02/10/2026
October has crept up on us almost without us noticing this week: the leaves are slowly turning golden outside the office window and the squirrels seem to be getting busy preparing for the winter too during the day when it is quiet! Before long, the nights will be drawing in and it will soon be almost dark when the children are on their way home. We talked about this in assembly this week: particularly around the added risk that brings when walking to and from school and the children have all brought home their annual gift from me - a reflector to add to their coats or bags to help them be more visible on dark nights or grey mornings. Please let me know if yours did not make it home as I have a few spare!
The football team started their season with two great wins away against Shelton Junior School this week. One 5-0 victory was swiftly followed by another 1-0 win to begin the season with 6 points. It was great to see the boys out on the pitch playing so well as a team and enjoying themselves. Thanks to Mr Ward and Mr Chapman for giving up their evening to accompany the boys. ☺️
Our Year 6 children enjoyed an afternoon learning about evacuation as part of their WWII topic this week. They spent time considering information from different historical sources before trying to decide what they would pack into a suitcase if they were to be evacuated. Some did not manage well being given limits on how many things they could pack!
In Year 3, the children were having more of a debate about their historical learning when I stuck my head into Class 1 this week as they have been learning about Athens and Sparta and trying to decide where they would have preferred to live based on what they have discovered about the two city states. In Athens, there was more democracy; however, girls did not go to school and they could not vote. It was near the sea so it grew rich through trade and pottery. Sparta was ruled by two kings and boys were forced to join the army from a young age until they were very old. Girls had more freedom and could play sports and go to school. Where would you prefer to live?
Year 5 have been learning about how the Earth spins on its axis to create day time and night time in their science lessons this week - see if your Year 5 child can remember this and tell you all about it at home this weekend! They should be able to explain how the Sun stays in the centre of the Solar System and the Earth orbits it, rotating on its axis to create day and night. This makes the sun 'appear' to move across the sky!
Year 4 are now quite a way into their learning about the Anglo-Saxons and their invasion of England in the 5th Century. There are lots of places in England that have Anglo-Saxon place names. -ham is a common suffix (ending), which meant 'home' or 'village', making Birmingham a nearby place with an Anglo-Saxon name. Why not try looking up some more online with your Year 4 child this week and seeing what other places you can spot nearby with names that derive from Anglo-Saxon origins.
Have a great weekend everyone! 😄
