Christmas is really beginning to get a grip at Atwood and this week we finished the week with everyone in Christmas jumpers for their Christmas lunch. The children have also been busy rehearsing for their upcoming shows and we look forward to seeing many of you for the performances over the next two weeks.
YEAR GROUP BY YEAR GROUP
Early Years. In Reception the children have been travelling all around the world linked to their class book’ Granny went to market’ and in Nursery the children have been experimenting with colour mixing following their enjoyment of the book ‘Mouse Paint.’
Read more about their learning here:
https://www.pegasusacademytrust.org/news/eyfs/atwood-eyfs-news-a-colourful-christmas-world
Year One have had a busy week. On Tuesday, they set off to All Saints Church for some Christmas Crafts and then followed this up with an epic adventure to the Science Museum. The children were excellent ambassadors for Atwood as they set off on the bus, train and tube. Once at the museum they visited the Pattern Pod, The Garden and had a Destination Space workshop. They also got to explore all the exhibits in the space gallery. It was a great day out. Many thanks to all the parent helpers who came along and made the trips this week possible.
This week, Year Two have been learning all about what Henry VIII was like as a king and using their drama skills to recreate his actions. They have also been enjoying the books ‘25% bananas’ and ‘Claude’. The children have also written non chronological reports as fact files about one of his wives.
In Year Three the children have been getting to grips with money. They have been making amounts of money and subtracting amounts to work out change. In history the children have been looking at Inventors and Inventions form the Victorian age and comparing technology from the past with modern inventions.
In Year Four, the children have been enjoying Phillip Pullman’s ‘The Firework Maker’s Daughter’ as well as polishing up their multiplication skills and writing their own versions of ‘The Winter’s Child’. They also managed to squeeze in some rehearsals for the upcoming Christmas Show.
In Year Five this week there was a Viking invasion. On Tuesday, a motley crew of invaders settled in the hall and learnt all about weapons, battle formations, war cries and other aspects of Viking life. The children have also been making Viking artefacts with clay and separating solutions using evaporation.
Finally, as part of their ‘animals and humans’ science topic, Year Six carried out an investigation to support their understanding of diffusion. They placed skittles in a circular pattern on a plate, then added warm water and waited to see what would happen. The plate was soon a colourful rainbow as the colours dissolved into the water. The experiment demonstrated how molecules move from an area of high concentration to low concentration. As the skittles dissolved the children noticed how the colours didn’t mix and concluded this is because the concentration of sugar was equal.
Elsewhere, in Forest School club, the children kept themselves cosy around the campfire and brought some festive cheer to the woods by decorating the trees.
CHRISTMAS LUNCH
Many thanks to our caterers Harrisons and in particular our cook, Magda, who pulled out all the stops to serve us a great Christmas lunch today. The lunch hall was transformed with tablecloths, napkins and crackers and the food was great. A special mention also to all the prefects who helped to set up the hall and then helped all the younger children with carrying and clearing plates. Well done to the brave children who tried their Brussel sprouts!
PARKING
Please can I remind people to park considerately well dropping and collecting children from school. We have had complaints this week of people obstructing driveways and causing problems by parking in the Methodist Church car park. Please help us to be good neighbours by thinking carefully about where you park. Better yet, leave the car at home and keep healthy with a brisk walk or scoot to school and get your exercise in for the day.
SPORTS NEWS
Netball
This week, the year 6 netball team played against Gresham and earned a hard fought 3-3 draw. Well done to the girls.
And finally…
At this time of year, if your child is feeling unwell, it can be tricky to determine whether or not you should send them in to school. As much as we encourage good attendance, we also don’t want children to come to school if they are not well enough to be here. Some useful advice for parents can be found on the NHS website here:
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/is-my-child-too-ill-for-school/
DATES FOR THE DIARY
*New dates are being added all the time
- Tuesday 5th December Year 5 Viking Day
- Tuesday 5th December Year 1 Visit to Church
- Thursday 7th December Year 1 Visit to The Science Museum
- Friday 8th December Christmas Lunch Day and Christmas Jumper Day
- Tuesday 12th December Rock Steady Christmas Concert for parents 10:00am
- Wednesday 13th December Year 2 Tudor Day
- Wednesday 13th December Year 3&4 Christmas Show 9.30am and 2.pm
- Thursday 14th December Reception Christmas performances 9.10am and 2.30pm
- Thursday 14th December Nursery Christmas Show 11am
- Friday 15th December Year 5&6 Christmas Show 9.30am and 2pm.
- Friday 15th December FOAP Disco- various times
- Tuesday 19th December: KS1 Christmas performances 9.30am and 2pm. See separate letter
- Thursday 21st December: End of autumn term: Please note that in order to support working parents school will finish at the normal time of 3.15pm
- Monday 8th January: Back to school
Wishing you all a restful weekend.
