Hamstel Infant School & Nursery Weekly News week ending 26th january 2024

Dear Parents and Carers,

Another busy week in school at Hamstel Infant School and Nursery where our children go from strength to strength in their learning and development.

This week our Year 2s took their learning out of the classroom as they visited Holy Trinity Church. This wonderful old local building gives a lovely contrast to the more modern, Bellevue Baptist Church that the children also visit. They had a great experience learning about the church’s history, having a tour and doing some sketching around the building. A huge thank you to the staff at Holy Trinity for sharing their knowledge. It is opportunities like these that bring our children’s learning to life!

The work needed to make our Poynings gate entrance safe is very nearly completed. Thank you for your continued patience around this, we do appreciate that this is very inconvenient on a busy school run. Our site team are working with the contractors to get the work done and our Poynings Avenue entrance open again soon. Fingers crossed…maybe even as soon as Monday!

On a more serious note, please can I remind all parents and carers that the recording or photographing of children on our site is strictly prohibited. This is to maintain the safety of all our children. Thank you for your cooperation.

Next week we invite our Year 1 parents and carers to attend our Reading Rocks Workshop where you will hear why reading for pleasure is so important and how to support this at home so that you and your children can enjoy this great time together. Dragonfly and Heron class parents are in the morning and Newt and Duck class in the afternoon. We look forward to welcoming you and hope you enjoy the session.

I hope you have a great weekend…I myself will be wallowing in misery at the news that Jurgen Klopp will be leaving his post as Liverpool manager at the end of the season!

See you all bright and early on Monday morning.

Best regards,

Scott Roche

Principal

Nursery

This week we have been reading ‘Little Red Riding Hood’ and have been learning that a story has a beginning, a middle and an end. We have been answering questions about the story. As part of our story, we have been thinking about healthy and unhealthy foods and what food could Little Red Riding Hood take to Grannies house.

We have been practising drawing circles in an anti-clockwise direction.

In Maths we have been learning to subitise to five by showing up to five fingers, or looking at a group of objects and knowing how many there are without counting them.

In Outdoor Learning we went on a scavenger hunt finding different items on our list. We also enjoyed taking part in the RSPB Big Spring Bird Watch by counting how many different birds we saw in the wildlife area.

REMINDER: Please do not let your child use the Adventure trail or go on the climbing frame. Thank you.

Please ensure that your child has a full set of clothes in Nursery, also please name hats, gloves and scarves thank you.

As we are trying to promote independence, could you please dress your children in clothes that are easy for the children to put on and take off themselves, especially trousers and leggings. Elasticated trousers are the best for children at this age. Thank you.

Rainbow & Starlight

Rainbow

This week the children have been learning about the story 'The Enormous Turnip'. We looked at different fruits and vegetables that could be grown on a farm, their texture and colour, we used painted vegetables to make some striking artwork. The story was enjoyed by all, learning about the characters in the story, the types of animals on the farm and what sounds they make.

We have continued to use sentence-building activities, number and letter writing and pencil control activities. The children have continued to engage in functional play and turn-taking activities, messy play and sensory activities.

Starlight

This week we have started to complete activities on the story of the 'The Three Billy Goat's Gruff'. We have been learning to write some more cvc words and a sentence for a speech bubble about the Billy Goat Gruff. The children have really enjoyed this story.

In Time to Talk we have been talking about how we know someone is happy or sad by their facial expressions. The children then made a happy and sad face of themselves.

The children have tried very hard with their handwriting to use the correct formation.

Letters sent home this week

• Whole School - NHS Dentist details - 24.01.2024

Reception Year

This week we have been reading the book ‘The Three Billy Goat’s Gruff.’ In English we have been learning to write words and sentences about some of the characters in the story.

In PSHE we have been continuing our learning about belonging to a community and this week we have been thinking about right from wrong and why it is important to make the right choices.

In Maths we have been thinking about all the different ways to make 5 and how 5 can be partitioned into different parts.

In Geography we have been learning about human features. In Outdoor Learning this week we spotted some of the human features around the school grounds. Also, in Outdoor Learning we have been working in groups to build a bird's nest and enjoy taking part in the Big Bird Watch.

How to help at home

Reading

• Listen to your child read their book at least 5 times a week.
• Watch the QR codes.

Maths

• How many ways can you make 5?

Handwriting

Letters sent home this week

• Whole School - NHS Dentist details - 24.01.2024

Year One

In Literacy we have been looking at uplevelling our adjectives. We have been working really hard to create more adventurous vocabulary and have used the story ‘The Way Back Home’ by Oliver Jeffers to inspire our writing.

In Maths we have been revising our addition and subtraction skills to 20. We have also been looking at applying all the skills we have learned so far this year.

We have been working on an Art block this week and learning about the artist Peter Thorpe. We have been exploring primary and secondary colours and have used this knowledge to begin creating a piece of artwork inspired by Peter Thorpe.

How to help at home

Reading

• Listen to your child read their book at least 5 times a week.
• Watch the QR codes.

Letters sent home this week

• Whole School - NHS Dentist details - 24.01.2024
• Year 1 - Reading Rocks Day - 23.01.2024

Year Two

This week in Year 2 the children have been exploring a new book in Literacy, 'Lost and Found' by Oliver Jeffers. The book is about a little boy who finds a penguin at his front door, who has left Antarctica. The boy decides to try and find out who has lost the penguin. The children have explored the characters this week thinking as well as learning about what an exclamation sentence. The week was finished with the children producing some brilliant Found posters describing the penguin.

In Maths the children have been busy revisiting some aspects of their learning covered during Year 2 so far and been working hard to show their teachers what they have remembered.

The children enjoyed their visit to Holy Trinity Church this week looking at the features of a church and completing some sketching. A big thank you to all those at the Church for allowing us to visit.

Letters sent home this week

• Whole School - NHS Dentist details - 24.01.2024

Celebration Assembly - Respect

This weeks value has been 'Respect', below are highlights from around the classes.

Online Safety

Anime is one of the most popular forms of media in the modern world. Fans span across multiple generations – with a particular emphasis on young people in the west, to whom the unique art style and over-the-top presentation greatly appeal. It takes many different forms – from movies to video games – but is most commonly presented in TV shows.

The cartoonish art style of anime can lead people to assume that all media of this type is child-friendly. While a good amount of anime fits this description, there’s just as much – if not more – that centres around deeply adult themes and topics, with scenes of extreme gore, disturbing horror, and sexual content. This week’s guide delves deep into this cultural phenomenon, identifying all risks parents and carers should be aware of.