Headmistress’s Newsletter

Issue 114 26 June 2020

To all Bronte families,

It has been a scorching week of hot weather and I’m sure all families
will be ready for a cooler weekend. Children in school have continued
to enjoy the outside spaces to learn and play, and I have seen Zoom
sessions where children are also making the most of the weather –
Year 2 for instance decided that if we can’t all go to Joss Bay, then they
will bring the beach home for the day!

We continue to move through the term with many of our usual
activities not possible, but all at school thoroughly enjoyed the Year 6
Sports Day this afternoon, and I’m sure the other year groups will
enjoy their time with Mr J next week where points can be won for
either Hood or Nelson……..I wonder which house will be victorious at
the end of term and be awarded the House Cup?

Next week is ’Transition Week’ when all children will spend some time
with their new teacher and parents will also have an opportunity to
meet their child’s new class teacher. Activities will take place during
the week to help all children prepare for a probable return to school in
September, but we are aware that this period of transition and support
may well extend into the Autumn term for many children as they will
not physically have been at school for over 5 months. We are very
much looking forward welcoming them all back.

I hope all families have a restful and peaceful weekend.

Kind regards,







 Page 2

Kindergarten
Kindergarten’s learning project this week was
‘Around the World’. Stories from different
countries around the World were explored and
they all enjoyed reading ‘The Tiger’s Child’ and
‘Handa’s Surprise’ – Kindergarten’s favourite
story!

This week the weather has been beautiful, so Kindergarten

have been enjoying their learning sessions in the sunshine –
these have included dough gym, dancing, musical statue’s,
pattern work and choices and voices.
 Page 3

Reception
Reception class also read ‘Handa’s Surprise’ this week as part of a joint ‘Around the World’
project. There were some very impressive stories and pictures.

       

       
 Page 4

Year 1
This week Year 1 enjoyed the beautiful weather and made full use of their outdoor learning
environment. Alongside their learning, they found time to celebrate a special birthday this week.
Miss Dhillon became DJ Dhillon and the children enjoyed delicious cupcakes ………. as well as
showing off their cool dance moves!
 Page 5

Year 2
We may have missed our trip to Joss Bay this year, but children in Year 2 still managed to enjoy a
virtual beach day on Thursday. They donned shorts, t-shirts, sunhats, sunglasses and even
swimming goggles for our morning Zoom and shared their favourite beach memories. As part
of their topic work they went on to draw beautifully detailed seaside pictures; labelling and
sorting the natural and manmade (physical and human) features of coastal areas.
 Page 6

Year 3

Year 3 children have been creating poems about HAPPINESS this week using their senses. Mrs Durkin said
that reading them made her very happy indeed.
Year 4
Year 4 are continuing with their Science topic of
Evolution. This week they have researched and
c r e a t e d a f a c t f i l e a b o u t a n
English naturalist called Charles Darwin, whose
scientific theory of evolution by natural selection
b e c a m e t h e f o u n d a t i o n o f m o d e r n
evolutionary studies. According to this theory, all
living things are struggling to survive. The living
things that have the most helpful traits for their
environment tend to be successful. These living
things then pass along their helpful traits to their
young. In this way, animals change, or evolve,
over hundreds of years.
Year 5
In their RE lesson, Year 5 had a go at creating their own traditional Islamic art. The term Islamic
art means all art created in the Islamic empire which was vast and varied in terms of style. In
history, as the Muslims took over more land, they inherited the art and culture of those lands
also. It was during the Umayyad dynasty (AD 661 – 750) that an artistic style which could be
clearly defined as Islamic began to develop. Some forms of Islamic include calligraphy, vegetal
patterns and geometric patterns. These art forms could be used on their own or in combination
with each other. Here are some of the children’s beautiful geometric creations:

And … for their well-being homework this week, Year 5 were getting busy in the kitchen AGAIN!

Year 6
On Wednesday, Year 6 were treated to a Forensic Science Morning, courtesy of
Mr Wood who is a CSI with the Metropolitan Police. Mr Wood has delivered this
morning to Year 6 for a number of years and he was determined to carry on with
it this year, despite the social distancing that is currently in place. So, both Year 6
'bubbles' were seated in the hall, sitting at separate ends, and they were treated
to a very interesting morning, where they learnt all about being a Crime Scene
Investigator.

Mr Wood is extremely skilled and experienced and Year 6, Mrs Prescott and Mr
Dickins would like to thank him very much for sharing with us, the intricacies of
finger printing and the history behind the development of both this and how DNA
can be used to identify an individual. Year 6 were then able to try on some of the
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), a term that they have become very familiar
with in recent weeks.

In an end of year that has seen many activities curtailed, it was good to see some
events still taking place.
 To ensure that Year 6 didn’t miss out on their last Sports Day, Mr J
Year 6 and Mrs Prescott organised an event for them this afternoon. The
usual sprint and long distance races took place, along with a
Sports Day rather challenging cycle and a relay which involved a 20 second
wash of the baton between each runner! Applause and
encouragement was provided by the children in school and we
were all proud of a great afternoon of fun and sportsmanship.

Well done to Demi as Nelson won the Year 6 House Cup and David
who was our Victor Ludorum.
Art with Mrs Britton
Year 3 completed this terms topic, inspired by the works of Heather
Galler. The lesson also had a few extra visitors! Children wanting to
draw their pets, unexpectedly decided to show these at the beginning
of the lesson. We had dogs, a guinea pig and a kitten to view, which
created great excitement!