Next week in KS1

 Dear Parents/Carers

In response to the Government announcement made yesterday, school will only reopen for the children of Critical Workers on Monday 4th January.

If you are a Critical Worker and would like to book a place for your child, please contact us via the phase email address. 

ks1@downhallprimary.com

Home learning work will be put in a blog which can be accessed from the school website on Monday morning.  Please ensure you check this blog and complete some of the tasks suggested.

Any further updates will be posted on the school website, blogs and our social media platforms.  

Thank you for your continued support.  

We would like to wish you all a Happy New Year. 

Stay safe.

Mr Jude, Mrs Yuille & Mrs O'Connor

Amethyst, Diamond & Emerald Blog - 18th December 2020

 Happy Friday everybody! 

The children have had a lovely week of Christmassy activities and card making and this was all topped off with our online Pantomime on Wednesday made by Image Musical Theatre. We learnt the songs and made props in the morning so we could all join in as much as possible in watching the show in the afternoon - it was fab!

There is no homework expectation over the Christmas holidays. Please all rest and relax, though if you can keep the reading ticking over this would be very helpful and don't forget Sumdog and Top Marks games for maths! Here are a couple of announcements for you:

Charlie & The Chocolate Factory

Once we return in January our new project will be "Charlie & The Chocolate Factory" where we look at all things to do with chocolate! There are 2 aspects of this project, however, where we need parental consent. 

In our Art/DT lessons, we will be designing, making and packaging our own chocolate creations. In the weeks beginning 11th and 18th January we will be taste testing some possible ingredients for this purpose. Obviously, we will take known dietary needs in to account but if you have any concerns about this, please let us know via our email.

As part of the project we would also like to watch the film "Charlie & The Cholate Factory" (2005) to support our writing in English lessons. This film is certified PG. If you do not want your child to join us in watching it then please let your child's class teacher know, again via our email.

If you have any concerns about either of these issues, please email us at ks1@downhallprimary.com

by Thursday 7th January. This project is always hugely popular with the children and we are very excited to get started on it in the New Year!

Christmas Songs

The current situation we find ourselves in has made it impossible to share our Christmas Production with you as we would have normally. However, each class has recorded a Christmas song - some traditional, some which would have been in the production this year if it had happened - and we have collected these into a shared folder for you to watch at home as a family. 

Some songs are on multiple times due to some children being away or sound issues but hopefully there will be something for everyone inside the folder!

Christmas Songs

We would like to take this opportunity to thank you so much for all that you have done this year in supporting your child's education. It has been an exceptional year in which you have all stepped up and been superheroes! Thank you also for all the kind words and genuine support you have extended to us as we have had to come to terms with a completely different way of working - it has been so encouraging to receive!

We wish you all a truly fantastic Christmas and a more normal 2021!

Mr Jude, Mrs Yuille & Mrs O'Connor

Amethyst, Diamond & Emerald Blog - 11th December 2020

 Happy Friday, everybody!

Today we have had a lovely day in school, all wearing our Christmas Jumpers and making festive hats for our Christmas Party Bag lunch - it has all been very exciting...almost normal!!

Maths Homework

This week we would ask you to complete page 19 of your homework book.

This brings us to the end of Section One and a natural pause point for the holidays. We would encourage you, however, to look back at the previous pages and do a quick recap on the concepts covered this half term, focusing particularly on any aspects that your child was less sure of.

Next Friday

Today we have been putting any pictures, certificates and Christmas crafted items into a plastic bag - they are currently "quarantining" on our children's pegs. The children take great pride in the pictures they have worked on as this is the go to activity they do when arriving at school, after they have finished lunch and are waiting to go outside, and at the end of the day whilst other children are getting ready and going home. They will be bringing this bag home next Friday.

We hope you all have a lovely weekend!

KS1 Team 

Amethyst, Diamond & Emerald Class Blog - 4th December 2020

 Happy Friday, everybody - we hope you have had a great week! Christmas is upon us as has been seen by the Naughty Elf visiting all the classes in Key Stage 1 this week!

In our classes this week, as part of our JIGSAW scheme of work on "Celebrating Difference" we have been making Gingerbread Men. We decorate these with items of clothing which highlight things that are the same and different about us and how we welcome new people to our school. Here are Amethyst with their finished Gingerbread Men!

Maths & Reading Homework

We hope that maths homework still goes well - email us if there are any questions about any aspects of this homework.

This week, we would like you to complete pages 15 and 17.

Also keep reading little and often using the Big Cat Library or any other resources that are working for you - it makes a HUGE difference!

Parent/Teacher Consultations

We look forward to seeing you over the next 2 Mondays and Tuesdays for Parent/Teacher Consultation. At these Autumn Term meetings we focus on how your child has settled into the new routines and expectations of their new Year group. We normally give out some support materials for you at these meetings so this year we have put copies of these documents for you to view on our Phase Group web page. We have included these documents:

• A list of the 100 high frequency words split into their 5 phases - this just breaks down the order that we teach these most common words. We look for Year 1's to be able to read these words by the end of the year and the Year 2's to be able to spell them.
• A list of the next 200 high frequency words - Year 2's, if you can read and spell all the words in the above list, try these for a challenge!
• Phase 2/3/5 sound mats - these show the phonemes we teach and the order we teach them in (no new phonemes are introduced in Phase 4 so don't worry, you aren't missing one).
• Writing Mat for Year 1 and Year 2 - these show the end of year writing outcomes that we look for. There is also one for Greater Depth - if you can do all the ones on the "Expected" sheet, try the "Greater Depth" sheet.

We hope that you find these helpful and we will refer to these in our meetings with you. You can find them here (scroll down to the "Important Information" Section):

http://www.downhallprimary.com/our-classes/year-1-2

Keeping Warm

As the weather turns decidedly chilly, please ensure that your child brings in coats, hats. gloves, scarfs - anything to help keep them warm! On PE day in particular, having lots of layers vests/T-shirts/hoodies with hats and gloves is better than having 1 big coat so the children can be mobile and able to do their sport.

On a more festive "keeping warm" note, don't forget that next Friday 11th December is our Christmas Jumper Day when we will be raising money for Action Aid. All the money you donate will go to the education of Thoko from Malawi who is now entering her 3rd year of school thanks to your generosity!

Have a wonderful weekend!

KS1 Elves