Spring 2 Term 

Weds 25th Feb - Athletes assembly

Monday 2nd March - SEND Workshop by HABS

Thursday 5th March -  World Book Day

Friday 6th March  - Sports Hall Athletics KS2 pupils 

Week beginning 9th March  - Science Week

Thurs 12th March - Mothers Day stall in school 

Fri 20th March - Non-uniform day - bring an egg

Fri 20th March - Year 5 trip to Hertford Zoo

Sat 21st March - Easter Fete  

Fri 27th March 1.15pm  End of term

This half term, we reached a fantastic milestone by completing all Phase 3 phonemes in Little Wandle. The children have applied this knowledge brilliantly, showing great pride in writing their own stories about the things they love. In Maths, we have been mastering the composition of numbers to 5. Using the nursery rhymes 5 Little Speckled Frogs and 5 Little Men in a Flying Saucer, the children used props to visualise how numbers can be partitioned and combined in different ways.

Our "Theme" sessions took us around the world to explore the seasons and various types of homes, from local houses to mud huts and igloos. The children turned into mini-engineers, constructing their own igloos out of sugar cubes before conducting a "melting" experiment with water. This curiosity continued with our focus book, The Three Little Pigs, as we tested the strength of straw, twigs, and blocks to see which material could truly withstand the Big Bad Wolf.

To keep our bodies moving, we have been working hard in PE to master balances and positions in preparation for gymnastics. Alongside this, the children have thoroughly enjoyed our yoga sessions in the hall. These moments of calm have helped them develop their core strength, flexibility, and mindfulness as they learn to hold different poses. It has been a wonderful half term filled with hands-on discovery and physical growth!

It has been a wonderful start to the term for our Year 1 adventurers in Cedar class! We have dived head-first into the world of shapes, exploring everything from flat 2D circles to solid 3D objects. Building "nets" to see how shapes fold together, squishing playdoh to create models, using circles and lines to create masterpieces inspired by Wassily Kandinsky, and tessellation—learning how shapes can fit together perfectly like a puzzle. Please ask the children about teen numbers - we’ve had a brilliant time understanding how they are made up of tens and ones. In English, we’ve been studying the traditional tale of Rapunzel, but with a twist - looking at how Rapunzel could be her own hero. The children did a fantastic job rewriting the story, coming up with their own brave characters, sneaky villains, and clever escape plans. We even brought these stories to life in DT, using clay to mold cylinders for turrets and cones for roofs to build our very own castle towers. In History and Science, we have been inspired by "Significant People" and famous inventors. Following on from the children's brilliant homework projects, we have explored the lives of some incredible figures - Walt Disney creating movie magic and Ole Kirk Christiansen inventing LEGO; Linda Buck figuring out how our sense of smell works and Sir David Attenborough’s amazing work helping animals and our planet. Not forgetting our brave heroes such as Florence Nightingale and Mary Seacole in their work as nurses. Finally, we have been very active in PE! We have been practicing our fundamental movements - hopping, skipping, jumping, and running. 

It has been a busy few weeks in Elm Class! The children have shown great creativity and curiosity across all their subjects. 

We have been diving into the story of Rapunzel. After comparing different versions of the tale, the children wrote their own stories, inventing their own heroes and villains.  Linking to our literacy work, the children used playdough and clay to sculpt Rapunzel’s tower. We also explored patterns and used our mathematical knowledge of 2D and 3D shapes to add detail and structure to our designs. This has allowed the children to experiment with different textures and building techniques to bring their learning to life. Elm class continues to strengthen their mastery of numbers by learning methods such as ‘Think 5’ and ‘Think 10’ to aid answering calculations more effectively. They continue to enjoy using the Rekenrek apparatus in their Mastering Number lessons and are becoming quicker in finding the relationships between numbers. In our history sessions, Elm Class has been diving into the lives of significant modern and historical figures. We have been looking at people who have truly changed the world for the better.  A particular highlight has been our focus on Sir David Attenborough. The children have been captivated by his dedication to the planet. Following the inspirational work of Sir David Attenborough, the children enjoyed looking into other scientists and inventors whose work has impacted the way we live today. They really enjoyed learning about Ole Kirk Christiansen, the inventor of Lego! With their love of Lego the children created some amazing structures and linked their previous learning of materials to describe its properties. In our computing sessions the children can now confidently log on and access google classroom independently. This half term we have explored a digital painting programme, the children have learnt how to draw various lines and shapes, change the thickness of their chosen tool and fill a shape. With new computer skills secured, they have all independently created a picture on their digital canvas. 

Hazel Class have had a fantastic few weeks of learning and creativity!

In English, the children have written, edited and published their own traditional tales. We have been so impressed by their imagination, attention to detail and most of all, their stamina for writing. The pride that they have taken in their finished stories has been wonderful to see.

The children are making wonderful progress with their reading and many are moving on to our Year 2 fluency books. Please remember to bring back all books on a Monday so we can continue with this successful programme.

In Maths, we have continued to enjoy our mastery approach, using rekenreks to deepen understanding and build strong foundations in number. The children have enjoyed exploring 2D and 3D shapes and have linked their understanding of ‘properties’ of shape to properties of materials in Science.

Our History and Science learning has been a real highlight this half term, particularly when finding out about famous scientists and inventors. Hazel Class chose to focus on Nicola Adams for a research project where they worked collaboratively as a team. While not a scientist or inventor as such, this linked beautifully to discussions about sport, (boxing) the science of the body / brain and about determination and resilience. This has also fitted with our ongoing PSHE learning where the children have been exploring different emotions, what it means to feel regulated and that all feelings are ok- and temporary. 

The children have enjoyed their music lessons- especially listening to different styles of music with the piece “Into the Groove”, with a particular love for percussion and dance.

Hazel Class continue to impress us every day with their enthusiasm, curiosity and creativity- Well done Hazel Class!

Laurel Class have had an incredibly busy and investigative start to the Spring term, applying their curiosity to everything from ancient history to modern-day mysteries! In English, children turned into real-life detectives by looking at recounts, using the "Case of the Missing Whiteboards" as inspiration to write up their own detailed first-hand report of the event. In Maths, we have dived deep into the world of scaling and fractions, where the children have worked hard to build their skills in identifying, comparing and ordering unit and non-unit fractions. Science saw us investigating magnets and forces, where children spent time identifying different magnetic and non-magnetic objects and planned and carried out a practical investigation testing how far a car travelled on different surfaces. Our Theme lessons transported us back in time to study the Romans, highlighted by a fantastic trip to the Verulamium Museum where children saw history come to life through ancient artifacts. We creatively began our new Art unit of Developing Drawing Skills by focusing on sketching and observation skills, and in Music, the classroom has been filled with sound as children have been practicing and learning a new song. Finally, children have explored how networks work in Computing, developed their agility, balance, and coordination through various fitness activities in PE, and learned vocabulary for seasons, months, and birthdays in French.

It has been a fantastic and high-energy start to the Spring term for Maple Class! We kicked off our Theme work by travelling back to Roman Britain, which included a memorable visit to the Verulamium Museum to explore ancient artefacts and local history. This investigative spirit continued in Science, where the children tested the effects of friction by racing objects on various surfaces and explored the properties of magnetic materials.

In English, the classroom turned into a crime scene as the children tackled the "Case of the Missing Whiteboards." Using the book 'Real Life Mysteries' as inspiration, they utilised their detective skills to draft impressive first-hand recounts of the mystery. Our Maths sessions have focused on the world of fractions, with the children gaining confidence in identifying unit and non-unit fractions and finding fractions of shapes and amounts, alongside work on scaling problems.

In Computing, we have been demystifying technology by exploring how networks function, while in Art, we have been slowing down to master the fundamentals of drawing skills. French lessons have been a celebratory affair as we learned the vocabulary for days, months, seasons, and birthdays. Music has seen us all working together to learn the song 'Three Little Birds' by Bob Marley. Finally, in PE, the children have been challenging themselves with fitness circuits designed to improve their coordination, agility, and balance.

It has been a fantastic and high-energy start to the Spring term for Pine Class!

In English, our writing journey began with poetry as we created our own poems inspired by The Small Dragon by Brian Patten. Soon after, the classroom transformed into a crime scene as the children tackled the Case of the Missing Whiteboards. Stepping into the role of detectives, they searched for clues, gathered evidence and pieced together events in order to write detailed first-hand recounts of the mystery. Careful observation, inference and descriptive writing were key skills developed throughout this exciting unit.

In Maths, we delved into the world of fractions, with the children growing in confidence when comparing, ordering and identifying equivalent fractions, as well as working with scaling. Alongside this, we continued to sharpen our multiplication skills, focusing on fluency, speed and accuracy to support learning across the curriculum and to prepare for the Year 4 multiplication check in June.

Our History learning saw us travel back in time to Roman Britain, discovering the lasting impact the Romans have had on life today. This topic was brought to life through a memorable visit to the Verulamium Museum, where the children explored ancient artefacts, learned about local history and deepened their understanding of Roman life.

The spirit of investigation continued in Science, where the children carried out practical, hands-on experiments. They tested the effects of friction by racing cars across a range of surfaces and explored magnetic materials and how different objects interact.

In Computing, we have been demystifying technology by exploring how networks function and how devices communicate with one another in the modern world. In Art, we slowed things down to focus on developing core drawing skills, carefully observing objects and improving our use of line and detail.

French lessons have been a joyful and musical experience as we learned the vocabulary for days of the week, months, seasons and birthdays, using songs to help us remember new words and phrases. In Music, teamwork was key as we worked together to learn a new song, focusing on rhythm and listening to one another. Finally, in PE, the children have been pushing themselves through fitness circuits designed to improve coordination, agility and balance, showing great determination and enthusiasm throughout.

Children in Sycamore class have had a good start to the spring term. They especially enjoyed their trip to the Beam theatre last week, to watch the Haileybury production of Legally Blonde. They all thought it was good, and were all especially fond of the UPS delivery driver character!

In English lessons, they have enjoyed reading The Watertower, and have learnt how authors use language to create suspense. This is in preparation for writing a recount. 

In maths they have learnt how to use the lowest common denominator to compare, add and subtract fractions, and have also learnt about the order of operations and some basic algebra. 

They have all been interested to learn how humans grow and develop in science lessons and, in their theme lessons, have begun to understand how crime and punishment has changed throughout history.

It has been another productive few weeks. In English lessons, the children have been developing their persuasive written skills trying to persuade Mrs Fowler to invest in a moveable oven that can be wheeled into classrooms; purchase lots of comics for the library; some even tried pleading for class pets!  We have begun our new text, The Water Tower, which has left everyone gripped by its eerie suspense and mystery. We are looking forward to continuing it after half term.

In maths the children have been busy enhancing their understanding of angles and the various properties of shapes. Alongside this new learning, they continue to sharpen their core maths skills daily. They even enjoy a game of maths Pictionary! In our History lessons, the class have been fascinated by the history of crime and punishment through the ages, exploring how laws and consequences have evolved over time.

Year 5 thoroughly enjoyed a spectacular performance of Legally Blonde by the pupils of Haileybury at The Beam Theatre. The talent on stage was so captivating that one pupil even declared it "one of the best afternoons they had ever had"—though the interval ice cream certainly helped it go down a treat! Meanwhile, out on the playground, the children are delighted with the new table tennis table!

All children engaged deeply with Safer Internet Day, learning vital lessons about digital citizenship and the importance of staying safe online. We have also been incredibly proud of the resilience shown by both year groups during our recent assessments. The children approached every challenge with a positive mind set and the progress they are making is a testament to their hard work. We are truly proud of each and every one of them for their dedication and hard work this half term.

It has been an incredibly productive half-term for the children in Yew class, who have continued to work extremely hard in the variety of National Curriculum subjects, including learning about `Crime and Punishment` in their History lessons and developing their dancing and gymnastic skills in PE. 

In English, our young writers have been honing their rhetorical skills. They were tasked with writing persuasive letters to our Headteacher, arguing for specific improvements to school life. They did a fantastic job, trying to persuade Mrs Fowler of the benefits to having a fair ground on the top playground and why every child should be allowed a daily nap! 

Looking ahead to the future, the children have begun researching and drafting an essay titled: "What I Want to Be When I Grow Up", for a local Rotary Club competition. They have been exploring various career paths, investigating the qualifications needed, and reflecting on why they are suited for this job. It’s been wonderful to see such a diverse range of ambitions, from aerospace engineers to wildlife conservationists. We look forward to reading their completed pieces, which can be no more than 300 words, and will let families know who is through to the final presentation, which will be held at Hoddesdon Library, as soon as possible.

We have also spent time sitting practice SATs papers. While "test" can sometimes be a daunting word, the children approached these sessions with fantastic focus and a "can-do" attitude. We are thrilled to report that we are seeing significant progress across the board. Their hard work in the classroom is really paying off and as Matilda said, “Everyone was so proud of their scores!” Liliana also noted how happy she was to have answered all of the papers on the reading paper.  Some children sat the papers in the classroom whilst others completed them in the hall. We appreciated the children’s honest feedback, with many holding a similar view to Lucas who explained, “It was so much better sitting the SATs in the hall (than the classroom),” and Kai who said it was “....good to know what SATs really feel like.”

The Year 6s have learnt a great deal about keeping safe online, through working on lots of challenges linked to Safer Internet Day. Alongside this, Yew class children took part in a special NHS survey, which was followed by presentations, led by the nursing team, on emotional, dental and and sleep health. The pupils found these very useful and asked lots of sensible questions.

We are very proud of the resilience the children are showing in Yew class: “I found out that converting fractions and percentages is quite hard but I persevered and now with no help, I can answer them!” reported Lily!  We say a huge thank you to our families for the continued support with home learning and all aspects of school life generally; it makes a world of difference!