Dear Primary Families

Firstly a big thank you to those of you that have been able to come in and engage in our Learning Conferences. As I walk around it has been wonderful to see and hear our primary learners sharing their progress and learning  with the people that matter to them the most  - you!

As well as preparing for the conferences, the past two weeks have also seen our Y5 team and learners successfully head out to Loola for their residential camp. Our learners had real opportunities for personal growth, confidence and independence building. Teamwork and social skills were encouraged, and strong friendships built. Learners experienced hands-on learning outside the classroom, promoting critical thinking and environmental awareness as well as developing life skills like time management and organisation. Learners (and teachers) all returned suitably exhausted! 

Next week we have both the Primary Production and Book Week to look forward to. If you haven’t already, take a moment to secure your tickets to ‘Pirates of the Curry Bean’ using the QR code below, our primary learners have been working extremely hard to make it a production to remember!

On Friday (7 March) I am very much looking forward to seeing the book character dress ups (it’s my favourite dress up day), I hope you have had fun thinking about these with your child. In our News from the Year Groups below we have focused on Literacy and Reading in preparation for Book Week.

Have a wonderful welcoming March weekend.

Ms Fiona

Head of Primary

Reading is about fostering a love of books. In our learning environment, we aim to spark curiosity and imagination through a range of high-quality fiction and non-fiction books. Through fun and engaging learning experiences, the children develop their listening and attention, phonemic awareness and oral blending skills. We introduce a new letter sound every week in our phonics lessons. There is great excitement when the new sound and objects are revealed from inside the box. “I’ve got something in my box, K K K…. kite, kettle, kangaroo….”

In their independent play we are beginning to observe the children develop their confidence and skills to retell, reenact, sing, and engage in role play using puppets and small-world play. As part of our current unit of inquiry ‘How we express ourselves,’ we set up the Nursery Puppet Theatre in our learning environment and have been treated to many performances. Children learn new words by hearing them in a meaningful context. Learning vocabulary is a continual process of language and literacy development, which begins in the early years of life.

We are looking forward to celebrating Book Week, where we will continue to share a selection of books and use our imagination to jump into ‘story world’. We have invited the author, Rebecca Chorley, to join our celebration and will be listening to her read some of her stories and participate in a creative learning engagement together.

Literacy development is a vital part of our Kindergarten program and grows naturally through daily play, exploration, and interactions within our learning environment. In our classrooms, we provide a rich array of books, print materials, and engaging experiences to spark curiosity and foster a love for reading and writing. Every day, our learners are immersed in language-rich activities that support their literacy journey.

A key part of our approach is the Little Wandle phonics program, which our Kindergarten learners participate in each day. This program has been instrumental in helping them begin their reading journey with confidence. Through oral blending, segmenting of new words and learning tricky words, our learners are becoming keen readers. It is a joy to observe them apply this knowledge using phonetic approximation in their writing. Learner’s writing can be found in every direction within our Kindergarten learning space including handmade books, signs, labels and lists. 

As we approach Book Week next week, excitement is building! Our learners are especially enthusiastic about the stories and characters they will dress up as, and we can't wait to celebrate this week of reading and imagination. It’s a wonderful opportunity for our young learners to experience the magic of books, both at school and at home.

With our recent trip to the Science Centre still fresh in our minds, our learners have been delving deeper into research, using both nonfiction and fiction books to enhance their understanding of forces and simple machines  within our current Unit of Inquiry. This research-based approach is helping to develop key skills such as critical thinking, communication, and information literacy, empowering our young learners to ask questions, analyse information, and make connections to the world around them.

Books, both factual and imaginative play a vital role in this journey.  Nonfiction texts and digital resources provide rich, detailed explanations about simple machines, forces, and engineering, while fiction stories inspire creativity and spark new ideas. Books such as ‘Jabari Tries, ‘Tilda tries again’, and 'Rosie Revere Engineer’ are a few titles the learners have explored. Through these books, learners are not only gaining knowledge but also developing essential attributes such as resilience, perseverance, risk-taking, and open-mindedness theses qualities help them grow as inquirers and problem solvers. 

Beyond research, our learners are refining their communication skills by discussing their findings, sharing ideas with peers, and presenting their discoveries. These meaningful interactions allow them to express their thinking clearly, listen to different perspectives, and collaborate effectively. These skills that are essential for lifelong learning.

With Book Week just around the corner, we are looking forward to an exciting celebration of reading, packed with fun-filled activities and literary adventures. From engaging stories to interactive experiences, this special event will further ignite our learners’ love for books and encourage them to continue exploring the magic of reading and the joy of discovery.

Next week, we'll be celebrating our annual Book Week, a vibrant event dedicated to fostering a love of reading and the sheer joy of books! Under the inspiring theme, "It Begins With A Thought," we'll encourage everyone to explore the boundless possibilities that start with a single idea, as found within the pages of books. Book Week is more than just a celebration of stories; it's a recognition of reading's profound impact across our entire curriculum. From Language Arts to Units of Inquiry, Visual Art, and even Mathematics, books ignite knowledge, spark creativity, and cultivate critical thinking.

Think about Leo Lionni's "Inch by Inch," where a little inchworm uses measurement to cleverly avoid being eaten. That's just one example of how stories can weave in mathematical concepts! In our "Sharing the planet" learning, we can consider the powerful message of Dr. Seuss' "The Lorax," which highlights environmental responsibility and the consequences of unchecked consumption. These stories show how reading across subjects strengthens our learning.

Reading isn't just about decoding words; it's about understanding what is being read. We emphasise the importance of comprehension, ensuring learners can grasp the meaning behind the text. Furthermore, reading non-fiction texts is vital for developing research skills. In our current "Sharing the planet" unit, learners are actively engaged in researching habitats through diverse non-fiction sources. This process fosters critical thinking, information gathering, and the ability to synthesise knowledge, all essential skills for lifelong learning.

As Andrea Beaty reminds us, "The only true failure can come if you quit." So, let's dive into the world of books next week, where every page offers a chance to learn, grow, and discover something new. Let's make time next week to celebrate the magic of books and the endless possibilities they hold!

Year 3 has returned from a fantastic camp, energized and ready to explore how the world works! We've kicked off an exciting new unit delving into this topic, and are already discovering fascinating facts and asking insightful questions. We're also weaving in discussions around "Sharing the Planet," focusing on issues within our local community, exploring different viewpoints, and discovering actions we can take to make a positive impact.

This focus on inquiry and discussion perfectly complements our literacy learning. We've been busy developing our reading comprehension skills, exploring different genres, and building our vocabulary. And speaking of reading... get ready! Book Week is just around the corner! We're all eagerly anticipating a week filled with literary adventures, exciting stories, and celebrating the joy of reading. 

A reminder: Learners are encouraged to come dressed as their favourite book character on Friday, March 7th. 

Year 4 learners have been actively exploring new language and vocabulary as part of our Unit of Inquiry, 'Clothing choices can express people's values'. Through this inquiry, they have gained a deeper understanding of how beliefs, values, and attitudes influence the way people dress. Engaging in various learning activities, they have developed critical thinking skills by making comparisons, creating timelines, and reflecting on the reasons behind fashion changes over time.

Over the next few weeks learners will be introduced to a reading approach called 'Literature Circles'. They will have the opportunity to choose a chapter book that they would like to read, from a selection provided by their teacher. Those learners who choose the same book will be grouped together. During their Language Arts lessons they will have the opportunity to read their book and also take on a role within their group. Each of the roles are focused on deepening their understanding of the characters, the story sequence and vocabulary. 

Next week we enjoy our annual Nexus Book Week celebration 'It Begins with a Thought'.  There are a variety of activities available for learners to be involved in. Our Book Fair is a wonderful opportunity for learners to buy a book of their choice. Your child has been given a book list, with the titles that will be available for purchasing. We also have Neil Humphrey returning to provide a writer's workshop for every class. Our week will culminate with the book character dress up on Friday. This is always so creative and colourful. 

The focus on Book Week reminds us how powerful reading can be. Enjoy the solitude of reading on your own or the joy of sharing a book together. 

'The more that you read, the more things you will know, the more that you learn, the more places you'll go.' Dr Seuss

It was great to see so many of you at the recent learning conferences, where our learners had the opportunity to share their progress and reflections. We hope that you enjoyed the experience.

Last seek we returned from an incredible camp at Loola, where our Year Five learners embraced adventure, teamwork, and different challanges. A key highlight was our involvement in the WASH project, where we worked together to build a safe water garden. This hands-on experience connected directly to our PYP Approaches to Learning, fostering research, communication, and self-management skills. The learners also enjoyed helping local families to paint their homes (and in one case their kittens!). The learners were rightly proud of themselves for making a positive impact on the local community.

Our next step in learning continues with an exciting visit to the Science Centre on March 11th, where our learners will engage in hands-on experiments and deepen their understanding of scientific concepts. This experience ties in perfectly with our upcoming Science Fair on March 21st, where learners will showcase their own scientific inquiries and experiments. 

Our focus next week is Book Week. Under this year’s theme, "It Begins With A Thought," we’ll explore how ideas take shape and inspire action. Reading is at the heart of our learning, supporting our Units of Inquiry and strengthening critical thinking. Teachers will be sharing details about when each class will visit the Book Fair, so learners can explore new stories and texts to ignite their imaginations.

Another exciting event on the horizon is the Primary Production! Many of our Year Five and Six learners have been dedicating time and effort to rehearsing, showing great commitment and enthusiasm. A huge thank you to Ms. Cat, Ms. Jessica, and Mr. Danish, who have been working very hard to bring this production to life. Our class is looking forward to seeing the dress rehearsal on Monday and supporingt their peers as they prepare for the big performances.

We hope you enjoyed spending  time with your child at their learner led conference. Learners confidently presented their learning journeys across all subject areas, demonstrating a clear understanding of their progress and articulating their future learning goals. This was an opportunity for them to self-reflect and take ownership of their education. We appreciate the support parents provided in making these conferences so meaningful.

Year 6 recently concluded their How we express ourselves unit of inquiry with a captivating classroom exhibit. Each student curated their individual inquiry projects, showcasing their final products in a thoughtfully designed display. They demonstrated not only their creative talents but also their ability to organize and present their work effectively.

A key component of the exhibit was the creation of artist statements, allowing students to articulate their learning process and share their insights with viewers. This culminating task provided valuable opportunities for students to develop critical thinking, communication, and presentation skills. We are incredibly proud of their hard work and the insightful exhibit they created.

Last week's Year 6B & 6B assembly was a vibrant display of learning, learners presented "A Day in the Life at Nexus." This insightful presentation effectively highlighted the transdisciplinary nature of their education. Learners creatively shared their published poetry, showcasing their literary skills, followed by artwork inspired by mathematical concepts, demonstrating the interconnectedness of subjects. The assembly culminated in a humorous dramatization of classroom moments, bringing laughter and illustrating the lighter side of their learning journey. This engaging performance provided a wonderful glimpse into the dynamic and multifaceted learning experiences at Nexus.