Christmas 2020 activities in Stanmore Primary School
Children have enjoyed Christmas traditions with a 2020 twist. Christmas Dinner was served in the ‘bubbles.’ We managed this over the week rather than on one day, thanks to the efforts of Mandy and her team at HC3S. This meant that the children could still eat in the hall with Christmas Crackers and festive music.
Items were donated to the Winchester Basics Bank through our ‘reverse’ advent calendar. Families donated different items each day. Hampers were made for some Stanmore families from members of the Level 10 Church Community. Thank you to all involved in giving so generously.
![IMG_2833[1].jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5b545b978ab722298aeeb748/1608302612354-5A1AHH69QQLQ1HYXQWQS/IMG_2833%5B1%5D.jpg)
The team at Christ Church led a very special Christingle Service for us. This was held in class ‘bubbles.’ Every child made a Christingle and took part in the service virtually.
This year we have had to adapt some of our existing traditions. Carols in the Courtyard was replaced by the ‘Festival of Light.’ Each class decorated a Christmas tree, generously donated to us. These were put outside the classrooms so that parents and children could enjoy seeing them decorated and lit up as they walked around the one way system.
NOW SHOWING - Catkins Nativity 2020
Sit back. Relax. Put 2020 behind you and enjoy what is arguably the best nativity in Winchester this year!
Elf on the shelf
It is December, and the elves have been in school. As we find evidence of what they have been up to we will post it here. So check this page each day!
We need the help of all our children to identify the locations around the school where they’ve been. Make sure you fill in the form you will be given by your teacher.
Day 12 - Elf on the shelf - Stanmore Primary School
Day 1 - Elf on the shelf - Stanmore Primary School
Day 2 - Elf on the shelf - Stanmore Primary School
Day 3 - Elf on the shelf - Stanmore Primary School
Day 4 - Elf on the shelf - Stanmore Primary School
Day 5 - Elf on the shelf - Stanmore Primary School
Day 6 - Elf on the shelf - Stanmore Primary School
Day 7 - Elf on the shelf - Stanmore Primary School
Day 8 - Elf on the shelf - Stanmore Primary School
Day 9 - Elf on the shelf - Stanmore Primary School
Day 10 - Elf on the shelf - Stanmore Primary School
Day 11 - Elf on the shelf - Stanmore Primary School
Stanmore Post - 11 December 2020
Dear Parents and Carers,
The children looked very festive in their Christmas Jumpers today. A really lovely start to our end of term Christmas Activities. Our reverse advent calendar has been really well supported. Thank you for donating so generously for the Winchester Basic Bank.
Next week, we are looking forward to hosting class ‘bubble’ Christmas Dinners in the hall. If your child has not decided on their choice of Christmas Dinner please let the office know by Monday.
The children will take part in a virtual Christingle Service led by Christ Church on Thursday morning. Each child will have their own Christingle. As we will be lighting the candles, children with long hair must have it tied back. Parents have the right to withdraw children from the Christingle Service, please request this in writing to Mrs Taylor. I look forward to sharing the photos of the service with you next week.
We are planning to share our ‘Festival of Light’ with you on Thursday after school. Christmas Trees were kindly donated to each class and parents are invited to view the class decorations on Thursday when we switch on the lights and share the trees outside of the classrooms. Trees can be viewed as you walk around the one way system.
On Friday children will enjoy a class Christmas film. They can bring in an individual (nut free) snack if you would like to send one in to school with them on Friday morning. Parents of Children in Catkins can still look forward to a Christmas Nativity. Children and staff have been working hard to film the scenes for this virtual experience. More information about how this will be shared in a letter on Monday. A preview photo can be viewed below.
Year R rehearsing the Nativity 2020 - Stanmore Primary School
Today we held our first Stanmore Christmas Market. I am hoping that this can become an annual event as the children who attended really enjoyed choosing presents for their families. I would like to thank all of the Friends of Stanmore who have worked so hard to make this a memorable moment in the run up to Christmas.
We know that it has been more challenging this year to involve you in your child’s learning actively on the school site. The virtual parents evening; the school improvement, phonics and well-being virtual meetings; the photos on our website and the curriculum overviews that came home earlier in the term should have given you a flavour of your child’s recent learning experiences at school. I am proud of the high quality outcomes from the different subject areas that children are producing as they come towards the end of this term’s topic. They have worked hard to recover from any gaps created as a result of the school closure last term. You can see some of the art work from this week here: https://www.stanmore.hants.sch.uk/news/2020/12/11/deep-sea-diving-in-art
Finally, we would like to welcome to Mr Firth who has joined the Stanmore Primary School team as a teaching assistant in Year 3 and 4. We hope that you will be very happy in our school.
Yours sincerely,
Sharon Taylor
PS – don’t forget to check where the elf has been this week
Deep Sea Diving in Art
We learnt how to use tint to create a realistic sea background and then used collage to add to the picture. We also used a tool on Purple Mash called Mashcam to turn ourselves into deep sea divers and added this to our art work.
Stanmore Post - 4 December 2020
Dear Parents,
Our curriculum is designed so that children:
Appreciate – to be equipped with a breadth of language, the inclination to learn something new and a sense of wonder
Participate – to be actively engaged in the entire curriculum experience, as appropriate, using our ‘Keys for Success.’
Innovate – to have the aspiration and expectation that a new idea, method or product will be created as part of the curriculum experience
We have a wonderful YR/1 video that you may have seen on our website or on Facebook. This snapshot of life in Catkins reflects our three curriculum values and we are grateful for the support of Sean Pruen, one of our parents in producing this video. If you know someone who has a school age child in September 2021 please encourage them to visit our admissions page.
Our curriculum planning ensures that children are actively engaged in learning. This week children in KS1 have been exploring sea themed art inspired by past and present artists. During the week, Year 3 and 4 were greeted by their teachers dressed as Roman emperors or Gladiators. The day started with maths - Roman style and continued with Roman myths, Roman mosaics and Roman sandal designing. They even took a trip to the Colosseum, learning about the Roman architecture and history behind this iconic place. Year 5 have been building 3D models as part of their river study while Year 6 have used their persistence and resilience keys to build 3D bridges.
Thank you to everyone who has taken part in the ‘reverse’ advent calendar. We have seen many families donate gifts for the basic bank this week. Activities like this reflect the positive community spirit and our value of Support at Stanmore Primary School.
Earlier this week, parents attended the parent workshop run by Mrs Fenton and Mrs Mason. This was really well received and parents found it helpful to know that they are not alone in noticing that their children struggle from time to time. The simple message following this event is that we are here to support you by working in partnership.
A special mention this week to Freddie and Mahika in Year 6 who won gold certificates in the Primary Maths Challenge! Well done we are proud of you. We know we have some marvellous mathematicians in year 5 too. We will be relying on you to maintain this Gold Standard next year. We will keep you posted. Isabella in Year 4 has received a certificate from the Summer Reading Challenge. You are all super stars.
Yours sincerely,
Sharon Taylor
PS – don’t forget to check where the elf has been this week
River models - Year 5
Year 5 have been making 3D models of rivers this week as part of their geography topic work.
3D river model - Stanmore Primary School
3D river model - Stanmore Primary School
Roman Day - Year 3 & 4
On Thursday, the children in Birch, Sycamore and Willow were greeted by their teachers dressed as Roman Emperors or Gladiators! The day started with maths - Roman style. We made clocks using roman numerals and learnt a great song to help us to count! (You can listen too - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1UmAgekzbs)
After break time, we looked at the Roman myth of how Rome came into existence, called 'Romulus and Remus'.
In the afternoon, we took a virtual trip (using Google Earth) around the Colosseum! We learnt about the blood sports that took place there and could see more detail about this important feat of Roman Architecture that is almost 3000 years old!
After that, we made Roman sandals and helped create our class mosaic.
Stanmore Post - 27 November 2020
Thank you for attending the virtual parents evening this week. I appreciate that a phone call cannot replace a visit with the teacher in person. However, I trust that you were able to find out about how your child has settled this term and hear about their wellbeing and progress. The targets will have given you an indication of their next steps and I am sure you were proud to see the writing that came home before the meeting. If you have any concerns or unanswered questions following Parents Evening, please contact the school office to arrange a follow up appointment with the class teacher, myself, or Mrs Fenton.
Some parents are telling us that they are noticing a change in their children's behaviour since lockdown. Mrs Fenton and Mrs Mason have invited parents to an informal workshop, which will offer strategies which might help at home. We are most likely to bring about change if we are working together using similar language and consistent expectations. This virtual meeting will be held on Wednesday 2nd December at 10am and 6pm. Please contact the school office if you would like to attend.
We are so fortunate to have fantastic support locally to ensure that the children have a memorable Christmas. Hillier's Garden Centre have donated a large Christmas tree that we are placing opposite the library so that all the children can see it from the inside and it can also be seen on the walk around school at drop off. In addition to this, we are expecting a delivery of 10 Nordmann Fir Trees on Tuesday 1st December, thanks to a wonderful anonymous donation and generous discount from Burcot Farm. We are very grateful. Each class will decorate a tree and we will work towards a 'Festival of Light' in the last week of term so that parents can also enjoy the creative designs. Christ Church are working with us on a virtual Christingle Service and the Friends of Stanmore are arranging a Christmas Market for children to choose a present for members of their family. This is already looking very popular. Children can wear Christmas Jumpers on this day, Friday 11th December. All children will have a special Christmas Dinner in the hall in year group 'bubbles.' It will be different this year but we will still be creating lasting memories for you and your children.
INSET day today was the second day of staff training in delivering reading and writing through the Read write Inc. programme. The impact of our improvement work can be seen in the high quality writing from children in Year 2 https://www.stanmore.hants.sch.uk/news/2020/11/27/year-1-and-2-poetry-the-sea
Yours sincerely,
Sharon Taylor
Year 1 and 2 Poetry: The Sea
Year 1 and 2 were set a poetry homework challenge. They read a poem based on a wave and then had to have a go at creating their own. Here are some examples.
“Waves Across the Shore
When I splash in the ocean I make waves,
Big ones, small ones, all around the world they twirl.
Blue,green and turquoise they splash upon the beaches
With sparkly rolling edges.
On a stormy day, they grow and grow
Bigger and darker and dangerous
Grey and black they crash into the shore
They are not safe anymore.
I like the waves best of all
When they are flat and warm and swimmable
I can get inside them and feel comfortable
Surrounded by their wet hug. ”
“Sea sea beautiful sea.
Sea sea beautiful briny sea.
Sea sea beautiful briny crashing sea and waves.
Sea sea beautiful briny crashing thundering waves.
Sea sea beautiful briny crashing thundering salty waves.
Sea sea beautiful briny crashing thundering salty rolling waves.
Sea sea beautiful briny crashing thundering salty rolling spraying waves.
Sea sea beautiful briny crashing thundering salty rolling spraying rapped waves.
Sea sea beautiful briny crashing thundering salty rolling spraying rapped wild waves.
Sea sea beautiful briny crashing thundering salty rolling spraying rapped wild powerful waves.
Sea sea beautiful briny crashing thundering salty rolling spraying rapped wild powerful pushing waves.”
“The waves are as blue as the sky on a sunny day.
The waves are loud.
As the waves drop it looks like a bubble bath.”
“The waves are soft like a teddy bear.
The waves are as beautiful as a flower.
They splash onto the gold sand.”
“Waves can be big,
Waves can be small
Waves do a jig,
They always fall.
When big waves crash down,
It makes a huge sound
On to the sea and fish below,
Splashing water all around.
Dolphins love to ride the waves
Next to passing ships.
In the underwater caves,
On to the rocks the octopus grips.”
“Big Waves, small waves, every kind of wave,
ginormous waves and icy waves
That makes you shiver to the bones.
Salty waves and frothy waves,
That sting when they go in your eyes,
Crashing waves and splashing waves,
Of every shape and size. ”
“Huge waves
Splash down.
Little waves,
Near the sand.
Following me,
Caught me.
Now I have wet cold toes. ”