Year: 2020

How Winston Delivered Christmas by Alex T. Smith

From the author of Claude and Mr Penguin comes a brilliant book that signals that Christmas is on it’s way! An advent story told in twenty-four-and-a-half chapters!

When a mouse named Winston finds a lost letter addressed to Santa Claus on Christmas Eve, he sets off on an unforgettable journey to personally deliver the letter to Santa! Starting on December 1, children can read a chapter a day, and each chapter is followed by a fun and festive holiday activity to complete.

This illustrated advent story tells of the adventures of an adorable mouse and how a good deed can lead to a very happy ending.  Alex’s joyful illustrations help transport us to Mistletoe Street where our fabulously festive adventure begins.

The activities are a mix of craft, writing and baking. I can confirm that the Stained Glass Window Biscuits are well worth the effort! It just wouldn’t be the run up to Christmas without Winston in it!

And this year, you can #JoinInWithWinston by following the hashtag on Twitter from the 1st December.

 

Year 5: Can you feel the force?

Year 5 went on a virtual trip to a theme park to start their new science topic all about forces this afternoon. They experienced gravity, friction, and air-resistance all from the safety of their classroom.

Reading for Pleasure Award

Congratulations, Miss Cleveland!

Last weekend, Miss Cleveland attended the virtual ceremony for the Egmont Reading for Pleasure Teacher Awards. Egmont Publishing, in partnership with The Open University and UK Literacy Association, aim to recognise teachers, support staff, and schools whose research-informed practices make a real difference to children’s reading for pleasure. Miss Cleveland was delighted to be Highly Commended as a School Reading Champion for all the work she has done at our school to help foster a love of reading in our pupils and staff, and sharing best practice with other schools.

It’s A No Money Day by Kate Milner

As today is Children In Need, I’m sharing this thought-provoking picture book suitable for everyone in school.

Mum works really hard, but today there is no money left and no food in the cupboards. Forced to visit the local foodbank, Mum feels ashamed that they have to rely on the kindness of others. Maybe one day things will be different but for now together they brighten up even the darkest of days.

It’s A No Money Day is a gentle exploration of the poverty in our country. and how it can affect anybody – a brilliant conversation starter!

Important Information

Due to a positive COVID-19 test, all children in Reception, Year 3 and Year 4 will have to isolate at home until Wednesday 25th November. A text message and an email has been sent to the relevant parents. Please note, siblings in Years 1, 2, 5 and 6 can attend school as usual tomorrow. More information will follow tomorrow.

Tom Gates Doodle Competition

Your doodled cover could be printed in the next Tom Gates book!

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of Tom Gates we are asking fans to draw their own Tom Gates cover! 

All winners will win a signed book, signed print, limited edition badge AND a bag of goodies. The overall winner will also receive a Skype visit from Liz Pichon to their school!

Author & illustrator Liz Pichon will pick her favourites to appear in the endpapers of Tom Gates: Ten Tremendous Tales.

Doodled entries need to:

·       Have the words TOM GATES on them

·       Include characters from the books (Tom, Delia, Marcus, etc).

·       Be black & white!

·       Be postcard size! (Portrait or landscape is fine)

·      The deadline to get entries to Miss Cleveland is 16th November.

Virtual After School Club

The current lockdown means that children are missing out on lots of extra-curricular sports clubs. The Youth Sport Trust are hosting a virtual after school club on their You Tube channel every day at 5pm from Thursday 12th November until Friday 18th December. Click on the image below for more information.