A Paralympian comes to visit

Paralympian

Today the children at Stanmore Primary School welcommed an actual Paralympian to our school! Luke served in the RAF for 8 years as a Senior Aircraftman. In 1996 he was in a motorbike crash which left him paralysed from the chest down. Luke competed in the 2016 Invictus Games in Orlando and specialises in rowing and hand-cycling.

Catkins

This week we have been focusing on seaside habitats! We have explored rockpools and have created our own rockpool habitats for creatures such as sea urchins and starfish. We have investigated molluscs and crustaceans, finding out that their hard outer shell protects them. In maths, we have continued to consolidate skills such as subitising, counting and recognition of number whilst learning about sharing and grouping! We are proud of Catkins continuing to try their best despite the heat!

Maple

Maple class have had an amazing week. They have complemented their phonics screening check this week and all the children have done fantastically well. I am constantly proud of their achivements, progress and effort. We also had our roleplay Victorian Lesson this week which the children absolutely loved. I played the role as the mean 'Mr Hardiman', a Victorian teacher we learnt about previously, and the children had to follow Victorian classroom rules. 

We also had our athletics day today where we had a special visit from a Paralympian. 

Rowan

Rowan's Class Pets have arrived!

A special box arrived this week: four black, wriggly caterpillar's ( much to Mrs Kempsons disgust). To ensure that Year 2 have a secure understanding of how a life cycle works, we are going to be observing our new friends over the next coming weeks and note down what we see. Already, they have doubled in size, and are extreme climbers. Many of us think that they will become pupa's within in the next few weeks, and then transform into fluttering butterflies. 

Birch Class

Children in Birch Class are loving their current English unit which is inspired by the beautiful book, 'Botanicum'. They will be writing their own version of an encyclopedia entry next week, but this week, enjoyed working in the outdoor classroom to identify some of the features of an encyclopedia entry.

Sycamore

We are so proud of the children in Year 4 who have taken part in the Multiplication Tables Check. This is for all Year 4 children nationally, to check their quick times tables knowledge. We don't know the results yet, but they have worked very hard using their keys to success in order to learn and revise their times tables knowledge. Well done! 

Sycamore Class have produced some excellent pieces of writing advising someone on how to create a high quality narrative text. We have been working on using a range of fronted adverbials, as well a different sentence structures. 

Year 5 and 6

In Year 5 and 6 the children have been testing the thermal qualities of various materials to keep the teachers mug of tea warm in the morning! They have also written some detailed newspaper reports about a tragic crime in which an innocent fly became lunch for a hungry spider.

A week of Forest School fun

Our Stanmore Swimmers

Children from year 4 and 5 represented the school brilliantly this week in the pool. They not only practised twice at Kings, but then attended a swimming gala against other schools. They were a credit to themselves. A big thank you to parents who supported the children today, and for Miss Kelly and Mr Firth, who have worked incredibly hard to make sure this event could take place.

Maple Class

This week Maple class got the opportunity to go to Forest School. They absolutely loved the experience. They got to roast marshmallows over the fire and made smores. They got to go on the slackline and rope swing. They used the mud kitchen to make some delicious meals and some children created a bug hotel. Other played in the hammock and had a rest while enjoying the beautiful weather. They are already looking forward to going again! 

Rowan Class

To finish off our RE unit on Special Books, we created our own Torahs. Inside our Torahs, we wrote a rule that we need to follow at school, we even looked at how it would look if we were to write it in Hebrew.

 We looked at a real Torah, and saw images of Arks, which the name for the ornamental chamber where the special book is kept.

Birch

In maths this week, Year 3 have started a new unit on shape. Today, we have been exploring right angles and using our Pac Man style angle eaters to find examples of them in our classroom. The children were excited to find many examples of right angles as well as angles that are not right angles. I wonder how many objects you have at home that have a right angle? 

Sycamore

This week Sycamore Class have been learning about electricity and making circuits. We had explored how to make a complete circuit and then we needed to correct lots of circuits that weren’t working. 

Year 5 and 6

Year 5 and 6 have enjoyed a sunny session in Forest school: toasting marshmallows over a campfire, whittling and building dens. Continuing with our study of The spider and the fly poem, we have written letters to other insects warning them to avoid the spider's charms in case they end up at dinner!

Year 6 have been superstar writers over the last couple of weeks and we are all incredible proud of them

Stanmore's love of nature and art

Catkins

This half term Catkins have been learning about animals! We started the topic off by looking at our pets and animals who help us! We were introduced to Tom and Toby who explained the importance of guide dogs! We then explored animals and different ways we can categorise them! We have learned the terms: mammal, reptile, bird, carnivore, herbivore and omnivore! Our last focus on this topic has been habitats and the environment. Catkins have learned all about rainforests, deserts and polar habitats, how animals are suited to these places and how we take care of our environment! The children then created their very own animal and have been creating their own habitats!

Maple

Maple class began to learn about a new artist this week called James Rizzi, an American pop artist. They looked at his art and then created pieces based on his style. There were some amazing results. 

Birch

Birch Class had a wonderful time in Forest School on Thursday.  The weather was excellent which added to our enjoyment! Activities included whittling, making sun catchers, the mud kitchen, den building , the slack line , hammock and much more! Of course, no Forest School experience would be complete without a toasted marshmallow and biscuit.

Sycamore

In Sycamore class this week we have been starting our DT project on printing. It has taken lots of persistence and resilience as Lino cutting is very tricky! Here’s some photos of the link cutting, check back after half term to see the printing! 

Year 5 and 6

In year 5, the children have been caught up in a spider's web this week, as they have used their imaginations to re-create the scene and used the power of persuasion, as the spider to persuade the fly to join their webs, in line with our new text, the poem 'The Spider and the Fly.' Over the course of the week, they have explored key features of poetry and have used their critiquing skills to evaluate a varied range of poetry. 

Our engaging curriculum

Maple

Maple class went on an invertebrate hunt around the school this week. We looked in forest areas, under rocks, logs, and under leaves. We found several invertebrates including woodlice, centipedes, spiders, and snails. We decided as a class to keep woodlice as pets in our class habitat. We gathered a selection of woodlice, placed them in the habitat, and then observed them. We then devised questions we wanted to find the answer to.

Rowan

To support our final outcome: writing a diary as Paddington, we recreated an afternoon tea scene. We dressed up as the Queen or a butler and used drama to identify verbs. With the verbs, we looked at the tenses and sorted them into past and present tense. 

Rowan Class thoroughly enjoyed afternoon tea, and we even had a biscuit to eat.

Birch

We have just started our new unit in PE and are learning to play Tag Rugby. Our first lesson consisted of learning to use the 'tags' and to work as attackers or defenders to develop our moving and footwork skills. The children demonstrated some excellent skills, especially in the skill development section of the lesson, where they used speedy footwork to doge between the cones, holding a ball.

Sycamore

This week, we finished the last section of our ‘Discover Arts Award’. Vanessa came back to work with us on our final project. If we are successful, we will be able to take our work and the certificates home soon! 

Year 5 and 6

In yr5/6 the children have been busy writing their outcome pieces in English, which have been thriller narratives based on the short clip ‘Francis’ and they are full of suspense and anticipation for the reader. 

In art and design, the children have been using paper folding techniques including quilling, paper folding and decoupage, to create some very intricate artworks. 

Oak class have also been devising and conducting fair test to investigate which solids are soluble. They discovered that soluble solids appeared to disappear ( dissolve) in the water.

Our Amazing Year 6

Year 6

Our year 6 children showed all our keys to success this week as they took part in their SATS. Every single child came in for every test and we were so proud of the way they focussed and showed their very best selves. Well done Year 6.

Thank you to Mandy for our delicious breakfasts; to Mr Foard for helping us by setting up the hall every week; to the FOS for the delicious ice cream and hoodies and to all the staff and children who helped make the week as stress free as possible.

R2L

This week in R2L, we have been thinking about saying good things about ourselves. We all agreed that it is important to notice and recognise our strengths because when we say good things about ourselves it makes us, and other people, feel happy.

We have spent a great deal of time thinking about things that we can do and also the power of the word yet - the skills that we can't do yet! We have enjoyed fun activities such as trying handstands, cartwheels and clicking our fingers as well arts and crafts. On Wednesday, we decided that the power of unkind words that we say to ourselves can make us feel like rubbish! After a litter pick of the school grounds, we decided that none of us were rubbish and all had  a wide varieties of skills and talents.

ROWAN

A few months ago, we wrote letters to David Attenborough in character as Clem- the main character in a book called Clem and the Crab. We told him that we were worried about the plastic in the oceans, and how angry we are with how people are treating our planet. 

This week, David Attenborough replied, and we were extremely thrilled. Mrs Kempson was even more excited as he wrote her name! He thanked us for writing and was extremely grateful. Writing can be so powerful.

BIRCH

To continue with our work in science on plant nutrition and reproduction, Birch Class investigated the size of ivy leaves growing in the sun and the shade. The children predicted which group they thought would be larger and gave their reasons why. Next, they used rulers to measure the width of each leaf and recorded this data on a tally chart. They created bar charts to represent the data and from this, drew conclusions. Great scientific skills

SYCAMORE

We have been looking at perspective in art and have created these beautiful landscapes showing the beauty in the natural world. Having looked at a range of landscapes by different artists, we had to create our own using them as our inspiration. 

ELM

As well as completing their SATS, year 6 have started their new text - The Spider and The Fly. As a hook they made their own sider web and then used persuasive language to try and lure a fly onto their web. We were amazed at how hard spiders have to work to get their food.

Coronation for the King

The Coronation Lunch

The whole school celebrated the coronation of King Charles this week by making a range of Regal crowns and decorations and enjoying a ‘right royal lunch’! We also had a whole school photograph taken so people can look back in years to come and remember that special day.

Catkins

This week Catkins visited Finkley Down Farm in Andover alongside Year 1! This trip helped expand our previous learning about farms and animal's roles on farms! The children were very excited to go on the coach and travel to the farm! When we arrived, we were introduced to many furry friends such as two adorable rabbits and Freckles the Shetland pony! We also had the opportunity to feed and stroke some of the other animals (I think the goats were a firm favourite)! We even got to witness Finkley's famous goat race! All of the adults were so impressed with the children's behaviour, they all respectfully walked around the farm and treated the animals with care! We are so proud of Catkins and Year 1!

Maple

Finkley Down Farm! 
What an amazing trip Maple class had on Wednesday. We are learning about animals and how to group them into their six categories, so the farm visit was an amazing learning opportunity. The children's behaviour was impeccable, and they were amazing representatives of Stanmore Primary School. The children had an amazing time and got the chance to groom a pony, pet rabbits, baby goats and sheep, feed various different animals and even watch a goat race! The winner of the race was none other than the children's favourite, Harry Headbutter! 

Rowan

This week in Rowan Class, we have been exploring the microhabitats that our school has to offer. Out exploring, we found these microhabitats: the pond, under logs and stones and the hedgerows in the front field. With practical resources we collected some of the living things from the microhabitats and created a tally chart to show how many of each species we had found. With our tally charts, we drew block graphs. We even spotted a slow worm!

Birch class

In Birch Class this week, we started the RE unit, 'Sacred Places'. The children have discussed what 'sacred' means to them and thought about what that might look like for Christians and Sanātana Dharma  (Hinduism). 

We created a Hindu shrine in the classroom and learnt about the symbolism behind the objects. The children have discussed whether any space can be sacred , and what might happen if you were not able to visit your own sacred place. 

In English, the children have been preparing to write a newspaper article about the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in Pompeii. We held a 'Conscience Alley' to explore whether or not the two children in our story should have fled from Pompeii or stayed. This generated some excellent thinking and ideas which the children have used in their writing. Well done, Birch Class! 

Sycamore

Sycamore had an excellent opportunity to take part in Forest School this week. Luckily, the sun was shining and we were able to enjoy the full experience… 

• We relaxed on the hammock

• We built our confidence (and core muscles!) on the slack line

• We made horrible concoctions in the mud kitchen

• We made waterproof dens (that were tested with a watering can) 

• We made things out of wood, whittling wood and attaching wood using string

• We sat around the fire and toasted marshmallows! 

All in all, a great time was had by all! 

R2L

Our target this week in R2L has been "I can recognise my emotions". We thought about how our bodies send us signals to let us know when we might be beginning to feel an emotion like sadness. We might feel like our movements are slow; our breathing might feel shallow; our heads and our eyes might be looking down at the ground; our voice might be at a lower pitch and quieter. Whilst exploring our emotions, we also thought about how the Royal family might be feeling about the Coronation this Saturday. We wondered if King Charles III might feel anxious whilst in the Abbey. We wondered how Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis might also feel about being part of the celebration and riding in a horse and carriage through London. Whilst thinking about how the Royal Family might feel, we created a variety of Royal themed crafts to display around R2L. We hope that you like them!

A truly Roman visit

Beyond the Beat

This week, our Beyond the Beat musicians took up their instruments and performed in front of the rest of the school. This not only puts to the test their keys for success such as confidence, but it also shows how these children have been putting in the time and effort to learn their craft.

R2L

Our target in R2L this week is "I can use my words when I am upset." We thought about how powerful our words are and how helpful they are when we are feeling strong emotions like sadness and anger. Our words  let others know how we are feeling and also allows them to help us. We also thought about how the power of our words can affect others; words can either build people up, or knock people down. Our week ended with a visit from Silas, from New Life Church, who taught us the importance of using our words through lots of fun and role play.

Rowan

Keeping healthy!

This week in PSHE, we discovered how much sugar there was in our favourite snacks! 7-year-olds should only have 6 cubes of a sugar a day, but a bowl of ice cream can have up to 8! This shocked us all. We sorted foods which we thought did and didn't contain sugar, and then we shared ideas for healthier snacks that had less sugar in them.

Maple

Maple class continued to learn about the school's history by looking at important events. We looked at the Platinum Jubilee celebrations that took place at the school and learnt about the Queen's Green Canopy Project. We went to see the tree that was gifted to the school. 

Birch

Year 3 had a fantastic trip out this week to Fishbourne to learn about all things Roman. The children had a great time making mosaics, finding out what food the Romans ate, trying on Roman clothes and even learning how to tie a toga! Everyone was so impressed with how polite and amazing the children were - well done Birch class - there were so many great photos to choose from!

Sycamore

We have had a creative week in Sycamore Class! We have been learning about healthy food and how to preserve food to keep it fresher for longer, so we have made hummus and fruit kebabs. It was loads of fun, and the best bit was that we got to taste it all afterwards! Delicious! 

Year 5 and 6

Year 5 and 6 worked systematically in their new science projects ,'Changing materials'. They were able to apply all the new vocabulary they have been learning in science by identifying the properties of a range of materials.

Where is Ted?

Catkins

Catkins has had a very busy first week of summer term! This week we have been exploring how to take care of our pets. We have learnt that animals need food, water, shelter, exercise, play and lots of love! We were so lucky to receive a visit from the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association to explore how animals can also care for us! We were also introduced to the story 'Dear Zoo' and explored which animals are suitable pets and which animals are not! The children did some amazing writing to describe why their chosen animal was unsuitable! In maths, we were consolidating our number bond knowledge. We used the numicon to represent the different numbers between 5 and 10 in various ways! We have also begun our work on numbers over 10! Super job Catkins!

Rowan

Missing!

Ted, our class hedgehog, has gone missing! Rowan Class arrived back after Easter to a crime scene. With our partners we shared our thoughts on what could have happened, and who might have stolen him- our favourite being an engineer who fitted a new radiator. Using noun phrases, and commas, we created missing posters.

I hope Ted shows up soon!

Sycamore

Sycamore Class have produced some high quality leaflets linked to our Geography topic. Last half term, after performing 'The Bee Musical', we had to catch up on some work to finish our topic 'Misty Mountain, Winding River' unit, but it was worth the wait! The leaflets are high quality pieces of writing, advertising the Lake District, where children could show off their technical language about rivers and mountains in The Lakes. 

R2L

After welcoming all of the children back from their Easter break, we focused on our new target, "I can follow instructions to the count of 3". The children explored why it was important to listen to adults when they gave instructions; they decided that it was because adults help to keep children safe! 

The children enjoyed a variety of interactive experiences including a scavenger hunt, making a sail boat and learning to stop, think and go after choosing the right choice. All of the children are beginning to successfully transition back into their classrooms and join their friends in learning their top quality curriculum. Another fantastic week in R2L!

Year 5 and 6

On Thursday, 25 children across yr5/6 were invited to attend a Primary Schools Computer Science Day led by Winchester College. Over the course of the day, the children participated in a range of different activities on the subject of coding and programming including Caesar Cipher Code Breaking, a sequencing and programming workshop and a treasure hunt. The day culminated in a code breaking competition, during which the children competed in teams, joining forces with several other Winchester Schools to try and break the code that was set by the boys at Winchester College. The children were commended for their excellent proactive attitude to the challenges that had been set and for their scientific reasoning. 

Guinea Pig update

Different children (and staff) from around the school have been enjoying getting to know Oreo and Bubble this week. Catching Bubble is always a challenge but everyone is becoming more confident with our new friends.

Our Enrichment Curriculum

Maple

Maple class have been doing some amazing print making this week. They designed their own print using weather motifs and then printed a pattern onto A3 paper, what lovely results! 

Key stage 1 was also visited by Christchurch this week where they continued to learn about the easter story. and why people believe both the happy and sad parts to the story. 

Rowan

Oh we do like to be beside the seaside! 

Year 2 visited Lepe beach this week to see real-life erosion! We walked along the beach with Ranger Laura, where we built cliffs out of sand and stone to see how erosion impacts different materials. From where we stood, we could see a spit of land and stunning views of the Isle of Wight.  Further along the beach we were lucky enough to see a cliff erosion and erosion of a path that had happened a few days ago. There was a tree of the beach, which had fell when the cliff eroded. We collected beautiful seashells, and Ranger Laura taught us the names of several of them.  Of course, Mrs Kempson managed to fit in time for us to do some writing!  A member of the public commented on our wonderful behaviour too! 

Sycamore

Eli, from Christ Church, visited this week to complete our Easter unit of work on the Paschal Candle. Children created their own candles similar to those found in churches. To complete our RE work this week, we also got a glimpse of another religion as we learned about Ramadan. 

R2L

Our target in R2L this week was "I can respect property." We identified that Respect is one of our keys to success and we decided that respecting property meant treating it as if it was our own! We enjoyed making Easter crafts this week, during which, we practised the skills of sharing and noticing when the resources were running low. We learnt that it was much better to only take the craft supplies that we needed so that there were enough resources for everyone else. We ended our week by making a beautiful Easter garden which was used for reflection time in our BEST assembly. R2L wishes our school community and friends a very Happy Easter.

Turner Sims

This week, as part of the arts mark award, we were invited to attend a jazz concert at Turner Sims Concert Hall at Southampton University. We were able to watch Joe and Alex (saxophonist and double bass) again, as well as a pianist and drummer to make up the jazz quartet. 

Cricket day

KS2 enjoyed a day of cricket this year and learnt all about how to get involved with allstars cricket. The children all had a great time (despite the weather), and hopefully there will be some new recruits. Year 5 and 6 certainly enjoyed themselves!

Musicians

Two members of our Stanmore Family represented themselves and the school brilliantly this week by taking part in a concert with their instruments. We were so proud of the confidence they showed and can’t wait to see where their passion takes them next. Well done Ben and Georgina.