Message from Mrs Brocklesby

CHRIST CENTERED PILGRIMS OF HOPE

Advent has begun, and it is wonderful to see the many signs of this special season all around us. The Advent wreath is proudly displayed, with its candles ready to be lit each week as we journey towards Christmas. Purple cloths around school remind us that this is a time of reflection and preparation, while Advent calendars help the children focus on daily prayer and Bible stories. Quiet prayer spaces, updated classroom prayer tables, and our nativity scene create a sense of peace and anticipation. Acts of kindness displays, charitable collections, and the gentle sounds of Advent hymns show that our school community is preparing both hearts and minds for the coming of Jesus, the Light of the World.

Well done to Years 3 and 4, who led Mass today with great reverence and confidence. Father Richard was very impressed with how thoughtfully and respectfully the children took on their roles. Thank you to everyone who joined us.

KIND HEARTS

A huge well-done to our Key Stage 2 children who took part in a Wyre Forest cross-country event today! Everyone showed brilliant energy and enthusiasm from start to finish. The children ran with big smiles, supported their friends beautifully, and represented our school with fantastic team spirit. We’re super proud of each and every one of you!

Message from Mrs Warnett

Reception

Reception have had a wonderful and busy  week. In English, they have been exploring The Emperor’s Egg and have enjoyed learning how the male penguin carefully guards the egg until it hatches, while the female penguins head off on adventures at sea. Their learning about Antarctica has continued as they compared it with the UK, drew and labelled penguins, and created their own penguin models from card. In Maths, the children have been working on recognising one more and one less of a given number and practising ordering numbers. In PE, they have been enjoying yoga sessions, and they are also enthusiastically preparing for their Nativity performance. There has been great excitement with the arrival of their class elf, Jingle, who has been filling each day with joy and cheer. In RE, the children have been learning about Advent as a special time of waiting, filled with hope, joy, peace, and love.

KS1

Year 1 and 2 have been learning about 2D and 3D shapes this week, learning their names and properties. The children enjoyed applying their knowledge by creating their own matchstick 2D shapes before trying to draw them. In DT, the class are developing their knowledge of mechanisms. They have learnt about pivots and levers and started to create their own linkages. The class learnt how to safely make holes in card and insert split pins to create moving parts. It was lovely to see how thrilled the children were when they managed to create a moving linkage for the first time. Well done! The children are going to move on to planning a design for a moving monster toy. We can't wait to see their creations! In English, the children have been writing exciting character descriptions of dragons, applying the skills already learnt this term to create 'pictures in our minds' of the dragon we are describing. 

Year 3 / Year 4

The children have been applying their times tables knowledge in maths this week, using multiplication and division facts to solve problems using arrays, facts families, grouping and sharing. The children have been getting into the festive spirit by using 'Edgar the Dragon' as a stimulus for their writing. The children have been selecting appropriate similes, adjectives and verbs to describe Edgar and make the reader feel emotions towards him. In design and technology, the children explored the terms 'design criteria' and 'target audience' to plan and design a torch. The children are really looking forward to assembling and testing their torches next week. The children took a short trip to Italy in their geography lessons this week and researched the Alps and Apennine mountain ranges and the Po River. The children were tasked to locate, find facts about and recognise the importance of these geographical features for the Italians throughout history. Finally, the children celebrated Mass this morning in class. The theme of the Mass encouraged us to prepare for Advent by being the best versions of ourselves through remembering the sacrifices and love shown by Mary and using them to inspire us to serve others. 

Year 5

This week, Year 5 have had a wonderfully busy and productive week. Year 5 joined the rest of KS2 for singing practice and impressed everyone with their confident, enthusiastic voices. In RE, Year 5 have continued preparing for the birth of Jesus by learning about Advent and reflecting on their own Advent promises, thinking carefully about how they can show kindness and hope during this special season. In English, Year 5 have started their new text, The True Story of the Three Little Pigs, focusing on how authors use speech to advance an action and to reveal more about a character’s personality.

In the wider curriculum, Year 5 have also shone. In Geography, Year 5 explored physical features on maps, identifying mountains, rainforests and other key landscapes of Mesoamerica where the Maya lived. In Computing, Year 5 continued their work on online communication, learning how to stay safe, sensible and respectful in digital spaces. PE brought more gymnastics, with Year 5 showing great control, balance and creativity as they developed their sequences. Overall, it has been a fantastic week full of learning, teamwork and enthusiasm from Year 5

Year 6 

This week, Year 6 have been busy diving into a wide range of exciting learning opportunities across the curriculum. In English, the children have been discovering the fascinating story of Nikola Tesla, exploring how his inventions and extraordinary mind have shaped the modern world. Using what they have learned, the children have begun planning and drafting their own biographies, which they will complete next week. During PE, the children have continued to develop their gymnastics skills, focusing on counterbalance and tension. They have shown impressive control, teamwork, and creative thinking in their routines. In Maths, Year 6 have worked extremely hard to deepen their understanding of fractions. They have explored what happens when a fraction is multiplied or divided by an integer, as well as how to multiply and divide one fraction by another. Their perseverance skills during this topic have been evident, it has also been pleasing to see how the children have been able to make links between previous learning to help them with new learning. In RE, the children have started to reflect on the season of Advent. They have considered its significance in their own lives and within the Church’s year, engaging thoughtfully with its themes of preparation, hope, and reflection. Geography lessons have taken the children back in time to learn how the landscape of the Black Country was transformed by the Industrial Revolution. They explored the role of coal and examined how energy sources have developed and changed over the years. The lesson culminated in a lively class debate about different forms of energy. The children spoke confidently, articulately, and with great enthusiasm. The children also completed and evaluated their model playgrounds this week - they were incredibly impressive and really showed how the children really thought about problems solving!  Fantastic work, Year 6!

Congratulations to Victoria in Year 3/4 who won the Christmas card design competition.  This competition was organised by Flourish, our supply agency.  Many schools took part, so we're very proud that Victoria came first from the large quantity of entries.  Victoria wins a £30 book voucher and the school receives a £100 book voucher.

Next Tuesday (9th December) is Pyjama Day.  Children can come to school in their pyjamas and cosy slippers.   As a Christmas treat, the day will start with a Christmas story followed by fun activities throughout the day.  In the afternoon the children will watch a Christmas movie in class whilst enjoying hot chocolate and biscuits.

The Key Stage 1 nativity performances will be at 2.30pm and 6.00pm.  It's one of our favourite times of year.   The children have been working hard and the singing coming out of the hall during rehearsals sounds lovely.  We are not issuing tickets this year.  Just come along to the performance of your choice. 

Please note that the pedestrian gate is unlocked in a morning until 9.30am.  It is in a shut position, and just needs pushing to open.  It is also unlocked (but kept in a shut position) in an afternoon from 3pm onwards.

When: Saturday 6th December 10am-3pm.

Where: On a working boat 'Bramble' (mooring in the Lower Basin by Oliver's Coffee Boat)

Cost: £6 per child

**Please be aware, you will meet Santa whilst the boat is moored, this is not a trip.**

Step aboard the working boat Bramble and experience the magic of Christmas!

Meet Santa and his elf, receive a present and enjoy delicious warm mince pies as you celebrate the festive season with us.

Once you’ve completed your booking, confirmation and your time slot will be emailed to you. If you have a preferred time slot, please email and we’ll do our best to accommodate you.

Please remember to bring your ticket and confirmation with you to the event.

To book your tickets please click on the link below:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/.../santas-grotto-2025...

For more information, contact:

• gill.edwards@stourportforward.org.uk

Gloves and hats - do you have any unwanted gloves and hats?  We would be grateful of any donations.  These will be used by children who forget to bring theirs to school on cold winter days, thank you.

If your child is due to start school in September 2026 (and was born between 1 September 2021-31 August 2022) the closing date for applying for a place is 15 January 2026. Visit www.worcestershire.gov.uk/schooladmissions

All children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 receive universal free school meals.  However, based on your income, you may be eligible to a different free school meal type. This can be applied for even when your child is still in Reception, Years 1 & 2.  This entitles you to a free school meal voucher during the holidays and also continued free school meals until the end of Year 6. If you think you may qualify for these,  visit www.worcestershire.gov.uk