Friday 11th November

Good afternoon everybody - Happy Friday!

Another extremely busy week in year 5! 
This week, Hazel class have been working hard on writing our elicitation task for Our new English unit based on biographies. We used some videos as inspiration to write a short piece based on the life of Usain Bolt.  We have worked hard in Maths, completing our start of unit assessment based on Multiplication and Division, we began by exploring Multiples and what they were.
We also linked our Geography on Informal Settlements with our Science and looked at cleaning 'River Water' so that it was drinkable. The children have enjoyed their Music session with Miss Boyce this week, really getting to grips with African songs and their R.E. session with Miss Penny. 
   We ended the week today, with a French session with Madame Jordan and a P.E session with our Saints Southwest coach Mrs Edwards, based on Tag Rugby.

  There is a digital copy of this half term's Wider Curriculum Home Learning on Dojo and the website, as well as paper one, which came home with the children on Monday.  For this, there is a choice of activities, I would like to see 1 completed activity by Thursday 15th December, which is the last Thursday before the end of term. Although this is our optional home learning, the activities are creative and fun and there is lots of time to complete this so I would be delighted to see some really good quality pieces. (See photos for examples)
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  In terms of home learning, I sent a letter home last week outlining expectations, as well as a recording sheet for time spent on TTRS, which will renew every week. Please take the time to fill this in, as multiplication tables knowledge has such an impact on the children's Maths learning.    I would like the children to spend 25 minutes a week on TTRS, this can be 5 minutes every day, or blocked to fit around what you are doing at home. Ki will also be in class during some lunchtimes, if children cannot access TTRS at home.

Can I remind everybody that the expectation is that children read for at least 10 minutes at home every day, this can be magazines, newspapers, manuals, cookery books, as well as their reading books, as it is all reading. This is to promote reading for pleasure as there is nothing better than a good book. Remember, that you are your child’s greatest role model, so if they see you enjoying a good book, it really promotes good learning habits.
  I have posted a list of great websites to practise on for over the half term break. (If children can't remember their password to log on, ask them to tell me and we will record it in their Reading Record for them.)
 
 A select group of children from Years 5 and 6 represented the school in a Cross-Country run at Castle Drogo in Drewsteignton yesterday. The children ran a difficult course over 1.5 miles and did really well.  They also enjoyed activities afterwards, which included dance, fencing and relay races.

Next week we will be continuing our unit on biographies in English, Multiplication and Division in Maths, Physical and Chemical Changes in Science, and Islam in R.E.

Please look out for upcoming events, we have Children in Need Day on Friday 18th November - see Dojo for further details. There is also the Christmas Fayre on Friday 2nd December. 

Look out for the sign-up sheet for Parents Evenings, which is outside the classroom. Parents Evenings will be on Wednesday 23rd November from 3.40 to 6.30 and the same on Thursday 24th November.  

​Appointments are scheduled for 10 minutes per child. I have 17 appointments booked in so far, if you can't get to school to book an appointment, please let me know via dojo/the office/or your child and we can book your appointment.

If you have multiple children on one night, please leave a gap between appointments so that we can all keep to time as much as possible.

If you can't come into school on one of those nights due to childcare or work commitments, I can offer you a telephone call instead. Please let me know as I would like to see as many of you as possible to discuss your child's/children's progress and the year ahead.

Have a great weekend, hopefully it will be a dry one.
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See you on Monday 
 
Mr F