Year 6 Weekly Blog -”The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance.” — Alan Watts.

This week’s liturgy and reflection has been focused around the word ‘Glory’. We reflected on this week’s gospel, where we hear Jesus tell us about the parable of the fig tree. A symbol that as soon as its twigs start to grow and leaves appear, we know that Spring is on its way. We then discussed other ways we know that something is going to happen, and how we know change is about to happen. The children of course discussed how we are about to enter advent, the time when we prepare for the birth of Jesus, and we reflected on how we can prepare our hearts for this time.

 

Thank you to this week’s group for their beatiful liturgy on patience, they led us in reverent prayer and reflection ….

This week we have fit so much high quality learning in to our timetable. This is all down to your wonderful children, how hard they are working and how eager they are to deepen their knowledge and learn new skills! We have even got a small group of children making extra notes in journals and going away to re-learn and practice skills- how mature! This week we have continued with our adjusting method in maths, we have learn all about the function of blood and what it is made up from in Science, learn to translate french opinions in french, reflected on the portaits of Elizabeth I and the key messages she wanted to deliver and so much more …

It was lovely to see so many of you there for the Year 6 book look. This is such a special time for both the children and adults, a time to reall celebrate the progress, effort and time they have spent on their work. They really take great pride in their work and are reaching our high expectations in Year 6, so it is so wonderful that we get to share this with you- I am sure you were all very impressed…

Wow, playtimes are so much fun. Here are just some of the games they have been playing at break times this week …

We have loved spending all day today in our PJ’s, thank you for all of your donations to raise money for Brian House!

My Happy Mind this week’s focus was on celebrate! We looked at how everyone possesses 24 character strengths, but we all have different amounts of each of them and that’s what makes us unique! The children all thought about what they felt were their top 5 character strengths and then we took a survey to see what the professionals thought! We then compared them to see if we were right- it was fascinating but I think we know ourselves pretty well! Here are our top 3 character strengths no mug shots (promise) …

Delving deeper through talk …

What is the function of your blood and what does it consist of?

My Happy Mind…

How have you used your main character strengths this week?

Helpers in the mornings:

This week we have the following children helping to take the younger children to their class:

Elsie Archie Michael Ella
 

Leading Learners

Well done to Rex and Millie this week.

Rex- Focused Cooper Crab- Wow Rex, you are impressing us so much with your focus, eagerness, enthusiasm and determination. You are  so engaged during lessons, managing your distractions, participating fully and getting lost in each task.

Millie- Reflective Lizzie Ladybird- Millie you have come back after half term, ready and raring to go! We love the way you have took on board feedback and are actively using this to improve your work. We can see how determined you are to reach your goals!

Intentional and Prophetic butterflies

This half term we will be on the lookout for all the children that are intention in their actions. Children who make conscious decisions for the greater good. We will also be spotting children who are prophetic, who choose the right decisions with integrity and who display them publically. These children are the role models of the school. This week we thank Ola for being intentional and prophetic to help others.

Lunch Time Awards …

Marvelous Manners awards … Faye

Role Model of the week … Archie

Reminders

Notices

  • Please see year 6 homework section to learn the songs ready for our Christmas concert.

  • Costumes for the dance festival to be brought in next Monday 18th November please

  • Tuesday 26th November - Dance Festival- more information on this event will be on the blog next Friday

  • Own Clothes Day: To celebrate the arrival of December and the festive period, then children can wear their own clothes and also bring in a bar of chocolate into school for £1. This will take place on Friday 29th November.

  • Christmas Bake Off will take place on Friday 13th December. The day will be all things cake, cake sales and Christmas jumpers!

  • KS2 Christmas Concert: This will take place at Church on Monday 16th December. The children will perform the concert twice at 2pm and 6pm

Have a lovely weekend with your family.

Mrs Harrison, Mrs Webster and Mrs Carter

Year 6 Weekly Blog: “Lest We Forget"

At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them… this week is always a poignant week as we stop and remember all of those fallen victims of war and conflict. Our focus of the week has been on the word ‘Remembrance’. We have designed and created our own poppies and yesterday we reflected on previous wars and wrote poetry in response. 

“Christ has no body on earth now but yours, no hands but yours, no feet but yours are the eyes through which he looks with compassion on the world; yours are the feet with which he walks to do good; yours are the hands with which he blesses all the world” St Teresa of Avila.

In worship this week, we have reflected on this quote and how it relates to our two virtues: Intentional and Prophetic. We have spoken about what these virtues mean and how we can be intentional in the choices we make and the ethical code we live by, choosing to live how God wants us to…

The week has flown by and we have done so much exciting and challenging learning. We have read more of our class novel this week, looked at the remaining Tudor Monarchs after Henry VIII and started our Geography unit on volcanoes and mountains with Mrs Hotchkiss. 

Our Mathematics this week has been on fire, balancing equations and using redistribution to find unknowns in expressions!Very impressive!

Travelling Nativity

Our Travelling Nativity has started it journey visiting your homes. It is yours to keep for one night only (unless you get it on a Friday) and then you must return it to Year 6. Please make sure that it is completely ready for another friend to enjoy the next day.

You will find instructions in the sack, with a journal to reflect on the story through words and drawings. If you would like to share this moment through a picutre, then please feeel free to take a picture and email it to me. Enjoy celebrating the birth of Christ at home with one another, it is such a special time.

Costumes for Dance Festival

Our dance rehearsals are going well and we can’t wait to share it with you! We are now starting to think about costumes…

Could all pupils please bring the following in to school by Monday 18th November:

Black leggings/ trousers

white shirt/ polo shirt

Hogwarts robe and tie- please see this link for the cheapest option. If you have already got one from previous dressing up, please feel free to use. We will not be needing the glasses in this pack.

Helpers in the mornings:

Next week we have the following children helping to take the younger children to their class:

Ola Benjamin Niamh Arthur

Leading Learners

Well done to Rafe and Niamh this week.

Rafe, you could get a certificate every week for each of the learning characters, as you are so consistent with your approach to learning and positivie attitude. You give 100% effort in all tasks, always showing great enthusaism, determination and focus.

Niamh- you are always considerate and a flexible classmate. Your calm nature and focused learning makes you a terrific role model and therefore an invaluable member of Year 6!

Intentional and Prophetic butterflies

This half term we will be on the lookout for all the children that are intention in their actions. Children who make conscious decisions for the greater good. We will also be spotting children who are prophetic, who choose the right decisions with integrity and who display them publically. These children are the role models of the school. This week we thank Layla for being intentional and prophetic to help others.

Notices

  • Please do visit Mrs Gregan’s blog for important information.

  • Parent Book Look opportunity will be on Wednesday 13th November 2:15pm

  • On Friday 15th November, we will have our annual PJ Day for our local children in need - Brian House. Please bring a teddy and £1 to donate!

  • Christmas Bake Off will take place on Friday 13th December. The day will be all things cake, cake sales and Christmas jumpers!

  • please encourage children to complete homework on time and handed in on Wednesdays- it is great preparation for High School

Where does the light come from in your life? - Castlerigg Day 2

This has been a key message for us today at Castlerigg - Where does the light come from in your life? Yesterday was all about how we shine our light and today, reflecting on others and what we are grateful for in our lives.

Before bed last night, we had the most incredibly experience - night time prayer. The chapel here at Castlerigg is the old stable building, which is perfect as we prepare for the arrival of Jesus this Christmas. Daisy, the youth worker here, took us through a section of prayer and used the story of Narnia to illustrate it. Here she compared the character of Aslan to Jesus Christ, who too sacrificed himself for the good of his friends. It was incredibly moving and it took me a while to recover after; as you can tell from the images below. We then snuggled up and listened to a bedtime story from Lily. A rather lovely end to our first day.

This afternoon we headed off to the lake for some much needed reflection and fresh air. The children found out about places of interest in Keswick, headed to Derwent Water to skim stones then wandered to Fitz Park for some time together. It was so lovely to take in the views of the lake and spend some time in God’s world. The children were great.

After a delicious tea of pizza, wedges, salad and fruit, we are now getting ready to settle down for mass in the chapel. The children have written bidding prayers and are ready to sing.

Enjoy your night and we will see you tomorrow. We are departing at 2pm so should be back at school for 4pm - we will keep you posted!

Year 6 Weekly Blog ‘Autumn tells is the season that teaches us that change can be beautiful’

I can’t believe we have come to the end of our first half term in Year 6! It has gone by so quick, but what a start Year 6 have made. They have all grown so much in the last few weeks, developing their independence and reflecting on the areas they know they need to wok on- we couldn’t be more prouder of them. Make sure they get lots of rest this short break, so that they are ready and raring to go for another busy, run-up to Christmas. It has been so lovely to talk to you all at the parent’s meetings, celebrating the successes of each one of them.

Read more

Year 6 Weekly Blog - "Small seeds of Gratitude will produce a harvest of hope"

Harvest is a time of thanksgiving and gratitude; to thank God for the things we have and all that God has given to us. Our liturgies this week have been centred around this and our RE this week looked also at the smallest seed- the mustard seed. Year 6 have been reflecting on the parables that Jesus shared with us that taught us about the Kingdom of God and how this can start off so small within us, but as we love and follow in Jesus’ footsteps this can grown in to something more powerful.

This week we had a beautiful litrugy led by a number of children, all about the courage that God gives us…

When I reflect on the week, I am so proud of the amount of learning Year 6 are getting through. They are working so hard and trying their absolute best in every lesson! The big push has been reading this week, as there were a number of pupils that are not reading or quizzing regualrly enough, and the children have responded really well to me setting them targets when they should be quizzing by- please encourage them at home to relax and have quiet time out with a book!

In our English lessons, we are loving our class novel and seeing how the mysteries unfold. We have written diaries in the perspective of the main character and next week they will get feedback on this, but I have had a quick look and I am excited to get reading! In History we have been looking at the highs and lows in Catherine Aragon’s life, making our very own human graph and even looking for evidence in a letter from Henry to Anne Boleyn- was it a love letter?

My Happy Mind

This week in our My Happy Mind session we had some fun, using our knowledge of the three parts of the brain: The Hippocampus, Amygdala and the Prefrontal Cortex. We played a game of ‘TEAM-HAP-SNAP’, seeing who was first to match all the characters working together!

Kidsafe

This week, we have completed our 5th and final Kidsafe lesson, before our recap in summer term, about hearing parents/carers arguing. Please click the button below to find out more detail about this lesson.

Please click the button below to find out more detail about this lesson.

Year 6 had a great afternoon at enrichment with Mr Cornwell for the ‘BIG QUIZ!’ …

Delving deeper through talk …

What is the Kingdom of God? Can you retell one of the parables and explain its meaning?

My Happy Mind…

Why is it important for all three parts of the brain to work together?


Helpers in the mornings:

This week Year 6 will only be helping on Thursday and Friday. We have the following children helping to take the younger children to their class:

Liam Luke Cora Ella


 Castlerigg:

Thank you to you all for getting in the medical forms- all information has now been sent off. Children will find out next Thursday who they will be sharing rooms with etc. Castlerigg have confrimed they do not need the actual duvet- children just need to bring a single duvet COVER or a sleeping bag. I will post the final details that you need to know, confirming times and reminding you of anyhting they need to bring on the blog next week- it’s getting exciting!

Leading Learners

Well done to Elsie and Gabriella and this week.

Elsie, you are such a reflective learner Elsie and this is what makes your work fly! You lsiten to feedback and respond, trying hard to improve all the time. We love the way you can also independently reflect on your own work without promting, always eager to edit and use that purple pen!

Gabriella- you have impressed us this week with how hard you have tried to complete your work, no matter how challegning you have found it. You have kept on going, not given up and all with a smile on your face! We see how hard you are trying Gabriella and we are so proud.

Attentive and Discerning butterflies

This half term we will be on the lookout for all the children that are attentive in the way we look at the world and in others, taking the time to notice the big and the small things each day. We will also be spotting children who are discerning, who choose the right decisions with integrity. These children are the role models of the school. This week we thank Archie for being attentive and discerning to help others.

Lunch Time Awards …

Marvelous Manners awards … Isaac

Role Model of the week … Sophia

Notices

  • Please do visit Mrs Gregan’s blog for important information.

  • Have you booked your tickets for the dance show?

  • Could you please collect and bring in to school boxes, egg cartons, tubes (not toilet roll) - basically anything suitable  for constructing  their models in DT next half term!

  • Have you booked your parent’s day appointment for next Friday? Don’t forget we break up for October Half term on Thursday.

  • please encourage children to complete homework on time and handed in on Wednesdays- it is great preparation for High School

Year 6 Weekly Blog - "No act of kindness, however small, is ever wasted."

Kindness doesn’t cost anything, it is something that we can all give and it makes our world a better place. This week, in our council meeting we shared the acts kindness we have seen within our class and celebrated those children. Another one of the Kingdom of God values. Seeing little acts of kindness around the classroom and on the playground throughout the week has been really lovely, and of course being active in the choices that we make. We have even started a kindness jar, where we add the acts of kindness we see throughout the day and share these with everyone.

Read more

Year 6 Dance Festival

Historically, the dance festival has always been operated across Year 5 & 6, sometimes Year 4, but this year, we are just doing it with Year 6. With Mrs Harrison being our dance specialist, we want to maximise her time - whilst also giving the children a really special experience. We have never used 30 children before, but this is the year, and seeing how much they have enjoyed Shakespeare in recent years; I think they will love it. Below you will find all of the information regarding the performance and when it will be - Tuesday 26th November . Tickets for it go on sale today at midday - these will be direct from The Winter Gardens. The button below will take you to their website.

The theme this year is magic - which we know will inspire them all - and just have fun!

Samlesbury Hall Visit

This half term in History we are learning all about the Tudors and even writing our own biographies of Henry VIII! To aid this learning, we have arranged to take the children for a visit to the historic stately home ‘Samlesbury Hall’ on Wednesday 2nd October where we will spend the day there and be took on a tour around the grounds. We have added the cost of this trip to parentpay, the cost of the visit in total is £18.50. We will be leaving school at 9:30am so children need to arrive at usual time and will arrive back in time for normal collection. Full school uniform need to be worn please, and there may be an opportunity to have a play in the park if it stays dry, so please make sure they bring a coat.

As the trip is only next week Jacqui needs to know those who need a school packed lunch ASAP. Please fill out the form below whether you do or do not wish for a school packed lunch.

Year 6 Weekly Blog 20.09.24 - "Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much."

This week’s liturgy and reflection has been focused around the word ‘servant’. On Wednesday, through the Wednesday Word, we first heard this weeks gospel, Mark 9:30-37, where we hear the disciples arguing over who is the greatest. We then reflected further in our liturgy on Thursday, on Jesus’ response: “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.” We reflected on how we can serve others in our roles around school and how we can put others before ourselves.

 

Collaboration is key - especially in Year 6! This week we have collaborated and shared in every lesson - this has helped us to learn from each other. We have collaborated in our PE playing games of cricket, putting together freeze frames for the prologue of our class novel (see photos below), in our practicing of the assembly and most importantly getting to grips with our new roles around school . Alongside this, we are striving to be attentive and discerning, questioning the world around us and actively making changes where needed. Here is a snapshot of our week…

This whole notion of collaboration will stand us in good stead as we move forward as a class. Earlier this week they each received their positions of responsibility and what a great start to the year they have made! They came back to school on Wednesday ready and raring to go and they have worked together beautifully, what a team they make. It was so wonderful to see how they each celebrated one another! You will see this in full force on Tuesday 24th September 9am for our class assembly. Please make sure they are practicing their lines and song for next week- thank you.

It was lovely to see so many of you there for the Year 6 induction evening on Wednesday. This is such a crucial year for your children and we must work together to ensure each of them reach their full potential and have a real sense of achievement this year. If you would like to refer back to the induction presentation at all, then please feel free to access on the button below:

This week, we have done our second kidsafe lesson. This week it was all about the nature of bullying. We learned the acronym STOP Several Times on Purpose. We thought about how bullying can make us feel and what to do about it. Please read the following letter to find out more information:

My Happy Mind this week’s focus on what we can do to relax our brain and keep it healthy! We looked at many different strategies and discussed how this helps our brain to be healthy. This week our 3 goals were to 1) do happy breathing as we come in from play times 2) drink more water 3) gratitudes. Our Happiness Hero : Elsie has helped to remind us to do all these things this week! I wonder who our Happiness Hero will be next week …

Science with Miss Drummond:

Today we revisited electricity, we discussed that static electricity is produced when electrical insulators rub together. Opposite electrical charges(positive and negative) will attract whilst similar electrical charges (e.g. positive and positive) will repel. We rubbed balloons on our clothes and hair then drew and labelled a scientific diagram to explain our findings: there is an excess negative charge on the balloon and an excess positive charge on our hair. Opposites attract so our hair moves to the balloon. Can you remember what are the features are of a correctly drawn scientific diagram?

Delving deeper through talk …

How are you going to serve others as part of your role and responsibility around school?

My Happy Mind…

What strategy are you going to focus on to keep your brain healthy and mind relaxed?

Helpers in the mornings:

This week we have the following children helping to take the younger children to their class:

Rafe Sophia Rex Millie
 

Leading Learners

Well done to Luke and Esther this week.

Luke- Focused Cooper Crab- Thank you Luke for being so focused, doing your best and being ready to learn! Your effort with your presentation is a delight to see!

Esther- Enthusiastic Bobby Bee and cooperative Roger Robin- Esther you are always full engaged in every lesson and you approach all tasks, no matter how difficult with a smile and positive attitude!

Attentive and Discerning butterflies

This half term we will be on the lookout for all the children that are attentive in the way we look at the world and in others, taking the time to notice the big and the small things each day. We will also be spotting children who are discerning, who choose the right decisions with integrity. These children are the role models of the school. This week we thank Ruby for being attentive and discerning to help others.

Lunch Time Awards …

Marvelous Manners awards … Michael

Role Model of the week … Roseanna

Reminders

·   ·     Please return St Bede’s admissions forms from last week if you have not already.

·         It is our class assembly on Tuesday 24h September.

·         Please encourage children to complete homework on time and handed in on Wednesdays- it is great preparation for High School

Have a lovely weekend with your family.

Mrs Harrison, Mrs Webster and Mrs Carter

Annual Flu Vaccination

This vaccination is recommended to help protect your child against flu. Flu can be an unpleasant illness and can cause serious complications. Vaccinating your child will also help protect more vulnerable family and friends by preventing the spread of Flu. There may be a rebound in Flu levels this coming winter following low levels in the past 2 years. The vaccination is free and is a quick, simple, painless spray up the nose. Our vaccinations in school will take place on Monday 14th September.

Please complete the online consent form.

If you DO NOT wish your child to be vaccinated for whatever reason please complete the form stating NO and the reasons.

Online Consent Form: 

Use the link below to access the online consent form and enter the unique school code with BP in capital letters - BP119627

Please inform the School Vaccination Team (Not School) of the following:

 •           If your child has steroid tablets prescribed two weeks prior to vaccination.

•           If in the few days prior to vaccination your child has been wheezy.

•           If after consenting you take your child to your GP surgery to receive their vaccination

 It is your responsibility to contact the school vaccination team to ensure they do not receive the immunisation again. Our contact details are:

 Blackpool, Wyre & Fylde: 01253 951984 Morecambe / Lancaster 01524 519430

Year 6 Weekly Blog 06.09.24 'Be brave, take risks and allow the unexpected'

Welcome to Year 6!

What a week we have had! There has been such a warm and friendly buzz of excitement, anticipation and enthusiasm over the last two days in Year 6. We could not be happier with how the children have returned to school for their final year at Our Lady’s. We have spent a lot of time over the past two days talking about leadership and our vision for the year ahead. We have shared a beautiful story with the children called The Invisible. A tender story about how we all belong in the world. Please click on the button below to read the story

Read more

Welcome to Year 6 2024!

We can’t wait to welcome you all back to school for a VERY exciting year, full of challenges, fun learning and service. What is even more exciting is that the Year 6 block has been fully redecorated just for you, we can’t wait for you to see it! We are now just in the process of getting it all ready for your arrival and I know as soon as you come through the door, you are going to make such wonderful leaders of the school. This is your final year at Our Lady’s- let’s make it the best one yet, where we achieve everything we are capable of, love and celebrate one another and serve the school through inspiring all of our younger pupils. Don’t forget to send all of your House Captain Speeches in, your deadline is Thursday 5th September!

Next week we will be focusing on our leadership roles within school and how our two new virtues (Attentive and Discerning) will be at the centre of these roles. We will be applying for the jobs we would like, looking at how WE can make a difference in our school and looking at some inspirational leaders of the past.

Don’t forget to come equipped with your own pencil cases, making sure you have all you need in there but please make sure they are small enough to fit in your trays at the end of the day.

Indoor PE days will be on a Tuesday. On these days you need to make sure you wear tracksuits but also have a pair of shorts either under your trousers or in your bag to get changed in to.

We will not be starting Indoor PE the first week back.

Outdoor PE is on a Monday, our first one is on Monday 8th September.

Art in on a Friday- please remember to bring in your art tops to stop your uniform from getting paint on- we will keep this in our trays.

Homework- will go out on Thursday afternoons and will be due in the following Wednesday.

Induction information will be sent out next week, so please look out for when it will be. You will be able discover more about the exciting opportunities and topics that they will be learning during their time in Year 6 and we can answer any questions you may have! More information, such as important forms that will need completing will be available soon so please do keep checking the Year 6 page.

Important Notices:

Please make sure all coats and school uniform is labelled- let’s get off to a good start.

Don’t forget to keep those house captain speeches coming in!

We can’t wait to see you all on Tuesday and hear about your holidays!

We will welcome Marsden (Kenilworth Road entrance) and Harcourt (St Patrick’s Road entrance) at 8:45am and Bamber (Kenilworth Road entrance) and Plessington (St Patrick’s Road entrance) at 8:50am.


Enjoy your last week of the holidays and we look forward to seeing you in Year 6,
Mrs Harrison, Mrs Webster and Mrs Carter

House Captain Videos ...

Use this summer wisely to prepare and film your House Captain speeches …The children are to film a House Captain speech ready to show the younger children in the second week back in September. The children will be familiar, from watching them over the years, of great examples of effective speeches all made by previous Year 6 children. The speech needs to be inspirational, directed at the younger children, unique to us and enjoyable to watch, but must give us/ show us the reasons why they should be voted to be the next leader of their house! So remember to share your qualities, talents and the reasons why you would make a great House Captain! Could all videos please be emailed to Mrs Harrison within the first week back in Year 6. Remember, if you want to be considered as head boy or girl, sports captains as well as a potention house captain, then the video is crucial.

 

k.harrison@ourladystarofthesea.lancs.sch.uk

Hope you are having a wonderful summer and see you in Year 6!