Dear Parents and Carers,
Last weekend’s Summer Solstice heralded the week in which we has passed the half way point of the second half of the summer term. The longest day of the year was explored a little further in our Whole School Collective Worship on Monday. The children watched a short CBBC Newsround clipwhich explained why we have a ‘longest day’ and why it is significant and how it is celebrated. The children then considered why ‘light’ is significant to Christians. In St. Matthew’s Gospel (Chapter 5, verses 14-16), these words spoken by Jesus to a large crowd of people were recorded: You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.Neither do people light a lampand put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone is the house.In the same way,let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
The children reflected on what these words meant to them before being set a challenge. During the the week they were to look out for others who were letting their light shine and then record them on a long strip of bright yellow paper which was wrapped around the worship tree in the hall. Now, at the end of the week, there are some lovely examples of children being noticed by their good deeds.
Learning Pitstops
As we have reached the half way point of this term, the children have been thinking about what they have learnt over the past four weeks. Here are some highlights of the long lists the children have come up with:
EYFS (Camber and Lewes Classes) have been learning:
how to count to one hundred and using doubles
how to write a story map for the Jolly Postman
how to use maps
maps show us where to go if we get lost
how to do some special writing about a bird who was scared of the water
that in a pattern, there is a unit of pattern which is repeated every time
about different people’ jobs, like hairdressers, nurses, opticians, hairdressers, scientists and cabin crew
Key Stage 1 (Amberley, Bramber and Hastings Classes) have been learning:
how to create tally charts and pictograms
about left, right and quarter turns
how to add amounts of money
how to use expanded noun phrases in our writing
about Mitzvah in the Jewish faith and acts of kindness
about what is safe and unsafe in our houses
how to use a saw safely to cut wood
how to thread cotton to help us make our windchimes
about how we can stay healthy by eating fruit and vegetables, as well as doing some exercise
Lower Key Stage 2 (Arundel, Bodiam and Pevensey Classes) have been learning:
how to add money and find the difference between amounts using number lines
how to tell the time on an analogue clock
rivers start upland and flow downwards, often getting wider
rivers meander, not curve
that the River Arun is the second fastest flowing river in the UK
about how Paul’s conversion on the road to Damascus inspires Christians
there are three states of matter: solids, liquids and gases
how to create a ‘shade’ by adding black to a colour
that the water cycle means there is always the same amount of water which means we might be drinking the same water a velociraptor bathed in!
Upper Key Stage 2 (Cowdray, Portchester and Southsea Classes) have been learning:
how to measure and draw angles
about the the difference between the modern Olympic Games and those in Ancient Greek times
about the difference between life in Athens and Sparta: life in Athens was far more creative and free
when adding and subtracting decimals with different decimal places, often a place holder needs to be included
how to create an exciting ending ending to a myth to engage our readers
that ‘faith’ often means believing in something even if we can’t see it or prove it
about the function of the heart
that blood is made up of plasma, platelets, red and white blood cells
platelets are like a doctor because they help heal us when we are wounded
Every phase mentioned enjoying their preparations and then taking part in last week’s Sports Day – especially the cheering and encouragement from their friends and families. Teachers work hard to ensure the learning is exciting and It is clear their hard work is paying off as the learning is sticking!
Staffing for 2025-26
At the end of the school year, we will be saying goodbye to Mrs Karen Railton, who has been teaching Pevensey Class whilst covering a long term sickness absence and then Miss Hook’s maternity leave. Mrs Railton says, “I came to Yapton in September 2023, only expecting to stay a few weeks. I have had the privilege of staying for two years! I have absolutely loved teaching here and I will really miss everyone. Thank you to all the staff and children for making me feel so welcome.” We would like to thank Mrs Railton for her hard work and commitment she has shown to our school and wish her all the very best for the future.
We will also be saying goodbye to Mrs Louise Bowles, who has decided she is going to spend more time with her young family. Mrs Bowles says, “Over the last six years, whilst I have been at Yapton, I have not only enjoyed teaching so many wonderful children but also being part of the Yapton family. I am looking forward to spending a bit more time at home with my four boys whilst also keeping in touch doing some supply work at the school. Thank you to all the children, teachers, staff and parents for making my time at Yapton so memorable.” We would like to thank Mrs Bowles for the dedication she has shown to our school, not only through her teaching, but in her leadership of P.E. and the Sports Premium Grant. So many children have taken part in sporting activities – either at festivals or competitive events – at different locations. Mrs Bowles has played a significant role in signing the school up to take part. We wish her all the very best for the future as well.
Attached are the details of the staffing arrangements for the next academic year, starting in September 2025.
Classes for 2025-26
A separate ParentMail letter will be sent out later to today telling you which class your child will be in next year. Whilst our Year 6 children are visiting their news secondary schools on Wednesday 2nd July, everyone else will spend the day with their new classes and school grown-ups to begin to get know each other through an exciting day of different activities.
During this day, our new EYFS children will enjoy a ‘Stay and Play’ session at school. This follows tomorrow’s Welcome Morning to which they have been invited to.
Raring2Go! Magazine
Here is a link
to the latest Raring2Go! magazine, which provides lots of details about what is going on in the local and wider area over the next few weeks, including the summer holidays.
Enjoy the weekend. Continue to stay safe in the warm sunshine.
Take care
Kim Huggett