Good afternoon everyone,
Welcome back to a new term and a brand new year filled with fresh starts, new hopes, dreams and wishes. We hope you have all had a wonderful Christmas and New Year break and have enjoyed welcoming the children back into school. We have all been so proud of how quickly the children have settled back into their routines.
This week we have celebrated the feast of Epiphany where the Magi visited Jesus after seeing a special star in the sky. We have explored these wise men and how they trusted and hoped that this sign would lead them to something wonderful, which it certainly did! Even though they didn’t know what they would find, they had faith. We too must have faith in God and that what he has planned for us is good. It isn’t always easy to take a leap into something new or unknown but with God guiding us we can be led to bigger and brighter things!
We discussed how the Magi represented the rest of the world - those who weren’t originally God’s chosen people - and how it showed that if we look for God, we will find Him and He will welcome us to Him.
English - In English we began our new unit on a finding narrative by exploring the Bog Baby by Jeanne Willis. We looked at clues and made predictions, explored the description of the Bog Baby, created sentences using conjunctions and identified key vocabulary.
Maths - In Maths we continue our work on addition and subtraction. We have focused upon finding the difference and the various ways we can do this including: counting on, counting back, using hundred squares, drawing number lines and drawing tens and ones. We then identified ways to add three 1-digit numbers together. We have also explored word problems related to both finding the difference and addition and subtraction more generally.
Science - In Science we completed our assessment from our previous unit.
RE - In RE, we explored and retold the story of the visit of the Magi. We then learned about the adult John the Baptist and his important role in preparing the world for the coming of Jesus, the Saviour.
Geography - We began our unit on islands but learning what an island is. We then used simple two-figure grid references to identify places and decide whether or not they were islands.
PE - In our outdoor PE session we began our net and ball games. We developed our skill in using a racket to balance and hit a ball. Our indoor PE focused upon gymnastics and balancing.
Computing - We practised turning on and logging onto computers and got familiar with accessing word, using a keyboard and understanding the importance of different keys.
Please continue to practise learning your 2, 3, 5 and 10 times tables.
Please practise the year 1 and year 2 common exception words sent home before half term. The children need to be able to read and write (spelling correctly) each one of these by the end of year 2.
Spelling
I have sent home 15 common exception words to rpactise. There will be a test on 10 of these.
There is also a handwriting practise sheet for each group’s spelling words.
Maths
Mixed addition and subtraction word problems. I have also sent home a vocabulary list to support this.
Reading
Practice SATS-style reading comprehension paper.
Golden Award -
Writing Award -
Maths Award -
Year 2 PE lessons will take place on Wednesday and Friday. Please come to school in PE kit on these days.
Water bottles - all the children were given a new school bottle. 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 2 have green tops.
I will not be in class on a Thursday afternoon, as it is my release time. This will be covered by Mrs Bowdell and Mrs Gilheaney and is also when the children will have Music with Mrs Watson.
Party Invitations - I am afraid that Mrs Bowdell 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 creates fuss in class and then upset if they are lost.
School bags - 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.
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Have a lovely weekend,
Mr Whetnall, Mrs Bowdell, Miss Murray and Mrs Gilheaney
