de Vere Primary School

22nd March 2024

Firstly, I want to commend the efforts of Elton class during Science week. They delved into the fascinating life of Mary Anning and were truly inspired by her story of perseverance. Despite facing numerous challenges, the students demonstrated remarkable resilience and even created stunning dioramas to showcase their understanding of her work. What impressed me the most was their confidence during the Science Showcase Assembly, where they presented their learning with clarity and conviction.

In History, our students have become true experts on The Great Fire of London. Their wealth of knowledge has grown exponentially, and they are now preparing non-chronological reports to share their expertise with others. I cannot wait to see their displays, which promise to be both informative and captivating.

Our Religious Education lessons have focused on the Jewish religion, particularly the significance of the Sabbath and the Passover meal. The children are eagerly anticipating their own Passover meal tomorrow, where they will have the opportunity to experience this important tradition firsthand.

In PSHE, we have been tackling the issue of bullying. Through open discussions, we have learned that bullying takes various forms and can stem from different motivations. Our students now understand that the key to tackling bullying is to confide in a trusted adult, who will provide the necessary support and guidance.

We wish you all a wonderful Easter break.

8th March 2024

In Elton Class, we have been delving into the fascinating world of The Great Fire of London. We have been exploring the main events that took place during this historic fire, as well as uncovering why it spread so rapidly. It's incredible to see their curiosity flourish as they examine various sources of information that have deepened our understanding of this significant event.

Over in English, we've been focusing on the differences between writing in the past and present tense. Where we have been learning about the different suffixes we can add to verbs to change their tense.

In Maths, we've embarked on an exciting journey into the world of multiplication and division. The students are filled with enthusiasm as we begin practicing rapid recall of the timetables on Times Tables Rockstars. It is great to see their confidence grow.

In PE, we're honing our orienteering skills. It's a fantastic way to promote teamwork, problem-solving, and a love for the great outdoors.

We're eagerly looking forward to next week's Science week, where we'll be diving into the world of Mary Anning. To make the learning experience even more immersive, we kindly request that each student brings a shoe box into school on Monday. These will be used to create dioramas that will enhance their understanding of Mary Anning's discoveries.

2nd February 2024

We have been so impressed with the children’s persuasive letter writing skills. They recently wrote letters to another class, persuading them to adopt more sustainable practices. Their ability to use the features of a persuasive letter effectively was great and we were all thoroughly impressed.

Additionally, we have successfully completed our Geography unit on Hot and Cold Places. The children's knowledge in this area has been remarkable. To showcase their understanding, a debate was held to determine the better place to live: the Arctic or Kenya. The children’s persuasive skills, honed during their letter writing unit, proved invaluable in this debate.

In Mathematics, the focus has been on money. The children have been utilising their addition and subtraction skills to tackle various money-related problems.

In music, the children have made great strides in playing the glockenspiel. They have now advanced to composing their own pieces of music, showcasing their creativity and musicality.

Looking ahead, we are excited to embark on our Art unit next week. The children will be learning the art of weaving, exploring different techniques and materials. I am certain that this unit will foster their creativity and provide them with a new and exciting outlet for self-expression.

19th January 2024

Elton class have had an amazing start to 2024!

The children have hit the ground running with their learning about Hot and Cold Places. They have been busy naming and locating continents and oceans, as well as discovering that countries near the equator have the hottest climate in the world. They have also been able to locate the north and south poles on a map, which has been an exciting adventure for them.

In Maths, the children have been exploring the fascinating world of geometry. Specifically, they have been learning about the properties of 2D and 3D shapes. The lessons have been engaging and interactive, with the children using their mathematical language to solve riddles and puzzles.

In English, the children are currently focusing on persuasive writing. They are learning how to write persuasive letters, so parents, you had better watch out! I am sure they will be using their newfound skills to try and convince you of various requests and ideas.

A friendly reminder that our PE day has been moved to Wednesdays. Please ensure that your child comes to school with their earrings removed and a PE kit ready. Your support in this matter is greatly appreciated.

15th December 2023

What an amazing performance of “Christmas with the Aliens"! We are so proud of the children. They put on an amazing production with some acting, dancing and singing skills. I'm sure you'll agree that we have some budding performers in Elton Class.

In English, we have continued to focus our learning around 'Mog's Christmas' by Judith Kerr. We have been focusing on using conjunctions to join sentences together.

In Design Technology, we have been learning about Freestanding Structures. We have learnt that how to make hollow cylinders in order to support structures, that staggered walls are stronger than vertical stacks. We have also been designing bridges that are strong and stable using straws. It has been great to see how the children have used their evaluation skills to improve upon their constructions.

We wish you a happy, healthy Christmas and look forward to welcoming you back to school in the new year.

1st December 2023

As Christmas is fast approaching, Elton Class are continuing to rehearse for their Christmas Production of “Aliens at Christmas”.

In Maths, Elton Class have been working hard on their addition and subtraction skills. Specifically, they have been learning how to add and subtract two two-digit numbers while exchanging tens and ones. It's been amazing to see their progress and the confidence they have gained in this area.

In English, our focus has been on developing the features of a recount. We have explored different contexts, from recounting our village walk to significant places in Castle Hedingham, to learning interesting facts about these locations. Additionally, in Geography, we have continued our exploration of London and its famous landmarks. The children have been using compass point directions and map skills to give directions from one landmark to another, further enhancing their understanding of the city.

In Religious Education, we are currently delving into the story of the Holy Family and the Christmas narrative. It is important for you to be aware of your child’s role in the upcoming Christmas production and the costume they will require.

3rd November 2023

Elton Class have made a fantastic start to the half term. We concluded last half term we our final arts lessons where the children have been fully immersed in creativity. Inspired by the renowned artist Andy Goldsworthy, they have crafted magnificent sculptures that explore lines, shapes, and colors. Their attention to detail and artistic expression is truly commendable. Furthermore, during our Art Attack afternoon, the children collaborated to create a stunning collage of Queen Victoria. Their dedication and teamwork were impressive.

In English, we have been focusing on enhancing our language skills. The children have been utilising their knowledge of nouns, verbs, and adjectives to write heartfelt poems about how they can contribute to making the world a happier place. Their creativity and thoughtfulness have been inspiring.

Together we have recently decided on our upcoming Christmas Production. The children are eagerly looking forward to sharing the details with you shortly. We have no doubt that their hard work and enthusiasm will result in a memorable and enjoyable performance for all.

29th September 2023

We are excited to share with you the fantastic learning experiences that have taken place over the fortnight. In English, our talented young writers have delved into the world of fairy tales by crafting their own sequels to the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. The children worked hard to ensure that their sentences began in different ways. The creativity and imagination demonstrated in the task was impressive.

In Maths, the children have successfully completed their unit on place value. They have displayed excellent skills and understanding, as reflected in their scores on the end-of-unit assessment. They are now applying this knowledge to investigations and real-world problems.

Continuing our learning about famous queens, our class has been comparing life during different periods. They have demonstrated their knowledge by creating 'Queen Quizzes' and have tested Mrs. White's knowledge of the monarchy! 

In Religious Education, Elton class had an exciting time creating Christingles. I wonder if the children can recall the significance of the component parts?

15th September 2023

What a start to Elton Class! The children have settled in beautifully showing us their positive learning attitudes and their kind and caring traits. 

Our topic this half term is Famous Queens. I wonder if your child can tell you which famous queens we are focusing on? I'll give you a clue, one reigned in the Tudor period, the other in the Victorian period and the last in the Millennial period. 

In English, we are reading Lauren Child's version of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. We have explored positive and negative adjectives that we can use to describe Goldilocks, using the conjunction because accurately and starting sentences with a variety of time phrases. The children have used the skills to rewrite the story.  Many of them were impressive reads. 

The children have really wowed us with their substantial place value knowledge. They have become experts in partitioning numbers to 100 in a variety of ways. Our next step is having a go at using our knowledge in mathematical investigations. We will let you know how we get on next time.