Hot Weather Forecast

Message from Mrs Brocklesby

As temperatures rise, we are taking steps to ensure the wellbeing of all pupils and staff during periods of extreme heat. Here’s how we’re keeping your child safe, and how you can support us:

School Measures

• Monitoring classroom temperatures and adjusting activities when it gets too hot.
• Encouraging regular water breaks and allowing water bottles in classrooms.
• Keeping blinds/curtains closed on sunny sides and using fans where safe.
• Moving PE or outdoor play to earlier or later in the day to avoid peak heat.
• Providing shaded areas for breaks and lunchtime where possible.
• Being alert for signs of heat-related illness and responding promptly.

How You Can Help

• Send your child to school with a named water bottle each day.
• Apply long-lasting suncream at home in the morning (where applicable).
• Provide a sun hat and, if possible, sunglasses.
• Uniform rules may be relaxed  - we will confirm if this in the case in advance.
• Let us know if your child has any health conditions that affect how they cope with heat.

We appreciate your support in helping us keep our school community safe during hot weather.

If you have any questions, please contact the school office.

Today has been a wonderful opportunity for the children to enjoy our first "Break the Rules" event. There has been lots of excitement throughout the day, and the children have thoroughly enjoyed taking part in the fun activities.

A huge thank you to the PTA for organising and supporting this event. Their hard work and dedication help to create memorable experiences for our pupils, and we are very grateful for all they do.

A reminder that Monday is Sports Day. Please check your see the information below regarding the event, including timings and arrangements. We look forward to seeing families there and hope for a fantastic day of sport and celebration.

KIND HEARTS AND A HUNGER FOR JUSTICE

Message from Mrs Warnett.

Reception

Reception have had another busy and exciting week of learning. In English, the children have been enjoying the story Fidgety Fish, using the book as a stimulus for discussion, storytelling and early writing activities. They have explored the characters and events within the story and have enjoyed sharing their own ideas and predictions.

In Science, the children have been learning about how to keep their bodies healthy. They discussed the importance of eating a balanced diet, staying active, getting enough sleep and maintaining good hygiene to help them grow strong and healthy.

In Geography, Reception have been using globes to explore the world and identify hot and cold countries. They enjoyed locating different places and learning about how climate can vary around the globe.

In Maths, the children have been developing their understanding of sharing and grouping. Through practical activities and games, they have explored how objects can be shared equally between groups and how items can be organised into groups to help with counting and problem-solving. The children have worked hard throughout the week and have shown great enthusiasm in all areas of their learning.

Year 1 and 2

On Thursday, Year 1 and 2 had an excellent trip to visit Bodenham Arboretum. The day started off with a walk through the arboretum. We had excellent guides who were able to teach us lots of interesting facts about the various trees that we saw growing. We learnt that wellingtonia is an evergreen tree with bark that is soft enough to punch without hurting your fist! In comparison, a poplar tree is deciduous with much harder bark. We also learnt the reasons why in certain situations it might be for the greater good of the area to remove certain trees. Next, we had a tour of the farmyard and enjoyed seeing and learning many facts about sheep, donkeys, pigs and cows. We also heard about the new solar project at Bodenham which was officially opened last Friday by our local MP and saw many solar panels on the barn roof. After that, we went to the forest school site and enjoyed our picnic lunch together. Once our tummies were full, we were free to explore! There were toy animals around the site to find; clay with which to make animal models; log mallets and cloth to make leaf chlorophyll prints; charcoal warrior face paint; a mud kitchen; and of course cooking toast on the fire! We all had a fantastic day and the children behaved excellently. We were very proud - well done, Year 1 and 2!

Year 3 and 4

The children have worked very hard this week to showcase their knowledge and skills in maths, reading, spelling, punctuation and grammar to complete their end of year tests. They have grown in confidence so much this year and have been keen to take ownership of their learning in preparation for the transition into Year and Year 5 next year. In maths, the children have been naming angles and comparing them in size. They have also started looking at naming lines and have been labelling lines using the terms: horizontal, vertical, parallel and perpendicular. In today's writing lesson, the children began reading the text 'Greta and the Giants'. The children have started to compose a diary entry of Greta's experiences during the story with a specific focus on subordinating conjunctions. In design and technology, the children were asked to recap their knowledge of Micro:bits and programmed them to display words, numbers and symbols to signal to people when the timer has ended. Next week, the children will now design a prototype that will need to hold the Micro:bit safely. The class have also started practising their dance for the summer production and are so excited to share their dance to the song 'Steak'. The Year 6 children have been so supportive and it has been such a lovely thing see.

Year 5 

Year 5 have worked incredibly hard this week during their final assessment week of the year. The children approached each assessment with maturity, resilience and determination, and should be very proud of the effort they have shown throughout the week. Well done, Year 5!

In Maths, the children have continued their learning in their second unit on decimals. They have been developing their understanding of adding and subtracting decimals, as well as adding decimals with different numbers of decimal places. The children have shown great perseverance when tackling these challenging concepts and are becoming increasingly confident in their calculations.

In English, Year 5 have been revisiting key writing skills, including subordinating conjunctions and relative clauses, to strengthen their narrative writing. The children are preparing for their final Star Write on Monday, which will conclude their work on A Tadpole's Promise. We have been so impressed with the creativity and writing skills demonstrated throughout this unit. Following this, the children will begin a new unit focusing on letter writing.

In RE, the children have continued their learning about the Work of the Apostles. This week, they have been exploring the life and story of St Stephen, reflecting on his courage, faith and commitment to spreading the message of Jesus.

In DT, Year 5 were introduced to truss bridges and investigated how their structures help to provide strength and stability. The children thoroughly enjoyed the challenge of designing and constructing their own truss bridges using spaghetti before evaluating the effectiveness of their designs. There were lots of creative ideas and excellent teamwork on display throughout the project.

Well done for another fantastic week, Year 5.

Year 6 

This week, the children have been working hard across the curriculum and have shown fantastic enthusiasm in all of their learning. In science, they have been exploring variation, looking closely at inherited features and characteristics. The children then moved on to learning about animal and plant adaptation, discussing how organisms adapt in order to evolve and survive in different environments.

In geography, Year 6 have continued their work on the changes that have taken place since World War Two, with a particular focus on cities in Europe. The children have been considering how these cities would have been rebuilt, improved and modernised in the post-war period.

For this week’s Harriers Health Kick, the children thought carefully about the dangers and risks associated with smoking. They also revisited the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle and making positive choices for their wellbeing.

In English, the children have designed their own animal creatures, combining characteristics from a range of recognisable animals. Using these imaginative ideas, they will soon begin writing their own David Attenborough-style non-chronological report to teach others about their evolved and adapted animal.

In maths, the children have been revisiting their arithmetic skills and testing one another with a variety of arithmetic questions. The children have worked with great focus and determination.

This evening, parents will have received a letter regarding costume ideas for our play, Madagascar. Please note that the suggestions in the letter are simply a guideline for costumes. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Miss McGowan as soon as possible.

Well done to all of the children for their continued hard work and enthusiasm this week. We are so very proud of them all.

Free School Meals – Check if you are eligible

The Department for Education has recently updated the eligibility criteria for Free School Meals. This means some families may now qualify, even if they have not been eligible in the past.

If you receive Universal Credit, you should apply. We strongly encourage all families to check their eligibility and submit an application.

To apply, you will need:

• Your name
• Your National Insurance number
• Your date of birth

Find out more and apply online here: www.worcestershire.gov.uk/freeschoolmeals

Or, alternatively, please request a paper copy of the form from Mrs Brown in the school office.

Please note: the application system will be unavailable from 9 July to 15 July.