Year 3 - Winchester College River Study
Year 3 were very fortunate to spend two afternoons at Winchester College studying the River Itchen and all the creatures that live in its crystal clear waters. We learnt that the water was clear because the chalk aquifer filters it. We caught invertebrates from the river bottom and sorted them. There were lots of shrimps which indicated that the water was clean.
Using an orange, tape measure and stop watch, we recorded the speed of the river. We did the test 3 times to ensure that it was a fair test. We found the PH of the river was PH7 which meant it was NEUTRAL and good for the fish.
Using our special glasses, we saw the sheltered area where Atlantic salmon spawn, laying 25,000 eggs after travelling over 6,000 miles. They use their sense of smell to navigate.
Birch art work inspired by Kurt Jackson
Art work inspired by Kurt Jackson whose paintings reflect a concern with environmental issues and ecology.
Children used words associated with plastic waste, contaminating the worlds oceans, to spread the message that we need to think carefully about how our actions damage the natural environment. The children researched and then wrote persuasive posters to highlight the issue of plastic waste and suggested alternatives to ensure that the oceans are kept clean.
Hazel class - fully engaging in the tunnel experience
Hazel Class have thoroughly enjoyed book week this week. It has been great to see all the children enjoying their reading and sharing stories together. We have had favourite books bought in to school including one with life size pictures of animals and plants in, including a rather terrifying looking tarantula. We have also had some hand written stories bought in and shared. It is so exciting to see members of our class enjoying stories so much that they want to write their own in their own time, we even have one boy who is keen to become an author when he is older.
In our writing sessions in Hazel class, containing a mix of the three year 1/2 classes, we have been exploring the book 'The Tunnel' by Anthony Browne. The children have loved looking at this book and have studied the images in the book to make predictions and infer the characters thoughts, feelings and reasons for actions. They have also been writing some excellent descriptive sentences by looking in detail at some of the amazingly illustrated images and writing what they can see but also by fully engaging in the tunnel experience by climbing through their own tunnel and seeing what it might have been like for the girl in the story.
The children have shown a great amount of empathy towards the world while we have spent time looking at the book, 'Little Turtle turns the tide' by Lauren Davies. They have had some great ideas as to how to reduce plastic and are keen to look after our world more, especially our oceans. Please encourage the children to do what they can to help reduce, reuse and recycle.
Stanmore celebrates World Book Day 2020
On Thursday 5th March, we participated in the worldwide celebration of books and reading. Prior to World Book Day, we welcomed Lauren Davies, author of ‘Little Turtle turns the tide’ to Stanmore, where she shared her beautifully illustrated book highlighting the important issue of plastic pollution in our seas. This text was selected as our focus book for the whole school during the week, with the children exploring the storyline, vocabulary and grammar features during their writing and guided reading sessions. Alongside this, we linked in our PSHE work on the environment and plastic pollution, as well as creating some stunning artworks inspired by the book. The children were invited to contribute to a whole-school art project using plastic bottle tops, highlighting the concerns of plastics swamping our oceans.
On World Book Day itself, the children were invited to dress in a ‘sea’ theme; we were so delighted to see so many children participate as beachcombers, mermaids, pirates and a wide selection of sea creatures! In the afternoon, the children moved into their house ‘families’ and shared stories with each other. This was a wonderful afternoon of story-telling, sharing favourite books and drawing on past experiences across Early Years to Year 6.
Friday afternoon featured the ‘Book Swap’ with children across the Key Stages bringing in and exchanging books for exciting new reads. It was lovely to see the children bursting with the anticipation of reading their ‘new’ book.
The children are encouraged to complete their ‘share-a story’ log, which runs for the month of March, with a block to be shaded in for every 10 minutes of story sharing completed. We look forward to creating our ‘Share-0-Meter’ of reading to see how many hours of story sharing Stanmore can achieve over the month.
Read all about it!
This week we featured in the Hampshire Chronicle. Click on the photo below to see the story online.
Lunchtime is changing - for the better
The opinions and views of our pupils are really important to us at Stanmore Primary. By listening to our pupils and implementing their ideas we build on their sense of Belonging and Trust in our school community.
One area where the children have had the responsibility to make a difference is in the changes we have made to lunchtimes.
A huge amount of time and effort has gone into making the lunchtimes a positive and enriching experience for all the children, with different areas offering different activities. Watching a huge majority of our children dancing and singing along with Miss Elkins on the Junior Playground,(and hearing about the staff joining in while watching from the staff room window), has been quite magical.
At the beginning of the week, children ate their lunch in a darkened hall lit up with fairy lights while ambient music played, and today the tables were set in rows of red, blue, green and yellow for the house teams to sit at.
Thank you to all the children and staff who have contributed to make this a success.
A new addition to Stanmore School
A little bit of rain did not deter Birch class from pond dipping, in the school pond, as part of their longitudinal study in science. To their surprise the pond was teeming with frogspawn. It takes frogspawn roughly three weeks to hatch after spawning and each tadpole is around 12mm and brown in colour.
Birch class will keep the pond under close observation and report when the first tadpoles hatch.
The children have written some very entertaining playscripts for a short Pixar animation, ‘The chess game.’ So many children excelled that Mrs Taylor awarded many Headteacher’s merit for their excellent writing.
Year 3/ 4 have been busy learning their lines, practicing the songs and collecting costumes for their Ancient Egyptian production which they will perform at the end of the month.
Stanmore Post - 28 February 2020
Dear Parents,
As part of our Curriculum Work we have been thinking about the experiences that children have at lunchtime. We are excited to share our Lunchtime Changes with you. These have been designed by the children and staff and include themes such as ‘Mindfulness Monday’ and ‘Would you rather?’ Wednesday. Our House Captains have been wonderful ambassadors for our school, including speaking to the Hampshire Chronicle about their role in school improvement earlier this week. They have designed a presentation on the lunchtime changes which they would like to share with you here.
As you will be aware, Mrs Kempson has started her maternity leave. The children have had a successful week with Mrs Atkins as the lead teacher for Elm Class.
In the lead up to SATs, Miss Evers will be providing some additional booster sessions in Elm during the afternoons. These sessions will help the children who are about to undertake statutory assessment and give the Year 6 pupils the best opportunity to be successful. When Miss Evers is providing booster during the afternoons, Mrs Stanley will work in Sycamore Class. Mrs Stanley is well known to Sycamore as she teaches in this class every day and knows all of the children. Year 3 / 4 began rehearsing for their Ancient Egyptian Play that they will perform later this term. Miss Evers is fully involved in the production and remains the lead teacher for Sycamore.
As a school, we are now fortunate to have a strong KS2 team who are able to work together for the best interest of the children. This includes supporting Mrs Nutt in Aspen Class as she temporarily stands in for Miss Norris.
Best Wishes
Sharon Taylor
Cross Country is just the start
Sports is an important aspect of school life. It helps to keep children’s minds and body active, it’s good for their wellbeing, it builds resilience and helps to strengthen team skills.
This term we have made sure that children at Stanmore have been given as many opportunities to participate in sport activities as possible. They have had the opportunity to take part in football, running, yoga and multi-skills.
We recently entered two cross-country races, where the children who took part did incredibly well in running against other schools despite the weather and competition – all the children thoroughly enjoyed the events and showed great sportsmanship.
The highlight for Stanmore School is that Seth and Thomas from Year 6 have been chosen to take part in the Cross-Country Championships on Thursday 5th March in Basingstoke! Good Luck boys!
We hope to continue our love of sport at Stanmore by participating in more competitions, encouraging more children to attend clubs and hosting a sports event at the school!
Author Lauren Davies visits the school
On Thursday 6th February, we were fortunate to welcome Lauren Davies, author of ‘Little Turtle turns the tide’ to our assembly to share her new book and discuss the issue of plastic pollution in our seas. This book will be the focus of our Book Week (week commencing 2.3.20), and we look forward to some exciting writing and reading activities linked to this important issue. Lauren was most impressed with the school:
“Your school has such a lovely atmosphere and the children were so engaged. I found it inspiring!”
One child in particular left a lasting impression on Lauren. Lucas’ thoughtful words are words that we could all aspire to – well done, Lucas!
“The book makes me feel adventurous, because the tiny turtle had just been born and changed the world, which meant I can too’”