Newsletter
March 2024
Principal's Welcome
Dear Parents/Carers
What a module we have had in the academy! Module 4 seems to be when many of the national events take place so we have celebrated Book Week, Science Week and Number day as well as ensuring our usual curriculum has been as exciting as ever!
Book Week enabled our staff and pupils to enjoy books and reading activities throughout the week. The highlight had to be the chance to come to school dressed as a book character! We were so impressed with the many entries into the toilet roll book character competition! It was hard to choose the finalists! Thank you for supporting your child to take part.
Our pupils have also been fortunate enough to have science workshops in the last few weeks to further develop their knowledge and interest in science. Who knows, perhaps we will see an inventor, chemist or astronomer from High Halstow Primary Academy in the future!
Number day was the last subject event that we celebrated in the academy this module. Pupils engaged in number scavenger hunts and maths challenges throughout the day. It was great to see such excitement about numbers and to realise how important maths is in so many of our daily tasks.
I would like to thank our parents and carers for your engagement in the latest parent consultation sessions.
Finally, I hope you all have an enjoyable Easter Break and we will look forward to welcoming the pupils back to the academy on Monday 15th April 2024.
Mrs G Stangroom
Principal
Grasshopper Class
This module in Grasshopper Class we have been learning all about dinosaurs! We found large eggs in a nest that we thought must have been fossilised eggs because we learnt that the dinosaurs are extinct! We also used our imaginations to think of different things that might have happened to the dinosaurs to cause the mass extinction! We have looked at real fossils and had a go at making our own! We have enjoyed freeing toy dinosaurs from the ice, creating dinosaur worlds and exploring outside to see if we can make any dinosaur discoveries!
We have also been learning how to write sentences by ourselves and have practised reading back what we have written to make sure it makes sense. We even had the chance to show off our writing skills to some of our grown ups who came to our open classroom.
In maths we have been learning all about our numbers to ten. We used numicon to explore odd and even numbers and we have even been learning to double numbers to 5. We have also been exploring 2D and 3D shapes.
We have had another fantastic module in Grasshopper Class!
Dragonfly Class
Our first day of Module 4 started with a mystery letter and some magic beans. We later found out that this letter was from a boy called Jack and he needed our help to plant them so that a giant would leave him alone. Since then Dragonfly Class has looked after these beans and they have grown into huge beanstalks. Our inquiries then led us to find out all about plants and how they grow. Dragonflies have enjoyed learning the names of many different garden and wild plants that we found around us as well as discovering how many ways plants are used by living things, like for food. We had lots of fun tasting all the fruits and vegetables to create our own healthy snacks to sell in the supermarket.
We have also had so many other exciting events in this module such as Book Week and Science Week. During Book Week our classroom had another visitor who left us a nest and eggs but we noticed one of the eggs was unusual. We read the traditional tale of the Ugly Duckling and realised what might hatch from these eggs. We then did a fantastic job of retelling the story of the Ugly Duckling. Dragonfly class were very caring learners during Science Week as we learnt how we can support plant life within the school grounds. We explored our local area and decided where we could add extra plant life. We then came up with some lovely ideas and drawings to show what we would like our school grounds to look like in the future to encourage more plant life. Well done Dragonflies for all your hard work in such a busy module. Enjoy your Easter Break!
Ladybird Class
Ladybird Class have had an amazing module! We have been very busy as we had our class assembly, Book Week and Science Week! Our class assembly was a great success and the pupils were so confident and enthusiastic to share their learning with their adults. We were all very proud of them and it really highlighted how much progress they have all made with their writing. We have had lots of opportunities to investigate materials this module; we investigated which materials were the stretchiest, which paper towels were the most absorbent and whether hard materials were absorbent.
We have been learning about plastic pollution and the impact this is having on the animals that live in the sea and in our rivers. We made posters to highlight this and to encourage people to recycle responsibly. We also wrote persuasive letters to ask people to think about the impact they are having on the world.
In D&T this module we have been looking at structures and how we can make them stable. We investigated this by making structures from newspapers, using different methods such as rolling, twisting and folding the newspapers. We then tested them using our class mascot Humphrey!
In English we have been looking at traditional tales and alternative traditional tales. We then wrote our own alternative traditional tales, creating our own characters. We then designed our own stable structure for our characters that we have written about in our alternative traditional tales to protect them from the big bad characters!
Have a lovely Easter Ladybird Class!
Spider Class
We seem to say it every module however this one really has gone by in the blink of an eye! During Module 4, we have been learning all about natural disasters and the infamous Mt. Vesuvius which buried Pompeii. We learnt how Earth has several layers and that it is Earth’s top layer, the crust, which is responsible for some natural disasters. This is because the Earth’s crust is made of tectonic plates which move and cause a build up in pressure. We all picked our own natural disasters to research (thank you to parents/carers at open morning who helped) to then write our own non-chronological reports about them.
As well as being busy with our lines of inquiry, we have also enjoyed Book Week and Science Week. We worked with partners to write poems from different times and created collage pictures to go with them. We also created character profiles of the characters we came dressed as - you can see these on our Google Classroom. We were lucky enough to meet Gary Parsons, a real life illustrator. He gave us his top illustrating tips and gave us a demonstration. We are excited to show our class assembly next module!
Cricket Class
Module 4 has been an exciting one with our trip to the estuary where we wrapped up warm and headed off to Allhallows to study the coastline. Throughout the workshop we undertook some birdwatching, went crabbing, shell hunting and even had time to squeeze in a beach clean! We have been working hard this term, learning about the litter that affects our oceans and environment so we were very excited to be doing our bit to help our wildlife. Crickets really enjoyed learning about the scientific water cycle and different states of matter. We carried out a range of experiments to look at evaporation and condensation, even using our knowledge on states of matter to create our own ice cream with just a plastic bag, milk and some ice!
This module we have also embraced our inner artists, as we pranced into Book Week in some fabulous costumes, discussed our favourite authors and books and created some mystical river poems. Additionally, we used clay to create tiles of some freshwater fish that we could find in UK rivers and then created our own versions of Van Gogh’s ‘Starry Night’ painting, using the skills we have learnt from using oil pastels.
We cannot believe we are over half way through our academic year already, we still have a lot of exciting activities and learning opportunities ahead of us as we welcome Module 5! Have a well deserved rest and we look forward to seeing you all after the Easter break.
Ant Class
The class have been extremely engaged in our inquiries this module, beginning with delving into the solar system, where they gained a lot of knowledge and were fantastic scientific inquirers, investigating why we have day and night and why the moon appears to change shape.
We’ve enjoyed two different virtual lessons from space organisations, teaching us fascinating things, such as how planets are formed and the numerous other solar systems out there. We also had a spaceman come into class!
Our second inquiry led us to learning about human exploration of space. We thought about how the first moon landing could have been broadcast back in 1969, learning all about how the BBC managed this and how James Burke presented it. The class really enjoyed writing scripts to interview him! The class also wrote some fantastic diaries in the role of a space explorer.
Our next inquiry will have us thinking about technological advances and how these have impacted our exploration of space.
One piece of writing, which definitely needs to be celebrated this module, is the character descriptions that the pupils wrote of an alien based on our class text Phoenix! These were absolutely brilliant pieces of writing, showing just how much progress every pupil in Year 5 has made already.
And finally, we enjoyed a very space-themed World Book Day this module! We used AI to create a space setting, and then wrote poetry inspired by the setting. We also created comic strips online titled ‘24 hours in Space’, using Book Creator.
We are now very much looking forward to our class visit to the Science Museum!
Well done Ants for all your hard work. Have a great Easter Break!
Butterfly Class
Butterfly Class have worked extremely hard during Module 4. We began the module by applying our cooking skills. The pupils worked in groups to prepare and cook tasting dishes from different countries across the world.
In writing, the pupils worked on suspense pieces and created gripping stories that led to challenging circumstances. This module, the pupils have been working on editing and improving to produce longer writing pieces.
In Science, the pupils focused on sources of power. As well as this, they learnt and inquired about ways in which we can create renewable power and help our planet. The pupils participated in a hair raising workshop when they investigated the elements of electricity.
In Maths, the pupils focused on ratio and algebra. Additionally, the pupils have been recapping arithmetic, reasoning and problem-solving skills in all areas.
SPORTS / PE
We’ve had a great sporting term! In PE, Year 1 have enjoyed learning skills for invasion games with our Howard School Sports Specialist, and Year 5 have progressed hugely each week doing gymnastics with Mrs Kent.
In the last week of term, some children from Year 3 and Year 4 are looking forward to an indoor athletics competition at Medway Park! Wish them luck!
SAFEGUARDING
Online Safety
A reminder that you can access free resources by using our staff and parents National Online Safety account:
https://nationalcollege.com/enrol/high-halstow-primary-academy
Please sign up for an account if you haven't already.
Safeguarding Team
Do you know who to contact if you have a safeguarding concern?
Designated Safeguarding Lead - Mrs Stangroom
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads - Miss Smith and Miss Limb
MUSIC ASSEMBLY, Years 3, 4 and 5
20th May 2024, 09:15am - details to follow
Jazz and Baxter
Jazz and Baxter wish you all a Happy Easter and look forward to hearing about your adventures when you return.
GOLD PASSES - Module 4
Congratulations to the pupils who were awarded a gold pass in Module 4 for showing exemplary behaviour.
Year 1: Stanley, Harper, Jacob, Elsie
Year 2: Finn, Lottie, Oliver, Cyd
Year 3: Connor, Grayson, Hunter, Rose P
Year 4: Rory, Tommy, Halli H, Lottie
Year 5: Harry, Finn, Jack, Deron
Year 6: Ethan, Sam S, Ashton, Sophie
100 READS
As a school, we log how many times our children's link books have had reading comments from home. Some pupils are now achieving 100 reads in their link books. In recognition of their effort, when 100 reads has been noted, the pupils are able to choose a book to take home and keep. This is celebrated each week in our Friday Celebration Assembly. Congratulations to the 42 pupils who have already had their 100 reads book. We have a further 6 pupils on our list for the next celebration assembly - could it be you?
House Point Winners - Module 4
1. Herons 1,411
2. Skylark 1,305
3. Lapwing 1,301
4. Redshank 1,102
As winners of the House Point totals Herons are invited to come into school on Monday 15th April 2024 wearing their own clothes with the predominant colour being Green.
School Council
Thank you to those parents/carers who donated to our recent charity day - Cancer Research UK .
The last charity that we will be supporting is Dogs Trust on 24th May 2024 (more details to follow).
EDUCATIONAL VISITS/VISITORS
Please make any donations promptly to ensure that these visits can go ahead so that all children can benefit from a varied educational experience. If making the suggested contribution causes you a financial difficulty, please speak to the class teacher or Mrs Stangroom.
School Lunches
Please ensure you are checking your school lunch balances on the MCAS app. Please settle any outstanding debts as soon as possible or speak to the office staff if any help is needed.
Reporting Absence - School Text Number
You can text the school directly on 0786 005 4448. Please use this or the messaging function in MCAS if you need to report your child's absence from school. For safeguarding reasons absences must be reported by 09:00am. Please note that all TEXT messages will be read and acted upon but we are unable to send a response.
Learning starts at 08:45. Please ensure that your child arrives at the gate by 08:35 to ensure a prompt start.
Dates for your diary
See Dates for your Diary 2023-2024 under Important Documents in MCAS - some dates may be subject to change so please check back regularly.
Term Dates 2023-2024
Spring Break: Friday 29th March 2024 (Good Friday) to Friday 12th April 2024
MODULE 5
Start: Monday 15th April 2024
Finish: Friday 24th May 2024
Early May Day Bank Holiday: Monday 6th May 2024
May Break: Monday 27th May 2024 (Late May Bank Holiday) to Friday 31st May 2024
MODULE 6
Start: Monday 3rd June 2024
Finish: Friday 19th July 2024
