Moordown St John's Church of England Primary School

Summer Term Issue 4 😊

MSJ Newsletter - Summer Term Issue 4 😀 As we come to the end of another busy school year at Moordown St John's, I want to thank our whole school community for your support over the past twelve months.

Year 6 Residential Day 4

Day 4 greeted us with something we'd been waiting for all week – glorious sunshine and blue skies from the moment we woke up. Before breakfast, there was the small matter of packing bags, clearing tents and making sure nothing had been left behind (a challenge in itself after three busy days away!).
A well-earned breakfast of pancakes set everyone up for our final adventure. We headed to Corfe Castle, spending some time in the park before exploring the castle itself. During the tour, the children learned about its fascinating history, from royal stronghold to siege and destruction, bringing to life stories from hundreds of years ago.
Afterwards, we travelled back to camp by minibus for lunch and a chance to say goodbye to the instructors who had helped make the week such a success. Their enthusiasm, encouragement and expertise played a huge part in the children's experiences and achievements throughout the residential.
We then began the journey home, tired but full of memories, stories and new experiences. The children have been a credit to the school all week, showing resilience, teamwork, kindness and a willingness to embrace every challenge. We are incredibly proud of them and know they were very happy to be reunited with their families – and, perhaps most importantly, their own beds!

🌞 As the weather warms up, we’ve now moved to the Amber Stage of our heat procedures!

To help keep everyone cool and comfortable:
• Children are welcome to come to school in their PE kit
• Please make sure they bring a sun hat for outdoor activities

We’d also really appreciate it if sunscreen could be applied before school each morning.

Thanks for your help in keeping everyone cool and ready to enjoy the day! 😎 ☀️

Year 6 Residential - Day 3

Day 3 brought one of those mornings that makes you stop and stare, with beautiful low-hanging mist drifting across the campsite. After a hearty breakfast of bacon and scrambled eggs (and with spirits lifted by England's victory over Croatia!), we headed off for a day of water-based adventures.

The morning was spent coasteering, with the children scrambling over rocks, leaping into the sea and showing plenty of courage and determination. The afternoon kept everyone busy with paddle boarding and raft building, where teamwork was every bit as important as staying dry... with varying degrees of success!

As the skies cleared, we made the walk over to Swanage for a well-earned fish and chip supper, followed by a spot of crabbing along the seafront. There were plenty of catches, a few escapees, and lots of excited shouts as the buckets filled up.

After a packed day of adventure, we returned to camp tired, happy, and ready to enjoy our final night together. It's hard to believe we're nearly at the end of what has been a fantastic week of making memories.

Year 6 Residential - Day 2

Our first night on residential was a success! The children slept well… eventually… although the local bird population clearly hadn't been informed that Year 6 appreciate a lie-in. We woke to a grey Dorset morning, but the weather was kind to us and, apart from the odd drizzle, we stayed mostly dry all day.

After breakfast and the daily challenge of persuading everyone to pack a sensible lunch, we headed off for a day of bushcraft. A hike past the impressive Corfe Castle got us warmed up before the children tackled four woodland activities: fire lighting, bread making over an open fire, archery and den building. We're pleased to report that the fires were intentional, the bread was edible, and the archery was aimed firmly at the targets!

A busy day outdoors built up healthy appetites, so dinner of chicken goujons and potato wedges was a huge hit.

In a reversal of the previous evening was we split into two groups - one took on the slip and slide, returning wetter and muddier than they left, while the other enjoyed a campfire complete with toasted marshmallows.

To round off the day, a sizeable crowd gathered around Mr Grinsted's phone to watch the first half of the England v Croatia match. The football was closely followed, although bedtime eventually proved to be the stronger opponent.

We have been so impressed by the resilience and team work that the children have shown. They way they have looked out for each other, supporting one another through all manner of challenges has been so wonderful to see.

Year 6 Residential - Day 1

Day one started with much excitement as we eagerly waited for the coach to take us to Purbeck Valley Farm to begin our residential adventure!

After only fifty or so ‘are we there yets?’, we arrived at our home for the week and met our group leaders, Andy, Joe, Max & Harvey who gave us a tour of the site and told us what we would be doing each day - they were really funny!

We couldn’t wait to find out our tent groups so we could get settled in and unpack. We were then ready for our first two activities: archery tag and nightline (where we had to play games and navigate obstacles - blindfolded)!

Free time was fun as we got to play football with another school and chill out in our tents.

After dinner, we celebrated Ted’s birthday by singing and eating cupcakes!

We split into two groups for our evening activities: slip and slide & campfire. It was a bit chilly so many of the slip and sliders had a ‘warmy uppy’ shower, while the rest of us toasted marshmallows by the fire!

The day was full of laughter & new experiences and everyone is excited to see what tomorrow brings!

Strong oral language skills help children feel confident, connected and ready to learn. This guide explores simple, everyday ways that parents, carers and educators can support children’s speaking, listening and understanding, from shared conversations and story time to naming feelings and building vocabulary through play and routines.

It also highlights the value of working closely with nurseries, schools and early years settings, using evidence-based approaches and spotting possible language needs early. With expert insight from OxEd, the guide offers supportive advice to help children become confident communicators as they prepare for school.

Summer Term Issue 2 😃😊

MSJ Newsletter - Summer Term Issue 2 😀 Please see the poster below for full details, including how to sign up and key dates. Maps are also available at local libraries.

Neurodivergent children are often drawn to technology, so early, supported experiences online are key. This guide explores how adults can model positive digital behaviour, set age-appropriate limits and create open, judgement-free conversations about online safety. It also highlights the importance of balancing screen use with offline activities to support wellbeing and development.

It also unpacks emerging challenges, including AI-generated content and the blurred lines between real and simulated interactions. With clear, practical advice on boundaries, critical thinking and safe communication, this guide helps educators and families build confidence in supporting neurodivergent children to navigate the digital world safely and responsibly.

Year 1 have been busy in Art making colourful paper beads and turning them into bracelets and necklaces! The children carefully cut paper into triangles, rolled them around straws to create beads, and then threaded them onto string or pipe cleaners. Although threading the beads onto string was quite tricky, everyone showed fantastic patience and creativity. We are so proud of their beautiful finished jewellery!