Coming up in this edition of the newsletter..
- Christmas Fayre grand total revealed
- Choir visit to Kestrel House
- Rhythm Connections Workshop write-up
Four Winter Wonderland sessions, two Reception nativities, a PTA Christmas Fayre and a partridge in a pear tree… It has been a busy week to say the least. Amongst all of the usual Friars’ fun, Christmas has certainly arrived. Next week, even Santa is coming to town! It goes without saying that all of the events this week have been lovely and it has been great to see so many parents, carers and other relatives in school enjoying everything on offer. The Christmas Fayre was a huge success with £2664 being raised in total. This is a truly fantastic sum of money which will go back to supporting the children. A massive thank you to the PTA for organising the event and a special mention of Mrs. Doggett who is the chair of the PTA. Of course, thank you to all of you who came along and spent your money… 😊 On Monday, we also had our school choirs, both KS1 and KS2, visit Kestrel House to sing to residents there. Well done to all of the children who participated and to Miss Goodwin and Mrs. Witt who lead the choirs. I know your audience loved hearing your beautiful voices. It’s hard to believe that we only have two school weeks left in 2025. This autumn term really seems to have whizzed by… Next week we have Winter Wonderlands for EYFS and the Christmas productions for both Year 1 and Year 2. Have a lovely weekend. I’ll be putting up my Christmas decorations and will probably be getting very frustrated trying to untangle lots of lights… 😊 Have a super weekend.
Mr. McClay, Principal
Diary Dates
December
- Monday 8th - Reception Winter Wonderland - 1.45pm
- Tuesday 9th - Year 1 Christmas Play - 9.15am & 2.15pm
- Wednesday 10th - Nursery Winter Wonderland & Singalong
- Thursday 11th - Year 2 Christmas Play - 9.15am & 2.15pm
- Friday 12th - PTA Father Christmas Visit
- Tuesday 16th - Christmas Readings & Carol Service
- RockSteady Concert
- Wednesday 17th - Christmas Lunch Christmas Jumper Day
- Singalong Assembly
- Friday 19th - Nursery Christmas Party
- Last day of Term
- Monday 22nd - Friday 2nd January - Christmas Break
Nursery
This week, Nursery turned into a winter wonderland. The children were very excited when they arrived on Monday morning and the Christmas tree was up and ready to be decorated. Each day the children take turns adding their own decorations to the tree. There has been dressing up, writing Christmas cards, singing festive songs, making Christmas lists and so much more. There has been a lot of discussion around family traditions during this festive time and of course the children have told us what they are hoping Santa will bring them this year. We were also invited to go and watch Reception's nativity, which we all really enjoyed and it inspired us a little more for our singalong next week. REMINDER: Please remember our Winter Wonderland morning is next Wednesday at 10.15am. Even if this is not your session you are welcome to come along and join us.
Reception
This week has all been about our nativity play! Our wonderful children performed to KS1 (and any KS2 siblings) on Monday and to parents on Tuesday and Thursday. Each performance was incredibly special and we are so very proud of them. As well as all our songs, actions and stage directions, the children are also well aware of the story of Jesus’ birth and its significance to Christians. Due to all these performances, costume changes and in-school cuddles; routine has gone out of the window and this can be really unsettling for many (Mrs. James and Mrs. Hill included!) so even more praise for the children’s resilience this week. Believe it or not, we have had some non-nativity time as well, playing bingo, 'build the stable/angel/snowman' (hangman) and had a wonderful time making potions and pies in the garden and writing the recipes for others to read. Well done to everyone for managing such a busy week; children and parents alike!
REMINDER: Winter Wonderland is on Monday. Help your child make Christmas crafts (one adult per family). Please bring your Christmas cheer to the KS1 Hall door at 1.45pm.
Year 1
We have had a marvellous week in Year 1. Our nativity is coming on well and we are so excited for you to see it next week. In English, we have been working on asking questions and using question marks. The children were pretending to be Baby Bear from Goldilocks and the Three Bears and asked questions of Goldilocks. They then pretended to be Goldilocks to answer the questions, we have encouraged them to speak and write in full sentences and challenged them to use “because” in their answers.
In maths, we have been working on 2D shapes. The children have completed many activities that have helped them to identify and name a range of shapes and discuss their properties. Floating and sinking was the focus in science this week. We enjoyed making predictions as to what might float and what might sink and then tested our theories.
Well done Year 1.
Year 2
This week has been a busy one in Year 2! The children have been working hard on our final nativity practices before we perform it to you next week (Thursday 11th December). We have been doing lots of singing, dancing and acting, and we are so excited to share our performance with an audience. In English, we have been exploring how to write an instruction. The children have been identifying imperative (bossy) verbs and using these to write a command. We had a lot of fun reading our instructions aloud using our bossiest voices! In maths, we have continued our learning on shape. This week our focus has been on lines of symmetry. The children have been identifying lines of symmetry and reflecting shapes with a vertical line of symmetry. We have also been sorting 2D shapes based on their properties. For example, grouping together shapes with 4 sides.
Year 3
This week, the children wrote persuasive letters to George from George’s Marvellous Medicine. They worked hard to convince him to make better choices and start eating healthy food instead of concocting his wild mixtures! We were very impressed with their persuasive vocabulary and thoughtful arguments. In maths, we continued our work on the 4 times tables. The children have been practising recalling these facts quickly and using them to solve related division questions. Their confidence is really growing, and we encourage them to keep practising at home. Our science topic this week focused on animals and their skeletons. The class explored different types of skeletons and discussed why animals need them. The children enjoyed comparing human skeletons with those of other creatures and discovering some fascinating facts!
Year 4
This week in Year 4 has been full of creativity, curiosity and festive cheer! In English, the children wrote their own poems inspired by woodland animals, using similes, comparative adjectives and superlatives to create vivid and imaginative descriptions. Their ideas were incredibly thoughtful and beautifully expressed. For maths, we focused on factors and factor pairs, as well as multiplying numbers by 10 and 100. The children worked hard to spot patterns and build their confidence with these key skills. Music was fantastic this week as we explored folk music and continued practising our Christmas songs—our singing is sounding wonderfully festive! In science, we experimented with creating our own instruments to investigate how pitch can be changed. The children loved testing different materials and designs. Our PSHE session with Place2Be explored the idea of legacy—what we leave behind and how our actions can make a difference. The children shared some truly thoughtful reflections. We also had a magical time at our Winter Wonderland. Thank you to all who were able to take part and support the event! The Christmas Fayre was another highlight—your support is greatly appreciated. REMINDER: Christmas Jumper Day & Christmas Lunch – Wednesday 17th PE on Monday and Wednesday Please continue practising times tables, weekly spellings, and reading regularly at home
Letters sent home this week
Year 5
Another busy week in Year 5! Firstly, well done to any choir members who joined us on the trip on Monday to Kestel House. We had a wonderful time sharing some Christmas carols with residents there. We also had a smashing performance at our Christmas Fayre. We hope you enjoyed your time at the Christmas fayre if you attended. Lots of fun was had! Within our maths, we are continuing adding to our fraction knowledge where children have been ordering fractions with denominators that are the same and using previous skills if they are different. Please still to continue to remind your child to keep practising their times tables, as confident use of times tables has made for pacier learning this week. The children have enjoyed our work so far on performance poetry in English. We looked at together Michael Rosen's very well known 'Chocolate Cake' poem. They performed this in small groups taking account of hand gestures, volume of the voice and pace of speaking. We look forward to writing our own. This week 5AW have had much fun in outdoor learning looking at wooden winter/ Christmas decorations. They have been planning their own, thinking about safety and preparing their models in our wonderful outdoor space. 5B will have this lovely opportunity next week.
Year 6
This week in Year 6, we have been writing our own versions of the fairy tale, The Elves and the Shoemaker. The children have been adventurous in their choice of vocabulary and tried to include many grammatical features in their work. Fractions have remained the focus in maths aswell as some mental arithmetic practice. We have been sewing in preparation for completing out DT cushions. There has also been time for singing carols as we rehearse for our singalong and the children had an amazing Winter Wonderland. We would like to thank the adults, who were able to attend, for coming to support their children.
Letters sent home this week
Computing
This week has been another fun and exciting time in the computing suite! Year 2 kicked things off by diving into their photography unit. The children used iPads to capture stunning photographs and then engaged in thoughtful discussions about the features of their images. They shared what they liked and how they could enhance their photos before getting creative with editing. They learned to adjust brightness and saturation, apply filters, and crop out unwanted backgrounds. In Year 3, the excitement continued as students explored both Flipaclip and a new website to develop their animation skills. They had a blast animating either a photograph or a drawing, making themselves dance and move in all sorts of fun ways! The website is free to use and accessible on various devices, so why not let your child try it at home and showcase what they’ve been learning in class? Animated Drawings | Meta FAIR Finally, Year 1 focused on honing their mouse and typing skills. If you have a computer at home, please encourage your child to explore and familiarise themselves with the keyboard. This week, they created delightful Christmas and winter pictures using Paintz.app and added their names to their masterpieces. Take a look at some of their wonderful creations below!
Sports & PE
It has been great to see different sports lessons taking place throughout the week and that the weather has not affected them. Well done to those children who have been able to attend extra training sessions to help put teams together. Next week we will be helping the Sportshall Athletics team to train ready for their upcoming competition.
Online Safety
This edition of WakeUpWednesday explores essential electrical safety habits for homes and schools. This week’s guide highlights simple steps that can prevent overheating, fires and other hazards linked to everyday electrical devices. It offers clear, reassuring advice to help adults spot risks early and model safer routines. It explores common risk areas, including unsafe charging habits and overloading sockets, and explains how to identify early warning signs such as damaged cables or poorly ventilated devices. The guide also touches on protective measures like RCDs and safe power bank use, supporting families and educators in creating safer environments for young people.
Choir Spreads Festive Cheer at Kestrel House
On Monday, our KS1 and KS2 choir took a short walk to Kestrel House to share some Christmas spirit with local residents. The children performed a selection of well-loved carols, filling the room with warmth and festive joy. A highlight of the visit was a beautiful duet from two of our KS2 pupils, who sang Silent Night accompanied by Mrs. Witt on the keyboard. Their performance was truly special and deeply appreciated by everyone present. It was a wonderful afternoon that left both the children and residents feeling very Christmassy!
Rhythm Connections workshop
Wow! What an incredible experience for some of our wonderful Year 4 children on Friday. A small group of children were selected to take part in an exciting day at the Jazz Centre in the Beecroft Art Gallery in Southend. When we arrived we explored the jazz centre finding out information about different jazz artists, experimenting on a range of instruments and talking to staff. We were then guided to the Lecture Theatre where improvisation began. We focused on rhythm first where one of our students used a clapping rhythm guiding the audience. Thorpedene Primary School, Porters Grange and Richmond Primary School also joined us. We then had a small break and began working with pitched improvisation. The children and adults had lots of fun with Boomwhackers. Again one of our children led a small group with Boomwhackers and then moved onto the larger group. Marc, who was leading from ‘Rhythm Connections’, then gave each school a person to research. We were given ‘Snowboy’. Our children, through research and speaking to a member of the jazz team, found out Snowboy was born in 1961 and was from Hadleigh. He was famous in the 90s. He wrote a book and played lots of percussion. He has written 12 albums, but most interestingly has played with many famous people – one of which, Amy Winehouse! Our children then presented these findings back to the other schools. The children then all had a percussion instrument and followed Marc where he conducted them into an improvised performance. The band, a keyboard player and cello player, joined them. We had lunch together and after, improvised with our voices, through call and response. Towards the end of the session parents were welcomed along to watch their children…and also join in! Thank you to our parents that enjoyed the performance with us. This was a very special experience for the children and we were very proud of their perseverance, talent and efforts. They spoke eloquently, performed with confidence and they represented our wonderful school in a brilliant way! Well done Year 4!
“I sing and you sing and we sing together yeh…Everything’s better in harmony.”
Dinner Menu
Week 3 Monday - Homemade Pepperoni Pizza with Baked Wedges - Margherita Pizza with Baked Wedges - Pasta with Tomato & Vegetable Sauce - Ham Salad Wrap - Cheese & Tomato Bloomer - Classic Coleslaw & Sweetcorn - Cinnamon Apple Crumble with Custard Tuesday - Chicken Biryani with Vegetable Dhal - Vegan Aubergine & Courgette Tagine with Cous Cous - Jacket Potato with Baked Beans - Tuna & Sweetcorn Baguette - Cheese Sandwich - Broccoli & Cauliflower - Sultana & Oat Cookie Wednesday - Slow Roast Beef & Root Vegetables with Gravy - Vegan Country Vegetable & Bean Pie - Pasta with Tomato & Vegetable Sauce - Tuna Mayonnaise Sandwich - Cheese Salad Wrap - Broccoli & Cauliflower - Fruit Jelly Thursday - Chicken & Sweetcorn Meatballs in Tomato Sauce with Penne Pasta - Vegan Tofu Sweet & Sour Vegetables with Steamed Rice - Jacket Potato with Salmon Mayonnaise or Baked Beans - Chicken Mayonnaise Baguette - Cheese Sandwich - Cauliflower & Roasted Carrots - Orange Drizzle Cake Friday - Fish Fingers, Chips & Ketchup - Mexican Roasted Vegetable & Bean Quesadilla - Wholewheat Pasta with Tomato & Vegetable Sauce - Ham Salad Bloomer - Cheese Sandwich - Baked Beans Peas - Chocolate & Courgette Rice Krispie Cake Freshly Baked Bread: Pesto & Garlic or Wholemeal Bread
Celebration Assembly
The links for our Celebration Assemblies can be found below.
Last week one point separated first and second – Stormont and Caernarfon. A week on has it changed…? Yes it has! Stormont has now slipped to second with Caernarfon sitting pretty on top. Our yellow team won both in Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 this week which enabled them to flip positions.
Community
Credits:
Created with images by Fabio Principe - "A diary open with instruments for writing. Pencil, eraser and notebook on white background. Close up of a wooden pen orange and black, an eraser green and a booklet black. " • Maryna - "Young girl uses smartphone in dark. Unaware of online dangers lurking in the background. Cyberbullying, cyberstalking, online predators. Child safety concept illustration." • miss irine - "Various dishes served in modern school canteen. Food catering assortment includes fresh salads, cooked meat, carrot noodles, roasted potatoes. Selection, self-service, prepared fast tasty eatery." • fatima - "Vibrant "Let's Celebrate!" message with colorful burst design for festive occasions"