Penguins Class
Class News Autumn Term 2025
12.9.25
Welcome to the new school year everyone! The children have been absolute superstars and have settled into the Key Stage incredibly well. We are so proud of their resilience and positivity towards their new learning. Perfect Penguin for the last two weeks have been Carter and Maeve, both of you are wonderful examples of role models and learners, well done! Our handwriting hero and heroine are Jayden and Livvy - well done for your hard work and lovely handwriting!
The children have got off to a great start with their science learning ‘Animals Including Humans’ and enjoyed finding out about David Attenborough who will be their scientist of the half term for all his conservation work in his field. They especially enjoyed becoming mini David Attenborough’s by completing some outdoor learning observing the wildlife on our school grounds. The children certainly discovered a lot of ladybirds this year! Back in the classroom the children worked well in their teams to sort out different animals into groups of reptiles, mammals, fish, birds and amphibians. See what they can tell you about this.
In History, the children have begun learning about toys in the past and what better way to begin than by looking at the characteristics of toys we know and love from today. As you can imagine the children were excited to have some time playing and investigating some toys from our keystage!
Next week the children will be looking at teddy bears from the past and finding the similarities and differences between bears now and then. In order to bring this learning alive for the children it would be wonderful if all the children could bring in a teddy bear of their own from home. Penguins day will be Wednesday 17th for this activity.
Dear Parents, Carers and Penguins class,
In R.E we are looking at sacred books and begin by listening to the story of the lost sheep from the bible. The children had fun acting out the story and did a fantastic job of discovering the important message from this story that God loves everyone.
Lots of love,
Miss. Sheldrick and Mrs. Ofoma
X
26.9.25
Dear Parents, Carers and Penguins class,
Well done for another few weeks everyone! Perfect Penguin for the last two weeks have been Rojus and Sofia, both of you are fantastic examples of role models and learners, well done! Our handwriting hero and heroine are Frankie and Emmeline - well done for your hard work and beautiful handwriting!
We have continued our science learning by looking at all different types of animals: reptiles, amphibians, mammals (which is what we are!), fish and birds. We were able to compare the features of each and could name some of their characteristics. We were able to play a game of guessing the animal and the children gave some fantastic clues! I wonder if the children could guess this animal - I lay eggs, I have pink feathers and a beak, what am I? We were even able to learn about what animals eat, looking at carnivores, omnivores and herbivores! There are so many fantastic scientists among us - David Attenborough would be proud!
In PSHE we discussed the importance of rules and being kind to one another. We looked at different scenarios and established what the best course of action would be if we saw something unkind happening. The children are learning about advocating for themselves and using their voice to speak out and tell an adult to help them when navigating social situations. We are all valuable and important!
It was so wonderful to share the children's teddy bears with them! We compared what old teddies looked like and what has changed over the years. It was fascinating to discover how soft they are now, especially when thinking about how old teddies could be hard and even had glass eyes! We discussed how most toys used to be hand stitched and how they are manufactured on a greater scale now. We also explored some old games children would used to play like ‘the farmer in his den’ and hopscotch! We have had so much fun!
This half term we are looking at Aboriginal art and were amazed to discover that aboriginal cave paintings are some of the oldest art in the world - over 40,000 years old! We were able to practice some of the symbols used in this art and created an x-ray fish! It has been so lovely to see the children really express themselves through their creativity.
During our English lessons we have been reading ‘The Owl who was afraid of the dark' by Jill Tomlinson. We have been following Plop’s journey of bravery and discovering that things that frighten us might actually be something we grow to love! It has been incredible to see the children so engaged and their first piece of writing on describing Plop has truly made us so proud! It is clear to see how valued stories are and the children always try their very best with their learning! We cannot wait to continue our exploration of Plop and find out how he manages to overcome his fear of the dark!
Lots of love,
Miss. Sheldrick and Miss. Ofoma
10.10.25
Dear parents and carers,
It has been another fantastic fortnight in Penguins class as the children continue to thrive in Key Stage One. It has been lovely to see the children showing such care for each other and as a result during Thursday’s special celebrations assembly, we saw a record amount of nominations for our kindness and caring cup; fantastic! The children make it so difficult to choose an overall winner which I think you’ll agree is a great problem to have. Perfect Penguin for the last two weeks have been Arthur and Emi, both of you always try your very best and always do everything with a smile, you are superstars - well done! Our handwriting heroes and heroines are: Oliver, Sofia, Taron and Hanna. Well done for your hard work and beautiful handwriting, you always try your best and have worked hard with improving your handwriting!
Thank you so much to those of you who have already brought in some toilet roll tubes for our wonderful Art learning. This will greatly help with our end of unit creation of a rain stick! If these could continue being brought in we would really appreciate it. Thank you for your support with this, the children can't wait to get creating and share their masterpieces with you!
During our science learning, we have continued with our theme of ‘Animals Including Humans’ and began to study the diets of different animals. See if your child can tell you what a herbivore, carnivore or omnivore is or even name a few examples? The children also sorted animals into two different groups looking at the similarities and differences of pets and wild animals. They did a brilliant job and so we discussed why some animals make better pets than others. Some children wondered whether keeping sharks would be a good idea and we all agreed a ‘no’ on that one (especially Great Whites)!
In P.E the children have been busy learning different skills and I think it’s safe to say the kickboards for running, to learn how to turn effectively, have proven very popular. The children have definitely enjoyed the freedom of running across the hall for once and it has been wonderful to see the children so engaged and enjoying their learning. We are very proud to see the children measuring their achievements by their own efforts and dedication, to keep making improvements and not by comparing themselves to others; this is a sure way to success for all of our children.
In R.E the children have been busy finding out about the special holy book for Jewish people- The Torah. Having read and even acted out some stories from the bible the children were surprised to find out that the writing in the Torah is written in Hebrew and read from right to left but that some of the stories are actually the same as in the bible. The children had a lot of fun making a Torah of their own and writing special messages.
Over the last couple of weeks in Geography, the children have been finding out more about Kenya and loved using their knowledge of the World to think about the similarities and differences between the UK and Kenya. We all decided that, although it might be exciting and hot to live in Kenya, it might be a bit frightening with the lions! A highlight was definitely finding out about the Maasai tribe and having their own jumping contest on the school field just like the tribe themselves; fabulous!
Lastly, we would like to say that while we understand the excitement around popular toys like Labubus, but to maintain a focused learning environment, we kindly ask that all personal toys remain at home unless prior agreements are in place. We appreciate your cooperation in ensuring non-essential items are left at home so we can prioritize uninterrupted learning throughout the school day.
All that is left to say is have a lovely weekend with your beautiful families.
Lots of love,
Miss. Sheldrick, Mrs. Harrison and Miss. Ofoma
X
24.10.25
Dear parents and carers,
Well done for the last two weeks it has been an amazing end to our first half term! Perfect Penguin over the last two weeks have been Max and Taron. Well done for always trying your best and for doing everything with a smile; you are both fabulous additions to our wonderful class. Our handwriting heroes have been Carter, Maeve, Hugo, and Summer. Well done for all your efforts in our handwriting sessions to try your very best and make improvements each week on your handwriting.
As we come to the end of what has been a fantastic first half term, it has been an absolute pleasure to see how brilliantly the children have settled into Key Stage One. They have all worked incredibly hard, showing such resilience and enthusiasm for their learning which has made us all feel exceptionally proud. We have already seen them make such fantastic progress this year, and their wonderful attitudes are a true testament to their hard work; something I am sure you are just as proud of at home. Thank you for attending parents evening. It was wonderful getting to talk to you all about your fabulous children!
Our science lessons, for our topic ‘Animals including humans’ truly came to life with our fantastic trip to the zoo! It was amazing to see so many different animals up close and we had lots of brilliant discussions about their natural habitats. We also paid close attention to what they ate. See if your child can remember what the giraffes were munching on or what sort of food the Lions would have eaten for their lunch. Back in the classroom, the children used everything they had seen to create some incredible animal profiles, which showed off all their knowledge.
Our geography learning has continued to take us all the way to Africa this fortnight as we began to answer the big question: 'What is life like in Kenya and how is it different to the UK?'. We had some fantastic discussions comparing the wild animals of the savannah to our local wildlife and looking at the differences between towns, houses, and traditional mud huts. The children were brilliant at spotting whether a picture was from Kenya or the UK and did a super job sorting them into their books. Maybe you could ask your child to tell you one big difference they learned about between Kenya and the UK.
In RE, we have been learning about Judaism and some of the important stories from the Torah. To understand the incredible story of Moses, we became actors and brought the tale to life right here in the classroom! The children acted out key moments, from Moses being found in the basket to bravely leading the Israelites to freedom. They were fantastic at showing the different emotions throughout the story, which led us perfectly into learning about the Ten Commandments that God gave to Moses. We had a brilliant time comparing these important rules to our very own 'Class Commandments', and we were very proud to see that many of our ideas about being kind, telling the truth, and respecting others were already there! Why not ask your child which part of the story was their favourite to act out?
A quick note on homework for the half-term break: We have set a special project on Google Classroom (in your child's usual base class) to celebrate Black History Month 2025. We hope they enjoy this lovely activity and can't wait to see their brilliant work after the holiday!
All that is left to say is have a lovely half term holiday with your beautiful families and we look forward to seeing you all again on Monday 3rd November!
Lots of love,
Miss. Sheldrick, Mrs. Harrison and Miss. Ofoma
X
14.11.25
Dear Parents, Carers and Penguins class,
What an amazing beginning we have had to the final half of the Autumn term! The children have come back refreshed and excited to learn, something that has been wonderful to see. We are so proud of how well they are settling into Key Stage One and as we begin the countdown to Christmas (we can’t believe how quickly this is coming round)! We are excited to begin practicing for our Nativity performance! Thank you so much for supporting the children learning lines and songs for this; I am sure they will share with you all they are practicing!
Well done to all the wonderful children who are really trying their best, they are a credit to you all! Perfect Penguin for the last few weeks have been Emmeline and Magishaa, well done for being such wonderful role models and learners. We recognise how hard you work and how you always try your very best. Congratulations to Rojus, Jessica, Emilia and Max for being our handwriting heroes and heroines, the effort you put into your presentation and letter formation has been noticed and you should be proud of how hard you have worked!
Celebrating Children in Need was a lovely way to support such a wonderful cause! We had a lovely assembly explaining the importance of supporting and helping children - you are our future and what a bright future it will be! We were also able to participate in Michael Rosen’s poetry celebration! It was a wonderful way to inspire the children and ignite a passion for poetry. He performed some hilarious and feel good poems about food - ask your child what their favourite moment was! It was also such a brilliant way to demonstrate how a love of reading is essential to our wellbeing and empowers us to live full, happy lives!
Geography this half term is all about the world around us and the differences seen at the North Pole, South Pole and the equator. To explore the world around us we went on a scavenger hunt to explore what we could find around the school environment which was a great opportunity for the children to demonstrate their knowledge of our community. We were then able to draw a map of the school and begin to develop one of our key skills of map making in Geography! Over the next few weeks we will be comparing our environment to how different it can be at the top, bottom and middle of the Earth - exploring Ecuador and the equator!
We are thinking all about seasonal changes as well as materials in Science this half term. We have recapped our learning of trees by looking at the school trees on the field, exploring how the leaves have changed colour and how some of them are falling off! We also looked at leaves and the differences between deciduous and evergreen trees - ask your children what each tree is and what makes it so special!
Our History learning about toys from the past has continued and we had such a wonderful time visiting Wardown museum this week! Seeing all the old toys really brought our learning to life and it was fascinating to explore the differences between old and new toys. The children's behaviour was fantastic and it was amazing to be able to see how a museum is curated. We take inspiration from this as it will really help us when it comes time to create our own museum display of toys in the classroom!
Well done for another smashing few weeks, we truly have had a wonderful whirlwind of a time- we can’t wait to continue our learning for the rest of the half term! You’re all superstars, have another lovely, restful weekend, we can’t wait to see you again for another incredible few weeks!
Lots of Love,
Miss Sheldrick, Mrs Ofoma and Mrs Harrison,
X
28.11.25
Dear Parents, Carers and Penguins Class,
Firstly, a massive thank you to those of you who have been sending in costumes for our Christmas production of ‘Born in a Barn.’ We have been excited to see the stage go up at the beginning of this week and the children have been doing a wonderful job in their rehearsals; you really are in for a real treat! Thank you also to parents who have been supporting their children with their lines and where to come in on their scripts at home; we have been really impressed at school with their efforts. Just to clarify for anyone who is unsure, Year 1 are our amazing choir and have been asked to dress as their chosen barn yard animals. Please note these do not need to be bought costumes; they can wear clothes in the colour of that animal and a mask/headwear/tail etc. bird, sheep, cat, cow, pig. Please speak to Miss. Slough or any of the Key stage 1 team if you need help with any of this.
Alongside rehearsals, the children in Penguins have had a great time last week playing maths games with the children in Upper Key Stage 2. It was so lovely to see the sense of community we have at Lark Rise in action as our Year 5 and 6 children explained games they had designed and spent time helping our children to play with their friends. There were lots of smiles and even some siblings that had the chance to play together which was very lovely to see. It was definitely a fun way to end Maths week. See if your child can tell you about some of the other active Maths activities they played in their morning Maths classes too.
We have been very fortunate over the last two weeks to have had some grandparents visit us in Key Stage 1 to support us with our history learning. The children discovered an old train set that was a firm favourite and even got to see a set of wooden blocks that had been handmade and handed down through three generations of family and is still going strong; amazing! The children really enjoyed seeing old photos and listening to tales of when our two Grandads were young. Both talks were very special moments indeed. This will also really help us when we come to make our own toy museum next week. We would love your child to bring in a toy for this event on the 3rd of December. We will be creating a toy museum with all three classes so please let them bring in something they like to play with but not too precious to display (and I’m sure we can make some time to play with them too!).
In music the children have been learning a special Christmas song ‘Somewhere in my memory.’ By John Williams. It featured in the film Home Alone and some of the children were able to recognise it straight away. We will be performing the song as a whole school before the end of the Christmas term in a special assembly. The children thought about how it makes them feel and what the lyrics mean. They sound absolutely angelic singing this song and we can’t wait to hear what it sounds like with the whole school and a percussion accompaniment.
Finally, our Happy Hummers over the last two weeks were Kit and Summer for being such amazing members of our class; listening well, sharing ideas and being fantastic role models to their peers. Our Handwriting heroes have been Alesia, Jacob, Nathan and Eliza.
We hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Lots of love,
Miss. Sheldrick, Mrs. Ofoma and Mrs. Harrison x
12.12.25
Dear Parents and Carers,
What a busy but great term we have had! The children have worked so hard and made some amazing progress.
We must start by saying just how incredibly proud we are of the children for their fantastic performance of our Christmas production, ‘Born in a Barn.’ The performances have been the absolute highlights of our week! A massive, heartfelt thank you to all of you who supported us so brilliantly by sending in such wonderful costumes—the barnyard animals, angels, shepherds, kings, and Mary and Joseph all looked spectacular. We also know how much time went into helping the children learn their lines and cues at home; that support makes a huge difference to their confidence. I’m sure you will agree all that practice paid off and it was a joy to see them shining so brightly. They really did give it their all, and their singing was absolutely beautiful. It was a very special occasion for our Key Stage.
Back in the classroom, the festive learning has continued in our RE lessons. This week, the children thoroughly enjoyed the hands-on task of making their very own Christingles. It was a wonderful, practical activity that really helped us to explore the deeper meaning of Christmas. We discussed why this season is so important to Christians and unpicked the symbolism: the orange represents the world, the red ribbon symbolises God’s love, the sweets and dried fruit represent God’s creations, and the candle stands for the light of the world. The classroom smelled delicious, and the children showed such respect during our discussions about faith.
We have also rounded off our History topic in style by creating a ‘Toy Museum’ in the classrooms using the children’s own toys. It was lovely to see such a variety of favourites brought in to share. It was great to see the children applying what they learned earlier in the term; they worked very hard to write detailed labels for their exhibits, just like the real ones we saw at Wardown Park. They had to think carefully about how to explain their toy to a visitor, describing materials and how it is played with. It was a fantastic way to link literacy skills with history, and they took great pride in displaying their items.
In Design and Technology, creativity has been flowing as the children worked on their hand puppets. We have been so pleased with their resilience. Sewing is not an easy skill, and there were certainly some tricky moments! However, the children didn't give up straight away, even when cutting the felt was difficult or threading needles was fiddly. It was truly lovely to see them supporting one another during these lessons; we saw so many examples of friends helping friends to thread needles or offering encouragement.
A huge, special thank you must go to Kit’s wonderful Grandma who came in to support Miss. Sheldrick with the sewing session. Having an extra pair of hands (and expert sewing knowledge!) was invaluable and helped the children achieve such great results.
Finally, our Perfect Penguins over the last two weeks were Hanna D and Frankie. They have received this award for being such amazing members of our class; always listening well, sharing their ideas with confidence, and being fantastic role models. Our Handwriting Heroes have been Magishaa, Arthur, Ella and Maximus. We are really impressed with the care you are taking with your presentation.
We hope you have a wonderful, restful weekend after such a busy week.
Lots of Love,
Miss Sheldrick, Mrs Ofoma and Mrs Harrison x
Class News Spring Term 2026
9.1.26
Dear Parents, Carers and Penguins Class,
Welcome back! I hope you all had a restful and enjoyable break. It has been an absolute pleasure welcoming the children back into the classroom this week; the school has felt full of energy and excitement once again.
We are so impressed with how quickly the children have settled back into their routines. This week has been all about reconnecting with friends and diving straight into our new learning. Here is a little glimpse of what we’ve been up to during our first few days:
In history, we have begun our new topic The Great Fire of London. The children used images from the past to become detectives and find out about where and why the fire began. We have also started our key text in history ‘The Great Fire’ by Emma Adams. The children have enjoyed looking at the hauntingly beautiful illustrations that have depicted the fire.
This week, we officially launched our new Science topic, "Living Things and Their Habitats." The children have been busy learning about what makes something "alive" and what animals and plants need to survive. To kick things off, we took our learning outside! We spent some time exploring the school grounds to identify different micro-habitats. The children loved searching under logs and stones to find minibeasts and discussing why a damp, shady corner is a perfect home for a woodlouse. It was wonderful to see them using their "scientist eyes" in the fresh air!
We’ve already seen some fantastic effort across the board, but we would like to give a special mention to our first award winners of the term:
Our Perfect Penguin: A huge well done to Hugo! They have been a real "Perfect Penguin" this week and Ella before Christmas, spreading positivity and showing a wonderful attitude towards their peers.
Handwriting Heroes: Congratulations to Edward and Hanna D. They have come back with such focus, taking incredible pride in their letter formation and presentation.
It promises to be a busy and rewarding term ahead. We have attached the new curriculum overview to this email so you can see the exciting projects we have planned.
As always, thank you for your continued support. Please do catch me at the gate if you have any quick questions, or feel free to book a time to chat if there is anything more specific you’d like to discuss.
Lots of Love,
Miss Sheldrick, Mrs Ofoma and Mrs Harrison
X
Notes:
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Children will have English / RWI homework given to them today. It is due on the first Wednesday of the following week (14.1.26). Thank you in advance for all your support with this as well as reading at home with your child and support to use TT Rockstars and Numbots. It really does translate into fantastic progress in the classroom when children are consistently supported with these at home as well as at school.
23.1.26
Dear Parents, Carers and Penguins Class,
What a wonderful start to Spring term we have had! It has been incredible to see how settled and adjusted the children are within the Key Stage. Their effort and willingness to try their best is an inspiration to us all! It was also really lovely to see so many adults during parents' evening - we all absolutely love talking about your wonderful children and their achievements with you!
It is becoming increasingly difficult each week to choose just one child to be our Perfect Penguin because we can honestly say that every single child tries their very best. However this week there needs to be a special mention of some fantastic children who truly have gone above and beyond!
Our Perfect Penguin: A huge well done to Alesia! Her attitude to his learning and friendships is admirable! Well done to Jayden for having a wonderful outlook on his learning and quiet resilience that allows him to truly shine!
Handwriting Heroes and Heroines: Congratulations to Leveah, Cian and Jake, Emmeline. They demonstrate an amazing focus and always try so hard with their presentation and formations.
Our Geography learning has truly taken flight as we dive into our new topic: London! The children have shown wonderful enthusiasm, particularly as we look forward to our upcoming school trip to the capital. Using digital tools like Google Earth, we have been identifying the countries and capital cities of the United Kingdom. We are also exploring the difference between human and physical geography, focusing on iconic landmarks such as the London Eye, the River Thames, and Buckingham Palace. To support this learning at home, you might ask your child if they can recall any of these landmarks or identify the famous resident of Buckingham Palace!
Art this half term is learning all about Henri Rousseau - we discovered that he was a French artist who lived from 1844–1910. His most famous works depict lush, dreamlike jungle scenes filled with exotic animals and vibrant flora. Interestingly, Rousseau never actually left France; he drew inspiration for these "jungles" from visits to the botanical gardens and zoos of Paris, as well as from postcards and travel books. While he was initially mocked by critics for his "childlike" technique, he eventually became a major influence on the Surrealists and was highly admired by artists like Pablo Picasso. He is also an artist who taught himself how to paint! He didn’t allow others' opinions of his art to stop him and showed true resilience, trying hard to improve with every stroke of paint! We have had the opportunity to study his paintings features and had a go at drawing oversized flowers, using different greens to depict the forest with clear outlines of plants.
This half term, our classroom has been transformed by the frosty magic of our class novel, The Snowman by Michael Morpurgo. We have truly relished the opportunity to delve into this heartwarming reimagining of a classic tale, exploring its themes of friendship and wonder. While we haven’t been quite lucky enough to be blessed with a blanket of real snow outside our window, it has been such a delight to bring the winter atmosphere indoors! We have had some wonderful, animated discussions about the art of building the perfect snowman. This inspired the children to become expert teachers, carefully drafting their own sets of instructions on how to build a snowman. It has been a truly enchanting story to share in the wake of the Christmas holidays, and we have all been swept up in the shimmering magic of the novel. It has certainly warmed our hearts during these chilly winter weeks!
Well done for a truly inquisitive last few weeks! We cannot wait to see what we will continue to learn over the next few weeks!
Have an exciting, joyful and rejuvenative weekend!
From,
Mrs Ball, Mr McAleese and Mrs Rumbelow
Other notes:
If your child is in Miss. Slough's English group, your child is able to access the school library every day (if they wish) to change their book/s independently. They all know which shelves they are allowed to use as we have previously practised in school and again this week. First thing in the morning is a great time as it is usually quite quiet there and the room is next door to Hummingbirds class so the children can access this easily from our key stage. Please let me know if your child is struggling with this as it is really important that the children are reading daily.
Book Club is also a lovely way for your child to share their favourite books and talk about them with their peers. This helps to develop their speaking and listening skills and love of books at the same time. Please can you encourage your child to bring in their books on Thursdays to be able to participate in this.
6.2.26
Dear Parents, Carers, and Penguins Class,
We have had an absolutely great week! It has been a joy to see the classroom buzzing with energy, and we are so impressed by how hard the children have worked across every single subject.
Choosing our Perfect Penguins is definitely becoming one of the hardest jobs of the week because the whole class is constantly working so hard. However, we have some special shout-outs for individuals who have truly stood out for their effort and kindness!
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Our Perfect Penguin: A massive "well done" to Jessica! We are so impressed by the way she treats her friends and her fantastic attitude toward every challenge. We also want to celebrate Jake; his quiet resilience and positive outlook on his learning are wonderful to witness. You both sparkled these last 2 weeks!
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Handwriting Heroes and Heroines: A huge round of applause for Kit, Emmeline, Maximus and Ella. Their books are a delight to look at because of their incredible focus on letter formation and their pride in their presentation. Keep up that beautiful work!
In Science, we have been exploring the fascinating world of food chains. The children have become experts at identifying whether an animal is a herbivore, carnivore, or omnivore. We enjoyed using pictures to build sequences of "who eats what," and the children even got creative by drawing their own unique food chains to show the flow of energy in nature.
Our Computing sessions have been full of excitement as we welcomed the Bee-Bots into our classroom! The children have been learning how to program these little robots to follow specific paths. Most importantly, they have been practicing their "debugging" skills—learning how to fix their code when the Bee-Bot doesn't quite end up where we planned!
We are bursting with pride over the children's Writing this week. They have completed their recounts of "The Snowman Christmas Party," and we can honestly say it is some of the best writing we have ever seen from them. Their hard work has truly paid off! Looking ahead, we are excited to use our History topic to inspire our next pieces. We will be writing diary entries from the perspective of a cat being rescued during the Great Fire of London. To prepare for this, we spent the afternoon recapping our knowledge of the fire through a range of activities to support our learning, ensuring we are ready to travel back to 1666 in our imaginations.
In Art, we have continued our journey with Henri Rousseau. Last week, the children painted beautiful, lush backgrounds, and this week they brought them to life by adding their own animals. These "jungle" scenes look spectacular and show a real understanding of Rousseau's unique, dreamlike style.
A Note on Our School TripWe were so disappointed that we were unable to go on our school trip today. However, we are already looking forward to our new date: 19th March. We are so glad the trip has been rescheduled and can't wait for the big day!
Finally, we know the children are missing Miss Slough very much. We all send her our very best wishes and really hope she feels better very soon!
Have an exciting, joyful, and rejuvenative weekend!
Lots of Love,
Miss Sheldrick, Mrs Ofoma and Mrs Harrison
X
Class Reminders:
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We do appreciate the children’s enthusiasm for their toys and things from home but we ask that all personal toys and stationery items stay safely at home to help everyone stay focused and make the most of our exciting lessons. We provide everything the children need for their learning right here in the classroom. This helps us avoid distractions and ensures that no precious belongings from home get lost or accidentally swapped. Thank you for helping us create a calm, ready-to-learn environment for all our Key Stage 1 superstars!
27.2.26
Dear Parents, Carers and Penguins Class,
Welcome back to a brand-new week! It has been wonderful to see the children return with such enthusiasm and energy. We have a fantastic term ahead of us, and the children have already been busy exploring new concepts across the curriculum.
Here is a glimpse into what we have been learning this week:
In P.E., we traded the school hall for the wild! The children have been practicing Jungle Yoga, using their bodies to mimic the stretches of tigers, the reach of giraffes, and the balance of tropical birds. It’s been a great way to build core strength and mindfulness.
In R.E., we have been exploring the Christian belief that Jesus brings "Good News." Specifically, we focused on the message that Jesus is a friend. To bring this to life, the children took part in role-play, acting out parables to understand how these stories teach us about friendship, kindness, and looking out for one another.
Our young scientists have been busy investigating the world around them. We have been exploring the properties of materials, specifically looking at how we can sort objects based on their appearance. The children conducted a "Key Investigation" where they sorted various items into two categories: Shiny and Dull. Ask your child if they can find something shiny or dull around the house tonight!
Finding the Groove with 'Zootime!’ We have launched our new music unit this week focusing on the song 'Zootime'. This is a vibrant Reggae song, and the children have been learning to identify the steady beat and the unique "off-beat" rhythm that makes Reggae so special. We’ve been finding our groove and exploring the instruments used to create this soulful sound!
Celebrating Our Stars
We would like to celebrate the fantastic effort shown by our pupils both this week and during the final week before half term. A huge well done to our award winners: Handwriting Heroes are Maximus, Ella, Jacob, and Hanna D for showing incredible focus, beautiful letter formation, and pride in their presentation. Happy Hummers are Hanna R, and Eliza for bringing positivity, kindness, and a joyful attitude to our classroom community.We are so proud of how hard you are all working!
Thank you for your continued support in your child’s learning journey. We hope you have a wonderful weekend with your beautiful families and look forward to welcoming the children back to school on Monday.
Lots of Love,
Miss Sheldrick, Mrs Ofoma, Mrs Harrison and the Key Stage One team!
x
Messages:
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Library Books: Don't forget to return your books on your designated day so we can swap them for new adventures.
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Homework will resume this week and be set on Friday either on their new google classroom (if they have changed RWI groups) or on a paper copy if they are in Miss. Slough’s English class.
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Please can we also ask for small boxes to be donated for each base class to help us with our Great Fire of London project.
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Could we please have any boxes or junk modelling items to build a cart in our DT lessons.
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As part of our World Book Day celebrations on Thursday 5th March, the Reading Ambassadors are organising a book swap. Please could you send in any donations of children's books (fiction or non-fiction) from Monday and these will be displayed for everyone to choose from at the end of school on Thursday. We are hoping that everyone could bring a book and take a book!
13.3.26
Dear Parents, Carers and Penguins Class,
We have had a truly fabulous two weeks in class! The children have been absolute superstars, immersing themselves in everything from historical London to modern-day engineering. Here is a little glimpse into what we’ve been up to:
Engineering Marvels in DT. Our classroom has been buzzing with the sound of "mini-mechanics" at work! We have officially started designing our carriages and carts. The children are exploring how wheels and axles work together to create movement. A huge thank you for the boxes and junk modelling items you have sent in so far—they will be put to excellent use! We still need plenty of supplies to keep our production line going, so please do keep bringing in any spare cardboard boxes, bottle tops, or tubes.
Science Week & Our Prickly Friends. Science Week was a massive hit! We focused on "Inspiring Curiosity," and the children did not disappoint with their fantastic questions. We’ve been particularly excited about the brand-new hedgehog houses the school has purchased. We’ve been discussing where the best place to put them might be and what a hedgehog needs to feel safe and snug. It’s been wonderful to see such empathy and care for our local wildlife!
A Beautiful Visit to the Church. Our trip to the local church was a real highlight. We are so incredibly proud of the children; they were exceptionally well-behaved and showed such enthusiasm for learning. We explored various Christian artefacts and listened beautifully to stories about Jesus’ messages of forgiveness. A special thank you to the parents who volunteered their time to walk with us—we couldn't do these trips without your support!
Stepping Back in Time. In History, we have been transported back to the 17th century. The children have been busy making Tudor houses as part of our Great Fire of London learning, and the results are simply fantastic! From the straw rooftops to the overhanging jetties, their attention to detail has been a joy to see!
It has been a busy but brilliant couple of weeks. Thank you for your continued support in making our learning so vibrant and fun. Have a restful weekend and we look forward to seeing you all on Monday!
Superstar Celebrations;
Selecting just one 'Perfect Penguin' is becoming a weekly challenge, as we are constantly blown away by the effort every single child puts in. While the whole class deserves a round of applause, we have a few superstars this week whose extra hard work simply had to be celebrated!
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Our Perfect Penguins: We are so proud to celebrate Nathan this week! He brings such a wonderful attitude to his learning and is a true role model for kindness within his friendships. A huge congratulations also goes to Jacob; his steady determination and fantastic outlook make him a real star in our classroom!
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Handwriting Heroes & Heroines: High fives to Hugo, Jessica, Summer, and Arthur! Their focus has been outstanding, and it’s wonderful to see their hard work reflected in such beautifully presented work and careful letter formation.
Lots of love,
Miss Sheldrick, Mrs Ofoma, Mr McAleese and Mrs Harrison x
Messages:
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If your child is in Miss Slough's English class, a data sheet will be sent home with your child's reading age and other information about their reading.
27.3.26
Dear Parents, Carers and Penguins Class,
As we approach the end of another busy and productive term, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the incredible journey the children have been on over the past few weeks. It has been a truly fantastic term, and as a teaching team, we are immensely proud of the progress every child has made. Their dedication to their learning and the hard work they have put into every challenge has been wonderful to witness.
We had a brilliant day celebrating Red Nose Day. It was a joy to see the school come together to support Comic Relief. One of the highlights was our collaborative project where the children helped create a "Whole School Red Nose" to remind us all of how we can support others. We had some very thoughtful discussions about the importance of our generous donations and how they help those in need, both here in the UK and across the world.
Of course, the talk of the term has been our fantastic trip to London! Riding through the streets on a big red bus to see the iconic sites was an experience the children will never forget. From the Tower of London to the Houses of Parliament, the children were absolutely fantastic ambassadors for our school. Their behavior was exemplary, and the beautiful weather helped make it a truly brilliant day of discovery.
Back in the classroom, our History and DT projects collided in the most creative way. Linking to our learning about the Great Fire of London, the children have been busy designing and building their very own carts. We discussed how people in 1666 had to pack their most precious possessions into carts to flee the spreading flames. In DT, we have now officially finished these models, focusing on axle strength and chassis design.
To bring our History topic to a spectacular close, we held a reenactment of the Great Fire by safely burning our handmade Tudor houses. This was a powerful way to end the unit; seeing the "flames" move from house to house helped the children gain a real understanding of how the fire spread so rapidly through the narrow streets of 17th-century London. It was a memorable (and educational!) sight that really brought their learning to life.
Celebrating Our Stars
We would like to celebrate the fantastic effort shown by our pupils both last week and during the final week of term. A huge well done to our award winners: Handwriting Heroes are Taron and Livvy for showing incredible focus, beautiful letter formation, and pride in their presentation. Perfect Penguin is Cian, for bringing positivity, kindness, and a joyful attitude to our classroom community. We are so proud of how hard you are always working!
It has been a privilege to see the children grow in confidence and skill this term. They truly deserve a restful and happy break after such a high-energy few weeks. Thank you, as always, for your continued support and for helping make these experiences possible for the children. We look forward to seeing everyone refreshed and ready for an even more exciting term ahead!
Class Messages:
In preparation for our phonics screening checks in June, the children in Year 1 will have some phonics videos to watch which they can access via a QR code sent out with them today over Easter. This is to help them secure their sounds and practise their oral blending skills. For every video watched we will be offering 2 house points and a coloured coin as a reward. We hope you will support your child with this area of their learning as reading is the gateway to all different kinds of learning.
We will also be having a base class TT Rockstars/ Numbots competition this Easter! The base class with the most accurate answers for TT rockstars and most amount of time spent playing Numbots will win an extra break time for their class and a sweet treat back in school on the first week back. Good luck Penguins!
Have a great holiday,
Lots of Love,
Miss Sheldrick, Mrs Ofoma, and Mrs Harrison x
Class News Summer Term 2026
8.5.26
Dear Parents, Carers and Penguins Class,
I hope you all had a wonderful, relaxing bank holiday weekend and enjoyed the extra time together. It is hard to believe that another two weeks have already flown by! The classroom has been such a hive of activity, and we wanted to share a little update on the beautiful journey of learning your children have been on. It’s been a fortnight filled with "aha!" moments and plenty of muddy hands!
Our Growing Gardeners: Over the last two weeks, we have watched our beans transform from dry seeds into sturdy little plants. The children have been so gentle and patient, checking them every morning for new leaves. We’ve spent time becoming "plant doctors," carefully looking at the roots, stems, leaves, and petals. It’s been wonderful to hear them use their new scientific words to describe the tiny miracles happening right on our windowsills!
A Journey Through Time and Oceans: We have been completely swept away by the stories of Ernest Shackleton and Christopher Columbus. We’ve compared their very different journeys across the seas. We’ve talked about what it must have felt like to see land for the first time or to survive the icy Antarctic. The children have shown such empathy, imagining the courage these explorers needed—and we’ve been relating that back to the "everyday bravery" we see in our own classroom.
Places of Peace: In RE, we have spent the last two weeks exploring what makes a place "Sacred." We’ve looked at the special features of Churches, Mosques, and Synagogues, noticing the symbols and the quiet beauty within them. It has been truly heart-warming to hear the children share their own ideas about what makes a space feel special and how people show respect for the world around them.
Growing Together: In PSHE, we’ve been focusing on our "Learning Line" and the power of "not yet." Over the last two weeks, we’ve seen a real shift in how the children tackle challenges. Instead of feeling stuck, they are starting to realize that the "tricky bits" are where the most exciting learning happens! Our class discussions around this concept have been so supportive and respectful and it is wonderful to be able to work hard to achieve a goal. Their resilience is growing just as fast as our beans!
Paper Perfectionists: In our Art learning we have been working towards creating our paper masterpieces. We have worked with tissue paper, rolling them into little balls to create rainbows, as well as carefully placing them flat, being careful not to rip them! We have begun to work towards our end piece and it has been a joy to watch the children's concentration and expression when using the skills they have learned to manipulate paper.
Our Spotlight Superstars
Choosing our 'Perfect Penguin' is getting harder by the minute! Every single child has been putting in so much heart and soul over the last two weeks that the whole classroom feels like it's glowing. While we wish we could give everyone a trophy, there are two individuals who have truly gone above and beyond recently:
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A massive round of applause for Maximus! His quiet determination has been incredible to watch. He stays focused, keeps trying even when things are tricky, and has such a positive outlook that lights up the room.
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A huge cheer for Livvy! Her approach to learning has been fantastic; she tackles challenges by trying her best and sets such a lovely example of what it means to be a kind friend.
Our Handwriting Heroes and Heroines have been working their magic this fortnight! A giant high-five goes to Nathan, Eliza, Jacob, and Alesia. It’s been so rewarding to see their concentration levels soar as they focus on those tricky letter joins and careful spacing. Their books are looking like absolute masterpieces—we are so proud of the pride they are taking in their presentation!
Well done for a fabulous week, we hope you have another restful weekend!
Lots of Love,
Miss Sheldrick, Mrs Ofoma, Mrs Harrison and Mr McAleese x
22.5.26
ar Parents, Carers and Penguins Class,
I hope you are all doing well! It is hard to believe that another half term has already drawn to a close and that the half term holidays are officially here. Time has absolutely flown by, but what a truly magnificent half term it has been. The classroom has been a constant hive of activity, and your children have worked incredibly hard. We have seen so much wonderful progress, both in their learning and in their confidence.
Around the World to China 
In Geography, we have been completely swept away by our learning about China. To make our studies even more memorable, the children had the wonderful experience of trying a range of traditional Chinese foods. From tasting noodles to crunching on spring rolls, it was a joy to see them approach new flavours with such enthusiasm and curiosity.
A Journey of Explorers and Flavours 
Our History lessons have taken us back in time as we’ve been learning all about Christopher Columbus. We discovered how he and other brave explorers gave us many of the foods we love and enjoy today by exploring new lands and bringing new ingredients back to Europe! To round off our exciting topic, the children worked together to create a fantastic video comparing our two iconic explorers of the term: Ernest Shackleton and Christopher Columbus. They did a brilliant job bringing history to life.
Melodies and Masterpieces 
We have also rounded up our Music topic with some spectacular performances! The children did an amazing job in the Music Showcase Assembly, where they performed the Friendship Song, beautifully playing the glockenspiels and successfully singing in a round. We also had a wonderful time exploring the classic song You've Got a Friend in Me. The children loved identifying the different instruments they could hear in the track and learning about how it became the famous theme tune for the Toy Story films.
Celebrating Our Classroom Stars 
We are bursting with pride over how hard our Perfect Penguins have been working recently. They have truly stepped up, showing incredible dedication to their learning and acting as brilliant role models for the rest of the class. It is an absolute joy to watch them lead by example every day.
While the whole class deserves a massive pat on the back, we have two shout-outs for individuals whose efforts have really caught our eye over the last few weeks:
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A huge well done to Leveah! You have shown so much focus and determination in everything you do, always striving to do your absolute best.
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A big high-five to Hanna D! Thank you for being such a kind, reliable leader in our classroom and always helping others with a smile.
Our Handwriting Heroes have been working their magic this half term! A giant high-five goes to Hanna R, Kit, Frankie, and Emmeline. It’s been so rewarding to see their concentration levels soar as they focus on their presentation and neatness. Their books are looking like absolute masterpieces—we are so proud of the pride they are taking in their work!
Half Term Reminders & Wishes
We hope you all have a wonderful, relaxing, and safe half term break together. While it is time to rest and recharge, please remember to keep practising your reading at home. If you fancy a challenge, don't forget to log on and have a go at completing some games on Times Table Rock Stars or Numbots to keep those math brains ticking over!
Thank you for your continued support. Enjoy the holidays, and we look forward to seeing you refreshed and ready for our next adventure!
Warmest wishes,
Miss Sheldrick, Mrs Ofoma, Mr McAleese 
12.6.26
Dear Parents, Carers and Penguins Class,
Welcome back! We have had an absolutely spectacular first few weeks back at school. The children have settled back into their routines beautifully, bringing immense energy and curiosity to their learning. Here is a look at what we have been up to the last two weeks:
Stop the Press: Dragon Eggs Found on the Roof!
The biggest news of the half term - and perhaps the century - happened right here at school! On the first Monday morning back, we discovered a clutch of mysterious, shimmering dragon eggs nestled up on the school roof. The children have officially taken on the role of Dragon Guardians. This week, we have been discussing how to keep the eggs warm and safe and keeping a daily watchful eye for any signs of cracking! The excitement in the classrooms has been magical, and it has inspired some wonderful creative writing.
Geography: Down on the Farm
In Geography, we launched our brand-new topic all about farms. We began exploring how British farms work and looked closely at how farmers use fields to grow different crops. See if your child can tell you the difference between an arable farm (which grows crops like wheat and vegetables) and a livestock farm? Over the coming weeks, we will be looking at how this food travels from the fields to our dinner plates.
History: Changing Dunstable
For our History topic, we are staying a little closer to home. We are studying our local area of Dunstable and exploring how it has changed over the years. This week, the children looked at old photographs of Dunstable and compared them to how the town looks today. They were fascinated to see how the shops, transport, and roads have transformed over time. If you have any old photos or stories of Dunstable from the past, we would love to hear about them! We are also planning to take a walk into town to help bring the learning alive for this topic so look out for dates coming soon to if you would like to come with us for a trip into Dunstable town centre.
Science: Amazing Animals including Humans!
Our new Science topic is Animals including Humans. We started right at the beginning by exploring our own incredible bodies. The children had a fantastic time labelling different external body parts and were introduced to some of our vital internal organs, such as the heart, lungs, and brain. They practiced locating where these organs sit inside us and discussing what important jobs they do to keep us moving and shaking.
Classroom Celebrations & Awards
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Handwriting Heroes: Over the last two weeks our handwriting heroes have been Rojus, Emi, Kit and Sofia. Well done for your continued efforts to with the correct formation and sit letters on the line so neatly. We are very proud of your beautiful presentation in books.
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The Perfect Penguin Award: This special award goes to two children who have been a little ray of sunshine in the classroom Maeve and Hanna R. Whether it’s helping a friend, showing excellent manners, or just humming along happily with their work, this award celebrates those who make our school a brighter place and both these ladies make it a very radiant place!
Thank you for your continued support in making this first week back so memorable! We hope you all have a lovely weekend and look forward to welcoming the children back on Monday.
Warm regards,
Miss Sheldrick, Mrs Ofoma and Mrs Harrison
26.6.26
Dear Parents, Carers and Penguins Class,
We have had another absolutely spectacular few weeks here at school! The children have continued to bring immense energy, focus, and curiosity to their learning, and the classroom is buzzing with excitement. Here is a look at what we have been up to over the last two weeks:
Stop the Press: The Dragon Eggs Have Hatched!
In the biggest news of the term, our mysterious roof eggs have officially hatched! We have discovered that these magical little dragons come alive at night when the school is quiet, leaving behind lots of excitement for us to find the next morning. To make sure they are looked after properly, the children have been busy writing detailed sets of instructions on how to care for them. From what they eat to how to keep them happy, our young authors have done an incredible job with their writing!
Design & Technology: Teddy Bear Biscuits & Picnic Plans!
We have dived headfirst into our DT learning by making delicious teddy bear biscuits! This tied perfectly into our discussions about healthy eating and balanced diets. Looking ahead, the children are going to plan their very own sandwiches. Soon, we will be asking the children to bring in their favorite filling of choice along with some bread from home, as we plan to eat our creations together in the style of a grand class picnic! More information and specific details about this will follow shortly.
PSHE: Celebrating How We Grow
In PSHE, our focus has been all about growth and transformation. The children have been reflecting on how much they have all grown since they were tiny babies. We had some wonderful classroom discussions about what it is like to be a baby, and the children proudly listed all the amazing things they have learned how to do as they've grown older, bigger, and more independent.
Science: Activating Our 5 Senses!
Our Science journey took us on an interactive exploration of our five senses: sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell. To bring this learning to life, we put our senses to the ultimate test! We listened carefully to mystery sounds, took part in a blind feeling test to guess hidden textures, and played Kim’s Game to see what our eyes could remember. We also sniffed some strong scents like lemon, peppermint, and cinnamon. Finally, we activated our taste buds with a brilliant taste test to round off a truly immersive lesson!
Classroom Celebrations & Awards
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Handwriting Heroes: Over the last two weeks, our handwriting heroes have been Taron, and Summer. Well done for your continued efforts to use correct letter formation and sit your writing so neatly on the line. We are very proud of your beautiful presentation!
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The Perfect Penguin Award: This special award goes to Ella and Hugo, who have been absolute rays of sunshine in the classroom. Whether it’s helping a classmate, showing excellent manners, or putting 100% effort into their work, they make our school a much brighter place!
Thank you for your continued support in making our classroom such a magical place to learn. We hope you all have a lovely weekend and look forward to welcoming the children back on Monday!
Warm regards,
Miss Sheldrick, Mrs Ofoma and Mrs Harrison
10.7.26
Dear Parents, Carers and Penguins Class,
I honestly cannot believe we are nearly at the end of the school year! Time has flown by, and the children have coped absolutely brilliantly with the recent summer heat. As we navigate the last week, please could we send a gentle reminder to ensure your child comes to school with a sun hat, a filled water bottle, and sun cream applied every single day so they can stay safe and comfortable. Despite the rising temperatures, we have been incredibly busy wrapping up the term with some wonderful end-of-unit tasks across the curriculum. The children also had the absolute best time last week letting their hair down for the L-Factor and the fantastic festival vibes of Larkfest!
Here is a little look at what we have been up to over the last couple of jam-packed weeks:
The Great Teddy Bears' Picnic 
In Design and Technology, the children took charge making their very own sandwiches! A huge thank you to all of our families for sending in the bread and delicious fillings to make this activity possible - we really appreciate your support. Once the fillings were perfectly assembled, we packed up our treats, grabbed our favorite teddy bears, and headed out under the shade of the trees. It was a magical afternoon eating our creations, enjoying the fresh air, and listening to a story together with our furry friends.
Master Farmers & Tech Whizzes 
Our Geography learning came to a spectacular conclusion as the children showed off all the incredible knowledge they have acquired about farms this term. They created beautiful double-page spreads packed with advanced vocabulary, confidently explaining exactly how a working farm runs. Meanwhile, in Computing, we have been diving into data! The children learned how information can be organized and presented, practicing grouping objects by colour, size, and shape, before using the Chromebooks to build their very own pictograms.
Rehearsals for the Big Stage 
The classroom has been filled with beautiful music as we prepare for our singing assembly next week. The children have been rehearsing incredibly hard, practicing their vocals for a special performance of Nice to Meet You by Myles Smith. They are sounding absolutely fantastic and cannot wait to perform it for the rest of the school!
Celebrating Our Classroom Stars 
We are bursting with pride over how hard our Perfect Penguins have been working recently. They have truly stepped up, showing incredible dedication to their learning and acting as brilliant role models for the rest of the school. It is an absolute joy to watch them lead by example every single day.
While the whole class deserves a massive pat on the back, we have two shout-outs for individuals whose efforts have really caught our eye over the last few weeks:
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A huge well done to Eliza! You have shown so much focus and determination in everything you do, always striving to do your absolute best.
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A big high-five to Carter! Thank you for being such a kind, reliable leader in our classroom and always helping others with a smile.
The Ink-redible Handwriting Squad!
The steady hands and sharp focus of our Handwriting Heroes have been pure magic to watch. A giant high-five goes to Arthur, and Emmeline. The concentration in the room has been palpable as they’ve tackled tricky letter joins and worked on keeping their spacing just right. Their books are transforming into absolute masterpieces!
Thank you all for your continued support as we head into these final days of the school year.
Have a wonderful, restful weekend!
Warmest wishes,
Miss Sheldrick, Mrs Ofoma, Mr McAleese and Mrs Harrison 
Just a note to say…
Every year we ask the children across the school to take part in a Summer Reading challenge. Your child will come home with more details around this on Tuesday. The book they are going to be asked to read if they are returning to Key Stage 1 is ‘How to catch a star’ by Oliver Jefferies. If your child is moving into Year 3 the book will be ‘Nim’s Island’ by Wendy Orr. We would also strongly encourage you to read regularly with and to your child over the Summer to continue to build up that love of reading. It will truly help your child with their fluency skills and comprehension, something that is crucial to helping your child progress into the English group in Year 2. Thank you in advance for all your support with this.