Welcome to Year 6!
We are writing to share some information about life in year 6.
Our two classes are Hawks class with Mrs MacTaggart and Kestrels class with Mr Fox. Our teaching assistants are Mrs Jones and Mrs Searle.
Curriculum
Our project this term is based around World War II and the plight of refugees from then until the modern day. Using this as a stimulus, we will investigate the question ‘What does it mean to belong?’ We use the texts ‘Letters from the Lighthouse’ and ‘Refugee’ as the main basis for our writing. As part of our RE curriculum, we consider the question "What Kind of King is Jesus?". In science, we deepen our understanding of how to group and classify animals and why they live in the habitats they do. In the second half term, we focus on electricity including its safe use. An overview of the curriculum can be found on the website at https://www.stwilfrids-hh.school/web/year_six/
KS2 celebration worship takes place on Friday mornings, where one member of each class is chosen to receive a certificate for how they have demonstrated our school values that week. The work of these children is shared and the rest of the key stage has a chance to hear about their achievements.
Reading at home
Even when your child enjoys reading and reads well on their own, they still need to read aloud all the way through their Key Stage Two years. Books can be borrowed from the school library – each class will visit once a week – and each year group has a selection of books that your child can borrow and read at home. Every time your child reads at home, you (or your child) should log this using BoomReader BoomReader — The Digital Reading Record. BoomReader also has a free app which can be downloaded through the Apple App Store or Google Play. The school code is 39826 and your child’s login has already been sent home. If you need this again, please email the year six address and we can provide this for you. In KS2, children will be awarded value points for every occasion that they read at home. When children have finished a chapter book, they need to click the option on BoomReader that allows them to show they have completed the book so we have a record of the types of book they are reading.
Reading Rewards
In Year 6, children can earn ‘Reading Rewards’ time, for reading at home and recording it on BoomReader. To receive this reward time, children need to read at home on at least five occasions during the week and log these. logging can be done by an adult or child using the BoomReader website or app. We also give children the opportunity to log the reading in school.
Homework
Maths homework is set every week on a Thursday and needs to be completed by the following Thursday. This homework will be an activity on the website MyMaths based on what the children have been learning that week, revision of a prior concept or an introduction to a future concept. Children have been given their log-in details for MyMaths, but if these have been misplaced, please inform the class teacher.
English homework is set each month and is usually a written task, based on a prompt, such as a story opening or illustration. In addition, children will be set spellings to practise and these will be tested on a Thursday in both classes. These will be a mixture of words from the statutory ‘word lists’ and those with particular spelling patterns.
Times tables and related division facts should be practised on an on-going basis, ideally a few minutes daily. Children are expected to know these and be making progress with them. Children are expected to know these and be making progress with them. ‘Times Tables Rockstars’ - Times Tables Rock Stars: Play (ttrockstars.com) - is an excellent website to use to practise these and children have been provided with logins to access this at home.
All children are expected to complete and hand their homework in on time. If children are finding it difficult to complete their homework at home, they can choose to attend ‘Learning Links’ (homework club) for part of their lunchtime where they can receive support with their homework.
PE
PE in both classes is on a Tuesday and a Friday so please ensure your child comes into school in PE kits on those days each week. If there is any reason why your child cannot participate in a PE session, please let the class teacher know through the year six email address. As an alternative, or in addition to plimsolls, sports trainers are allowed in the Juniors. These are particularly useful during the winter months as it allows the field to be used for outside PE. PE is only cancelled in the event of heavy rain, icy or extremely cold conditions, therefore children can wear a a pair of jogging bottoms (ideally navy). Children should wear school sweatshirts for PE. Children with pierced ears must be able to remove their own earrings or cover these with tape.
Water bottles and snacks
Please remember to bring in a water bottle and a healthy fruit or savoury snack (for example, fresh fruit, a bagel, raisins etc) for break time. Please ensure any snacks and packed lunches are both nut and egg free.
Uniform
Please ensure your child has a waterproof coat in school every day. All clothing, including PE kit, should be labelled with your child’s surname. Children are expected to wear sensible, black shoes as part of the school uniform. Lost property is located in the first aid area by the Y5/6 doors to the KS2 playground.
If at any point you have a message for your child’s teacher, please email year6@stwilfrids-hh.school, as emails are checked daily.
Please do contact us if you have any questions.
Thank you for your continued support,
Mrs D MacTaggart and Mr M Fox
