Whole School Worship - The Importance of Trees
This week is National Tree Week and Mrs Ham introduced an exciting new tree-planting project that we will be undertaking as a school. Following on from Switch Off Fortnight, we will continue our Planet Protectors mission by planting trees on our school grounds and, of course, our fantastic children will be involved. To kick start the project, we had a discussion about why trees are amazing. The children gave some very thoughtful answers, such as “they give us oxygen”, “they take harmful carbon dioxide out of the air”, “they provide protection for animals”, “we love playing in the trees”, “we use trees to make things”. Mrs Ham also told us the story, The Man Who Planted Trees. It was about a shepherd who saw the barren land and wanted to improve it, so he started planting trees. He planted over 1000 acorns, and after many years, the landscape was filled with lush, green trees, rivers flowed and a town was built. We learned from this 100-year-old story that one person’s small act can make a huge difference. Just like in the Parable of the Talents, we learned that it’s important for us all to use what we’ve been given to make a positive impact on the world. We can’t wait to use the trees that have been donated to us by the National Trust to make a positive impact on our community.
Year 6 - Geography
In Geography today, Year 6 explored DigiMaps to develop their mapping and geographical skills. Using digital maps, the children navigated towns and cities across the UK, locating and identifying key places. The children compared their human and physical features with those of Darwen, exploring how different environments are shaped by people and nature. The children showed great curiosity and teamwork as they discovered the similarities and differences between urban and rural areas across the country.
Year 5 - Class worship- Climate Change
In class worship, we considered the current United Nations Climate Change Conference. We discussed how leaders from around the world are meeting to discuss ways to reduce pollution and save forests. The children highlighted how deforestation can lead to habitat loss and species extinction. We then read how the Bible encourages us to be responsible for God’s creation.
Reception- R.E- Making a Harvest for the Birds
In our R.E sessions we have been learning all about harvest. Today we spoke about the wildlife and how hard it could be for birds, squirrels and other wildlife to find food in the winter. We decided it would be a good idea to create our own harvest for the wildlife by making bird feeders. We thought about ways we could thank God as we made them.
Year 3’s Adventure at Nightingale Farm
This morning, Year 3 had a fantastic visit to Nightingale Farm. The children saw chicks, Theo the goat, sheep, guinea pigs, and Ram the boy sheep. They even had the exciting opportunity to feel an egg that a chick had just laid! We learned how to care for farm animals and how to tell when chicks aren’t well, for example, if they are inactive, not eating, or if their comb is pale or shrivelled. The children were absolutely amazing throughout the visit. They were curious, kind, and respectful to all the animals, asking thoughtful questions and showing great care when feeding Theo and the pigs, who happily munched on the bread they were given. We also explored nutrition and the importance of looking after animals properly. This trip also helped us understand more about animals and humans, linking to what we are currently learning in science. Throughout the walk, Year 3 took time to appreciate God’s creation, noticing the beautiful colours of the trees, leaves, flowers, and surroundings, and they even paused to rest by the bus shelter, enjoying the fresh air and peaceful environment. As a special treat, Steph the farmer kindly gifted each child a little stationery pack, which made the day even more memorable! Along the way, the children received lots of encouragement from passersby, with horns honking and cheers of “Keep going!” Their energy, enthusiasm, and positive attitudes made the trip extra special. After visiting the farm, we continued our adventure at Blacksnape Park, exploring nature and enjoying life to its fullest. It was a truly wonderful day, full of learning, fun, and appreciation for the world around us.
Year 3 Explores Blacksnape Park
After visiting Nightingale Farm, Year 3 spent some time at Blacksnape Park. The children ran, played, and discovered different areas of the park, showing great curiosity and energy. It was a wonderful opportunity for the children to appreciate God’s creation and enjoy life to its fullest in a safe, outdoor environment.
Reception- Trekking Tuesday- Remembrance
Today we had our Trekking Tuesday forest school session and for the first part of the session we were thinking all about Remembrance Day and we created some lovely natural poppies. We then went on to have some free choice and exploration on this very muddy Tuesday. The children loved jumping in the muddy puddles, creating with sticks and hiding in natural dens.
Whole School Worship - Power for Good
Our theme in today’s collective worship was “Power for Good”. Continuing our focus on Anti-Bullying Week, Mrs Ham shared some of the fantastic answers the children gave on Monday about standing up to bullying. These included saying stop, being assertive, asking why, and telling a trusted adult. We learned of how Jesus was a power for good, even when others turned against him, and we reflected on the ways in which we can also be a power for good by being a good friend and spotting when someone needs our help. The WOW Group also shared how they are being a power for good, by protecting our planet and leading our school’s Switch Off Fortnight campaign. They shared posters recommending ways to save energy around school, including turning off lights and computer monitors when they are not in use, and they explained that they will be checking how well each class is doing at saving energy every break time and lunchtime during the campaign.
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Wellbeing Warriors Wow Challenge - October
In our Wellbeing Warriors meeting today, the children identified who had done enough walks or park and strides and to gain their October badges. We are thrilled to see that so many children are trying so hard to make their journey to school a healthier one. The girls went through each class highlighting names and then collecting the right amount of badges which they will give out in Worship tomorrow. Another great achievement is that St Barnabas have managed to come third place in the Blackburn with Darwen Top Ten Leader Board for Autumn 2025 which shows that our engagement rate is outstanding!
Year 3- Geography- Identifying lines of Latitude and Climate Zones
This afternoon, our amazing geographers have been exploring the concept of lines of latitude, the imaginary lines that run horizontally around the Earth. Using these key lines, the children identified different climate zones across the globe, from the tropical heat near the Equator to the icy cold near the poles. We focused on the extreme environments defined by these lines, learning about the Arctic Circle and Antarctica, and explored the fascinating animals that live there, too.
Year 5 - Science
Our new topic in science is properties of materials. We started by defining what the terms transparency, magnetism, thermal and electrical conductivity meant before carrying out a range of experiments to determine the properties of fabric, glass, iron, copper, clay, wood and plastic. The children worked like real scientists, collaborating together and debating their observations and conclusions.
Reception: Muddy Monday
The children in Reception went to Jacks Key for their Muddy Monday session. They found lots of natural resources to build bonfires in preparation for Bonfire night on Wednesday. The children then went on a rainy walk and showed great perseverance and resilience. The children all worked well together and it is lovely to see them continuing to develop during these sessions.