Dear Parents/Carers,

Another busy and exciting week has flown by at Maundene! We've seen incredible creativity, enthusiasm, and learning across all year groups. 

This week, Year R have been captivated by the world of puppets! They've spent time designing and creating their own puppets, fostering imaginative play and storytelling. The fun continued with a special drawing club session where they reimagined the classic tale of Little Red Riding Hood and bravely replacing the Big Bad Wolf with their own creative characters. To round off the week, they enjoyed some energetic parachute fun, developing their coordination and teamwork skills.

Our Year 1 artists have been busy exploring the art of printmaking. They've meticulously etched their own designs onto polystyrene tiles, demonstrating great focus and fine motor skills. The children then used paint to print their unique creations onto fabric, resulting in beautiful and personalised textiles. It was a wonderful opportunity for them to experiment with different textures and techniques.

Our Year 2 children have been diving into the world of coding! They've been working diligently in their computing lessons, adding a timer function to their algorithms. This challenging task has helped them develop their logical thinking and problem-solving skills. They've also been exploring the concept of measurement in maths, focusing on capacity and learning to use millilitres (ml) and litres (l) accurately.

This week, Year 3 have been delving into the fascinating genre of biographies. They've been learning about the key features that make a biography engaging and informative, and have had the opportunity to read and analyse a biography about the renowned naturalist, David Attenborough. This has not only enhanced their reading comprehension, but also sparked their interest in the world around them.

This week, Year 4 have been focusing on the important topic of mental health in their RHE lessons. They've explored various strategies to cultivate positivity and build resilience, learning how to manage their own emotional wellbeing. To solidify their understanding, they've created personal mental health toolkits, filled with helpful resources and ideas that they can use themselves or share with others. It's been wonderful to see them develop such empathy and understanding.

Our Year 5 mathematicians have been tackling the challenge of finding missing lengths on rectilinear shapes this week. They've demonstrated fantastic collaborative skills, working effectively with their talk partners. We were particularly impressed with their excellent eye contact and positive body language during discussions, showing a real commitment to learning from and with each other.

Year 6 have been demonstrating remarkable dedication this week, focusing on any gaps in their learning across maths, grammar, spelling, and reading. Their hard work is particularly evident in their English lessons, where they've been writing newspaper articles inspired by their core text, Climate Rebels. This allowed them to apply their grammar skills while exploring important real-world issues.

Thank you so much for everyone who attended MANGO lunches this week. It means a lot to our children that you attend these events. 

We hope you have a lovely weekend,

Miss Capes, Mrs Jackson and the Maundene Team

Developing strong oracy skills is crucial for children's success in school and beyond. It empowers them to express themselves confidently, think critically, and engage effectively with others. To support this vital skill, our weekly newsletter will feature fun and engaging oracy activities that families can enjoy together at home, fostering communication and building confidence in your children.