Coming up in this edition of the newsletter...
- Garden work on the KS2 Playground
- Achievement Outside of School - Ozzy
- Fussy Eating Workshop on Wednesday
A very busy second week of our summer term… Lots has happened this week from class photographs to Earth Day, from Mock SATs Week to dance lessons. It’s been lovely to return to school with some warmer, sunnier weather. As the weather is a bit warmer, we are seeing more lost jumpers and cardigans. Please, please, please, please, please, please make sure that clothes are all named. Please 😊 You might have noticed that some work has started outside on the playground outside the Year 6 classrooms. This space was always a little uninspiring apart from the lovely trees. One of the trees was planted in memory of a past pupil, Hayley. Very soon, this space will be transformed into a garden in memory of Hayley and Mrs. Hodgson. For those of you who are newer to the school, Mrs. Hodgson was a Learning Support Assistant who sadly passed away last May. Mrs. Hodgson was incredibly devoted to Friars and worked here for more than 25 years. She also loved gardening! We hope that the garden will be fully open next half-term. Today a letter was sent regarding our Key Stage 1 and 2 Sports Day and Picnic. Please do take the time to read the letter. If you have attended one of our days before, you will see that we are following the same structure. It is always a fantastic day. Fingers crossed for perfect conditions! Next week on Tuesday, Year 3 are off to Colchester Castle to delve into history. I have attended the Colchester Castle visit previously and it is a superb day of learning. I know everyone will have fun. Also, next week, we have a Year 4 times tables event on the Wednesday afternoon. Busy, busy, busy… Have a lovely weekend, Mr. Chris McClay, Principal
Fussy Eating Workshop
On Wednesday morning next week, we are hosting an in-school fussy eating workshop. Please do come along if you think this might be useful to you. There is a poster about the session towards the end of the newsletter.
Just in case you missed this last week…
Last term, we were delighted to receive a message from Bridget Phillipson who is the current Secretary of State for Education…
Achievement Outside of School
Well done to Ozzy from Owls Class for being awarded 'Player of the Week' for his rugby team last weekend!
Diary Dates
April
- Tuesday 28th - Year 3 Colchester Castle Visit
- Portico Multi-Sports Festival
- Wednesday 29th - Year 1 Swimming - Wrens
- Fussy Eating Workshop
- Y4 Times Tables Event
May
- Wednesday 6th - Year 1 Swimming - Wrens
- Monday 11th - Thursday 14th - SATs Week
- Wednesday 13th - Year 1 Swimming - Wrens
- Friday 15th - Non Uniform Day for Havens
- Monday 18th - Junior Music Festival Rehearsals
- Wednesday 20th - Year 1 Swimming - Wrens
- Year 4 Assembly to Parents
- Thursday 21st - KS1 & KS2 Sports Day and Picnic
- Friday 22nd - INSET Day
- Monday 25th - Friday 29th - HALF TERM
Nursery
This week Nursery have read the traditional tale, Jack and the Beanstalk and have enjoyed planting their own runner beans which we hopefully will see grow over the next few weeks. The children also chose to make green playdough, which they have used to make their own beanstalks by rolling and shaping the dough, some children added real leaves which they had collected from the garden. After drawing a giant beanstalk on the playground, some children got into character and acted out the story using the repetitive phrase ‘Fe Fi Fo Fum’. We have enjoyed another successful visit to the school library and selected new books to bring back to nursery with us.
REMINDER: Please look out for the new Stay and Play' dates for this term. Children should have come home with letters this week.
Reception
This week, we have had lots of fun in our outdoor learning sessions. The children were encouraged to listen to sounds in the garden, as well as going on a nature walk. In their second session, the children spoke about bugs, their habitats, and why they are useful for the environment, and then went on a bug hunt. Our phonics sessions have focused on reading longer words with digraphs at the beginning or the end, as well as unusual word endings, such as ‘ft’ in shift or ‘lk’ at the end of milk.
Throughout the week, the children have been doubling numbers up to 10 and have had lots of opportunities to explore doubling within provision. Our work with the book Errol’s Garden has continued through naming parts of plants and creating our own garden plan.
REMINDER: Our sports afternoon takes place on Thursday 18th June. We will be practising events ready for this after half term. Our dance sessions will continue to take place each week with Robins dancing every Monday and Owls every Tuesday.
Year 1
In English this week, we have focused on instructions and have linked this to Earth Day. The children had to follow instructions to make their own wind snake and then they wrote instructions so that other people would be able to make one too. They thought about which “bossy” verbs would be good to use. In maths, we have been learning about using arrays to help us solve repeated addition problems. We have begun our new topic, “Plants” in science. We have studied various seeds and guessed which seed would grow into which plant. We then planted seeds in small groups and are very excited to see them grow. Wrens have had their second swimming lesson this week and are really impressing their swimming teachers with their effort.
Letters sent home this week
Year 2
Year 2 have continued exploring fractions in maths this week including identifying equal parts to create quarters and thirds. We have used manipulatives to find fractions of amounts including ½, ¼ and 1/3 and have enjoyed completing challenges too! During our English lessons, the children have used their knowledge of Antarctic Animals to write their own non-chronological reports using some technical language such as ‘flightless, waterproof and predator’. We celebrated Earth Day by creating our own windmills and discussing how we can look after our precious Earth. Once again 2S and 2W shone in their dance lessons with Miss Rebecca and they also showed Mrs Witt how well they can play the glockenspiel in the first of our music lessons with her this term! What a great week we’ve had!
REMINDER: As the days are becoming warmer, please ensure jumpers and cardigans are clearly labelled with names. It makes it much easier to reunite them with their owners.
Letters sent home this week
Year 3
This week in English, we continued developing our persuasive letter writing skills. The children worked hard to use strong reasons, clear opinions, and persuasive language to convince their reader. We were very impressed with how confidently they began structuring their ideas and supporting them with examples. In maths, we spent time recapping our learning about fractions. The class practised recognising fractions, understanding what they represent, and comparing different fractions. It has been great to see their confidence growing as they explained their thinking using mathematical vocabulary. During our afternoon lessons, we explored the parts and functions of a flowering plant. The children learned about roots, stems, leaves, and flowers, and discussed how each part helps a plant grow and survive. They showed lots of curiosity and asked some thoughtful questions about how plants live and change over time.
Letters sent home this week
Year 4
We have had another fantastic week of learning. In English, the children have been writing and performing their own poems in the style of Michael Rosen. They worked incredibly hard on both their writing and performances, and their poems were full of humour and highly entertaining to watch! Maths lessons have focused on decimals, including dividing by 10 and 100, with a big emphasis on developing arithmetic skills. In science, pupils explored circuits, learning how and why they work before creating their own examples. PE included our second dance lesson—well done to everyone for remembering the moves from last week! In geography, we looked at the Seven Summits, using our map reading skills to identify and locate these famous mountains. PSHE lessons focused on giving compliments and understanding how it makes both ourselves and others feel. In RE, we explored what religious stories tell believers about temptation, focusing on the story of Adam and Eve. French lessons involved giving and understanding basic directions, while in music we continued learning songs as a group and adding movements to match the lyrics. Well done for all your hard work this week. REMINDER: A reminder that 4L outdoor learning will take place next week. Keep up all your hard work learning your times tables on TT Rockstars. Don’t forget the spellings for this half term are now on Showbie. On Wednesday, parents of Year 4 are invited to attend the maths afternoon to enjoy some times tables activities with the children. Please come along...
Letters sent home this week
Year 5
This week our children in Year 5 have been busy calculating angles around a point and along a line within their maths learning. They have used their previous knowledge of right angles, acute, obtuse and reflex. We look forward to seeing their responses with the maths homework based on this knowledge. Through our English learning this week we have continued on the topic of Macbeth. They began the week by matching Shakespearian phrases with what they mean in modern day language. We used some of this language when they practised writing their own playscripts about Macbeth. We have some budding playwrights! We enjoyed another dance session adding to the routine we learnt last week followed by comparing in R.E some of the different creation stories. We are seeing some great progress in music with skills on the ukeleles and glockenspiels. We are very proud! The children earlier in the week have used a range of sources to research life in Ancient Greece. Next week they will begin to plan and deliver a presentation based on this. We are excited to see the end product.
Letters sent home this week
Year 6
This week, Year 6 have been very busy with their final practice SATS. All of the children have worked extremely hard and persevered well. Alongside these, we have continued our grammar and maths revision, ending the week with negative numbers. In English, we have continued reading our layered reading text, Holes. We are very much enjoying the dynamic between the Warden and Mr Sir. We also had a PSHE lesson looking a how to maintain privacy online and some of the children were shocked to see the age restrictions of certain social media apps such as WhatsApp and TikTok.
Letters sent home this week
Computing
What a week we have had in the computer suite! The students have thoroughly enjoyed exploring the programmable LEGO Spike, particularly the older children. Each group has diligently collaborated to construct specific builds aimed at solving designated problems. Following these constructions, we proceeded to create programmes, subsequently adapting them to enhance efficiency, interest, or challenge. Year 4 commenced the week by building a river ferry, designing a robot capable of controlling and pushing a boat out into the water. This project not only fostered teamwork but also encouraged creative problem-solving. Year 6 followed suit, engaging in the creation of a mini golf-style carnival game. Beginning with a rudimentary structure, the children worked industriously to modify their course and speed, thereby increasing the difficulty of making the ‘shot’. Their enthusiasm and innovation were commendable. Lastly, Year 5 students focused on designing a “Waving Good Morning” machine. By utilising various LEGO components, they successfully created a moving hand and enhanced their project with lights and diverse programming elements. I am eager to observe the progression of their skills throughout the term as they prepare to develop their very own creations. Additionally, the Computing Club experienced an overwhelming turnout on Thursday, with numerous Key Stage 2 students eager to further explore their computing skills. The most popular activity involved creating PowerPoint posters, where students utilised a variety of images to express their creativity.
Sports & PE
It has been great to see a range of sporting activities taking place outside this week with the improved weather. This has seen most classes developing athletics skills or summer sports. Dance sessions have continued and we have heard lots of positive comments from children about their routines.
Online Safety
YouTube continues to be a go-to platform for entertainment, learning and creativity, but its vast and largely unregulated content library presents ongoing challenges. This guide outlines how features like recommendations, Shorts and social interaction can shape young people’s viewing habits, sometimes exposing them to inappropriate or extreme material. It also explores key safeguarding concerns, including stranger interaction, risky trends and the limits of automated moderation. With practical advice on tools such as YouTube Kids, supervised accounts and parental controls, the guide supports parents and educators in encouraging safer, more balanced and informed use of the platform.
Dinner Menu
Week 2
Monday
- Beef & Bean Chilli with Steamed Rice
- Vegan Bean Chilli with Steamed Rice
- Pasta with Tomato & Vegetable Sauce
- Sweetcorn & Carrots
- Ham Salad Wrap
- Cheese & Tomato Bloomer
- Jam & Coconut sponge
Tuesday
- Chicken Tikka Curry with Steamed Rice
- Homemade Margherita Pizza with Spiced Baked Wedges
- Baked Jacket Potato with Baked Beans or Salmon Mayonnaise
- Spiced Roasted Cauliflower & Broccoli
- Egg Mayonnaise Sandwich
- Cheese Salad Wrap
- Apple & Carrot Flapjack
Wednesday
- Roast Leg of Lamb with Gravy
- Sweet Potato & Leek Frittata with Gravy
- Pasta with Tomato & Vegetable Sauce
- Roast Potatoes, Broccoli & Carrots
- Cheese & Tomato Bloomer
- Ham Sandwich
- Fruit Jelly
Thursday
- Beef Meatballs in a Roasted Tomato & Basil Sauce with Pasta
- Vegan Meatballs in a Roasted Tomato & Basil Sauce with Pasta
- Pasta with Squash & Tomato Sauce
- Corn on the Cob & Roasted Carrots
- Cheese Sandwich
- Chicken Mayonnaise Baguette
- Homemade Strawberry Cheesecake
Friday
- Fish Fingers, Chips & Ketchup
- Vegan Quorn Nuggets with Chips & Ketchup
- Baked Jacket Potatoes with Baked Beans
- Baked Beans and Peas
- Egg Mayonnaise Sandwich
- Ham Salad Baguette
- Vanilla Ice Cream
Also Available Every Day Fresh fruit, yoghurt, and Jelly
Celebration Assembly
The links for our Celebration Assemblies can be found below.
Attendance
Across the past week, attendance has not hit the heights we expect at Friars. Unfortunately, no classes received attendance stickers this week as nobody achieved 97% or better. It isn’t often that this happens. Let’s hope that next week we have more children in school. This week’s attendance winners were 2W in Key Stage 1 and 3SM in Key Stage 2.
Our second week of the summer term saw Stormont run out winners in Key Stage 1 and Windsor take top spot for Key Stage 2. Overall, Windsor scored the most points so our fourth-place team has closed the gap a little more.
Windsor really have put in a strong showing in recent weeks. Imagine if they were to win the Friars Cup in July… it would be quite the turnaround!
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"