Thank-you so much for your support with today’s themed day…what would you like to be when you grow up? The children loved showing off their costumes and talking about their dreams for the future.
This week we have been learning…..
English - our focus has been our RWI lessons where we concentrate on phonics, spelling, reading and writing. In class we continue to work hard on our pre-cursive handwriting, spelling of the common exception words and our independent sentence construction.
Maths - this week we have focused on 3D shapes, their names and their properties.
RE - we have discussed the story of Zaachaeus and how he was changed by meting Jesus.
Science - we have completed our topic on materials buy looking at why materials are better suited to some objects than others - we have used our properties words to help us with that!
Topic - we have completed our mapping unit by creating our own aerial map of the school and grounds.
Art - the children have completed their drawing unit this week with Mrs Debowska by focusing on mark making and shape.
Many congratulations to this week’s certificate winners….
Golden Award - Avie for creating a super aerial map of school and it’s grounds.
Writing Award - Erin for super writing at Zacchaeus in RE.
Maths Award - Izzy for super shape work this week using 3D shapes
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 Debowska and Mrs McCooey and is also when the children will have Music with Mrs Watson.
Party Invitations - I am afraid that Mrs Debowska 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
6.3.25 - World Book Day - see info below for details.
17.3.25 - Parent/Teacher Meetings - please keep an eye out for the email giving you information on booking a slot. These meetings will run from 1-5pm and will be an opportunity for us to catch up on your child’s learning and how you can support them at home.
PLEASE SEE MRS MANNIX’S LATEST NEWSLETTER - THERE ARE LOADS OF DATES ON THE BOTTOM OF THAT LETTER FOR THIS TERM!
In Key Stage 1, children have common exception words to learn alongside their letters and sounds spellings. Common exception words are words in which the English spelling code works in an unusual or uncommon way. They are not words for which phonics 'doesn't work', but they may be exceptions to spelling rules, or words which use a particular combination of letters to represent sound patterns in a rare or unique way.
In Year 1 we are having a real PUSH on these words this term - to ensure that ALL children can read, write and spell correctly ALL of these words. They really do help support the flow of reading. You can really support your child at home by practicing these words. First of all, can they read them instantly? Not sounding them out, but just read them because they know them. Secondly, can they spell them? Thirdly, can they spell them correctly if they are writing their own sentence and are not told how to spell the word? These are all things you can help with at home - just 5/10 minutes each day will really help.
I have included a link to the Top Marks web page with a few interactive games which might hep!
Many thanks for your help.
Words and Spelling, English Games for 5-7 Years - Topmarks
Spelling games: Common exception words (spellzone.com)
Little Bird Spelling || Practise spelling Common Exception Words (ictgames.com)
Safer Internet Day
On Tuesday, it was Safer Internet Day and in school we did some learning around the theme ‘Too good to be true? Protecting yourself and others from scams online‘.
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. Below are some links and safety guides which you may find useful:
UK Safer Internet Centre
Tips for Parents and Carers: Keeping you and your loved ones safe online https://saferinternet.org.uk/safer-internet-day/safer-internet-day-2025/tips-for-parents-and-carers
PARENTAL CONTROLS: Protecting young people from inappropriate online content. https://saferinternet.org.uk/online-issue/parental-controls
Internet matters.org
See recommended online safety guides for parents:
https://www.internetmatters.org/resources/online-safety-guide-0-5-year-olds/ With so many websites and apps targeting pre-schoolers, find out the simple steps you can take to protect your young children.
https://www.internetmatters.org/resources/online-safety-guide-6-10-year-olds/ As internet use grows, learn about the steps you can make to establish positive behaviour and how you can teach your child to stay safe.
https://www.internetmatters.org/resources/online-safety-guide-11-13-year-olds/ As your child makes the important transition from primary to secondary school make sure your knowledge increases with theirs.
Activate parental controls with how-to guides https://www.internetmatters.org/parental-controls/ Parental controls can be used to manage screen time, block inappropriate content, prevent accidental spending, and keep strangers away.
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 for your support.
Year 1 - we focused on what to do if you notice a problem, who you should tell and what sort of things could go wrong. We also talked about personal information that you should not share online and information about you that is ok to share.
World Book Day will to celebrated in school on THURSDAY 6th MARCH. On that day we ask that the children come to school dressed as their favourite BOOK character. They can even bring the book with them to share in class. (Please ensure that any books brought into school are named). Please do not feel you have to spend a lot of money on costumes - the homemade ones are always our favourites! We look forward to seeing who we have in class that day!!
Catholic Life of our school..
The following resources are a great way of keeping you all informed of our current liturgy themes and of the weekly Gospel scripture, with some activities that the children can complete at home. We hope you find these resources useful and that they help you to support prayer and worship in your own homes.
https://www.paperturn-view.com/wednesday-word/holiday-booklet?pid=MTA101634&v=167.5
And finally…have a lovely weekend, stay safe. Mrs Hollinghurst, Mrs Debowska and all the Year 1 team.
A few pictures of our week….
