday 16th November. Once the player goes beyond 60-minutes of play on that day, they will still earn coins but will no longer earn points towards the competition.

In the spirit of the competition, please don’t play on their behalf but by all means encourage and support them to the extent that it doesn’t cause high stress levels or impact on family plans.

Good luck and happy rocking!

Marion Wright
Head of Maths

This Week in Reception

This Week in Year 1

Year One pupils have shown a great understanding of place value and addition this week. We have used the part-whole and bar model to make fact families, write number sentences as well as solving missing number problems. Using the practical resources, such as counters and cubes, we made number bonds within 10 and found that there are lots of different ways we can do this. Each week we are gaining new skills; everyone has shown excellent determination and perseverance, we are very proud of all the pupils’ efforts this week – well done!

We are looking forward to the challenge of subtraction next week!

This Week in Year 2

On Monday, Year 2 made the journey to Windsor Castle to complement our topic ‘Celebrate Britain’. Anticipation built as we neared the castle to see which flag would be flying and whether the new King would be in residence. Unfortunately, the Union Jack was flying high so tea with the King wasn’t to be but we were all excited nonetheless and even the rain couldn’t dampen our spirits!

Walking through the entrance gate, the children enjoyed spotting the castle features we have learnt about in school, including the arrow slits, battlements and the moat. We loved seeing the castle guard  who delighted us with a bit of marching and standing to attention!

We were treated to a session in the castle’s new learning centre called ‘Meet the Monarch’. We learnt all about King Charles III, including his numerous grand homes and his many roles, including farming, weekly meetings with the prime minister and of course spending time with his large family. The children enjoyed re-enacting a coronation, a dubbing ceremony and the King inspecting his guards. Sophie, the session leader was impressed with the children’s excellent knowledge and their engagement. Well done Year 2!

The rest of the day was spent looking around the castle grounds. In St George’s Chapel we took a moment to pause as we visited the final resting place of Queen Elizabeth II. On entering the State Apartments, it was a wonderful surprise that the Queen Mary’s dolls house had just been re-opened and we were amazed at the detail of all the miniature objects inside. Walking around the grand and elaborate rooms the children enjoyed looking at the many portraits, thrones, ornate decorations and secret doors!

All in all it was a right royal success and a fantastic way to celebrate our learning.

Enjoy photos taken from the day below.

Remembrance Day

Mrs Storey’s artefacts and heroic family history helped Year 2 understand a little of why we wear poppies on Remembrance Day.

From the Junior Library

The Station Cat by Stephen Hogtun

Nominated for the 2023 Yoto Carnegie Medal for illustration, The Station Cat is a stunning book with an underlying message of kindness and hope.  

A lonely little kitten wanders into a dull, grey station, full of dull, grey people. Her colourful fur and bright green eyes bring warmth and life to this weary place, and soon people begin to notice the kitten. As she learns about the different travellers and their struggles, the little kitten wants to help fill their world with hope and colour, too.

With a sensitive storyline, slightly text-heavy pages and a longer length than usual picture books, this is a beautiful tale to share as a family.