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Courthouse Chronicle
Your weekly newsletter
Issue 2
Friday 20th September 2019
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Table of Contents
3 4 5 6 7page page page page page
8 9 10 11page page page page
From the Headteacher Learning in Year 3 this week
Learning in Year 4 this week
Learning in Year 5 this week
Learning in Year 6 this week
Book recommendations Sport at Courthouse Curriculum spotlight Reminders
12page
Contact us
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From the Headteacher
At Courthouse, we always look
to refine our practices so that
we can create the conditions
for children to flourish.
Mixed attainment maths teaching
This year, all classes will be taught in
mixed attainment classes rather than
setting. Research suggests that setting
by ability results in a small positive
effect for some higher attaining
children but a large negative effect for
lower attaining and disadvantaged
children. Having one teacher that
knows each child very well has a
positive effect. Year 3 last year were
taught in this way and they achieved
very well. . As a leader in other schools,
I have worked with teachers in this
way, resulting in great achievement
and a lasting legacy of high academic
standards.
Teachers are provided with
professional learning of their own,
working with leaders in school and
experts outside of school to develop
teaching techniques so that every
lesson counts.
A positive school culture
We have decided not to renew the
contract of 50:50 Sync this year.
While the initiative was right for us at
the time, we have developed a lot
since the beginning of last year their
services are no longer required.
We will of course continue to focus
on positive recognition. It is vital that
children’s hard work and attitudes to
learning are celebrated. Teachers are
supported to create and maintain a
culture where excellent role models
are recognised in order to continually
raise the expectations of what a class
of children can achieve. Teachers do
this through regular praise, recording
achievements on a class recognition
board and sending children to share
their success with other adults.
We will continue with the structured
lunchtime activities, with different
parts of the playground and field
allocated to different games. These
are supervised, as you would expect,
with our Young Ambassadors helping
to run the games.
Have a lovely weekend!
Would you like to be more involved in your child’s education?
We are advertising for 2 parent governors.
What do school governors do?
• Hold the Headteacher & Senior Leadership Team to account in the leadership & strategic direction of the school
• Oversee the school’s budget & 3 year plan• Help recruit staff• Monitor the ongoing performance &
improvements of the school• Advise on school policies and procedures• Ensure every child has opportunities to
flourish during their time at Courthouse Junior School
You can contact the school office or see the Vacancies section of our website for more information.
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Learning in Year 3Conversation prompts about your child’s
learning this week
Tell me how you could partition the following numbers::
452 798 654
Tell me about man made and natural light
sources.
Tell me about how light travels.
Tell me the activities that are practised on the River Thames.
Tell me how Ted Hughes has created tension and suspense in the story of 'The Iron Man'.
Tell me the story of Axe Soup.
Tell me the main religions represented in Britain today.
Coming up next week
Next week, in history, the children will be learning more about activities practised on the River Thames, past and present.
In R.E., we will be learning about the main teachings of Hinduism and in maths, we will be working on partitioning and how to balance equations using the bar model.
In English, we will read chapter 3 of The Iron Man' and we will continue to work on the trickery story, Axe Soup.
Use these words that we have been learning in sentences.
scattered
herbs
popped
curious
crash
gullible
Mohandas Gandhi
RoaldDahl
Michelle Obama
EllieSimmonds
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Learning in Year 4Conversation prompts about your
child’s learning this week
Tell me how to find the value of an
increment on a number line.
Tell me the rule for using an apostrophe
to show plural possession.
Tell me who Julius Caesar was and why
he was important.
Tell me what you think will happen next
in the story Varjak Paw.
Tell me how sounds are made.
Coming up next week
Next week in Maths, children will have
lots of practice counting in thousands
and will also look at rounding.
In RE, they will extend their work on
Judaism.
Our English lessons will focus on how to
create suspense in our writing.
The times tables we will test are the 3s,
4s and 5s.
We are looking forward to taking the
children kayaking on Thursday/Friday.
EmmelinePankhurst
CharlesDarwin
Nicholas Winton
Use these words that we have been learning in a sentence:
precisely
seldom
vague
slinking
noble
impressionable
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Learning in Year 5Conversation prompts about your child’s learning this week
Tell me what each digit represents in a 5-digit number.
Tell me how to add and subtract 1, 10, 100, 1000 and 10,000 to a 5 -digit number.
Tell me the story of Icarus using your text map.
Tell me the tool kit for creating good dialogue.
Coming up next week
In English next week, the children will continue creating their own escape story including dialogue between characters.
In maths, we will continue using the inequalities symbols to say which 5-digit number is bigger including different pictorial representations of a number.
In art we will be going outside to sketch patterns and textures in our school environment.
ClaudeMonet
RosaParks
Thomas Edison
Use these words that we have been learning in a sentence.
heeding
swooped
renowned
snivelling
democracy
architecture
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Learning in Year 6Conversation prompts about your child’s learning this week
Tell me about complete and incomplete electrical circuits.
Tell me about comparing and ordering numbers.
Tell me about how Britain defended itself during The Battle of Britain.
Tell me about Deadman's Cove; how much can you recite from memory?
Tell me about Robert, the clockmaker's son, and Malkin from Cogheart.
Coming up next week
In maths, children will be sorting questions based upon whether the whole, number parts or size of each part is missing.
We continue our writing focus on Deadman's Cove in English and will be investigating how voltage can affect the brightness of a light bulb in science.
In history we will be exploring how children were kept safe during The Battle of Britain.
.
Marie Curie
MalalaYousafzai
Maya Angelou
Use these words that we have been learning in a sentence.
resonated
descended
ascended
compare
trussed
bound
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Reading matters and you can help
If there is one book that EVERY child
should read this year it is The Boy at the
Back of the Class by Onjali Q Rauf.
The Boy at the Back of the Class is
a gripping story about a Syrian boy
seeking refuge in England, told through
the eyes of children.
It is a beautifully written book about
a serious and ever-present modern-
day issue.
Book cover
Book donations
Recently we have received a lot of donations of books for our library and we are very thankful. The books that you have at home that you no longer need can bring joy to other Courthouse children when they borrow them from our library. They can be dropped at the school office or given to your child’s teacher.
We have also had queries about which books we’d like donated. If you would like to donate a book for our library, we’d appreciate every book. Mrs Buxton has however created an Amazon wish list, the books on which would be great additions to our reading material.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/2CZDSZKW30XIY/ref=hz_ls_biz_ex
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Sport at Courthouse
The first full week brings with it the commencement of the school sports clubs. As always, we have a full club timetable and itis lovely to see so many new faces participating in the clubs and demonstrating their skills. Please remember to sign your child out with the adult leading the club at the end of each session.
Our netball team had their first match of the season yesterday against Furze Platt Junior School. After an excellent start, the score was 4-1 to Courthouse at the end of the first quarter. The other 3 quarters were extremely close as Furze Platt started scoring goals, drawing level in the final quarter. However, our amazing team managed to score a final 2 goals resulting in a 8-6 WIN to Courthouse! Congratulations to Cecilia who was captain and was chosen as the player of the match.
We have an exciting opportunity happening next week. Jane Douglas, who runs local dance clubs, has offered to come to Courthouse and run taster sessions for dance. She will be giving all of year 3 and 4 a taster session, but we are very lucky that she will also be running a boys only session for boys in any year group that are interested in dance.
Please remember that PE kit consists of the Courthouse polo shirt in house colours, plain black shorts and comfortable trainers.
For colder weather, plain black tracksuit bottoms and the Courthouse hoodie are to be worn.
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Curriculum spotlightHomework
Homework can be a useful way of practising what has been learned at school and deepening understanding of the topics covered. We understand that families’ individual circumstances mean that some prefer lots of homework while others prefer very little.
There are two aspects to homework: tasks that are compulsory and tasks that are optional. The details for each year group are below.
Year 3Homework is issued each Friday and due the following Friday.
Please bring HW books to school every Friday and reading records every day.
Year 4Homework is issued each Monday and due the following Monday.
Please bring HW books to school every Monday and Reading records every day.
Year 5Homework is issued each Friday and due the following Friday.
Please bring HW books to school every Friday and reading records every day.
Year 6Homework is set each Friday and due in the following Friday.
Please ensure HW books are in school every Friday and reading records every day.
Compulsory homework
Spellings – tested onFridaysTimes tables – tested dailyReading – read for 20 minutes daily
Spellings – tested on MondaysTimes tables – tested dailyReading – read for 20 minutes daily
Spelling – tested on FridaysTimes tables Rockstars –dailyReading – read for 30 minutes daily.
Spelling – tested on FridaysMaths - MyMaths online maths homework.Reading – read for 30 minutes daily.
Optional homework
Sentence homework (a different prompt each week,is published on our website).
MyMaths online maths homework.
All children have a login for Timestables Rockstars which they can use at home.
Children can also access LanguageNut from home to practise French.
Knowledge organisers for history are on our website which can be used to prompt additional research.
In the Children section of our website, there are videos about how to study at home.
In addition to the optional homework listed to the left, children also have access to www.ReadTheory.org to develop reading comprehension.
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Reminders
Remember:
Year 3
Children will go home in P.E. kit when they have P.E. in the
afternoon. They may come to school in PE kit if they have P.E.
in the morning (3 Dahl, Tuesday).
Year 4 Kayaking
All forms and slips need to be returned to ensure that your
child can attend.
Flu immunisation
Completed Flu Immunisation Forms need to be returned by the
27th September.
Please can parents ensure their children are able to tie their ties
independently. This is not only of great practical help when
changing after P.E. but it also boosts the children's self esteem.
Dates for your diary
24th September
Meeting for Year 1 & 2 Parents 7pm Courthouse
School Hall
26th & 27th September
Year 4 Kayaking
26th September
PTA AGM/Quiz Night 7.30pm at Alwyn School
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Contact us
To discuss how your child is doing at
school, you can speak to your child’s
teacher on the playground before or
after school to arrange a time to
meet.
If your child’s class teacher is
unavailable, please contact the year
leader:
Year 3 Mrs Fitzpatrick
Year 4 Ms Howard
Year 5 Mrs RobertsonMrs Hayes
Year 6 Mrs Buxton
For enquiries relating to special
educational needs or disabilities
(SEND) please contact our SENDCO,
Mrs Hayes, who is available before
and after school or you can make an
appointment to see her through the
school office.
Mr Hart is on the playground before
and after school. Appointments can
also be made through the school
office.
For general enquiries, please contact
the school office:
01628 626958
www.courthousejunior.co.uk
