Al Sedra Bin Omran - Week 29

Deputy Head's Message

Another busy and exciting week at school! Our pupils have thoroughly enjoyed celebrating Earth Day, taking part in meaningful activities that raised awareness about how we can all take better care of our planet. This was closely followed by our annual Book Day, where students embraced the joy of reading and storytelling—what a fantastic week it has been!

As we reach the halfway point of the half term, we would like to draw your attention to an important concern. We have noticed a decline in attendance and an increase in late arrivals. Punctuality is essential in ensuring that children start their day calmly and do not miss valuable learning time.

Please be reminded that students arriving after 7:40am are marked as late. Reading and phonics lessons begin promptly at 7:40am, meaning that late arrivals are missing a crucial part of their learning at the very start of the day. Additionally, three late arrivals are recorded as the equivalent of half a day’s absence.

We kindly ask for your support in ensuring that your child arrives at school on time each day.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support.

Miss Kim

Pre School

This week has been full of imagination, creativity, and excitement as we celebrated Book Week with our story Superworm! The children have loved diving into the adventures of our wiggly hero and bringing the story to life in so many ways.
 🎨 We explored lots of arts and crafts, creating our very own wiggly worms and colourful insect-inspired designs.
 🔢 In maths, we focused on long and short, as well as spotting and creating patterns—just like Superworm stretching and twisting!
 ✏️ In writing, we practised instructional drawing, carefully following step-by-step instructions to draw different insects. The children did a fantastic job listening closely and showing their understanding.

It has been a joyful week full of learning, creativity, and storytelling.  We are so proud of all the children and their wonderful efforts! 👏

Reception

This week for Book Week, the children have continued to explore the story of Supertato. They have taken part in a range of creative activities linked to the story, including designing and making their own super vegetables. The children have also enjoyed listening to and retelling the story, helping to develop their confidence and language skills.

In Maths, the children have been learning about doubles. Through a variety of practical and engaging activities, they have been developing their understanding of doubling numbers and strengthening their early number skills.

We also celebrated Earth Day this week with more creative, practical activities. The children enjoyed planting flowers and learning about how to care for the environment, encouraging a sense of responsibility for the world around them.

Year 1

This week in Year 1 has been full of exciting learning and discovery!

In Maths, we have been exploring directions and positions, using fun games and activities to help us understand words like left, right, forwards, and backwards. The children have loved giving and following instructions—just like little explorers!

In Literacy, for Book Week, we are diving into the story Charlie and Lola: Say Cheese! The children are enjoying the funny characters and are learning how to talk about pictures, retell parts of the story, and share their own ideas.

In IPC, we are travelling through time as we compare seaside holidays from the past and present. The children are discovering how things have changed—from what people wore to the games they played—and sharing what they notice.

In Science, we are becoming marine experts by creating our very own fish posters! The children are learning all about different types of fish, their body parts, and where they live, before designing bright, colourful posters to show off their knowledge.

Year 2

This week in Year 2 🌟

This week we enjoyed some exciting Book Week celebrations 📚! Inspired by the story Dogger 🧸, the children took part in a range of creative activities to design and create their own storybooks. They planned, wrote and illustrated their ideas, showing fantastic imagination and pride as they became young authors.

In Maths, we began exploring fractions ➗. The children learnt to recognise and find half of shapes and amounts, using practical resources and visual models to support their understanding.

We also celebrated Earth Day 🌍 by taking part in some hands-on activities. The children planted seeds and designed beautiful flowers 🌸, learning about how we can care for our environment and help things grow.

Another fun-filled and creative week of learning in Year 2! ✨

Year 3

This week, Year 3 have had a great week learning all about their class book for Book Week. To link with our IPC inventions topic, 3MO explored the book Rosie Revere, Engineer, all about a young, inspiring engineer. We used this text to write character descriptions, develop expanded noun phrases, and even design our own inventions, just like Rosie and her famous cheese copter. The children showed fantastic creativity and enthusiasm throughout.

In Maths, we began our new topic on time. Although it was challenging at first, the children made great progress and were proud to be able to tell the time to the minute by the end of the week, a brilliant and important life skill.

In Science, we carried out an experiment to test how far a toy car would travel on different surfaces. We discovered that foil had the lowest friction, allowing the car to travel the furthest, while grass had the highest friction, slowing the car down the most.

Year 4

A Splash of Inspiration: Book Week in Year 4

What a phenomenal week it has been! To celebrate Book Week, our Year 4 classrooms were transformed into hubs of empathy, engineering, and creativity as we dived into the heart-warming yet thought-provoking story, The Water Princess by Susan Verde.

Based on the childhood experiences of model Georgie Badiel, the story follows a young girl named Gie Gie. While she can make the tall grass sway and play hide-and-seek with the wind, she cannot make the water come any closer to her village. Every day, she must walk for miles to collect water that isn’t even clear.

Our students have been deeply moved by Gie Gie’s journey, leading to some truly spectacular work across the curriculum:

Artistic Hopes and Dreams

The children decorated their own water pots. Moving beyond simple aesthetics, each student adorned their pot with intricate symbols representing their personal hopes and dreams for the future—just as Gie Gie dreams of bringing clean water to her community.

Scientific Solutions: DIY Filters

Linking our reading to our Science curriculum, Year 4 became environmental engineers for the day. Using various materials like sand, gravel, and charcoal, the students designed and tested their own water filters. It was a fantastic way to see filtration in action and discuss why clean water is such a vital resource.

Engineering for Change

The creativity didn't stop there. Our budding architects took to the drawing boards to design sustainable water wells. Their designs focused on efficiency and accessibility, showcasing a wonderful grasp of how design can solve real-world problems.

The Weight of the Walk

Perhaps the most impactful lesson was our exploration of the physicality of water. We discussed the scientific weight of water and the sheer endurance required to carry it over long distances.

By stepping into Gie Gie's shoes, the children have not only improved their literacy skills but have grown as global citizens. We are incredibly proud of the empathy and dedication they have shown throughout this special week.

Year 5

This week in PSHE we looked at how easy and hard habits are to break. We learned that some habits can be difficult to change because they become part of a daily routine or are linked to feelings and rewards. For example, habits like drinking caffeine regularly or using certain medicines incorrectly can be hard to stop once they are established. However, we also learned that habits can be changed over time with effort, such as setting goals, replacing negative habits with positive ones, and getting support from others. Understanding how habits form can help people make healthier choices.

Year 6

This week has been a fantastic and creative Book Week, with the children focusing on our class text The Explorer. They have produced alternative book covers, written imaginative letters as if they were lost in the jungle, considered essential items needed for survival, and created suspenseful pieces of writing inspired by the story. On Thursday, the children also enjoyed dressing up as their favourite book characters, which brought the week to a fun and lively close.

In Maths, we have concluded our unit on area, perimeter, and volume, working hard to understand and apply the correct formulae for finding the area of 2D shapes and the volume of 3D shapes. In IPC, we learned about greenhouse gases and explored the impact they are having on our planet, including how they are contributing to global warming and the potential dangers this may pose for the future.

In Science, we completed a practical experiment on blood, using everyday materials to create a model of blood and deepen our understanding of the functions of its different components within the body. In Computing, we continued developing our own websites and learned how to copy and upload images using Google Sites.

We have also continued reading The Explorer in guided reading, making excellent progress and showing great engagement with the story.

Creative Arts/P.E.

EYFS
In Creative Arts, the EYFS preschool students enjoyed singing the song “Crawl Like a Caterpillar,” bringing the topic to life in a fun and engaging way. They explored photos of caterpillars and used descriptive language to talk about their colours, shapes, and patterns. The children then experimented with different colour patterns and expressed their creativity by painting both caterpillars and snails, carefully adding repeating patterns to make each artwork unique.
In Creative Arts, Reception students explored repeating patterns by colouring a fish design, carefully selecting and applying colours to create a consistent pattern. They also worked hard to fold the paper precisely to create a fun trick, where the fish appears to open and close its mouth, combining creativity with fine motor skill development.
In EYFS, both Preschool and Reception students took part in a variety of obstacle courses that encouraged them to develop their gross motor skills. They practiced movements such as crawling, jumping, hopping, skipping, and balancing while navigating different challenges. The children showed growing independence by choosing which obstacle course they wanted to complete, building confidence and decision-making skills as they played.

KS1
In KS1 Creative Arts, Year 1 students explored patterns in nature by looking at different animals and their prints. They observed how patterns appear on animal bodies and discussed their similarities and differences. The students then chose two animals and carefully copied their prints using pencil crayons, developing their observation skills and attention to detail.
In KS1 Creative Arts, Year 2 students continued exploring colour by working on an optical illusion of a hand. They used vibrant colours to create striking effects, experimenting with how colour choices can make their artwork appear more dynamic and visually engaging.
In Year 1 PE, the students took part in four different stations, each focusing on a specific skill to help develop their cricket abilities, such as batting, throwing, catching, and coordination. They rotated through the activities, building confidence and improving their technique. At the end of the lesson, they applied their skills in an exciting and energetic game of quick cricket.
In Year 2 PE, the students worked in pairs to complete a carousel of activities designed to develop their tennis skills, including control, coordination, and accuracy. They rotated through each station, practicing different techniques and supporting one another. The lesson ended with the students applying their skills in a fun mini doubles tennis match.

KS2 Creative Arts and PE

Year 3

PE:
Year 3 children thoroughly enjoyed revisiting dodgeball this week, developing their throwing, catching, and dodging skills with growing confidence. They showed great enthusiasm when practising accurate throws and safe catching in partner and group activities. Children loved learning how to dodge quickly and move to avoid being hit during games. They became more familiar with the rules and began to play with increasing independence. Small-sided games were full of energy and excitement as children applied their skills. It was fantastic to see their confidence and teamwork continue to grow.

Art:
Year 3 children had a wonderful time exploring warm and cool colours in their artwork. They confidently identified and sorted colours, showing great curiosity and creativity. Children enjoyed experimenting with different materials to create bright and eye-catching designs. They discussed how colours can create different feelings, bringing their ideas to life. Their artwork showed clear contrasts and imaginative use of colour. It was lovely to see their confidence and creativity shine through.

Year 4

PE:
Year 4 children showed great energy and focus while revisiting dodgeball this week. They worked hard to improve their throwing accuracy and catching under pressure. Children demonstrated quick reactions and agility when dodging during fast-paced games. They began to position themselves more effectively and showed strong teamwork throughout. Small-sided games were competitive and engaging, with children supporting and encouraging one another. It was great to see their confidence and skill level continue to develop.

Art:
Year 4 children enthusiastically explored warm and cool colours, creating thoughtful and visually striking artwork. They carefully planned their designs and made considered colour choices. Children enjoyed experimenting with different materials to create texture and contrast. Their work showed a clear understanding of how colour can affect the overall appearance of a piece. They took pride in their creations and were eager to share their ideas. It was fantastic to see their creativity and independence grow.

Year 5

PE:
Year 5 children approached dodgeball with enthusiasm, showing determination to improve their skills in competitive situations. They developed powerful and accurate throwing, alongside quick and effective dodging. Children demonstrated growing tactical awareness, thinking carefully about positioning and timing. Teamwork and communication were strong, with children supporting each other throughout games. Matches were exciting and well-contested, with excellent effort from all. It was impressive to see their confidence and game understanding develop.

Art:
Year 5 children produced vibrant and detailed artwork using warm and cool colours. They enjoyed experimenting with blending and layering techniques to create depth and interest. Children showed independence in planning their work and refining their ideas. Their use of colour to create mood and atmosphere was particularly effective. They took pride in developing their pieces and improving them throughout the process. It was wonderful to see such creativity and thoughtful artistic choices.

Year 6

PE:
Year 6 children demonstrated fantastic skill and enthusiasm while revisiting dodgeball this week. They applied advanced tactics with confidence, showing excellent decision-making during games. Throwing accuracy, speed, and dodging skills were all highly developed. Children communicated effectively and worked together to organise their teams. Games were competitive, exciting, and played with great sportsmanship. It was brilliant to see their leadership, teamwork, and resilience on display.

Art:
Year 6 children created impressive and expressive artwork using warm and cool colours. They thoughtfully planned their compositions and used colour to convey mood and atmosphere. Children confidently applied techniques such as blending and contrast to enhance their work. They showed strong independence when refining and improving their pieces. Their final artwork was both detailed and visually striking. It was fantastic to see such confidence, creativity, and pride in their work.