Newsletters

Newsletter - Friday 13th January 2023

Dear Parents,

Well, this year is certainly whizzing past already, with plenty of excitement to keep us all on our toes. We had special visitors from St Benedict's as the Head of English and phonics lead came to our school to meet our children and to find out more about the ways we stretch and challenge everyone to develop a love of language.

They were particularly impressed with our use of comparative judgement in independent writing - your children may have told you about this at home. This is a thrilling way to compare and improve children's writing both within our school and on a national level. It’s also what we call a ‘cold task’ in that very little guidance or suggestion is given to our children before they get going on writing their stories. The aim is for the children to apply their prior learning, such as their use of exciting sentences, punctuation and grammar.

This week Year 1 participated in a national writing task, given just 30 minutes to think of a story using an underwater scene as inspiration. Why don’t you have a go at home? It’s harder than you might think!

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Your fantastic elastic brain

We continued with our ‘thinking school’ theme this week, asking the children in Assembly some of the big questions like: should thinking be uncomfortable, what are feelings, and is there ever a moment when we are not using our brains?

It was a wonderful interactive session and raised some interesting points about the importance of rest and exercise for our brains and bodies.

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A walk in London

Where does the King stay when he is in London and how do we know he is home? Where is Nelson’s column? What do pelicans like to eat? These are just some of the wonderful questions our Year 2 children have been asking and answering as part of their studies on ‘A walk in London’.

Our lovely new Year 2 teacher Ms Bal and the wonderful Mrs Grogan have been encouraging acting, hotseating and the use of expanded noun phrases and time adverbials from our children as they study this gorgeous book about a little girl seeing the sights of London with her mum. Hopefully there are some great ideas coming home about places to visit in our fantastic capital city.

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Mr B's sport report

Fixtures kick off next week, so be ready!

Tuesday 17 January 2023 – Under 9A+B Football vs Claire’s Court - at home for a 2:30pm kick-off.

Wednesday 18 January 2023 – U11A+B Girl’s Football vs The Marist - at home for a 2:30pm kick-off.

Friday 20 January 2023 – Under 10A+B Football vs Claire’s Court - away for a 2:30pm kick-off.

I have a dream!

This week I launched an exciting new appeal – seeking applicants for our Child Leadership Team (CLT). I am looking for children in Years 4 to 6 who are keen to take on leadership responsibilities. They will join members of our staff twice a term for a working lunch, helping us to consider the strategic choices that face our school. We will also ask them how we can develop and deliver the school's vision.

In the first instance, this is a fabulous opportunity for children to combat one of life’s most intimidating life scenarios, which most of us will have faced at one time or another - the job application and interview!

I’m asking applicants to give examples of their life skills, provide referees (their teachers!), and use their creative and emotive language to really explain to me why they want the job on the CLT. We’ll be completing the application forms in school, so that the children’s voices really shine through, but feel free to ask them at home if they’re keen to join, and if so, whether they can give examples of the skills I’m looking for. These include being reliable, honest, organised, creative and above all a good role model for their peers.

I’m really looking forward to seeing the applications.

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Celebrating success

Congratulations to everyone who passed music exams over the Christmas holidays!

Aarav Yr 5 - Drum kit - Debut - 0.5 grade with merit

Ira Yr3 - Drum kit - Debut - 0.5 grade with distinction

Christina Yr - 4 Piano - Initial grade - 0.5 with distinction

Anuj Yr 3 - Drum kit - Grade 1 with merit

Elle Yr 5 - Piano - Grade 1 with merit

Oscar Yr 6 – Piano - Grade 3 with distinction

Please do let us know if your children take music exams on any instrument, so we can celebrate their achievements.

Upcoming dates

Sunday 15 January - World Religion Day

Thursday 19 January - Early Years coffee afternoon - 2.30pm

Friday 20 January - Little St B's parents & tots superhero themed session - 9:30am - 10:30am

St Bernard's Prep Follow

Welcome back everyone! Why not come along our first Little St B's baby and toddler session, on Friday 20 January 9:30am - 10:30am? All under 5s welcome, and refreshments available for parents and carers. #ToddlerGroup #MotherAndBaby #ParentToddler #BerkshireMummies #LittleStBs https://t.co/71S2AbyC2X

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Take up an instrument

Do you have a budding musician in your house? Music lessons are timetabled during class music lessons, lunchtimes and after school only for half hour.

We have vacancies for the following instruments for this term:

Recorder >>> Flute - Year 2 - 6 After school on Thursday

Recorder >>> Clarinet - Years 2 - 6 After school on Thursday

Violin - Year 1 - 6 After school Monday

Drum kit - Years 2 - 6

Years 4 - 6 Monday lunchtime

Years 2 - 6 After school Tuesday or Wednesday

Classical guitar - Years 2 - 6 In school time Tuesday and Thursday

Electric guitar - Years 5 - 6 In school time Tuesday and Thursday

Saxophone - Years 5 - 6 After school on Thursdays

Piano - Year 1 - 6 Year 1 piano lessons currently arranged. Other years please join waiting list.

We don't charge for homework club if pupils are waiting for music lessons and they will still receive a drink and snack at the end of the school day.

Book review by Tulsi A.

The Mystery of Burnt Cottage, by Enid Blyton

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Mrs Verma's big ideas for curious minds

As a school we love to stretch and challenge our children, to enrich their education beyond the curriculum. Every week I will be sharing with you some discussion topics, new vocabulary, maths riddles and book recommendations, that will imbue our children with a love of learning.

Word of the week: Magnanimous (adjective)

Generous or forgiving, especially towards a rival.

"She was as magnanimous in defeat as in victory."

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In the news this week - James Webb telescope makes a discovery

The James Webb space telescope, which was launched from French Guiana in 2021, can add another achievement to its list.

For the first time, the world's largest telescope has discovered a planet, known as an exoplanet - a planet that orbits another star.

Not only that, it appears to be very similar in size to Earth.

Scientists are planning future observations to discover more about the new planet in the coming months.

“Do things for people not because of who they are or what they do in return, but because of who you are.” – Harold S. Kushner

Have a fantastic thinking weekend!

Yours sincerely,

Mrs A Verma