Delphinus Delights!

Welcome back to the new term! It has been different in the class without Molly, but everyone has been very kind to our new teachers, and we have now welcomed Stuart to the class, who will be with us until Molly’s return on 30^th November – Sally is still here of course!

Maths

We came back to a recap of our number bonds, and new teaching about part-part-whole equations. This vocabulary may well be new to parents so we shall attempt to explain it here! Simply put, a part-part-whole model is a visual tool that shows how a single total (the whole) can be split into smaller pieces (the parts). We use two different models:

• The Cherry Diagram (Number Bond): A large circle at the top or centre represents the whole, with two or more smaller circles (like cherries on a stem) branching off to show the parts.
• The Bar Model: A long rectangle represents the whole, divided into smaller adjacent boxes inside it to show the individual parts

Once the children can visualise these, remembering number facts and understanding equations (number sentences) is so much easier! We hope that helps you understand it as we do appreciate it is a while since we were all in the classroom!

 

On that note, please take heed of the dates on the stickers in the homework books! The date is when the homework is due in and which week it is eg Wk 7 November 9^th is this week’s, due in on Monday! This week, lots of children attempted the homework before we had practiced in class, so many found it tricky! If your child has already had a go, please could you go through it again this weekend together, and correct any mistakes they have made now they have had the teaching!

 

English – Curious Quest

We used our new friends Professor Klunk, Noodle, Titch and Brain to defeat the enemy The Greap, as we worked on the amazing story ‘Jamela’s Dress’ by Niki Daly!

Our Word Bathe this week included contented, pricey, envelop, repair, unobservant and infuriated. Do ask your child to show you the actions! By adding actions, it helps to cement the vocabulary, as well as deepening understanding of the words.

 

Wider Curriculum – science

We are looking at everyday materials in science this week and next. Having been on a walk around school, we can now explain whether items are natural or man-made. Next week, we will be exploring magnets and magnetism, and then describing the properties of objects in the classroom!

Phonics & Reading

The children are continuing to work through their colour books. We love the children reading at home, but please make sure their book returns snuggly to their bag every time, as changing books happens on different days, each week, in different groups! Please also find a QR code and a weblink for some words to practice at home. There are 2 videos each week and we hope you enjoy sharing them together.

https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/resources/vc-pathways/565490/skmjaK1YIwnp5f6p

 

PE & Outdoor Learning

Our PE changes to Fitness and Gymnastics this term! We will have Fitness sessions on the MUGA (outside) every Tuesday, and Gymnastics (in the Hall) every Wednesday. Please can your child come in appropriate PE kit to match the session - ie warm sweatshirt needed if outside, but school jumper over T-shirt if inside.

Forest School

Our Forest School dates this term are:

12^th November   (after Oxford Science!)

26^th November

10^th December

 

Other Dates for the Diary:

7th November - Open Day 10am-12pm

12^th November – Oxford Science visiting the class

13th November - Flu Vaccinations

11th December -  HSA Christmas Bazaar 5pm- 7pm

11th December - Christmas Dinner Day - children can wear Christmas Jumpers

14th-18th December - Spirit Week - details to follow 

16^th December – Nativity Play at 2pm

18th December - Term ends at 1pm

On the 11th November our Columba and Aquila class will be gathering at the Commonwealth War Graves at Botley Cemetery at 10:45am for an Act of Remembrance. We welcome all families and members of the wider community to join us.

As part of our Open Day, we are delighted to welcome a local community artist who will help us begin a journey of capturing and celebrating the legacy of North Hinksey CE Primary School as we move forward with our building works.

Throughout this academic year, we will be working alongside Amy, our artist, to co-create a special art installation that honours the school's rich history and heritage while celebrating its future. We know that North Hinksey holds a very special place in the hearts of our community, and we want this project to reflect the memories, stories and experiences of the many people who have been part of its journey.

The first stage of this community art project begins on Saturday, when Amy will be supporting members of the community to create small pieces of collage artwork and share their memories of North Hinksey. We warmly invite everyone to take part – whether you are a current pupil or family member, a former pupil who attended North Hinksey at any point in its history, or another member of our wider community.

We would love to see as many people as possible joining us for this first stage and contributing to something that will become a lasting celebration of our school's story.

If you are unable to attend on Saturday but would like to be involved, there will be further opportunities to contribute throughout the academic year. We will share details of these in due course.

We are really excited about the term ahead, with all the delights that the build up to Christmas brings! We hope you all have a great weekend, and happy Diwali to everyone celebrating on Sunday!

From The Delphinus Team!