(Year 5) Corvus

Welcome to Corvus

Year 5

September 2019

CORVUS AUTUMN NEWSLETTER

Welcome back to you all!

We hope you had a great summer and feel rested, ready to work and enthusiastic about the new term. We certainly are!

Staff in Corvus

Miss Racster – Class Teacher

Mrs Lamb – Learning Support Assistant (every day except Wednesdays)

Miss Turnbull – Learning Support Assistant (Wednesdays)

HLTA – Mrs Cartwright (Teaching Monday afternoons)

Homework

Homework will be set 3 times a week and will be a mixture of Literacy, Maths and Topic work. Homework is generally set to be done for the next day although some topic homework is due in a week later. Homework is an important part of children’s learning, particularly as children in Corvus are building up towards Year 6 and their SATs. It is a good chance to consolidate learning done in lessons in school. Children are only given homework that has been covered in class or is basic revision and it should normally take no longer than 20 – 30 minutes.

Although some homework may be difficult, it is important that they have a go at it and speak to a member of staff the next day if they have any serious problems. We do expect anyone who does not return their homework to complete it during the school day but we are always happy to support anyone who is really struggling. It is very important that children are encouraged to spend time on their homework and hand it in on time every week and we really appreciate all your support with this.

Topics this term.

Maths: place value, addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.

It is REALLY IMPORTANT for children to learn any times tables they still aren’t confident about and to be able to tell the time accurately using digital and analogue clocks.

Literacy: Narrative mystery stories, report texts, myths and legends, instructions, stories from other cultures.
Science:  Forces, Earth and Space.
Geography: Norway (linked to Vikings topic).

History: Vikings and the Anglo-Saxons.
RE: Should we forgive others?
PHSE: Keeping safe and managing risks, Mental health and emotional well-being.
Art: Sculpture work – looking at David Smith’s style.
DT: Cam Shafts – linked with Earth and Space; food technology – making soup.

ICT: Online safety, emailing and blogging, researching, databases, game developing.
Music: Rock songs, exploring notation, Harvest and Christmas singing.

PE:  Table tennis, gymnastics and multi-skills. PE will be on Monday and Wednesday afternoons.

Please can you ensure that children have an indoor and outdoor P.E. kit at all times including suitable footwear and please make sure it is brought to school on Monday morning where it can stay in school until Friday.
Outdoor P.E kit: Trainers are essential, a tracksuit (blue or black) and a team polo shirt.
Indoor P.E kit: Pumps, blue or black shorts and a team polo shirt.

There is a big emphasis in the curriculum on speaking and listening. We will be doing lots of work in all subjects around this and we are encouraging the children to speak in sentences rather than one word answers.

Reading

Although the children are older and have learnt to read, it is still important to talk to them about their reading and share books and stories together. Sustained reading and skimming and scanning for information are important skills which can be practised at home by reading for at least 10 minutes each night. It does work!

Important notices

Please make sure you ring school if your child is absent. This is especially important in Upper Key Stage Two when children are starting to walk to school on their own so please ring or email as soon as possible in the morning.

Water bottles

We would strongly recommend children having their own water bottle, labelled with their name, in school at all times. Children are given opportunity to have drinks throughout the day and are allowed to refill their bottles using the water fountain.

Toast

Children have the opportunity to buy a piece of toast once a week. It costs 20p and children can pay week by week or several weeks at once in cash and not on Parent Pay please. We have toast every Wednesday morning.

Sculpture Park trip

On Wednesday 18th September, we will be once again be visiting the Yorkshire Sculpture Park. This year we are focussing on the work of David Smith and we will be having a workshop with staff from the park plus some time to explore as a class too. Fingers crossed for good weather!

Finally parents, we would love to invite you in at any time to chat to us, see what your child is doing or even come and join in with a lesson!

Please see us any night after school, or send an e-mail or letter if you need any information. We look forward to hearing from you.

Thank you for your support,

Miss Racster, Mrs Lamb and Miss Turnbull