Summer Term Issue 32: 6th June 2025
Flourishing in the love of God, love of life, love of learning
Dear Families,
Welcome back! I hope you all had a restful and enjoyable break. As we begin the final half term of the school year, there’s a lot happening, so please do check your emails for key dates and details.
This morning, I had the pleasure of hosting our Summer Term Headteacher’s Parent Café. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who was able to attend. I always find these sessions incredibly valuable—it’s a great opportunity to hear your feedback and ideas.
During the session, I shared updates on what’s been going on in school, including our ongoing work with Let’s Go Zero on our Climate Action Plan. We’ve been taking meaningful steps to make our school more sustainable and to embed sustainability into our children’s learning.
We also had a sneak peek at a fantastic video about OPAL at SJSC, created by Mrs Davies, and celebrated the brilliant curriculum enhancements made possible by the generous support of the PTFA—from enriching trips to inspiring visitors.
We discussed school-home communications, and it was encouraging to hear that our current approaches are working well. Parents also suggested ideas such as ‘open sessions’ to give families a window into everyday school life—something we’re excited to explore further.
On that note, we’re looking forward to our OPAL Stay and Play sessions this half term. These are a wonderful opportunity for you to experience the joy and creativity of our playtimes. Sessions are tailored to different key stages, but we especially encourage everyone to attend the Parent Talk by Cath Prisk, an inspiring expert in play, on Friday 20th June, straight after drop-off.
You will have received a letter today about our upcoming SIAMS Inspection next week. We are incredibly proud of our school, our children, and our community, and we look forward to welcoming our visitors and sharing all that makes SJSC so special.
Finally, don’t forget our annual Eco March on Goose Green next Friday afternoon—see below for more details. We hope you’ll join us in supporting our mini change-makers as they raise their voices for the planet!
Wishing you a lovely weekend ahead.
Alli
Upcoming Diary Dates
Reception
This week in Reception we discovered a treasure map and a pirate chest with the book “The Night Pirates” inside. We have played “hunt the pirate” reading clues and then written our own clues “It is under the rug!”. A letter arrived inviting us to apply to join the crew- so the children have been writing letters to the Captain about what they would be good at on board. Outside the children have been building pirate ships and trying to work out ways to climb the rigging and hoist the sail. In maths we have been using Rekenreks (a simple abacus) to help build our subitising skills and embed number knowledge, by practising we can automatically move 4 beads or seven beads without counting or even thinking about it. In RE we have been sharing our special objects and explain why they are precious to us.
Next week we have a Pirate Day on Monday- children can dress up as a pirate if they would like, but we will also be making props in school too. We are collecting loo roll tubes for telescopes, jam jar lids for compasses and old junk jewellery for treasure Arrrr!
Year 1
This week, Year 1 have blown us away with how well they are concentrating with whole class learning. They are almost like Year 2s! Well done! In History we completed our own ballot around the fruit snack, and we experienced what it feels like to not have a voice/chance to vote. We then linked this learning to Emily Wilding Davison and discussed how she tried to fight for change. We were very lucky to have a dance workshop on Friday where we created our own animal stories through drama and dance. We were able to use our understanding of fish, mammals, amphibians, reptiles and bird to help us.
Year 2
It has been a great start to Summer 2! The Year 2’s were so exctied to start their new topic ‘The Great Fire of London’. Throughout the term they will be working very hard to write and design pieces to present at their London Expo to share with friends and family later in the term. This week they started researching popular landmarks in London to make a leaflet for the exhibit. We are so excited to show you all the amazing work they complete during this term.
Year 3
Super sounds! This week in science, children have explored Sound and investigated how sound can be seen, felt and heard. We used simple items and instruments to help us develop our knowledge and believe the pictures speak for themselves at the excitement of the lesson! Great work everyone exploring how vibrations of the tuning fork impact on water. Maybe, you could try one of these experiments at home, such as using string on a wire coat hanger to see how sound is amplified? Enjoy!
Year 4
In science this week, the year 4s made poo! We couldn't think of a better way to introduce our new topic on ‘Animals including Humans’!
We used bananas and crackers to made the food and reenacted each step of the digestive process using tubes, bags and tights! I am sure it will make a good evening meal conversation tonight.
Please do watch Operation Ouch to further support your child’s learning in a funny and well explained way.
Year 5
It has been lovely to welcome the children back after the half term and become immersed in their new learning. This week, the children have really enjoyed beginning our new English book the ‘Children of the Benin Kingdom’. In PE, we also begun our new unit, ‘problem solving’, which involves the children working together collaboratively. The children particularly enjoyed the trust-based tasks, where they had to complete an obstacle course, blindfolded, only listening to their partner’s instructions. It was lots of fun and we are excited about the challenges to come throughout the term.
Year 6
🎭 Year 6 Summer Production – Shrek the Musical Jr. Auditions Complete! 🐲
Year 6 have had an exciting week as we kicked off preparations for our end-of-year production: Shrek the Musical Jr.!
The children threw themselves into the audition process with enthusiasm, energy and lots of laughter. From bold performances to fantastic character voices and even a few surprise dance moves, we were so impressed by their creativity and confidence.
Every child had the chance to audition for a role – whether they were aiming for a lead part or a spot in the ensemble. We are now busy finalising parts and will be announcing the full cast very soon.
Rehearsals will begin shortly, and we can already tell this show is going to be something truly special. We can’t wait to bring the world of Shrek to life on stage and share it with you all later this term!
Music this week…
In Music this half term Reception (Himid) will be learning about Dynamics and listening to Bjork’s song, It’s Oh So Quiet.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htobTBlCvUU
Children in Year 1 are learning about rhythmic patterns and will be understanding how singing can be used as a means of communication. They will be listening to The Cat Duet by Rossini and will playing a few games involving Cats and Mice.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5bJJviAX0c
Year 2 Children will using unpitched percussion instruments to play different rhythms as they learn a piece of music called Time which has been written by the team at SingUp.
Year 3 continue with their work on Beethoven and will be composing their own storm music using movement 4 of his 6th Symphony as inspiration.
Year 4 children are starting to stage their own version of The Magic Flute, learning songs which have been adapted from Mozart’s Opera and thinking about how the various characters could be portrayed on stage.
In Year 5 we are getting prepared for our trip to The Royal Festival Hall. We will be listening to music from Stravinsky’s Pretrushka and learning a song which all schools will perform.
Year 6 have resumed their African Drumming sessions and will also be putting their efforts into thinking about the End of Year Production.
News from the Art Studio…
Our first week back has been buzzing with creativity. Year 1 have completed their Lorna Simpson-inspired portraits using inks and sparkles. Reception Stik are exploring rollercoasters. Over the next few weeks, they will use a variety of paper building techniques to design their own rollercoaster. Year 6 have finally got their hands on some spray paint and are using it to create banners for our Eco march.
ECO Team
The Climate change March is taking place on Friday 13th June 2.15 on Goose Green.
Don't delay and make your banner today!
You can make your banner at home or during lunch play.
There will be prizes for the most CREATIVE signs.
Values Awards
Every half term we focus in on one of our school values. On the last day of term we celebrate children who demonstrated the value wonderfully.
Reading Champions are chosen each half term to inspire us all- they are children who show lots of effort, dedication and enthusiasm for reading.
Well done to all of our award winners …
Friends of SJSC
Volunteers Needed!!
The Summer Fair is now only 2 weeks away and we need your help! Can you spare an hour on the day to help on one of the stalls or to help set-up? If so, please contact your year rep or email sjscptfa@gmail.com
Kids Craft Stall
We’ll be holding another kids craft market at the upcoming Summer Fair. There will be an area where children can run pop up stalls selling crafts they’ve made, to raise money for the school. It’s been very popular and one of our top money raisers!
If your child (on their own or in a group) are keen to take part, please message Sue Mantle on 07703 515592 with the child/rens names and class.
See you next week!