Hello Everyone!

A short but busy week to begin this final half term.

We have launched our enquiry question: ‘What does Cornwall mean to me?’ 

In English, we have been writing descriptions of lighthouses, sequencing stories and writing descriptions of characters, all based around the stories of ‘The lighthouse keeper’s lunch’ and ‘The Lighthouse Keeper’s breakfast.’ We will continue with these stories next week.

In maths, reception have been busy learning about repeating patterns, and 3D shapes. Year 1 have been enjoying learning about position and direction. We have even used some interesting dance moves as a part of our maths lessons.

We have all been busy learning an ocean themed poem and a song for The Polperrro Festival and we also have some lovely writing to show you.

As well as this, in history, we have been learning about a lighthouse keeper’s daughter called Grace Darling, who bravely rescued people during a storm in her rowing boat. 

Have a lovely weekend!

from The Penhallow team

We have had a short first week back and we are busily practising for our performance for the Polperro Festival on the 17th June. We are very much in character and I feel sure it will be our best performance yet!

We have launched our new enquiry into 'HOW HAS MINING SHAPED CORNWALL?' We will be looking into the history of Cornish mining, the rise and fall of the industry and the key figures who played a part in its successes. We will look at the future of mining and any current national projects which involve our great county.

We have been writing descriptive sentences as part of our Orwell project, which will be added to our artwork to create a finished product that we can be proud of.

In English, we have completed the draft of our balanced argument regarding our fight to slow down Climate Change and next week we will edit, improve and produce our final version. We are practising for Sports Day in PE, developing our skills in athletics - hopefully the weather will improve so that we can get back in the swimming pool as well. In Science, this week, we have been looking into the force of gravity, conducting a fair test into whether the mass or size of an object determines the rate it falls. 

IMPORTANT INFORMATION
A letter went home today regarding our class trip to THE BOX on June 20th. If we could have you consent in by next Friday, we can confirm numbers. Also, Y6s have a letter about the Residential - a kit list attached. It provides details of the parent meeting to discuss the trip which will happen later on this month.

That's all for this week so have a lovely extended weekend and see you on Monday.

Miss Randle, Mrs Clary, Miss Hodge and Miss Colton

A very warm welcome back to the final half term of the academic year. This week, we have had a visit from the Bridge School Improvement Team which was incredibly positive. They commented on the quality of the provision provided for our children and their developing oracy skills. We were delighted with the feedback and will continue to work on our next steps as we continually endeavor to improve our wonderful school.
Please enjoy looking through this week's edition of The Brunel Bulletin to catch up with all the latest news and events from our incredible school.

Summer 2, Week 1!

Welcome Back!
Welcome back to our final half term of the year — we can’t quite believe we’ve reached this point already! Summer Term 2 has officially begun, and even though it’s been a shorter week, we’ve certainly packed a lot in. One of the most exciting moments this week was watching our butterflies hatch! The children were fascinated by the process, and it was such a special experience to see the butterfly life cycle come full circle. We loved releasing them into the world and saying goodbye to our fluttery friends — Gabby, Spider-Man, Marshmallow, Penny, and Captain Bucky O’Hare!

In phonics, we’ve been learning the sound U u u – umbrella, and the children have enjoyed practising it through songs, games, and stories. Speaking of songs, we’ve been singing our hearts out this week! The classroom has been full of music as we’ve learned new favourites like Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious from Mary Poppins and You’ve Got a Friend in Me — plus many more.

We also had another fantastic session with Coach James during Kixx, where we’ve started preparing for our upcoming Sports Day on Wednesday 10th July. The children have shown great energy, teamwork, and determination — we can’t wait to see them shine on the day!

Our new topic this half term is 'Getting ready for school' you will all be getting some bits and bobs to do at home over the coming weeks. 

Come back next week to see what exciting things we get up to next — we’re making every moment count in our final weeks together!

Mrs Whitty- Mutton and Miss Ronald 

Thursday 5th June

What a great first week back to school. The children have returned to school raring to go for their last half term in Foundation! This half term will all be about getting ‘Year 1 ready’

Some of this week’s learning:

Our big question this half term is:

What do we know about our local area?

This week we have started to read stories by Julia Donaldson, specifically The Snail and the Whale. For a WOW moment we watched the video as well as read the book. The children then used their oracy skills to retell the story. We then moved on to exploring rhyming words. We discovered there are lots of rhyming words in the story we read this week.

In maths we have been exploring shape. We have named and recognized lots of shapes and also explored rotating and manipulating shapes. Today we used positional words to describe where shapes were.

We have explored maps and fitting in environmental features, thinking about whats in our local area and drawing and labeling them, exploring our new RNLI and beach role play area and so much more!

Its been an amazing week of learning.

Gentle reminder that tomorrow ( 6^th June) is an INSET day.

Wishing you a wonderful weekend

The Foundation Team

Welcome back after the half term break. Although the weather this week hasn’t felt like summer term, the whole school had a brilliant Wild Tribe Day on Wednesday, learning art, survival skills and teamwork! It was great to see the children working so well together. It was lovely to see babies and toddlers at Mini Miners on Tuesday. They were enjoying the soft play, arts and crafts and the other toys on offer. Remember, if you or anyone you know have children from birth to 4, pop along each Tuesday for a natter, play and some refreshments in the school. We have been invited by The Morrab Library in Penzance to give children the chance to enter a short story writing competition. There is no theme so the amazing writers at Darite can let their imaginations run wild. There is absolutely no expectation for children to take part but, if they want to, the details of the competition and prizes can be found here. Going out today is a short letter with details of the classes and staffing next year. I am pleased to say that there are no changes to the structure this year and the school continues to go from strength to strength. Thank-you for your support this year – Darite is a very special place to work and learn. Finally, it is with sadness that we wish Mrs Saberton good luck today as she leaves for her new role at Liskeard Secondary. She has been a pillar of Darite for many years and will be missed by the children and staff alike. I know you will join with us in wishing her the best and I know that the children going to Liskeard in Year 7 will already know a friendly face. Thank-you for everything you have done for the children. 

Designing and building our very own miniature playground.

Have you ever wanted to design and build your own playground? Well, that's exactly what Year 5 (Talland Class) did! We combined our creativity and teamwork skills to build a miniature playground using everyday craft materials. From slides and swings to tunnels and merry-go-rounds, we crafted our very own zoo-themed playground using lollipop sticks, matchsticks, straws, cocktail sticks, pipe cleaners, and other materials. And guess what? We even used tools like a mitre saw, scissors, and rulers to get everything just right!

1. Measuring and Marking We used rulers to measure out our pieces of materials. This was super important because it made sure that everything fit together just right. If we wanted our slide to be tall enough, we had to measure the correct length for the lollipop sticks. Using a pencil, we marked where we needed to cut and assemble the pieces. The more careful we were with our measurements, the better our playground would turn out!

2. Cutting with Tools Here’s where things got a little tricky but exciting. We used scissors for cutting some of the softer materials, like straws and pipe cleaners. However, for tougher materials like the lollipop sticks and matchsticks, we used a mitre saw (don’t worry, it’s safe for us with a teacher around!). The mitre saw helped us make sure our cuts were straight and precise, which is super important for building sturdy structures.

Finally Our themed playgrounds project was a huge success for Talland Class! Not only did we learn how to use tools like rulers, scissors, and a mitre saw, but we also developed skills in teamwork, creativity, and problem-solving. Building our own playground gave us a sense of achievement and pride, and we can’t wait for our next big project. So, if you’re ever looking to build something amazing, grab some craft materials, measure carefully, and start designing your own playground today. Who knows? You could even create a zoo or a space adventure—anything your imagination can dream up!

best wishes, Mrs Swabey, Mr Parry and Mrs Walters.

It has been a great first week back to nursery and the children have been busy exploring space. We have been reading the story of "Aliens love underpants" and answering our new enquiry question "Do aliens really wear underpants?"
The children have been busy painting and decorating paper bowls to create flying saucers and made handprint aliens to go in them.
We have been discussing planets and the sun and moon and the children have practiced cutting skills by cutting out planets to glue onto their own solar system.
In the tuft tray they have explored the space rocket and looked at the book "Roaring rockets".

In phonics this week we have been matching objects to their initial sounds, blending different sounds together to make words and exploring the sounds our bodies make in a game of noisy pirates.

On the maths table, the children have been comparing and sorting different collections of items and finding up to five special items.

Just a reminder that we have class photos next Tuesday (10th). If your child is not usually in on this day then please drop them to nursery for 8.50am and you can collect them again after we have finished.
 It is INSET day tomorrow (Friday) so have a lovely long weekend and we will see you all on Monday.

Julie and Sarah

Julia Donaldson books and learning all about shapes! 

We’ve had a great first week back after half term, and it has been lovely to see that the children have returned with the same brilliant attitude towards their learning.

We have started our new English learning Journey focusing on books by the same author. We have chosen to focus on Julia Donaldson as we love her books in our class! We started our journey by listening to the Snail and the Whale story and then making stick puppets to act it out. We used our oracy skills to show each other what we could remember about the story. Year 1 have also started writing their own fact files about Julia Donaldson. Did you know she has more than 200 books!

In Maths, Foundation have been focusing on shapes. They have been learning about different 2D shapes and exploring these independently. We have spoken about how many sides different shapes have and what they look like. Foundation have also learnt about rotating shapes and how if we turn shapes, they might look slightly different! Year 1 have started their multiplication and division unit by counting in 2s, 5s and 10s. They are already brilliant at this but now they are applying their learning to number lines and number tracks.

Foundation have also discovered our new dressing up box and have loved dressing up this week! They have used their imaginations to make characters. I have particularly enjoyed the fairy princess stuck in the castle story they told me!

Just some reminders/updates: 

Year 1 Phonics Screening Check starts next week. Any practise you can with those real and alien words will really help with their screening. 

P.E days are still Tuesday and Thursday for this half term.

It has been a wonderful first week back and we’re in for a busy but exciting final half term!

Thank you all.

Foundation / Year 1 Team

The Summer Fair on the last day of term was a huge success. A massive thank you to all the PTFA team who put on a wonderful event! It was a magical way to finish off the term and it was delightful to see the smiles on the children’s faces.

The PTFA will be continuing to sell raffle tickets with the winner’s being drawn on Tuesday 22^nd July.

Hello!

A lovely week, to finish off this half term.

Again, we were able to enjoy another swimming session this week. We practiced floating, blowing bubbles with our faces in the water, and trying to get as far as we could, without our feet touching the ground.

This week, we also finished off our English unit, based around Julia Donaldson’s ‘Superworm’. Year 1 have written their own stories, but have come up with their own storyline themselves. Reception have written some lovely sentences to describe villains and heroes in the story.

In maths, Reception have been practicing doubles, while Year 1 have enjoyed learning about finding halves and quarters.

We enjoyed a sunny Geography lesson outside, where we were able to identify human and physical features of the school garden.

We also managed to squeeze in an RE lesson, where we used the story of ‘The Lion and the Mouse’ to find out about how we are all special in different ways. 

We wish you a happy half term week, and look forward to seeing you soon, for the final half term of the school year.

From The Penhallow Team

w/e 23.5.25

As we approach the half-term break, we're excited to share the enriching activities and learning experiences your children have engaged in this week.

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English: Crafting Imaginary Worlds

This week, our English lessons transported students into the realm of creative writing. They crafted stories set in imaginative worlds, employing figurative language and expanded noun phrases to bring their narratives to life. This exercise not only enhanced their descriptive writing skills but also encouraged them to explore the depths of their imagination.

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Mathematics: Exploring Fractions and Decimals

In Year 3, students focused on comparing unit fractions and fractions with identical denominators. They learned that among unit fractions, the larger the denominator, the smaller the fraction, and practiced ordering them accordingly.

Year 4 students delved into the world of decimals. They connected hundredths to tenths and place value, extending their understanding of the number line to link fractions, numbers, and measure.

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Geography: The Spread of Christianity in Anglo-Saxon Britain

Our geography lessons explored the historical spread of Christianity during the Anglo-Saxon era. Students learned about key figures like St. Augustine, who began converting influential Anglo-Saxon leaders such as King Ethelbert of Kent around 595 AD, leading to significant cultural and religious transformations in Britain. 

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PSHE: Understanding and Addressing Bullying

In PSHE, the focus was on recognising bullying and understanding appropriate responses. Students discussed various scenarios, learning strategies to address and prevent bullying, fostering a supportive and respectful school environment.

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Design and Technology: Castle Construction Day

A highlight of the week was our Design and Technology day, where students designed and built model castles. They incorporated features such as turrets, towers, flags, and drawbridges, using materials like cardboard and recycled items. This hands-on activity allowed them to apply their knowledge of 2D and 3D shapes creatively. 

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Special Events:

Excitement filled the air with the opening of the new KS1 playground. Each child received a lunchbox and water bottle to celebrate this occasion. 

Additionally, students enjoyed sharing reading sessions with Tregantle class outdoors, taking advantage of the sunny weather.

We also hosted an online author workshop with Neill Cameron, known for "Donut Squad." Students enthusiastically participated, designing their own characters and gaining insights into the creative process of comic book creation. 

We also enjoyed a Dance for Dementia alongside Archie! 

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We look forward to welcoming the students back after the break, refreshed and ready for more learning adventures.

May

In May, we have been enjoying some beautiful sunshine. This month, we've been focusing on developing our gross motor skills both indoors and outdoors in the warm weather. During Hall Time, we practice our climbing, balancing, and strength exercises. We have also used these skills outside.

This term, our theme has been "People Who Help Us." It has been fun learning about the jobs of veterinarians, medical professionals, police officers, firefighters, and dentists.

In Science, we have been exploring scientists and inventors, including Ole Kirk Christiansen, who invented Lego. We had a great time creating our own Lego inventions. We also learned about George Mottershead, whose dream was to build a "zoo without bars" after witnessing an elephant chained behind bars as a child. He was the founder of Chester Zoo.

Much planting has taken place this month, including cucumbers, strawberries, sunflowers, and wildflowers. We are excited to watch them grow over the next few months.

Happy Half Term!

This week, we have been working hard on finishing up our letters to King Charles on plastic pollution. These will be prepared to be sent after half term. Fingers crossed we get a royal reply! We have also continued working on Fractions in Maths, with Year 2 finding quarters and thirds, and Year 3 finding fractions of amounts.

Preparations for Polperro Festival have begun! Please make sure you practise your speaking parts, dance moves and My Lighthouse song. Here are some links which should help you!

Walk like an Egyptian: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jr6fOhS123s 
My Lighthouse song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFBZJGSgyVQ

Congratulations to Benjamin and April for being Landaviddy's People of the Week! And a big well done to Jemima for achieving her 99 club badge! 

We hope you have a wonderful half term holiday and come back feeling refreshed on Monday 2nd June 2025. 

Mrs Wilkie, Mrs Phillips, Miss Bowden and Miss Colton

TALLAND’S BLOG 25.5.25

Wishing you all a brilliant week off and can’t wait to see you all for our final half term.

CONGRATULATIONS to Lily and Everly for earning their next badge in 99 club and great effort to the whole of Talland class for a super half term.

Thought we would show you some of our best bits from this half term. We hope you enjoy!

Signing off from Mr. Langley, Mr. Bishop and Miss. Colton.

This week, Seaton class enjoyed using the microbits in their computing lesson. They showed off their coding skills by making different sounds and light patterns. 

Today Seaton class enjoyed their reading with Daymer class. It was wonderful to see them sharing books and enjoying the wonderful grounds we have. 

Nail painting!

Today was break the rules day so we ended it by painting our nails. Everyone joined in and I enjoyed seeing the different colours. A fun end to the half term!

Apologies for the absence of last weeks blog due to technical issues!  This is a roundup of our last 2 weeks of summer term 1 in pre-school.

We have completed our learning around our enquiry question ‘What do we like to eat?’

Lots of different fruits and vegetables have been tried throughout our snack time with the most popular ones being cucumber, grapes, peppers, watermelon and pineapple. The children were all keen to try everything!

We have had lots of discussions around what our favourite foods are, but also what we do not like and why.  Sometimes it can be the texture of a food, surprisingly many of the children did not like a tomato because they said it was too squishy on the inside.

We have looked at where our food comes from, and what foods we can grow in our gardens.  We have even planted some carrot seeds and a raspberry plant. We will keep watering and crossing our fingers that they grow!

This week we have been using food items to investigate ‘heavy’ and ‘light’, we then took this into our play and explore time with weighing pasta and rice on weighing scales. 

Outside time has been glorious with the beautiful weather we have had.  The children have enjoyed lots of water play, the sand pit, and the mud kitchen in our garden area. A lovely way for us adults to observe their social and language skills as they use their imaginations and interests to lead their play.

When we return after half term, we will have a new enquiry question ‘Where can we go on an aeroplane?’ We will explore holiday destinations, looking at world maps, what we may need to pack for a holiday depending on the climate, what we will see and hear in different countries.    
A fun topic to build on the children’s understanding of the world.

We return to pre-school on Monday 2^nd June, but a reminder that the Friday 6^th is another Inset Day. 
A newsletter was handed out this week but it will be attached below for anyone who has not received one.

Finally, if you wish to book a parent consultation to talk about how your child is doing in pre-school then please sign up on the appointment sheet in our entrance area. 

We hope all our children and families have a wonderful half term break.

The Pre-School Team.