JUNIOR DEPARTMENT NEWS

This week in Reception

This week, Reception have been looking at 2D and 3D shapes. We have been learning about the properties and names of shapes and noticing 3D shapes within the world around us. We had great fun manipulating the different shapes and working together with our friends to produce some fantastic 3D shape cities.

Forest School

Reception enjoyed a beautiful, sunny afternoon in Forest School, passing through Friendship Woods looking for signs of Spring – pupils noticed that lots had changed since we went on our Spring walk just a few weeks ago.

The Forest School session this week was linked to the current Reception Maths topic – repeating patterns. Mrs LeBas showed the pupils how to use natural materials to create a repeating pattern and how to make a circular repeating pattern. The children worked collaboratively in groups to create their own patterns using leaves, bark, sticks and shoots.

Have a lovely weekend,

The Reception Team

This week in Year 1

In Maths this week, we have been learning about different types of measurement.

As in all our Maths lessons, we have used practical equipment to ensure we have a deep understanding of what we have learnt. We have used rulers to measure the length of objects in centimetres, balance scales and cubes to measure and compare the mass of different classroom objects and had fun using the water tray to investigate capacity and volume. We then applied our knowledge to help us solve problems!

Have a lovely weekend!

The Year One Team

This week in Year 2

Year 2 joined the Maths Department on Monday to investigate Pi.

The story ‘Sir Circumference and the Dragon of Pi’ explained all about this interesting number and led us to explore whether the circumference of a circle is ‘3 and a bit’ times the diameter. With the help of lots of circular objects and string we are pleased to report that the answer is indeed ‘Yes!’ We worked out why the 14^th day of the 3^rd month was Pi day and in pairs completed a ‘Name Three Challenge’.

Thinking of all things circular led us to Kandinsky’s Squares with Concentric Circles and fun exploring colour. Some of us even started to learn the digits of Pi. With pie on the menu at lunchtime, we all agreed that our mathematical brains and taste buds had been stretched!

Have a lovely weekend,

The Year Two Team

Tickets for Senior Production of Private Peaceful

Now that cast parents have had to opportunity to reserve tickets for this year’s Beechwood production of Private Peaceful, we would like to offer all parents the opportunity to reserve up to two tickets for one performance on either Thursday 24 or Friday 25 March.

There is no charge for tickets, but there will be charity collection buckets available at each performance, we will divide the proceeds equally between the Drama Department and this year’s School charity ‘Herts Welcomes Refugees’.

All pupils from Years 5 will watch a performance of the show on Monday 21 March. We feel that this production is a little too grown-up for the younger pupils. You may, therefore, wish to invite other family members along.

Tickets can be booked here

If you have any queries related to ticketing, please contact Gail Gamble via email G.Gamble@beechwoodpark.com

There will be a drinks reception in the courtyard, by the swimming pool, from 1800. Please enter via the South Courtyard Gates. Doors open at 1835.

Mrs Hegarty,
Director of Dance and Drama

From the Junior Library

Library Recommendation: Woodland Magic: Fox Cub Rescue by Julie Sykes

Fox Cub Rescue is the first in a new series, Woodland Magic, aimed at newly confident readers. Similar to the works of Holly Webb and Mary Kelly, this series takes the classic ‘cute animal’ stories to a new dimension, incorporating an environmental theme.

The series follows The Keepers, a secretive tribe of little people who live in the middle of Whispering Woods, coming out at night to care for the countryside and re-wild it when humans (or Ruffins as they know them) are careless.

Young Keepers Cora and Jax, who have just finished school, are keen to become fully fledged Keepers – however it remains to be seen if they can be trusted to concentrate on their important task.

Teacher’s Book of the Week: “Matilda”, by Roald Dahl

This week, it is the turn of Miss Bailey to share her favourite book with you, and she has chosen a classic Matilda by Roald Dahl because she loves how independent Matilda is and how she stands up for what is right.

Head’s Commendations

Well done to all the recipients of Mr Balfour’s Commendations this week:

Year Group	Nurture	Engage	Inspire
Reception	-	Stanley M, Zara H, Esme W, Theodore B	-
Year 1	Jamie B	-	Jack T. Joseph I
Year 2	Naomi G	Freddie R	Sasha L, Edward B, Louisa L, Amelie M, Barney S, Alexander F Arthur L, Aveer K