Home / Junior Department News Friday 12th May 2023
This Week in Reception
Reception Dance and Drama
This week we have been having a fantastic time exploring some of Julia Donaldson’s wonderful stories in our Dance and Drama lessons. We enjoyed turning ourselves into the different jungle animals in Monkey Puzzle whilst playing our favourite game ‘magic rocks’, and experimenting with different ways of passing things on – just like Tiddler’s stories!
This Week in Year 1
The Great Outdoors
When the sun is shining there is no better place to be than outside in the fresh air digging away with your friends, planting lots of beautiful flowers. The enthusiasm is incredible with smiles to match, and this is only the beginning, we can’t wait to watch everything grow.
This Week in Year 2
Maths
Year 2 have continued their maths work on capacity and measuring.
We hope that you enjoy looking at the photos of 2B’s practical investigation as much as they enjoyed taking part in it!
Gardening
Year 2 planted wildflower seeds last week (linked to the Coronation Weekend’s community-focussed Big Help Out) and some have already germinated and started to appear. We all agreed that the rain has helped and we definitely have the sunniest spot. 2B and 2CW are waiting for the first signs of life. The Junior Department Courtyard is certainly starting to look more colourful and attractive with our beautiful bees and butterflies., and the pupils have done a great job weeding!
Coronation News!
The children have been recording their Newsround Coronation bulletins that they wrote last week. We think that you will be impressed with Connie and Maya’s script, presentation skills and slides they chose for the background. We will share more once they are recorded so they can be kept as a memento.
Year 2 are working hard to learn and rehearse their dance to ‘Five – Keep On Movin’ for their Moving On Assembly at the end of term.
We thought parents might enjoy a sneak preview….. the children already have some great moves & cool freezes, take a look at the videos and photos below.
If you wish to know more about the Music Department at Beechwood, including the process for learning an individual instrument, and all the different music activities we offer, you are very welcome to attend a music information meeting for Y1 and Y2 parents on Thursday 25th May, 0830-0930 in the Performance Hall. There will be a short presentation given by myself, and then there will be a chance to ask any questions – either for me or for my Top Form helpers!
If you would like to attend this meeting, please would you complete this very short google form here to give us an idea of numbers:
If there is anything in particular you would like to know more about, please do write this on the form and I will do my best to cover this in the meeting.
The Performance Hall doors will be open from 0820; please enter through the clock tower gates and north courtyard. The Chamber Choir will be rehearsing in the Hall, so please do come in and enjoy their singing!
I look forward to seeing many of you on the 25th.
Best wishes,
Jane Lodge
Director of Music
From the Junior Library
Max & Chaffy: Welcome to Animal Island by Jamie Smarts
Max & Chaffy is the brand new series from Jamie Smart aimed at Junior Department children. It follows the same successful comic format that our Middle Department pupils love (Monkey vs Bunny & Looskin), making it a great option for reluctant new readers.
Max has just moved to Animal Island which he decides to explore. He is brilliant at finding things and helping people, one good deed leads to another. It also leads, with the help of the reader, to finding Chaffy. Max vows to help Chaffy find his home but each person they help is not the right one.