Good afternoon everyone,

As we move closer to the next big step in our school journey - the move into key stage 2 - we have been talking to the children about the importance of effort and consistency. The end of the academic year can be a very tiring time and it can be tempting to ‘take our foot off the accelerator’ as we prepare for our long summer break. However, it is so important to keep pushing ourselves and keep setting high goals for ourselves.

In year 2, some of us have found it hard to maintain our usual focus upon our learning. This can be seen in being less active as listeners and not taking as much time or care on our written tasks. We have talked about the importance of always giving our best, even when we don’t feel like it, and how this will prepare us for being year 3 learners!

Please also keep up the hard work at home: on spelling or times table practise, on regular reading and on other homework tasks. This will continue to embed in children that learning is so important for growing!

English - In English we have finished our non-chronological reports and have begun our next unit of work, based on THe King Who Banned the Dark with a focus on persuasive writing.

Maths - In Maths we have continued our work on data and statistics by exploring tables, pictograms and block diagrams; collecting data using tally charts.

Science - We completed an investigation to explore which materials are most absorbent to help us absorb spillages.

RE - In RE, we learned about the parable of the Good Samaritan and what it means to be a good neighbour. We also began to learn about Judaism.

History - We learned about a coronation ceremony in the United Kingdom.

PE - Our Wednesday PE focused on Sports Day practice and our Friday PE focused on fundamental movement skills.

Please continue to practise counting in 2s, 3s, 5s and 10s. Please continue to use TTRockstars to practise times tables.

Please practise the year 1 and year 2 common exception words sent home before half term. The children need to be able to read and write (spelling correctly) each one of these by the end of year 2.

Spellings

/o/ sound spelt with an ‘a’ after ‘w’, ‘wh’ or ‘qu’ for a test next Friday. There is also a handwriting sheet.

Reading

Plastic pollution reading comprehension.

Maths

Pictograms worksheet.

Golden Award -

Writing Award -

Maths Award -

Act of Kindness -

Year 2 PE lessons will take place on Wednesday and Friday. Please come to school in PE kit on these days.

Water bottles - all the children were given a new school bottle. This will come home each night to be cleaned and re-filled. Please only use the school bottles and ensure your child brings theirs each day. Lost water bottles can be replaced at the school office, but I am afraid you will have to pay for those. Year 2 have green tops.

I will not be in class on a Thursday afternoon, as it is my release time. This will be covered by Mrs Bowdell and Mrs Gilheaney and is also when the children will have Music with Mrs Watson.

Party Invitations - I am afraid that Mrs Bowdell and I will not be able to give out party invitations in class. Please do not send your child into class with them for them to give out - it creates upset and fuss about something that takes place outside of school.Thank-you for your understanding with this matter.

Key Rings - please do not put key rings onto your child’s school bag, it creates fuss in class and then upset if they are lost.

School bags - please continue to use the red book bag that your child was given in Reception, we don’t not have the room to store large bags. Many thanks for your help with this matter.

Friday 4th July - School Trip to Stanley Park - Please don’t forget to fill in the form for your lunch choice!

Monday 7th July @ 9.15am - KS1 Sports Day (option one, weather permitting)

Wednesday 9th July @ 9.15am - KS1 Sports Day (back up day, in case of rain on 7th)

Friday 18th July - School finishes for summer holidays at normal time (3.10pm)

Golden tickets and Extreme Reading Challenge

Just a reminder that during the Summer term, the whole school will continue taking part in our reading challenge. Children will receive a golden ticket each time they read and get their reading diary signed three times. At the end of each half term, during our celebration assembly, we will draw a golden ticket from each class’s box, and one winner from each class will receive a reward. Please encourage your child to read regularly and bring in their signed reading diary so they can start collecting their golden tickets.

We’re also asking the children to take part in our extreme reading challenge. Your challenge is to take a photo of yourself reading somewhere extreme (but safe!) and send it in to school. Thank you to those who have already sent theirs in - these will be uploaded soon to the website at the location shown in the photo below.

Please send your photos to admin@our-lady.blackpool.sch.uk so we can display these in school and on our website. We can't wait to see your pictures! Thank you for your support!