Good afternoon everyone,
As we approach the end of our third week of Lent, Year 2 have been thinking about respect and what this means. We discussed how being respectful can be shown in a number of different ways: we can listen to our friends or adults, understand people's different opinions, use our manners, present our work in the best way possible, accept and own up to our mistakes and try to help others. We also learned that we need to show respect to others to encourage them to show us respect back and how important respecting ourselves is. This is an ongoing focus in Year 2 to have help us to become the best we can be.
This Lent, Our Lady of the Assumption is looking to fundraise for both CAFOD (Catholic Agency for Overseas Development) in its campaign to ‘Walk Against Hunger’. We will make it our own ‘Pilgrimage’ during Lent knowing that each little step we take will make a BIG difference. Each class will set its own Lenten walking target and in Year 1 we have chosen to do our walk around the school grounds. Year 2 will set out daily during the last two weeks of term to do a full circuit of the school grounds, thinking about those less fortunate then us with each step that we take. We will do this walk each day for the last two weeks of the school term. (Start date for Year 2 27th March - 6th April)
As a school we are asking parents/families to sponsor their child/children to undertake their special ‘Pilgrimage Walk’. Once we’ve completed our walk, we will add our kilometres to CAFOD’s ‘ Walk Against Hunger Totaliser’. The aim nationally is 40,000 km! This is a massive challenge, but by joining together we can all help stamp out hunger one step at a time. The children will bring their sponsor forms home on FRIDAY 3RD MARCH and we are asking parents to send in the donations through PARENT PAY (by the end of this term, 6th April) and NOT send the money into school with your child. Please follow the PARENT PAY link you have been sent to set up your account - if you have any problems with this, please contact the school office. Please note you are sponsoring your child for the WHOLE challenge, not each individual, daily walk! Thank you for your support.
Sponsorship Form - in case your doesn’t make it home!
English - This week we combined all our knowlege of descriptive writing together to create detailed setting descriptions. I was blown away by some of these! We also began to create our plan for writing our own finding story, which we will begin to write next week.
Maths - We focused upon finding change this week. We learned how finding change ivolves a subtraction approach and how we also need to be able to identify the notes/coins needed to make that amount of change. We also spent a few days learning about both one-step and two-step word problems involving money.
Science - We developed our knowledge of the vocabulary of food chains. We learned about predators, prey and scavengers; as well as producers and consumers. We learned that all food chains start with the sun and that only green plants can turn this solar energy into food. We identifed animals in savanna and pond habitats and explored how they would fit into a food chain.
RE - On Monday we visited our church to explore the different objects and their symbolism. We identified the sanctuary lamp, the tabernacle, the altar, the confessional booth and other important objects and discussed their meaning and purpose. We also learned about the Liturgy of the Word as a part of the Mass. We discussed how important this is and wrote our own explanations of a Bible reading.
Geography - We learned how three types of islands are created - volcanic, continental and coral islands. We wrote geographically about how volcanic islands are formed, using diagrams to assist us.
PE - In indoor PE we explored benches and tall equipment to practise balancing, jumping and rolling.
British Science Week - On Wednesday we had a fantastic start to British Science Week with a VR experience. We used our headsets to explore different animals in their habitats. The children had a fantastic time!
Class Liturgy - This week Fr Frank came to class to deliver a class liturgy with us. We explored our emotions and we can thank God/ask Him for help whenever we need it.
Please continue to practise the Year 1 and 2 Common Exception Words - both reading and spelling!
Please practice learning the 2, 3, 5 and 10 times tables as later this half term we will be having times table tests on these.
Other Tasks
Spellings
Spelling homework this week is to continue to practise the Year 1 or Year 2 words that your child is still unsure of from the list sent home before half term. I will choose 10 of these words for the children to have a spelling test a week on Friday. I have sent home some practise booklets for you to use.
Handwriting
Please continue to practise the handwriting booklets.
Times Table
Please continue to practise the 3 times table for a test next Friday.
We have noticed that fewer children seem to be reading regularly recently. Please could we ask that you read at home with your child as often as possible. The more they read, they more confident they will get. Reading is such an important skill for accessing the whole of the curriculum, including our special SATS work we will complete during May.
Golden Award - Matilda - For always listening to others and using impeccable manners.
Writing Award - Archer - for fantastic, adventurous vocabulary.
Writing Award - Jacob - For an amazing setting description.
Maths Award - Macie - for believing in herself more with her maths work.
Discipleship Award -
KS 1 will be marking British Science Week in school with a whole host of exciting and engaging practical experiments to really bring Science alive! We will be kicking the week off on WEDNESDAY 8TH MARCH (change from the original date of 10th due to a double booking on the company’s behalf) with a Wild Animals VR workshop from Education Group. We are really excited to start off our week with such a wonderful experience for the children. The teachers had then planned fabulous experiments for the children for the rest of the week - with each afternoon given over to Science!
To support us with this we are asking for a voluntary contribution of £2 per child from parents. If you are able to contribute, please go to your ParentPay account where this donation will be added. Many thanks. (The rest of the cost of the visit and the week will be met by school, with help from the PTFA - many thanks)
Click the banner above for information about our Lenten Mass on Tuesdays at 8.30am in the school hall.
Being a Parent Workshops
This is a group being run by Blackpool Council to support parenting skills. There will be two 9 week groups starting on Tuesday 25th April
10.00am-12.00pm The HealthWorks, 1 Clifton Street, FY1 1JD
6.00pm-8.00pm Online using Google Meet.
The group is suitable for parents of children aged 18 months – 11 years (priority is given to parents with children under 4 years) and is led by parents. It looks at communication, behaviour management and listening techniques. The group is free and childcare can be paid for to attend the group.
Parents can book their place by contacting Blackpool Learning Rooms on 01253 478131 or learning.rooms@blackpool.gov.uk .
For more information please download this flyer.
Have a lovely weekend,
Mr Whetnall, Mrs Bowdell and Mrs Gibbons
