The Christmas Experience
Foundation children thoroughly enjoyed taking part in ‘The Christmas Experience’ on Tuesday. They took part in creative activities and role playing; enacting the Nativity and considering the true meaning of Christmas.
Who do you think you are?
Last week was a very busy week in Year 3/4. With a big focus on our identity, we began the week discussing and thinking about all the different things that make us who we are.
As well as identity, we thought about what the word community means and what different communities we belong to – local, nationally and internationally.
On Wednesday, we spent the afternoon at Sandringham Park – an important place for our local community. There we made bug hotels and learnt about the importance of looking after and valuing this and other parks and green spaces.
On Friday, we considered how diverse communities can be and how we should celebrate diversity in different communities. Children had the opportunity to become part of the para-athletic community and experience how different sport could be for those people with a physical limitation.
Chatter and Batter
As part of our themed week, we’ve been visiting people in our local community. ‘Chatter and Batter’ is an event organised by Wise, a charity supporting the elderly in Wetherby, and we went along to have a chat, eat dinner and host a quiz!
Community Week
As part of Identity week in school, Foundation have been thinking about our school community and the people who work here. Mrs Coster from the school office spoke to the children on Monday about her role and Mrs Philip spoke to the children this afternoon about the work that the lunchtime staff do to ensure the children have a healthy lunch. F2 children also went out in groups throughout the week to do some busy jobs with Mr Atkins and talk about the work he does in school and how it keeps us safe.
The children thought about the people who help us in the wider community. They have enjoyed our new ‘Doctor’s Surgery’ role play, our sensory firefighter’s play, our ‘dentist’ fiddly fingers tooth brushing experience and dressing up as police officers in the outdoor area.
We worked together this week to create a map of Wetherby – the community in which we live. We looked at aerial photographs of Wetherby and the children printed green paint to create the background. Later in the week we added roads, rivers and buildings. Today, the children added their own house with their picture on. Keep an eye out for how we use our wonderful map creation in our next themed role play area, coming soon!
A visit from a vicar
This week in Year 1 and 2, we were lucky enough to have a visit from Revd. Stroma, from St James’ church, as part of our Identity week.
We’re looking at the different types of identity that we have, both as an individual and as a school. One of our school identities that we have is that our church identity. We are lucky to have close links with our local church St James’.
The children enjoyed the session, looking at items from the church that make up part of the church’s identity. The children could retell lots of interesting facts.
- “We learnt about things about God and Jesus.” – McKenzie
- “We learnt about festivals and celebrations in the church.” – Fleur
- “Revd. Stroma told us about the stoles, when they wear them and why they wear them.” – Daisy-Mae
- “Yesterday, we learnt about the things that are in the church like the white, pink and blue candles.” – Nicholas
Self-esteem workshop
As part of our themed week and our Living and Learning statement ‘I know who I am,‘ Year 5 and 6 took part in a workshop, linked to the Dove self-esteem project. The children discussed self-esteem, body image and body confidence.
A Christmas Carol
Today, we read a section of A Christmas Carol by candlelight and howling wind sound effects. Creepy…
This week in Foundation…
This week, the whole school have been thinking about how to STOP bullying – it was national Anti-Bullying Week. In Foundation, we’ve been thinking about what it means to be a kind friend and what actions may hurt other people or make them feel sad. Alongside discussing this with the children, they took part in a sorting activity where they had to decide which pictures showed behaviour of a kind friend and which pictures showed unkind actions.
This week we introduced ‘challenge cubes’ for the F2 children. Each week they will find their pictures in various areas across the classroom, where they will be expected to challenge themselves. When they have completed the challenge, they receive a cube. If they complete five challenges throughout the week they will earn themselves a special certificate. Can your child tell you which activities they have challenged themselves with this week?
Finally, thank you to everyone who donated buns and wore their spots today to help us support Children In Need– you all look fabulous! 🙂
A big thank you…
To all of the parents and carers who were able to attend our ‘Fiddly Fingers’ Stay and Play yesterday. The children loved sharing their learning with you and we hope that you all enjoyed the afternoon as much as we did! Thank you for your continued support; we look forward to seeing you all at our next Stay and Play sessions, later in the school year.
St James’ remembers
In November 2015, to mark 100 years since the beginning of World War 1, pupils and staff at St James’ created ceramic poppies, similar to those which surrounded the Tower of London.
This year, to commemorate Remembrance Day, we have constructed a display of our ceramic poppies in the entrance hall, made by pupils past and present.
Come and have a look as you visit our achievement assembly tomorrow at 2.45pm.
