Parkside Primary School

In today's assembly, Mr Smith talked to the children all about emergencies. What is an emergency? What can we do to help? When we would need to call the emergency services and what information we would need to give them. Mr Smith also explained the importance of these services and that we should only call them when we really need them.

Thomas class are using a Bead bar in Maths. Working in pairs, the children are seeing how many number bonds to 10 they can make, then writing each one on a white board. The bead bar is a great visual & fun way for the children to see each combination.

Close class are writing a book review this afternoon. Describing the book, summarizing their thoughts on the story and its characters, how the book made them feel while reading it and finally giving it a rating.

During October, each of our year groups took a look at significant black people in British History. Year 3 learnt all about Septimus Severus, an ancient Roman Emperor from North Africa, who ruled over the Roman Empire, including Britain. The children wrote a fact file all about his life.

We had the first of our Year 4 assemblies today. Elzinga transformed the dinner hall to the set of The One Show. We had some special guest experts, sharing their knowledge about science, art and geography. We then had a wonderful song performance showing how well they know the 8 times table. Ms Den Bak was so impressed by your confidence. We hope the parents/carers enjoyed it as much as the children did.

Calder class are looking at the text from their literacy book "The Dark" by Lemony Snicket. They are working collaboratively to identify key ideas about the story and how the character changed as the story progressed. The children really enjoyed sharing their thoughts with their peers and used some very ambitious vocabulary.

Mrs Banks gave a wonderful assembly on Design Technology this week. Mrs Banks explained what each year group would be making this half term. How to plan out what you will make, thinking about the safety whilst making it and how we will evaluate it once we have finished. Thinking about what went well and what we can do better. Year 2 will be making sock puppets to entertain their friends. We look forward to seeing what everyone makes.

Walton Class is exploring a brand new book called 'Pebble in my Pocket'. They are enjoying using adverbs in their writing to add more detail to their sentences.

Reception had a wonderful afternoon learning all about Diwali. Colouring in some Rangoli Patterns, role-playing Rama and Sita and making some beautiful decorations. The children loved being so creative.

The children in Elzinga Class have each recalled a memory that involves water or rain. They remembered how it made them feel and worked together to think of some emotive language to use in their writing to make the reader feel the way they felt.

In Design Technology, Blair class are writing all about their favourite foods. Especially any fruits and vegetables they like, ready for the project they will be taking part in this term.

This morning in Maths, Russell class have been learning and recognising the first 12 square numbers.

Starting today, all pupils aged 4-18 in Waltham Forest can take part in free cycling lessons!

The training is available from Buxton School (234 Cann Hall Rd, Leytonstone, London E11 3NN) from today until Friday 27 October at these times:

• 9am to 11am – Learn to ride
• 11am to 1pm – Learn to ride
• 1:30pm to 3:30pm – Level 1 Improvers

To find out more and to book on to a free session: https://www.cycleconfident.com/sponsors/waltham-forest/

Today, Parkside held Maths Day! For our Maths day Year 6 pupils became teachers for the day. They helped the other children have fun learning through lots of different Maths games and activities. From the start of the day, when everyone came in wearing Maths-themed clothes, to our assembly at the end of the day where we celebrated what we had learnt. We spent the whole day showing how much Parkside loves maths!

Nursey is all ready for Parkside's annual Maths Day! Today we celebrate our love for numbers and all things Maths. Some of our Year 6 children will be coming into nursery today to help our children play some fun Maths games.

Let's take a look what Rizzi class are learning in cooking today. Mrs Begum is teaching them to make a tuna mayo sandwich. The skills involved are measuring, chopping, mixing, spreading, slicing and, of course, teamwork. Tuna sandwiches are always a favourite.

Lulla class are really progressing whilst in their Cricket lessons for PE. The fielders are perfecting their ball catching skills and their agility, moving and changing direction quickly, While the batters are seeing that keeping your eye on the ball is paying off with some great hits. Thanks to our cricket coach, Mr Aziz.

Bancroft class have been enjoying time on the library bus today. Exploring the books we have on offer and finding somewhere on the bus to relax and enjoy reading. We have recently appointed our new library bus monitors and will be introducing them to you soon.

In Spanish, to help the children with their greetings, Mrs Banks is teaching the children the "Hola Hola" song. The children really enjoy singing as a group and doing some actions while singing. It's amazing how quickly they have picked it up. Well done Britto class.

In PE, Wiltshire class have been learning two new games. Ms Frederick has been teaching them - Can't Catch Me and Through The Gate. These games are both designed to improve co-ordination, balance and agility. The games seemed to be a big hit with the children!

For Black History Month, Year 6 are writing a biography on the life of Olaudah Equiano. They learnt that in 1786 in London, Olaudah became involved in the movement to abolish slavery. He was a prominent member of the 'Sons of Africa', a group of 12 black men who campaigned for abolition. The children have done lots of research for their writing.

Today in assembly we had a special guest, Megan Wearing, Ipswich Town defender who also plays for Scotland Women's Under-19s. Megan is a former Parkside pupil who came to talk to the children today about her achievements, how she balanced her football with her schoolwork and how working hard helped her fulfill her dreams.

Wall class have been learning all about how to be healthy. This morning, the children are working in groups to do a taste test of healthy fruits. First, smelling the fruit - What does it smell like? What does it feel like? Then, what does it taste like? The children have used some wonderful words to describe each one - Sour, juicy, tasty & bitter. Giving each fruit a 'thumbs up' or 'thumbs down'!

Parents/Carers - we would like to share with you some of the free guides the 'National Online Safety' have produced to give guidance on how to keep children safe online. They have a large library of other free guides that can be found using this link. https://nationalcollege.com/guides?utm_source=social&utm_campaign=nos-saferinternetday-guides

For Black History Month, Panda class have been researching John Blanke, a musician of African descent, in London from the early Tudor period. He was most famous for playing the trumpet. He is one of the earliest recorded black musicians in the United Kingdom. The children sketched John and designed his Tudor clothes using colours from that time period.

Martin class, another fantastic assembly. You wowed all of the parents/carers with the knowledge you have learnt in the last 5 weeks and of course your singing. This was the last of our Year 5 assemblies. We hope everyone that attended enjoyed them as much as we did and picked up some of what the children have been learning, helping you become a Year 5 master!

Wall class have been completing some amazing artwork in the style of their class artist, Michael Wall. Miss Saxby is really proud of them. The class display looks amazing. So bright and colourful. Well done to our budding artists.

Elzinga class have had a real treat today - a zoom call with their class artist, Floyd Elzinga. The children asked a number of questions including - Why did you start creating art? How much time does it take to make one of your pieces? and many more. Floyd gave a demonstration on how he bends the metal and the kind of tools he uses in his work. He told them all about his trip to Mount Everest and explained that a lot of the art he made on the trip was from pieces of rubbish he found along the way. The children really enjoyed the call and gained loads of new inspiration for Art. Thank you for giving your time to the children Floyd. They are very proud to have you as their class artist. Floyd Elzinga -Artist Floyd Elzinga

Walton Class are taking a look at the illustrations in their literacy book 'The Diary of a Killer Cat'. They have enjoyed discussing whether the illustrations and the words tell the same story.

We have had an abundance of Music lessons today. With Year 3 continuing with their recorder learning and Year 4 working on their rhythm in their trumpet lesson. While Year 5 & 6 have been perfecting their guitar cords. The classrooms sounded like a musical ensemble. The children really enjoy the opportunity to learn an instrument.

The School Councils have organised their first fundraising event. The children. across the school, have been creating their own Christmas designs. Watch out parents/carers, you will be able to order these wonderful designs soon - as cards, mugs and many other Christmas gift ideas. Children will be coming home with an order form soon. Without ruining the end results, here are a few photos for you to look at.

Well done to the Year 4&5 children that took part in the Waltham Forest Boys football competition on Friday. They represented the school beautifully. Fantastic team work and most of all, they enjoyed themselves.

Thomas class really enjoyed their autumn walk. Exploring the local area and seeing what's happening around us and identifying how things change from season to season. These are a few of the things the children noticed. They will compare these on the next walk in the winter season.

It was really nice this morning meeting so many prospective parents/carers. We really enjoyed telling you all about our school and what we provide for the children. If you are interested in attending one of our reception open days we have two more. 13th October & 3rd November at 10:00-10:45am. We look forward to welcoming you.

Lots of fun to be had at our Stay2Play sessions. Term time every Friday - 8:45-10:15am. Come and join us for activities, songs and stories. Entrance to the Willow room can be found at our Peel Close entrance.

Lulla class parents/carers, what did you think of this morning's assembly? Did you think you would be taking part in such a brilliant game show? We really enjoyed hearing all about it. What they have been learning and hearing loads of History, Geography and Science facts too. I think everyone will agree with Ms Cousins, it was stupendous. Thank you Lulla class, we had a great time.

Take a look at these intricate self portraits Close class have been working on in the style of their class artist Chuck Close. I think you'll agree they look wonderful. Beautiful work Close class!

Bancroft class are working on some special writing to display on their writing wall in their classroom. They are writing their own story of Anna and Crocodile from their literacy book 'How To Find Gold'. They used role play to tell the story, then wrote their own version, edited it and made any changes when they wrote them out neatly today.

Working collaboratively, Wilshire class are looking at a character from this term's book 'The Wild Robot'. They used a thesaurus to up level their vocabulary. They are discussing how Bright Bill is feeling, using the words to annotate their picture of Bill.