Welcome to FPJS 2022!

Welcome to our first Newsletter of the new school year! We hope that our bi-weekly update will give you a flavour of all the wonderful events and learning that happen at Furze Platt Juniors.

We have only been back for a few weeks but already we are incredibly impressed with how all of our children have settled into their new classes, working really hard and being so engaged in their learning- see our Year Group news pages for more detail for your child's year group. I am also very proud to announce our new Y6 head students for the year- see below!

It was great to see so many parents attending the welcome meetings last week. We hope you enjoyed the chance to see the classrooms, meet the staff in the team and hear about updates with homework. If you did miss this and are not sure of the expectations regarding homework for your child's year group, please do get in touch via seesaw or the office.

With the sad news of the passing of Queen Elizabeth, I felt so proud of our children in assembly as they reflected on her wonderful life and works. We talked about how much the Queen's values aligned with our own school values of Passion, Well-being and respect. Our thought for the week was a quote by Queen Elizabeth:

"Each day is a new beginning, I know that the only way to live my life is to try to do what is right, to take the long view, to give of my best in all that the day brings"

Let's hope that we as a school community- both children, staff and parents can take heed of the late Queen's words, and give of our very best this year!

Anna Clark

Head of School

Website

Curriculum

Lunch Menu

Term Dates 22-23

Well-being

Calendar

Quick Links

coming up sooN:

Book fair is on until 27th September- please purchase online and hand in orders by September 27th (see app message 16/9)
4th October- Y5 Longridge trip (day)
5th October- School photos
7th October- Y2 parents talk n tour 9-10am

FPJS Staff and Classes

If you are new to the school, here's a guide to who is who:

Head Students for FPJS 2022-23

Well done to all of our Year 6 students who put themselves forward for the position of "Head Student" last week. Year 6 pupils wrote and presented their vision for why they should be chosen to represent the whole school. The Year 6 team were very impressed with all of the speeches and the confidence shown by the pupils and had a difficult time deciding who would make the final shortlist.

The final 8 shortlisted who were given the opportunity to present their speeches to the whole school were: Lucas, Hannah, Toby, Nancy, William, Tijana, Aaradhya and Karina and every single child presented with confidence and passion about why they should be chosen. I was super impressed with all of the speeches and honestly could have chosen all 8. Therefore, we have decided to make all of the candidates ambassadors to the school who will be given other leadership roles (see picture below)

We are delighted to announce that this year, our head students will be Toby, William and Aaradhya. Congratulations to all of the children who put themselves up for the position- they were fantastic! I look forward to meeting our new team and seeing what ideas they have to make FPJS even better! We will reveal our House Captains in our next newsletter.

Spelling at FPJS

Many parents ask us about how spelling lessons work at FPJS and what they can do to help. This year, we are adapting our approach to allow more time for children to explore the rules and patterns of spelling in lessons to support long-term learning in memory. Research shows us that learning many specific words for a test doesn't always translate into long-term learning. This means a child may be able to memorise a correct spelling for a test, but cannot reliably spell the word correctly in other writing contexts. Instead, exploring rules and patterns with the children so they can apply this knowledge to unfamiliar words often gives children the best tools for long-term learning and the confidence to tackle new, more ambitious vocabulary.

All teaching teams will now be teaching spelling through the use of Spelling Shed. Each week, classes will learn a spelling rule or pattern in class and homework will be set weekly for each child to reinforce this learning.

Spelling homework will be set via Spelling Shed each week. Each child will have their own log in for Spelling Shed and assignments will be set for them to work through.

Each week, the homework for spellings will be communicated via Seesaw. These will be differentiated to support children who find spelling more difficult, but will also give opportunities for further challenges for children who have a natural flair for spelling.

We do know that some children struggle with spellings and need regular revision of previously taught rules and sounds and therefore put in place additional support and intervention as needed.

We hope this will help your child become a confident speller!

Homework at FPJS

Does your child struggle with completing homework? If so, read on...

At FPJS, we gradually build up our expectations of completing homework. All homework this year, will be set online. Your child's class teacher will give details of the weekly homework on Seesaw.

For all year groups, the most important aspect of homework is daily reading. Your child should be reading daily (either aloud to you or a sibling or independently once they are a fluent, free reader) and recording this weekly in their log on Seesaw.

We also expect children to practise their times-tables (TT rock stars is brilliant for this!) for speed of recall, and work on any spelling rules.

In Year 3 and Year 4, we set one piece of formal homework a week, alternating maths and English. In Year 5 and Year 6, this increases to 2 pieces a week. This work will mostly be set via MyMaths and Read Theory. At times, there will be alternative homework to complete for variety- this could be practical tasks, handwriting or other more open-ended tasks.

Over the coming days, children will be bringing home their logins for Seesaw, MyMaths, Read Theory, TTRS and Spelling Shed to allow them to access all of their homework online. If you are having a problem with any log in details, please speak to your child's class teacher.

Although homework can be frustrating for both children and parents, it is our duty to prepare children to be "secondary-ready", enabling children to get into good habits with completing homework tasks.

If your child is struggling with any of the homework set, please DO let teachers know. The children should be able to complete most tasks without adult support- if your child needs your full support when completing the work it is too hard for them and needs to be adjusted, or they may need further support in class.

If you have any problems accessing any of the homework on line due to issues with internet to access to devices, please speak with your child's class teacher who will be happy to support in any way possible.

Curriculum Spotlight: History

At FPJS we have been busy updating our curriculum plans, following the overall vision for our curriculum to "provide purposeful curriculum experiences that nurture independent learners with a lifelong passion for learning." We will shortly be publishing our Year Group curriculum plans for this year which are an overview of what your child will be learning.

Here is our learning journey for history, which shows the pathways of learning your child will undergo at their time at FPJS.

History curriculum FPJS 2022 .pdf

Stars of the week - Class Stars & PE Stars

Star of the week newsletter 23rd September 2022

Well done to all our stars this week!

Our stars are chosen from following the values of the school: Passion, Well-being and respect.

We also chose children who have made exceptional effort in their work or attitude to learning.

TT Rock stars Update

Well done to all our children who have started using TT rock stars regularly to practise times tables! Year 3 are yet to produce a score as they need to play at least 10 times before creating a studio speed- but have been practising well already.

Keep up the daily practise everyone- it is scientifically proven that practising a little and often will ensure you master those times tables as soon as possible until they are automatically recalled from memory.

Sports Update

PE News

PE is back and in full flow as we start the new school year. A wonderful warm welcome to all our students who have had a brilliant few weeks during the PE lessons and after school clubs. Week one saw each class be introduced to some basic warm up games and drills just to get everyone back into the flow of physical activity. As we have progressed through each week the sessions have got more intense and technical based on the sports and activities we have been teaching. The main sport currently being Netball! The new year 3's have been learning about this non-contact sport, as well as demonstrating basic passing drills, throwing and catching. For year 4 things have been slightly different as they have the amazing opportunity this term to learn about Dance with Jane Douglas, as well as improving their cricket skills thanks to Berkshire Cricket coming in to teach every Tuesday afternoon. Last but not least, the year 5's and 6's have been working on several drills in Netball including shooting, passing and some positional play. With year 6 going into full on 7v7 netball games, understanding each position and how to play there.

A big WELL DONE to all four year groups who have started the year extremely well in PE and have shown Mr Kemp and Mrs Winter great passion in learning new things. As the term moves forward, Netball will be a key sport that we shall continue, as well as some other things on the agenda. Everyone keep up the great work and we look forward to working continuously with each class as autumn approaches.

Mr Kemp and Mrs Winter

Year Group Updates

Year 3 News

Year 3 have had a wonderful start to their Furze Platt Junior journey and we are so impressed about how they have all settled and how enthusiastic they have been about learning!

In English we have been looking at the book 'Boy on the Beach' which the children have then used to identify adjectives, nouns and verbs. The children have also enjoyed looking at lyrics and putting actions to these to support this.

In maths we have been focusing on place value and the children have thoroughly enjoyed using the manipulatives for this, which has given the children a better understanding of number.

In the afternoon we have been so busy with Science, Art, History and PSHE. The children really enjoyed French using our puppet Ben the Badger, and their participation was fantastic!

What a great start Year 3 - well done.

Mrs Barry- Y3 Team Leader

Year 3- What are we learning?

Ask your child the following questions to see what they have learnt over the last few weeks!:

How do we say hello/hi and my name is in French?

Can you show me in a variety of ways, how to make 245?

Can you describe yourself using adjectives?

Our current reads we are enjoying in Y3...

Prehistoric Mammals - Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld

Dear Teacher - Amy Husband

Secrets of the sea - Kate Baker

Year 4 News

Year 4 have really impressed us with their start to the new school year. The children have come into school every day with a positive attitude and their participation and enthusiasm in their learning has blown us away!

In English, we have been reading the book Planet Omar by Zanib Mian. The children have enjoyed listening to Omar's antics and finding out about all the trouble he gets himself into! We have also been writing persuasively linked to Way Home by Gregory Rogers. In the story, Shane takes a cat home and our writing has focused on how we might persuade our parents to keep the cat. If you've been inundated for requests for a pet, you now know why!

In maths, we have been looking at place value related to four digit numbers. The children have been using a range of practical equipment to visually represent numbers and then add and subtract 10, 100 and 1000.

Afternoons in year 4 have been jam packed with science, topic, art, French, music and RE lessons! We have been learning about the different appliances that use mains and battery power and how to keep ourselves safe when using these appliances. In art we have designed Anglo-Saxon pots and in music, we have been learning to sing Mamma Mia by Abba!

It has been a really successful start to the term for year 4. We can't wait to see what the rest of the year brings!

Mrs Barbosa Y4 Team Leader

Year 4- What are we learning?

Explain some of the dangers of electricity.

Can you explain what archaeologists found out about the Saxons from the grave at Sutton Hoo?

Can you show me how to use a place value grid to add or subtract 10, 100 or 1000 from a number?

Our current reads we are enjoying in Y4...

Planet Omar - Zanib Mian

Way Home - Gregory Rogers

Harry and the Poisonous Centipede - Lynne Reid-Banks

Year 5 News

It has been a fabulous start to the new academic year and the Year 5 team have been impressed with how maturely the children have settled back into school life after the summer holidays.

In English, we have started to read the Boy in the Tower by Polly Ho-Yen. The children have been mystified by the Bluchers in the story that seem to be creating mayhem in Camberwell, London where a boy called Ade and his mum live. Will they get out of the tower block safely? We have also been writing effective setting descriptions that includes suspense. To help us with this piece of writing, we have watched an enigmatic video stimulus about a girl named Francis Brandywine. What happened to her that evening on the lake at Quetico Park? The children have really let their imaginations run wild!

In maths, we have been looking at place value related to numbers up to a million. The children have enjoyed exploring larger numbers and have a better understanding of the value of numbers after ten thousand.

Afternoons in Year 5 have been full to the brim with science, history, RE, music, art, computing and French.

Space has very much been the theme of our learning and we have been finding out all there is to know about each of the eight planets in our solar system. This topic also links to our art where the children have been learning about different techniques and media to make 2D shapes look 3D for our our final piece on planet art.

The children have fully embraced this packed timetable and we have admired how well they have adjusted to it. The Year 5 team are very much looking forward to seeing what else the other children will achieve throughout the year. Well done, Year 5!

Miss Edwards, Y5 Team Leader

Year 5- What are we learning?

What are the names of the planets in our solar system?

What was Maidenhead like in Victorian times?

Can you explain what the word texture means and how it relates to music?

Our current reads we are enjoying in Y5...

Boy in the Tower - Polly Yo-Hen

The Secret of the Night Train - Sylvia Bishop

A Place Called Perfect - Helena Duggan

Year 6 News

Wow, what a brilliant start to Year 6! We have been so impressed at how well all of the children have settled in and adapted to their new classes.

We have been blown away by the fantastic speeches that have been delivered so confidently to the whole school for head students and house captains. It is clear we have a year group full of leaders and role models - perhaps even a future prime minister!

In English, we have been building our descriptive writing skills to help build an effective setting description of an abandoned, futuristic location. The children have been thinking carefully about their word choices and the image this will create for the reader.

In guided reading, we have started our class book called 'When the sky falls' which is set in 1939 and follows the story of a young boy who ends up working in London zoo during the war. This books lends itself to our topic of World War 2 in History.

In maths, we have been refining our place value knowledge of number up to 10,000,000 and have revisited written methods for addition and subtraction.

We have made a fantastic start on all of our other subjects including science, PSHE, topic, art, music, French, RE and computing! The children have adapted really well to the busy timetable and have shown great passion for learning throughout their lessons.

We are looking forward to all that is to come.

Well done Year 6!

Miss Morales, Y6 Team Leader