Class Two Blog.

A little bit late in the term, but welcome back to school all the pupils on Class Two. Don't forget, P.E. day is Monday so you'll need kit whatever the weather! The first homework task will be to create a biographical history of an imaginary character we have created in Art. At this stage we are not going to write the biography but simply create a detailed lifeline to include when, where born, an early life incident, an education history if wanted, any important life events etc. After all that, a basic biography!
An important reminder for pupils and parents;reading of any and all genres is massively important this year so please take time to listen, one to one, to your child read! Please record what they read, whether they read well and enjoyed the story and then sign or initial.
Finally, this term it's the junior's turn to put on the Christmas Concert. A great period in my life for further hairloss! Nonetheless a time I look forward to! Here's to a fabulous term with lots of fun, laughter and enjoyment. Good luck everyone.

Post Parents' Evening Update

  Many thanks to all the parents who were able to make their appointments and for the few who were unable to see me thank you for passing on a message of explanation. Don't feel Parents' Evenings are the only times I am available to see you, if you have a question or need to pass on relevant information about you child I will always willingly arrange a mutually convenient meeting.
  After so much dry, spring weather the day of the Urdd Rugby tournament dawns to a downpour and flooded pitches at the venue, hence the tournament has been postponed. Perhaps we'll have better luck next week for the mixed football competition. Still on a sports theme, the Blues have sent us a letter querying whether we would like tickets for their game against Treviso. Letters will be sent out with information at the end of the week.
  The class is currently involved in planning and making a short animation film as well as writing an "interactive" story they will read to their chosen infant child. So as to involve the infant the writer has compiled a questionairre with the intention of including as much of their audience's preferences in the story as possible. Class 2 is doing this with Mrs. Decaro's class.
  We have several talented pupils in the class and when discussing the children's abilities I was very pleased to hear how many parents are fostering their children's interests and talents by encouraging them to join clubs
in the community and not just those we offer in school. Some parents were a little surprised to learn how much potential their children had because they were focusing on academic achievement while their child showed promise in the arts or sport or some other discipline. If you can, please follow up this interest by encouraging them to join an out of school club. You never know you could be the even prouder parents of a future Olympian!

Spring Term 2011
Not the best of weather lately and certainly not the best of rugby results Friday night! Never mind, life goes on, so, "Happy New Year". This term promises to be a very interesting one with a story teller coming to inspire year 5 boys and girls. I must say he was excellent, the children and I thoroughly enjoyed listening to him. Of course this term includes the Eisteddfod and the children in year 5 and 6 have both a poem and a song to learn. The year 6 items are the same as those chosen for the Urdd Eisteddfod competitions so I would imagine the winners of those competitions will be considered to go forward to represent the school in the local heats.
The pe focus this term is gymnastics and so far I have been very impressed with the quality of work the class is demonstrating. Several individuals are showing very good core strength and technique in building up an individual and partner sequence. On a similar note I am pleased to inform you all that the school has achieved the first stage in the "Healthy Schools" award and are now moving on to the next level. All in all it will take 6 years to reach the final standard to achieve the full and final award. A long time but it will certainly show commitment and proof that the award is deserved and sustainable for the foreseeable future.
After the Eisteddfod literature and art is concluded the intention is to give the class a chance to do an animation project, combining their flair for writing, art and planning to produce a short animated film on a Welsh related topic. We have prepared for this by writing a sequel to a radio space program where the children wrote the script, including stage directions, then designed their own promotional poster.
Here's hoping we all enjoy this term together and work hard to produce the best work we possibly can. Bye for now, P.M.

Class 2 Blog update.

  Half term is about to be over, tomorrow's back to school. Hope you've all had an enjoyable break.

  Thanks to Lucy Dummett for her contribution and her question about when we'll be starting gymnastics in pe lessons. Pleased to tell you gym will start TOMORROW, Monday 1st November! However, weather permitting, we will still be doing games on Wednesdays, outdoors.

  First day back Class 2 and 3 will be having letters telling you about an upcoming trip to Swansea World War II Museum. The place we're going isn't very big but will give you a real feel for life during the war. There will be clothing of the period you can dress up in, a chance to examine, up close, artifacts of the time and see exactly how "tasty" war rations were.

  Homework is due in on Friday and I look forward to seeing what you have managed to find out about the Tonypandy Riots of 100 years ago, especially as there is a connection with those riots and the British Prime Minister during the Second World War.

Welcome Back Parents and Children Alike.

  Hope you all had an enjoyable summer holiday and are back to full fitness and enthusiasm for a brand new term.
  For everyone to know, pe will be every Monday afternoon and children should be dressed appropriately for outdoor lesssons as we are having games. P. E. after half term will be gymnastics, so the traditional kit will be required of black shorts with a white top.
  Reading books and Reading Record books will be taken home every evening and brought back to school every morning. Through the week it would be hoped parents or an adult would listen to their child read at least three times. This may be for periods of about ten minutes but on a regular basis, please. Remember to record the pages read and sign to show your child has been listened to.
  Some of the learning experiences this year include utilising the willow shoots to make "obelisks" to grow climbing plants around. Any parents, grandparents, aunties, uncles etc who have willow weaving skills please make yourself known to me so the class can have extra help to make their own plant frames.

An end of year thank you.

Ah, long time no blog for which I must apologise! Much has happened since my last entry; Phoebe Thomas won the year 5 literary competition, Carwyn Cowell won the year 6 competition, Phoebe also won the Chair for the overall literary competition. I apologise to the rest of the class for not going through a list of all the other winners and runners up but with my typing skills I'd have R.S.I. of the index finger.
The year 5 children have been trained as "Playground Leaders" for children in the Infants/K.S 1.
Sports Day is coming up on Thursday 24th June. In my opinion the highlight of the school sporting calendar! Unfortunately because of the unfinished part of the field we'll have to adapt the House Relay again this year but I'm sure we'll come up with something exciting involving running in a circuit.
Nearly forgot, next week the year 6 pupils are going up to Bryncelynnog for an ICT day on Monday and to London's Natural History Museum Tuesday. Year 5 will be going to Longleat on 7th July. Lucky me I get to go on both trips, someones got to do it I suppose. Bliss, I love both places!
Before I sign off I'd like to say thank you to all my children and parents for making this and last year a thoroughly enjoyable time. Your children have been a pleasure to teach and work with. I hope they and you have had as much pleasure out of the two years many children have spent under my stewardship. Have a fab summer one and all.

Class 2 update

One week to go before half term! Teachers like holidays too, believe me, even when you're lucky enough to have a good class.
I hope you all enjoyed the trip to Swansea as much as I did and passed on what you learned to your family.
Don't forget Wednesday will be our "V. E. Day Street Party". No, spam isn't compulsory but you should give it a try!
I've posted some science and English homework on Education City and will be giving everyone a maths booklet so you will always have some work to do if I forget to give you some homework from the class.
Congratulations to all the children who initiated the H. H. H. fund raising venture, you raised £ 377 at the last count. You should feel very proud of yourselves as it was all your own idea and totally organised by you as well.