"Everything is awesome!"

Hello there everyone!

Well, as usual, we had a busy week last week - reading week! We began our week with an exciting collaborative learning project where we joined up with Year 1. We wrote new Paddington Bear stories with our Year 1 partners - some great work was produced and much fun and peer learning and teaching took place!

Another activity that we embarked on this week, having learned about other children the same age as us who may have to spend time on the Kingfisher Children's Ward, was to write half a story that would be sent up to the hospital for the children to read and complete! 3 groups were given different age categories to write for. This was an exciting challenge, focusing on applying our writing skills with relation to the reader and the impact it may have on them.

Ofcourse, on Tuesday, we had a visit from Mike Brownlow an author and illustrator who was very inspiring. He showed us how he became interested in illustrations and how this developed throughout his life. Mike also gave us a master class in illustration - some very talented cartoonists emerged! Our creativity spilled into the classroom, where we continued a challenge set us by Mike, to design a treasure island with traps, along with a pirate crew.........some children went on to create a book too!

We even managed to squeeze numeracy into our busy schedule, with a big focus on mental maths!

How could I also forget Macbeth? We thoroughly enjoyed the strange, wonderful and creative adaptation of Macbeth set on Mars in 2070 after Earth had ceased to exist. The children were a credit to themselves and the school as they sat so engrossed for a VERY long performance. I am sure this will have also helped them to think of things they might add to their modern Macbeth play scripts!

A request: After Easter we have been lucky enough to have been selected, along with a small handful of schools and community groups, to take part in 2 puppet workshops during school time, leading to participating in a parade with our puppets, in Dorchester for Dorchester Arts Week, on the 2nd Bank Holiday Saturday in May (the first Saturday of the half term holidays). Firstly, we would be very grateful if you could gather any "thickish" card board, wool or fabric that may be useful for our puppets, and bring it into class by the 19th April. Secondly, If you think your child would be able to join in with the parade (I will be walking with them) please could you let me know ASAP - we will be meeting at the Corn Exchange at approx 10:30 and walking up to the Borough Gardens, so approx 1 hour! It sounds very exciting and lots of fun, also a great chance to be involved in a community project, also there will be lots of colourful, fun and exciting activities for all the family to join in with in the Gardens afterwards should you want to.

The farm visit is due to take place this Thursday morning, weather permitting, so the children will need to wear their "tatty" bottoms, school top and bring wellies in a plastic bag!

Thanks everyone!

Mrs. Johnson

Buy a signed copy and meet the author tomorrow!

Good evening everyone!

An exciting day tomorrow - as it is part of our reading week, we have arranged for a children's author/illustrator to come in and inspire the children about creating stories! He will be giving an exciting presentation/workshop to each class in the morning and then setting activities for them in the afternoon! The author and illustrator is, Mike Brownlow, author of Ten Little Pirates and creator of the TV series Little Robots.

More information about Ten Little Pirates

Ten little pirates set out to sea in search of adventure. But what will the ten little pirates do when they meet a hurricane . . . and a giant squid . . . and a HUNGRY SHARK? This fun-filled rhyming story, which incorporates counting backwards from ten to one, is great to share with young children who are learning about numbers. The colourful, humorous illustrations feature objects to spot and count on every page. With a bouncy, rhythmic text and lots of great sound words, this piratical adventure is perfect for sharing again and again. Short-listed for the Nottingham Children’s Book Awards and the Sheffield Children’s Book Awards, 2014.

Other books that will be on sale:

Make It! Rocket,

Make It! Robot, both published by Scholastic

Bad Manners! Benjie,

Dog Did It! both published by Piccadilly Press.

Mike will be selling copies of his books at the end of the day which you can buy and get signed as a special gift for your child. They will cost £6.99, and it would be appreciated if you could bring the correct money. The children will have a great day experiencing first hand how to create a book, and it would be a lovely, inspiring momento to take away! Check out his website!

We hope to see you at the end of the day tomorrow!

Mrs. Johnson

"Don't stop us now...........we're having such a good time..........we're having a ball!"

In my fit of excitement last night, I forgot to add some more fantastic news to the blog!

Our team of footballers took place in another tournament at Damers on Tuesday and.............WON! That meant that they won over all so are the "Champions!!!!!!!" - Orren also earned "player of the tournament" awarded by Mr. Duffy who said "I haven't seen such good football  before and lots of people commented on what good sportsmanship we displayed, patting each other on the back, words of encouragement and shaking hands with every team after each game"..............Wow! AGAIN! Well done! And a special WELL DONE to Orren! Honestly, if you lot don't stop making me feel so proud I think my head may explode!!!!!!!!!!! Either that, or I will float away into the sky as I am floating on air!!!!!!!

Our learning this week has been fun, in numeracy we have been learning about area and perimeter - formulae to calculate these and using our strategies to help show our working out. In literacy we have created our own play scripts in the style of Macbeth but with a modern/futuristic twist!!!!!!! The children also applied their learning about hurricanes in a collaborative learning project involving either model making, posters, newspapers, leaflets............

Next week is reading week - Mia and George spoke about  the new DASP Book Group which they have set up - there could only be a certain number of children, so anyone that didn't get in, there will be a chance next half term. However anyone can go onto a blog page on the Damers website to add their book recommendations, likewise children can go into Waterstones and complete book reviews which will then be displayed in the shop/shop window! Exciting stuff!!!!!! Lots of fun activities are planned next week to promote the enjoyment of reading!!!!! Can't wait!!!!!!!

Don't forget Macbeth on Thursday (packed lunches needed!) - The play is a futuristic version set in outer space!!!!!!!!! Should be good!

Have a lovely, well earned, relaxing weekend!

The VERY proud Year 4 Team! x

Proud as punch!

Wowee Zowee!!!!!!!!! I can't tell you how wonderful you ALL were tonight, you made us beam and glow with pride, and I'm sure your parents will tell you the same. You were a credit to the school, your singing and behaviour were excellent! Well done! I just had to blog as soon as I came home!!!!!!!

Have a good nights sleep, I am sure you're all tired - but also "buzzing" from the excitement of the evening!

Tomorrow is Sport Relief so you are free to come in wearing red - whether it is an accessory to your uniform or a whole red outfit, that is up to you! All donations will go to Sport Relief!

Thanks again for all your hard work and effort leading up to tonight, learning all the words and singing with great enthusiasm, and I was also soooooooo pleased to see EVERYONE there! Well done! Thank you also to your families for supporting us!

See you tomorrow!!!!!!!

AVERY PROUD Mrs. Johnson xx

A message from Year 2!

Year 2 just wanted to write a message to everyone in Year 4 to say how fantastic you all were at singing in assembly. You inspired us to sing just like you.

If you perform like you did today then we are sure you are going to do brilliantly! Just one last thing...

Keep doing a sun dance! Reminders for this week and exciting learning!

Hi all!

So, we have a busy week ahead!!!!!! Lots of reminders..........

1. Bikeability starts tomorrow 1:30 - 3:30
2. Fairthorne Manor information session after school on Tuesday, 3:30 - 4:30 in the school hall - I hope you can make it!
3. Thursday music rehearsal and concert - remember - drop off at St Osmunds by 9:15, with their school bag (snack and water bottle too), they will have to carry them back to school afterwards so make sure bags aren't too full!!!!! In the evening, drop off at 6pm to our assigned room and take your seats in the main sports hall to enjoy the concert due to commence at 6:30 for approximately an hour! All children are expected to attend, if you have a reason that this is not possible please can you speak to either Mrs. Mewett or Mr. Farrington.
4. Another reminder about football on Wednesday - Children need a tracksuit if it is a cold day and trainers (or astroturfs).

This week exciting learning will be building on learning from last week in literacy, where the children are beginning to plan their own version of a script based around Macbeth but set in the modern/futuristic day!!!!!!!! In numeracy last week, I am thrilled to say that, following a strategy check week, all the children demonstrated a secure knowledge and understanding of all 4 formal written calculation methods - they assessed themselves as confident and having made excellent progress - well done!!!! This week they will be learning all about area and perimeter and will be applying their learning at the end of the week. In RE we are learning about forgiveness and the season of Lent and Easter. In geography the children learned about hurricanes last week and will be applying their knowledge this week via a collaborative learning project. In French we have been learning how to ask how old someone is and how to say how old they are, as well as learning masculine nouns and adjectives. It was very exciting, because Jack and Taylor spotted a French book I had, and asked if they could read it to the class - which I thought showed immense courage! Well done boys! Orienteering was very successful last week and what a glorious day they had for it - I had super reports about how well the children behaved and represented the school - very proud (AGAIN) Year 4!
Amazing effort on you superhero costumes and ideas - well done, also a HUGE well done to all of you who made lots of effort to scoot or cycle to school!

I look forward to another exciting week!

See you all tomorrow - Well done!

Mrs. Johnson

Spring Family Bingo

At the Prince of Wales School Friday 28th March.

Everyone Welcome £2 per book = 15 games

Doors open at 5.30pm, eyes down at 6pm

Raising funds for Prince of Wales Pre-School

 

Information and Learning!

Hi there everyone!
I hope you have made the most of such lovely weather this weekend!!??? We went to the beach - hopefully this is the start of things to come!?

This week we will be continuing to explore Macbeth and script writing. In numeracy we will be having a strategy check week, checking the 4 calculation strategies and that we are secure! A chance for you to get using the information sheet we sent home a couple of weeks ago - why not show mums and dads what you learn in class this week and have a practise at home - especially division as this was our newest strategy!

This Thursday afternoon we will be spending the afternoon at DMS doing orienteering activities - that will be great fun! A reminder to bring in your warm outdoor PE kit and TRAINERS for football on Wednesday!

We were in the lead for the scoot/cycle to school competition so lets have a last push this week to see if we can win!!!! Friday will be celebrating and we will be coming in dressed up as super heroes - it should be a "made up" super hero of your choice........Climber Boy..........Super Fruit Eater..........Amazing Art Girl/Boy........????? Be as mad and creative as you like!

Another reminder......Thursday 20th is our concert day, rehearsing at St Osmunds in the morning (details to follow) and then the concert in the evening - drop off at 6, concert begins at 6:30 for approx an hour! I WILL ASSUME YOU ARE ALL COMING UNLESS I HEAR DIFFERENTLY FROM PARENTS!

See you all tomorrow!

Mrs. Johnson

Murder!

Evening all!

Thank you Sophia, for summing up some of our learning last week - we had trouble adding the images so will aim to get that sorted out for the next one!

Congratulations again to Mia for winning the recycling competition - you have represented you school and we are very proud of you!

It is world book day on Wednesday - we are postponing ours for a couple of weeks as we are having a reading week and would like to have a special day within that week where we may be dressing up! Watch this space!

In numeracy this week we are learning about 3d shape. In numeracy we launched our topic based around Macbeth - unfortunately we were met with a murder investigation in the hall this morning - there was police tape marking the area where the murder took place and a body outline as well as clues and evidence. The children used their excellent detective skills to deduce, infer and predict what had happened. They were then introduced to the suspects, where they had to use clues to help them work out who the suspects were, a possible motive and murderer! Gripping stuff - we will continue with our investigation tomorrow and throughout the week!

Don't forget brass tomorrow, football kits for Wednesday.

Year 4 Team - keep up the good work Year 4, I am sure there are some potential future police officers and detectives among us!!!!