In a week when children have been competing with other trust schools and off site visiting the natural History Museum, there has been lots going on in school too.
This week Year 1 have been looking at the story ‘Lost and Found’ by Oliver Jeffers. They have also been orally rehearsing sentences to use in instructions. They then followed instructions to make their own cup and ball toy. In science, the children have been thinking about the season of winter. They discussed what clothes they might wear, the animals they might see and how the weather feels in winter. In maths, the children have been adding by counting on.
This week has been busy and exciting for Year 2. The children have recently begun creating their fiery paintings for their Thematic book front covers. They began by reminding themselves of how to use our primary colours, to make some secondary colours which helped the children create their burning backgrounds. Then, the children used charcoal to draw on burning houses inspired by the famous artist Denis Creffield. In maths, Year 2 have been working on becoming division experts by learning three different methods! The children have tried sharing, grouping and number facts. In English, the children are writing captivating fairy tales with their own little twists inspired by Bethan Woolvin’s ‘Little Red’.
In English, Year 3 have begun writing their own versions of The Tortoise and the Hare from Aesop’s Fables. They have included speech, fronted adverbials, adverbs and adventurous adjectives to set the scene and describe the characters and their emotions. In maths, Year 3 have finished their work on money, focusing on estimating and problem-solving to find change. In Science, they have compared different rocks, exploring their appearance, texture, properties and uses. In Thematic learning, Year 3 have learned about the life and successes of Isambard Kingdom Brunel. They have identified the three main types of bridges, compared their features, and begun to think about designing their own bridges. The children have also started painting pieces of work inspired by Eleanor Fortescue-Brickdale. During whole-class reading, Year 3 have been immersing themselves in the story ‘Oliver and the Seawigs’ by Philip Reeve and exploring other books by the same author and illustrator, including ‘The Pugs of the North’. Finally, enormous congratulations to Nathan for performing in the final of the poetry competition—what a fantastic achievement!
In English in Year 4, the children have been learning about using subordinating clauses and thinking about how they can use them in an eye witness account of the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. In maths, the children have been looking at efficient methods for multiplication and they discovered that if you are multiplying three numbers together, it doesn’t matter which order you do it in. They have also started the evocative picture book ‘Fox’ by Margaret Wild. To cap off the week, the children took an exciting trip to The Natural History Museum where they had a workshop all about volcanoes. Many thanks to all the parents who supported on the trip.
This week, Year 5 have been working hard in English lessons publishing their fact-files about the Amazon Rainforest. These are looking amazing and are full of interesting facts! In Art, the children worked incredibly hard designing and making Viking dragon heads out of clay which they will paint next week. In maths, they have begun to look at division using the ‘bus stop’ method, which will continue next week. Whole class reading this week has been focused on the story ‘Oranges in No Man’s Land’, which has brought about some interesting class discussions about what it would be like to live in a different part of the world where there is conflict going on.
In English, Year 6 have been busy crafting persuasive letters with a formal tone and making purposeful use of the passive voice. Their challenge was to argue for the repatriation of the Rosetta Stone back to Egypt and they rose to it brilliantly. They have been carefully selecting language to sound convincing, respectful and formal. In maths, the children have been developing their understanding of ratio. They have explored how quantities are related, using this knowledge to solve problems involving sharing amounts and finding values within given ratios. They have been answering questions with a strong focus on reasoning and explanation. During whole-class reading, they have continued their exciting journey through ‘The Red Pyramid’ by Rick Riordan. The story is really gathering pace as the two main characters begin to discover their powers, leading to lots of enthusiastic discussion and prediction. Finally, in thematic learning, the children have been planning and designing their own Egyptian death masks. They have produced detailed drafts and thoughtful designs and are very excited to bring them to life next week when they begin making the final masks.
Poetry Competition.
Today a small group of children represented Atwood at the Pegasus Poetry Competition. This year, the theme was sports poetry and the standard of entries was excellent. Earlier in the week, we heard all of the runners up in a whole school assembly and today it was the turn of those who had been voted as year group winners. The children did a brilliant job representing the school. They all stood on the stage in front of a large audience and recited their poems with confidence. All of the children returned with a goody bag feeling proud of themselves. Some of them were also lucky winners. What a talented bunch!
Attendance
Poor attendance is a key priority for the government and the Local Authority now has ‘live’ access to our attendance data. Croydon have also assigned Atwood a Local authority Attendance Officer who will work alongside Mrs Wesley (our Academy Attendance officer) to rigorously track and challenge poor attendance. Anything below 94% is of concern and if attendance falls below 90% this is considered a serious concern. Below 90% is regarded as persistent absence by the DFE and parents will be asked to meet with Attendance Officers and Senior Leaders to discuss poor attendance. Aside from absence through illness, if there is a very good reason that your child cannot attend school, you are expected to request exceptional leave before your child is absent from school. Any request for exceptional leave which comes after the period of absence has already been taken will not be granted and will be classed as unauthorised absence. The office is always available by email or through Studybugs if you are unable to call or come into the office in person for any reason. Any absence that is attached to a school holiday, no matter the reason for the exceptional leave request, is likely to be denied and will be classed as unauthorised absence. There has been a rise in vague ‘family emergencies’ that are attached to a holiday, when we are all aware that flights are cheaper. In order to ensure fairness, and without having to ask intrusive questions, it is easier to expect that requests which are attached to a holiday will not be authorised. Parents can be issued a fixed penalty notice of £80 per child, per parent by the Attendance Officer for extended unauthorised absence. This can increase to £160 for a second offence within a 3 year rolling period. This year 13 penalty notices have been issued to parents in our school. The link to our website attendance page is https://www.pegasusacademytrust.org/attendance-2 if you wish to find out more information.
MUSEUM DAY
On Friday 6th of February we will be opening the doors for our Atwood Museum Day. Parents will be invited in to school in the morning to see the children’s work in their Thematic Curriculum More details will be shared next week but for now save the date!
DATES FOR THE DIARY
Please note that lots of new dates for the spring and summer term have been added so please update your calendars.
Friday 23rd January: Pegasus Poetry Competition
Friday 23rd January: Year 4 Natural History Museum
Monday 26th / Tuesday 27th January: Lavender class Whitgift project
Wednesday 28th / Thursday 29th: Teal class Whitgift project
Friday 6th February: Museum Day
Monday 9th February: ‘Midnight in the Toyshop’ Drama Workshop for Reception & Year 1
Monday 9th February: Year 6 to Riddlesdown for Addams Family Production.
Friday 13th February: Break for half term
Monday 23rd February: Return to school
Monday 23rd February: Year 6 Young Voices concert
Wednesday 25th: Year 6 Shakespeare Workshop
Thursday, 26 February: Year 1 Materials Workshop
Friday 27th February: Ruby Class assembly
Thursday 5th March: World Book Day
Monday 9th March: Parents’ evening
Wednesday 10th March: Parents’ evening
Friday 13th March: FOAP Mothers’ Day Gift Sale
16th – 18th March: Year 5 Carrotty Wood
Friday 20th March: Orange Class assembly
Friday 27th March: Year 2 London Trip
Friday 27th March: Break for Easter
Monday 13th April: Return to school for summer term.
Friday 17th April FOAP Disco Reception – Year 5
Monday 20th April: Year 1 African Dance Workshop
Friday 1st May: Green Class Assembly
Friday 8th May Lavender Class Assembly
Week Beginning 11th May: Year 6 SATs
Friday 15th May: Year 6 Picnic in the Park
Friday 15th May: Teal Class Assembly
Monday 18th May: Year 5 Science Museum Trip
Monday 1st June: Year 6 Chessington Trip
Tuesday 2nd June: Reception Godstone Farm Trip
Friday 5th June: Year 3 Caveman Visit.
Saturday 6th June: FOAP Summer Festival
Friday 12th June: KS1 and 2 Sports Day
Week 15th June – 19th June Year 6 Isle of Wight Trip
Friday 19th June: Nursery Fun day and Picnic / Reception Sports Day.
Wednesday 24th June: Blue Class Assembly
Monday 29th June: Year 3 RHS Wisley Trip
Thursday 2nd July: Year 5 Tower of London Trip
Friday 3rd July: Violet Class Assembly
