Curriculum Newsletter Spring 2021-2022

Forthcoming events:

April
6th Rocksteady Concert
8th End of Spring Term. Early finish at 2:00pm (Kids Club open as normal).
12th, 13th & 20th Go Active Holiday Club at Sandy Hill (click here for more detail)
25th Summer term starts - Return to school

May
2nd May Bank Holiday
17th 'And the beat goes on' - Non stop dancing fundraiser for defibrillator
19th Census Day Special Menu - Around the world
30th to 3rd June Summer half term holiday

June
6th Return to school
13th - 17th Swimming lessons Year 6 Oak (1:30-2:30pm)
20th - 24th Swimming lessons Year 5 Cedar (1:30-2:30pm)
27th to 1st July Swimming lessons Year 4 Beech (1:30-2:30pm)

July
4th - 8th Swimming lessons Year 4 Sycamore (1:30-2:30pm)
11th - 15th Swimming lessons Year 3 Elm (1:30-2:30pm)
17th - 21st Swimming lessons Year 3 Ash (1:30-2:30pm)

Head of School Welcome

It's been wonderful to see so many parents in school this term. Parent meetings held face-to-face have been a welcome return. Similarly, Key Stage 2 mid-term meetings were a super opportunity to share your children's learning as well as national updates with you. Last week's Bedtime Stories was another special event where the children were able to snuggle up with their teddies and listen to favourites stories. Our reading and phonics workshops with parents were also well supported with lots of information shared, supporting reading both at home and in school. Everyone should now have received this information.

Please feel free to let us know if you have any availability whatsoever to further support with this and other classroom learning, volunteering as a parent helper. We'd be delighted for you to complete the DBS information and join us in class!

As always, your children have made us incredibly proud again this term, with Shakespeare workshops, extra-curricular clubs and trips where numerous visitors have commented on their super attitudes to learning and positive behaviour - true Sandy Hill STARS!

Finally, on behalf of myself and the whole staff team, we wish you all an enjoyable Easter Holiday ahead.

Art

Throughout the school there has been a focus on painting and printing this term. Alongside this children have carried on with their drawing and sketching skills.

The children have really enjoyed creating their own pieces of art using paint and exploring in different techniques to print.

Art has been widely used throughout many of the different curriculum's especially in science, topic and Religious Education this term, which has been great to see that children are using art in many lessons.

Children have had opportunities to use a wide range of resources for painting including watercolours. This was thanks to our CPD training in painting where teachers and teaching assistants were taught different techniques, this has now been used across the school in various lessons.

They have been exploring in adding white and black to colours to make tints and tones in their work.

Children have begun to start to explore the different techniques of printing from using foam blocks to using shaving foam to produce different prints! They are looking forward to seeing where their journeys in printing takes them.

Computing

Key Stage 1
This term, children have been focusing on developing their Information Technology skills. In Year 1, the children have been exploring how to take clear photos on the iPads. They have been looking closely at portrait, landscape and zooming in to focus on different shots. In Year 2, they have been using typing skills to explore their topic 'Sensational Safari' using Google Docs. Every child has learnt how to save their work and download images!

Key Stage 2
In KS2 this term, children have been completing their first coding units on Espresso as well as discussing online safety during Digital Literacy lessons.

Lower Key Stage 2
In Year 3, they have typed up some of their topic writing as part of their 'Oceans and Rivers' topic.
In Year 4, as well as using the Micro:bits to code a bird counting monitor during Science Week, Year 4 classes have been discussing 'Life Vs Technology' during digital literacy. They have created comic book strips of when technology gets in the way of real life experiences.

Upper Key Stage 2
Year 5 have been continuing with their coding unit on Espresso creating code with multiple inputs and outputs. They have also been discussing sharing beliefs and opinions online. In Year 6, they have been discussing strategies to limit the impact of technology on their health.

Design and Technology

This half term we have been really excited for our next two Design and Technology Days of the academic year!
During our second two Design and Technology Days of the year, we have focused our learning around on construction. We have been very lucky to be able to experience using a range of new Design and Technology tools and resources such as, axels, hacksaws and hammers.

We have all continued to demonstrate great enthusiasm, self-motivation and resilience across DT learning - true Sandy Hill STARS!

This term we have linked our learning to a local designers of famous construction pieces of work. The children in Year 6 have discovered some excellent design work and creativity here in Cornwall. Their topic of learning was based on Cornish bridges invented by Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Children in all classes have also explored careers within the construction element of Design and Technology, including Architects, Carpenters and many more...

Once again these two DT days have been a wonderful opportunity for us to immerse ourselves in DT learning to explore, develop and refine upon our skills in Design and Technology. We look forward to our final DT days of the year - with food as our focus for the Summer term!