What a busy first week back! On Monday we had the school health team here to carry out height and weight measurements. Bikeability arrived on Tuesday and we had 4 days of lessons with them which everyone thoroughly enjoyed. The children did brilliantly. They are taught using balance bikes so that they can then go straight to a pedal bike without the need for stabilisers. If you have a bike at home please do remove the stabilisers to carry on the momentum, many made huge progress and were pushing off by themselves and cycling all around the playground. If your child is still on the cusp of their confidence then the best thing to do is to remove the stabilisers (as they have spent the whole week finding their balance), give them a push start and then place a hand on their back to steady them so they know you are there. I have attached lots of photographs and video footage for you to enjoy and the children have a certificate to take home with them.

On Wednesday we had a fantastic whole school assembly with a very special visitor to the school, Matt Weston, double gold Olympic Champion! Matt used to attend St Johns Primary school and gave an incredibly inspiring talk to the children, who I’m sure all now want to become Olympic Champions themselves!

In phonics we have been consolidating our learning, playing games and taking part in activities that demand we use all that we have learnt in level 2 and 3 such as fastest finger first and bingo! We have been using what we know to write short phrases and read more challenging sentences. If you would like some additional reading for the weekend your child has taken home today a “read with me mini book” that includes some of the more recently introduced digraphs and trigraphs.

In maths we have been working on patterns, identifying more complex patterns and copying and continuing them. Recognising pattern is essential in forming the basis of early mathmatical thinking, making connections and building mathmatical reasoning. For R.E. we have been thinking about special places and what makes a place special for us. The children have been drawing their special places and talking about how they feel in their special place.

Our caterpillars arrived this week too! We have been observing them grow and learning about the life cycle of a butterfly, they have grown so much already in just one week! It’s also been a lovely sunny first week back and so the children have enjoyed lots of morning break and lunchtime play on the field, with hopefully lots more of that to come. It’s been a great first week back!

Have a wonderful weekend,

Jo Bentley

Please do not hesitate to email me with any questions or queries: jbentley@stjohnsprimary.org