Category: News

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Year 6

Hello All,

It is been so wonderful having you back in my class again Year 6. Although there are lots of similarities to the class I said goodbye to in July 2015, I am pleased to report that a lot of growing up has happened since then and every day I am more and more impressed with your wisdom, kindness and friendship. It has also been great getting to know those of you who have joined since I taught in Year One, so thank you for welcoming me. You have tackled the first three weeks of term like pros. Being at the top of the school comes with a lot of responsibility and so many of you are rising to the challenge. One challenge that many of you faced this week, was the interviews for Head Boy and Head Girl. For those of you who applied, your letters of application were very well thought through and Mr Quinn and Mrs Sullivan have informed me that all of you came across excellently in the interview. I have no doubt that it was a very tricky decision. However, the role can only go to two children, so I say a huge congratulations to Henrietta and Sam, I know that you both will take on this important role with humbleness, integrity and enthusiasm.

Our Fantastic Head Boy and Head Girl Candidates

 

But the week has not simply been filled with deciding important roles, earlier in the week we published our Lonely Planet guides to the Greek landscape.  These are now being proudly displayed on the wall and I am becoming increasingly tempted to book my next holiday. Here are a few of the guides that were created (thank you to Mrs Carroll for the super display):

 

 

Year 6 has also been rocking out this week with our new music topic: Classic Rock. We have been listening to a range of rock classics but our main focus has been learning how to sing ‘Living on a Prayer’ by Jon Bon Jovi. I know that Year 5 are also learning this song, so year 6 get practising because just before half-term we need to win the ‘Phase 2 Rock Out.’ Here is the link to the song below, so you can bring out those air guitars at home!

Anyway I best get off, the Rugby World Cup starts today and I want to watch the opening ceremony! Have a great weekend and see you on Monday!

Miss M 🙂

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Choosing a reading book … where to start?

I know that it can be impossible to know where to start when it comes to choosing a reading book, but last year I discovered the lists of ‘100 books for Y3/4 and Y5/6.’ These are lists of recommended books created by the brilliant Ashley Booth and adapted by the wonderful Mrs P  .

The lists are full of great texts: classic novels, books which came out when I was at school and which I devoured, and some debuts by brilliant authors currently publishing amazing books for children each year.  Lots of the books are the first in a series so pupils can get hooked on a certain character or setting and read sequel after sequel.  There are a few books which overlap between lists and some non-fiction or poetry books included.  It’s important that children can read books appropriate to them, so the lists are called Red (Y3/4) and Blue (Y5/6) rather than named by year group.

It’s also important pupils know that this is not a challenge – 100 books in Y5/6 would be 1 book a week.  Very few pupils (and teachers) would manage this.  Instead, we have stressed that these lists have great recommendations for books to read.

To enhance pupils’ engagement with the 100 books lists, Year 6 children are members of a weekly book club. This is an opportunity for them to join in and discuss the books on and off the list.  This means we have the whole of Year 6,  as well as the teachers, communicating about books and reading. There is a real reading buzz in the Year 6 classroom: we take selfies with our latest books, discuss each other’s books as well as give reviews and recommendations (with no spoilers!). Book club is something that we are hoping to role out across the whole of Phase 2 in the coming months, but even if you’re not part of a book club, I hope we can keep the reading momentum going throughout the year and encourage more children to find a book they love.

Please note that the books in red text are the books we read in class, so careful not double up and read them at home too!

100 books to read Red

100 books to read Blue

I hope this is useful and I look forward to hearing about the books you are enjoying! If you are particularly enjoying one of the books on the list, why don’t you comment below so that other people could read it too?

Miss M 🙂

 

 

 

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Year Five

Happy Friday!

This is a picture of us working hard in our new classroom.

 

Year 5 have had a fantastic start to the new school year. Some of the highlights so far have been –

“Learning about Earth and Space, especially creating our own solar system.”

“Having PE twice a week is great!”

“One of my favourite parts so far has been learning the poem about The Iron Man.”

“I love Roman Numerals.”

And overall the general consensus of Year 5 so far is:

“We are looking forward to more fun activities in the future.”

 

This is a picture of us orbiting the sun in the solar system we created.

Our Rugby World Cup display is up, every child has picked a team from the pools and the competition is on! (Go SA!)

Hope you all have a great weekend, and enjoy the rugby.

Miss Dyer and Year 5 🙂

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Welcome to the Phase 2 Blog

 

Welcome to our brand new Phase 2 blog!  We plan to use the blog to keep you up-to-date with all the exciting learning that takes place every week at St Matthews. The blog will also be a space for posting school reminders, as well as links to sites we may all find useful, so please do check in regularly! We sometimes will post as individual classes and other times as a phase group, we hope you will find it valuable and look forward to your encouraging comments.

Please note, I do not own any of the images included on our blog, apart from the photos of our classroom and children.

What a great start to the year it has been. It has put such a smile on my face to see all of you bustle through the doors with such enthusiasm, excited to start the new school year.

I managed to capture some of your smiling faces this week as you came into school. Can you spot yourself? It is so wonderful when the teachers receive a bright, cheery morning welcome from you all, it puts a smile on our faces too!

Assemblies have looked at ‘fresh starts’ and I know that many of you are thinking about how you can be the very best version of yourself this new school year. For some of you that ‘fresh start’ might be being a role-model for children in the younger years, or perhaps you have decided to nail your timestables this year! It is sometimes difficult to start something new or face a challenge but Joshua 1:9 reminds us:

‘Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.’

Whatever you have decided as your challenge to face, I look forward to hearing about your journey to fulfilling that goal as the year goes on.

Thanks for reading and I hope you are as excited as I am for this new opportunity to bring school and home together through the Phase 2 blog!

Miss M​ : )