As I write this note, the sun is shining through the window.  Let us hope that this is a sign of some good weather and sun-filled days ahead for the weeks leading up to the Easter break.  With that in mind, please remember that we finish for the school holiday on Thursday 28th March at 2.00pm.  In the section below, we have included some dates for the next two weeks at school.  There are lots of exciting trips for the children and we hope that some of you will be able to join us on these outings.  Please remember to let your child's classteacher know if you are able to accompany the class on any upcoming trip.

This week, our Year 6 children have spent five exciting days in Osmington Bay, Dorset.  The staff, who have accompanied the children on the residential trip, have reported that the children have had an exceptional time away from school and that their behaviour and attitudes towards other children and to the tasks and events planned for them has been incredible.  We have kept our Year 6 families up to date with photographs and news each day.  These photographs of the trip can be seen here and here.  We have also posted some highlights from the trip further below in our newsletter.

I wanted to thank those families who are mindful of the school street restrictions on Woodberry Grove.  Our children's safety should be of the most importance to all of us.  By driving on the street outside of the school at the start and end of the school day, you are jeopardising the safety of our children.  Please do not drive your car on Woodberry Grove.

In the meantime, I hope that you all enjoy a fun-filled weekend and that you can find fun activities to take part in.  As spring really takes hold, there are many amazing places to visit in London to see the colour that this season brings.  

Science is about more than just a subject in school, it's a way for the children to understand the world around them.  It has been wonderful to see the children in Year 2 embracing hands-on learning experiences that have connected them with nature.  They have been delving into the fascinating world of plant growth, exploring the mysteries of bulbs, seeds, and roots.  From planting seeds in pots to dissecting bulbs and observing root structures, these budding scientists have been on a journey of discovery.  In addition to the scientific knowledge they have been gaining, the children have also developed important skills such as observation, critical thinking, and teamwork through their plant growth investigations.  Collaborating with their peers, they have conducted experiments, recorded data, and drawn conclusions and made observations.

The Year 5 children have had an exciting start to the Earth and Space topic by visiting the Royal Observatory.  They were greeted by a world of telescopes, exhibits, and interactive displays, each offering a glimpse into the mysteries of our solar system and beyond.

The year 5s got a guided tour led by a seasoned astronomer and watched an interactive show with awe-inspiring images of distant galaxies projected onto the domed ceiling of the planetarium.  The children were transported on a virtual voyage through the cosmos, marveling at the vastness and beauty of space.

Last week we celebrated a fantastic World Book Day, where children and staff dressed up as fictional characters.  We spent the day exploring poetry by Dennis Lee and Eloise Greenfield and writing our own poems about animals.  You can build on this fantastic work by reading poems at home with your child or watching fantastic poets read their work like Benjamin Zephanian, Micheal Rosen and Malorie Blackman.

In maths, Year 2 have continued their strong start as they have completed their unit on fractions and can now identify and find halves, quarters and thirds of a number, shape or object. You can continue to build on this learning at home by counting in halves, quarters and thirds when you're walking to the school or on the bus. You can talk about cutting a cake or pizza or sandwiches into halves or quarters during mealtimes. Or even linking their knowledge of fractions and their knowledge of time by looking at how clocks are split into equal parts. 

In history, we have built on our new topic Marvellous Medics by digging deeper into how hospitals and medical care was in the 1800’s. The children completed a powerful experiment involving water, pepper and soap to show what happened to germs.  I am sure they would love to show this at home.