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Middle Department News
This week in Year 3
The Year 3 team were just discussing how quickly this term had passed and how we were amazed to find ourselves approaching the half way mark in Year 3! The children have all grown immensely in confidence over the past few months and are well on their way to becoming more independent and resilient learners. It has been wonderful to be back in the classroom and it certainly benefited everyone in Year 3 to be learning together in the same room, once again.
We are in the process of organising our timings for zoom consultations in the week we return and we look forward to having the chance to chat with you all and discuss your child’s progress.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank all our Year 3 families for their continued support and wish you all a restful and fun half term break.
Warm regards
The Year 3 Team
TPR Trip to Bhaktivedanta Manor
After no school trips for nearly two years our intrepid Year 3 children visited the remarkable Bhaktivedanta Manor – Hare Krishna Temple, in Watford, as part of their Theology, Philosophy and Religion studies.
During the visit, they walked respectfully around the Manor grounds and took part in a number of ‘not your normal Tuesday’ activities, starting with an oxen cart ride! As Will said, ‘The oxen were huge. They looked slow, but they were really fast!’ Arriving quicker than I ever thought possible, the children were then tasked with feeding the temple’s many cows and bulls. Idris reported, ‘I really loved feeding the cows with carrots and some people plucked up enough courage to stroke them.’
Some of the children then explored the George Harrsion garden. Sienna said, ‘I enjoyed the garden. I loved that they put quotes all around it that we had to find. It was so beautiful’.
Our return oxen ride was much more sedate, I think the bulls were tired out after ‘mooving’ all of Year 3 too and fro. We then had a very interesting talk on Hinduism and the children had the opportunity to dress up as the main deities. Benji led the way as Lord Krishna and then all of the children dressed in traditional saris and shawls. Simran’s favourite part of the trip was our visit to the shrine. ‘We took our shoes off and we could hear a dholak playing. The pandit blew a conch and waved a feather fan over the gods.’ It was a breathtaking experience and one of the boys turned to his friend and simply said, ‘Wow!’
Aiden said that he loved the lunch. ‘It was rice and a sauce with peas and cheese and we got poppadums and breads, I’m not sure what type but it was delicious. The best thing was the chips, they were amazing!’
After lunch we had face and hand painting. The photos do not give justice to the fabulous artwork, which the boys and girls were equally delighted with – Sienna said she loved her pink and light blue flowers.
No trip is complete without the chance of spending pocket money and there was a huge range of souvenirs for the children to choose from. I’m sure the Year 3 parents will be thrilled with the many flutes that they bought. Mr. Ip kindly saved the teachers’ ears by asking the children to save them till they got home….
Will summed up the trip nicely, ‘Overall it was an amazing place to visit and I recommend it to you.’
Many thanks to all of the accompanying staff for helping with this super visit and for the exemplary behaviour shown by all the children.
Mr. Wood
Here are some of our photos from the trip:
Maths
After half term we will be moving on to ‘Money’ for our maths topic. It would be incredibly helpful for the children if you could find some opportunities for them to look at and identify the various coins and notes and if possible, spend some actual money and try and work out their change. The children had the chance to spend money at the Hindu Temple and they loved using it.
Numble Challenge
Has your whole family has been gripped by the word game ‘Wordle? Well, here’s a really fun maths-based game we know you’ll love! Try ‘Numble’ for yourself and let us know how you got on! Who will be the Numble champion in Year 3? The link is is the Year 3 Google Form Rooms and also below:
https://www.geogebra.org/m/yjv62ujk
3M Forest School
What a lovely morning to be in the woods and what a way to mark the end of the first half of the year! The children spent the morning whittling, laughing and just enjoying being together, surrounded by nature
ure.
Further dates:
30: 25th February, with further dates to be announced later in the term.
Pupils should wear School Games kit for the session. Pupils should arrive at school in their Games kit and remain in it for the rest of the day. We will remind your child to bring their Games kit home on a Thursday but would appreciate you giving them an extra reminder. We would recommend either short/skort and skins or tracksuit bottoms plus Games top and tracksuit top or hoody. Additional layers will undoubtedly be necessary especially at this end of the term. These do not have to be BPS kit but must be brought to school in a bag and only worn for the FS session. Gloves and a hat are essential! Don’t forget to send appropriate footwear (wellies, hiking boots, old trainers) and two pairs of socks can be useful to help with cold feet!
Dance
Year 3 did their final performances of their Winter dances this week. They were whirling, twirling snowflakes, thin & pointy icicles, they mimed getting ready to play in the snow & then acted out all sorts of snow-based activities- sledging, snowball fights, snow angels & snowman building. Have a look at some of the pictures below!
Mrs Hegarty
Some of our Year 5 musicians had a wonderful experience at the Uppingham School Prep Schools’ Orchestral Day yesterday – read more about it 
WORLD BOOK DAY is just around the corner, and we cannot wait!
Vi Spy – Never Say Whatever Again by Maz Evans