To contact Mrs McKenna, please phone or email contactC1@fir-ends.cumbria.sch.uk

On LATEST NEWS

Welcome to Class 1's webpage. Here you will find up to date information that will ensure you stay ahead of any minor tweaks to the running of the class. Scroll down for news, photos and diary dates.

Week Eight

Thank you all for coming to the parents evening meetings - it was lovely to be able to discuss your child and the progress they have made, over the term.

This week is a busy but exciting one for the children. On Tuesday, we will be learning about the Hindu festival of Diwali and the children will have the opportunity to make clay diyas and find out about the story of Rama and Sita. On Wednesday, the children can come into school in their Halloween costumes and we will spend the day doing spooky activities before the disco after school.

Spellings Tests - Please check your child's spelling book for this week's spellings .

Year 2 books have a post it note in them to show the page they are on (the date is also there) - please practise the spellings that are ticked.

Jumpers and hoodies - we have had a couple of jumpers and hoodies which have gone missing, when the children have not been in the classroom. Unfortunately, even named items have disappeared. Please name your children's clothes, if you haven't already, and check that your child has not brought home somebody else's things - often the name tags are on the side or at the bottom. Many thanks, Donna.

I have added the Year 1 and 2 orientation evening slides, below the photographs.

If you have any questions about any aspect of your child's learning, please contact me either by telephone, email or in writing - the reading diary is also to be used as a home/school link book where you can write any messages, each day. I will do my best to reply to your correspondence as quickly as possible and generally like to give people a telephone call rather than write in books.

A Bit About Me

I spent five years specialising in Early Years education before qualifying as a primary school teacher and starting at Fir Ends. I spent three years teaching Year 1 and 2 then moved into Year 5 and 6, teaching full-time for twelve years (during this time, I qualified as a Special Educational Needs Coordinator and completed my Masters degree in education) before having my little boy. In September 2022, I returned to work on a part-time basis. I currently work three and a half days, per week (Monday - Thursday lunchtime). When I am not in school, Class 1 is taught by Mrs Davis and Mrs Mills

Mrs McKenna

TIMETABLE

Mondays - Spelling test and reading book change (please return reading books on this day each week, or on the following day if absent)

PE kit should be worn on a Monday - not normal uniform (GLL/Better session)

Tuesday - Normal school day

Wednesday - Normal school day

Thursday - PE kit should be worn on a Thursday - not normal uniform (Carlisle United session)

Friday - Normal school day

If you have any clean recycling that you think we could use in our craft corner, please send it in to school

Wellies - The weather is beginning to change again and the grass is getting a little boggy. I would appreciate if you could send in a pair of wellies, or spare footwear, for your child, so that they can play on the grass in all weathers - we do have some in school but they tend to be smaller sizes and we're finding that children are becoming upset if they can't play on the grass with their friends.

Thank you.

DIARY DATES THIS TERM

Wednesday 10th September - Library Van visit

Tuesday 16th September - Orientation evening (3.45)

Wednesday 24th September - KS1 Forest School

Friday 26th September - Coffee Afternoon

Wednesday 1st October - KS1 Forest School

Tuesday 14th October - Progress Evenings

Wednesday 15th October - Progress Evenings

Tuesday 21st October - Diwali Day

Wednesday 22nd October - Halloween Disco

Photographs from Week Four and Five - The Forest School and P.E. with Mr Barnes

The biggest leaf!

OTHER NEWS (click to expand)

Other news

Wet playtimes

We aim to get children outside in all weathers, for many reasons, but mainly to ensure they get plenty of exercise and fresh air during the school day. We educate the children on how to prepare for such weather rather than shy away from it. Please send your child in wearing/with appropriate clothing and a spare pair of socks, to live in book bags, for rainy days - soggy socks are so uncomfortable!

The little things that make a big difference

Please remember the little things that make a big difference daily. Those being: uniform adhering to the uniform policy, long hair tied up, water bottles brought in every day containing water or drinks permitted by the school food standards, a fruit based snack if your child doesn't want the free school fruit snack provided daily, labelled clothing and of course suitably recharged children who are getting a good nights sleep (not easy I know!)

Reading - how it works and expectations

Your child will bring home 3/4 'banded books'. These bands are where your child is reading, assessed through group or 1-1 reading and based upon their reading independence at those levels. Not too easy, not too difficult but challenging enough to promote good progress - any comments should be written in your child's reading diary. My expectations are that within a 1 week period your child should read a minimum of 5 times. In order to help achieve this, I do incentivise this within the class.

Websites to get ahead with learning

In Class 1, we gradually introduce the children to learning based websites as the year progresses. So far the children have been shown; how to access Busy Things (see home login below), how to play Hit the button (details below), how to access Ilearn2 (activity codes will be shared once learning sessions in school have been completed) and we now are promoting the use of a times table speed check to prepare the children better for the times table test in Year 4. Please see details below.

Orientation Evening

There will be an informal orientation evening, on the 16th September, where you can pop in and have a look at the classroom and ask any questions about Class 1 and the information given in this classroom page - please don't worry if you can't make it, I am more than happy to catch up at another point.

Class 1 Orientation Evening.pptx

Your BUSY THINGS Login details:

Home Username: home44184

Home user password: password

Prepare your child for the year(s) ahead!

The following number facts SHOULD be KNOWN by the end of YEAR 2:

-Doubles and halves to 20 but be able to also apply up to numbers to 100

-Multiplication and division facts for the 2, 3, 5 and 10 times tables (in full format! eg 2 x 10 = 20)

-Know number bonds to 10, relating these to 20 and to 100

These are different to calculations that are to be worked out. Test your child. Ask them what 6 x 10 is, they should be able to answer quickly with no working out. If they can't...

Introducing Times Tables Rockstars

In Year 4, the children have to complete a statutory timed test to show their knowledge of times tables. We are now going to help children on their journey to learning all their times tables in time for this test.

TT Rockstars is a fun, engaging platform where children can practise their times tables. They earn coins to spend and other rewards such as certificates.

I will organise logins for the Year 2 children, as soon as possible, so that they can begin practising.

Any questions - get in touch.

...Hit the Button!

Children will receive teaching for the following 'Hit the Button' activities.

Times tables and division facts for the 2, 3, 5 and 10 times tables (up to 12 x something) Yr1s counting in steps and sets only - not formal 'a times b = c' format, so may still be unsure.
Doubles to double 10 (Year 1). Up to double 20 for Year 2s who can partition (split) the number into 10s and 1s to help double.
Halves up to half of 20 (Yr1). Half of 20 but also 'big numbers' 30, 50 and 100 for Year 2s.

This means they should be able to practise with an increased assurance. Please click the link (the picture) to play now.

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