Autumn Newsletter December 21
Dear Parents/Carers,
It has been a great Autumn term at Corporation Road and I wanted to share with you some of the amazing things our children have been learning and experiencing over the term. I know that we are still in the midst of a pandemic but thank you for sending your children in to school. We still have very strict cleaning procedures in school and hand washing is still happening regularly to ensure we all stay safe.
We are moving some classes around in school so from January all classes will be based on the left hand side as you look at the building. Please look for signs as to where children will enter school on the first day back, which will be Wednesday 5th January.
Attendance
If your child is off for any reason, you must telephone the office to let us know. If a child is ill through sickness then they must stay off for 48 hours from the last time the child was sick. Research shows that good attendance is linked with higher achievement. If a child is off then it can have a serious impact on their education and at Corporation Road, we want all children to have the best possible start to their school career.
Free School Meal Vouchers
If you are on FSM then vouchers will be sent on Saturday 11th December to your mobile number. If you don’t receive them then please let the office know.
Mrs Garrens
Just letting you know that Mrs Garrens will be leaving us to go on to Maternity leave at the end of term. We are sad to see her go but excited to see her new baby! We are very lucky that Miss Cray will be coming back off her Maternity leave so we cannot want to have her back at school!
Appointments
Please could appointments be taken outside of school time. Taking appointments during school time means children miss valuable learning. We understand that sometimes it is unavoidable but please try to make appointments for outside of school hours.
Important Dates
- School closes Wednesday 15th December 2021 (16th and 17th PD Days)
- School reopens Wednesday 5th January 2022 (4th is a PD Day)
- School breaks up on Friday 18th February – off for 1 week for half term – come back on Monday 28th February
- School breaks up on Friday 8th April – off for 2 weeks – come back to school on Monday 25th April
- Off Monday 2nd May and Tuesday 3rd of May (1 bank holiday and 1 PD Day) – children come back on Wednesday 4th May
- School breaks up on Friday 27th May – return on Tuesday 7th June
- School breaks up on Thursday 21st July for Summer Holidays
Carol Singing
On Wednesday 15th all the children will be singing carols on the yard from 2.40pm. If you would like to join us and have some hot chocolate and mince pies then please come along.
Class 6
This term our science has been light. During this, we have enjoyed learning about reflective materials as well as investigating which materials are more reflective than others. The children have thoroughly enjoyed and been interested in discussing different light sources and how light travels. We finished the topic by designing a pair of sunglasses that help protect your eyes from the damaging sunrays. This term, Year 3 have been working with the Head of Steam Museum and learning about the history of Darlington. We have enjoyed some visits outside of school including a history walk around Darlington as well as visiting the Head of Steam Museum where children were able look at the historic locomotives.
Class 8
We have really enjoyed learning about the Anglo-Saxons and the Vikings and why they came and settled in Britain. We have been shocked to find out that many places in Britain were named after these invaders. In P.E, we have been practising running, throwing and jumping skills and put them to the test in a local community games against other schools in Darlington – it was a great day. In our reading time, we have been taking part in a challenge set by the Darlington Library. As a class, we need to read 100 books by the time we reach Year 6. I am pleased to say that we have made a great start and already ticked off some of the books on our list such as The Gruffalo and Kensuke’s Kingdom.
Class 10
In autumn, Year 6 have had a fantastic time starting this year’s Intu Project. Year 6 have had a drama workshop at the local Hippodrome and worked alongside Refresh to talk about their hopes and dreams for the future. Some of their thoughts were captured and made into the banners outside of the school and posters in and around school. Furthermore, they have worked with ‘Little Inventors’ and created their very own locomotives out of cardboard and went to the opening night of this year’s Christmas pantomime. Furthermore, Year 6 have been learning about World War One, for example, the causes of it and who was involved. They also created tea-stained timelines of the key events of World War One and they have learnt about what life was like in the trenches. Year 6 were particularly fascinated with the fact rats could grow to the size of cats and the effects of trench foot on soldiers!
Class 5
We’ve had lots of fun in Year 2 this term… We have enjoyed visiting St Matthew and Luke’s church to learn more about the church itself and the Christmas story. We had fun following instructions in English to make Halloween cats. We also learnt about poppies and why they are an important symbol of remembrance. We have explored how to change the shape of materials by bending, twisting, stretching and squashing. We then used these techniques to make boat sculptures in Art. We have had some visitors in class, one left snowy foot prints and a new book to read. The other has caused mayhem but also delivered some Christmas decorations and a book themed advent calendar.
Class 4
During the Autumn Term, Year 1 started to learn about animals in Science. They learnt about the different groups of animals and what they eat. We then looked at how we can take care of animals in our local environment. We decided that birds might come into the playground so we made bird feeders. When we finished making the bird feeders, we hung them in trees around school.
Class 3
This term we have been learning about people who help us. The fire brigade came to visit and we learned about their job. Fire fighters help people to keep safe, they put out fires, help people in a car crash and help in floods. Fire fighters wear special uniform to protect them. We sat in a fire engine and looked at all the equipment they use. If we set on fire we know to stop, drop and roll. It was great fun.
Class 7
In Class 7 we have loved learning about The Ancient Greeks this half term. We have enjoyed being involved in Master chef and tasting Greek food, such as hummus, tzatziki and pitta, olives and feta cheese, and then scoring it. The children especially found learning facts about Athens and Sparta fascinating, especially the differences between the two city-states and how Sparta were so focused on creating a fierce and powerful army. We enjoyed taking part in a debate over which of the city-states we would rather have lived and then voted using a democratic vote, which was first introduced by Athenians in Ancient Greek times. We decided that we would rather live in Athens!
Class 9
Class 9 studied the work of the artist James Brunt; he uses natural materials from the environment. They used his work as inspiration to create their own pieces of art. They spent a great afternoon in North Lodge Park to complete their work. They explored the different ways in which materials within the environment could be used to create effective repeating patterns. The children produced some impressive creations.
Nursery
In Nursery, the children have been looking at who is in their family. We have a lot of children who have or are about to get, younger siblings. We have learned about how you look after a baby. The children have enjoyed looking at how much they can do now compared with when they were a baby. They have also been looking after dolls in the home corner and giving them a bath in the water tray. The more bubble bath, the better!
Everyone at Corporation Road wishes all our families a peaceful holiday. We will see all the children back and refreshed on Wednesday 5th January.
