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Year 5 - interview with an author
As part of the National Year of Reading and World Book Day, we listened to the author William Yamaguchi Dobson talk about his upcoming book Kamizen: Fortress of Lost Memories. He spoke about how his Japanese background inspired the story, including his love of manga and knowledge of Japanese folk tales. During the discussion, the children invented their own Yokai (animated magical everyday objects) and participated in a question and answer session.
Year 3-West End Choreography Workshop-Pinocchio
Today, the entire school was buzzing with creativity as we took part in a fantastic West End Workshop based on the story of Pinocchio. Our guest choreographer, James, was absolutely brilliant, bringing the magic of the theatre directly to our pupils. The children focused on rehearsing and perfecting the second half of the story, working hard to synchronise their movements and add expressive actions to their performances. It was truly amazing to see everything come together during our final whole-school assembly, where the narrative was told through a seamless collaborative performance. Year 3 were truly in their element, showing incredible enthusiasm and confidence throughout the day. Well done to everyone!
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!
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.
Whole School Worship with Rev Ben
Today we had a Whole School Worship which was led by Rev Ben. Rev Ben started with a challenge in which he asked for 4 volunteers. Naomi, Edward, Darcy and Tristan had to build a structure from marshmallows and spaghetti in only two minutes. This proved super challenging with Naomi and Edward coming out as winners with the best structure. Our Bible story was about building things in the right way - Wise and Foolish Builders. A wise man builds on rock, surviving storms, while a foolish man builds on sand, resulting in his house collapsing. It teaches children to obey God’s word to stand firm against challenges. Jesus says that if you listen to him and build your life on his words then you will have a firm foundation.
Gifted & Talented Y5/6 Gym Club
Last night our first Gifted and Talented Gymnastics club started with Coach Liv. The children worked on their basic floor work skills and practiced skipping which was quite a challenge for some. We look forward to seeing their progress over the next six weeks.
Year 5 - Money Matters
On Tuesday morning, year 5 learned about financial budgeting. They discussed the differences between wants and needs before thinking about different sources of income and expenditure. The children then practised making their own budget. The children welcomed our visitor into the school with kindness and embraced the opportunity to learn about how money matters.
Mad Science Assembly-Going for Gold with Scientific Erica
Today, our students were treated to a spectacular, high-energy show by "Scientific Erica" from Mad Science. From Olympic-themed fire demonstrations to using gas to inflate giant balloons, the room was filled with "wow" moments and non-stop laughter. Under the expert supervision of Erica, a trained professional in chemical and fire safety, the children stepped into the role of scientists, making predictions and testing their theories in real-time. It was a memorable day that proved science is as much fun as it is educational! A special shout-out goes to our Science Ambassadors, who were a fantastic help throughout the event. Children in Years 1-4 have been given a letter with information about a Mad Science after school club next half term. It starts 13th April with new topics. Deadline date to register is 03.03.26. First come, first served. https://northengland.madscience.org/signin.aspx?successURL=%2fmyschedule
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!
Year 1: Big Winter Wander
We had such a lovely Big Winter Wander today. It really did feel like a Bear Hunt, long wavy grass, thick oozy mud, a deep cold river and even a swirling whirling snowstorm! The children behaved wonderfully and represented the school well. What a brilliant way to end Children's Mental Health Week by getting out in the fresh air! Donations to WWF can be made here: https://socialsync.app/fundraiser/cr-nzymxvnokwdn?currentTab=feed
Year 5 - Pancakes
Because pancake day (Shrove Tuesday) is during the half term break, we had the great fortune of having early pancakes made for us by the professional bakers from Fruitilicious. The children deserved their treat after helping to plant trees in our new micro forest in Jacks Key. A special thanks to Miss Kachwalla, our Design and Technology leader for organising this treat!