18th December 2006

We wish you a Merry Christmas...

Well we have reached the end of the first term, and we have been thrilled with how much effort the children seemed to have put into their work. I'm sure that they will continue to put in the same amount of effort when they return in January.

Although we have a shortened week this week, we still have lots to pack into just three days...

On Monday, the children will be rehearsing for the Carol Service. We urge to to bring your tissues on Wednesday, as the children really do sing beautifully! We will be joined by the children from Key Stage 1 and Foundation, singing some traditional carols and songs from their production. Years 3 and 4 will also be joining us, to sing some songs from their production too. It promises to be a lovely service, with the emphasis on participation - we will provide song sheets for everyone!
We will also be making our Christmas Cards on Monday. The children have chosen the design already, and I'm sure that many of them have made larger versions at home!

On Tuesday, the hairspray, glitter and sparkles come out, as it is our Party Day! The children are able to come to school in their finery, including the best bib and tucker!! The children in years 5/6 have been allowed to get together with friendship groups from other classes, to organise their own party food, crackers, party poppers etc. A letter should have reached you last week, but please do call in to see any member of the 5/6 team if you are unsure of what to bring.

On Wednesday morning, we will be holding the Carol Service in the hall at 9am. Since this is for the whole school, space will be at a premium and we would ask to be both patient and considerate to the children, who will need access in and around the hall.

They will be allowed to bring in something from home, for extra Golden time after break on Wednesday, before the afternoon finale... the Parent's Panto!! We have heard lots of stories about it not being ready in time, but it is always superb, and everyone throughly enjoys it. We will be looking for 118-118!!!!

Curriculum

It can be difficult to keep the momentum going for 'work', particularly over the Christmas school holidays, but it will really benefit the children, if they maintain just 10 - 15 minutes bursts of activity over the break.

We have been thrilled with how many of the children have been learning their times tables. From assessments this week, we have noticed that although many of them now know the more difficult 6, 7 and 8's, they have forgotten the 3 and 4's! Also, when learning the tables, do try to encourage them to tell you the division facts too...7 x 7 = 49 so ask them 'What is 49 divided by 7?

The websites from 27th November are particularly useful for helping with multiplication tables and other areas of the curriculum

And if you have a spare moment or two over the festive period (I know...I am smiling as I type that!!), here are a few Christmas sites to keep all the family occupied:-

http://ww2.unime.it/dipart/i_fismed/wbt/mirror/ExplrSci/dswmedia/snwflak6-adv.htm
snowflake designer

http://www.merry-christmas.com/games/games.htm

http://ngfl.northumberland.gov.uk/christmas/ Christmas resources from Northumberland Grid for Learning.

http://www.btinternet.com/~tony.poulter/xmas/xmastlinks.htm

http://members.tripod.com/~newyearseve/

http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/teacher/christmas.html

http://www.star28.net/snow.html hilarious!! the penguin will write your message in the snow!!

http://dingo.care2.com/cards/new/0422/Do-a-rain-deer.swf play the reindeer noses!!

http://www.icq.com/friendship/pages/browse_page_7944.html reindeer band

Thank you to all the parents who continue to support us throughout the year and we would like to wish you all a happy and holy Christmas. I have included a poem, taken from the Carol Service, which I thought really summed everything up nicely...

When the song of the angels is stilled
When the star in the sky is gone
When the kings and the princes are home
When the shepherds are back with their flocks
The work of Christmas begins:
To find the lost
To heal the broken
To feed the hungry
To release the prisoner
To rebuild the nations
To bring peace among people
To make music in the heart.

and a Happy New Year...

5/6 team

11th December 2006

8 more get-ups...!

We are approaching the end of term and 2006 very quickly and it will soon be time to break up for Christmas. The Year 5/6 teachers are really proud of how the children have kept working right through all the other productions, without too many complaints!

Now it is our turn to start rehearsals for the Carol Service on the last day of term. The intention is that it will be a reflection on the true meaning of Christmas, and enable us all to take an hour or so out of all the preparation time, to share readings, prayers, poems and carols together as a whole school community. You are very welcome to join us in the school hall at 9am on the last day. Please do remember however, that space will very limited and we need to adhere to Fire Regulations for everyone's safety. Many thanks in advance.

Revision books

The revision books that many of the parents of children in Year 6 ordered, have now arrived in school. We shall be distributing them this week, although we don't intend for you to read them over your Christmas Lunch...New Year's Eve will be fine!!!!!!!!

He's behind you.......!!!

The whole school will be visiting Chester Gateway Theatre this Monday to see The Wizard of Oz. The children need to be in school for 8.15am as we will be leaving school PROMPTLY at 8.30am. Since the children will be out for breaktime, it would be helpful if you were able to send their snack and drink in a plastic bag to take with them. The children will be back in school to have lunch and will return home at normal time. Many thanks to Mrs Narraway, who has arranged this visit for everyone...oh yes she has!!!!! (can you tell I am getting into the festive mood this week??!!)

Festive Fun

Although we will be rehearsing for the carol service this week, our curriculum will still be continuing, although it will have a festive slant - (and lots of glitter and snowflakes!!)

There are lots of Christmas resources available on the internet, but I have included just a few to keep everyone busy. There are some lovely family ideas for games, discussions and crafts. Let us know if you found any of them useful or made any of the art ideas. I know lots of the children went home and made snowflakes last week!!

http://www.prospereducational.com/xmasresource.html A lovely Christmas book to download, full of festive ideas, such as origami Christmas Trees and Santas!

http://www.santasjournal.com/journal/ Online podcasts from Santa

http://www.santasjournal.com/journal/?cat=3 Click on this link for a beautiful song called ‘Christmas in Bethlehem’. Have the tissues handy as it really bring a tear to the eye!

http://www.north-pole.co.uk/advent_calendar/index.htm on line Advent Calendar, containing a task or a thought for the day.

http://www.metmuseum.org/explore/Christmas_Story/xmas_hmpg.html The Nativity Story through works of art.

http://www.dltk-holidays.com/xmas/index.html lots of Christmas activities, including puzzles, colouring etc.

We really enjoyed the Year 3/4 dress rehearsal on Friday and it shows how hard the staff and children have worked to bring the production together in such a short space of time. Good luck to you all for your performances this week - you will be fantastic!

The Year 1/2 and Foundation Teams amazed us yet again with their performance of 'The Christmas Rose'. You were all brilliant and the children were a real credit to their parents and teachers.

Have a good week!

Year 5/6 team

4th December 2006

We are on the Countdown to Christmas!

The children worked really hard last week, but we can sense that Christmas is coming! We will be starting to prepare our Carol Service this week, but will continue will full curriculum up until the end of next week.

Slippers!

Many thanks to the parents who have already sent materials in to make slippers, but there is still time to send more! The children have created some great designs (some are VERY adventurous!) and are really eager to actually make them. Your child should be able to tell you the materials they need, including foam, rubber, padding and material. We are using a hot glue gun in school, but some children have chosen to bring in upholstery bonding spray, which has been really successful. It would be helpful if this can be in school for Tuesday, as we will be making them during the latter half of the week.

Numeracy

Well, you are learning your tables aren't you!!?? We have been amazed at the speed with which some of you are able to use your tables. Not only can you do this, some children can even do the corresponding division facts!! This is fantastic and has really had an impact on their ability to handle other mathematical problems.

One site which has had a real impact is http://www.wmnet.org.uk/resources/gordon/Hit%20the%20button%20v9.swf

This has had everyone getting very competitive indeed and they have even had me taking part in the competition! The current of 58 in one minute is the current score to beat! Use the times tables section and then use the same division facts ie if you choose x7 for the tables, choose divide by 7 and see which you are better at.

http://www.figurethis.org/challenges/challenge_index.htm

I also came across this site, which really got my brain working (and did create some frustration and discussion in my house!) It is a site for families based on maths challenges. There are about 80 challenges, which are designed to create mathematical discussion at home. There are suggestions for how to work it out and the answers. Try not to go to the answers too soon though, as it does provoke lots of discussion! If you fancy an extra challenge, you can even view the site in Spanish!!

Science

We will be concluding our topic on Forces this week, so there are lots of sites which could help with teh revision of this.

http://www.doscience.com/act_archive/index.html

http://www.madsci.org/labs/MAD_labs.html extension science work

http://www.ase.org.uk/sen/investigations/s-passport.htm science passport for year 6/7

http://www.primaryschoolscience.com/samples.php downloadable activities

http://www.channel4.com/apps26/learning/microsites/E/essentials/science/index.shtml

http://www.channel4.com/apps26/learning/microsites/E/essentials/science/physical/forcesaction_bi.jsp forces in action. Can you answer the quiz questions?

http://users.pipeline.com.au/~jpearce/gyro_complete.swf making a paper helicopter

Writing

The children produced some brilliant non-chronological reports last week, and have got lots of enthusiasm for writing, so I have found some websites, which could act as 'firelighters' for producing some independent work.

http://www.channel4.com/learning/microsites/B/bookbox/writerstoolkit/home.htm writer’s toolkit - how to write the beginnings, middles and endings of stories

http://www.childwriters.co.uk/ write stories and see them published on the web!

http://www.creativewriting4kids.com/

http://www.spelling.hemscott.net/ help with spelling, including worksheets which you can download

http://www.lazybeescripts.co.uk/YouthTheatre/The_Scottish_Play.htm This week we are looking at 'The Scottish Play!' This is a great site, which shows a script for children, explaining Shakepeare's play in child-friendly language.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/storycircle/fairystories/dream/ I know this is on Cbeebies (far too cool for Year 6!) but it is a really good animated version of A Midsummer night's dream.

Phase Team Mass

Father Richard will be joining us in school this Thursday, to celebrate Mass with the 5/6 children and staff. It is a time for preparation and reflection as we prepare for Christmas.

Advent Challenge

Last week, I set the children the challenge of finding what the different coloured candles on the Advent wreath meant. A few children managed to get the right answer, but I thought that I would let everyone know this week:

An advent wreath traditionally contains four candles-three purple and one rose. Purple dyes were one so rare and costly that they were associated with royalty; the Church has long used this colour around Christmas and Easter to honour Jesus. The three purple candles in the Advent wreath symbolise hope, peace, and love. These candles are lit on the first, second, and fourth Sundays of Advent. The rose candle, which symbolizes joy, is usually lit on the third Sunday.
Sometimes a fifth candle is placed inside the Advent wreath. This candle is lit on Christmas Day. It is white, the color associated with angels and the birth of Jesus.

NOTICES

You should still be receiving the weekly newsletter every Friday, but here are just a few snippets, just in case that letter hasn't actually made it to you yet...

• please send any outstanding photograph monies into school this week as the photographer will be back in school to collect monies or unwanted photographs
• pantomine - we will be having early registration that day at 8.15 am. We will be leaving school at 8.30 and walked up by the local police to the Methodist Church car park. The children will be returning to school for a late lunch that day.

Keep an eye out in your child's diary for any further information during the week! Good luck to Key Stage 1 and Foundation, who are performing their play 'The Christmas Rose'. You will be fantastic!

Year 5/6 team