porters grange weekly newsletter week ending 2nd february 2024

Coat Donations

Thank you for all the coat donations; they are really popular. If you have more donations, they would be greatly appreciated.

Nursery

This week we have enjoyed ‘superhero play’. We have talked about our own super powers and made our own capes. We have had lots of fun in the role play areas, dressing up and doing imaginative writing. In our circle times we have enjoyed listening to a range of stories and learnt some new action rhymes.

REMINDERS: Please remember if your child has a favourite story they read at home, please bring it in so we can share their love of reading with the rest of the class.

Also, can we remind you that if you child has a birthday, we are unable to give out sweets.

Reception

We have been learning the story of Little Red Riding hood and we have enjoyed writing and retelling our own stories. In phonics we continue to learn how to write each of the sounds and we are trying hard to form our letters correctly. In maths this week we have been identifying and making 6, 7 and 8 and identifying 1 more and 1 less. In our art lessons we have been learning to draw self portraits focusing on our features.

REMINDER: You are welcome to come into class to join your child in our reading session on a Thursday and Friday morning. Please remember to read at home regularly and write it in the reading record.

Year 1

The children have learnt about verbs - they are ‘doing’ words! They acted out the actions to match the verb. They moved on to past tense verbs and were able to add 'ed'.

In maths the children have learnt how to add numbers within 20. They have counted on and recognised tens and ones to work the answer out.

The children have explored their own timelines and discussed when they were born and what they have experienced over time. Some children found that they were born in the same year and month!

REMINDER: Thank you to the families who have sent their child’s timeline in. If you have not returned it, please send it in as soon as possible.

Year 2

This week we have completed our report about the Great Fire of London. We used conjunctions and wrote captions underneath our pictures. In maths we have completed our work on money and will be moving on to multiplication and division next week. In science we conducted an investigation with some year 6 children to answer the question ‘Do we get faster as we get older?’ We completed some fun activities to prove or disprove this question.

REMINDER: Please remember to take children’s earrings out before they come to school on Tuesdays so that they can take part in our PE lesson.

Thank you for continuing to hear your children read at home; it really makes a difference.

Year 3

This week in Year 3 we have been retelling the story A Necklace of Raindrops using detailed descriptive sentences and embellishing parts of the plot. In maths we have started a new topic: length and measurement, learning to use our rulers accurately and the equivalent measurements for millimetres, centimetres and metres. In geography we have been looking at extreme weather; in science we have drawn soil diagrams; and in art we have worked towards completing our Henri Rousseau inspired collages.

REMINDER: Please send your child with a full PE kit, including plimsols or trainers.

Year 4

This week in English, children have been perfecting their handwriting and focusing on the presentation of their work. The best fact sheet on Frida Kahlo will be on the school display boards for others to see. In maths children have been applying their knowledge of multiplication to division facts. In science, we have been investigating the rate at which different types of liquids freeze. In dance and gymnastics, children have been using their bodies to demonstrate a sequence of movements and actions.

REMINDER: Please ensure that your child is reading every day for at least 10-15 minutes.

Please encourage your child to practise their spellings and times tables. These are sent out at the start of every week.

Year 5

This week, Year 5 have been writing persuasive letters to other children about why they should use sustainable energy. They included modal verbs and persuasive language to make their letters effective.

In science, the children have looked at the properties of materials and why certain objects are made from certain materials.

REMINDER: Please ensure that your child is wearing black shoes/trainers to school.

Year 6

This week, we have been learning about balanced arguments in our English lessons; we have started to write about whether Athens or Sparta created a better society for its citizens. In maths, we have started working with decimals. In art, we have started to create our figures for our stop motion animation projects.

REMINDER: Please listen to your child read their books at home. The children should also be practising their spellings at home and playing on TTR.

French

This week all classes are working on their super summary sentences to review the learning thus far. In addition, we are producing some in-class video-diary footage to showcase the children speaking French across a range of topics.

Music

Music Clubs

• Tuesday 12.00: Band
• Tuesday 12.45: Year 2 Music Club
• Tuesday 3.30: Music Making for Year 1 and 2
• Wednesday 12.45: Choir for Years 3-6
• Thursday 3.30: Choir for Years 3 - 6

Instrumental Lessons

We do have a few vacancies, please contact Mrs Baines if your child would like to learn an instrument.

• Tuesday am: Drums (Mr Fletcher)
• Tuesday am: Guitar (Mr Brown)
• Wednesday am: Keyboard (Mr Hockey)
• Wednesday am: Guitar (Mr Elliot)

Future Events

• 15th March Southend Makes Music – KS2 Choir
• 19th March Infant Music Festival - 1pm
• 13th June Junior Music Fesitval - KS2 Choir

Sport

The Year 6 hockey team had a great morning representing our school and playing in the tournament at Southend Hockey Club, Warners Bridge on Wednesday. Well done team!

Healthy Schools

Community dental services webpage

Radio Programmes

Hidden Sugars

Healthy Eating Games

Change for Life

Weaning Advice

Community