Amethyst, Diamond & Emerald Blog - Friday 29th September 2023

 Happy Friday, everybody! We have been working hard this week in English with looking at stories with patterned and predictable language. We used the story "Go Tell It To The Toucan" and used its patterned language to re-tell our own versions. Here are some of Amethyst Class making their puppets, rehearsing and performing their "Go Tell It To The Toucan!"

Harvest Collection

For Harvest this year we are collecting for The One Love Project; a soup kitchen and food bank providing support for those families and children that really need it. We will celebrate in school with a special assembly where we will share songs that we have rehearsed for the occasion. If you are able to send in any non-perishable items for the collection before Friday 6th October they would be most gratefully received. We thank you for your continued support in helping our children understand Children's Rights and learn how we look after ourselves, each other and our world..

RRS Articles 24 and 27: Every child has the right to the best possible health and a good standard of living.

Football Skills Masterclass Day

We are excited to welcome Jamie Knight to Down Hall on Tuesday 3rd October. Each class will receive a masterclass session during the day. They will learn a number of football skills as well as attend an assembly where Jamie will demonstrate some of his tricks.

***All classes need to wear PE kit on this day!!***

After school Jamie will host an extra masterclass for those who sign up. Please see this week's newsletter for further details of this.

Maths Homework

This week, we would like you to look at pages 10 & 11.

For Year 1's this focuses on counting to 100. This will continue to build upon the work on tens and ones from last week. Remember - having a clear understanding of what digits represent in numbers is such an important aspect of our maths learning. Reinforce how 24 is represented by the digits 2 & 4 but 24 is actually a 20 and a 4. Explore the hundred square on page 10 and look for the patterns you can see there. There are also some games in the link below to help reinforce these ideas.

https://www.topmarks.co.uk/maths-games/5-7-years/counting

For Year 2's this focuses counting on in different steps. This looks at the patterns that are present in counting on in steps of different amounts and how even numbers always have even multiples but odd numbers alternate between odd and even multiples. The hundred square app below is really good for creating these steps and spotting patterns. Alternatively, practice writing out sequences of numbers, in particular, the 2's, 5's and 10's and discuss any patterns that you can see.

https://www.topmarks.co.uk/learning-to-count/paint-the-squares

Reading At Home

Reading regularly at home will make a huge impact on your child's reading development and learning across the whole curriculum. Please read each week as often as you can and jot it down in the reading diary. Is is also important to talk about a book when you have finished your reading. Which is your favourite part? Did you like this character? Why? 

Always remember to have your child's reading book and reading diary in school everyday!

If you have any issues or questions, please, please come and see us at the end of the day. Just come down the steps to see us!

Have a superb weekend!

Best Wishes

Mr Jude, Mrs Yuille & Miss Smith

Amethyst, Diamond & Emerald Blog - Friday 22nd September 2023

  Happy Friday, everybody! We hope you have had a great week. We have been busy in KS1 looking at the features of non-fiction texts in English as well as working on numbers to 20 and number bonds in maths. 

Maths Homework

This week, we would like you to look at pages 8 & 9.

For Year 1's this focuses on tens and ones. Understanding how 2-digit numbers are made up of tens and ones is fundamental to all the maths we do in Key Stage 1. Having a clear understanding of what digits represent in numbers is such an important aspect of our maths learning. Although we represent the number 12 with the digits 1 & 2, 12 is actually a 10 and a 2. Again, look at page 8 to understand the idea and then work through page 9. If you wish to extend your child's work in this, count objects and group these into tens so you can see how these larger numbers can be represented by tens and ones. There are also some games in the link below to help reinforce these ideas.

For Year 2's this focuses numbers to 100. Again, keep looking at these numbers in terms of their tens and ones - how is the number 24 different to 42? Look also at how each number can also be represented by words. When it comes to writing the words, encourage the children to be as accurate as possible in their spelling.

Place Value Games

Reading At Home

Reading regularly at home will make a huge impact on your child's reading development and learning across the whole curriculum. Please read each week as often as you can and jot it down in the reading diary. Is is also important to talk about a book when you have finished your reading. Which is your favourite part? Did you like this character? Why? 

Always remember to have your child's reading book and reading diary in school everyday!

If you have any issues or questions, please, please come and see us at the end of the day. Just come down the steps to see us!

Have a great weekend!

Much love

Mr Jude, Mrs Yuille & Miss Smith

Amethyst, Diamond & Emerald Blog - Friday 15th September 2023

 Happy Friday, everybody! We have had another busy week in Key Stage 1 and we have been exploring our project of "Knock, Knock! Who's There?" in more detail. We have been making labels and captions for things around our homes and looking at different types of homes that people might live in.

Overview Meeting - Monday 18th September

Just a reminder that we will be holding our Overview Meeting on Monday 18th September at 2:30pm. If you arrive a bit before this time at the school office, we will let you into Amethyst Class to share with you some important information about life in Key Stage 1. The meeting will need to end at 3:00pm prompt so as to let the children back into class from PE ready to go home.

Please don't worry too much if you cannot attend this meeting as we will send home a copy of all the information shared. We look forward to seeing you!

House Photos

Thank you to those who have sent in a photo of the front of your child's house for our learning on houses and homes. If you haven't sent one in yet, don't panic - it is not too late! Please send in a photograph (not too big!) of your child's house with their name on the back and we will copy it and send the original back to you. Alternatively, if you would prefer to send it digitally then please do so using our KS1 email address below

ks1@downhallprimary.com

Maths Homework

Today your child will be coming home with a maths homework book. This week, we would like you to look at pages 6 & 7.

For Year 1's this focuses on numbers 1-20. Look through page 6 together with your child and practice counting the apples in the picture. Look at how the numbers can be represented by digits and words - both are important! Then let your child work through page 7, supporting them as needed. There is also a quiz on pages 2-5 which your child can do if they are super eager! There are further counting games on the website below to further extend these ideas:

Counting Games

For Year 2's this focuses on place value. Understanding how numbers can be broken down into tens and ones underpins all our work on addition and subtraction during Year 2. It is important that the children understand that 45 is not 4 & 5 but 40 & 5 as the 4 represents 4 tens. Let your child work through page 7, supporting them as needed. There is also a quiz on pages 2-5 which your child can do if they are super eager! There are further place value games on the website below to further extend these ideas:

Place Value Games

Reading At Home

Reading regularly at home will make a huge impact on your child's reading development and learning across the whole curriculum. Please read each week as often as you can and jot it down in the reading diary. Always remember to have your child's reading book and reading diary in school everyday!

If you have any issues or questions, please, please come and see us at the end of the day. Just come down the steps to see us!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Best wishes

Mr Jude, Mrs Yuille & Miss Smith

Amethyst, Diamond & Emerald Blog - Friday 8th September 2023

Happy Friday, everybody - it has been an extremely fantastic (and hot!) first week back in Key Stage 1! The children have all settled in so well and myself, Mrs Yuille and Miss Smith have been very proud of how well all the children have done. Thank you for taking the time to look at our weekly blog - it will prove very useful as a means of communicating to you things that are happening in school and any times when the children will need to bring anything special to school with them.

It is important that your child brings with them a water bottle and their reading diary and reading book everyday. Please ensure any hats, cardigans and jumpers are all named!

Overview Meeting - Monday 18th September

We will be holding our Overview Meeting on Monday 18th September at 2:30pm. If you arrive a bit before this time at the school office, we will let you into Amethyst Class to share with you some important information about life in Key Stage 1. The meeting will need to end at 3:00pm prompt so as to let the children back into class from PE ready to go home.

Please don't worry too much if you cannot attend this meeting as we will send home a copy of all the information shared. We look forward to seeing you!

House Photos

Our project this term is "Knock Knock! Who's There?" where we learn all about features of homes and different types of houses. As part of our work on this, if you could send in a photograph of the outside of your child's home, it would be greatly appreciated.

Please name the photo on the back and we will copy it and send the original back to you if you wish to have the original returned. Alternatively, if you would prefer to send it digitally then please do so using our KS1 email address below

ks1@downhallprimary.com

Swimming

Swimming lessons are due to start on the week beginning 18th September. Please see the letter that went home this week for details and ensure that you return the slips attached. 

Swimming for Key Stage 1 is on Thursdays.

Please remember swimming costume, towel, swimming hat (compulsory) and flip flops to walk to and from the pool on these days. All earrings must also be removed on these days. We are all so very excited to have swimming back at Down Hall Primary!

Homework Books

We will be issuing your child with a maths homework book next Friday. We will explain the expectations of homework both at our Overview Meeting and in next week's blog.

In the meantime, don't forget to keep up all your fantastic efforts with your reading at home and jot it down in their reading diary when you have read - reading little and often will make a huge impact on your child's reading development.

If you have any issues or questions, please, please come and see us at the end of the day. Just come down the steps to see us!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Best wishes

Mr Jude, Mrs Yuille & Miss Smith

Amethyst & Emerald Blog - Thursday 20th July 2023

 Happy Friday, everybody, and welcome to the last blog for this academic year! It seems incredible that we are already at the end of the year - it has flown by! We have all absolutely loved working with all your children this year and it has been a privilege to watch them grow, learn and flourish as the year has progressed. We are all sure that they will continue to be just as fabulous as they move on to being Year 2's and 3's!

UNICEF Shoeshare Appeal

Just a reminder that on the last day of term we are collecting shoes in partnership with Unicef and Clarks, who will cleverly turn our old shoes into money that will help fulfill the rights of children around the world. You can send your child with a spare pair of shoes on the final day of this term so they can place their unwanted school shoes into our collection box. If you have any other unwanted pairs, you can send these in too. Staff will be in on Friday so you can still drop them off to the box in reception on that day too!

Article 28 & 29: Every child has the right to an education.

HAVE A GREAT SUMMER HOLIDAY!!!

We will be available on our Key Stage 1 email up until lunchtime on Friday 21st July and then again from Monday 4th September.

ks1@downhallprimary.com

Remember: children return to school on Tuesday 5th September.

When we come back in September we will be back in three Year 1/2 classes which is system we have run very successfully for many years aside from the last 2 years where we had single year group. We are looking forward to Miss Smith joining our team in Emerald Class along with Mrs Yuille in Diamond Class and Mr Jude in Amethyst Class.

All that remains is for everyone here in Key Stage 1 to wish you an amazing summer holiday. We would also like to give our heartfelt thanks for all your support and kind words over the year - it means so much to all of us!

Much love

Mrs Yuille, Mr Jude & Miss Smith

Amethyst & Emerald Blog - Friday 14th July 2023

 Happy Friday, everybody! We hope you all had a lovely time at Sports Day last Friday! It was so lovely seeing all the mums, dads, grandparents and other family members out together on the field for a picnic lunch and watching the children compete together! 

It is amazing to think that we are about to head into our last 4 days! In school this half term, the children have very much enjoyed using Chrome Music Labs to explore digital music in our computing lessons. Here is the link if you would like to further explore this learning platform at home:

Chrome Music Labs

UNICEF Shoeshare Appeal

We are once again holding a collection for Shoeshare so now is the time to start rummaging around in your cupboards for old shoes that don't fit or you no longer wear! Shoeshare is a collaboration between UNICEF and Clarks Shoes which works towards improving Children's Right around the world. More than 1.6 million pounds has been raised by Shoeshare to help ensure that children all around the world have access to quality education.

You can read more about the scheme here.

It's hard to believe that together we can make such a huge difference by the very simple act of sorting out our shoes but really we can. Shoes need to be in pairs and if possible held together with an elastic band. There will be a drop off point at the office or you can just send shoes in with your child at any point during the last week of term.

Thanks in advance for your continued support in helping our children to learn about sustainability, the wider world that we live in and how to care for others.

RRS: Every child has the right to an education and a clean and healthy environment.

Book Collection

All children have had their reading books collected in this week. We will pass these on to their next class teacher so they are ready to be re-issued in September. We have let the children keep hold of their reading diaries as there are lots of useful logins inside these. Please bring these reading diaries back to school on the first day back.

The children's school work books are all handed up also - current book and most recent completed book. These completed books are sent home after the October half term.

If you have any issues or questions, please, please come and see us at the end of the day - we would love to see you!

Have a fantastic weekend!

Best wishes

Mr Jude & Mrs Yuille

Amethyst & Emerald Blog - Friday 7th July 2023

 Happy Friday, everybody! It was lovely to see so many of you all at our Open School Evening on Tuesday and, of course, visitors from lower years who will be in Key Stage 1 next year!

Spelling Frame

Hopefully your child will have come home this week with their login details for Spelling Frame - check their bags or they may well be stuck in their reading diary.

Spelling Frame is a similar learning platform to Sumdog but uses games to support the learning of spelling patterns and rules. When you have logged in, you can select a Year group and then select a spelling rule or phoneme to explore. In the future, the spelling rule being covered in class will be added to the blog to further support homework tasks but we wanted to share this with you before the summer holidays so you could use the site in this time.

Visit the Spelling Frame website using the link below to login and start exploring different games to support your child's spelling!

Spelling Frame

Homework

We would like to thank you all for your hard work in supporting your child with their homework this year. We are returning the children's homework books to them today but we are not asking for them to be returned again this year.

If there are some pages left, please work through them at your own pace. The maths homework book is also a useful tool for looking back over the ideas we have covered this year as a reminder during the summer holidays so your child does not get too rusty over the 6 weeks off.

Don't forget to keep up all your fantastic efforts with your reading at home in order to maintain the great progress made this year. It will make a huge impact on your child's reading development. Keep using the range of questions we have discussed previously as well!

If you have any issues or questions, please, please come and see us at the end of the day - we would love to see you!

Have a fantastic weekend!

Best wishes

Mr Jude & Mrs Yuille