Year 3 - Science- Exploring Magnets: Poles, Fields, and Forces
In today's Science lesson, Year 3 learned that all magnets have a north pole and a south pole, and that magnetism is a special non-contact force capable of moving objects without even touching them. They explored the concept of a magnetic field surrounding magnets and discovered how different poles either attract or repel. To connect this to the real world, they watched a career film featuring Christian Richardson, a Signalling Designer for Network Rail, and an expert film where Joe Howard from Ben Burgess demonstrated magnets he uses in his job. For their mission assignment, the children used a handout to predict whether magnets would attract or repel each other in various setups, then they carefully tested their predictions and recorded their observations.
Year 3- Art- Our Abstract Flower Drawings
This afternoon, Year 3 became abstract artists, just like Georgia O'Keeffe! They each worked with a flower picture, using a special viewfinder to explore different parts, zooming in to find interesting shapes and lines. They sketched these zoomed-in sections into rectangles in their sketchbooks, creating a few different compositions. Finally, they picked their favourite sketch and drew it much bigger on a large piece of paper, using all the skills they've learned to create their very own abstract flower masterpieces.
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Summer Reading Challenge
Summer Reading Challenge A big thank you to Jacqueline from BwD Libraries for visiting school this morning and promoting the Summer Reading Challenge. You can sign your children up to Story Garden, this year's Summer Reading Challenge from The Reading Agency at Darwen or Blackburn Library. Joining is quick, easy and FREE and it's lots of fun too. The challenge is for the children to read any six library books before the end of September, tell us about what they've read, and collect stickers and other prizes along the way. They can also listen to audio books, use the FREE BorrowBox app, or mix and match. If your child participates, please encourage them to bring in their certificate to celebration worship in September so that we can celebrate their reading success
Year 3- P.E- Track, Throw, Jump
For their final athletics P.E. lesson, Year 3 took part in three core tasks and recorded their times and distances to track their performance. In ‘Take Aim’, they worked in pairs to practise sling, push, and pull throws, aiming at targets to score points based on accuracy. In ‘Furthest Five’, they worked in groups of three to perform a combination of five different jumps with a run-up, aiming to reach the furthest distance while focusing on technique. In ‘Pass the Baton’, they ran relays in teams of four, aiming to complete as many laps as possible in three minutes, using teamwork, strategy, and baton-passing skills.
Barney’s Got Talent
This morning, we had an extra special Friday celebration. Our amazing school family showcased their fabulous talents in the annual ‘Barney’s Got Talent Show.’ Our performers included ‘The Frozen Friends’ of Luna and Martha, ‘Rocket Reggie’ with his super speedy skipping, The APT, The Stars & The Sassy Girls, Percy, The Joker, The Baby Sharks featuring Lydia, Lenny and Olivia, The Gymnast Monkeys featuring Callie, Mollie and Hollie, Barney’s Song and Dance Group featuring Harry, Ella, Evie and Heidi singing ‘Beautiful Things, The JW Band featuring Carter, James, Elijah, Charlie and Seb singing ‘Green Green Grass,’ The Swifites featuring Naomi and Luna, Dramatic Darcy singing ‘Pink Pony Club,’ The Terrible Two featuring Sonny and Walter with their own version of ‘I’m a Teenage Dirt Bag Baby,’ Sassy Lilly with ‘Our Song’ by Taylor Swift, Star Sofia singing ‘Titanium,’ Graceful Grace showcasing her phenomenal tap skills, Omazing Oscar playing the Cello and last but not least our fabulous Year 6 children gave us a snippet of their performance to come next week and sang ‘It’s a Hard Knock Life.’ Well done to all of our performers for their amazing courage getting up on the stage in front of our huge audience of parents. Also, a huge well done to our heads and deputies (Hamza, Rosie, Daisy and Harry) for leading the whole show with great humour and confidence and finally, Mrs Ham for all of her enthusiasm and organisation. We have more of this to come with our Year 6 Performance of Annie on Tuesday, our Rocksteady Concert on Wednesday, our End of Year Award Ceremony on Thursday and our Year 6 Leavers next Friday. Thank you to the parents and carers who came along to support on such a hot day!
Scrumptious Production- KS2- Message of change and friendship
This afternoon, KS2 enjoyed a delightful end-of-year summer treat with the charming and magical production of 'SCRUMPTIOUS!' This gently interactive musical play told the sweet story of Sylvie, a sweetshop owner who loves her routine but learns to embrace change when a mysterious stranger arrives. The show beautifully conveyed the moral of the story: that while change can be daunting, it often leads to wonderful new experiences and friendships, encouraging us all to live life to its fullest. It was particularly fitting for the children as they prepare for big transitions, like moving from primary to secondary school or into a new class. The story was great with delightful descriptions of ice creams and different sweets, and even a magical book that played a key role. Getting the children involved in the narrative helped Sylvie be brave and adapt to her changing world, making for a truly memorable, funny, hopeful, and charming performance, the perfect treat to round off the summer term!
Whole School Worship - St Paul: Amazing Grace
In Rev Ben's collective worship this week, he started by asking us all to think of the most important thing someone ever said to us. The children shared examples of words of wisdom and good news, such as being told about a new sibling. Rev Ben shared some of the most important words St Paul ever said about the grace of God and being justified by Jesus's death, resurrection and ascension. He used role play to explain the complicated concept of grace and that God's grace isn't something which can be earned. The children acted out scenarios in which someone received something by working for it, and someone received the same thing just because the person chose to give it to them. Rev Ben went on to say that God's love is given to us all; we don't have to earn it. He reminded us that friendship with God develops from faith in Jesus.
Year 3&4 Quad Kids
Today, our talented Year 3 & 4 Quad Kids represented the school at the Lancashire School Games! They took part in a series of athletic events including the 400m run, vortex throw, 50m sprint and long jump. Each child gave their all, showing fantastic determination, teamwork and sportsmanship throughout the competition. Well done to all involved – a brilliant effort and a proud day for our school!
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Year 3- R.E-A Visit from Rev. Ben
Today, we welcomed Rev. Ben into our R.E. lesson. He came to speak to Year 3 about the qualities of a Christian and what it means to live a Christian life. Rev. Ben shared examples from his own experiences and the Bible, helping the children understand key values such as kindness, forgiveness, honesty, and compassion. The pupils were incredibly engaged and asked thoughtful questions, such as “How do Christians show love to others? Is it hard to forgive people? Do Christians have to attend church every Sunday? After the discussion, the children reflected on what they had learned and worked on writing their own set of guidelines for how someone might live as a Christian. These included ideas such as “Help others in need,” “Treat everyone fairly,” “Pray when you feel thankful or worried,” and “Forgive people, even when it’s hard.”
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Year 3- Year of Prayer-Our Achievements in drawings.
As part of this week’s Year of Prayer reflections, the children took time to celebrate both their milestones and our collective achievements as a class over the past year. Each child thoughtfully created a drawing/ shape to represent something they were proud of trophies for sporting triumphs and accomplishments outside of school, pencils for their progress in handwriting, reading books to show how far they’ve come in reading, musical notes for learning new instruments, and stars for moments of kindness, courage, or perseverance. These drawings now brighten our classroom walls, forming a display. Together, they remind us of how we have each grown in confidence, character, and faith, truly living life in all its fullness.
Year 3- Exploring Design Technology Through Castle Construction
Over the past few weeks, the Budding designers have been learning the skills needed to design and build their own castles. They explored the features of castles, practised using tools for cutting, shaping, and joining materials, and sketched detailed designs of what they wanted to create. Today, our young designers finally brought their ideas to life. After watching the Pupil video Constructing a Castle for guidance, they began building their structures. Using shoeboxes from home as sturdy bases, the designers constructed turrets from cardboard tube rolls, battlements from sugar paper, and added flags made from straws and coloured card. Each castle was unique, reflecting the creativity and planning of its maker. The children selected from a variety of tools and materials, using them carefully and with purpose. Many included features such as drawbridges, windows, and gatehouses, and some even furnished the interiors of their castles with handmade items. In the next lesson, the children will evaluate their finished structures, considering what went well, what could be improved, and how effectively their design ideas were brought to life.
Friday Celebration Worship
This morning's worship reflected on a very busy, yet rewarding week. all of our children got the opportunity to transition into their new year groups, we welcomed our new Reception starters into school, our Year 2 and Year 4 students enjoyed their visit to St Barnabas Church and many children also participated in another engaging Cre8ability session. Mrs. Govan thanked all entrants for the recent Rota Kids Art Competition, congratulating Luna, Beau, Olivia, Skye, Alayna, Lyla in EYFS/KS1 and Naomi and Edward in KS2, whose artwork will be displayed at the Darwen Heritage Centre over the Summer holidays. Our athletes achieved great success: Our Year 3 ,4 5 & 6 Athletics squad were winners at Witton Athletics on Monday evening, and a group of Year 3 and 4 children excelled in the Quad Kids competition, qualifying for the Lancashire School Games at UCLAN next Tuesday! We also celebrated our individual value award winners: Annie, Hendrix, Oliver, Noah and Carter in EYFS/KS1 and Lana, Isabelle and Grace in KS2 for consistently following Barny’s 4Bs and showing growth. Additionally, Year 1 and Year 3 were attendance winners, India Mill was the overall Value Award Winner, and Olivia, Leo, Lilly earned their pen licenses. We then congratulated our out of school achievers. Well done to Beau, Thea, Annie and Olivia for achieving their Explorers badge at Rainbows and Annie for being awarded Olivia at Rainbows, Thea for being a super gymnast, Willow for achieving backwards flip on the bars at gymfinity and for showing extreme kindness by donating her beautiful long hair to the Princess Trust, Reggie for achieving 20m in his swimming, Marley for ‘Star of the Day’ at the Edstart Multi-Sports Club for super listening and demonstrating outstanding dodgeball skill, Harry for showing super skill and teamwork in a football tournament and Mason for working towards the purple stage at The Darts Academy. To finish our worship, we had some beautiful prayers from Harry, Lilly and Callie who prayed for those in the midst of conflict and war, homeless people and those in Heaven. Mrs Ham wished us all a lovely restful weekend and we had a singalong to ‘The School Rules Song’.