Year 5 pupils spread out across the forest school area to explore and enjoy the crisp autumn air. Several students worked together, using pieces of wood and string to experiment with stabilising a swing. Nearby, others crouched down, searching under logs for different plant and insect species. One group of pupils even decided it was time to build a house! Overall, a wonderful time spent being curious and developing our communication.
Pupils gathered to hear candidates give their house captain speeches. Everyone listened as the hopeful leaders shared their ideas for teamwork and school events. Following the presentations, the students took part in a democratic vote to choose their new representatives. This exciting experience taught the children about citizenship and let everyone have a say in shaping their school community.
Our Year 4 readers have made a fantastic start to our class novel, Varjak Paw by SF Said! We have just finished Chapter 6, and the children are completely hooked on Varjak's adventure.
Here is what has happened in our story so far:
Meet the Paws: We met Varjak, a young Mesopotamian Blue kitten with glowing amber eyes, who lives high up in the Contessa's grand house with his family.
An Unwelcome Visitor: Everything changes when a mysterious Gentleman arrives with two silent, sinister black cats. The Contessa suddenly disappears, and the Gentleman takes over the house!
A Warning from the Past: Varjak's grandfather, the Elder Paw, warns the family about the danger. He shares the secret tales of Jalal—their legendary ancestor—and tells Varjak he must escape the house to find a dog to help them.
The Brave Escape: After a heartbreaking moment where the Elder Paw protects Varjak from the Gentleman’s cats, Varjak makes a daring leap over the high wall into the unknown, dangerous city.
The children have been working on their retrieval and inference skills, analysing character motives, and identifying expanded noun phrases in our writing lessons.
