Welcome Back
I am so pleased to welcome you all back to the new school year. UKS2 children have come into school settled, happy and ready to learn. I am particularly impressed with the fantastic listening and attitudes to learning: long may this continue.
If you ever have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to get in touch with your child's class teacher, in the first instance, on Class Dojo.
Staff in Upper Key Stage 2
Our learning in English follows the National Curriculum and ensures that the children understand the links between reading and writing. We continue to push reading and the importance of reading; it not only improves vocabulary and understanding of words - great readers make great writers.
Accelerated Reader is one of the ways we are encouraging our children to read. This is a great tool for us to see how much children are reading and how well they are understanding the books that they read. The inter class rivalry is continuing and the staff in UKS2 want to win the 'most words read' competition. Don't forget to get your child to take a quiz after every book that they have read. Here is the link that you need: https://ukhosted97.renlearn.co.uk/6707939/
If you would like to see if a book you have at home is on Accelerated Reader, simply go to https://www.arbookfind.co.uk/
We are currently following the White Rose Maths programme. White Rose Maths is an organisation that provides maths resources and Schemes of Learning for pupils of all ages, from early years to secondary school. The Schemes of Learning break down what children need to learn during each week of each term to master the learning objectives laid out by the National Curriculum. The resources are designed to be enjoyable, engaging and varied, to help pupils develop a love of learning and work towards mastery with differentiated resources.
'Everyone can do maths: everyone can!'
https://whiterosemaths.com/
During this unit of work we will be asking the question: What does it mean if God is Holy and Loving?
The children will:
• Identify some different types of biblical texts, using technical terms accurately.
• Explain connections between biblical texts and Christian ideas of God, using theological terms.
• Make clear connections between Bible texts studied and what Christians believe about God; for example, through how churches are designed.
• Show how Christians put their beliefs into practice in worship.
• Weigh up how biblical ideas and teachings about God as holy and loving might make a difference in the world today, developing insights of their own.
Science
Our science focus for the first half term is light and Earth and Space for the second half term. Pupils will be able to recognise that light appears to travel in straight lines and they will use the idea that light travels in straight lines to explain that objects are seen because they give out or reflect light into the eye.
They will be able to explain that we see things because light travels from light sources to our eyes or from light sources to objects and then to our eyes and use the idea that light travels in straight lines to explain why shadows have the same shape as the objects that cast them.
During our second unit, pupils will describe the movement of the Earth, and other planets, relative to the Sun in the solar system and describe the movement of the Moon relative to the Earth.
They will know and describe the Sun, Earth and Moon as approximately spherical bodies and use the idea of the Earth’s rotation to explain day and night and the apparent movement of the sun across the sky.
History and Geography
Was the Battle of Britain the turning point in WW2?
During our history lessons we will be trying to answer the question:
Was the Battle of Britain the turning point in WW2?
We will identify the main figures from WW2, which country they represented and whether they were an axis or an ally: Neville Chamberlain and Winston Churchill, United Kingdom; Adolf Hitler, Germany; Joseph Stalin, USSR; Benito Mussolini, Italy; Franklin D Roosevelt and Harry Truman, USA and Hirohito, Japan.
The children will learn how the RAF radar system worked and why it was superior to the Luftwaffe and know that the RAF were better prepared than the Luftwaffe, as they had a more sophisticated radar technology system. They will also know that the RAF began to struggle for trained pilots, functioning aircrafts because so many airfields had been bombed.
We will be discussing why the Battle of Britain day (15th Sept 1940) was undoubtedly the decisive turning point in the Battle of Britain, as 56 Luftwaffe aircraft were shot down over the south of England. This one-day tally convinced Adolph Hitler, of Germany, that the Luftwaffe could not gain aerial superiority over the English Channel.
PE improves motor skills and increases muscle strength and bone density, which in turn makes students more likely to engage in healthy activity outside of school. Furthermore it educates children on the positive benefits of exercise and allows them to understand how good it can make them f
Our PE days are a THURSDAY and a FRIDAY and all children need to ensure they bring their indoor and outdoor PE kit on this day. PE is an essential part of the curriculum and all pupils need to take part. If you are struggling to obtain any PE uniform, please contact Mrs Fisher via Dojo.
For PE children will need:
- Black or navy shorts/skort
- Plain white T-shirt (no logos or sport's teams)
- Trainers suitable for outdoor PE
- Plain black or navy joggers or leggings
- Plain black or navy jacket or hoodie
Other News
We have a French tutor coming in to work with all classes in Key Stage 2 this term. He will teach each class for 30 minutes every week. This is very exciting and after our first lesson last week, the children are looking forward to learning more each week.
Attendance
At St Botolph’s CE Academy, we believe that children have a right to fulfil their potential and flourish as unique individuals and so it is our vision that all children attend our school regularly and on time. To this end, we strive to support all our families in encouraging their child to attend regularly, no matter what barriers they may face
Please ensure that your child is in school each day. If they are not well, please phone the office to let them know. If we do not have a reason for absence, your child will be marked as an unauthorised absence.
Our timings for the school day have increased by 5 minutes at the beginning of the day and so we now open the doors at 8.45am and close them at 8.55am. The end of the day timings have not changed from last year and we dismiss at 3.15pm.
We continue follow the government information and advice to minimise the disruption to your child's education that Covid-19 has caused. We will be monitoring the advice for education settings very carefully and will notify you if any changes need to be made.
One way we are minimising the risk is to keep our rooms and areas safe from all germs is to keep windows and doors open to create ventilation. We are still encouraging children to maintain good handwashing hygiene and we still provide sanitiser in our classrooms.
Your support in sending your child to school regularly and on time is vital so that we can recover some of the lost learning they have already faced and allows us to prepare them for their future learning.
Thank you for all your support and helping us to provide the best possible education for your children.
As always, if you have any questions, concerns or comments, please don't hesitate to get in touch.
You can message us on Dojo, email us on info@stbotolphsacademy.co.uk or catch one of the UKS2 staff team on the door at the beginning or end of the day.
Mrs Fisher and the UKS2 team.
Credits:
Created with images by Pixapopz - "math blackboard education" • Tsurukame Design - "Blue speed light abstract background. Sci-fi tunnel backdrop." • Blue Planet Studio - "Planet earth globe view from space showing realistic earth surface and world map as in outer space point of view . Elements of this image furnished by NASA planet earth from space photos." • enterlinedesign - "WWII Letterpress Concept on Dark Background" • Rob - "The last two remaining airworthy Avro Lancasters heavy bombers performing a duet in the skies" • Showmeyourflowers - "nike shoes family" • Alexas_Fotos - "thank you feedback letters"