English - this week we have re-grouped the children according to their latest assessments. The children have been streamed across all of KS1 to ensure that they are in the best group to meet their needs. These groups will be fluid and will change as and when the children are able to close their gaps and apply their phonic knowledge to their independent reading. These groups will be taught by all the KS1 staff.

We are also working on the formation of our pre-cursive letters and learning how to read and write the common exception words for Year 1.

Maths - this week we have been working on subtraction We have used ten frames and part part whole models to physically take counters away and break up our numbers. We have also used the phrase First, Then, Now to help us think about the order that the three numbers should be placed in our calculations. Great Maths vocabulary being used this week.   

RE – this week we have been learning all about the challenges that Mary and Joseph experienced in their journey to Bethlehem. We have discussed the fact that they never gave up and in the end they were helped by the kindness of strangers. A strong moral message for us at this busy tie of year.

Geography – this week we have continued with our new topic on Continents and Oceans. We have continued by examining maps of the world and locating the seven continents of the world. This week our focus has been on Africa and the country of Kenya.

Science – our work on grouping animals continued with learning about what animals eat and the fact that they can be grouped in this way. We have learnt the terms of herbivore, carnivore and omnivore.

 Art – this week the children have made their Christmas cards.

A great deal of week has been given over to Nativity practice! We are now getting there!! Please continue to practice the songs at home – if you can. Many thanks.


I am delighted to announce this week’s winners….

Golden Award – Maisie for being a super star in all our practices this week! Fully engaged, excellent listening and super enthusiasm.

Writing Award – Etta for working SO hard on her letter formation this week - keep up the hard work. 

Maths Award – Cody for super subtraction work this week - great use of your resources. 

 

General pieces of information

  • PE will be on Monday and Friday so please send the children into class in the PE kits on those days. No earrings can be worn for PE so please ensure that they are taken out at home.
  • Trainers - if your children is wearing trainers with laces for PE they must be able to tie them by themselves. This is a health and safety issue - please ensure your child can tie their laces before sending them in lace-up trainers.
  • Water bottles - all the children were given a new school bottle this week. This will come home each night to be cleaned and re-filled. Please only use the school bottles and ensure your child brings theirs each day. Lost water bottles can be replaced at the school office, but I am afraid you will have to pay for those. Year 1 have orange tops.
  • I will not be in class on a Thursday afternoon, as it is my release time. This will be covered by Mrs Connolly and Miss Evans and is also when the children will have Music with Mrs Watson.
  • Party Invitations - I am afraid that Miss Evans and I will not be able to give out party invitations in class. Please do not send your child into class with them for them to give out - it creates upset and fuss about something that takes place outside of school.Thank-you for your understanding with this matter.
  • Key Rings - please do not put key rings onto your child’s school bag, it create fuss in class and then upset if they are lost.
  • School bag - please continue to use the red book bag that your child was given in Reception, we don not have the room to store large bags. Many thanks for your help with this matter.
  • Homework Expectations - please see the Homework page for what I expect the children to do at home…..don’t worry, it’s mainly just reading!! HOMEWORK EXPECTATIONS - YEAR 1 — Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Primary School (squarespace.com)

  • Please take a look at what the PTFA have planned this term….

    Christmas Fair 12th December (after school)

  • Catholic Life of our school.

  • We are delighted to be able to share with you the Good News Gospel readings for families. Please follow the link to share the Gospel at home with your family. These are really child-friendly resources to share at home.  Please take a look at these Ten Ten resources to support prayer and worship at home.

  • https://www.paperturn-view.com/wednesday-word/holiday-booklet?pid=MTA101634&v=167.5

  • Reading Books - Miss Evans continues her Guided Reading groups so the children will have read their GR books, applying the skills they are developing in RWI, and will have had their books changed. This will happen once a week, on the same day for your child that it did this week. Please ensure your child’s reading things are kept in their bag and are in school each day - but particularly on this day. The children will be heard reading to an adult EVERYDAY in their RWI lesson where they are taught the skills of reading, this GR session is to develop, practice, apply and refine these skills.

  •  

    Please ensure that you sign your child’s reading records as they can have a sticker on their book mark for each day that they read to an adult at home. Once the book mark is full the children will receive a certificate. Also Miss Evans will give out a Golden Ticket every third time your child’s record is signed. These will be added to a draw done at the end of the half term with the chance to find a book themed prize. The more tickets you have in the draw, the more chance you have of winning a prize!!

  • At Our Lady's we like to support our parents/carers in Online Safety matters. 

    Keeping children and young people safe online is one of the biggest challenges facing society today and it is all of our responsibility to ensure that children are educated to make positive, informed choices when they are online.

    This month’s online safety guide gives helpful advice about…

    What Parents & Educators Need to Know about toy scalping, fakes and scams. This online safety guide explores the world of online scalping, where bots snap up high-demand items for resale at extortionate prices, and explains the risks to children and young people.

    Scalping has long been a frustration for fans hoping to bag concert tickets or exclusive toys, but the online world has supercharged this dishonest tactic. Scalpers use bots to buy up stock in seconds, then resell items such as consoles or collectibles at significant mark-ups. For young people, it can be disappointing and harmful to their wallets, wellbeing and worldview. 

    As this unethical practice becomes more visible, and, worryingly, sometimes glamourised online, it’s important to talk to children about fairness, financial boundaries, and spotting scams. This guide breaks down the tricks of the trade and how to avoid them, helping young consumers stay safe, informed and scam-free. 

    We hope you find these guides informative and helpful in promoting the positive use of technology to make the online world a better and safer place for us all. Thank you.

  • Many thanks to all those families who have welcomed Mary and Joseph into their homes this week. Just one more week to go! The children have loved sharing their experiences in class and look for to the 'draw' each day. 

  • Nativity Pictures

  • Year 1 and Year 2 will perform their nativity for the school on Tuesday 16th and then for parents/carers on Wednesday 17th at 9.30am and then again at 2pm. This week you will have received your 2 tickets for each performance. As we have 60 children in this nativity it is necessary to limit the number of adults who can come and watch as we can only have so many people safely in our school hall at one time - we do have a health and safety limit. Many thanks for your understanding with this matter and we look forward to welcoming you to our nativity 'Wriggly Nativity' on Wednesday. 

  • And finally……have a lovely weekend…..Mrs Hollinghurst, Miss Evans and Mrs Connolly

    Welcome Letter all attachments can be found on the Homework Page.