After a tumultuous year, there is comfort to be found when we pause to read, pray, and reflect over the course of the Advent season in which believers eagerly anticipate the celebration of Christ’s birth.
The first Sunday of Advent gives us the opportunity to center our thoughts on hope. It's a beautiful chance to remember the hope God offers to our lost and dying world, and that He's given us through Jesus.
As we prepare our hearts to celebrate Jesus’ arrival as a gift to all humanity; let’s stir up in our hearts and homes a sense of anticipation. Over this Advent, we pray that hope would rise up in our spirits in a tangible and life-giving way.
All the children have continued to work hard this week, but these are the pupils we are celebrating this week….
Golden Award - Elsie for being a friend to all in Year 1 - a lovely thing to be.
Writing Award - Zachary for a super week of independent writing in our poem unit.
Maths Award- Aibhin for great addition work using a number line.
This week we have been learning….
English - this week we have focused on poetry and rhyme this week. We have found rhyming words, noted where the capital letters are, what punctuation is used at the end of the lines and even used some of our own ideas to change the lines to make new verses of our own! We have had some great new versions of Pussycat Pussycat. In Phonics we have focused on ‘er’ a better letter and ‘ea’ cup of tea.
Maths - this week we have focused on addition, using our number lines to support our learning. We have looked at making pictures, part, part whole models, numbers and calculations all same the same thing. We continue to work on doubling, halving, addition and subtraction in our mental Maths work.
RE - this week we have focused on Mary’s trip to see her cousin Elizabeth and the wonderful news that she, too, was with child. We thought about what they two special ladies may have said to each other and put this in our writing. We also made our Advent stars for our calendar in preparation for next week!
Science - this week we focused on the five key elements that animals need to survive. We also thought about how to care for a pet in our home and we heard all about Year 1’s pets!
Art - this week we prepared our Winter class background by painting a tree covered in snow! We will get back to our sewing new week!
Work to do at Home - please follow the link to see our Year 1 expectations for what the children should be doing at home. http://www.ourladyassumption-sch.co.uk/yr1-homework/2020/11/13/autumn-term-expectations
SELF ISOLATING/HOME LEARNING - if your child is having to self isolate because either they or someone in your household is showing ANY symptoms of Covid 19, then please follow the following link to the NEW Home Learning page. From now on, this is where the work for the week will be posted. Please post photos of your child’s work into the Portfolio section of Class Dojo. It is only by working together to keep each other safe that we will manage to keep Year 1 and our school open. Please keep everyone safe by keeping your child at home if anyone in your household is showing symptoms: is awaiting a test or is waiting for test results. Many thanks. http://www.ourladyassumption-sch.co.uk/yr1-home-learning
Other things to mention…
SCHOOL CONTINUES TO CLOSE AT 1.15PM EVERY FRIDAY
Many thanks for supporting the PTFA’s Silly Sock Day today - the children looked great!
Please sign your child’s reading record each time they read so that they can collect stickers on their bookmark. We ask that children read at home a minimum of three times a week.
PE - Monday and Friday. We now have Music on a Wednesday with our new music teacher Miss Benson. Children CANNOT wear earrings for PE.
Don’t forget your child’s school water bottle each day - thanks!
Please do not send your child into school if they are unwell or showing any signs of Covid 19 - we need to work together to keep each other safe. Many thanks for this.
CHRISTMAS CARDS - it maybe a little early to mention Christmas cards - but this year more than ever it is important to note that children MUST NOT BRING CHRISTMAS CARDS INTO CLASS TO GIVE OUT TO THEIR FRIENDS/CLASSMATES.. We will not permit these to be given out due to the current situation, nor will staff give them out. If you wish, your child can bring in ONE CARD for the whole class. Many thanks.
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
CHRISTMAS JUMPER DAY FRIDAY 11TH DECEMBER - we would like to invite the children to wear their Christmas jumper for the day to school - over their usual school uniform. We ask that this is a JUMPER and not a DRESS or SUIT or ONESIE. Year 1 will still have PE as it is a Friday. Many thanks. We are not asking for any donations for this.
YEAR 1’S CHRISTMAS PREPARATIONS. Obviously, we cannot prepare for Christmas in the usual way this year with Nativities and Carol Services, but that does not mean that we are not marking the festive season in school. This year, Year 1 are going to learn ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas’ to fit in with our poetry theme in English. I have cut the poem into two-line sections, so each child has just TWO LINES TO LEARN. I would like the children to learn their lines so that they know them by heart. We will practice in class, but I do ask for your help at home with learning these two lines. I will then film the children on Friday 11th December, Christmas Jumper Day, so that the children all look nice and festive! The video, along with videos from the rest of the school with their festive offerings, will then be put on the website at the beginning of the last week of term. Many thanks for your help and support with this.
And finally……..have a lovely weekend and thank-you for your continued support. - it really is very much appreciated.
Stay safe……..Mrs Hollinghurst, Mrs Veasey and Miss Collins
