Message from Mrs Brocklesby

I hope you all had a wonderful half term and were able to spend some quality time together.  We have a busy week next week with Ash Wednesday Mass at Church for years 2-6 and World Book Day on Thursday. 

Mrs Morgan went to Rome during half term and presented us with a very special gift the mascot ‘Luce’. She has been produced by the Vatican to promote the year of hope.  Luce is Italian for light, and she is a symbol of hope and joy and invites us all together to walk in faith and unity. Luce’s bright yellow raincoat signifies the colours of the Vatican flag, symbolizing the warmth and shelter that the Catholic church offers to pilgrims. Her mud-stained boots remind us that the journey of faith isn’t always easy, and it can be a path that is challenging but, like Luce, we keep walking knowing that there is beauty in every step towards hope.  

Mr. Newton has planted two trees around school this week to celebrate the Jubilee Year of Hope. A Jubilee plum tree has been planted near the playground and the red robin tree below has been planted at the front of the school.

Both trees will remind us the Jubilee Year is a time to grow in our faith and prayer life.

Message from Mrs Warnett

Reception & Year 1

Reception and Year 1 have had a busy first week back! They enjoyed a visit to the library on Tuesday where they were able to choose a book to take home.  They have enjoyed computing and are developing their keyboard skills. In Science, they explore objects and the materials that they are made from and I n History they were fascinated by items from a Victorian classroom.  Well done all you have all worked incredibly hard this week.

Year 2 & Year 3

Year 2 and 3 have enjoyed starting the week with their visit to Stourport Library. The children were able to remember information about fiction and non-fiction and enjoyed choosing their own books to borrow. The children have started reading 'Stone Age Boy', linked to their history work this term. The children loved the story and were so interested to see how non-fiction elements have been woven through the text. Using the meeting of the boy and the Stone Age Girl, 'Om', the children have been learning how to use inverted commas (speech marks) to write a dialogue. Well done! The children completed their DT construction unit by creating 3D models of castles. It was wonderful to hear the children using technical vocabulary to discuss their builds as they worked. A lot of mess and fun was had making them and the children are very proud of their final products.

Year 4

Year 4 have had a lovely start to the week. The children really enjoyed their visit to Stourport Library where they had the opportunity to choose a book to take back home. Many of the children spoke confidently about their experiences of the local libraries and are looking forward to future visits. In PE, the children had their first lessons of tag rugby and hockey. They really enjoyed being outside in the sunshine and developing their skills in both sports. The children worked in groups to design and create their biscuits in design and technology. They had to consider their target audience and got to assess how successful their product was in interesting that audience. In geography lessons, the children researched food that can be grown in different climate zones. They also looked at different ways humans grow food in different climates using things like greenhouses and hydroponics. Great effort, Year 4!

Year 5

Year 5 have had a great start to this half term. They started the week with a visit to Stourport Library where they listened to a story and had the opportunity to peruse the shelves and pick a book to take back to school.  The children have also continued their learning about Ancient Greeks and this week have focused on religion, finding out about the Olympians and their role in the lives of the Ancient Greeks. In Science, the children have begun to investigate which materials dissolve and which don’t and next week will be finding out about the factors that effect the rate at which a material dissolves. In DT next week, the children will be using Lego to create a housing for a Micro:Bit that would form part of their animal enclosure and temperature sensor.

Year 6

It has been a great start to Spring term 2! The Year 6 children began the week by analysing a piece of artwork by the artist He Qi, which depicts the biblical scene of Mary and Martha with Jesus. In the artwork, He Qi portrays Martha as distracted and preoccupied with her household chores, contrasting with Mary, who is focused and attentive to Jesus. Through this analysis, the children gained a deeper understanding of the importance of being present and attentive, especially when engaging in prayer with God. In maths, the children have been exploring fractions, decimals, and percentages. They have worked on converting between these different forms, gaining confidence in understanding how they are related. Through a variety of activities and problem-solving tasks, the children have been strengthening their mathematical reasoning by trying to apply their knowledge in real-life contexts. In history, the Year 6 children have been learning about the fascinating life of Tutankhamun, the young Egyptian pharaoh. The children explored his brief reign, the mysteries surrounding his tomb and the significance of his discoveries. They also learnt how archaeologist Howard Carter uncovered Tutankhamun’s tomb in 1922, revealing a wealth of treasures and ancient artifacts that shed light on the ancient Egyptian culture. This term, one of the P.E. topics is yoga and the children learned a variety of foundational poses, such as the Downward Dog, Tree Pose, and Child’s Pose, focusing on improving flexibility, balance and relaxation. To end the week, Year 6 visited Stourport Library. During their visit, the children learned about the many ways the library serves the community, from offering a wide range of books to hosting events and activities for all ages. They also had the exciting opportunity to use their library cards to borrow books, allowing them to take home a chosen book. It was a delightful and enriching afternoon. Thank you to Mrs Tasker for organising this wonderful opportunity.

Next Wednesday, there will a school Mass at St Wulstan's church from 10.30am onwards. (for years 2-6). Please join the children and staff to celebrate Mass.  Refreshments will be served afterwards.  We look forward to seeing you there.  If you would like to accompany the children and staff on the walk to and from church, please contact Mrs Brown in the school office.

World Book Day - next Thursday 6 March.

As in previous years, we will enjoy dressing up as a book character for the day.  This year, the children may choose their own book character.  Please see your child's class teacher if you are unsure about your child's costume.  We are aware that finances are especially difficult in recent years and do encourage you to try to aim for simple costumes that do not require a great deal of expense.  Ideally, please try to ensure that the costume reflects a book that your child has read/had read to them.

In the library there will be a voluntary Big Book Swap.  Children can bring in books that they have read previously and no longer want to keep.  Then can add their book to the 'Big Book Swap' and choose a book from it to take away in exchange.  Please ensure that your child has permission to bring their book in to swap.

Your child will also receive a World Book Day £1 token.  These can be used towards the purchase of a new book in many book stores nationwide.  These will also be able to be used at the school's Scholastic Book Fair that will be open in the hall from 13-20 March 2025.

At St Wulstan's, we are committed to minimising missed educational opportunities. We firmly believe that a strong community is one where all our children are present in school, on time, every day unless they are too unwell to do so. By adhering to this principle, we not only impart valuable life skills and help to foster enduring friendships, but we also prepare your child for future success. We will be launching a new reward in school called 'Attendance Achievers' - a scheme where at the end of each month, we will celebrate pupils who are showing an achievement within attendance such as improved attendance, improved punctuality, sustained excellent attendance etc. The children who receive an 'Attendance Achiever' reward will receive a certificate and will be able to choose a prize from the prize box!

If your child is due to start school in September 2025 (and was born between 1 September 2020-31 August 2021) the closing date for applying for a place was 15 January.  However, you can still apply for a late application by visiting www.worcestershire.gov.uk/schooladmissions.

If you require assistance, please contact Mrs Brown in the school office.

St Wulstan's has signed up to the Asda Cashpot - a scheme where Asda will donate a percentage of your shop to your chosen school. If you would like to choose St Wulstan's as your school to donate to, click on the link below to find out more.

Cashpot for schools (asda.com)

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, please contact Mrs Brown in the school office for a form or visit www.worcestershire.gov.uk or contact the team on 01905 845280.  They will require your date of birth and national insurance number to check whether you are eligible.

Dates for your Diary