What is at the bottom of the deep blue sea?
We used painting and collage to create deep sea diving masks that we then used when exploring the deep blue sea (through the wonder of Blue Planet 2). This was to help inspire us and learn some facts about the ocean, at the start of our "What's at the bottom of the beautiful briny sea."
Maths Week at Stanmore Primary School!
Amazing maths has taken place this week in every classroom in the school. We wanted to recognise that it is Maths week and we celebrated this by learning about important mathematicians, funny maths facts and even a bit of Maths Magic!
In addition to this, there were challenges between the classes in KS2 on Times Tables Rockstars and we have been taking part in a national challenge called 'Barvember'. Where we are learning how to represent challenges by drawing bar models to help us to visualise a range of word problems.
Don't worry, the teachers have been learning some new maths too. We had some new maths training this week to use a 'Number Link Board' which will be appearing in a maths lesson near you soon. Watch this space!
Incredible Italia
All three classes in Year 3 and 4 have taken part in our exciting Design and Technology unit to create a pizza this week.
It really showed how exciting and irresistible our curriculum is.
Our curriculum is shaped around three key words:
Appreciate - Children were taught about the historical context of how pizzas became a popular food and the language needed to access the learning (dough, utensils method).
Participate - Children researched and evaluated popular pizza toppings and the packaging needed. They thought about the information that might be needed on the packaging as well as thinking of a snappy title!
Innovate - They were able to develop their own pizza, designing it as well as the packaging. This week the children have been able to create their own invention that they have seen through from idea to the fully formed product.
These three elements of our curriculum work together to create irresistible learning.
We hope that your child might have let you try a bite - we've heard that they were delicious!
Well done to all of the budding chefs in Birch, Sycamore and Willow!
Reception - artists in the making
By exploring different media and new techniques our children get to learn through play and experimentation, expertly guided by our experienced team of educators. We investigated making art on the playground in the rain - that was fun! Our printing made some fantastic artwork.
Pumpkin fun in Reception
What can you do with a pumpkin? Well it turns out that the children in reception found lots of great learning opportunities when they explored pumpkins for the day.
We identified different types of squash vegetables, learned about their seeds and how they grow. Then we made pumpkin soup and got to taste it! Yum!
Stanmore Post - 6 November 2020
Dear Parents,
The children have settled back into school really well after the half term break and we have some fantastic learning outcomes. Today, children from KS1 toasted marshmallows over a fire pit and Year 3 and 4 began their 'Italia Topic' - they found out about the history of Pizza, then designed and made their pizza boxes ready to be pizza chefs next week. Year 5/6 have begun work on high quality acrylic paintings linked to the topic of rivers. This is based on a stimulus of both 'The Wind in the Willows', by Kenneth Grahame, and a local visiting artist, Lizzie McKellar. You can see examples of her work at: https://www.lizziemckellar.co.uk/
As you will be aware, we had a recent visit from OFSTED. This was part of a series of visits by OFSTED to a variety of schools nationally. The information will be used to gain a national picture of the affect the pandemic is having on schools. We are pleased to now be able to share with you the published letter. The letter does not contain any judgements but summarises briefly the discussions the inspectors had with our school leadership team. This is to provide parents and carers with information about what our school is doing to help children back into full-time education. The letter is published on the OFSTED website. You can also find it at: Ofsted visit to Stanmore Primary School - October 2020
Thank you for the response to my recent letter about the increased measures around school to tackle the spread of the Coronavirus. Once again we are seeing the whole school community come together and I am really grateful for the positive 'can do' attitude of all of our staff, parents and carers. We are continuing to review the risks and will respond with necessary control measures to enable us to keep the school open. I have had some questions about what happens when members of the community are told to self-isolate and so I have outlined the latest guidance below.
Yours sincerely,
Sharon
Self-isolation Guidance
Do the people I live with also need to self-isolate at home with me for 14 days?
If you are have been in contact with a person who has tested positive for COVID-19, but you do not have symptoms, other people living with you do not need to self-isolate and should follow the general guidance.
If you do develop symptoms of COVID-19, you should arrange to have a test to see if you have COVID-19 - visit NHS.UK to arrange, or contact NHS 119 via telephone if you do not have internet access. If you live with other people, they will need to begin self-isolation at home while you wait for your test result. Follow the Stay at Home: Guidance for households with possible or confirmed COVID-19.
Self-isolating at home for the 14-day period will help protect your family, friends and the NHS. Self-isolating at home in this way can also protect the most vulnerable in society, by reducing the chance of a second wave of COVID-19 in the wider community.
What should I do if I live with someone who develops COVID-19 symptoms?
If someone you live with develops symptoms, they will need to self-isolate at home along with all the other people who live with them; this will include you.
They will need to arrange to have a test to see if they have COVID-19 - visit NHS.UK to arrange or contact NHS 119 via telephone if you do not have internet access.
They and the people who live with them should follow Stay at Home: Guidance for households with possible or confirmed COVID-19.
Words from our parent community to describe our school
What three words would you use to describe Stanmore Primary School?
Parent Survey - October 2020
Stanmore Post - 23 October 2020
The children have had a lovely day dressed in their party clothes. They have enjoyed a mini disco and popcorn, kindly provided by the Friends of the School. Thank you for supporting this FOS event; we raised £142.80. It is so positive to see our resilience as a school community. Although we are not able to enjoy many of our usual planned events, it is good to find alternative ways to maintain our school traditions where we can. Not only does this strengthen the feeling of ‘belonging’ to our school community but it also creates something to look forward to, which is an important part of wellbeing. I expect that there have been some great photo opportunities too. You can see some of our photos at:
https://www.stanmore.hants.sch.uk/news/2020/10/23/things-were-spooky-in-maple-class-today
Our curriculum work has also been largely unaffected and children have achieved some fantastic outcomes. Some of the highlights include: Building a river on the school field, creating exploding volcanoes, art work in the style of Leonardo da Vinci, designing and making felt puppets. Inspired by the Year 6 visit to Stubbington, children in Oak and Elm class have been building dens. See more photos of our learning at:
We are continuing to adapt to our circumstances and I am pleased to have been able to welcome Hampshire Music Service back into school for Listen to Me and 1:1 music lessons this term. Ensemble playing and singing have some restrictions but we have been able to have class Samba drumming and Ukuleles back in action. Children benefit so much from participating in musical activities and I am grateful to the staff at Hampshire Music Service for their efforts in maintaining a face to face service. Similar secure Covid measures are in place to enable children to make use of the school library. We are very fortunate to have a team of dedicated volunteers who have supported Mrs Haumann to manage our wonderful library resource.
This half term has had its challenges but I am proud of the way we have all adjusted. Our ‘Keys for Success’: resilience, persistence, co-operation organisation confidence and respect are modelled daily by children, staff, Governors and parents in our school community.
I hope that you can enjoy a restful and healthy half term.
Best Wishes
Sharon Taylor
Things were spooky in Maple class today
Maple class have been doing many spooky activities. From our disco dance to scary science experiments using bicarbonate soda and vinegar!!
An irresistible curriculum this half term - volcanos, de Vinci and dens!
Our curriculum work has also been largely unaffected and children have achieved some fantastic outcomes. Some of the highlights include: Building a river on the school field, creating exploding volcanoes and puppet making. Inspired by the Year 6 visit to Stubbington, children in Oak and Elm class have been building dens.