ST THOMAS OF CANTERBURY CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL
Headteacher: Mrs Michelle Keating BEd (Hons)
Assistant Head: Mr Andrew Booth BSc (Hons)
High Street Tel: 01920 821450
Puckeridge
Ware E-Mail:
Herts SG11 1RZ Website: www.stcanterbury.herts.sch.uk
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4th September 2017
Welcome back we hope you had a great summer break. Year 5/6 (29 children) have made a really positive start to the year and I hope this will continue.
In class I will be supported by Mrs Coles. On Tuesdays Mrs King will teach Year 5/6 whilst I am out of class and on Fridays I will be directing work delivered by Mrs Coles and Mr Hill with our new sports coach – Mr Fitzgerald delivering PE.
This term our main theme will be a study of the influence that the Ancient Greeks had on society today. History, geography, art, DT and where possible science and English will all be linked to this theme. Children will be encouraged to do some independent research around this topic as part of an extended homework activity during the term.
Below are the main areas of study to be covered in each area of learning this term:
R.E. :
· The Kingdom of God
· God’s Covenants
We will continue to celebrate liturgical festivals of Harvest and All Saints as well as highlighting other Saint’s days. Our Christmas preparations will close the term. Our class assembly will be on 19th October at 9.15am with a theme of ‘The Kingdom of God’.
In our study of Ancient Greece – we will be looking at life in Athens and Sparta, famous battles, systems of government, Greek schooling, famous Greeks, architecture, worship and myths.
Other topics covered this term will include:
· Science: ‘Staying Alive’ - the heart and the importance of diet and exercise, ‘Let it Shine’ - properties of light and ‘We are Electrifying’ - factors affecting the performance in electrical circuits.
· Computing: year 5 will be looking at coding for games and code breaking technology. Year 6 will be looking at the design of computer based adventure games and binary searches.
· Design and Technology: development of construction skills through study of what makes a strong structure, design and construction of a model Greek Temple.
· Art: still life studies, making and decorating Greek style clay pots and masks
Please ensure that all P.E./Games kit is named clearly – including socks! and that it is available in school every day.
Children should have the specified school kit (see website) A pair of trainers should be provided for games use and these should be left in school to be available every day. For swimming please ensure children have plain black or navy blue lycra type trunks or swimsuit (no beachwear) along with a hat to cover long hair and goggles.
I cannot overemphasise the importance of name labelling all of your child’s PE kit and school uniform. We often struggle to reunite unnamed, lost items with their owners and at year end we end up discarding many unclaimed items.
Tag Rugby will take place during the first half term with Mr Green (Thursday afternoons), Year 5 will be swimming on Tuesdays for 8 weeks.
Homework - In Years 5 and 6 the importance of homework cannot be over-stressed. Parental support for encouraging a good homework routine is essential; enabling children to become confident and independent in completing tasks with minimal parental input. Following lessons often depend on this work having been completed. Children are encouraged to plan their homework schedule carefully to meet deadlines in a way that does not leave everything to the night before it is due. This is preparing them for moving on to secondary school.
There is never ‘no homework’. Year 6 children are expected to spend an average of 40 minutes per night and Year 5 35 minutes per night. Apart from weekly English and maths tasks there may be theme based, history, science or R.E. research, and there are always spellings to learn, times-tables to practise and, when all that is done, reading.
Thank you for your support. Please do not hesitate to contact me either in person or through the Home/School Diary should you have any queries or concerns.
Mr A Booth
Assistant Headteacher
Diocese of Westminster School
‘We learn, love, respect and accept our responsibilities through our faith in Jesus Christ’