The Big Winter Wander
Good morning, A huge thank you to those who have taken part in The Big Winter Wander, an annual event organised by the WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature). This challenge has been a wonderful way for our children to connect with the natural world during the colder months while raising vital funds to help protect our planet and its amazing wildlife. The UK is currently one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world, and by joining this "wander," our pupils are helping to fund WWF’s work in restoring habitats and tackling the climate crisis. It is not too late to take part and what a great way to give something this Lent. We would love to celebrate every child’s effort and see the "winter wonders" they discover along the way. Donations: Please make your contributions directly to our school fundraising page here: https://socialsync.app/fundraiser/cr-nzymxvnokwdn?currentTab=feed A special thank you to Lyla who has made our first donation! Please send details of distances achieved and any photos of your child’s wander to Mrs Wilkinson or Mrs Ham. We would love to see pictures of them in action or any wildlife they spot! Remember, spending time in nature is proven to boost mental health and well-being, especially during the winter. By taking part, the children aren't just raising money; they are also learning to appreciate and protect the local environment right on their doorstep. Thank you for your continued support in helping St Barnabas make a difference for our world. Thank you, Mrs Wilkinson
Year 5 - Growing Our Future
Year 5 visited Jacks Key to contribute to a new micro forest in partnership with Blackburn with Darwen Council and Lancashire County Council Treescapes. Even though the weather was inclement and the ground was muddy, the children embraced the opportunity to get their hands dirty and plant our trees. It was also a great way to support our mental health and wellbeing for Children's Mental Health Week. We cannot wait to see how it grows!
WOW Badge Design Year Group Winners Presentation
We are really proud of our WOW badge designs that the children have created for the national walk to school badge competition. The Wellbeing Warriors met last Friday to pick a winner from each class. Today we awarded our WOW Badge Design year group winners with their prizes. We are super proud of their amazing designs and we look forward to hearing if they are selected in the National walk to school design competition.
Year 6 - Tree Planting
Today, as part of our whole school sustainability project, Year 6 proudly contributed to the micro forest by planting a variety of trees in Jack’s Key with support from Lancashire County Council Treescapes and Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council. This exciting opportunity allowed the children to take positive action in caring for their local environment and to understand the important role trees play in supporting wildlife, improving air quality and tackling climate change. Working together in teams, the children carefully planted each sapling, learning about the different species and how they will grow over time. They showed fantastic teamwork, responsibility and enthusiasm throughout the activity. This hands on experience not only supports our school’s commitment to sustainability but also helps to create a lasting legacy for future pupils and the wider community.
Year 1: Planting Trees
Year 1 had a fantastic time planting trees. We learnt all about the roots and fungus on a tree and how to plant them into the ground. All of the children were able to plant two trees each and this will make a positive difference to our environment. We cannot wait to see them grow over the years.
Micro forest planting in Year 4
Today, our Year 4 class swapped the classroom for the great outdoors at Jacks Key! We were thrilled to take part in the exciting new initiative, ‘Growing Our Future: A New Micro Forest’. Working alongside the Lancashire County Council Treescapes team and in partnership with Blackburn with Darwen Council, our students got their hands dirty for a wonderful cause. We are incredibly proud to say that every single child planted at least two trees! These saplings will grow into a micro-forest that will serve as a lasting legacy for our neighbourhood for decades to come. Well done, Year 4, for helping build a greener future!
Year 3’s Microforest Adventure- Planting Trees
Year 3 are thrilled that our school is partnering with Blackburn with Darwen Council and the Lancashire County Council Treescapes team to create a brand-new microforest. The children had an absolutely fantastic time getting stuck into the soil! The planting team were genuinely impressed by the children's impressive knowledge of local trees and birds. We have some truly talented budding ecologists in our midst. The students showed such care and dedication while planting, and they are already buzzing with excitement to return and watch "their" trees flourish over the coming years. A huge well done to Year 3 for being such incredible ambassadors for our environment and for leaving a lasting green legacy for our community!
Reception Planting Trees
Reception had the amazing opportunity to plant their own trees to establish a micro-forest near Jack's Key, The children worked in groups to select a tree and plant it in the ground carefully, getting a bit muddy along the way! The children were excited to find out that by the time they leave St Barnabas their trees may be about 4 or 5 meters tall! We hope to observe how our trees grow and change as we venture out on our Muddy Mondays each week this coming year.
Year 6 - Big Winter Wander
As part of the Big Winter Wander, Year 6 enjoyed a walk around Jack’s Key, making the most of the crisp winter weather to explore our local environment. During the walk, the children carefully observed their surroundings and learned more about our whole-school sustainability project and the positive impact it aims to have on our community. The children took part in bird watching, using a tally system to record the number and types of birds they spotted. Among the species identified were wood pigeons, carrion crows, starlings, magpies and chaffinches. The children showed great patience and enthusiasm as they quietly observed and counted the wildlife around them. Once our micro forest is fully established, we plan to repeat this survey and compare the results. This will help us to see whether biodiversity has increased and whether our project has successfully created a richer habitat, providing food, shelter and safe nesting spaces for a wider variety of wildlife. Donations to WWF can be made here: https://socialsync.app/fundraiser/cr-nzymxvnokwdn?currentTab=feed
Year 4 - Science: Water Conservation
To wrap up our Spring 1 science unit, the Year 4 class were learning about the importance of water and how we can conserve it. They learned that they should be drinking at least 6 glasses of water per day and that it must be clean and pure for it to be drinkable. They found out some issues with leaving taps running unnecessarily and they discussed ways in which we can all conserve water. The children then worked in small groups to choose an issue and create a poster showing how to conserve water. The children will be presenting these in a whole school worship next half term.
W.O.W. Group - Messy Church: The Sower
The WOW group ran their final messy church this week. They did a fantastic job planning a fun session based on the Parable of the Sower. First, they read the story and discussed its meaning and how Jesus wanted his followers to root their faith in God. Then the participants decorated a plant pot. Once the pots were decorated, the children filled them with rich, nutritious compost and added Nigella or Candytuft seeds.
Year 4 WOW Badge Design Competition
We are really proud of our WOW badge designs that Year 4 have created for the national walk to school badge competition. The Wellbeing Warriors met on Friday to pick a winner from each class which will be announced shortly and these will go forward to represent the school. If selected in the national competition, the badge will then be made for a month in next year’s campaign.