Columba & Aquila - Reflect and Review

Dear Parents and Carers,

This week has been full of exciting learning across the curriculum!

As Writers, in English, Columba and Aquila have been drawing inspiration from Skellig by David Almond. We explored how writers carefully choose vocabulary to create atmosphere and experimented with techniques that build suspense and use figurative language. These skills will support the children as they begin planning and writing their own mystery stories next week.

As Mathematicians, Columba have been working with numbers up to 1,000,000. We practised partitioning, comparing and ordering large numbers, developing our place value knowledge and confidence. Aquila has been working on multiplication facts, applying this knowledge to long multiplication. We have also been identifying factors, composite numbers, and prime numbers. 

In Design and Technology, both classes explored the fascinating world of Artificial Intelligence. We discussed how AI is used in everyday life, from smart home devices to digital assistants. The children learned about different types of sensors and their role in AI and had the chance to design and build their own projects using sensors in practical tasks.

Next Week

Next week in English, the children will be planning and writing their own mystery stories. In Geography, we will focus on land use, function, and change across the UK. In Maths, our place value work will continue as we practise rounding numbers to the nearest 10, 100, and 1000. We are also looking forward to the Bikeability sessions that will be taking place in school.

Home-learning

Please encourage your child to practise the words recorded in their spelling logbooks regularly at home throughout the week. This is also the first week of our maths journals so please check your child's bags for them!

Secondary School Applications (Aquila)

• A reminder to parents of Aquila class that the portal for secondary school applications has opened and will close on 31st October. 
• It is vitally important that applications are made within this window. In the past, in our experience, if this deadline is missed then children are very unlikely to get a place at their school of choice and definitely not on National Offer Day (2nd March). 
• Additionally, you can give up to four options for schools which we would strongly encourage you to use. Where families have previously chosen only one option, and then not got that choice, then their child can be placed in any school within the area that has spaces. 
• Make sure you list any siblings attending schools you are applying to.
• Please ensure that school has your up to date address, especially if you have just moved or are about to, as discrepancies between school and the council’s system can cause issues.

Coming Up

29th September to 2nd October - Columba Bike Ability

1st & 15th October - Parents Evening

17th October - Coffee Friday

22nd October - HSA Non-Uniform Day

22nd October - End of Term 1, 3.10pm