Welcome to Squirrels' Class Page!
Class Teacher: Mrs Howell
Class TAs: Mrs Butler and Mrs Pope
As we begin another school year, we're really looking forward to seeing what everyone will bring to our class as we start writing the story of Squirrels 2021 - 2022 together. We know there will be lots of great learning going on, with challenges overcome and triumphs to celebrate. The children have already said they would like our class to be kind, hard-working, fun and sporty, so we'll definitely be putting those in place as some of our key characteristics from the start! We've also written and signed
I think you'll agree we've got some strong things in place for a great year ahead!
As usual, our work for these terms will stem from our Topic Web and the planned learning that's set in place for that.
It's probably one of the most famous dates in history and we're going to find out why!
A year of great change, 1066 had bloodthirsty battles and ambitious kings and it all led to the Bayeux Tapestry, William the Conqueror, the Domesday Book and, of course, it heralded the Norman era with its new monarchy, castles and knights. For lots more detail and information, including plans for our own timeline, building a catapult and the science of Forces, please click on the title above to have a look at our Topic Web.
These two, weekly links will keep you up to date with all the homework set too:
This Week's Homework This Week's Spellings
We'll make sure we use our Learning Powers & bring a great Growth Mindset to all our work. 
Our new Class Reader is The Matilda Effect, an award-winning book by author Ellie Irving. It's a race against time as Matilda and Grandma Joss have to get to Sweden to stop the Nobel Prize Ceremony and tell the world the truth about Professor Smocks. There are some angry parents, a stray dog, a diamond thief and a very famous film star to deal with along the way too!
Matilda is a great character, a brilliant role model...
A warm-hearted, funny, madcap adventure ... this book is going to get kids very fired up about science.
We'll also be reading Anglo Saxon Boy in Guided Reading.
Tony Bradman's Anglo-Saxon Boy lays out the adventures that befall Magnus, son of Harold Godwinson, in the run-up to the Battle of Hastings. It is underpinned by historical fact (Magnus existed), and includes, satisfyingly, a grandmother who leads troops, as the story chronicles the making of a warrior.
Nicolette Jones - The Sunday Times Culture magazine
General Class Information
Personal Reading Books
The children should all have an ongoing book which they bring into school every day. When they are free readers, their reading books can be from home or chosen from our class collections and we ask them to read a variety of authors and genres over the course of the year. Our regular "I recommend..." sessions are great opportunities for them to hear about the books others have loved reading too.
Please remember to sign your child’s home/school book each day that they read at home so that they can get all their certificates and rewards. Thank you!
And, Squirrels, if you're trying to decide on your next book, don't forget to have a look at these suggestions. You could encounter some unforgettable new characters, meet a few very familiar faces or learn lots of fascinating new facts!
50 Recommended Reads for Year 4 50 Recommended Reads for Year 5
Book of the Month September 2021 Books that are similar to...
Non-Fiction Choices What books would you add to any of these lists?
Staying Safe Online
Children, remember to practise your online safety skills so that you're Sharp, Alert, Secure, Kind & Brave whenever you're online. You can explore Interland or watch the Family Adventure together:
And some useful links to a range of valuable information for parents & carers about staying safe online:
Parent Zone Be Internet Legends Parents' Page & Parent Info
Thinkuknow
Internet Matters
LGfL
Net Aware
Weekly Homework
Homework is set every Friday and is due in the following Wednesday. The tasks will be available through the link at the top of this page each week too.
Other ongoing daily tasks
Spellings: Also available through the link on this page each week, spellings will be set on Monday and then tested on Friday. Please ensure your child practises their words regularly at home. In the back of your child's home/school book you'll find the lists of all the Year 3 & 4 and Year 5 & 6 words that they'll need to be certain of too.
Doodle Maths & Doodle Tables: Each child has their Doodle login now and we recommend they spend at least 10 minutes a day on these.
Tables: The 12 Times Tables are tested each week and, as they underpin so much Maths work, lots of practice at home is very important in getting everyone to be really quick, secure and confident in their recall. There's Monster Multiplication and the timed Multiplication on Purple Mash and lots of other online games and activities available to help too.
Thank you for all your help in this.
P.E.
Our PE lessons are still on Mondays and Thursdays so the children will need to come to school already dressed in their correct kit on those days. We aim to do all these lessons outside, so the appropriate kit is important:
- Farmborough House Group t-shirt or a plain coloured t-shirt for correct House
- Navy blue or black sports shorts
- Plimsolls or trainers
- Sports socks
- Long joggers and plain/school style sweatshirt for cold weather
We won’t run lessons outdoors in very wet weather, but it will be really useful for the children to bring in a spare set of clothes and footwear when the weather's not so great. If preferred, these spares can be left in school in your child’s P.E. bag.
** Please ensure that all items coming into school are very clearly named. Thank you! **
Other General Reminders:
Please ensure that children have a rainproof coat with hood, hat and wellies (in a carrier bag) in school every day and that all belongings are clearly named.
Items coming in and out of school should still be kept to a minimum at this time and lunch boxes and pencil cases should be wipeable.
Classrooms are still not always as warm as would be normal for this time of year due to the need for extra ventilation, so please ensure your child wears appropriate uniform for cooler days.
Finally, if you need to get in touch or you have any concerns or queries at all, please use the Class Mailbox which will be checked regularly. I'll be in the playground at the end of each day too and, as always, you can also send messages via the Office and your child's Home School Book. If there's an urgent matter, it's always best to phone or email the Office. Thank you!
In our Collective Worship at the end of Friday 20th March 2020, as we closed our school for the first lockdown, we heard this traditional Blessing prayed for our whole school community. Opening our doors for the start of a brand new year is a good time to see it again.