Year 6 Residential – Day 3
Our final morning at Robinwood was a wet one…
We put on our waterproof clothes and made our way to the lake for canoeing. The children demonstrated fantastic communication – essential for not paddling around in circles!
After canoeing, we stayed at the lake for raft building. Children learnt to tie knots and used their skills to attach tyres and buoys to a raft. Then, it was time to test their seaworthiness… some were more successful than others!
Our session at the lake concluded with a dip – we jumped into the lake in a skydiving position, making for some excellent photos!
Our trip to Robinwood concluded in the caves, testing us with a series of tunnels to negotiate and navigate. There were some nerves at first but the children showed courage and perseverance and, on the whole, enjoyed the challenge.
The children thoroughly enjoyed the trip and I was so impressed by how proud they were to represent our school. They were positive and polite, modelling and embodying our school vision.
Year 6 Residential – Day 2
We’ve had another fantastic day at Robinwood. The rain didn’t hamper our day of exciting activities.
First, we braved the elements to tackle Night Line, a blindfolded obstacle course. The children impressed me with their teamwork and communication.
Next, we took on the Piranha Pool – an escape room with some challenging puzzles and a watery twist. The children navigated the obstacles skilfully and escaped the room before the piranhas were released!
Our busy morning of teamwork continued with the Knight’s Quest – a puzzle to prove worthiness of being a knight of the realm.
After lunch, it was the eagerly anticipated zip wire. We had a blast!
Our busy day continued on the climbing wall. The children embraced the challenge enthusiastically and demonstrated some impressive skills.
We rounded off the day with the knee-trembling trapeze. This pushed the children out of their comfort zone. They overcame fears and cheered each other on – I was so impressed by the support they showed one another!
Fire safety visit
This week, Year 5 had a visit from firefighters from Wetherby Fire Station. We were taught about what the firefighters do and the various jobs they are called to.
We learnt about prevention and the steps we can take to ensure that we reduce the risks of a fire breaking out in our homes – this includes not leaving devices with lithium-ion batteries plugged in.
Ensuring we have a bedtime routine is important too – ensuring ovens are off, devices unplugged, stairs clear and doors shut. The children were encouraged to speak to parents about an escape route should a fire break out, like what we do here at school.
The over-riding message from the visit was: GET OUT, STAY OUT, CALL 999.
Help at home – Ask your child:
- What jobs do the firefighters do?
- What are some of the common causes of fires in the home?
- How often should we check fire alarms at home?
- How many smoke alarms should we have in our homes?
- Which devices have lithium-ion batteries?
- What should you do if there is a fire in your home?
Year 6 Residential – Day 1
Year 6 have a had a fantastic first day at Robinwood! After a delicious lunch, the activities were under way – starting in the Dungeon…
The children had to work together to solve problems and escape the room.
Then, it was over to archery. The children really impressed me with their progress!
The giant swing had some of us facing our fears. A few children showed some real courage and felt proud of their achievement.
After our evening meal, we enjoyed the crate challenge.
WOW and NOW
In Year 5 and 6, we often pause our learning for moments of reflection. We often get spiritual, recognising a sense of connection or a sense of awe and wonder – these moments have happened throughout the year and your child will be able to talk to you about some of these moments.
Often, though, some moments are unplanned and we refer to these moments as WOW, OW and NOW moments. Simply put:
Yesterday, we had an unexpected visitor to our classroom when a beautiful chiffchaff flew in. We saw this as both a WOW and a NOW moment. The children we very calm to ensure the bird did not become too frightened. We eventually set the bird free with the help of Freddie’s hoodie.
Help at home – are there moments where you think WOW? Share WOW, OW and NOW moments together. Talk about how these moments make you feel. Share them back at school.
Reading
This week, we have been focusing on poetry during our reading sessions. We have been using the poem ‘Refugee‘ by Brian Bilston as our stimulus.
Refugees
They have no need of our help
So do not tell me
These haggard faces could belong to you or me
Should life have dealt a different hand
We need to see them for who they really are
Chancers and scroungers
Layabouts and loungers
With bombs up their sleeves
Cut-throats and thieves
They are not
Welcome here
We should make them
Go back to where they came from
They cannot
Share our food
Share our homes
Share our countries
Instead let us
Build a wall to keep them out
It is not okay to say
These are people just like us
A place should only belong to those who are born there
Do not be so stupid to think that
The world can be looked at another way
(now read from bottom to top)
The poem is super interesting as you can read it forwards and backwards – this is called a palindrome poem.
First, we read it forwards and recorded our feelings. We were outraged by what we had read:
I dislike this poem because it discriminates against refugees. I felt shocked that people don’t treat refugees fairly. Kamile.
I don’t like it because it’s offensive! Tommy.
They don’t deserve to be treated unfairly as they have just arrived from a long, dangerous journey. Valerie.
I found that I was angry as I think it is a bit racist. Leo M.
The poet made me sad because he was discriminating against refugees. Ralph.
Then, we read it backwards and noticed that our views on the poem had completely changed.
Help at home – Read the poem with your child. Discuss your viewpoints. Can your child relate the poem to our Christian values of Peace, Compassion, Forgiveness, Honesty, Courage and Perseverance?
A few more action shots from the triathlon…
Brownlee Triathlon!
This week, KS2 took part in the Brownlee Foundation Triathlon event! All of the children represented St James well and completed the whole course with huge smiles on their faces! The children had to swim, cycle and run their way to the finish line, working together and spurring each other on. We even got to meet Jonny Brownlee, who very kindly took a photo with our school! Thanks to all parents and adults who helped organise the event. Here are some fantastic photos from our day:
Good Luck Year 6!
As you will all be aware, Year 6 begin their SATS tomorrow.
I’m sure you will all join me in wishing them good luck. They have made so much progress this year and this week will be a fantastic opportunity to showcase everything they have learnt.
RE
Kingdom of God
Today, we thought more in depth about God’s Kingdom and considered a parable that Jesus told:
The Parable of the Great Banquet (Luke 14: 15-24):
When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, “Blessed is the one who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.”
Jesus replied: “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’
“But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’
“Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’
“Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’
“The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’
‘Sir,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’
“Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full. I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.’”
Children thought carefully about the reading and wrote down any thoughts and questions they initially had:
- Who were the original three? Why did they refuse?
- Who is the master? Why does he want people in his house?
- I feel bad for the master as he was turned down three times.
- Disabilities don’t matter; we are all equal, all the same.
We then considered some prompts about Jesus and referred to our previous learning and soon understood that the parable was Jesus’ way illustrating the Kingdom and God’s readiness to invite all.
Children spoke to each other at length about the reading links to the Kingdom. Here’s some of the things they shared:
- Everyone is welcome in the Kingdom – it is a choice yet not everyone wants to enter.
- All are equal, God doesn’t judge.
- Everyone is loved.
- God doesn’t mind how many enter.
- Is the Kingdom in Heaven/house/castle? The Kingdom is everywhere.
- The Kingdom can be different for everyone.
Leo M was then able to link the Kingdom to other faiths. He spoke about how the Kingdom can be different for people and linked this to the Hindu faith where many deities are revered.