Friars Weekly Newsletter 9th February 2024

Coming up in this edition of the newsletter...

• Date for the Y5 Thriftwood Residential meeting - see the Year 5 section
• Year 4 Times Tables Rockstars 'Battle of the Bands' - see the Year 4 section
• Chinese lion visit reminder
• Parking reminder
• An appeal for help with Careers Week - see the Community section

Friday! What a busy but great week we have had... Possibly the most exciting thing to have happened in the past five days was the completion of our new giant sandpit. Sand play is very important to the work we do with OPAL and we always had an intention of adding a second larger sandpit in addition to the one already on the KS1 playground. We are delighted with the result and the children are very much looking forward to getting in their next week (maybe some staff are excited too)!

Credit must go to our Year 6 children this week for their efforts with 'Bikeability'. The cycling was made much harder thanks to Thursday's wet weather. Great job Year 6!

You will have seen the letter I sent on Monday about our Parent Council. If you are interested in joining us, please do get in touch as soon as possible.

Next week we have the Chinese lion visit to look forward to amongst many other lovely things. Remember... it is only a 4-day week for the children as there is no school on Friday. On Friday, teachers from the five schools in the Portico Academy Trust will be coming together at the Hamstel schools for a day of professional learning. Every time we have these days we always bring things back to our schools to make things even better.

Have a lovely weekend everyone.

Mr. Chris McClay, Principal

Chinese New Year - Lion Visit

On Wednesday 14th, there will be a demonstration of Chinese lion dancing! During this celebration, your child will feed the dragon a lucky red envelope. We ask that you send your child to school with a silver coin(s) that will be placed inside their envelope and given as a symbol of good luck and prosperity. These donations will be donated to the dancers’ chosen charity.

Parking around the school

Just a gentle reminder about careful, considerate parking around the school please. The zigzags at the front of the building must remain clear and can we please not block neighbours' driveways. Thank you.

Local Photographs

Last week, Ms. Taylor-Brown asked for help with photographs of the local area. If you have any photos of Shoebury/Southend in the past - please pop them into the office in an envelope with your name on and I can get these scanned and returned to you. It would be lovely to build up a bank of images to share with the children! It might also be helpful to know more about the photos, for example the locations if they are not obvious. Thank you in advance.

Outdoor Help

Mr. Brady is still looking for anyone who can give any time to help him maintain our environmental garden and outdoor classroom - if you have green fingers, or just fancy helping out please drop Ms. Taylor-Brown an email on Etaylorbrown@fps.porticoacademytrust.co.uk

World Book Day - Thursday 7th March 2024

A reminder that we will be inviting children and staff to dress up for the day as a book character on Thursday 7th March (Friday 8th March for Year 4 as they are off to the Imperial War Museum on the Thursday). 2G will have swimming on the Thursday morning so please make sure that the children can change in and out of their costumes. Year 2 will have PE on the afternoon of the Thursday. The children need to either wear a costume appropriate for PE or bring their PE kit to change into. Thank you.

Nursery

This week we have enjoyed outdoor learning with Mr. Brady. The children were taught how we can help the animals in our garden. We made homes for bugs and put food out in different types of bird feeders. We also helped weed the vegetable patch which of course the children loved as it was not only weeds we were pulling up. They loved finding the 100’s of wiggly worms and comparing who had found the longest worm (we did safely return all worms to their home). It was another successful stay and play this week, as always, we thank those who are able to join us.

Letters sent home via ParentPay this week

• Whole School - Chinese New Year - 06.02.2024
• Whole School - National Online Safety for Parents and Carers - 08.02.2024

Reception

This week we have been beginning to learn about the upcoming Chinese New Year celebrations. This weekend starts a week of festivities celebrating the Year of the Dragon and we have found out where China is, some of the landmarks and about the climate. We read the story of the Great Race and used positional language and ordinal numbers to describe the position each animal came in the race.

This week we have been assessing phonics and so the children have not brought home a new book. Instead, the children have brought home some reading practice through tricky words and words containing digraphs and plurals.

REMINDER: Please ensure you discuss with your child their lunch options before you make your selection as more and more children are claiming they don’t like their lunch and are therefore not eating much at lunchtime.

Letters sent home via ParentPay this week

• Whole School - Chinese New Year - 06.02.2024
• Whole School - National Online Safety for Parents and Carers - 08.02.2024

Year 1

This week we have started to learn about the Great Fire of London. The children have asked questions related to this, used non-fiction texts to find information and started to write a recount of the events. In maths, we have focused on subtraction using a number line and solving simple word problems. Our artwork has continued to focus on Lowry, the children have been creating their own pictures in his style.

Letters sent home via ParentPay this week

• Whole School - Chinese New Year - 06.02.2024
• Whole School - National Online Safety for Parents and Carers - 08.02.2024

Year 2

This week we have focused upon the United Kingdom during our daily layered reading sessions. The children have learnt lots of interesting facts and improved their retrieval skills by hunting for key words to answer questions. In English we have investigated the features of a letter and the children have written letters from one of the characters in our book ‘Into the Forest’. We have started learning about multiplication in maths and the children will be completing another Club 50 times table challenge early next week. As it is Chinese New Year next week, the children have made and decorated red envelopes ready for our special visitor next!

Letters sent home via ParentPay this week

• Whole School - Chinese New Year - 06.02.2024
• Whole School - National Online Safety for Parents and Carers - 08.02.2024

Year 3

In maths we have been looking at equivalent lengths and converting cm to mm and cm to m. We noticed it has been a case of multiplication and division and once we made this link, it was relatively easy to convert measurements. In English we researched and made a fact file about the Chinese New Year. We found out it was the Year of the Dragon and about how the New Year is celebrated in Chinese culture. In geography we have researched some famous volcanoes and wrote about where they are in the world, when they last erupted and what damage may have been caused by them. In the afternoons we have continued to look at the Chinese New Year celebrations through stories and artwork.

REMINDER: Chinese New Year homework was sent home - this was to complete a poster. Finished pieces need to be back in school by Wednesday 14th February, for a chance to win extra play or treats!

Letters sent home via ParentPay this week

• Whole School - Chinese New Year - 06.02.2024
• Whole School - National Online Safety for Parents and Carers - 08.02.2024

Year 4

The children have started learning about measurements in maths this week – how many millimetres in a centimetre, how many metres in a kilometre and then converting between the different units of measurement using both part/whole models and the bar method for completing the conversions.

In English they are embedding knowledge that they will need for story writing when they return to school after the February half-term.

Geography was all about the UK – the children learnt that the UK is made up from 4 main parts, that each part is divided into counties and that each county has a main city. This is always an interesting lesson and the children do enjoy using an atlas.

The children’s learning also involved discussing healthy eating in PHSE and how to describe someone’s features in French.

Times Tables Rockstars 'Battle of the Bands' - This week the children were told about a 'Battle of the Bands' competition that will take place over the half-term holiday - they might have told you all about it as there was lots of excitement! A letter will come home on Monday explaining all...

REMINDER: Chinese New Year homework was sent home - this was to complete a poster. Finished pieces need to be back in school by Wednesday 14th February, for a chance to win extra play or treats!

Nail varnish and jewellery should not be worn to school except for stud earrings – these should not be worn on PE days.

Letters sent home via ParentPay this week

• Whole School - Chinese New Year - 06.02.2024
• Whole School - National Online Safety for Parents and Carers - 08.02.2024

Year 5

Year 5 have been continuing with diary writing this week. The children have worked really hard to use emotive language effectively to convey Razi’s feelings. We had some wonderfully written diary entries.

In maths, we have been calculating fractions of amounts. The children were able to apply their knowledge of unit and non-unit fractions to learn the method.

Mountains was our geography topic this week. We learnt about 4 different types of mountain and how they are formed. The children wrote short paragraphs using technical vocabulary.

In RE the students discussed traits of a saint and attributes of saintliness.

It has also been good to see lots of Chinese New Year homework coming into class.

Thriftwood Residential - Please note that the parent and carer meeting for the Thriftwood Residential will be held on Tuesday 30th April at 3:15pm. Please head to the outside door to the KS2 Hall. This event is now listed within the diary dates.

Letters sent home via ParentPay this week

• Whole School - Chinese New Year - 06.02.2024
• Whole School - National Online Safety for Parents and Carers - 08.02.2024

Year 6

Year 6 had the opportunity to take part in Bikeability Level 2 this week. The children learnt how to remain safe whilst riding on the local roads around Shoebury, understanding rules of the road, signalling and who has priority. The children who have completed the course have thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

For the rest of the week, we have completed a variety of other lessons, including descriptive writing, creating living organisms in science and producing work based upon the upcoming Chinese New Year.

Reminder: Next week is Outdoor Learning for Year 6.

On Monday and Tuesday afternoons next week, 6B will be outside in the environmental garden.

On Wednesday and Thursday afternoons next week, 6L will be outside in the environmental garden.

Please come dressed in suitable clothing for whatever the weather may bring.

Letters sent home via ParentPay this week

• Whole School - Chinese New Year - 06.02.2024
• Whole School - National Online Safety for Parents and Carers - 08.02.2024

Computing

Year 1 and 2 have been exploring the theme of self-image and identity as part of their learning for e-safety this week. Year 1 drew a hand to show 5 trusted adults they can ask for help if there are any problems online, whilst Year 2 looked at why we might decide to have an avatar.

Year 3 have now completed their unit on coding to make a sequence of sounds using Scratch, by creating code for various instruments. Some children moved on to creating loops for repetition.

Year 4 and 6 have explored bullying online, including how to spot the signs of online bullying and for year 6, how to capture evidence of online bullying (eg screen shots).

Year 5 were very excited this week as they have started their project of creating a moving carousel using cardboard, tape and a Crumble. Photos next week when they have finished!

Tuesday was Safer Internet Day and many children explored how to keep safe when playing online games.

Please do take the time to discuss online safety with your child and ensure appropriate filters are in place so they cannot access content that is inappropriate for their age.

Parents guides can be found by clicking on the following link:

Online Safety

This week's online guide tells trusted adults what they need to know about Monkey. With Omegle finally shutting down in late 2023, the top spot among video chat services is up for grabs – and Monkey has its eyes set on the crown. Randomly matching its users for 15-second conversations, the platform’s developers claim to have created a dynamic online space for people to make new connections and, potentially, even some new friends.

Despite these innocuous-sounding intentions, however, Monkey has been criticised for moderation which may not be comprehensive enough to defend against the obvious dangers that unregulated, random video calls pose to the younger element of the site’s userbase.

PE and Sport

Once again, we have had a range of sport being delivered across the school with a focus on badminton, rugby and dance. It is always lovely to see children suitably kitted out for PE!

Thank you for supporting your children to look smart in their uniform and PE Kit on PE days. Children should be wearing their Friars purple top in school on their PE days. Other tops are not to be worn in school.

REMINDER: Earrings cannot be worn during PE lessons. We have had some getting lost this week where children have taken them out for the lesson. Please, where possible leave earrings at home on PE days.

Outdoor Learning

A busy week for Nursery and Reception this week...

Nursery

This week we have enjoyed outdoor learning with Mr. Brady. The children were taught how we can help the animals in our garden. We made homes for bugs and put food out in different types of bird feeders. We also helped weed the vegetable patch which of cause the children loved as it was not only weeds’ we were pulling up. They loved finding the hundreds of wiggly worms and comparing who had found the longest worm.

Reception

We had time in the environmental garden with Mr. Brady this week, experiencing first-hand the effect of water on soil amongst other outdoorsy activities.

REMINDERS: Next week it is time for Year 6 to get outside!

• On Monday and Tuesday 6B will heading outside!
• On Wednesday and Thursday 6L will be heading outside!

Come ready for whatever the weather!

Singing Assemblies

KS2 with Ms Taylor-Brown

Well this week's singing assembly included something a little different! Moving forward I will be listening in every week as the children sing and choosing my choir of the week! This will be the year group who have sung with the most enthusiasm and gusto! This year group will receive a trophy for the week and will be seated on the benches for the following week's singing assembly as role models.

Well done to Year 4 who were crowned the first choir of the week for singing their hearts out to Celestial by our artist of the month Mr. Ed Sheeran!

Following on from Monday’s OPAL assembly where I shared Waiting all Night by Ella Eyre and Rudimental, this week we came into Rudimental featuring Ed.

We sang Celestial by Ed Sheeran from the Pokemon movie!

And left to Thinking out loud!

We also learned that in a survey of over 1000 children in 2019, Ed Sheeran was named as an artist whose music really helps children’s wellbeing - do you agree? Let me know! Whose music makes you feel lifted and ready for anything?