The PTA Committee should be highly commended for their incredible dedication towards the AKS Community. Transforming the Senior School Hall into an Enchanted Forest took them nearly three days, followed by a clear up on Sunday morning. If you were in attendance, I know you will join me in thanking Mrs Woodman and the amazing PTA Committee for a wonderful evening. Funds are gifted back to school to enhance the curriculum for the children. Special thanks also go to Mr Steve Shepherd for catering so brilliantly for over 200 people.
The next PTA event is the PTA Christmas Fair on Saturday 10th December in the Senior School Hall, starting at 11.00am. Please see the list of donations on the bulletin kindly requested to be sent into school on Friday 9th December, in exchange for your child to come to school wearing Christmassy clothes.
Finally, I hope to see you this evening at Mr Thomas' Prep Christmas Spectacular, 7.00pm in the Senior School Hall!
Amanda Ilhan
Head of Nursery and Preparatory School
Nursery
This week we are getting ready for the festive season. The children have been wrapping presents, exploring gingerbread play dough and designing their own snowman.
Nursery Team
Reception
In our Maths lessons, the children have been busy exploring different patterns this week. They confidently made their own and then completed patterns created by a friend. Well done to all the children.
The World Cup may be taking place in Qatar, but if you look in our play area at playtimes, the grass roots of football is taking place. The only differences are that we tend to have two goal keepers in one goal and the temperature is not quite comparable to over there!
Miss Allen and Mrs Walsh
Year 1
The children are getting used wearing their Christmas Play costumes whilst singing and dancing, as well as looking after them in between performances.
They have been working hard on addition problems and are developing more reliable strategies, speed and fluency.
In Computing, Mrs Blinston has been showing the children how to find and play games which reinforce their learning in Maths, whilst moving between applications.
Mrs Smith and Mrs Brooker
Year 2
The festive season is creeping ever nearer, and the excitement is growing as we practise for our production of 'The Little Red Robin.' The children in Year 2 have big responsibilities as the main speaking parts and have done a super job learning their lines.
In our English lessons, we are using our creative writing skills to create a character profile of our own Christmas elf. We had lots of fun sharing our ideas, thinking of elves that are cuddly and fun, to bossy and helpful elves with a good dose of mischief. I can't wait to read the stories that these elves are a part of!
We continue to use money in our Maths lessons and are becoming very adept at making amounts of money with a whole range of coins. Maybe we could use our skills when we are out Christmas shopping!
Mrs Bleasdale
Year 3
This week, Year 3 have been working hard to improve their times tables skills. We have been using TT Rockstars to improve our fluency and speed of recall, with many children improving their rock star status this week!
In our Computing lessons, we have been working on our research skills ahead of writing a report on our favourite animal. We looked at different examples of reports and how to find information that was relevant to our chosen animal.
In Art, we have been exploring the animals that were found on the Lascaux cave walls. We then had a go at sketching our own animals in the same style.
Mrs Blinston and Mr Worthington
Year 4
This week in Year 4, we give a big welcome to Freddie who has joined our class. He has settled in really well and made new friends quickly.
Times tables are very important and this term we have had weekly sessions to help improve our fluency and speed. We have been looking at twelves this week, using our sixes and doubling as well as arrays and associated facts to help us remember.
In English, we are writing our Aladdin based stories in our independent writing sessions.
Mrs Briggs
Year 5
This week, Year 5 finally reached the cooking phase of their DT topic, with every child creating their own unique recipe. We all learned that failing is part of a good design process, as several of the recipes didn't stick together the first time and had to be improved.
The results looked great, packed into our own beautifully designed boxes!
Mrs Whitaker
Year 6
This week in Science, the children used their knowledge and understanding of circuits and components to build a burglar alarm that flashed and buzzed with the addition of wooden clothes pegs, insulation tape and cardboard.
Year 6 have enjoyed hockey and rugby this term with a focus on tackling and maintaining possession of the ball. Congratulations are in order for seven of the Year 6 boys, who played a very competitive match on Sunday at Kirby Lonsdale RUFC. Well done to Henry, Noah and Will who all scored ending with a very close-tie finish.
Finally, Year 6 started their taster days in the Senior School to offer the children a real experience of what it's like to be in Year 7, with a view to easing their transition in September. Lots of glowing comments received from their new teachers already, well done Year 6!
Mr Avis and Mr Rice
Art News
The children in Year 3 have finished their Kings, inspired by Gustav Klimt. The children looked at Christmas cards and practised drawing kings which were then enlarged and painted using Klimt colours. Klimt patterns were added with pencil crayons.
Mrs Hine
MFL News
This week in Prep School, Ms Robinson's Cultural Craft Club has made a multi-lingual Nativity scene. Pupils have made all the characters from the story, and they labelled them in English, French, German and Spanish. Wonderful!
