Dear parents/carers,
I am pleased to welcome everyone back this term. My key focus initially will be settling the children, addressing any anxieties and focusing on positive learning behaviours. I am confident the class will thrive on being back together at school after the short break. I have seen that the children have already settled into the learning behaviours they had learnt in the Autumn term.
Once we are settled, we will have a very busy term ahead of us. Our main learning focus will be our topic “Ancient Egyptians”. In this topic we will be asking the big question of “what was important to people during the Ancient Egyptian time?” We will also be visiting the Fitzwilliam Museum on Wednesday 12th July, more information to come about that later. In addition, this term’s science topic will be: Sound. More information about the learning we will be doing can be found on the accompanying curriculum grid.
This term’s P.E. is different to allow for swimming to take place each Friday at Sawston Village College every week. Please ensure that your child has appropriate swimming P.E. kit, towel and goggles if needed. Year 4 will go to Sawston to swim on the following dates;
21/4, 28/4, 05/5, 12/5, 19/5, 26/5, 9/6, 23/6
Please ensure your children arrive at school as close to 9:50 as possible.
The weather is getting hotter so please remember to bring a hat or sunglasses for outside if needed. Children are welcome to bring in a healthy fruit or vegetable snack during morning playtime. We ask children to bring a named bottle of water to drink during the day which will be returned for washing every evening. To carry these items, children may bring a small bag to school each day. The children must be able to hang this small bag with their coat on the trolley outside the classroom. If children choose a packed lunch they should bring that too.
Home learning in Year 4 is a mixture of compulsory and optional activities. Each week, children will be expected to practise their times tables, spellings and reading each day. Times Tables Rockstars and Spelling Shed can be used to practise key skills in these areas and they will be assessed on their progress in spelling each Monday. Passwords for Starz, Rockstars and Spelling Shed can be requested at any time.
We’re focusing on our times tables this term especially as the Multiplication Check is from 5th June to 23rd June. Your child will be practicing in school and will have plenty of opportunities to experience the system that is used prior to the official check. Please continue practicing at home with them, whether it be Times Tables Rockstars or one of the games that has been suggested previously.
Your child should also continue to read regularly at home and complete a weekly challenge from our Guided Reading learning challenge grid. The grid can be found as an attachment to this email and activities should be completed in home learning books.
In addition, a grid of home learning activities will be provided. In Year 4, this grid of home learning is optional and children are encouraged to choose the activities they would like to complete. The activities are a mixture of English and Maths tasks alongside topic-based learning. These tasks should also be sent back completed in home learning books please.
We will be sending a P.E. bag home. Each week a child from the class will have a chance to take a bag with P.E. equipment home. There will also be a book inside with a checklist of items, suggestions for games to play at home and some space for pictures to be stuck in. Please feel free to add games you have played so others can enjoy your creative time as well. I hope you do not feel pressure with this bag. Do as much or as little as you wish. There is also a space for suggestions. I will be happy to hear feedback. If you could return the bag on a Monday then I can ensure it is passed onto the next person. If any equipment is lost or breaks then please inform me so I am aware.
If you would like to discuss any aspect of your child’s time in Blackbirds please do make an appointment via the school office. These meetings can be on the phone, virtually or in person. Quick notices can be passed to me via the school office or by leaving a message with the member of staff on gate duty. Please note that our class email addresses are no longer in use and all emails should be addressed for the school office.
I look forward to seeing the progress we make in this next term.
Best wishes,
Emma Barron
Wrens class teacher
