Owls
Welcome to the Owls
July 2024
Dear Parents and Owlets,
It has been lovely to spend some time with the Owlets during our transition days and getting to know them as individuals.
Next year, I will teach Owls on Monday morning, Tuesday all day and Thursday and Friday mornings. Miss Gingell will teach Owls on a Wednesday. Other, subject specialist staff will teach the class as follows on Thursday and Friday afternoon:
Mrs. Leach will teach Geography,
Madame Bentley will teach French
Mrs. Davies – Computing.
Mrs. Stock will be Owls’ Teaching assistant.
Next term’s topic is entitled ‘Delightful Dragons.’ There will be more detail on the website in early September but we just wanted to outline some of the areas of the topic we will be learning about, so that you could spend some time exploring and preparing yourselves for next term.
Our writing focus will be narrative writing. The stimulus for this will be: ‘Gorilla’ by Anthony Browne.
In history, we will be learning about the Vikings and in geography, we will be learning about rivers.Please see the website for knowledge organisers.
Our science topic is ‘Animals including humans,’ with a focus on teeth and digestion.
Mathematics will focus on place value, addition and subtraction, multiplication and division and time. Please continue to practise your timetables as often as possible; these are absolutely key for future mathematical development.
Physical activity will continue to be a key component of next year’s curriculum and we start the term with invasion skills -including Fundamental Skills (Mondays with Mrs Wildman) and Ball Skills (Wednesdays with Miss G.) Please ensure your child comes to school on Mondays and Wednesdays in PE kit. They will require warm clothes, jumpers and tracksuit bottoms / leggings need to be black. Your child will also need a waterproof coat and outdoor trainers. Most physical education lessons will take place outside, so the correct clothing is essential. You will need to leave a pair of boots or outdoor shoes in school because we will try to have playtimes on the field even when it is wet and muddy. This will enable us to make the most of our beautiful environment.
Our class reader (which we have already started,) is ‘The Boy Who Grew Dragons’ by Andy Shepherd. We will also be enjoying many other texts including ‘How to train a dragon’ by Cressida Cowell. There are also other books by these authors that you might enjoy sharing. I have also been asked for more reading ideas, so here are a few: The Charlie Bone series, Horrid Henry (there is also an Early Reader series,) Dog Man, Bunny vs Monkey, the Tree House series. Jeremy Strong and Michael Morporgo (just check the story line because some can be quite sad and not necessary appropriate for year 4,) have also written a great deal of amazing books. Reading is essential for so many reasons, enjoyment, wellbeing, vocabulary and knowledge to name but a few.
Remember ‘We learn to read and then read to learn!
There are a few tasks we would like you to complete over the summer:
1. Regular practice of timetables - I will be checking TTR regularly. Miss Kaplan has already set a challenge between Eagles and Owls for September, so we need to be up to speed straight away! There are other websites such as: Hit the Button, Daily 10’ and Supermovers that will help your child learn their multiplication tables in a fun, interactive way.
2. Lots and lots of reading! Please sign up for this year’s reading challenge. The theme is Ready, Set, Read‘. It has gone digital, but also remember that libraries are a great place to visit. Here is the link: https://www.bedford.gov.uk/node/22357 We will be celebrating summer reading when children return to school in September, with lots of house points on offer! Your child has also been shown how to access Epic Reading. Please log on at https://www.getepic.com/sign-in The class sign in code is:bba2651 .There is a wide variety of interesting reading material for your child to access. It is available from 9am to 4pm on weekdays.
3. Listen, dance and sing to a variety of music, sharing your favourites in September.
4. Research and try out a variety of recipes, including some healthy eating ideas.
5. Have an absolutely lovely summer with lots of outdoor time – Remember
‘Outside and offline!
You are able to access this letter and all information regarding Owls 2024-2025 on the Owls’ web page.. It will be updated weekly during term time. Please make sure you look at it weekly and share the timetable and knowledge organisers so that you are prepared for each week’s activities and learning.
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any queries. For Mrs Wildman please use either emails:
sendco@sharnbrookprimary.beds.sch.uk ewildman@sharnbrookprimary.beds.sch.uk.
Miss Gingell for Art, DT, RE and PE cgingell@sharnbrookprimary.beds.sch.uk
Mrs. Leach for Geography – sleach@sharnbrookprimary.beds.sch.uk
Mrs. Davies for Computing, Monday PE and PHSE – ldavies@sharnbrookprimary.beds.sch.uk
Wishing you a happy summer holiday!
Yours sincerely,
Elaine Wildman.
Contact Details:
For Mrs Wildman please use either emails:
sendco@sharnbrookprimary.beds.sch.uk or ewildman@sharnbrookprimary.beds.sch.uk.
Miss Gingell for Art, DT, RE and PE –cgingell@sharnbrookprimary.beds.sch.uk
Mrs. Leach for Geography – sleach@sharnbrookprimary.beds.sch.uk
Mrs. Davies for Computing – ldavies@sharnbrookprimary.beds.sch.uk
Useful Websites:
How to find the North Star - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0xVTMlJrH4 We have been learning about how to find the North star as part of a discussion relating to out class reader. Here is a link to help them find it!
Epic Reading. Please log on at https://www.getepic.com/sign-in The class sign in code is: bba2651
https://www.topmarks.co.uk/maths-games/daily10
Supermovers:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/supermovers/ks2-maths-the-3-times-table/z6sw382
https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/supermovers/ks1-maths-the-4-times-table-with-cyril-the-swan/zmsw382
https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/supermovers/ks2-maths-the-6-times-table-with-fred-the-red/zrq3xyc
https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/supermovers/ks2-maths-the-8-times-table-with-filbert-fox/z4mrhbk
https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/supermovers/ks2-maths-the-9-times-table/zr2gt39
Here are just a few ways to help your child:
Share the weekly timetable with your child.
Ensure they bring their reading book and reading record to school every day. Inside their reading records are login details, it is a good idea to take a note or photograph of these just in case the reading record goes missing. The Seesaw login will enable you to see photographs and videos of your child. We will let you know when they are posted. They can also post photos and work onto it from home.
Get to school in plenty of time for an 8:45am start.
Hear your child read every night and read to them.
Encourage your child to complete Spelling Shed and TTR at least 4 times a week. (Spelling tests are on Friday mornings.)
Remind them to complete their homework and bring in their folder in every Thursday. In addition to daily reading, Spelling Shed and TTR, the children will be set one small task each week.
Send your child to school with outdoor shoes / boots , a water bottle and always send a coat even if it doesn’t look like rain!
Your children need to come to school in PE kit on Monday and Wednesdays.
Thank you for your support, we are really looking forward to a fun packed year. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.
Homework:
Thank you for encouraging your child to read daily. This is so important for both enjoyment, mental health and academic development. You learn to read and then you read to learn!
If your child can spend regular time on TTR and spelling shed this will also help them. Little and often is the key, but please don't worry if this isn't always possible, there has to be a balance. Down time, spending time with family and friends, being outside and doing physical activity are also very important.
A small task will be set on a Thursday and this needs to be completed and returned every Thursday.
Spelling Tests take place on Fridays and new spellings are set on Friday.
Arrival Time: Just a polite reminder that year 4 arrival time is 8:45am.
Click here to go the words and music for Jack and the Beanstalk
