Reception: Snail and the Whale Book Launch
This morning, Reception class read 'The Snail and the Whale'. We listened carefully to the story. The children focussed on two words 'slimy' and 'ginormous'. We discussed the characters in the story and described how they moved and their size. We then drew the characters and had a special key to make them move. Our keys varied from tricky words to different sounds that we have learnt. What a super start to the week!
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Doodle and Dance Club Session 3
This week, children in EYFS and key stage 1 focussed on mindfulness. We listening to some acoustic Disney music whilst completing some mindfulness colouring. It was lovely to hear all of the children chatting together. We finished with some wake and shake- fire and ice and the wiggle dance were a firm favourite!
Inter- House Sports with Reception
Our Sports Leaders did an Inter- House Indoor Athletics session with Reception class on Friday which went down a storm! Every single child was engaged, enthusiastic and had huge smiles on their faces. They completed various relays which focused on their fundamental skills and speed, agility and quickness. Well done Reception class and huge thanks to the Sports Leaders!
Reception - Let's Get Crafty Tissue Art
Our Reception artists have been making a splash this week, diving into a vibrant "Under the Sea" activity to develop their creative flair and fine motor skills. By carefully scrunching, twisting, and sticking colourful tissue paper onto aquatic templates, the children created wonderful pieces of Art work for our school display.
Reception- RE: Jonah and the Whale
During our RE lessons, we have been exploring the question, “Which stories did Jesus hear when he was a child?” This week, we focused on the story of Jonah and the Whale. While listening to the story, we discussed the word “sorry” and talked about how it can sometimes be difficult to say. The children shared with a partner a time when they had said sorry and explained why it was important. We then took turns to share some of these ideas together as a class.
Class Worship- Reception class, Year 3 and Year 4 -The Power of Kind Words
Mrs Gardner delivered a collective worship session focused on the power of our words, using the theme 'Kind Words.' The children reflected on how kind words can cheer us up and make others stronger, supported by verses from Proverbs and Ephesians. We watched a 'Douglas Talks' video that demonstrated how powerful our words can be, and we closed the worship with a prayer asking for help to use only words that bring a smile to the listener.
Reception: Muddy Monday
Today is known as Blue Monday, but our Reception class decided to rename it "Happy Monday" by participating in the five steps to wellbeing. The children focused on being active and taking notice of our special world. During their walk, they were mesmerised by the fog and gave thanks for the birds, insects, dogs, and trees. They returned to school excited to share what they had observed with their peers during "snack and chat." If you are feeling a bit low today, we encourage you to try going for a walk and taking a moment to appreciate the world around you.
Doodle and Dance Club
This week our EYFS and KS1 club learnt to follow instructions to draw different pictures such as butterflies, robots and elephants. The children tried really hard and Mrs Wilkinson was very impressed. We then danced to Waka Waka and completed a Super Mario dancing challenge. We are all looking forward to next week.
Reception Rockpools
The Reception class had a wonderful time exploring rockpools in their outdoor play area. After learning about creatures like crabs, shrimps and prawns who live in rockpools, the children used their imaginations to turn the tray into a coastal habitat. They acted as scientists looking at sea creatures who live in this small habitat and asked lots of questions to understand more about it. This hands-on activity helped the children learn new vocabulary and understand how to care for nature and God's creatures.
Reception: Stay and Play
We loved welcoming family members from Reception class to our stay and play session. It was lovely to see some children from pre-school attending too. The children completed lots of challenges together and showed how busy they are with their learning in class. Well done! Stay and play continues next Wednesday at 9am.
Go All In: 2026 National Year of Reading
Dear Parents and Carers, As we move into 2026, we are excited to share that this has been designated the National Year of Reading. This year-long celebration, spearheaded by the Department for Education and the National Literacy Trust, isn't about schoolwork or exams—it’s about helping our children rediscover the sheer joy of a great story. The theme for the year is "Go All In." The goal is to show children that reading isn't just something they do in a classroom; it is a way to dive deeper into the things they already love. Whether your child is a fan of gaming, sports, music, or space, there is a book, graphic novel, or audiobook out there that speaks to their interests. The campaign reminds us that "if they’re into it, they can read into it," and that every form of reading—from a football programme to a digital comic—is a step toward success. We know how busy family life can be, but research shows that sharing a story for just 10 minutes a day can dramatically boost a child’s wellbeing and their confidence at school. You don’t need to be an expert storyteller to make a difference; simply sitting together and exploring a book, or letting your child see you reading your own book or magazine, sets a fantastic example. Throughout the year, there will be exciting events to look forward to, including a record-breaking World Book Day on March 5th and a music-themed Summer Reading Challenge titled "Read to the Beat!" Our local libraries will also be hosting free activities, from author workshops to interactive storytelling sessions. We invite you to join us in making 2026 a year of discovery for our children. Let’s help them find the stories that make them want to "go all in." For more resources and book recommendations tailored to your child’s hobbies, you can visit the official campaign website at goallin.org.uk. For our first challenge, I would love the children to send me some photographs of them reading their favourite story in their favourite place. Happy reading! Mrs Wilkinson
Reception: Kindness Kites
As part of celebrating 100 years of Blackburn Diocese, our school are taking part in the kindness kites challenge. For the next few weeks, we are focusing on saying something kind. Reception staff have caught three children so far saying something kind to their friends. Well done to Coban, Theo and Poppy. We are sure we will be adding more bows to our kindness kite in the upcoming weeks.