porters grange weekly newsletter week ending 19TH JANUARY 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

We have had a fun time at nursery this week. Our new starters have had their full first week and have done extremely well settling into nursery class. Well done to all our older children for helping them and inviting them into their play. We have enjoyed lots of outdoor play, wrapping up and keeping warm. We have enjoyed looking at the effects of the very cold weather in the garden.

REMINDERS: Please remember no water bottles are to be brought into nursery, water and milk is provided. Also please remember to name all of your children’s uniform and bags.

Reception

This week we have enjoyed learning the story of Little Red Riding Hood. We have heard different versions of the story and retold the story using role play and acting. In our phonics lessons we have started to record our writing using handwriting books learning how to form our letters correctly. In Maths we have been learning to represent 1 more and 1 less and identify patterns in counting 1 more and 1 less. We have been learning the meaning of new words such as ‘tower’ and ‘fig’. Maybe you can spot some towers when you are out and about.

REMINDERS: Please remember to complete the dental audit questions sent out via ParentPay. Please ensure your child comes to school dressed appropriately for the cold weather.

Year 1

This week we have been learning about how to write a familiar report. We found out facts about frogs, birds and bears then wrote the information down. We have also introduced maths jotters and we have been learning to write each digit in a square. For Geography, we have been looking at the seven continents and which oceans they are surrounded by.

REMINDER: Please make sure you use the SeeSaw app to keep up to date with the home learning activities. Please write a note of how your child has read at home in their reading records.

Year 2

In English, we let our imaginations soar as we wrote our very own stories, inspired by “The Princess and the Pea.” We got to share our stories with the class. We started learning about money in maths, counting pence and pounds. During History we looked at a map of London back in 1666 and compared it to today’s map. We identified landmarks such as the River Thames, the Tower of London, St Paul’s Cathedral, and Pudding Lane.

REMINDER: While reading with your child at home every night, please remember to log it in their home school diary. Please ensure your child has a suitable PE kit in school ready for them on a Tuesday.

Year 3

This week in maths we have been tackling multiplying two digits by one digit. In English we have been finishing our poems from last week and trying out shape poems. Geography has led us into discussions about the weather (a very British topic!) and the difference between weather and climate and in art we have begun our collages in response to Henri Rousseau’s painting ‘Tropical Birds and Flying Things’.

REMINDER: Please provide your child with a PE kit – we are not outside at the moment, however long training trousers in blue or black are acceptable to wear. Trainers should be supplied.

Year 4

In English, children have been enhancing their poetry skills by using descriptive vocabulary in their expanded noun phrases. In maths, children continue to multiply one and two digit numbers by 100. We have begun investigating states of matter in science and exploring all their properties. In Art, children are learning the technical skills needed to draw faces and create portraits. They have begun to use their knowledge of shading to create contrast and depth in their drawings.

REMINDER: Please remind your children to read every day for 10-15 minutes. With the weather becoming colder, please ensure your children are wearing warm coats and jumpers to school.

Year 5

This week in history, we have been learning about the process of mummification. We went back in time to Ancient Egypt and learnt about the gory steps to mummify a dead body!

In English, we have written our own reports about Biomes. We ensured that we included all of the features and explained about biomes in detail.

REMINDER: Please ensure that your child logs in to Times Table Rockstars weekly.

Year 6

This week we have been forming and solving algebraic equations in maths. In English, we have enjoyed writing our own Greek myth as a class. In computing, we have created different variables for our games and in science, we have learned how to classify animals into groups.

REMINDER: Please remember to practice the key skills at home: Times Table Rockstars, spellings and reading for at least 15-20 minutes.

Music

Music Clubs

• Tuesday 12.00: Choir
• 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
• Tuesday am: Guitar
• Wednesday am: Keyboard
• Wednesday am: Guitar

Future Events

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

Community

The Art Group is held at The Hub in Cluny Square. They now run an Intermediates session for those ages 8- 14 years on a Wednesday afternoon from 3:30 – 5:00 p.m. The Friday session is now an Art group for those aged 8 – 11 (junior school) from 3:30 – 5:00 p.m.