Year 3- Class Worship-Kindness is Viral: Following in the Footsteps of Positive Influencers
In class worship, we explored this week’s Picture News story about how famous people can influence others to make good choices. We looked at the story of MrBeast and his "1 Billion Acts of Kindness" campaign, which highlights how one person’s influence can inspire millions to take positive action. This linked perfectly with Mrs Ham’s whole school worship yesterday. She spoke about how our small, everyday actions can make a big difference, which is exactly what the children practised in their work today. To finish the lesson, we sang the hymn "My Lighthouse," reflecting on how we can be a "guiding light" for others through kindness, and Seb read a lovely prayer.
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
Year 3-Oral Health & Physical Activity
Today, Nathan delivered the second GULP (Give up loving pop) session, focusing on the importance of oral hygiene and making healthy drink choices. The session was split into active and classroom-based learning: Physical Activity: The children participated in 30 minutes of high-energy exercise, playing a game where they had to "run away from plaque" and earn points for "cleaning" their teeth. Classroom Learning: We explored the impact of sugary drinks on health and discussed practical ways to avoid them. To see the effects of sugar and acid firsthand, the children carried out an egg experiment, which provided a great visual representation of how tooth enamel can be damaged. Practical Skills: Every child received a toothbrush and toothpaste to encourage consistent dental care at home. The children were fully engaged and absolutely loved the session.
Year 3- History-Investigating the Lives of Tudor Children
Today, our young historians took a step back in time to explore the lives of children during the Tudor period. We focused on the role of the apprentice, discovering how children learned essential trades and skills by working under a "master." Visual Evidence: By analysing historical images, the children identified the heavy labour apprentices performed, such as fetching water for farms or working in papermaking and printing shops. Working Conditions: Through video and audio accounts, we discussed the reality of Tudor life. The children learned that while wealthier children attended school, poorer children worked long, exhausting hours, cleaning, cooking, and farming, with very little time for play. Interactive Learning: Using the whiteboard, the children worked in pairs to match different Tudor occupations with their job descriptions. This allowed them to see the wide variety of trades available at the time.
Amazing Attendance Awards
We had such a busy end to the Autumn term that we’re only just getting around to celebrating our amazing attendance award winners. What a fantastic term it was for attendance! Awards were presented in two categories: firstly to all those who achieved 100% attendance, and then to those who achieved above 96% attendance. Both are amazing achievements and we are super proud of all of the children.
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Whole School Worship - God is Kind
In our whole-school worship, Mrs Ham revealed our first Kindness Kite celebrating the Blackburn Diocese centenary. This week, the focus is ‘God is Kind’. A small selection of Year 6 children were chosen to read three Psalms about God’s kindness and we learned that God is everywhere, always, even when it’s dark, even when we hide. The children were then invited to share some of the kind things that they have heard people say, such as ‘I like your hair’ , ‘Your dress is pretty’ and ‘You are so smart’. We reflected on how kind words make us feel and we all practised paying compliments to our partners. We are looking forward to adding kind words to our classroom kites.
Foodie Friends Club: Shortcrust Pizzas
We kicked off our first Foodie Club of the half-term with a fantastic session making shortcrust pastry pizzas. Our "Great Chefs" were in their element, skillfully rolling the pastry into their own unique shapes before smothering them in sauce and loading them with a rainbow of toppings, including peppers, onions, olives, sweetcorn, and tuna. It was a joy to see the children so deeply engaged, mastering new culinary skills and exploring different flavours with such enthusiasm. By providing these hands-on opportunities to create and learn, we are helping our students build confidence and truly live life to its fullest.
Year 3- science - Comparing and grouping animals by their diet.
In Science today, our Scientists have been exploring the fascinating world of biological classification. The children took on the role of taxonomists, carefully grouping animals based on their specific categories, habitats, and dietary requirements. By comparing various species, they investigated how different creatures have adapted to their environments, specifically looking at the contrast between carnivores and omnivores.
100 Years of Blackburn Diocese
In order to celebrate 100 years of Blackburn diocese, we took part in a whole-school virtual assembly that focused on the many successes and achievements of the diocese over the past century. Bishop Philip welcomed schools from across the diocese and shared an engaging story about the travels of the Wise Men, linking these to themes of faith, journey and community. The children greatly enjoyed seeing and feeling connected to other schools within the diocese and were excited to take part in a shared celebration. The assembly provided a valuable opportunity for pupils to reflect on their place within the wider diocesan family, strengthening their sense of belonging and understanding of our shared faith. The event was engaging, inclusive, meaningful and it helped bring the history and mission of the diocese to life for the whole school community. We are looking forward to taking part in a variety of centenary 'All for Jesus' activities and worships over the year.
Friday Celebration Worship
What a brilliant first week back! We are so proud of all the children for settling back into school so sensibly, even with the excitement of the snow. We started by celebrating our values awards winners: Elara in Reception, Max in Year 1, Vienna in Year 2, Mila in Year 3, Lottie in Year 4, Carmen in Year 5 and Luca in Year 6. These children are always doing the right thing and working hard, well done! We also celebrated Olivia and Jacob in Year 4 who were awarded their pen licenses this week. A huge well done to all of our house teams this week for earning lots of value points. Darwen Tower came in 4th place, Whitehall Park came in 3rd place, River Darwen came in 2nd place and India Mill in 1st place. We had lots of Sports Awards this week. Well done to Callie for 25m in backstroke, Ralphi was awarded a swimming medal for 5m and a football certificate for courage against older players, Elijah was awarded a 200m swimming certificate, James was awarded a 100m swimming certificate, Renee was awarded a 5m swimming certificate and Carmen won a student of the year trophy in kickboxing and a swimming certificate for 100m and 50m. Additionally, Phoebe was awarded the Olivia doll from Rainbows for excellent colouring, Thea was awarded a gymnastics certificate for backwards and forwards on the bars, Reggie won player of the week in football for scoring 10 goals and finally Scarlett won player of the match in netball. Well done everyone! Our Year 5 and 6 football team also shared that they lost to St Paul’s 2-1 in their most recent football game, but still placed 5th out of 13 schools. This is a brilliant placement! Also, well done to Year 1 and 2 who the best attendance in Key Stage 1 and Year 4 in Key Stage 2. Mrs Ham also reminded us of our upcoming events: Let’s Go Sing, Stay and Play, NSPCC Speak Out and our visit from Harold the Giraffe. Finally, Charlie, Lilly and James said some beautiful prayers to end our worship. Have a restful weekend and please stay safe in the turbulent weather conditions.
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Year 3- NSPCC Assembly: Speak Out, Stay Safe
Today, the children participated in an NSPCC virtual assembly centered on the vital message "Speak out, Stay safe." Through interactive activities, including whispering, pointing, and cheering their right to be safe, they learned to identify different types of abuse and, most importantly, understood that abuse is never a child’s fault. The session empowered the children to recognise their right to protection and identified "trusted adults" they can turn to for help. Finally, they were taught how to contact Childline on 0800 1111, ensuring they know exactly how to access free, confidential support whenever they might need it.
Year 3 - Class Worship -Celebrating the National Year of Reading 2026
During our class worship today, we explored the National Year of Reading 2026, a UK-wide campaign organised by the Department for Education and the National Literacy Trust to encourage people of all ages to read for pleasure. We reflected on how only 1 in 3 children currently enjoy reading in their free time and discussed the campaign’s theme, ‘Go All In,’ which promotes exploring everything from comics and magazines to audiobooks and websites. We learned that reading different genres, such as mystery or science fiction, can help us build problem-solving skills and imagine new worlds, while also improving our well-being and empathy. Charlie read out the prayer as we reflected on how reading helps us understand different experiences, including those found in the Bible and other important texts, ensuring no one is left out because of who they are. As we look toward the future, we remember that reading is a powerful tool that opens doors to new ideas and helps us understand the world around us.