Thank You and Goodbye

I just wanted to finish the term off by saying a huge thank you for the more than generous gifts that I have received today and during this, my last week at Crabtree. The beautiful flowers nearly finished me off today! I have been blown away by the heartfelt messages in the cards and the conversations I have had with so many parents and well wishers.
As I move on to different challenges in my new school, I will take many happy memories of my years at Crabtree and the hundreds - literally- of children who have passed through my classes- all of whom have left me with a wealth of special moments and amusing anecdotes.

I would like to take this chance to wish you all a merry Christmas and a happy 2017.

Pamela Doran

What a night!

What fabulous performances the children produced today. This afternoon was great, but we think that this evening's singing topped that of the afternoon.

Well done to everyone for learning your lines so well, delivering them beautifully and making our Christmas concert such a success.
Thank you to parents for helping out with costumes and being an appreciative audience.

We are now on the count down to the end of term so please refer to the previous blog for important dates and events between now and the end of term.

The year 6 team

End of term news

As the end of term is fast approaching, we thought it would be helpful to have a run down of the last couple of weeks of term.

Monday 12th

2.15pm - Christmas play performance to parents

6pm - Whole school performance to parents

Thursday 15th

School Christmas Dinner

Friday 16th
Christmas Jumper Day in support of Save the Children

Tuesday 20th
In the afternoon we will have a special afternoon of fun activities.

Wednesday 21st
Last day of term. Bring in a toy day. No electronics please.

The children have had a long first term and I am sure they are getting ready for a nice break from school routine. We have been particularly impressed by their conscientious approach to the completion of homework tasks, reading records and spelling practice. Thank you to parents for supporting with this and making sure that items are in school on the right days.

Year 4 are of course very sad to be losing Mrs Doran and Mr Pollard from the team from January. We wish them well in their new schools and thank them for all their patience and hard work in helping us through the Autumn Term.

We look forward to next term though with; a new Creative Curriculum topic in The Romans, some exciting Science topics and the return of Miss Eastlake!

We wish you all a happy holiday!

As promised- song words for Christmas. Unfortunately we are not able to attach the music, but the children have practised with the music in class so will know the tunes.

Something is happening

 Well it was late in the night that the sight

Of delight began to happen,

When sleepy heads were in bed dreaming dreams

Full of fantasy and fear,

When frosty fingers were painting n the ground,

And icy whispers were echoing around

And even owls barely breathing a sound

When something happened

 

Lift up your eyes and see that

Something is happening tonight

Lift up your eyes and see that

Something is happening,

The stars are shining bright,

Look way up high, Look to the sky;

Owls barely breathing with a sound

When something happened

 

Lift up your eyes and see that something is happening

Something is happening

Something is happening tonight.

 

Beauty with a bell

Tell me how a country gal could end up so appealing?

Can it be the simple things that I will be revealing?

I’m a tasty beast, a very tempting feast, a beauty to with a bell

Take a look at me, you really must agree

I’m a gorgeous sort of gal

 

I’ve got big brown eyes and shapely thighs

A body big and strong, velvet skin and looks that win

And I’m good at singing this song.

Yes, I know how a country gal could end up so appealing.

It must be the simple things that I am not concealing.

 

My wool is superb

My wool is superb, you may not have heard, it’s amazing, amazing

The colour is fine, it looks so divine when I’m out on the hillside just grazing.

I’m not one to gloat or mention my coat

I’m ever so humble you see, but deep down inside I just know you have cried

 Simply longing to be like me.

 

For I could be a rug, very warm and snug, maybe

Or I could be a vest hanging on the best people in town

Or I could be a frock or a woolly sock maybe

Or I could bring great warmth to a king.

My wool is superb and now that you’ve heard the wonderful things it can be

Don’t try to hide those feelings inside just admit that the best – is- me

Admit that the best is me.

 

Simply the best

I’m not good looking, but I don’t care,

I’ve got a comb, but I’ve got no hair,

My looks aren’t important,

I don’t need to frown,

‘Cos I lay the best eggs in town!

So if you’re looking for a simple supper, a special breakfast or a tasty treat-

My eggs are thoroughly nutritious, they’re truly delicious, simply the best you’ll see.

 

Glory rap

Glory to God in the highest!

Glory to God on high!

Glory to God in the highest!

Glory to God on high!

 

Big, big shout out to the God above because He sent down His only Son in love to a cradle in a stable where the animals live with a message of love that HE came to give to every man and woman and child.

Little Jesus He isn’t just meek and mild;

He’s the biggest, strongest, mightiest God and we’ll sing out with one voice

Sing

 

Glory to God in the highest!

Glory to God on high!

Glory to God in the highest!

Glory to God on high!

 

Celebrate this Christmas

 

We wanna celebrate this Christmas,

And give our praise to God above

We wanna celebrate this Christmas

Thank God for his gift of love

We want to clap (clap x 4)

We want to stamp (stamp x 4)

We want to SHOUT WITH ALL OUR MIGHT

To say a great big thank you for that first Christmas night.

Thanks for the shepherds, thanks for the star, thanks for the wise men coming so far,

Thanks for the angels up above and thank you for your gift of love!

 

We want to say a great big thank you for your love that Christmas night!

Costumes
The children  will need their costume in school in a named carrier bag by Monday 5th December.
The costumes they need are listed below- all masks are provided by school.


Narrators - jeans and a colourful t-shirt.
Rats- grey trousers and top
Angels- white outfit with wings
Owl- brown outfit and mask
Chuck- light brown and mask
Sheep- white/ grey with mask
Robbers- jeans and stripy top
Innkeeper- jeans and shirt- not t-shirt
Innkeeper's wife- skirt or jeans with shirt/ blouse and apron
Hemi- jeans and t shirt of any colour
Policeman- blue or black with helmet if possible
Joseph and Mary- travelling clothes e.g. trousers, top, scarf, jacket
Camels- sandy brown with mask
Star- white or silver
Shepherds- Jeans and t-shirt with scarf/ woolly hat/ gloves
Frosty fingers- white/ silver suitable for dancing in
Cowboys- jeans and checked shirt
Eggs- white/ light brown- an egg outline sandwich board will be provided by school
Wise men-Jeans and t-shirt with cloak


Thank you in advance for your support with this. We hope you enjoy the performance when it is ready!


The year 4 team.

A big thank you to all those parents who have given up their Monday mornings to accompany year 4 to swimming over the course of this term.
The children finished their weekly sessions with a fun morning which really showed off their increased confidence and ability in the water.

On a different note- the children were introduced to their Christmas concert this afternoon and will be receiving their parts over the next day or so. Some children have requested non speaking parts and these have been allocated today. Other parts will be given out shortly.

Homework this week will be to learn lines and the words to the songs, all children need to know these, which will be posted on this blog by the end of the week to help them to learn them.
Costume requirements will also come home this week- we are going for a modern look nativity so hopefully, most children will have something appropriate in their wardrobe!

Many thanks in anticipation of your support with this exciting event.

The year 4 team.

Friday 11th November

We have had another busy few weeks since our half term holiday, with lots of 'serious' learning going on.

In English, children have been learning how to write persuasively; building on their efforts from Year 3. We have examined lots of persuasive letters and found the most important features of this style of writing. We then learnt a text map and actions for one of the most persuasive letters (Billy Goat Gruff complaining about the terrible troll that lives under the bridge!) and then had a go at imitating this style of writing. Today and next week we will begin innovating a new letter linked to our topic on coastal erosion and the writing to the council in Lyme Regis to ask for improved coastal defences. All the time we are trying to remember to keep our writing formal, emotive and above all persuasive. The results so far have been terrific. Well done Year 4!

In Maths, both groups have been working on mental and written methods for multiplying and dividing. Knowing your multiplication facts helps a great deal with this.

Please keep practising on:

http://www.topmarks.co.uk/maths-games/hit-the-button

and/or

on the ipad
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/squeebles-times-tables-2/id666245333?mt=8

In Science, both classes have come to the end of our sound unit and will soon be beginning a new unit on different states of matter. Have a look at home and see how many examples of solids, liquids and gases you can find.

We are also looking forward to putting on our assembly to parents next Friday 18th. Can children please make sure they are learning their lines?

Links to songs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcHyyuGjuk0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUcjlWTWi14

In terms of costumes, most children need to wear school uniform with the exception of 'surfers' who need shorts and t-shirts or surf gear; son, daughter & parents - shorts and t- shirts; gymnasts - PE kit or leotard.

Have a great weekend

The Year 4 team

P.E lessons at Crabtree
Dear Parents
Please can I remind you that your child has an indoor lesson of gym and an outdoor lesson on the field each week this term. The weather has got a lot colder and your child will need a P.E fleece to wear during the out door session. The school shop sell a reversible fleece which is not only warm but shower proof and a great price so can I encourage you to get one of these. Please can joggers be navy or black and ensure your child has P.E socks to wear as often their socks will get wet and so to wear their school socks is not ideal.
Children seem to be taking their kits/trainers/boots home which is fine but it must be brought back into school for their P.E lessons as there are too many children not having all the correct kit in school and then having to borrow kit. Finally I am still finding kit with no names in please can you ensure all kit is named.
We have had an excellent start to the year and I look forward to working with your children throughout the year.
Mrs Tizard

Life's a beach!

A couple of weeks ago now but Year 4 had a fun packed day with their official 'big bang' start to this term's topic on the coast.

Both classes have been busy making individual models of a beach hut and collage pictures inspired by this work.

Here are a couple of photos from the day. More of finished work to follow.

The children have been enjoying learning all about some quite difficult concepts associated with the geographical features of the coastline and we have been impressed by the children's ability to get to grips with some of the higher level vocabulary; depositional landform, erosion landform, stacks, arches, stumps, groynes and gabions to name but a few.

This week we will be looking at human geography and our relationship with a sandy and a shingle beach and how these have developed as a result of human intervention. Please bring in a picture or a postcard of a beach you have visited in the UK, if you would like to share. Can you show the rest of the class where the location of the beach is on a map of the UK?

In Maths both groups have completed a unit on place value and have moved on to looking at addition and subtraction with larger numbers and developing strategies for applying mental methods.

In English we had some great innovations on the story of 'The Jolly Witch' with a magic broomstick to a Jolly teacher with a magic marking pen!!

We have now begun writing an explanation texts on erosion. This week for homework the children have brought home their model text and some comprehension questions to answer. This should help give them a deeper understanding of the process of erosion and show us how well they can extract information.

Spelling homework this week was to learn a few more of the important common exception words. Please make sure you have spent some time focussing on these.

Enjoy your weekend

The Year 4 team

Roald Dahl Day

What a fantastic sight all the children in their costumes made yesterday. A huge thank you to parents and children alike for embracing this day so early in the term.
Here are some of the children's recipes.

 



A fabulous Year

A confident Harpenden presentation delivered by Hnry this week.

We all learnt something new about Harpenden when the children presented their work.

An interesting and well researched presentation by Josh L.

Historic photos of family were shared by Ellis.

A variety of presentations, Matt used Prezi, which was new to us all.

Life at the races with Chloe, Sofia and Sasha!

On your marks....

Go!

Some horses needed more carrot incentives!

Schools out for Ash this summer!

Schools out for Birch summer!

Now for the steeplechase, no water but a very determined George!

On your marks...

It was a photo finish for some!

And another photo finish!

Tying together our Harpenden topic with our science topic of electricity, we lit up the high street.

Barclays stayed opened late too!

Even the trees were illuminated, well done Ted

We have had a wonderful time in year 4 and have thoroughly enjoyed teaching both Birch and Ash.The children have been enthusiastic, polite,hard working and a pleasure to teach. We would like to thank you all for your very generous gifts, which is extremely kind of you all and very much appreciated.

The children have been set a holiday homework about the Maya civilisation, by their new year 5 teachers,  which the children were told about on transition day and the have information about what the task is and when it is due in. If anyone has mislaid it please read the information below-

Their task is to research the Ancient Maya civilisation and present their findings however they choose. Some suggestions were- a 3d model of Maya architecture, a poster, Top trumps about the Gods, power point etc....It is due in on the first Tuesday back (6th September)

We hope you all have a fun, relaxing and safe summer and we look forward to seeing all the children back in the Autumn term.

Thank you again for your continued support this year, it has been really appreciated.

The year 4 team

Spaghetti towers and Sports day- fantastic