porters grange weekly newsletter week ending 13th October 2023

Nursery

This week we have been continuing our interest in our book for this half term, ‘The whales on the bus’, we have made a group dragon in the wagon, goats on boats, snakes on skates and baboons in balloons!!

We have also had amazing fun with some pirate themed toys and enjoyed taking our turn in a group game.

REMINDERS: Thank you to the parents and carers who attended this week’s reading workshop.

Reception

Thank you to the parents and carers who attended this week’s reading workshop. The children should have received their school reading book and reading log and have begun to use new skills to read their book and re-tell the story.

This week the children have enjoyed reciting familiar nursery rhymes and joining in with the words and actions. As part of letters and sounds phase 1, the children have been playing listening games and thinking what sounds they can hear at the beginning of words.

In maths the children have been learning to count carefully touching each object. They have explored making sets and how to sort objects in various ways.

REMINDER: Please check your child has their name in all items of clothing. Please listen to your child read at home and sign their reading record.

Year 1

This week the children have learned how to write the letters in the zig zag family. They have applied the correct letter formation within words. Some children have composed their own sentences and written them down. They have also been enjoying outdoor play, experimenting with heights of blocks and comparing these towers to their own height. The children have explored fact families in maths and working out number bonds.

REMINDER: Parents evening is Tuesday 17th and Wednesday 18th October. Please book a time to come and see us. Please support your child in practising to write the z, v, w and x.

Year 2

This week in English we made predictions about what would happen in the book “The Night Pirate.” We used our knowledge of nouns and adjectives to describe our characters. In maths, we learned about number bonds and fact families. We explored how numbers are related to each other and practised different math skills. Our history lesson focused on buildings in modern and Victorian Southend. In PSHE, we found different ways to manage our feelings. We created a “Keep Calm Toolkit” to help us when we’re feeling upset or worried. In PE, we had a great time practising ball skills, especially in the sunny weather!

REMINDER: A reminder that children shouldn't have earrings on for PE.

Year 3

This week Year 3 have been working on writing instructions in English for a stone age oatcake recipe. They have been applying knowledge of adverbs to clearly state how each instruction should be carried out. In maths they have been learning about addition and subtraction and are now applying their knowledge to using the formal method in a column. In art they have been making clay pots, inspired by the stone age, making markings on the pots.

REMINDER: Please remember to read every night with your child and then record this in their reading diary. Their diary should then also be in school every day.

Year 4

This week in English we have been reading the story ‘the Princess who hid in a tree’ about an Anglo-Saxon royal family who are treated badly by an evil king. The children have created their own family member and adapted some things within the story. In science, we had a great lesson all about different animal teeth and the children were fascinated by the different shapes of teeth and skulls.

REMINDER: Please remember to read every night with your child and then record this in their reading diary. Their diary should then also be in school every day.

Year 5

This week in English, the children have looked at biographies. They have read a biography about Katherine Johnson and identified the features.

In art, the children have planned their own space collage. Next week, they will create them using all of the skills learnt this half term.

REMINDER: Swordfish class are visiting the Planetarium next Wednesday and Seaturtle next Thursday. If you have not yet paid, please pay via Parent pay.

Year 6

This week, in English, we have been studying a biography about Arthur Conan Doyle - the author of the famous mystery novel Sherlock Holmes. In maths, we are learning how to use long division to solve trickier calculations. In geography, we have created a plan for a local area of spare land. In PSHE, we have discussed life events that could affect people’s mental health and wellbeing and solutions to help in these situations.

REMINDER: Please come to one of the parent evenings next week if you are able to make it. The children would love to show you some of the wonderful work they have been completing. A reminder that full PE kit needs to be in on Wednesdays and Fridays.

French

This week year five begin their study of animals in French; year four take their knowledge of French numbers onwards; year two are building sentences about the weather on different days.

Music

Music Clubs

• Tuesday: Music Making for year 1 and 2.
• Thursday: 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
• Wednesday am: Keyboard and Flute
• Wednesday am: Guitar

Did you know? Shopping at our Scholastic book fairs has raised £1357.11 in Scholastic Rewards in the last year for Porters Grange Primary School to spend on books!! This has been spent on high quality books that we share with your children during our daily reading time and lots of Porters P.I.C.K books for our big and micro-libraries for your children to enjoy.

Please support our book fair next week so we can raise some more money. We always need new books. The book fair is open straight after school in the North Hall everyday next week! Thank you for your support.

Community