If you go down to the woods today...

Hello and welcome back to the Year Five Blog!

What a fantastic week! I can't begin to tell you how much we enjoyed our trips to Buddens this week - the blog is full of pictures to give you an idea of what we got up to when we were there.

I believe that a few people have been experiencing problems when trying to leave a comment at the end of the Blog. According to ICT Support, you need to have a Google Account in order to do this. Please don't let that put you off - it's really easy to do. Well, let's put it this way, if I can do, you can definitely do it!

Right, now that's out of the way, let's get cracking!

Buddens

To say that we enjoyed this trip would be the understatement of the year! The sun shone (well, for the majority of Year Five!) and Buddens was as beautiful as ever. We are so lucky to have access to such a stunning part of Dorset and to have it all to ourselves is such a treat!

5KD, 5CW and 5PC went on the Monday:

Thank you to Mrs Lister, Ms Seymour and Miss Enever for the fabulous photographs!

5GR and 5AD went on the Wednesday:

It really was a glorious day! Thank you to all the parents who gave up their time to come along with us - your help is greatly appreciated as without you, these trips could not happen.

Here's a question for you...

Mrs Daniel wears a pedometer to school every day. Do you know what that is?

Basically, it is a little device that tells you how many steps you take in a day.

How many steps do you think Mrs Daniel took on Wednesday?

Write your answers in the Comments section below. The person who guesses the nearest number of steps gets a prize...!!!

Buddens - the follow up

So, we've been to Buddens - what now?

Well, the amount of work that we will do now based on that trip is impressive to say the least.

The day after all the classes returned, a recount of our trip was written.

In 5GR we wrote our recount surrounded by all our Buddens goodies.

There is so much more to do! We have maps to create, pictures to draw and research on our Hot Spots to conduct - fantastic! The display boards in the Year Five corridor will soon be packed with lots of goodies for you to feast your eyes upon - why not come and have a look on one of the Drop In Sessions held on Mondays after school. I'll let you know via the Blog when the displays are ready for viewing.

Golden Time

Please remember that to receive Golden Time the children need to make sure:

1. They have had their Home School Diary signed from the previous week

2. There is at least one weekly entry in their Reading Record and signed by an adult

3. All Homework is handed in on time

4. They have not had any detentions.

We are getting there - slowly but surely!

So, that's it for another week. I will look forward to reporting back on the wonderful world of Year Five next weekend!

Have a good week everyone!

Mrs Ray

(who was so tired on Wednesday that she fell asleep before the end of the Great British Bake Off - unheard of!)

  

Finding our feet

Hello and welcome back to the Year Five Blog!

We have had a good week and really feel that we are getting stuck into our learning. The children are rapidly adapting to their new routines and our expectations.

We have been getting ready for next week's trip to Buddens and we are all really looking forward to it.

Woodlouse Investigation

In preparation for our visit to Buddens, some of the Year Five children have been investigating what type of habitat is preferred by woodlice.

5GR decided to do their investigation in the beautiful school garden.

We created four different areas/habitats for the woodlice: bark, sand, stones and a 'control' area which was clear of anything.

Which one do you think was their favourite?

I think some of the members of the class got rather attached to their woodlice and were rather sad when we had to set them free!

Golden Time

This week quite a few children missed their Golden Time this week for a variety of reasons but the main one was not having Reading Records filled in and signed.

To receive their Golden Time the children need to make sure:

1. They have their Home School Diary signed for the previous week

2. There is at least one weekly entry in their Reading Record signed by an adult

3. All Homework is handed in on time

4. They have not had any detentions.

Let's all try really hard this week so everyone can enjoy Golden Time next week!

Homework

If getting Homework completed at home is a struggle, there are several opportunities in school to help with this.

Please remind/encourage your child to speak to their teacher, attend Study Group (which is available daily) or attend Wednesday's Homework Club.

Always happy to help!

Mathematics Tests

As you might be aware, all the Maths Groups have been carrying out assessments this week. This is to get a feel of the children's overall ability and to help us ascertain what needs addressing in lessons. There may well be movement between sets around Half Term but we will inform you via the Home School Diaries if this is the case.

Homebase Tutors

Please could we remind you that if there are any concerns with regards to your child, your first port of call should be your child's HomebaseTutor. 

Ms Seymour is also available to talk to and will liaise with the class teacher in her role as Year 4/5 Learning Transition Mentor.

Football Match

On Wednesday, two teams of Year Five children played against Sunninghill Prep School.

From Mr Roberts...

In this first Yr5 School Football match of the new year ,it was a fine performance by our youngest players.

Squad 1 finished with a 3-3 draw.
Goals from Toby Zimmerman and William Taylor(2)

Squad 2 finished with a 7-3 loss.

Both teams faced many Yr6 players as Sunninghill lacked Yr5 players.

Well done.

Buddying

Every Thursday the children get together with their Year Eight Buddies during assembly time. Over the last couple of weeks they have been working together to create and decorate the Year Five children's individual Whole School Charters.

Watching the Buddies interact with each other is a joy to behold!

Comments

So far this term I have posted two (now three!) blogs and I haven't received one single comment! This is making me sad!

If you do post a comment then I will give you a Citizenship Credit! If a parent/carer makes a comment then I will give that credit to their child!

So, come on, be brave!!!! 

Dates for your October Diary

Friday 10th October PTA Bingo Night 7pm

Monday 20th October Year Five Celebration Assembly 1.10pm (details nearer the time)

Monday 20th October Year Five Parent'e Evening 4 - 6pm

Wednesday 22nd October Year Five Parent's Evening 5 - 7pm 

Well, that's it for this week. I hope you all have a good weekend and I shall look forward to reporting back on another action-packed, Buddens orientated week next weekend!

Mrs Ray

(who is watching Wednesday's weather forecast VERY carefully!) 

A whole week under our belts...

Hello and welcome back to the Year Five Blog!

I can't believe that our new Year Five children have only been here for 8 school days - it feels like they have been with us forever (which is compliment, I think!). As adults, we must never underestimate what a massive change it has been for these youngsters so it is a huge testament to them that they are settling in so positively. 

We have really got stuck into our learning this week and it has been exciting to walk around the Year Five corridor and see what they children have been getting up to in lessons.

5CW's Pond Dipping Experience

Look what I found when out and about with 5GR looking for spiders on Thursday! It's the Lesser Spotted 5CW pond dipping in the recently cleared pond area (Mrs White's blood, sweat and tears went into making that happen!).

They were clearly having a fabulous time and were able to identify a wide variety of creatures.

Spider Hunting!

Whilst 5CW were Pond Dipping, 5GR were looking for spiders in a variety of habitats. The children were put into groups and had to predict how many spiders they would find in different habitats.

Some of the children were incredibly patient and looked extremely hard for the spiders with terrific (and impressive) results.

Golden Time

As with anything that is new, it takes a bit of time to get used to it and I was delighted that the vast majority of Year Five children received their Golden Time this week!

There were a few children who missed it but I have a sneaky feeling that it won't happen again! 'Steep' and 'Learning Curve' are words that come to mind!!

Homework

This week, the children handed in their first Year Five homework, The Cobweb Cafe. Considering that they children had less than a week to complete it, we were impressed with how conscientious the children were and all handed in a menu created for a hungry spider!

Mr Duffy was very impressed with James' homework, I'm sorry that the photograph didn't come out particularly well. Well done James! 

A selection of these homeworks will be displayed in the Year 5 Corridor over the next few days.

Reading Records

Hopefully (!) you have seen a copy of this Reading Record and that you have been asked to complete entries when you have listened to your child read. 

Please could you make sure that each entry is signed or initialled? That way we will know that they have been listened to by an adult as requested. Thank you.

Buddens

A week on Monday we will be venturing out on our first trip of the school year to Buddens near Wareham. This link in with our Ecology topic and is an excellent way for the children to observe and 'experience' a variety of habitats.

5CW, 5PC and 5KD will be going on the Monday (22nd September) and 5GR and 5AD will be going on the Wednesday (24th September).

 A huge thank you to those who have bravely volunteered to accompany us - your child's Homebase Tutor will be in touch with you at the beginning of the week.

Please could you make sure that the permission slips and medical forms are completed and returned as soon as possible? Many thanks.

School Shop

The School Shop is open at break times on Monday and Friday. It is manned by lovely Year 8 pupils who are happy to help with your stationary needs! Do go along and have a look at the wide variety of products that they have on sale as they are incredibly well priced.

Monday Drop In

Just a quick reminder that the Year Five teachers will be available to chat to on Mondays after school until 3.45pm. Please do feel free to pop along and see what your child has been up to or to touch base - you will be very welcome!

So, that's it for another week. Please, please, please do comment on the Blog - it's always great to receive your feedback.

Have a good everyone and I'll see you back here next week!

Mrs Ray

(who is starting to decide what to wear for next week's school photographs...!)