During this period of Lent we are think every day about how we can ‘walk towards’ Jesus. We have been thinking carefully about our actions, how we speak to others, how we treat other people and how we can always try to do our best. We are also thinking about prayer and throughout Lent Year 1 are learning the words of the Lord’s prayer and thinking about what this prayer means. We are Jesus’ disciples and we His hands and feet on Earth. Our Lent Promises….

English - we have continued on with our RWI lessons. During these sessions we all focus on phonics, reading, spelling and sentence development. We have also been working on our pre-cursive handwriting in which we focus on how to write our letters, starting on the line. We are continuing to work hard on our common exception words, reading them in class every day!

Maths - this week we have been focused on making two digit numbers on our ten frames and then finding one more or one less. We have been speaking sentences to each other to help us understand one more and one less.

RE - this week we have been focused on Jesus’ return to Jerusalem and how people responded to that, but waving palm leaves and laying down their cloaks - but how some people were unhappy about this. We also heard the story of the widow’s mite and looked at how we can give to others during Lent.

Science - this week we were weather reports!! We also looked at the season of Autumn and how some creature hibernate during this season.

ICT - we have continued with our BEE Bots work - we all really loves these little creatures! We are learning to be precise with our programming.

Art - this week we have been on a special mission for Mother’s Day!

History - we continued with our work on Queens, this week focusing on Elizabeth I and Tudor times - we wouldn’t have liked to live in Tudor England!

This week’s winners are…

Golden Award - Eva for always showing care, love and friendship to those around her. Eva always has an eye for a friend who needs a bit of help.

Writing Award - Arlo for his care attention to all his written work. This is great to see, keep up the hard work.

Maths Award - Carter for super two digit Maths work this week finding one more and one less and using the sentences stems to explain what he has found out.

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.

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 white tops.

I will not be in class on a Thursday afternoon, as it is my release time. This will be covered by Mrs Gilheaney, Miss Simons and Mrs Connolly and is also when the children will have Music with Mrs Watson

Party Invitations - I am afraid that Miss Simons 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’t 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!! Yr1 Homework — Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Primary School (squarespace.com)

Lent Calendar - to share at home

Just a few important dates coming up for you to know about….

Thursday 7th March - World Book Day. We are inviting all of the children to come to school on this day dressed as a book character and to bring their favourite book to share. (Please make sure these are clearly named with your child’s name). Please do not feel you have to spend a lot of money on a costume - it is all about the taking part and the books and we LOVE home-made costumes!!

Friday 15th March - Brian House Own Clothes Day - we are inviting the children to come to school in their own clothes on this day and for parents to donate to our chosen charity. (PLEASE NOTE as it is a Friday Year 1 will have PE on this day - so remember suitable footwear.)

Tuesday 19th March - KS1 Open Afternoon - all parents are invited to join us in class on this day anytime after 2pm to 4pm to see what we do in class, talk to your child about their work, as all their books will be out and talk totheir teachers about their learning and have a look round our class. We hope you can join us!

Friday 22nd March - KS1 Palm Sunday liturgy - join us in Church at 2.30pm to see KS1 retell the story of Palm Sunday as we begin our Holy Week celebrations.

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 ar 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)

Common Exception Word List - Year 1

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. https://www.paperturn-view.com/uk/wednesday-word/faithfulness?pid=MTA101634&v=74.6

Please take a look at these Ten Ten resources to support prayer and worship at home.

http://www.tentenresources.co.uk/prayers-for-home/parent-newsletter/