As writers, the children have been enjoying our Poetry Basket focus this week, exploring the rhythm and language of seasonal poems. They have also continued developing their story language through Story Steps – Incy Wincy Spider, joining in with repeated phrases and using actions to support their understanding. Alongside this, children in Reception have been practising their sounds and blending simple words to build reading fluency, and some of them have been impressing us by writing simple words using 'Fred Fingers' to pinch on each sound before writing it down. 

In Drawing Club, we went on adventures with the wonderful story 'My Rice is Best.' It has been fantastic to see more children attempting to add words to their drawings and using their phonics knowledge to help them. 

As communicators, we have carried on with our Tales Toolkit sessions. The children have been especially enthusiastic about our Global Storytime, where we explored tales and simple greetings from different countries. This has helped the children make connections between languages and stories from around the world.

As mathematicians, the children have been consolidating their understanding of numbers to 5 and exploring the properties of shapes with four sides. Through hands-on activities, they have investigated squares and rectangles and used mathematical vocabulary such as sides, corners, and straight lines to describe them.

As artists, the children have continued exploring pattern and printmaking. This week they enjoyed printing patterns, creating repeating designs, and investigating how texture and pressure affect the marks they make. They also began designing and making Christmas cards, developing their fine motor skills and creativity.

As musicians, the children have been practising their Nativity songs and actions with growing confidence. We are so proud of their enthusiasm and cannot wait to share their performance with you on Wednesday! 

As scientists, cooks and designers, the children took part in a wonderful tasting session, exploring foods from around the world and talking about where these foods come from. They used describing words such as sweet, crunchy, soft and salty and showed great curiosity when trying new flavours. Thank you so much for your generous food contributions—the children thoroughly enjoyed sharing special foods from home with their friends.

As geographers, we learned about where our food comes from. Using maps and a globe, the children discovered that different foods grow in different countries and climates. They enjoyed matching foods such as bananas, rice and oranges to the places they grow, and understanding that our world is full of different foods and cultures.

As athletes and movers, the children continued with Write Dance, building their gross-motor strength through large, rhythmic movements. Dough Disco and Squiggle sessions also helped the children strengthen their fingers in preparation for writing and drawing tasks and activities.

As citizens in PSHE, we have been thinking about how we can be honest. Some of the children listened to the story 'The Boy Who Cried Wolf', and we talked about the importance of saying what really happened. 

We ended the week with a fun Santa Dash, where the children wore Santa hats and raced around the big playground! 

A gentle reminder;

Please check your child’s bag and pockets for school toys and resources. Several items have gone missing over the term, and we would really appreciate anything that belongs to the school being returned so all children can continue to enjoy them.

Our Nativity Show, The Jolly Christmas Postman, will take place at SS Mary and John Church at 10am. Festive treats and hot drinks will be available at the back of the church for you to enjoy when you arrive. The children have been working incredibly hard and are very excited to share their performance with you. We warmly welcome all friends and family to join us, and we encourage plenty of supportive clapping and cheering throughout the show!

All costumes/outfits need to be in school by tomorrow (Monday) for our dress rehearsal in school. 

Thank you to the parents who have already offered to help walk with us to the church on Wednesday morning. To ensure we can walk the children to and from the church safely and with the correct adult-to-child ratios, we do still need a few more pre-school parents to join us. If you can help, please let your key person know or email the Barrier Reef team. We will be leaving school at 8:45 am and returning at approximately 11:15 am. Your support makes these visits possible, and we are very grateful.

National Christmas Jumper day is on THURSDAY. If your child has a Christmas jumper they are welcome to wear it to school. 

Thank you for your continued support — we look forward to an exciting week ahead!