A bit of fun for those at home

Dear parents and carers,

As well as playing games, tomorrow the year 4 children will have a short Christmas Quiz. There are some general questions as well as ones relating to things we have studied this year, together with festive POW videos.   

If your children wanted to join in at home I have shared the slides here.  (no spoilers to those children coming in please). 

Happy Christmas to all,

Ms Browne

A big thank you, last Day of term & Happy Holidays

 

Dear parents and carers,

Thank you from all of us for your very kind and generous Christmas gifts. It is so thoughtful of you all, and given the number of absences we are especially grateful for the extra effort this would have taken.  

We are all so sad that the end of term is finishing with so many children being unwell. We sincerely hope that no one is too poorly and that your holidays are not negatively affected.    

Understandably, it is a little subdued in class, with many of the children airing their concerns. They are welcome to wear a mask if they want to but there is certainly no obligation for them to do so. We continue to follow all the covid safety measures we have available to us: doors open, CO2 monitor, encouragement to wash and sanitise hands regularly, classes not mixing, additional outdoor time.   

For those children still in school we will make tomorrow a fun and enjoyable last school day of 2021. Tomorrow is Christmas party day and children are encouraged to come in their favourite Christmas party clothes. We will have music, fun and games. There are no hot lunches and parents and carers are being encouraged to wrap their child's packed lunch like a present with a special Christmas lunch.    

We hope you all have a lovely break. There will be so much to look forward to on our return on 4th January 2022 - especially our Shakespeare performance of A Midsummer Night's Dream. Tickets are now available to buy directly from Weymouth Pavilion 

Here's to a Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year for us all.

Lots of love from,

Ms Browne, Mrs Hall, Miss Street, Mrs Thompson and Mrs Burgess. xxx  

Last week of term - updated

 

Hello everyone,

Thank you to everyone that came to POWSA Christmas Fayre on Friday afternoon and supported the event and your child singing. I know that many of you were personally involved in the preparation and running of the event so a big thank you on behalf of all the staff and children. 

This week ia a lot quieter than we expected with many children absent from school. It is such a shame so close to Christmas but I hope that none of your Christmas celebrations are negatively affected. Thank you to those families that have booked their child in for a PCR. The guidance has recently changed and close contacts are now advised to do a lateral flow test daily and do a PCR if an individual becomes symptomatic. 

As you will have seen, we have amended the activities for the week, with no celebratory activities in mixed classes. I have also delayed the introduction of our Shakespeare play, A Midsummer Night's Dream, until next term when we will hopefully have more children in school. 

If you have any questions, comments or concerns please get in touch with me or a member of the team.

Kind regards,

Ms Browne and the Year 4 team. 

Key dates and events coming up

 

Hello everyone,

I can't believe we only have two weeks of the Autumn term left! Time certainly flies when you're having fun. 

There are a few key dates and events for the rest of this term and next term that I wanted to give you notice of.

Wednesday 8th December
Year 4 will be watching the ROAR2021Awards live in the morning. Fingers crossed for our class's winning entry. 

Thursday 9th December
Year 4's visit to the RSPB Nature Reserve at Radipole Lake is this Thursday. Children should wear school uniform tops and suitable bottoms for being outdoors. Please make sure your child brings warm waterproof clothes and outdoor boots/wellies. Lunch arrangements remain the same. Mr Spracklen will be taking half the class whilst I take the other half and introduce them to our Shakespeare play for next term. 

Friday 10th December
On Friday it is Christmas Jumper day and also Christmas technology day. After school it is the POWSA Christmas Fayre. it would be wonderful to see as many Year 4 children at the fayre as possible as they will be performing a Christmas song around the Christmas tree. 

Next week's learning / Shakespeare  

Next week, lessons will continue largely unchanged from the normal timetable. In RWI we are reading a book about visiting the North Pole and all our maths from this week has been given a festive connection. The big change will be our literacy lessons which will be all about Shakespeare. It is hoped that the roles for our Shakespeare performance will be cast NEXT WEEK. This will give the children the opportunity to begin to learn their lines over the Christmas holidays. 

This week's home learning will be for children to choose what role they would like in our play. 

Friday 17th December

Next Friday is the last day of term. There will be no hot lunches on this day but as per a letter that has been sent home, families are encouraged to create a lunch present. 

Dates for Next Term

Monday 10th January 2022

Children will visit Weymouth Pavillion in the morning. This is a great trip for children to become familiar with the Pavillion before their Shakespeare performance.

Sunday 15th January 2022

This is the deadline for parents and carers to apply to middle school for your year 4 child. Please click here to the Dorset council website for more information. If you need any help or support with applying please speak to myself or a member of the office team.   

Wednesday 16th February 2022

This is the day that Year 4 will perform their Shakespeare play at the Weymouth Pavilion as part of our Shakespeare by the Sea Festival. The class will do rehearsals at the Pavilion in the morning before returning to school for the afternoon. Children will then need to be at school in the evening for their performance. Tickets for the event will be available very soon and more details will be available shortly. 

All children will need black leggings or tracksuit bottoms, a black t-shirt and black plimsolls for the performance. If you have any concerns about sourcing these items please see a member of the team as soon as possible. 

If you have any questions or concerns or comments about the above events or any other aspects of your child's learning or well being please either email me or see me or a member of the team.

Kind regards,

Ms Browne & the Year 4 team. xxx

  

    

Maths competition

Just a reminder about the Maths competition to end our November numeracy challenge! Miss White set the task of creating a piece of art titled 'Why I love Maths'. If your child wishes to take part, these creative art pieces need to be in on Friday 19th November. Also, please keep encouraging your children to take part in some Mathletics live games at home!

Thank you!

YEAR FOUR CLASS ASSEMBLY POSTPONED

Please note that due to unforeseen circumstances, Year Four’s Class Assembly re-scheduled for this Thursday (18/11/21) will be postponed. A new date will be scheduled in due course. 

Autumn Term 2 - Celebrations

 

Hello everyone,

I hope you all had a good half term break. It has been great to welcome the children back to school for Autumn term 2. 

This term our main topic is Celebrations and this week the children learnt about Diwali. During literacy and RWI, we have been looking at non fiction texts about Hinduism and Diwali.  On Wednesday the children painted their own Diya, which they should have brought home today (Friday). 

Next week in Literacy and RWI we will continue to look at non fiction texts focusing on Remembrance Day. 

In maths,  we will be looking at negative numbers and children will continue practicing their times tables so any time spent on Times Tables Rockstars will be beneficial to them. 

In science, we are exploring states of matter and children will start discovering the properties of solids, liquids and gases. 

In RE, we have started looking at symbols and the class were given the additional challenge to notice symbols in their everyday lives. 

In PSHE we are Celebrating Differences this term and we are encouraging children to accept and include others regardless of ability, gender, race and age. There is a new praise assembly award and a marvellous me badge which will be awarded to those children that celebrate differences and include others. 

For home learning this week the children need to practice their spellings, complete some times tables questions and explore non fiction texts and think about what they celebrate in a year. All children were given a copy of their home learning sheet, but should it not have made it home please see a copy at the base of this blog. 

As ever, if you have any questions, comments or concerns please email or speak to a member of the Year 4 team.

We hope you have a lovely weekend,

Kind regards,

Ms Browne, Mrs Hall, Mrs Thompson, Miss Street & Mrs Burgess. x 

     

     

Happy Half Term & Home Learning

Hello everyone,

For home leaning, the children have been given some spellings for a spelling test on Tuesday 2nd November (our first day back). The children were asked to stick these into their home learning books but in case they didn't most children have the following spellings: 

All children were also given a correct the punctuation worksheet and a maths worksheet (to either count in twos or order numbers). 

The children have also been invited to design a Christmas card for The Keep military museum in Dorchester. The children came home with information about Christmas Cards during the wars and a sheet for their design. 

The winning entry will be professionally printed and on sale in The Keep museum and children will receive free entry to the museum and a Christmas goody bag. Click here for more details. Entries to be returned by 29th October 2021 to the Keep front desk or admin@keepmilitarymuseum.org

It has been an action packed, fun and productive first half term and we are all so proud of how the children have settled into year 4. 

We can't wait for more activities and fantastic learning from the children next term which starts for the children on Tuesday 2nd November. 

Have a lovely half term.

Kind regards,

Ms Browne, Mrs Hall, Mrs Thompson, Ms Street & Mrs Burgess. xx

 

   

Hello Everyone

Hello Everyone,

We had another fantastic week in Year 4 with a successful trip to Weymouth Pavilion and a highly successful harvest morning and French cafe. Thank you to all those parents that were able to attend or sent harvest donations into school.

This week we have the trip to the Tank Museum on Thursday 14th October. Here is a copy of the letter giving you information about the trip. If you haven't logged onto Pay360 yet please can you do so as soon as possible to give you consent to the trip. If you are unable to do this please see a member of the year 4 team before or after school.    

Please remember that hot meals will be cancelled on this day and so you will need to provide a packed lunch for your child on Thursday. 

 

Thank you for those parents encouraging their child to complete their home learning and record their reading in their reading record book. I have spoken to previous parents with children in year 5 at middle school and they agree that home learning expectations are a big change with at least a maths and literacy home learning each week and often with additional activities to complete. I am personally forgetting to do the reading records with my year 5 child as this is not a habit we have developed. If you have any questions, comments or concerns about home learning please get in touch. Year 4 home learning is being designed to help children reflect on learning completed in school and help prepare them for middle school expectations. 

This week's home learning:

• Children to continue to work on their WW2 display project (poster or diorama).
• Similes worksheet. 
• Reading and Times Tables Rockstars.      

Home learning to be handed in by Thursday of the following week (unfortunately home learning handed in after this time will not be marked). 

ALL home learning books and reading records to be returned each Friday please.  

We hope you have a lovely weekend. 

Kind regards,

Ms Browne and the Year 4 Team.

Food, farming and faith fortnight

 

Hello everyone,

We hope you are having a super weekend so far. 

Food, Farming and Faith Fortnight starts tomorrow and we have a range of educational and fun experiences in store for your child. 

On Thursday, please could your child come dressed as an evacuee (ready to do some farm work). The forecast is looking like rain over the next few days so please also send them in with a raincoat and shoes or boots that can withstand working in muddy conditions. 

This week's home learning was to make a gas mask box. There are plenty of examples on the internet to give you ideas but here is the home learning sheet that was sent home on Friday.  

We are all so impressed with year 4 for yet again all completing their home learning. This is fantastic and we are so proud of you all. Well done also to the significant number of children completing their reading record books. These will be collected and looked at on Fridays (but it is helpful for children to bring them into school everyday). As with the home learning, no child will ever be in trouble for not completing their record book. Regular reading has clear educational benefits and recording reading completed is a good habit ready for middle school.  

As ever, if you have any questions, comments or concerns please email me or talk to me or a member of the team at the beginning or end of the day. 

Kind regards,

Ms Browne, Mrs Hall, Mrs Thompson, Miss Street & Mrs Burgess. xx

#ROAR2021 Competition

Today in class Mr Spracklen and Peter (from the Dorchester Lions) launched the #ROAR2021 competition with Year Four.

The #ROAR2021 competition intends to promote an entrepreneurial spirit for all students, unlocking their innovative DNA. Our involvement with the 8BillionIdeas led competition has been sponsored by our local Lions International Club - Dorchester Lions.

The #ROAR2021 competition aims to promote an entrepreneurial spirit by challenging students to create a 'WORLD CHANGING IDEA'

The #ROAR2021 competition will have the following impact -

- Drive an entrepreneurial spirit across the school

- Provide an excellent education opportunity to all students

- Build confidence in speaking, listening and teamwork skills

- Enhance curriculum in literacy, maths, science, DT, citizenship and PSHE.

Today we watched the following launch assembly -

We also started to thinking about 'the problem' - that one problem that we want to solve -

Each child in Year Four should have brought home a worksheet home to consider -

1. What is the problem you’re solving?
2. When does the problem occur?
3. Where does the problem occur?
4. Why does the problem occur?
5. How large is the problem?
6. Complete a problem statement

Mr Spracklen would like these handed into his office before next Tuesday.

Both Mr Spracklen and Peter (from the Dorchester Lions) cannot wait to see what #InspiredToLearn ideas are generated from the #ROAR2021 competition.

FAMILIES - Find out more about #ROAR21 at - https://www.lions-roar.com/

This week's home learning and upcoming dress up days

 

Hello everyone,

It has been a good week in year 4, the children enjoyed their swimming lesson and have adjusted beautifully to year 4 life. We were particularly impressed that every child returned their home learning. This is a fantastic start to the year and it bodes well for getting the children into good home learning habits for middle school.  

This week's home learning
For this week's home learning:

1) children are asked to either create a family tree or research their family history during WW2 (this can be one family member). 

2) children are asked to practice their times tables and to read daily. The class have been given a reading journal for them to complete when they read at home. This is another home learning activity that both middle schools request, so again it is aimed to help prepare the children. Ideally, I would like them to record every time they read for 15 minutes or more (the middle schools request 5x 20 minutes) but to start off, if children could record their reading in the reading journal once a week in Autumn term 1, this would be a great start.  

Upcoming dress up days

At the end of the month we will have Food, Faith and Farming fortnight. In addition to other events, all children at POW will be invited to dress up as a farmer and year 4 children will be invited to dress up as a child evacuee and we will go to Maiden Castle Farm to have an evacuee experience.  More information will follow about this soon but I wanted to give you time to put together an evacuee costume.  

For the full evacuee experience children will be asked to try to wear similar clothes to those worn during the 1940s (where possible). As children will be working on the farm like evacuee children did they should try to wear wellies or boots. Other clothing suggestions include a woollen jumper or cardigan, a blouse or shirt, knee length shorts or skirt or dress.  Next week's home learning will be to make a gas mask box.  

As ever, if you have any questions, comments or concerns please either email me c.browne@princeofwales.dorset.sch.uk or talk to myself or a member of the team before or after school.

We all hope you all have a lovely weekend. 🌞

Kind regards,
Ms Browne, Mrs Hall, Mrs Thompson, Miss Street and Mrs Burgess.  

Computing with Mr Spracklen (Week 2)

Today in Computing with Mr Spracklen our aim was to begin to understand 'selection' in computer programming and to understand how an 'IF statement' works.

We all had a go at designing and coding our own version of this program -

Mr Spracklen was very impressed with all our hard work!

Year 4 Home learning and notices for next week.

 

Hello everyone,

We had a sporty end to a fantastic week today with half the class enjoying a session of basketball whilst the other had a cricket lesson. Both of these sessions were taught by professional coaches. The small groups allow for a more focused approach to their teaching and after three weeks the groups will swap so that all children experience both sports. 

Swimming and PE  next week

Please could all children have their PE kits in school by next Friday and full swimming kits on Wednesday. You should also have received a swimming letter for you to state your collection preferences after swimming. Please could I have these slips returned by Tuesday.  

School photographs on Thursday

School photos are on Thursday morning. Please could all children come to school with a year 4 jumper or cardigan. 

Home learning and other letters home

In addition to the swimming letter, your child should also have come home with an acceptable online useage form that I need returned to school as soon as possible and a letter for you to update your marvellous me logins should you need to. I have received some high 5's so I'm assuming that it is working for many of you but any problems please ask Mr Edmonds. 

Home Learning should also have come home today in a bright orange book. A link for the home learning sheet can be found here  

Please can all home learning books be returned by Thursday whether the home learning has been completed or not. In the front of the home learning book you will notice that there is a Time Tables Rockstars record sheet. This is a place for children to record their weekly studio scores. 

Mrs Hall, Mrs Thompson, Miss Street, Mrs Burgess and I have been so impressed with everyone this week. As part of their transition to middle school, classroom expectations are high in year 4 but the class are rising beautifully to the challenge of being the top of the school.

If you have any questions, comments or concerns please feel free to get in touch with myself or a member of the classroom team.

We hope you have a lovely weekend.

Kind regards,

Ms Browne and the Year 4 team. x  

Fantastic first few days in Year Four

 

Hello everyone,

We have just enjoyed a wonderful first few days in Year 4. I have been really impressed with how well the class have settled and have adjusted to the increased expectations and responsibilities of Year 4. 

This afternoon the children met their reception buddies and it was fantastic to see how quickly ALL of the children in year 4 took to their role. Mrs Hall and Miss Street, who knew them well from last year, commented on how mature they seemed and it is clear that they are going to make wonderful buddies. 

The weather is set to be more unpredictable on Wednesday (tomorrow) so please send in a raincoat with your child. Our swimming lessons don't start until Wednesday 15th September and hopefully the weather will be drier then.

An autumn term newsletter will be sent out on Thursday but if you have any questions, comments of concerns please get in touch. You can talk to me or one of the year 4 team before or after school or you can email me c.browne@princeofwales.dorset.sch.uk  

Kind regards,

Ms Browne & the Year 4 Team. xx

  

Computing with Mr Spracklen (Week 1)

Today in Computing with Mr Spracklen our aim was to review our coding vocabulary and knowledge. We also tried to create a simple computer program using 'Free Code Gibbon' on Purple Mash.

Mr Spracklen has set Year 4 the challenge of carrying this work on at home using the following instructions -

N.B - All children should be able to access Purple Mash at home. If not, please let Mr Spracklen know.

Mr Spracklen looks forward to seeing how Year 4 get on with the above challenge!

Welcome to Year 4

Hello everyone,

We hope you all had a lovely summer holidays. We had a great break but now we are excited to welcome the children back into year 4. 

A few reminders for Monday:

- Please label everything that comes into school (that you don't want lost forever). This is particularly important for PE kits and school jumpers that often go missing.  

-  PE kits are due in on Monday (although our PE lessons are Wednesdays and Fridays so don't panic if you forget them on Monday). 

-  Children should bring in a healthy snack and a labelled bottle of water everyday. 

- Year 4 children can bring their own pencil cases and stationary into school (although we will always have all equipment your children need to use in school). 

- If you didn't order hot meals one week in advance please bring in a packed lunch next week. 

- The forecast for next week is looking warm and sunny so please still send in labelled hats and apply sunscreen (especially Monday - Wednesday). 

- On Monday we will be visiting the sunflowers at Maiden Castle farm. As your child might be wearing brand new school shoes please feel free to send in some trainers for them to change into for the walk.   

We hope you enjoy the weekend and we can't wait to see you on Monday morning. 

Kind regards,
The Year 4 Team 
(Ms Browne, Mrs Hall, Mrs Thompson, Miss Street & Mrs Burgess)

Thank you Year 4 and have a great summer

 

What an emotional and special day. 

Thank you so much for your lovely words, cards and presents. 

On behalf of myself and the rest of the Year 4 team, it has been a joy and a privilege to work with your wonderful children.

We hope you have a lovely summer and we wish them all the best at middle school.

Lots of love, 

Ms Browne, Mrs Scott, Mrs Long, Mrs Rogers, Mrs Thomas and Mrs Burgess.

   

The one where it is the last day

 

Dear Parents and carers,

I can't believe that tomorrow is year 4's last day. In many ways it feels like the year has gone by really quickly until I reflect on all that they have experienced and achieved. 

It has been an honour and a privilege to teach your children. They are kind, funny and thoughtful and have been such great company in this strangest of years.

Personally, I have been so fortunate to have seen this class on their first day at school, to have seen every school performance and now to have watched them grow and mature into children ready for middle school. I am going to miss them all dearly and whilst it is tempting to wish they could stay longer I can see that they are ready to fly the POW nest and set off on their next adventures. 

You and your child will always be a special part of the POW family and we hope we will see you at future POW community events, fairs and fests. 

Tomorrows leavers assembly is due to start at 10.30am (gates open at 9.45am) and whilst it isn't forecast to be as hot as it has been previously, smartish but lighter clothing may be more comfortable for your child. If your child is wearing tight or restrictive clothing please could you also sent some shorts that your child can change into as we will be playing physical games in the afternoon.

Thank you all for being such a lovely group of parents and carers. I hope you enjoy the leavers assembly, Mr Spracklen has been working very hard on it and I suspect it will be a tear jerker.

Love,

Ms Browne and the Year 4 team

The Final week edition

 

Hello everyone,

Yet again we had a fantastic week last week and we are so proud of your wonderful children. All the children enjoyed taking part in the creative and mindful activities throughout the week. Not only was is great for them to express themselves creatively they also proved them to be supportive buddies by helping the younger children in the school complete their activities. 

The overnight stays were lots of fun and both groups stayed in the roundhouse for the entire night - which I am told from Mr Spracklen is a first so well done Year 4! We did have a selection of lost property outside the year 4 classroom so if you are still missing something please take a look. 

Well done to everyone that took part in our musical soiree. The samba band was fantastic and I was so impressed by how well they played and remembered their parts. It was also wonderful to see the children that have music lesson perform. They should all be very proud of themselves.

This week:

I can't believe this is our last week together! As much as we'd love to hold on to them for longer they are ready for their next adventure and so rather than be sad I'm hoping we will have a week of fun activities. 

You should have received a letter to your emails detailing what is happening each day (please check inboxes and spam folders). I will also try to send marvellous me reminders to the app. If you haven't got this letter or have any questions please get in touch. 

Books:

Can all library books and school lent books are returned to school as soon as possible please. This includes the class reader the boy at the back of the class and the Marcus Rashford book. 

As ever please get in touch if you have any questions, comments or concerns. 

Kind regards,

Ms Browne and the year 4 team 

Wow, what a wonderful week!

 

Hello everyone,

What an absolutely wonderful week we have had and thank you all for sending your children to the Prince of Wales School. It is an absolute privilege to work with year 4 - they are such a lovely group of creative, resilient and thoughtful individuals. 😄

This week we had the mystery of the school dragon and the missing dragon book to solve. The children did some great collaborative learning to develop methods to catch a dragon as well as creating their own dragons which mysteriously appeared in the blank pages of Sir Spracklens dragon book under uv light! The week culminated in the children creating their own guides to dragons, complete with habitat, diet and a guide to catch them.   

 

On Thursday the children had their sports day. They all tried really hard despite the heat and what is wonderful to see is their supportive, collaborative attitude to one another. Something that is also increasingly evident at playtimes.   

On Friday afternoon the year 4 Samba band performed to the rest of the school. The class have loved their weekly music lessons with Mr Whitmarsh and their hard work and focus has clearly paid off as their performance was fantastic. 

Following the samba music the whole school enjoyed a street party.     

Next week

We have more fun and activities in store for next week which is our Creativity and Wellbeing week. Every afternoon this week the children will be taking part in creative and wellbeing activities across the school. 

Monday - Please see Mr Spracklen's letter about Monday's late start (11am) and the early morning breakfast street party (from 6.45am). Please note that myself and the year 4 team will be at school at 8.45am as normal, for any families not taking advantage of the later start. 

Tuesday - Year 4 will take their turn trialing a new resource called Now Press Play which is an immersive educational experience that the school is trialling. I am confident that the children will love it as the feedback from years 1 and 3 has been very positive. 

Wednesday -  On Wednesday evening it will be the boys turn to sleepover in the roundhouse. The fun starts at 7.30pm and children should have school uniform for the next day with them. 

If you haven't yet returned your permission slip please do so by Tuesday morning at the absolute latest.  

Thursday -  On Thursday evening it will be the girls turn to sleepover. Again 7.30pm and pleases return your permission slip by Tuesday morning at the absolute latest.   

Friday - Our #InspiredToLearn Creativity and Wellbeing Week will culminate in an evening of display from 3:30pm to 5:00pm, this will include our annual Musical Soiree! All are welcome to attend this evening of celebration. Year 4 will start the event at 3:30pm and so even if you are unable to stay for the full event it would be wonderful if you could allow your child to stay to perform in the Samba band - you won't want to miss it!

As ever if you have any questions or comments please get in touch. 

Have a lovely weekend

Love from,

Ms Browne and the Year 4 team.