Tree Tops Primary Academy Newsletter

March 2024

Message from Miss White

Before we bid farewell to this term, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on some highlights and express my appreciation for your unwavering support.

I am delighted to commend our Year 4 pupils on their exemplary behaviour during the recent trip to Kent Life. The staff at Kent Life reported that the children’s respectful conduct, enthusiasm, and eagerness to learn were commendable, reflecting the values of our school community.

I am thrilled to report the overwhelmingly positive response to the introduction of Lavender's Suitcase! Our mascot Lavender agreed to share her suitcase when she is not ‘travelling’. It contains books and other lovely resources plus a snack or two! Those fortunate enough to be randomly selected to take it home from the name draw each week have delighted in the opportunity to explore its treasures, fostering a love for reading and sharing stories. I am pleased to announce that we will be extending this opportunity to more children next term. This is all part of our drive to cultivate a community of young readers and storytellers.

To add to this, if you only have time for one thing to support learning this holiday, can I suggest that you TURN ON THE SUBTITLES when the children are watching TV. They will subconsciously take in every word, spelling and even some ideas of punctuation. Reports show that doing this literally doubles a child’s chances of becoming a good reader and that in just one year the average child will have read the same number of words as there are in all of the Harry Potter books, all of the Narnia books, all of the Lord of the Rings books and everything Roald Dahl ever wrote!

We are looking forward to welcoming our Year 6 students to Easter school. And are grateful for the staff who are giving up some of their break to run this.

Wishing you all a wonderful break.We eagerly anticipate welcoming the children back on Monday, April 15th, refreshed and ready to embark on another term of learning, growth, and discovery.

Thank you once again for your continued support and partnership in your child's education.

Miss White | Principal

Fledglings

‘Our Big Idea’ this term has been talking about sharing our planet. We have been practising recycling by using household bottles in our water tray. This has helped our understanding with the mathematical concept of empty,full and nearly full…

Robins & Sparrows

This term we have enjoyed our Central Idea finding out about superheroes. We particularly enjoyed the story ‘Supertato’. We had lots of fun talking about the characters, making them and trying to catch Evil Pea!

Year 1

This term we have been learning about the Easter story, and all the important events leading up to Easter itself. We explored Palm Sunday, and the Last Supper. To consolidate their learning, we used the Christian symbolism of the cross, and thought about Good Friday to create a piece of artwork, using masking tape to create the hill and cross shape. We then painted a sunset, and peeled away the masking tape to give the final piece.

Year 2

This term alongside our inquiry we have been lucky enough to have Adrian from Kent County Cricket come in and teach us skills using a bat and ball. We have had great fun playing quick cricket in teams and using the skills we have learned for both batting and fielding.

Blackbird

This term as part of our learning journey and inquiry into Exploration leads to new discoveries, opportunities and understanding. Blackbird created trains out of recycled materials, investigating how a non contact force (magnet) can create movement.

Kestrel

During this term in Design and Technology, Kestrel class made the life cycle of a butterfly out of clay. Kestrel class used their fine motor skills and knowledge of how to work with clay to make the life cycle of a butterfly. Afterwards, Kestrel class evaluated their life cycle of a butterfly, looking at what went well, what didn’t go well and what they would improve.

Swift Class

This term as part of our learning journey in History/ Design and Technology Swift class made Viking longships out of connects. In groups, Swift class used their collaborative skills, listening skills, problem solving skills and teamwork skills to come up with their own Viking longship design. Afterwards, Swift class evaluated their Viking longships, looking at what went well, what didn’t go as planned and what they would improve next time.

Nightingale

This term pupils have been exploring space and have been using their new gained knowledge to complete a space mission. In art they have been looking at the work of Peter Thorpe and recreating their own images in his style.

Woodpecker

Pupils have been learning all about the Solar System and Space as part of our Learning Journey this term. They have used what they have learned to complete an ESA-related space mission. Woodpeckers also had great fun exploring the world of ‘Alice in Wonderland’ as part of our World Book Week celebrations.

Year 6 - Osprey & Hawk

This term pupils completed their DT project, which put them in the role of a fashion designer, based on our text ‘The Hunger Games’. The masks were used to celebrate the opening ceremony of ‘The Hunger Games’.

As part of our ‘World Book Week’ celebrations and our focus on the novel ‘Alice in Wonderland’, we had a tea tasting morning in Year 6 where the pupils gathered data on preferences before presenting findings into a range of charts.

Cricket

Some of our children have been taking part in cricket sessions recently in their PE lessons. These have been provided by the charity Chance to Shine and delivered by a coach from Kent County Cricket Club.

Cricket is a great way for boys and girls to enjoy a healthy, active lifestyle and to make new friends. Some of the local cricket clubs in our area will be running All Stars Cricket (for 5-8 year olds) and Dynamos Cricket (for 8-11 year olds) over the coming months.

This link gives information about All Stars Cricket: https://www.ecb.co.uk/play/all-stars

Click here for details of Dynamos Cricket: https://www.ecb.co.uk/play/dynamoscricket

Other cricket clubs in your area run their own tailored sessions for primary school children. It's always worth checking their individual website for details.

With Immediate Effect We Are A Nut Free School

We have a number of children who have a severe, potentially life threatening nut allergies. The school is therefore now with immediate effect a NUT FREE zone. Please ensure that your child does not bring any nuts or food items to school which have nuts as a listed ingredient, thank you.

CucinA Dining

School dinners cost £2.50 a day (£12.50 a week) and CucinA asked that this is paid on a Monday. Menus can be found on our website. Please pay in advance via the MCAS app.

Reminder:

Please only send in healthy lunches. No sweets and chocolate are allowed in school. Water only in bottles