Dear Kahlo and Riley class, I hope you are all well. It has been wonderful to see some of you again as you return to school. We still miss those of you that have not yet returned and hope you are having fun learning at home with your family. It has been nice to be back in school more over the last couple of weeks and my little boy is loving being back at his school too! We both felt very tired at the end of the first week back as there were so many new things to get used to. The children in school are doing an amazing job of following the new rules! Outside of school, we have been very nature-focussed as a family recently. We have been ticking things off in our Nature I-Spy book on our walks and have grown beans in a jam jar to learn about how they grow - my 5 year old says he wants to be a gardener like his dad when he grows up. He has also discovered the classic TV show The Wombles. In case you’re not familiar with it, the programme is about a group of creatures who live on Wimbledon Common - near me! They collect the litter and lost items people leave behind there and find new uses for it in their house. Inspired by this, as well as walks on the common to try and spot the Wombles in action (they’re very hard to find), we have been litter picking in our local park. With people making more use of the local outside spaces, we have unfortunately seen an increase in litter too. This is bad for the environment and unsafe for wildlife. We can fill a carrier bag on a short walk! Remember to always put your rubbish in a bin or take it home with you. If you want to pick up litter and help your local environment, don’t forget to wear gloves. We have a litter picker so we don’t have to touch the rubbish. I wonder if you have spotted any interesting nature on your walks. If you have grown something at home during lockdown, why not send us a picture! Take care of yourselves and each other, Miss Govan. x Dear Kahlo class, Phew! I have had a busy week! Do you remember the shed we tore down last week? Well, we saved some of the nice blue-painted wood and made planters out of it! We had to work out the design and measurements and then use saws, hammers and drills to put the slats together. I’m pretty pleased with the result but not sure how long they will last in reality! They still need coating with a protective seal but when they are ready to put plants in, I’ll show you another picture (if they don’t fall apart!) I’ve also been writing reports…on you lot!! I’ve enjoyed it as it makes me feel closer to you all and I remember all your lovely ways and funny moments. I’ve also been talking to your secondary school teachers. They are all so smiley and kind Now I and can’t wait to meet you. Some of you may have been invited to look around think I’m Bob your new school or maybe you have been on a ‘virtual tour’ – look out for emails the and post from them about these things. It’s really good if you can start to explore Builder! them a bit, even if you just visit their websites. It was so great to speak to you all last week. I continue to miss those of you staying at home, but hearing your voices made me feel so happy! If I didn’t catch you, I’ll try again. Much love to you and your families, From Miss Meggitt xxx Did you get it right? It was a close-up of a the seeds inside a = pepper! This week’s close-up! Have a go at guessing what this is a close-up photograph of…remember to give reasons for your answer. Thinking prompts: Man-made or natural? Edible or not? Dead or alive? Does the colour give a clue? Animate or inanimate? Every day item or unusual? WHY? Remember to give reasons for your thoughts! Dear Riley Class, It was lovely to speak to you all last week. It really cheered me up to hear your voices and to share your news. I loved hearing about everything you have been up to: lots of creative crafts, new book recommendations, tips for completing games, baking and welcoming new members to the family - you are all keeping busy and you have inspired me to try some new things too ! I am continuing with my challenge to cycle into school. The other day I noticed flowers growing beside the verge, covered in insects pollinating – on a very busy section of the road – the last place I would have expected to see wildflowers, bees and butterflies, with the traffic roaring past! Cycling is much slower and it has allowed me to notice all sorts of new sights that I usually drive past. The only draw back is that as a cyclist I am vulnerable to the weather! You may not have noticed but Book Recommendations: The Cherub Series by Robert every Thursday and Friday at 4-5pm it has rained! As a result, I have Muchmore got either, soaked to the skin ( last Friday) or slightly damp each time The Christomanci Series by I have cycled home. It has not put me off yet! Remember to keep being Dianna Wynne Jones kind to your families and read every day. from Mrs Ross xxx We Won an Island by Charlotte Lo fingers crossed for sunshine on Thursdays and Fridays! Gone Series by Michael Grant Answers to last week’s jokes and riddles – check out the next slide for new ones this week! Why can’t you play basketball with pigs? Ans: Because they hog the ball! You can break me easily without even touching me or seeing me. What am I? Ans: A promise A lawyer, a plumber, and a hat maker were walking down the street. Who had the biggest hat? Ans: The one with the biggest You will throw me away when you want to use head of course! me. You will take me in when you don’t want to use me. What am I? Ans: A anchor Take away my first letter, and I still sound the same. Take away my last If I drink, I die. If I eat, I am fine. What am I? letter, I still sound the same. Even Ans: A fire take away my letter in the middle, I will still sound the same. I am a five You can keep it only after giving it away to letter word. What am I? Ans: someone else. What is it? Ans: Your word Empty It lives without a body, hears without ears, speaks without a mouth, and is born in air. What is it? Ans: An echo This week’s jokes and riddles – remember to try them out on your family! It loses its head in the morning but gets it back at What did the beach say when the tide came night. What is it? in? What can make an octopus laugh? The more you take away, the larger it becomes? What is it? How do you make the number one disappear? If I have it, I do not share it. If I share it, I don’t have it. What is it? It gets broken without being held. What is it? It is always coming but never arrives? What is it? A monkey, a squirrel, and a bird are racing to the top We see it once in a year, twice in a week, and of a coconut tree. Who will get the banana first, the never in a day. What is it? monkey, the squirrel, or the bird? Year 6: ‘Pass it on’ Poster So, Year 6, you have learnt lots of I have heard from amazing skills at King Athelstan – your teachers what amazing Year 6’s now it’s time to ‘Pass It On’ you are. I hope you are proud of Can you make a poster of things to yourselves! do when you feel We are very proud distracted or worried or angry. of you Take a photo and send it in to [email protected] I would like to share your posters with younger children to help them at school. #sharespecialskills This is such an exciting time! Next academic year, you’re going to make new friends, learn new subjects and have loads of opportunities to try new clubs and activities! However, it can also be very daunting and EVERYONE has some worries about the change. Last year, we (year 6 teachers) wrote down some of the common worries that children in year 6 had when thinking about Secondary school. Here are some of them: • “I’m going to miss my best friends as they are going to a different school.” • “What if the lessons get much harder?” • “My new school is so big – what if I get lost?” • “Will the older children be nice to me? Do you share any of these thoughts? What other ones can you add? I bet someone else is thinking of the same thing! Last year, we had children in year 7 come to chat to year 6 and that really helped because they answered questions and reassured them.