Columba and Aquila - Reflect and Review

Dear Parents and Carers,

Wishing you all a prosperous 2026 and a very Happy New Year. Thank you very much for your generous and thoughtful presents—they were truly appreciated and enjoyed.

We have had a wonderful first week back and particularly enjoyed the snowy day, which brought lots of excitement and smiles.

In English, we began using Colourful Semantics, a method that breaks sentences into meaningful parts to make language development more concrete and accessible. As readers, we started reading The Journey by Francesca Sanna, focusing on symbolism in the illustrations and exploring how language and images convey meaning. This led to thoughtful discussions about war and how it can change people’s lives.

As mathematicians, Columba practised column multiplication, multiplying two-digit numbers by two-digit numbers and three-digit numbers by two-digit numbers.Aquila focused on metric measures, learning how to convert between units, calculate with metric measures, and explore the relationship between metric and imperial measures.

As scientists, we began our topic on living things, exploring plant and animal classification. We learned about vertebrates and invertebrates and carried out research to group and classify different organisms.

Next Week

In English, we will explore characters’ emotions and choices through drama activities, focus on the appropriate use of connectors, and begin exploring balanced arguments.

In maths, Columba will continue practising column multiplication and applying these skills to problem-solving tasks, while Aquila will begin working with ratio and scales, applying our knowledge of multiplication and division to different contexts.

In science, we will explore unusual mammals and microorganisms, extending our understanding of classification.

Columba Visit to Arete

Please click here to see the information previous sent in Reflect and Review including the kit list

• The coach company have now confirmed that we are due to leave shortly after 7am on Friday 16th January. Please be at school for 7am.
• We are due to return within the school day on Monday 19th January and presuming this is the case, children can be collected at the end of the school day. However, we will keep you updated if this is due to change.
• Donations of biscuits are welcome! 
• If your child is on long term medication, please hand it into reception by 12th January. Any last minute changes of medication need to be communicated as soon as possible before the visit. Where at all possible, we would love for all medical forms to be filled out with Linda in the office before we leave so that we are not trying to do this on Friday morning.

Home Learning

Home learning will continue as usual. Please encourage regular reading at home and support your child in practising the words recorded in their spelling logbooks. Maths Practice Journals should be returned on Monday.

Other information
Weather permitting, we will be starting to use the school field again so please ensure that children come with indoor shoes. There are several students who do not currently seem to have them and when it is muddy, children won’t be allowed on the field if they do not have changes of shoes.

Key Dates

29th January - HSA Cake Sale after school (Delphinus and Pegasus Class) 

3rd February - Aquila to visit MAS for drama production. 

10th February - Safer Internet Day

13th February - HSA Mufti Day and last day of term 3

23rd February - Start of Term 4

25th February - Parents Evening

5th March - World Book Day 

11th March - Parents Evening 

12th March - HSA Cake Sale

26th March - Easter Service at SS Peter and Paul's Church 10am start leaving school 9:15am

27th March - End of Term 1pm