In a Nutshell Newsletter 15th January: Sunshine and Ice

Willow Class have made an impressive start to the new year, somehow seeming so much older and more settled after the holidays. A new rhythm has been established of physical morning warm-ups, maths games and rhymes in the Hall, followed by a daily short burst of phonics on whiteboards, returning to the classroom for focused bookwork and then story time with the much-loved Reading Owl. That’s all before morning break!

Willow Class had a fantastic Art Lesson with their new Art Teacher, Doug. Inspired by Andy Goldsworthy, they made their own nature art.

To support at home, spellings will be given out each Monday, linked to the previous week’s Phonics unit. More information will be emailed to Willow parents.

Thanks for reading with your children at home over the holidays; it is most evident in class!

 Birch Class have moved upstairs, which they are really enjoying! They have started their new topic studying Scottish History and Geography.

Chestnut and Oak Class  had a great first week back. Their main topic this term is Rivers and Mountains. They covered the water cycle and five ways in which Mountains are formed and also learned how to make an electrical circuit in ICT, which will springboard them to programmable systems. Our book for this term is Michael Morpurgo’s Kensuke’s Kingdom.

Birch Class

Birch Class students were happy to take their walking sticks to the woodland, delighted to be back after a long break. They used their sticks to fish heaps of leaves out of the puddles in the woods, and also made lots of fishing rods, which was fun and gave good practice of simple knotting. They especially enjoyed quiet and cheerful socialising, alongside individual projects and some imaginative group games they invented:  ‘You’ll never catch me!’ said one to his friends, as he waded gleefully away through the puddle-flood. We also enjoyed hot tea and the story of Brigid and the Cailleach. Many of the children acted out the fierce winds flying around, and struck the ground with their sticks, bringing frost and snow, before Brigid brought spring.

Chestnut and Oak Class

There was ice to snap on the pond-like puddles and pathways, and the swollen river to admire. That, with a first foray into drilling mast-holes into boats using the new hand-drill, a game of ‘bat and moth’, and plenty of hot tea to warm us, made for a good re-connection to the woodland and a beginning to our ‘rivers’ theme. We discussed the upcoming Imbolc celebration and decided on a way to enact the story of Brigid, and also planned next week: art and crafts round a warm fire at the Kitchen Garden (aka the allotment).

By the way, warmest thanks to parents for their Christmas gift box of Elevenses treats!  And in case you’re interested, the tea we drink in the woodland currently is Twinings’ Camomile and Honey (students have been asking what it is called).

Poem by Audrey Annuk (Chestnut, yr5) , featured in young writer’s anthology This Is Me.

The Majestic Dolphin 

I am curious like the wind. 

I am strong and bold like a sword on the battlefield. 

I am smart and intelligent like wisdom from the elder tree. 

I am beautiful like the sunrise. 

I am sporty. 

I am mysterious, like a whisper in the night. 

I have imagination, like a child playing hide and seek. 

I am silly like a monkey and excited and playful like a wave. 

I am a fantasy like a princess. 

I am majestic and magical. 

I swim and jump and dive. 

I am anxious and fun like the sun. 

I am gorgeous like a lion’s mane. 

I am friendly and happy and joyful. 

I am adventurous like a butterfly. 

I am sneaky like a cat. 

I am loud like a tiger’s roar. 

I am graceful like a swan. 

I am fantastic like a dolphin.