Year 2 Update

This week in Year 2, we have started exciting new topics across lots of subjects! In history, children have started exploring the Great Fire of London, asking the question, What was London like in 1666? We have had the chance to study artefacts from the time and take on the role of historians. In English, we have used our new text, A Walk in London, to discover facts about famous landmarks and are preparing to write persuasive pieces encouraging people to visit London. Meanwhile, in science, we have begun learning about plants, sorting those that are edible and having the opportunity to handle herbs observing their differences. We have also been observing the caterpillars that have been delivered to our classrooms as part of preparations for Science Week and its theme 'Change and Adaptation'. It’s been a week of discovery, creativity, and hands-on learning!

 

Year 4 Update

What an incredible week we’ve had in Year 4! From heartwarming stories to exciting trips, the children have been on a real learning journey!

In English, we’ve been diving into the emotional and thought-provoking book The Boy at the Back of the Classroom. This moving story, which follows Ahmet, a refugee, has sparked deep conversations about empathy, kindness, and how we can support those in need. In Maths, we’ve kicked off our new topic on Fractions! The children are exploring what fractions really mean and understanding how parts make up a whole. It’s been wonderful to see them develop confidence in this important area, and they’re excited to continue building their skills.

In History, we’ve started a fascinating new topic on Crime and Punishment 1,000 years ago. The children have been shocked by some of the methods used to determine guilt or innocence—many couldn't believe that people were once tested by putting their hands in boiling water to see if they would heal! Their reactions have been priceless. In PSHE, we’ve begun a new unit on Money. The children have been discussing the importance of budgeting, saving, and understanding the value of money. They’ve enjoyed learning about how money works in the real world and are excited to dive deeper into these important skills.

But the fun didn’t stop there! This week, we had the absolute pleasure of going on a class trip to Hatch End Primary School to watch a stunning performance of the musical Joseph. The children were completely immersed in the magic of the show, and they were buzzing with excitement as they learned about the behind-the-scenes magic—stage lighting, sound, and all the technical wizardry that makes a performance come to life. What an unforgettable experience!

And of course, we couldn’t forget World Book Day! The children had an absolute blast dressing up as their favorite characters, from superheroes to classic literary figures. As part of the celebration, we asked them to complete a fun and creative project about their costumes and the books that inspire them. The classroom was alive with energy as each child proudly presented their work, sharing stories and creativity with their friends.

It’s been a week full of discovery, laughter, and a whole lot of learning. We can’t wait to see where the next adventure takes us!

 

Year 6 Update

Maths

In our recent maths lessons, the children have been revisiting and reinforcing their understanding of 2-D and 3-D shapes. They have been exploring the properties of various shapes, including the number of sides, angles, and symmetry in 2-D shapes, and how to identify faces, edges, and vertices in 3-D shapes.

Additionally, the children have been learning how to measure and draw angles accurately using a protractor. They have been practicing measuring both acute and obtuse angles and learning how to construct angles with precision. This skill is essential as they continue to build their geometry knowledge and apply it to different mathematical problems.

We encourage you to ask your child about the shapes they've been studying and the angles they have been measuring at home! It's wonderful to see their growing confidence in these important mathematical concepts.

English

This week in year 6, we have been working on producing our newspaper reports within our English lessons. The children have completed the process of planning and drafting their reports in their books before publishing their work in a typed document. Our focus this week was on identifying the different features of a newspaper report that you would not necessarily find in other types of written work. The children have worked very hard in writing for purpose by maintaining a formal tone throughout as well as developing their writing skills.

 

Geography

In geography, Y6 have explored the fascinating world of mountains! We have looked at the physical features, formation, and significance of mountain ranges. We learnt about the processes that create mountains, such as tectonic plate movements, and investigated different types of mountains like fold, fault-block, and volcanic mountains. We located mountain ranges like the Himalayas, Andes, and Alps on a map and looked at the influence human activities like tourism, agriculture, and transportation have on the communities surrounded them.

We are thrilled to announce that our school has been awarded an accreditation as part of the TFL for Life programme! This recognition celebrates our commitment to promoting active, safe, and sustainable travel to school for both students and staff.

This achievement reflects the dedication we have shown in creating a safer and greener environment, where walking, cycling, and using public transport are encouraged. It also highlights our continuous efforts to ensure that our school community can access education in an environmentally responsible way.

We’d like to take this opportunity to thank our wonderful parents and carers for their ongoing support. Without your cooperation in helping us encourage sustainable travel habits, this achievement would not have been possible. Whether you’ve helped your child walk or cycle to school, or supported our initiatives in other ways, your contributions have made a lasting impact.

This accreditation is just the beginning! Together, we will continue to work toward a future where every journey to school is safer, healthier, and more sustainable for everyone.

Year 4 Update

What an exciting and eventful week we’ve had in Year 4! Our learning has been full of new challenges, discoveries, and plenty of meaningful discussions.

In Maths, we’ve been diving into the tricky concept of division with remainders. At first, this was a real challenge for many of us, but with plenty of perseverance and determination, we’ve made fantastic progress! Everyone has worked hard, and we can now confidently tackle division problems with remainders. However, as we know, practice makes perfect! It’s important that the children continue to practice this skill at home to really embed it and build even greater confidence.

In English, we’ve been reading the moving and thought-provoking Christophe’s Story by Nikki Cowell. The book has provided a powerful insight into the experiences of a Rwandan refugee who has moved to the UK. As we’ve followed Christophe’s journey, the children have been engaged in deep and heartfelt discussions about what it might feel like to leave behind everything you know and start a new life in a foreign country. The themes of hope, resilience, and the challenges faced by refugees have sparked some incredible conversations, and it’s been wonderful to witness such empathy and reflection from the class.

In Geography, our exploration of Eastern European countries has been a highlight. The children have loved learning about this fascinating region of the world, and for some of them, this topic hits close to home. Several students have shared their personal experiences of having lived in Eastern Europe before moving to the UK, which has made the learning even more meaningful. Using Google Earth, the class enjoyed zooming in on different countries, cities, and landmarks. The children were able to explore their connections to the places we’ve been studying, and we encourage them to keep exploring at home to discover even more about this region and the wider world.

In Computing, we are focusing on online safety and programming, teaching the children how to navigate the digital world responsibly and creatively.

During our RE sessions, we have been learning about Sikhism and the significance of the 5Ks, allowing students to appreciate different cultures and beliefs.

In Science, we have been investigating sounds, which has sparked great interest among the children as they engage in hands-on experiments.

Finally, our Geography lessons have taken us on a journey through the physical and human features of Eastern European countries, providing a broader perspective of the world we live in.

Additionally, we are discussing PSHE topics related to family composition and diversity, helping the children understand and respect different backgrounds.

Meanwhile, some of our Year 4 superstars have been hard at work preparing for their class assemblies. They’ve been practicing their lines, songs, and performances with great enthusiasm and dedication, and we can’t wait to see them shine in front of the whole school!

It’s been a week of exciting learning, new experiences, and personal growth. From tackling tricky maths to exploring new cultures and discussing important global issues, Year 4 has certainly been a class full of explorers. We’re all looking forward to more learning adventures ahead!

Reminders:

PARENTS EVENING - Please book a slot on Arbor for the upcoming parents evening on Thursday 13th February 2025.

UNIFORM - A few children have been coming to school in incorrect uniform particularly shoes. Please ensure that the children arrive in school in the appropriate school uniform.

 

Year 6 Update

This week Year enjoyed:

PE - Hockey

The children have been working so hard on developing their skills this term during their hockey session. They have learnt to pass and move to keep possession and to increase awareness when dribbling with the ball. We look forward to seeing the children implement attacking tactics during sided games later this term.

Religious Education (RE)

The children have been creating their own booklets focused on Christianity. They have been learning about significant events in the Christian faith, and each child crafted their booklet to explore these moments in a way that was meaningful to them. It has been wonderful to see their creativity shine through as they reflect on these important stories.

Poetry

In English, the children stepped into the role of poets and wrote their own poems. The theme was "What would you do if you had fins?" and "What would you do if you had wings?"

The children had great fun imagining life under the sea. From swimming with dolphins to exploring coral reefs, their ideas were full of imagination and creativity. It’s been fantastic to see their poetic skills develop!

Art

This week in year 6, we have been exploring our creative unit in Art. Our unit began with an in depth look at a Nigerian born artist who later moved to the United states of America, Njideka Akunyili Crosby. We explored the different techniques used within her pieces before then using the same techniques to help influence our pieces on culture and identity. The children have all been very enthusiastic and have applied themselves well towards the Art unit. Well done!

 

 

 

 

 

On Wednesday Year 5 and 6 had a talk from Matt Sealy paralympian who plays for the London Titans. London Titans are currently the British Wheelchair Baskeball Premier Division Champions! He talked about competing at the highest level in Wheelchair Basketball, building resilience and how he manages his daily life with his two different wheelchairs. He shared the rules of wheelchair basketball and showed us his Team GB kit from when he participated in the Paralympics. As an athlete who has been in a wheelchair most of his life, our pupils learnt so much about Matt’s ‘can do’ attitude and how he takes on daily challenges. Thanks for coming, Matt!

Year 1

Year 1 have been learning about the weather and how it changes throughout the year. We discussed wind and how it changes both direction and speed. Children made kites and we went outside to see which direction the wind was blowing. We will go outside next week to see if the wind is still blowing in the same direction.

Year 1 have also been learning about numbers to 20. We learnt how to read, write and make the numbers 11, 12 and 13 using a range of resources.

We have also started to look at different types of houses including detached, semi- detached, bungalows, flats and cottages. Children then drew and labelled their own houses and labelled features they could remember.

This term children will be looking at different houses from the past and identifying which features are the same and different both inside and outside the houses.

In art, we have learnt about the artist Brianna McCarthy. We learnt a little about her life growing up in Trinidad and Tobago and how she uses collage to communicate and create portraits.

Children have also started in their new phonics groups. They will continue to learn new sounds and words as well as reading stories and creating some writing linked to the stories. All children have been allocated an activity on Oxford Owl to complete at home.

 

 

Year 3

English

This week Year 3 have begun exploring the captivating text ‘Cinderella of the Nile’. As part of our reading journey, we have examined various illustrations from the book, using them as a basis for making thoughtful inferences about the story. Our focus has also been on the main character, Rhodopis. The children engaged in brainstorming creative and descriptive ideas to craft an exciting character description. Next week, we will delve deeper into the narrative by enacting key scenes from the story. This will allow us to explore the characters’ emotional journey and experiences.

Maths

In our Maths lessons, we have been multiplying 2-digit numbers by a 1-digit number both with and without exchange! The children have shown fantastic resilience and determination in their learning. We have also started linking multiplication and division facts. These are some of the key questions we have discussed in class

• What is the same and what is different about the two calculations?
• How can you show the calculation using place value counters/ base 10?
• How is multiplying by 10s different from multiplying by 1s?
• What division facts do you know by using the fact × =?

 

History

This week we have been learning about how Ancient Egyptian society was organized like a pyramid! Each level of society had different roles and we learned about the important jobs people had thousands of years ago. At the very top of the pyramid was the Pharaoh, the ruler of Ancient Egypt, who was seen as a god on Earth. Below the Pharaoh were the priests, who were responsible for keeping the gods happy through rituals and ceremonies. We looked at the roles of officials and talked about artisans, the skilled workers who created beautiful artwork, jewellery and tools that we still admire today. Our classes had great discussions about how everyone’s role helped keep Ancient Egypt thriving for thousands of years!

Science

In our Science lessons, we have been exploring the exciting topic of nutrition and the different food groups. We have been discovering how each food group helps our bodies stay healthy and strong.

The children asked some fantastic questions about staying healthy, such as how we can get all the nutrients we need and why they are important. It's been great to see their curiosity and interest in understanding the role of food in keeping us healthy!

What an incredible afternoon we had at this year’s Winter Fair! The school was buzzing with excitement as families and friends came together to raise funds for the school

The games stalls were a huge hit, with children and adults alike enjoying the fun and challenges. Congratulations to the prize winners of Guess the Address, Santa Call Back and Elf Hunt. Those elves were a bit trickier to find this year! The inflatables were non-stop all afternoon and our first Silent Disco was also a huge hit!

The raffle was another highlight, offering fantastic prizes that had everyone desperate to win a prize. A huge thank you to the companies names last week for donating all of these and the Elmgrove staff for contributing towards the hampers. Of course, the food was a treat too—our food truck served up delicious wraps, burgers and chips, while the waffle stall was the perfect indulgence for anyone with a sweet tooth.

Thanks to your support and generosity, we’re thrilled to announce that the event raised an amazing £4,039.36 in profit! These funds will directly benefit the school and our children.

Thank you again for making this year’s Winter Fair such a resounding success. There are a few parents we would like to mention and thank for their support leading up to and at the fair; Leona Beckett, Crina Prilogan and Angelica Toma. We need more parental support at these events so please speak to Mrs Long, Mrs Young and Mrs Patel or email psa@elmgrove.harrow.sch.uk if you can support us at future events.

Surplus Christmas stock, balls and snack items will be available for purchase in the playground on Monday after school.