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.

On Friday 18th of October we had a fantastic JUST ONE Tree Day! The children wore green and learnt lots about protecting our planet. It was a fun and educational day for all.

What’s even better is that we raised £660 meaning our school’s forest now stands at a whopping 660 trees and absorbing 203.28 tonnes of CO2 from the atmosphere. Our forest will be creating homes for wildlife, raising rural employment, protecting coastlines, capturing water, cleaning the air we breathe and most importantly, tackling climate change.

We’re so pleased that our school community is having such a positive impact.

On Thursday, years 4, 5 and 6 had a special assembly led by Pav, a Metropolitan Police Officer from Cyber Choices, who educated them about how to be safe online, how to keep their online identity safe and about the consequences of hacking. He spoke about the importance of gaining permission before sharing information.

On Friday, Y5 were fortunate to be visited by a STEM ambassador, Chris Joly, who spoke to the children about his knowledge of Space. He shared information about our Solar System but also information about Black Holes and Galaxies. This workshop helped us to understand more about our science topic this term: Earth and Space.

We had sports day over two days last week and all the children really enjoyed themselves. The winning house is FIRE!! They enjoyed ice lollies on Tuesday afternoon for their prize!

Last Friday our playground was transformed into a vibrant hub of joy and laughter as we hosted our annual party in the playground.

With the sun shining so many of you came along to support us and it was a truly wonderful evening.

From the moments the gates opened, the playground buzzed with excitement. The children dashed between the numerous games on offer, each offering a chance to win fantastic prizes. There was in fact 107 balloons squeezed into Mrs Young’s car and the lucky winner took home a fabulous scooter! Our tombolas and raffle had long lines of eager participants.

The stalls manned by our dedicated staff had something to offer everyone and the food vendors were equally busy offering delicious wraps and waffles.

A special thank you goes out to everyone who attended, your valued contributions go right back to your children. We raised a staggering £5036.61!

We want to extend our thanks to 4 parents; Leona Beckett, Crina Prilogan, Angelica Toma and Abdul Qoodos for their support leading up to and at the event.

We are also grateful for all the generous donations from our suppliers who provided the following:

• Valley Industrial Suppliers - £50 Amazon Voucher
• Evergreen - £100 donation to PSA account
• Reed - £30 M&S vouchers and luxury M&S Chocolates
• Protocol – Scooter
• Blue Arrow - £50 Morrisons voucher
• Morrisons Hatch End - £15 voucher and 10% discount for supplies
• LTF Recruitment– Various raffle prizes (total value £400+)

Thank you once again to everyone who participated and contributed. The smiles on our children’s faces were a testament to the evening’s success. If you have any comments about the event or would like to help out at future events we would love to hear from you at psa@elmgrove.harrow.sch.uk