'The Lord is my light and my salvation' Psalm 27:1

Candlemas

This week, on Tuesday 2nd February, the church celebrates The Feast of the Presentation of Our Lord Jesus which is also known as Candlemas. Candlemas is celebrated 40 days after the birth of Jesus and marks the date when Mary and Joseph brought the baby Jesus to be presented to God in the temple. It was at the temple that Mary and Joseph met Simeon and Anna. Both Simeon and Anna had been waiting all their lives to meet Christ. Simeon said that Jesus would be a light to the people, 

“He is a light to reveal God to the nations and he is the glory of your people Israel!” (Luke 2:32)

On the 2nd of February, many people bring their candles to their local church where they are blessed during Mass. Since Simeon said that Jesus would be a light to the people.

Don’t forget to look at Father Jim’s church website where you can take part in the mass and worship from home.

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EXPRESS YOURSELF

Just a reminder …from 1-7 February 2021, we’re taking part in Place2Be’s Children’s Mental Health Week. This year’s theme is Express Yourself. Place2Be has created activities and resources to help children (and adults) to explore the different ways that they can share their thoughts, feelings and ideas. These can be found at this address ;

childrensmentalhealthweek.org.uk

So year 4 are going to EXPRESS themselves during our Monday 1st February live lesson, feel free to dress to express how you are feeling that day and be ready to share your ideas about self expression and how it can help you feel better. During this session we will explore the theme of 'express yourself’ in all its different forms, make links between healthy self-expression and good mental health and explore healthy ways of expressing ourselves. Throughout the week I will share activities so that we can share our thoughts.i am sure we will have fun while we learn how to be able to EXPRESS YOURSELF!

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Keep up the hard work everyone…

Well done to all the home learners and children in school for your continued hard work. It is great to see your many achievements, we are very proud of you all!

Take care and keep safe

Mrs Ormerod, Mrs Parker and Mrs Debowska

Older:Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

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Authorfiona ormerod

Keep smiling

Well year 4 you have been amazing this week, once again, not only have you been keeping on track with your blended learning you have found the time to give it your all in music. Well done!

The children in school have really enjoyed seeing you during the live lessons and we hope that we can all be together again soon, but until then keep tuning in to our remote classroom. See you Monday.

EXPRESS YOURSELF

From 1-7 February 2021, we’re taking part in Place2Be’s Children’s Mental Health Week. This year’s theme is Express Yourself. Place2Be has created activities and resources to help children (and adults) to explore the different ways that they can share their thoughts, feelings and ideas. These can be found at this address ;

childrensmentalhealthweek.org.uk

So year 4 are going to EXPRESS themselves during our Monday 1st February live lesson, feel free to dress to express how you are feeling that day and be ready to share your ideas about self expression and how it can help you feel better. During this session we will explore the theme of 'express yourself’ in all its different forms, make links between healthy self-expression and good mental health and explore healthy ways of expressing ourselves. Throughout the week I will share activities so that we can share our thoughts.i am sure we will have fun while we learn how to be able to EXPRESS YOURSELF!

Posted
Authorfiona ormerod

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Well done to Year 4 for all your hard work this year, we are incredibly proud of all that you have achieved and we are looking forward to hearing all your Christmas Holiday News when we return in January.

Please enjoy watching our KS2 Nativity, and we wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Mrs Ormerod and Mrs Parker

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AuthorGuest User

Weekly News - Friday 20th November

Well done to Year 4 for another week of hard work and learning. Here is what we have been exploring this week…

-Maths: We have been looking at a variety of techniques to make sensible estimates when solving a range of addition and subtraction calculations. We have been developing our independence in methods to check our strategies, using the key principles of the commutative law and the inverse operation.

-English: This week, we have continued to develop our poetry work, using our imaginations and a range of exciting vocabulary to capture the interest of our reader.

-R.E: We have been thinking about the trust we place in our friendships and celebrating the gift of friendship that we can give and receive from others. The children produced their own ‘friendship’ themed poems, showing their understanding of the key qualities of a good friend. We made some links to the gift of friendship God offers Christians and the trust we can put in Him to accept this gift.

Notices:

-Can we please remind you that our PE days are Tuesdays and Thursdays. If your child usually wears earrings they will have to be removed in order for your child to take part.

Golden award = Gabriella

Star Writer award = Ollie and Leo

Maths award =Millie

-Our class email is; year4@our-lady.blackpool.sch.uk - please use this email as a means to communicate with us regards any issues or queries you may have. We will be responding to these emails on a Friday afternoon, but as always, for any more urgent matters you are welcome to contact the school office and we will respond as soon as possible.

Have a lovely weekend

Mrs Ormerod and Mrs Parker

Link to home learning: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1PMW_YTDgvWDhwmv_9kwfgLI20uT-KfeC?usp=sharing

Posted
Authorfiona ormerod

Weekly News - Friday 13th November 2020

Here is what we have been learning about this week…

-Maths: We have been exploring ‘efficient’ methods, discussing a range of strategies we could use to solve subtraction calculations. We are beginning to make decisions independently on ways to solve a variety of word problems.

-English: This week, we have been exploring poetry linked to the remembrance day commemorations (please see the last post for our recording of our poem recital) This was a fantastic way for the children to reflect on the importance of remembrance.

-R.E: We read and discussed the Old Testament story of ‘Jonah and the Whale’ , exploring the key messages for Christians today and making comparisons to other Old Testament stories.

Notices:

-Can we please remind you that our PE days are Tuesdays and Thursdays. If your child usually wears earrings they will have to be removed in order for your child to take part.

Golden award = Lillie

Star Writer award = Malachy

Maths award =Maisy

-Our class email is; year4@our-lady.blackpool.sch.uk - please use this email as a means to communicate with us regards any issues or queries you may have. We will be responding to these emails on a Friday afternoon, but as always, for any more urgent matters you are welcome to contact the school office and we will respond as soon as possible.

Have a lovely weekend

Mrs Ormerod and Mrs Parker

Link to home learning: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1PMW_YTDgvWDhwmv_9kwfgLI20uT-KfeC?usp=sharing

Posted
Authorfiona ormerod

Remembrance Day 'Lest we forget'

To day the children in year 4 have been reflecting on those who have lost their lives in war. World War 1 officially ended on the eleventh hour, on the eleventh day, on the eleventh month , 1918 - Armistice Day. The act of a Two Minute Silence began on the anniversary of Armistice Day in 1919 by those who did not want to forget the millions killed, injured and affected. Today, alongside millions of people, year 4 stopped what they were doing and observed the Two Minute Silence in memory of those who have been affected by all conflicts.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

by Laurence Binyon

The children also looked at the life of Walter Tull and thought about the wider implications of war and decided that they would become future advocates for peace. Walter’s profession prompted the children to look at the Christmas Truce and reflect on Pope Benedict XV’s plea for an official ceasefire, Christmas 1914:-

“ May the guns fall silent

at least upon the night the angels sang.”

Year 4’s Armistice Day tribute to those who fought in war.

Posted
Authorfiona ormerod

Weekly News; 6th November 2020

Welcome back to school to all Year 4! The children have continued to work hard in class, as we completed our first week back after the half term break. Well done to all the children who completed the ‘spooky science’ activities over the holiday! Please check class Dojo for updates on our new ‘Reading Competition’, lets see if everyone can make it onto the leader board!

Here is what we have been learning about this week…

-Maths: We have been using column subtraction to solve a variety of word problems. We have been exploring the use of addition as an inverse operation to subtraction.

-English: This week, we have been creating our own ‘Haiku’ poems, some of us even used a ‘Bonfire Night’ theme!

-R.E: We read and discussed the Old Testament story of ‘David and Golliath’, exploring the key messages for Christians of faith, trust and belief in God to help overcome difficulties and challenges in our own lives’. The children produced some fantastic drawings of the giant Golliath!

Notices:

-Can we please remind you that our PE days are Tuesdays and Thursdays. If your child usually wears earrings they will have to be removed in order for your child to take part.

Golden award = Leo

Star Writer award = Vinny

Maths award =Ollie

-Our class email is; year4@our-lady.blackpool.sch.uk - please use this email as a means to communicate with us regards any issues or queries you may have. We will be responding to these emails on a Friday afternoon, but as always, for any more urgent matters you are welcome to contact the school office and we will respond as soon as possible.

Have a lovely weekend

Mrs Ormerod and Mrs Parker

Posted
Authorfiona ormerod

Small cheer and great welcome makes a merry class! (by William Shakespeare, adapted by Mrs.O and Mrs.P)

Hello all secret agents, looking forward to seeing you in person without your disguise!

We have been working hard to make your classroom a safe yet exciting place as you move into year 4. Our class bubble will have a hygiene routine which will help to keep use safe and healthy. Each of you will have your own pack of stationary that belongs to you (no need to bring your own). Also a water bottle will be provided for you, this needs to be taken home at the end of each day, so that you can clean it and fill it with water ready for the next school day. Please bring a coat when necessary as we plan to spend some of our learning time outdoors in the fresh air. So when you come to school bring your smiling self, coat, water bottle, pack lunch ( when required) and reading record.

This term we will start our exploration of Ancient Egypt , traveling through time to visit life on the Nile, peep inside the pyramids and write in ancient hieroglyphics, along with researching the gods and goddesses. I can’t wait to start our journey.

All of the staff in year 4, Mrs Parker, Mrs Ormerod, Mrs Debowska and Mrs Frost are looking forward to seeing you soon and finding out all about your time away.

Posted
Authorfiona ormerod

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AuthorGuest User

"You are Peter and on this rock, I will build my church" Matthew 16: 13-19

As I write this blog, I cannot believe we are nearing the end of our time in Year 4. The children have impressed me throughout the year and in this difficult time they have continued to develop in to mature young people.

In Maths this week, the children have been working on their multiplication and division skills by multiplying and dividing 2 and 3 digit numbers by a 1 digit number. The children worked really hard on this! Super work!

In English, we were consolidating our spelling, punctuation and grammar learning from throughout the year. The children were fantastic, especially when it came to their spelling! Well done Year 4.

Next week, we will be starting our final Talk 4 Writing booklet ‘The Impossibly Possible Bookshop’.

Our curriculum focus was on Science. The children were exploring the particle structure of solids, liquids and gases. Once they had watched the video clip and completed the worksheet the children played a ‘particle game’ where they had to use the clues to identify whether it was a solid, liquid or gas. Here are a few pictures of the children having fun, playing their game.

The children also took part in their Multiplication Check. First, they completed their warm up game then, they completed their test. The children’s scores were brilliant and certainly reflected the hard work and effort the children have put into their times table knowledge and fluency this year.

On Monday it is the Feast of Saint Peter and Saint Paul. Over the weekend, Father Jim will be celebrating this Feast with a Mass which you can watch on the church website.

Some children, have told me that they are finding it a little tricky to organise their home learning therefore I have created a home learning timetable to help the children if they feel they need it.

Additional home learning resources;

Learning Project - This week the focus is Food. Some other classes are on different learning project themes if you have a child who is in another year group and the children would rather do a different project to the one I have set then that is fine.

Geography workbook - This week the focus is Global Knowledge

If you need any support please let me know either by messaging through Class Dojo or emailing me on our class email.

Stay safe

Mrs Cunningham-Kay

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AuthorGuest User

Week 11 at home ...

What fantastic work some of the children have been producing this week!

In Maths, at the beginning of the week the children focused on fractions and finding the equivalent. Some of the children found this work a challenge however, I was really impressed with how the children used their growth mindset and produced some fantastic work. They then looked at money and how the can order it. Next week, the Maths focus will be multiplication and division.

In English, the children have been using the story Mission to create their own characters. They also used the ‘bare bones’ of the plot to plan their own spy story. The children then used their plan to create their one story. These were a joy to read! Next week, we are going to have a week off the Talk 4 Writing Booklets and focus on our spelling, punctuation and grammar.

For our curriculum focus this week, the children wrote their own fact file on Pope Francis. I was very impressed with the detail the children had put into their work. I know I learnt lots of things about Pope Francis that I didn’t already know. What an interesting man he is!

Each Pope has a coat of arms which is a way of representing things that are important to them. With this in mind the children created their own coat of arms with images of things that were important to them. They then explained why they chose those images. These were fantastic. I have added a few examples. I have emailed pictures of them over to Father Jim. I’m sure he will be very impressed!

In our Times Table Battle this week. The final score was: Team Boys - 1,896 and Team Girls - 2,683. Unfortunately, there was only 15 children who took part in the times table battle. Please can I remind all children that it is still important to be practising their times tables. Well done to everyone who took part. A special mention for Adam and Brodie who achieved the highest score for their teams! I have emailed your certificates.

In June, the children should have taken part in the Multiplication Check. Due to lockdown, these tests have been cancelled. The children have worked really hard on improving their times table knowledge this year therefore I would like the children to take part in a version of the Multiplication check that Times Table Rockstars have come up with. Their version mirrors the same format as the check and I will be sent the children’s individual scores. For more information about the check I have added a letter which explains in more detail how to access the check.

Over the past few weeks, I have began to notice that some children are not putting in the same amount of effort with their work that they would do if they were at school. I appreciate that home learning is hard however, some of the children need to ensure that they are reading the questions and attempting all questions. If any children need support please let me know. Well done to all the children who are still putting in 100% in every piece of work.

Additional learning resources;

Learning Project - This week the focus is on transport.

Geography Booklet - This week the focus is on food and farming

Oxford owl - Spelling and online book resource (let me know if you need me to resend our class login)

Please do not hesitate to contact me either via Class Dojo or email.

Stay safe

Mrs Cunningham-Kay

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AuthorGuest User

Week 10 at home ...

It was lovely hearing what all the children had been up to over their half term break. I have missed them all terribly!

I have been really impressed with the work the children have produced this week. The standard has been fantastic. You would not have thought they have had 2 weeks off! Well done Year 4.

This week we started our new Talk 4 Writing booklet ‘Mission’ the children seemed to enjoy the spy theme. The children read the story then answered true or false questions based on the text. They then ordered the events in the correct order then explored the vocabulary. To finish the week the children created their own character profiles for the characters in the text.

In Maths the children have been looking at decimals. They were able to write decimals, compare decimals and order decimals. The children’s detailed explanations when solving the word problems on their worksheets blew me away. Keep working hard Year 4, I am super proud of you all!

Our curriculum focus this week was Geography. The children read an information text, answered questions on it then created their own information poster. I was really impressed with the amount of detail the children included in their poster. I have added a few examples below.

I have organised a times table battle for next week. It will start on Monday at 1pm and will finish on Tuesday at 5pm. It will be Year 4 boys vs Year 4 girls. For each child that earns over 400 points, they will receive 3 dojos each. I wonder who will win this time.

Next week our curriculum focus will be RE where we will be learning about the life of Pope Francis. Don’t forget that you can still visit the church website to ask Father Jim any questions and he is still posting daily masses you can watch.

The learning project this week is focused on Space.

I have added a new Geography workbook called ‘Country up close’ this will be looking at Greece and the Olympics. The website Oddizzi will support this learning. Please let me know if you need me to re-send you our class log in details.

Additional learning resources;

  • Times Table Rockstars

  • Education City

If you need any support please let me know by messaging on Class Dojo or emailing on year4@our-lady.blackpool.sch.uk.

Stay safe

Mrs Cunningham-Kay

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AuthorGuest User

Stay happy, Stay healthy, Stay positive!

Welcome back!

I hope you all had a lovely, restful half term break enjoying the beautiful weather. I know I usually blog on a Friday but I thought with us moving into our next half term of home learning I would recap expectations.

From this week I will be in school more to support the children of key workers therefore, there may be a delay in responding to messages on Class Dojo or email. Also, I may not be able to comment on every piece of work submitted due to the increased workload however, please rest assured that I will be reading and looking at all the children’s work. I love seeing the hard work and effort they put in to every piece of work. I have been very impressed. Keep it up please Year 4!

Daily Home Learning expectations;

  • Maths - Watch the video on White Rose Maths then complete the accompanying worksheet (details and worksheet posted on Class Dojo)

  • English - Complete the tasks from the Talk for Writing Booklet (details of activities posted on Dojo)

Weekly Home Learning expectations;

  • Reading check-in - read 2 pages of your current book.

  • ‘What have you been upto?’ - video or paragraph about what you have been up to at home.

  • Guided Reading Activity - details and text below or on Class Dojo

  • Curriculum Activity - details below or on Class Dojo

  • Curriculum Creative Activity - details below or on Class Dojo

I have added a pdf of this week’s weekly activities below;

Weekly activity details

Hodgeheg Chapter 1

Palm Oil Reading Comprehension

The children also have access to;

  • Times Table Rockstars

  • Education City

  • Sumdog

I have also added a link to a Geography workbook for this week from Oddizzi. To support the children’s learning they may need to access the Oddizzi website. I have sent all parents a text with the class log in details. This is optional however, if you would like to send me pictures of the children’s work then you can do this through Class Dojo.

There is also a new Learning Project which this week is focused on Music.

If you need any support accessing work then please let me know, I can be contacted through the messages section of Class Dojo or through class email which is year4@our-lady.blackpool.sch.uk.

Stay safe

Mrs Cunningham-Kay

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AuthorGuest User

'They were all filled with the Holy Spirit' Acts 2:4

What another great week of home learning we have had. The children never fail to amaze me with the hard work and commitment they have shown towards their learning. I am very impressed and am blessed to have such a wonderful class.

In Maths the children have been working on hundredths and looking at how when we divide some numbers by 100 then we can sometimes have a decimal. Some children found the work this week a challenge however, I was really impressed with how the children used their growth mindset and tried their best to complete their work. The work produced was brilliant.

In English the children have continued to work on their ‘Amazing Aliens’ workbook. This week the children have imagined that they have explored the planet ‘Zargon 10’ and wrote a log about what happened during their visit. Then they added more detail to their sentences using wonderful fronted adverbials and making them as interesting as possible. Finally, the children created a wonderful piece of descriptive writing using their log. These were a joy to read.

This week our weekly activities were focused on RE, the children read the story of Pentecost and drew a picture of what happened. They then wrote how they would feel if they were one of the Disciples and explained why it was important for the Disciples to be able to speak the different languages. I loved how thoughtful the children were in their explanations. They are true Disciples of Christ

The children were also given the task of creating their own Pentecost banner. These looked fantastic and incorporated the symbols of Pentecost. Well done Year 4 they were fantastic.

There will be no home learning set for the next two weeks (W/C 25th May and W/C 1st June). This is to allow staff to have a short break before completing End of Year Reports and preparing school for social distancing. I have added a short PowerPoint of the story and some creative ideas that the children can complete based on Pentecost which is on the 31st of May. These activities are optional and if you would like me show me what the children have been doing then they can add pictures to Class Dojo.

Strandz website

Year 4 Pentecost Project

Pentecost Story

Pentecost Creative Activities

Please see the Church Website as Father Jim will be posting resources for the children to access. They can also email him any questions they may have and he will record a video message explaining his answer.

Yesterday was the feast of the Ascension and Fr Jim has uploaded the Mass on the church website. If you click on the blue button labelled ‘Press for the School Mass’, Fr Jim has done a child-friendly service, with some children from school doing the readings. It is so lovely! So if you didn’t manage to watch it yesterday, please do watch it with your child today or over the weekend…

Church website

I have also found a pdf of a book the children can access called ‘How not to go to school’. The story is based on a little girl who is home schooled where she gives the reader advice and tips on how to stay at home.

Please be aware that I will be unable to answer messages on Class Dojo or emails during this period of time. I will respond to all messages when we return on Monday 8th June.

Remember I am still your teacher Year 4 I found this little video for you all.

Video for Year 4

Stay Safe and have a lovely break.

Mrs Cunningham-Kay

Posted
AuthorGuest User

Week 8 at home ...

Yet again Year 4 you have blown me away with the incredible work you have been doing at home. I know I keep saying this but, I am so proud of each and every one of you! Well done Year 4.

We had another fantastic week of home learning.

In Maths the children have been looking at fractions and decimals. This was the first week we had been using the White Rose Maths resources and the children seemed to enjoy the videos which the worksheet accompanied. The children were great at converting decimals into fractions and vice versa. I could tell from their work that they worked really hard!

In English the children began their new Talk 4 Writing Booklet ‘Amazing Aliens’. The children read the text then used this to answer the retrieval questions. The children created interesting noun phrases to describe an alien and made their own ‘alien words’ along with a definition of their new word. They then created an image of their own alien.

The weekly activities were based on Science. The children began to look at States of Matter and watched a BBC Bitesize video clip explaining more about them. The children completed a worksheet identifying different objects and organised them into the correct State. They then created and information poster about the States of Matter and were able to give examples of each.

In our Times Table Rockstars Battle it was Year 4 Boys vs Year 4 Girls. This time the boys won! Well done to everyone who took part. I’m really impressed with the speed and accuracy of your times table knowledge. I can tell you have all been practising. I’d like to mention Lennon especially. Every time there is a battle Lennon blows me away with the amount of points Lennon receives. I don’t think a battle has gone by when Lennon hasn’t earnt at least 2000 points. Well done Lennon!

For additional activities to keep the children busy I have posted the link to another Home Learning Project. This week the theme is Famous and Significant People.

Home Learning Project

There will be no home learning for the weeks of 25th May and 1st June this is for half term. During the first week I will be writing reports and in the second I will be in school preparing school inside and outside for the implementation of safe distancing and learning. 

Have a lovely week and stay safe!

Mrs Cunningham-Kay

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AuthorGuest User