13 January 2012

Dear Parents/Carers

The I.B. primary years programme

This is a very exciting time for the children in the Primary Department. All classes are beginning a new Unit of Inquiry for this term, ranging from units within our ‘Who we are’ transdisciplinary theme to units in our ‘How we organise ourselves’ transdisciplinary theme. The Primary curriculum has been structured in this way for almost two years and the children have worked towards gaining the inquiry skills necessary to further their understanding in different subject areas. These inquiry skills should become evident in many aspects of the children’s lives as they begin to show a deeper interest in the world around them and an ability to find out answers to the questions they have. This half term the children will receive home-based activities which involve researching and presenting information about a range of areas linked to their units of inquiry. Please support your child by helping them to access research material, either via the internet or the library service.

The Units of Inquiry for this half term are:

Reception Class: Our journey can take us many different places and keep us connected to people.
Year 1: We can express our feelings through creative media.
Year 2: Peaceful relationships are created through mutual understanding and respect.
Year 3: Food makes a long journey before it arrives on our plate. It is our responsibility to make the process fair for all the people involved.
Year 4: The discoveries of others have benefitted our society.
Year 5: Individuals and groups will be affected by the economic decisions of others.
Year 6: The five major world religions have many similarities.

A story worth telling….

During our assemblies this week the children have listened to and discussed the story The Gentle Giant by Michael Morpurgo and the Greek myth Pandora’s Box. Next Monday Mrs Faucett will be telling her own story about something unusual and very rare that she saw on a trip to Japan. I don’t want to give away what it is, so ask your child after school on Monday to find out more!

Cross country

On Wednesday all of Y5 and Y6 and some of Y3 and Y4 attended the Islington Cross Country at Finsbury Park. All of the children did extremely well, running either 1200m or 1500m around a rather muddy course. Particular congratulations to those who received medals for their individual races: Leonie who came 2nd, Babette who came 3rd, Eliza who came 3rd and Raheem who came 1st. Also to the Y3/4 boys team who came 3rd and the Y5/6 girls team who came 4th.   

Dodgeball – British Heart Foundation

Thank you to everyone who collected sponsors for the Dodgeball tournament last term. We raised a total of £1200.73, most of this money has been sent to the British Heart Foundation however we are able to keep 20% of the total, which our School Council will be using to buy new playground equipment. If you have sponsorship money that you have not brought into school please give it to Donna in the office as soon as possible. Well done to all the children who took part in the fast and exciting games. Particular congratulations to the finalists from Year 4 (Kotaro, Imani, Asia, Medina, Alfie and Michael) and Year 6 (Tommy, Shania, Dylan, Randall and Georgie) who played a thrilling game cheered on enthusiastically by the rest of the children, which finished with the Year 6 team winning.

SATs Meeting KS1 & KS2 – Thursday 19 January

A reminder for all Year 2 and Year 6 parents/carers that we are holding meetings to discuss Key Stage 1 and 2 SATs on Thursday 19 January at 5pm. Do please try to make every effort to attend this meeting as it will provide you with important information and advice. 

After-school clubs

Today, for all those who have applied, you should have received notification of your child’s after-school clubs for this term. All clubs begin next week.  Please note that all clubs will finish at 4.30pm. Payment for clubs should be in advance either weekly or termly. 

Class letters

Today you will receive a letter from your child’s class teacher letting you know about the plans for your child’s learning over the term. Please do look out for this as it will also contain ways you can support your child’s learning at home. 

Yours faithfully

Sarah Rowe
Deputy Head of Primary