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!
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Year 3 Become Researchers- Finding facts about David Attenborough
Today in English, Year 3 has taken the lead as researchers. They've been exploring the lives of "World Changers," looking at historical icons like Isaac Newton, David Attenborough and Florence Nightingale. After coming up with some brilliant questions earlier in the week, the children used Purple Mash to navigate the web and find their own facts. It was fantastic to see them working independently as they gathered all the info they needed to write some impressive biographies!
Year 3- Learning from the Experts- Early Pancake Day
Today, we welcomed professional bakers into school for a special pancake-making workshop! By watching experts at work, the children gained a fantastic insight into the hospitality and culinary industries. It wasn’t just about the flipping and the toppings, though; the children learned that to be a great baker, you need to be a bit of a "subject superstar." They explored how Maths is essential for measuring ingredients and timing, how English helps with following recipes, and how Science is the secret behind the perfect batter. The children found the pancakes absolutely delicious! We hope today has inspired some big aspirations and future dreams in our budding chefs.
Year 3 Present Their Learning: A Journey Through Victorian History to Year 2
Today, Year 3 had a fantastic opportunity to showcase their historical expertise by presenting their learning to Year 2. The children transported their audience back in time, sharing insightful details about the harsh realities of the Victorian era and the reformers who fought for change. The children shared fascinating facts about: The Factory Acts: They explained how these new laws finally made it illegal to employ children under the age of nine and limited the gruelling hours older children could work. Lord Shaftesbury: The class spoke about his tireless work as a reformer who believed every child deserved a childhood and an education. Ragged Schools: They described these free schools that provided food, clothing, and lessons to the most vulnerable children who couldn't afford a traditional education. Working Conditions: The children painted a vivid picture of the dangerous health conditions in Victorian factories, from the lack of ventilation to the "scavenging" roles children often performed under moving machinery. Whether presenting individually or in small groups, every child rose to the challenge, providing a brilliant boost for our Voice 21 initiative. It was a joy to watch them grow into confident speakers, using their oracy skills to teach others about the differences between the past and the present. Well done, Year 3.
BwD Schools Y3/4 Sportshall Athletics
What a fantastic evening we have had attending the Blackburn with Darwen Schools Year 3/4 Sportshall Athletics event at DVHS. Team B were on fire, securing lots of wins over the course of the night and managed to come away with a silver medal. Well done to all involved and a special thank you to our amazing parents for transporting the children to and from the event amd being the best cheerleaders at the end! A huge thank you to Mrs Gardner and Mr Bloomfield for their brilliant coaching and encouragement!
Whole School- Safer Internet Day 2026-Centered on the responsible use of AI.
To mark Safer Internet Day 2026, Mrs Araujo led a special Worship centered on the responsible use of AI. The session started with the Heads and Deputy Heads signing the Trinity. The children then watched a short video and discussed how AI can assist us in our daily lives. Through a fun identification game, pupils practised spotting AI-generated images and learned that because AI can make mistakes, its results are not always true or accurate. This helped our children understand the importance of being cautious and informed digital citizens.
Year 3-The Big Winter Wander and Birdwatching,
Year 3 enjoyed a fantastic afternoon participating in The Big Winter Wander! While completing their sponsored walk for the WWF, the children also took part in the RSPB Big Schools Birdwatch. They did an amazing job identifying different species around the school grounds and recording their findings to help track our local bird populations. While on the route, the children also spoke to a member of the council about the location where they will be planting their very own tree this Thursday! It was a wonderful afternoon of nature-focused learning and preparation for our upcoming sustainability project. Donations to WWF can be made here: https://socialsync.app/fundraiser/cr-nzymxvnokwdn?currentTab=feed
Year 3- Art-Anni Albers: Hand-Weaving Baskets
After discovering Anni Albers's textile art this afternoon, Year 3 became designers. We practised the ancient skill of weaving by making our own baskets, carefully choosing weft strips in colours that matched the tones on our mood boards. We focused on precision by cutting our warp and weft pieces into neat, straight strips and numbering them to keep our patterns tight and organised.
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NSPCC Times Tables Rock Star Challenge
Today, Key Stage 2 battled it out on Times Table Rock Stars as part of the NSPCC challenge. Throughout the day, children showed fantastic determination and focus as they competed, earning points and contributing towards St Barnabas’ whole-school score, as well as the overall North West total. Thanks to everyone for their great effort in dressing in numbers or as rock stars. A huge well done to all pupils in Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 for your amazing effort, resilience and competitive spirit. You should be incredibly proud of your contribution and the enthusiasm you showed throughout the event! Thanks to everyone who has donated to NSPCC. Donations can be made on parent pay!
Year 3- PSHE- Healthy Choices & Big Debates!
On Friday in PSHE, Year 3 explored the "Big Questions" surrounding our health and well-being. We discussed how the choices we make every day, from what we eat to how much we sleep, impact how we feel. The children took part in a debate centred on two important statements: "Children should not be allowed to choose their own lunchtime meals." "Children should not be allowed to use a computer, tablet, or phone for at least an hour before bedtime." It was great to see the pupils using such respectful language as they explored different viewpoints! They considered how blue light affects our sleep quality and debated the balance between enjoying technology and giving our brains a rest. We finished the session by creating our own "Top Tips" for staying active and improving our sleep.
Year 3: Maths Rockstars for NSPCC Number Day!
On Friday, Year 3 took part in the NSPCC Number Day, a fantastic "mega maths" event to raise money for a great cause. It was wonderful to see the classroom transformed as the children "Dressed Up for Digits," sporting everything from number-related clothing to full-on Rockstar outfits! The highlight of the day was our high-energy T.T. Rockstars battle, where the children channelled their inner rockstars to compete and sharpen their times tables skills. Through various numerical games and activities, Year 3 proved just how much fun maths can be while helping to support the vital work of the NSPCC.
Year 3-Our Class Worship on Jesus and the 'Listened Really Well' Kite.
In our Class Worship today, we explored the theme "Jesus Helps People, and Jesus Listens," reflecting on how Jesus showed compassion by healing Bartimaeus, feeding the hungry crowd with five loaves and two fish, and ensuring his mother was cared for by the disciple John. We also introduced our next display kite, "Listened really well," by sharing the story of Mary and Martha. We learned that while Martha was busy and "grumpy" with chores, Mary chose to sit still and listen carefully to Jesus' teachings. Jesus explained that Mary had "chosen well," and we practised sitting still ourselves to understand why being a good listener is so important. To encourage this behaviour, we will now be adding to our kite display whenever children show their best listening skills in and out of the classroom. We concluded with a prayer, asking for a caring attitude and the strength to help those who feel forgotten.