Year 3

We are finishing off the year with creativity, curiosity and lots of fun activities the children can remember and think back on during their summer holidays! In the last two weeks we have been learning all about statistics in maths and exploring how to collect and present data using pictograms and bar charts.  We’ve thought about why these tools are useful and what information they give us. In history, we’ve continued our journey through Ancient Egypt, focusing on the importance of the River Nile. Did you know the God of the Nile is called Happi? The children created fantastic freeze frames to show the lively scenes that might have taken place around the river. We also had a wonderful trip to Richmond Synagogue, where we learned about Jewish beliefs, traditions, and places of worship. In science, we've been investigating how plants adapt to different environments, including why cacti have spines and how plants survive in poor soil.  Sandwich making was a great success and proved to taste as good as they looked!

It really has been a fantastic year that has taken us on so many exciting learning journeys, from the Stone Age to Ancient Egypt, up mountains, through rock layers and into the world of forces. In English, we’ve cared for sloths, created our own marvellous medicines and written persuasive adverts for tea!

What has truly stood out is your children’s incredible enthusiasm and love of learning. They have approached every lesson with curiosity, creativity and kindness. They’ve made us smile every single day and often surprised us with their insight and imagination.

We are so grateful for all your continued support at home. It makes a real difference. Thank you so much for all the volunteers supporting us with reading, helping on trips, giving up time to share your culture or careers and even sending in DT books that made lessons super interactive and fun! This has made a huge difference! We are incredibly proud of the progress your children have made and look forward to seeing all they go on to achieve in Year 4!

  

                      

 

This week: 14.07.25

Spelling rule: silent letters - as in s in island  

Key words: 

Maths: pictogram, data, bar chart, key, scale, horizontal/vertical axis

History: scribe merchant, fertile, River Nile 

Maths facts: telling time

 

Key dates:

Tuesday 22nd July 1.30pm - School closes

 

Year 4

The last two weeks at school have seen our cohort taking part in the popular Festival of Sport, which included a variety of competitive and teamwork activities. Thank you to those who were able to come and support in the heat! There is excitement about meeting their new class; the wait will be over - for children and staff alike!

We are working our normal timetable this week and have some fun, light learning activities for Monday and Tuesday next week. Please remember that school finishes at 1.30pm on Tuesday! 

We have covered a huge amount of work this school year and we feel grateful that our specialist curricula covers all the mandatory points of the National Curriculum, and includes learning about the unique locality of The Vineyard, wherever possible. 

A particular highlight this half term has been the focus on ‘working scientifically’ in science: this is the exciting part of hands-on experiments, the part that most children enjoy thoroughly. In the last lesson, children created their own mini water cycles and observed what happened as the water heated and then cooled. 

The classes will be critiquing their light boxes that they made in pairs last week, completing the final publishing in English and enjoying the last of their history learning, where they will participate in a lively, immersive session about justice. Groups will role play the crime, then take the part of village adults (which means anyone over age 10!). They will then decide the specific punishment that is required based on the crime.

As we prepare to tidy out the children’s drawers, take the name pegs down and remove the last items from learning walls, we would like to thank all our families for being  an essential part of the busy, fun year that we have just completed. Thank you to those who have come into school to read with children. Thank you to all who have accompanied a trip or come into school to participate in our careers fair, or to speak in class about their job, as part of our inaugural careers day. Thank you to everyone who has sent in items for DT’s seasonal salad, mini-greenhouse or lightbox. Thank you for completing the reading records and diligently noting new vocabulary. We really appreciate your effort and support. (And if you haven’t been able to sign the record with an entry five times a week, why not make that an aim for Year 5?).

The children have made fantastic progress academically and personally over the past year. Many have developed their confidence and turned corners, as they realise that they can be a successful learner. Lots have widened their friendship circle. Everyone has made the effort to give new experiences a go and to be a vital part of a busy, full class in Carnelian, Onyx and Zircon. We wish all the children a lot of happiness, good health and continued success in Year 5, as they enter the giddy heights of Upper Key Stage 2. 

All the Year 4 team wish families a very happy and healthy summer. We look forward to seeing your children back in school in September when they will, of course, be based further around the building in Year 5. Please call by and say hello on your way out of school - or ask your children to. 

With best wishes from us all, 

Mrs Darling, Mrs Norman, Mr Kennerson, Mr Murphy and Ms Jeon.

 

  

                 

                 

  

  

Key dates:

Tuesday 22nd July 1.30pm - School closes for the summer

Wednesday 3rd September - First day of new school year 2025-6