It was lovely to see so many of you at the parent/guardian consultation meetings. Thank you for making the time to come and chat about your child’s progress, it is always great to catch up. There are a few meetings yet to take place, but if you haven’t managed to arrange a time, please do email on the Maple Class email and I will make sure to fit you all in.

As we head towards the Easter Holidays, there will be no homework this week. I would however ask that the children focus on reading and times tables over the holiday if possible. This will really help them, both in their writing and maths. I shall also be putting together a list of quality texts/authors which you might find useful in guiding the choice of reading material.

We are continuing with a poetry focus this week in English. The children have already written some amazing poems!

In guided reading this week, we will focus on the song ‘When I Grow Up’, from the musical Matilda. The children will investigate the lyrics and answer questions about comprehension and composition, and I am sure we have a sing-along too!

In Maths this week we will be focusing on length and perimeter. Times tables learning will continue throughout the week, with opportunities for the children to practise their tables and complete a times table challenge.

In art this week, the children will continue to construct their puppets, adding features to the main body of the pigeons. We will also continue work on our UK topic this week, continuing a geography focus, looking at the United Kingdom.

Mrs Johnson will be continuing the Salvation unit again this week and Mrs Hawker will be continuing the light science unit.

Maple class have PE on Thursday with myself and Mr Luckhurst, and then swimming on Friday as usual. It was very disappointing not to swim last week, but hopefully all be OK this week. Please do email if you have any questions about this and remember to send your children in with everything they need for these sessions. If in doubt please do ask.

Reading Records will generally be changed on a Monday and Thursday. We would continue to ask however, that children bring their books and Reading Records in to school each day and that they aim to read daily, ideally with an adult – details of this can then be recorded in the Reading Record. Pleased do contact me if you feel your child’s book is either too easy or too difficult, or if your child’s book has not been changed. There are times when a book will be sent home more than once, either because a child is reading chapter books, or if it is felt that the book needs to be read more than once to enhance familiarity.

I am always happy to answer any questions you may have so please do contact me if you have any queries, using the class email address:

maple@st-barnabas.kent.sch.uk

Best wishes

Mrs Smallcombe and the Maple Team