Year 3/4 Blog Post Friday 16th December 2022

 Dear Parents/Caregivers,

We hope you have all had a lovely week and are beginning to think about the upcoming Christmas break. The children have been working very hard this week recreating their own versions of 'A Christmas Carol' in English and taking part in a variety or artistic activities. We have also begun to focus on division in Maths lessons. It would be really beneficial if the children could continue to practise their times tables at home over the holidays as this will have a big impact on their understanding of division over the first few sessions back.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Tuesday 20th December 9:30am - EYFS nativity to parents

Tuesday 20th December - last day of school

Thursday 5th January 2023 - return to school

HOMEWORK OVER THE HOLIDAYS

We will not be setting any formal homework over the Christmas holidays but please could your child continue to read for 15-20 minutes at least 3 times a week? It would great if they were able to log into Sumdog and TTRS if they are able to as well. 

As a further additional task; the children could always complete an activity on the Homework Menu for our new topic: Around the World in 80 Days. This can be found on the link below.

Around the World in 80 Days

 

If you have any issues or questions, please, please come and see us at the end of the day. Just come down the steps to see us!

Have a great weekend!

Kind regards,

Miss Harvey, Mrs O'Connor and Mr Greenfield

Year 3/4 Blog Friday 9th December '22

Dear Parents/Caregivers,

We hope you have all had a lovely week and are beginning to think about the upcoming Christmas break. Christmas Jumper Day has been lovely. Once again, thank you for your donations that will go towards Thoko, our sponsored child in Malawi. 

A reminder that as the cold weather is upon us that as well as coats it would be great to see the children wearing a scarf and gloves to protect them from the chills.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Wednesday 14th December - Christmas Dinner Day

Friday 16th December - PTA Christmas Grotto/Christmas Sale

Tuesday 20th December 9:30am - EYFS nativity to parents

Tuesday 20th December - last day of school

Thursday 5th January 2023 - return to school

CHRISTMAS JUMPER DAY

All the children looked amazing in their Christmas Jumpers today and we have raised money that will continue to sponsor Thoko and her local community in Malawi. We thought you might like to hear what Thoko wrote in her most recent letter to us. She writes:

Dear Down Hall

I am learning in Standard 4. I go to school everyday. I always work hard in classes and my end of term results are always good. When I finish school I want to be a nurse. Very soon we will start harvesting crops. Greetings to you!

Thoko

A local representative who oversees Action Aid's money also adds:

Dear Supporter

One of the problems in Primary Schools is the shortage of desks. As a way of addressing the issue, we bought desks and shared them with two Primary Schools in the Kalowe Zone. This initiative has helped increase the number of children who have access to sit at a desk. Thank you for your support which has really promoted education in the area.

It's amazing to think that from such a small act on our behalf, we can make such a big difference for the young people who live such a long way away but share our right to an education. Thank you all so much!

SANTA DASH!

Next week, children across the school will be taking part in the Santa Dash challenge set by Deane's.  During the week, they will be walking, jogging or running to accumulate as many miles as they can to add to a whole school total.  We will send our results to Deanes who will add our score to those from other schools to see if, as a school sports partnership, we can make it all the way to the North Pole!  Children may bring in Santa hats to wear during the 'dash' if they wish!  

Good luck everyone!

Miss Sharman

NO HOMEWORK THIS WEEK

Due to the children having taken part in assessments all week we have made the decision to give them a break from homework.

 

If you have any issues or questions, please, please come and see us at the end of the day. Just come down the steps to see us!

Have a great weekend!

Kind regards,

Mrs Hurley, Miss Harvey and Mr Greenfield

Year 3/4 Blog Friday 2nd December '22

Dear Parents/Caregivers,

We hope you have all had a lovely week and are beginning to think about the upcoming Christmas break. Looking ahead to Christmas Jumper Day which will be next Friday, please come to school in regular school uniform (including a tie) wearing a Christmas jumper if you choose to do so. Check out this week's newsletter for more details.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Friday 9th December - Christmas Jumper Day

Wednesday 14th December - Christmas Dinner Day

Friday 16th December - PTA Christmas Grotto/Christmas Sale

Tuesday 20th December 9:30am - EYFS nativity to parents

Tuesday 20th December - last day of school

Thursday 5th January 2023 - return to school

CHRISTMAS JUMPER DAY

Article 28 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child states that "All children have the right to an education".  We take this right very seriously at Down Hall and just over 3 years ago, the School Council chose to raise money to sponsor a child to go to school who currently did not enjoy this right.  

We are now in our 5th year of sponsoring Thoko, a girl from Malawi, to go to school.  It is through wearing our Christmas jumpers and making a donation on this day that pays for Thoko's education for the whole year!  So, feel very festive in your Christmas jumper on Friday, but also feel very proud when you make your suggested £1 donation that you are making a massive impact on the life of another child. 

 

                                  

PLASTIC BAGS

Please can you provide your child with a strong plastic bag. This bag will be used to put your child's previous school books in. Many thanks.

HOMEWORK
Must Do
Year 3/4  Homework Tasks - Due Thursday 8th December
Homework Pages
Year 3 - English everybody Pg 8-9 Verbs
Maths - everybody Pg 12/13 Partitioning numbers

Year 4 - English everybody Pg 6 Verbs
Maths everybody Pg 6 Counting in Multiples

• Reading: Remember 15-20 minutes at least 3 times a week is super important. You will have taken your Reading Record home for your parents to comment on. These will be collected by teachers and checked from time to time. Please make sure you bring your book back when you are finished and your teacher can change it for you. As soon as you are ready you can take a quiz at school. Remember that you need 3x 100% scores to move up a level.
• High Frequency Words - Learn the words in your Reading Records. Practice spelling them out loud and writing them down.
• Times table practice - this week we are looking at 5's/6's. Please practice these as we do in school.

Can Do

• Continue logging on to TTRS, Sumdog - your logins are stuck in the front cover of your Reading Records.
• https://school-learningzone.co.uk/key_stage_two/ks2_religious_education/ks2_christmas/ks2_christmas.html

Click on the link to find out all about the true meaning of Christmas.

Don't forget to keep up all your fantastic efforts with your reading at home - it will make a huge impact on your child's reading development.

If you have any issues or questions, please, please come and see us at the end of the day. Just come down the steps to see us!

Have a great weekend!

Kind regards,

Mrs Hurley, Miss Harvey and Mr Greenfield

Year 3/4 Blog Friday 25th November '22

Happy Friday everybody. We hope you've had a fabulous week! This week in Year 3/4 we have been looking at grid method in multiplication. We have also been drafting an explanation text on what the Romans did for us. In Science, we have been designing and making magnetic board games. Lots of fun had this week!

DESIGN TECHNOLOGY

On Thursday we came together as a Year 3/4 phase group to discuss and plan our Roman gladius (swords). An interesting fact from Roman times is that if you killed your father, you were put in a bag with a wild dog and a lobster and thrown (alive) into a river!

Please do keep the cardboard coming in and also any donations of tinfoil would be gratefully received.

UPCOMING EVENTS

A few notes for your diary during November - more details will be on the newsletter as we get nearer to the time

• 29th November - Flu Immunisations 

• Wednesday 30th November - PTA KS2 Movie Night

• Friday 2nd December - PTA EYFS/KS1 Movie Night

• Friday 9th December - Christmas Jumper Day

HOMEWORK
Must Do
Year 3/4  Homework Tasks - Due Thursday 1st December
Homework Pages
Year 3 - English everybody Pg 64-65
Maths - everybody Pg 27

Year 4 - English everybody Pg 64-65
Maths everybody Pg 27

• Reading: Remember 15-20 minutes at least 3 times a week is super important. You will have taken your Reading Record home for your parents to comment on. These will be collected by teachers and checked from time to time. Please make sure you bring your book back when you are finished and your teacher can change it for you. As soon as you are ready you can take a quiz at school. Remember that you need 3x 100% scores to move up a level.
• High Frequency Words - Learn the words in your Reading Records. Practice spelling them out loud and writing them down.
• Times table practice - this week we are looking at 5's/6's. Please practice these as we do in school.

Can Do

• Continue logging on to TTRS, Sumdog - your logins are stuck in the front cover of your Reading Records.
• PSHE - Is it right that Harry Kane was not allowed to wear the 'One Love' rainbow armband?
Present a For and Against argument to demonstrate your opinion. This could be written on paper and handed to your teacher or as a Google Doc 

Don't forget to keep up all your fantastic efforts with your reading at home - it will make a huge impact on your child's reading development.

If you have any issues or questions, please, please come and see us at the end of the day. Just come down the steps to see us!

Have a great weekend!

Kind regards,

Mrs Hurley, Miss Harvey and Mr Greenfield

Year 3/4 Blog Friday 18th November '22

Happy Friday everybody. We hope you've had a fabulous week! This week in Year 3/4 we have been looking at Multiplication. We have also been researching What the Romans did for us in order to write our own explanation text.

We had a great time in our pyjama's at school today. Thanks so much for your kind donations. We will give a updated total as soon as we hear how much the Down Hall children have raised! Well done everybody for helping children to enjoy their rights both globally and locally!

FAREWELL MISS BARTLETT

This week we bid farewell to Miss Bartlett. We would like to say a massive thank you for teaching Opal class while Mr. Greenfield has been away. We wish you all the best for the future.

We will be welcoming Mr. Greenfield back to school on Monday 21st November. We trust the children and school community will welcome his return.

UPCOMING EVENTS

A few notes for your diary during November - more details will be on the newsletter as we get nearer to the time

• Friday 25th November - PTA Christmas Jumper Sale

• 29th November - Flu Immunisations 

• Wednesday 30th November - PTA KS2 Movie Night

• Friday 2nd December - PTA EYFS/KS1 Movie Night

• Friday 9th December - Christmas Jumper Day

And finally, Mrs Hurley has been granted special leave to go home to New Zealand the week before Christmas. During the Pandemic, people were prevented from travelling to New Zealand and until recently, the borders have remained closed. With this in mind, Mrs Hurley and her family are going to be reunited for the first time in over 3 years. Mrs O'Connor will be teaching in Moonstone class for the time that Mrs Hurley is away. We thank you for your understanding.

HOMEWORK
Must Do
Year 3/4  Homework Tasks - Due Thursday 24th November
Homework Pages
Year 3 - English everybody Pg 4-5
Maths - everybody Pg 26

Year 4 - English everybody Pg 4-5
Maths everybody Pg 26

• Reading: Remember 15-20 minutes at least 3 times a week is super important. You will have taken your Reading Record home for your parents to comment on. These will be collected by teachers and checked from time to time. Please make sure you bring your book back when you are finished and your teacher can change it for you. As soon as you are ready you can take a quiz at school. Remember that you need 3x 100% scores to move up a level.
• High Frequency Words - Learn the words in your Reading Records. Practice spelling them out loud and writing them down.
• Times table practice - this week we are looking at 5's. Please practice these as we do in school.

Can Do

• Continue logging on to TTRS, Sumdog - your logins are stuck in the front cover of your Reading Records.
• Football World Cup - Use the internet or non-fiction books from the library to research a country in the Men’s World Cup 2022.
  Record your answers using notes and illustration.
  Mark the country on the world map below and draw its flag next to it.

Don't forget to keep up all your fantastic efforts with your reading at home - it will make a huge impact on your child's reading development.

If you have any issues or questions, please, please come and see us at the end of the day. Just come down the steps to see us!

Have a great weekend!

Kind regards,

Mrs Hurley, Miss Harvey and Miss Bartlett

Year 3/4 Blog Friday 11th November '22

Happy Friday everybody. We hope you've had a fabulous week! This week in Year 3/4 we have been looking at column subtraction in Maths and solving word problems. We have completed our shape poems in English.

 

Today we marked the this momentous date in our calendar in a number of ways. We read some stories of remembrance and talked about the meaning of these. On Remembrance Day we remember all those whose lives have been affected by conflict since World War 1, and those who have died in particular.

Upcoming Events

A few notes for your diary during November - more details will be on the newsletter as we get nearer to the time:

• 17th November - Individual and sibling photographs
• 18th November - Children in Need Pyjama Day (come to school in your pyjamas. You are welcome to wear trainers)
• 27th November - Flu Immunisation's 

Thank you to everyone who returned Christmas card designs.  If you placed an order online, it will be delivered in time for the end of term and will be given to you child when it arrives in school.

If you still need to return the yellow data sheets which were sent home, could you please do so as soon as possible, so that the office can update their records.

HOMEWORK
Must Do
Year 3/4  Homework Tasks - Due Thursday 17th November
Homework Pages
Year 3 - English everybody Pg 94-95
Maths - everybody Pg 25

Year 4 - English everybody Pg 96-98
Maths everybody Pg 23

• Reading: Remember 15-20 minutes at least 3 times a week is super important. You will have taken your Reading Record home for your parents to comment on. These will be collected by teachers and checked from time to time. Please make sure you bring your book back when you are finished and your teacher can change it for you. As soon as you are ready you can take a quiz at school. Remember that you need 3x 100% scores to move up a level.
• High Frequency Words - Learn the words in your Reading Records. Practice spelling them out loud and writing them down.
• Times table practice - this week we are looking at 5's. Please practice these as we do in school.

Can Do

• Continue logging on to TTRS, Sumdog - your logins are stuck in the front cover of your Reading Records.
• Current Events - bring a newspaper clipping or write down a piece of news that has taken your interest this week. It can be local, national or international news as long as it is current.

Don't forget to keep up all your fantastic efforts with your reading at home - it will make a huge impact on your child's reading development.

If you have any issues or questions, please, please come and see us at the end of the day. Just come down the steps to see us!

Have a great weekend!

Kind regards,

Mrs Hurley, Miss Harvey and Miss Bartlett

Year 3/4 Blogpost Friday 4th November '22

 Dear Parents,

We hope you have all had a lovely week. Year 3/4 children have been super busy continuing their learning on column addition. It has been amazing to see how much progress each child has made towards this written calculation method. In English, we have been studying Shape Poems.  The children also participated in an assembly relating to Bonfire Night and firework safety.

PLASTIC BAG

Please can you send your child in to school with a strong plastic bag next week. We will be sending home some of their school books from last year.

BOOK FAIR

The Book Fair comes to Down Hall between Tuesday 8th November and Friday 11th November. The book fair will be open after school for you to purchase books with your child - please note that it will be cash only.

During the book fair, any child purchasing a book will be given a raffle ticket where the winner will receive a £5 voucher which can be used at the book fair on the Friday.

WINTER IS FAST APPROACHING

Please ensure your child brings a warm coat to wear on a daily basis.
Many thanks

REMEMBRANCE DAY 

Next week we will be conducting a special day of Remembrance on the 11th November. We will be learning about the meaning of this special day. If the children have any items that they wish to share please feel free to bring them in to school.

Poppies and other items will be for sale next week. Please read the school newsletter for more details.

HOMEWORK
Must Do
Year 3/4  Homework Tasks - Due Thursday 10th November
Homework Pages
Year 3 - English everybody Pg 28-29
Maths - everybody Pg 6

Year 4 - English everybody Pg 30-31
Maths everybody Pg 8-9

• Reading: Remember 15-20 minutes at least 3 times a week is super important. You will have taken your Reading Record home for your parents to comment on. These will be collected by teachers and checked from time to time. Please make sure you bring your book back when you are finished and your teacher can change it for you. As soon as you are ready you can take a quiz at school. Remember that you need 3x 100% scores to move up a level.
• High Frequency Words - Learn the words in your Reading Records. Practice spelling them out loud and writing them down.
• Times table practice - this week we are looking at 4's. Please practice these as we do in school.

Can Do

• Continue logging on to TTRS, Sumdog - your logins are stuck in the front cover of your Reading Records.
• Create a shape poem to do with Bonfire Night. It could be in the shape of a firework or a bonfire. Please bring into school to share.

Have a fantastic weekend and stay safe!

Love Mrs Hurley, Miss Bartlett and Miss Harvey