Message from Mrs Brocklesby

 Our Catholic School Mission

THIRST FOR KNOWLEDGE

Message from Mrs Warnett

Reception

What a super week in Reception! In Maths, they have been exploring numbers to 5, matching quantities to numerals and ordering numbers correctly. They have also been learning about capacity, comparing how much different containers can hold through fun, hands-on activities. In Phonics, the children have been working hard to decode words as they develop their early reading skills. In English, they have been using our phonics knowledge to write CVC words and simple captions with growing confidence. In RE, the children learned about the Wedding at Cana and particularly enjoyed acting out the story, bringing it to life through role play. In topic the children have continued to look at habitats,  exploring hot and cold environments. The frosty weather provided a perfect real-life link and led to some fantastic discussions about how animals adapt to different conditions.

Well done Reception for another fantastic week of learning!

KS1

KS1 enjoyed a walk around Stourport on Wednesday afternoon to look at the human and physical features of our local area as part of our geography topic this half term. The children behaved beautifully and enjoyed getting out in the fresh air and learning about the area we live in. We walked from St Wulstans to Stourport Library. We then looked at the River Severn which had flooded into the riverside park, then walked past the post office and along Stourport High Street. Finally, we walked back to school down Lickhill Road and past the War Memorial Park. The children really impressed us with their knowledge and understanding of what makes a feature human or physical. We were grateful to our parent helpers who volunteered their time to accompany us on our walk.

Year 3 / Year 4

The children had a lovely time on their local history visit to the canal basin this week. They visited some of the heritage buildings to learn more about how people lived in the past in industrial Stourport. Artefacts were shared on Bramble, a refurbished narrow boat, in The Old Ticket Office and in The Stables, with the children having lots of questions to ask about the different things they interacted with. The volunteers from the Canal and River Trust were very engaging and the children responded very positively to them. In science, the children began looking at sources of sounds and how sound travels in vibrations. They enjoyed interacting with musical instruments and finding out how sounds are made. The children also had the opportunity to recall their knowledge of electrical circuits in their Design and Technology lesson this week as they began to research the components of torches and how they are put together to meet certain design criteria. The children are looking forward to designing and building their own torches over the coming weeks. 

Year 5

This week, Year 5 have been fully immersed in their English learning as they continued to study The Lighthouse animation. They have focused on using figurative language to create tense and eerie atmospheres in their retell writing. The children have been learning how to “show, not tell” their descriptions, using powerful sensory details to hint at emotions rather than simply stating them. They have also explored how speech can build suspense, and how metaphors, similes and personification can bring both the stormy setting and the mysterious lighthouse to life. The results have been wonderfully dramatic and atmospheric! In Maths, Year 5 have continued their unit on fractions. This week, they have explored how to convert improper fractions into mixed numbers—and vice versa. The children have been using visual representations and reasoning skills to deepen their understanding of what each type of fraction shows and how they can be changed. In RE, the children have reflected on the meaning of the parable of The Two Builders. They explored what the rock, the sand and the storm represent, and discussed how Catholics can live like the wise builder by building their lives on strong values such as faith, kindness and commitment to God.

During PE with Miss Gillum, Year 5 have been working on developing flexibility and teamwork. They learned different stretches to warm up safely and practised group routines that required coordination, balance and timing. The class enjoyed working collaboratively to create sequences that flowed smoothly and showcased their skills. In Computing, Year 5 have focused on the importance of online safety and privacy. They discussed how to protect personal information, why passwords must be kept secure and how to recognise potential risks when communicating online.

In French, Year 5 have been building on their knowledge of dates. They have learned two new phrases and practised asking and answering questions in full sentences—all in French! Their confidence and pronunciation are improving beautifully.

What a busy and brilliant week it has been. Well done, Year 5!

Year 6 

It has been a wonderfully busy and productive week in Year 6. The children have approached every activity with enthusiasm, creativity and excellent teamwork.
In DT this week, the children put their design skills into action by building playground structures based on plans they had created themselves. They worked carefully and cooperatively, using problem-solving skills to bring their imaginative ideas to life. In writing, the class produced impressive non-chronological reports about Arctic foxes. They used clear organisational features, precise vocabulary and a range of interesting facts to create highly informative pieces of work. In PSHE, the children discussed making healthy choices, focusing particularly on food and the importance of getting plenty of sleep. They explored how reducing screen time in the evenings can help support healthy sleep routines and shared thoughtful suggestions for developing good habits. During PE, the children continued developing their World War II–themed dance. Working in groups, they created short sequences and experimented with different movement ideas. Next week, they will continue this work by developing pathways and levels, and by deciding whether to move in unison or to use techniques such as canon, mirroring or contrasting actions. Year 6 also took part in their class Mass, where all children read beautifully. They represented the school with confidence and reverence. Well done and thank you. In science, the children have been drawing series circuits with great accuracy, ensuring that the symbols are correct and the lines straight. Their careful attention to detail has been excellent. To build on their understating within the last History unit, the class created sketch maps showing key features of the Black Country. They worked thoughtfully to include important landmarks and geographical details. Children will continue to build on this next week, thinking about how land use over time has changed and why this might be.  Well done to all of Year 6 for their hard work and enthusiasm throughout the week. Everyone should feel very proud of what they have achieved, have a restful weekend to make sure you are ready for another exciting week of learning ahead!

KIND HEARTS

Thank you to all the families that came to join us for the parade (and helped to push the school trolley, of course!). It was a lovely way to start the festive celebrations as a school community. We will share photographs and an update next week.

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