Wow! Week 6 complete. We started swimming this week and your child should know which group they are in for the next four weeks. We started our new group reading regime and the class is now fully settled – we are firing on all cylinders.

I was impressed with our maths this week. We continued our Function unit and the children concentrated on multiplication and division – these are two areas where children usually struggle. I have shown the children a method for multiplication and they like it – perhaps they can show you. They have an efficient method for division and I am in the process of teaching them a method where they can use their inverse skills of multiplication.

In Literacy, we looked at headlines, differentiating between fact and opinion and we now know how to balance our articles to ensure we are not bias to the story or subject.

The children completed their homework; you will have seen their timetables sheets from last week. In class they have 5 minutes to complete their Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum or Diamond activity – it’s quite a challenge! The homework this last week was for practise only and there wasn’t a need to complete in the usual class time allocation.

Homework this week consists of using dashes and commas effectively. I try to rotate between Maths one week and Literacy the next.

In the event of any query or correspondence please use the admin@crowmoorschool.co.uk web address and for any work related to COVID self-isolation please email the class email address: willow@crowmoorschool.co.uk. You will find a timetable on our class website area for work for your child to complete when they are off and obviously only if they are well enough. If they do any work I will happily mark it when they return.

Have a great weekend and please remain safe and well.

Mr Wilmot

A great week that started with an extra PE session – Mr Edwards from the Belvidere Sports Partnership came in to give the children coaching on athletic events. I am hoping he returns next week and will tell the children what day that will be (when I know) so they can come to school in PE clothing. I will also ensure we send a text home so you can remind them.

We have completed our current addition and subtraction work and are now working on multiplication. We will continue with multiplication in the early part of next week then move onto division. In literacy, we started a new unit of work: Journalistic Writing. This is always a great unit and one that engages the children. We have looked at features of papers and will progress to writing our now articles but only after studying the conventions of journalism.

We had a good class discussion about peer pressure and what to do if the children think they are subjected to it and in RE the children studied fasting. The children also learnt about ‘Tree Octopuses’ and ‘The Furry Trout’ – this was part of our online safety training with the intention that not all you read on line is true.

On Friday, we welcomed the Head of Belvidere to the school and she spoke to the children about next year and how the school operates. An interesting session and one that is quite sobering as it punctuates the beginning of Secondary transition.

Our attendance is great thus far; we have won the cup twice this term already. If your child has COVID symptoms please speak to your Doctor and follow their advice.

Have a super weekend – the weather looks a little miserable so I’d advise staying in and watching movies!

We are now almost about to enter Week 5 of this term; it’s mad how quickly the year is progressing. The children are aware of the new routines and I must say I continue to be impressed with their levels of maturity and independence.

It is starting to get cold and wet – please ensure your child come to school in a coat and that they have their sweatshirt. To increase the ventilation in the classroom (COVID Guidance) windows will remain open and it might get a little chilly so the more layers the better!

Before I forget… the children have an extra PE session on Monday next week so can you remind them to come into school in PE kit. Swimming will also start soon; information to follow. If you would like your child to take part in the Bikeability program please ensure you complete and return the form as soon as possible to ensure their place – from previous experience it is a great course.

We have continued with our biographies this week and in maths we started the four functions. The children have been given a ‘languagenut’ password so they can access French games and vocab assistance at home now too. I have already set work on Mathletics and will set more next week.

Your child should have two reading books, one for their particular ZPD score and with a coloured band on the spine and another from our class library. I have provided the books in the class library and the intention is children have ready access to the 200 plus books I have collected over time. These books are chosen for interest and maybe above or below your child’s reading ability but it is to increase a love of reading and allow children independence in selecting their book. Please ensure your child read each night and remind them to add an entry in their reading log. They also have one piece of homework each week (at the moment) – that will be linked to what we have done in class; it’ll be Maths or English related. They also have their weekly spellings; I will try to remember to add these to the spelling part of our class web page but your child will have a copy they take home too. Spellings are given on a Tuesday and the test is the following Monday afternoon.

In the event of any query please contact me on the class email address: willow@crowmoorschool.co.uk and I will respond as quickly as I can.

Have a super weekend.

Mr Wilmot

Almost the close of another week; it has gone so quick. I can’t believe the children have been back three weeks already. The term is progressing and our topics are now in full flow.

In Literacy, we have been looking at Biographies. We have shared features and written one together. We wrote about Wilfred Owen, the World War One poet. In Maths, we looked at rounding and negative numbers and we revised large numbers and their relative place value. I am really getting to know where the children are now with their learning so can tailor the groupings to ensure your child gets the appropriate level of work.

We looked at Light and how light reflects in Science and we used the iPads to research; a pre-cursor to what the children will be doing next week.

I am pleased to say we haven’t been affected by COVID to date but should your child be off for any reason and they are fit enough to work (in the case of isolation but displaying no symptoms) please see the attachment below. It includes the lessons from the Oak’s Academy and is in line with what we are studying in class. The links take you to a series of lessons. In each lesson there is a video clip and a lesson activity. Please try and keep to the timetable in terms of dates as it will link to coverage in class. Also please complete the lessons in sequence (Day 1 then Day 2 etc); that will make the learning more sequential and it will be easier to understand/follow.

Willow Class Remote Learning Schedule (Autumn Term)

I also include the plan for our topic coverage this term. Disclaimer: it is a working copy and could change in terms of order!!

Autumn Term Topic Guide

Have a super weekend.

Keep safe

Mr Wilmot

This week has flown and it has been busy. We have started our topics and the class now know all the routines. I have thanked the children for their positive start in Y6 and the fact that they have handled all the changes in a mature and sensible manner.

We spent the week looking at Place Value in Maths and moved from working with the tens of thousands to 10 million! In Literacy, we created some poetry and have, in the last couple of days, started our new Biography topic. We looked at commitment in RE and in PSHE we discussed the importance of respecting our friends and family (VIPs). We started looking at how we see and the children learnt about the direction of light from the source to our eyes. These topics will last for the first half term. The children had their first French lesson on Friday and we tried to replicate images by a famous fairground artist in the afternoon.

The children have worked hard and I feel they have settled back into school really well. They are now far more familiar with the ways of Y6 and the expectations of workload. It will be a busy year (we have a little catching up to do from the content your child missed whilst in shut down). Whilst we will be working hard I will ensure we have fun along the way.

Your child has recently completed assessments to allow me to work out where they are in terms of groupings and what work I can set. They have a new reading band and should have two books in their bag. One is their Accelerated Reading book and another for enjoyment. Please encourage nightly reading and completion of the Reading Diary. They also have spellings and homework. Spellings go home on a Tuesday and your child should practise each night. Homework goes out on a Friday and is marked the following Friday – this will usually be something we have studied in class and Literacy or Maths related.

If your child has to stay at home due to self-isolating (COVID related) I will forward instructions, via email, to ensure they have access to online learning opportunities. In the event of any query it is probably best to email me on the class email address (willow@crowmoorschool.co.UK) and I will try to answer your query as soon as possible.

Have a fantastic weekend.

Mr Wilmot

It was great to welcome back the children after the Summer Holiday and COVID school closure. We have had full attendance all week; a marvellous effort. I have spent the week getting to know your children and ensuring that they settle in well to Willow. There are many changes around school but as I always find children are very adaptable and they have settled to the new routines very well and in a mature manner.

We completed some assessments this week; this was to benchmark where your child is. This will help me ensure they are placed into the right groupings and that they receive the support etc they need. We start in earnest next week with the usual Literacy, Maths and Science etc.

Your child has PE on a Wednesday – please ensure they come to school in their PE kit on that day so they can partake in lessons.

If your child has an inhaler please make sure they have a spare in the class box – I like them to have one in their coat at all times too.

Please ensure your child wears a coat – we will try and get out as much as possible; they might need to wear them in class as windows will continue to be open thus ensuring maximum ventilation.

Homework will start next week and your child will revise their ZPD Accelerated Reading score – this will ascertain/verify their reading level and age and help them when selecting a reading book – they are due to chose a book from our vast collection, on Monday, next week.

I appreciate it is hard to contact me at the moment; if you have a query please email me on the class address (willow@crowmoorschool.co.uk) and I will try and answer your query as quickly as possible.

Have a super weekend and I look forward to meeting you all in due course.

Stay safe.

Mr Wilmot

This is my final newsletter entry for the year and what a year it has been! The year was curtailed by COVID-19 but I will remember the class fondly. We had a good six months and I was delighted to see each child grow in confidence over our term and a half together. We covered a great deal in that time but some content was missed due to the Lockdown. I am confident the Secondaries will pick up the lost content when school starts again in September.

The Secondaries have been in touch with me and I have passed on relevant information to help them prepare for their new intake. They will no doubt be in touch with you over the Summer to inform of procedures when your child starts in Y7.

By now you should have had your child’s report, books from the year and their Crucial Crew booklets. Sadly but sensibly, Crucial Crew was cancelled; the information in the booklet at least covers some of the content they would have discussed. I recommend your child read through the booklet – the advice has saved lives.

Thank you to Mrs Evason for supporting me in my bubble this term; her help was invaluable. Also thank you to Miss Bliss, Mrs Brunyard, Miss Nicholas and Mrs Davies for supporting the children in their Y6 bubbles. Mrs Shaw emailed me to pass on her very best wishes to all the class and the children she worked with this year.

Thank you for your assistance over the last year and whilst your child was at Crowmoor. Your child now starts the next exciting chapter of their life.

I close now wishing you and your family a healthy Summer and that you continue to remain safe.

Take care

Mr Wilmot and Mrs Lewis

It was fantastic to see everyone for the Leaver’s Assembly. I hope the Assembly gave those working from home a chance to see their classmates and to have some closure from their time at Crowmoor. The year has progressed in such a weird way but I do hope that the children remember their time in class fondly. The Assembly felt like old times. The speeches were heartfelt and all the staff present enjoyed hearing about their recollections – these memories will last a lifetime.

We have one more week in school then it is the Summer Holidays. I am looking forward to the break as the last few months have been quite surreal and stressful.

I have set the new homework from the CPG booklets – it is the last homework I will set and all books should, in theory, now be complete. Answers for this next week’s work to follow – there isn’t much left to do.

Have a great weekend; hopefully we will see the return of good weather so we can enjoy quality time with friends and family.

Take care and be safe.

Mr Wilmot