Head's Up!12 June 2026 (by headmarton) |
Weekly news from Mrs Deakin
What a wonderful week we have had at school!
Today, we enjoyed Pyjamarama Day, and it was fantastic to see everyone arrive in their pyjamas looking so cosy, comfortable and cheerful. The children (and staff!) fully embraced the occasion, creating a lovely atmosphere across the school. As part of the day, each class enjoyed a special story read by a different teacher, giving the children the opportunity to hear a new voice and share in the joy of reading together. Thank you to everyone who supported the event and helped us raise £105.35 for The BookTrust.
On Wednesday, we celebrated our Spirituality and Christian Values Day, which was packed full of meaningful experiences and opportunities for reflection. The children took part in a range of activities including creating spirituality sticks, producing beautiful church-inspired artwork, experiencing woodland blindfold activities and, of course, enjoying a delicious campfire treat! A huge thank you goes to all of our staff for making the day such a success. Special thanks must go to Miss Copestick for organising such a memorable event and to Mr Marks, who fully embraced his role as our very own "Ranger Rob" for the day!
Our Year 2 Camp Out (now called Camp In) was another highlight of the week. The children had an amazing time, creating lasting memories with their friends and teachers. From outdoor adventures to evening activities, it was wonderful to see their enthusiasm, resilience and excitement throughout the experience. I think we are all looking forward to being back in our own beds tonight!
One thing we have all become experts at this week is adapting to the weather! It feels as though we have experienced all four seasons every single day, moving from sunshine to showers and everything in between. Thank you to everyone for coming prepared and helping us make the most of every opportunity outdoors, whatever the weather may have thrown at us.
As we head into next week, we are all looking forward to Sports Day on Thursday. We can't wait to see the children demonstrating their teamwork, determination and sporting spirit. We hope to see many families there to support and cheer them on.
Reminder of times:
- 9.30 EYFS (Reception class)
- 10.30 Key Stage 1 (Years 1 and 2)
- 1.30 Key Stage 2 (Years 3 to 6)
Weekly news from Staff:
Reception have had a wonderful week, enjoying a range of exciting learning opportunities. They loved taking part in bus making activities, using their creativity to suggest and discuss different designs. The children also enjoyed story writing, developing their ideas and building confidence in their early writing skills. In maths, they explored both 2D and 3D shapes, identifying their properties through practical activities. Alongside this, the children enthusiastically participated in a wide range of Christian faith activities, helping them learn about our important values in an engaging and meaningful way. The campfire was a huge hit!
Year 1's have made me so proud this week. They all completed the Phonics Screening Check and they approached it with resilience and calmness. We all had a giggle about the aliens, one definitely had a big brain and another had different sized eyes! They were amazing and they truly deserved the COMPLIMENT they completed this week. We have been talking about baptism in RE and the children have asked some great questions about artists' representations of Jesus' baptism. We have been learning about different explorers in history, and while we've compared quite a few significant explorers, our favourites seem to be Neil Armstrong and Sylvia Earle - space and the ocean have definitely captured our imaginations.
This week, Year 2 have enjoyed taking part in our Christian Values Day. The children toasted marshmallows over the fire and completed a spirituality walk, taking time to reflect and appreciate the world around them. In Maths, we have been learning all about time. The children have been practising reading clocks and understanding different ways to tell and record the time. In English, we have been exploring the Great Fire of London. The children have been using their historical knowledge and imagination to write diary entries from the perspective of someone living through this important event. The most exciting thing this week was the Campout, the children had a fantastic time, despite actually camping in! We had a lovely BBQ, played games in the hall and even managed to get some sleep! We have been very impressed with the enthusiasm and hard work shown by all of the children this week. Well done, Year 2!
This week, Year 3 have been eagerly watching our seeds germinate and sprout, whilst also setting up separate group investigations to discover whether the number of seeds planted in a pot affects how well they grow. In DT, we became fabric detectives, exploring a variety of materials, learning how to know the difference between natural and synthetic fabrics and discussing advantages and disadvantages of each. Our mid-week Christian Values Day was packed with adventure and reflection – from gathering around the campfire and creating spirituality sticks to taking part in a blindfolded woodland walk. It was a day full of discovery, teamwork and great fun! Finally, we finished the week by creating ‘worlds in a jar’ artwork with Mrs Longmuir - in our pj’s!!
What a fantastic week we have had in Year 4! In English, we have continued our poetry unit based on villains. The children have enjoyed exploring different villainous characters and using ambitious vocabulary to bring them to life in their writing. This week, the children also completed their Multiplication Times Tables Check. Every child approached the challenge with perseverance, determination and a positive attitude. I am incredibly proud of them all for trying their very best and showing such resilience throughout. In Science, we have been learning about teeth and digestion. The children have been fascinated by how our digestive system works and the important role our teeth play in helping us process food. We have also been creating some wonderful artwork based on the theme of Space. The children have worked carefully and creatively to produce some impressive pieces.
Year 5 have had a wonderful week filled with memorable experiences and exciting learning. The children really enjoyed Christian Values Day, reflecting thoughtfully on trust and their relationships with God and with one another. A particular highlight was performing at the Bridgewater Hall alongside the Hallé Orchestra; they behaved impeccably and loved listening to the orchestra’s performances as part of the World Cup-themed concert. In Science, the children carried out a range of investigations into dissolving and filtering materials, while in Art they have been creating beautiful clay flowers inspired by the work of acclaimed ceramic artist Vanessa Hogge.
Year 6 have had another busy week! In science, we learned about Charles Darwin and his ground-breaking discoveries, before conducting our own beak shape investigation to replicate the work of Darwin and his famous finches. The children enjoyed testing different ‘beaks’ to discover which were best adapted for gathering food. In DT, we designed tote bags for an intended user before putting our sewing skills into practice to create our own bags, complete with handles and decorative appliqué designs. The children showed great perseverance and creativity throughout the project and were very proud of their finished products. We also thoroughly enjoyed our Christian Values Day, which focused on the theme of spirituality. Throughout the day, we took part in a range of reflective and creative activities, including making spirituality sticks, contributing to a collaborative art project and gathering around a campfire. It was a wonderful opportunity to pause, reflect and think about the things that help us feel connected, inspired and at peace.
Gardening club & Eco Council: What a week in the garden!! Monday madness happened!! The little green fingered gardening gang raked and sowed seeds to create a new wild flower area and we look forward to watching it bloom! Then the pond plants arrived and had to be sunk into water straight away which meant only one thing, we had to get in!! Some of the year 6 boys took on the job and off came socks and shoes immediately, within half an hour the pond had been transformed. I’m so proud already of how our new area looks and can’t wait for our first visitors to arrive. Not sure this week can be topped!
How wonderful to be a part of this incredible family! Enjoy your weekend, Nevin Deakin