Reception: Scholastic Author Webinar
Our Reception class swapped their "Muddy Monday" boots for books during an enchanting webinar with author Catherine Jacob, who introduced us to her brand-new story, Betsy Buglove and the Lovely Ladybirds. After proving their expert status as outdoor explorers, the children were mesmerized by Catherine’s magic magnifying glass and learned fascinating facts, such as how ladybirds act as lucky charms for farmers and can even survive underwater for an hour. The adventure concluded with a creative masterclass from illustrator Lucy Fleming, who guided the budding artists through the steps of drawing Betsy herself. It was a truly wonderful workshop that brought the magic of the garden straight into our classroom!
Doodle and Dance Week 1
The children at Doodle and Dance turned a roll of wallpaper into a vibrant communal masterpiece today, filling the paper with colourful drawings of rainbows, hearts, flowers, and their favorite people and animals. The creative energy didn't stop at the drawing board, as the group quickly transitioned from artists to athletes for a high-spirited "Wake and Shake" dance session. It was a club of pure joy and imagination, leaving the room covered in art and the children full of smiles after dancing their hearts out.
Reception Police Visit
Our Reception class was treated to an informative and exciting visit from police officers Ryan and Andrew. The children were thrilled to meet the friendly officers, who started by asking the class what they thought police officers do. The children eagerly answered, "They catch the bad guys!" Ryan and Andrew gently explained that while catching bad guys is part of their job, their main role is to help people and keep everyone safe. To give the children a better understanding of their work, the officers showcased some of the important tools and resources they use. They showed the class items like handcuffs, safety glasses, pepper spray, a camera, scissors (for smash-window rescues), a baton, a helmet to keep them safe, a radio for communication, a shared ID card, and a pocket notebook. The children even got a chance to practice shouting "Get Back!", which is what police officers use to manage situations safely. The excitement reached new heights when the class was given the opportunity to explore the police van. The children listened to the siren and watched the flashing lights, which added to the thrill of the experience. They all had a turn to sit inside the van, imagining what it would be like to be a real-life police officer. The children were all very captivated by the visit, and we are sure they will be talking about it for days to come. The visit not only provided our students with a fantastic opportunity to learn about the valuable work police officers do in our community, but it also helped build positive relationships between the children and the police. We are so grateful to officers Ryan and Andrew for taking the time to visit our Reception class. Their visit was an incredible learning experience, and it has surely left a positive impact on our children.
Year 1 RE: Signs of Spring
In our RE lesson today, we went on a walk to spot the Signs of Spring. We were looking for growth, colour, new life and change. On our way, we saw lots of new flowers starting to grow and blossom. The trees are starting to change from Winter and growing their leaves. Year 1 also saw lots of squirrels on their way. As it is Spring, we also walked in lots of rain and noticed that the rivers are starting to fill. We may have to go on another walk in a few weeks to see more changes as Spring progresses.
Blackburn with Darwen Schools Cross Country - Event 1
What a fantastic start to Cross Country season! Year 5/6 Team B squad all performed superbly at tonight’s first race event and in true St Barnabas Style, they encouraged each other every step of the way and we are super impressed with their effort and sheer determination- well done!
Year 3- Science-Exploring the formation and properties of sedimentary and metamorphic rocks
This afternoon, our Year 3 scientists investigated the fascinating formation and properties of sedimentary and metamorphic rocks. By carrying out a series of comparative tests, the children explored the durability, permeability, and density of various specimens, even using microscopes to search for embedded crystals. They applied their scientific enquiry skills to determine how these physical properties dictate a rock's everyday use, such as why marble might be chosen for a statue or sandstone for a building. It was wonderful to see them reporting on their findings with such enthusiasm as they grouped their rocks and compared them to their previous learning on igneous formations.
Year 3: World Book Week Launch-live event with author and illustrator Liz Pichon
To kick off World Book Week, Year 3 enjoyed a fantastic "15 Funny Years of Tom Gates" live event with author and illustrator Liz Pichon. Year 3 readers were completely engaged as they practised their "doodling" skills alongside Liz, learning how to bring iconic characters like Tom, Derek, and Mr Fullerman to life on the page. The session was packed with creativity and laughter, capped by an interactive quiz that tested their knowledge of the series. It was a brilliant way to celebrate a love of reading and illustration, leaving the children inspired for the rest of the week.
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Netball Club Returns
On Friday, we restarted our wonderful netball club and we had a fantastic turn out. It’s great to see so many children wanting to take up netball and learn new skills. This week we had a short warm up and the went straight into games. The children now have favourite positions but we decided to mix it up and play some game time out of positions too. We can’t wait to start the league after Easter!
Year 1 Science: Absorbent or Waterproof
This week, we have learnt two new words: absorbent and waterproof. If something is absorbent, it will soak up water and if something is waterproof, water will not go inside the object and will drip off. In groups, we tested different objects made from a variety of materials to see if they are absorbent or waterproof. After that, we did a rainbow water test. We made 3 colours of water and used an absorbent tissue to dip into each cup. The tissue soaked up the water and changed colours, which was very exciting.
Friday Celebration Worship
What a wonderful and incredibly busy first week back we have had in school. On Monday we welcomed special visitors into our school and they were so impressed with the children’s beautiful behaviour, their hard work and their fantastic oracy skills. We are so proud of the way our children represent our school community. A huge thank you to Miss Kachwalla for organising Mad Science, it was a brilliant experience and the children absolutely loved it. This week we have also spent time reflecting on Lent, thinking carefully about what we might give up and how we can grow closer to God during this special season. It has been lovely to see so many children taking part in our amazing after-school clubs and joining in with the Big Winter Wander. We are delighted to celebrate our Values Award winners this week. In Reception, Mason and Phoebe have shown our school values so beautifully. In Year 1, well done to Thea. In Year 2, congratulations to Joey. In Year 3, Alice and Evie have impressed us all. In Year 5, well done to Miles, and in Year 6, congratulations to Beau. Our Pen Licence this week goes to Scarlett in Year 4, what a fantastic achievement for your presentation and handwriting. In our Team Values results, fourth place goes to Darwen Tower, third place to Whitehall Park, second place to India Mill and in first place this week is River Darwen. A huge well done to River Darwen who will get to wear their own clothes on Friday for their disco, enjoy your celebration. We also have so many wonderful sporting achievements to celebrate. Alice has been awarded a trophy in cheerleading for coming second place. Bowen has received a football trophy for his excellent skills. Ida and Layla have both earned a badge for riding trot in horse riding. Phoebe has achieved her 10m swimming certificate and Stage 3. Olivia and Eleanor have earned a Rainbows badge for baking, trying different foods, completing a duck hunt and caring for animals carefully, and Eleanor has also achieved a water skills certificate. Maggie has been awarded a purple belt in martial arts for her fantastic kicking and punching, as well as achieving Stage 3 in gymnastics. Annabelle has received the hardest worker certificate in dance and has the amazing opportunity to go to New York for a dance show, we are so proud. Callie and Charlie have both achieved their 50m swimming certificates. Lyla has won medals in dancing. Seb and Scarlett have received certificates from a sports club during the half-term holidays and Scarlett's netball team also won the league. Tristan has been awarded a purple belt for punching and blocking. Ted has won a huge trophy for BMX racing for coming second in his age category. Lydia has awarded Olivia from Brownies for being kind and helpful. Grace has achieved dance medals for coming second and third. A special well done to our Year 5 football team who played six games, drawing two, narrowly losing one game 1–0, and winning three – a fantastic effort and great teamwork. Well done to Year 1 and Year 3 for achieving the highest attendance this week, your commitment to being in school every day really does make a difference. Looking ahead, we are excited for World Book Day next week. On Tuesday we have special Pinocchio dance workshops and a performance to look forward to. Don't forget to get your dolly peg book character entries in too. On Thursday, children can either dress as a book character or come in their pyjamas. Reception will be performing for Mother’s Day on Friday 13th March and we warmly invite families to join us for our Mother’s Day Sunday Service at church on Sunday 15th March where all of our children are welcome to sing to their Mums. Thank you to Olivia and Ava for leading us in our prayers this week.
Reception - Traps for the Evil Pea
In Reception this week, the children turned into engineers to design custom traps for the Evil Pea from Supertato. Using a range of resources such as LEGO, cardboard boxes and elastic bands, the children used their imagination to bring their traps to life. They refined their ideas and proudly explained how they would finally bring the story's villain to justice.
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Year 6 - 1911 Census Boycott
Today in History, Year 6 focused on the reasons why many women in 1911 refused to fill in the national census. The children learned that some women, particularly Suffragettes and Suffragists, believed it was unfair to be counted in a country where they were not allowed to vote. They explored the powerful idea behind the protest slogan: “If women don’t count, neither shall they be counted.” The class discussed the wider fight for women’s rights at the time, including the campaign for equal voting rights and considered why refusing to complete the census was seen as a peaceful but powerful act of protest. The children examined how women may have felt in 1911 — frustrated, determined, brave and hopeful for change. To deepen their understanding, the children created their own 1911 census entries, adding impactful and persuasive slogans to reflect the strength of feeling among campaigners. This helped them to empathise with the challenges women faced and to appreciate the courage it took to stand up for equality.