Spring 2 Extra-Curricular Timetable

Welcome to Spring 2 clubs - we also have some new opportunities for the children to be involved in including: Lego Coding with Mrs Naylor for Year 4 & 5.

As well as the timetable below there is also our Mini-Vinnie group who will meet on the following Mondays:

23rd February, 9th & 23rd March

SPORT FIXTURES FOR THIS HALF TERM:

Tuesday 3rd March - Girls Football @ Heyhouses

Tuesday 10th March - Netball and Football A Team @ Heyhouses

Tuesday 17th March - Netball and Football B Team @ Heyhouses

Tuesday 24th March - Year 3 Football TBC

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Please sign up to the clubs using the buttons below. For those clubs with a limited amount of places, names will be collated and drawn out of a hat ready for the club to start the following week.

Year 6 Leavers Hoodies

As tradition, Year 6 leavers hoodies are now available to order ready for the summer term! Names have now been given to Top Marques and are ready for you to go in to the shop to try on and order the size you would like. However, please do not pay via the shop, we have set up a payment of £20 via ParentPay. This needs to be done as soon as possible please.

Year 4 Weekly blog. Friday 13th February "The true teacher is within. Christ is the inner teacher of every soul." (St Augustine)

We have had a really enjoyable week in Year 4. This week in RE children have been learning about St Damien Molokai who showed love like Jesus by reaching out to the margins of society and helping the lepers. We had such refection on how Jesus showed us we need to give extra love to those who need us more. IN HRSE we then learned about how to love others. This echoed the RE lesson and children watched videos on two charities - CAFOD and Emmaus - a charity for the homeless. We got into a great conversation about SOLIDARITY our key value we are focusing on in Year 4. We discussed a number of charities the class thought were important - but the resounding vote is that we would like to reach out to the homeless this year and raise money for a homeless charity.

Children also learned about the Sacrament of the Sick and why people might receive it. We had a lovely worship this week from Dexter, Freddie and Henry S about Peter’s profession of faith.

In other news, children had a lovely time on Wednesday - the full story of Hamlet in the morning and finishing our class novel - The Butterfly Lion. Then in the afternoon we visited St Bedes and watched Oliver- which was exceptional. Enrichment took place on Thursday where children learned sign language with Mrs Hartley.

Conversation starters

HRSE/RE

Who are the marginalised? How should we treat them?

English

Who was your favourite character from Hamlet and why?

Notices

Holy Communion resources - these are now payable on parent pay.

Holy Communion. Below are the lists of children making their Holy Communion on these dates. Please email me if there are any issues.

Speaking Shakespeare

On Wednesday the 19th March Children will be ‘Speaking Shakespeare’ at the Grand theatre. We will be given a speech from Hamlet, which we will learn and perform. There will be an opportunity for parents to watch in the afternoon (I think at around 2:00)

This will be payable on parentpay today.

Please fill in the photo consent form below:

Parents Day:

It was lovely to talk to you all at this mid point of the year and share your child’s progress. It is a privilege to teach each one of them.

Have a lovely weekend.

Mrs Lyons, Mrs Carragher and Miss Cardwell

a.lyons@ourladystarofthesea.lancs.sch.uk

Year 4 homework to be handed in on Thursday 26th February

Lenten boxes

It is that time of year again. Please make a Lenten box for your year 4 partner who will be making one for you - to be swapped on the first Tuesday back at school.

This can be made from a small box or tube, such as a Pringles container, a margarine tub or a little box. Make sure there is a hole to put mney in.

You can decorate it in an Easter style if you like or if you know your partner well, you could decorate it with things they like.

Maths

Keep practising your TTROCKstars for 10 minutes each day

Spelling

All spellers: Spelling words with ir

Do these as colourful words - remember the double r. Can you write a definition of each word next to it?

irregular  irresponsible  irrelevant

irreplaceable  irresistible  irrational

irreversible  irreparable

Optional Home Learning - Art competition

Please click the link below for a flyer about the Seasiders Art Competition. The theme for our school is ‘Our Wonderful World.” Entries need to be in by Monday 2nd March

We are already through half of the year! Thank you for your support!

How time flies when you’re having fun! Unfortunately, we have not been as blessed with dry weather, which has meant that the children have made use of the hall as well to burn off some energy. After a hard days’ work, there is nothing better than fresh air and time to relax so where possible, we have had the children outside- they never feel the cold as much as us adults!  The children are settled at All Stars and have enjoyed an array of activities. Inside activities have included drawing and colouring with some lovely art for our Winter display, although we have been lucky to escape the snow so far!  Although a short half term, the children have enjoyed relaxing and being together and playing games. Friendships are blossoming and new ones made on a daily basis.  

As the evenings are slowly becoming lighter, but the weather still cold, we will be offering a warm snack for a couple of evenings a week, in the form of beans and crusty bread and chicken and tomato soup

Thank you for your support with the new gate, I think you will agree, the lighting is so much better and makes drop offs and pick ups so much easier.

Just a little shout out – We are currently trying to enhance toys and role play for the girls. If you have any old dolls, dolls clothes or buggies or anything suitable for the girls, we would love to have them.

Thank you for your continuing support in our venture- I cannot believe we are half way through the year already!  It has been a joy and a pleasure to be able to support you and your children with our wrap around care.

We will reopen on Monday 22nd February at 7:45 am for breakfast club.

Have a lovely half term break,

God Bless

The All Stars Team

Calling All Budding Artists...

I am happy to announce our new art project for the half term holidays. The Gazettes Young Seasiders Art Competition and Exhibition.

Our Topic is Our Beautiful World. You can Paint, draw or colour your creation and can be anything to do with the world. It might be of the Earth, a jungle, beautiful beach on a summers day or your favourite place. The possibilities are endless!

Please can all entries be handed in on Monday 2nd March.

Have fun and let your imaginations go wild!!

I cannot wait to see your amazing art.

Mrs Mather

This week...

Worship

This week in Worship we have concluded our ‘Galilee to Jerusalem’ topic. Our key words this week were WELCOME, JESUS and CARE.

We began by recapping our story from last week, about Jesus feeding the 5000. Jesus loves and cares for everyone. He welcomed everyone and taught us to share what we have with others. We showed how well we know the story by working out the missing parts and ordered the pictures in the correct order.

You could have a think about these questions at home –

‘When Jesus shared his food with his friends, how was he showing love?’

 ‘How do you feel when you help someone?’

‘How can we show love to someone we don’t know very well?’

Our child led worship on Thursday also focused on loving others. We heard words from John 3:18 – ‘Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth’. We spoke about how we can show love through our actions. We can be kind, loving, we can share. We passed a hug around our circle – this made us all smile! How can you share your love at home?

We finished with the song ‘My Lighthouse’ – why not play it at home and see if your child can remember the actions – we love it! Click here

Lenten boxes

We soon will be starting our journey to the cross, preparing ourselves for a time of solemnity and self-reflection where we recognise our failings and resolve to live a more godly life based on the teachings of Jesus Christ. During Lent, we are going to be focused on "almsgiving," which means donating money or goods to the poor and performing other acts of charity.

As in previous years we ask that each child decorate a Lenten box which they can swap with a child from our partner class (yr3). Then, during the Lenten period your child can perform acts of kindness, helpfulness and generosity for a donation into their box. We will then return them to school and donate the money to Cafod.

It is important that each child decorates and brings in a Lenten box to ensure that each child in year three will receive a box. Thank you as always for your support.

Please bring you decorated box back to nursery straight after the holidays for swapping

Learning Landscape

Another busy week!

In our learning landscape this week we have been:

Practising numbers to 8

Practising our sounds AND learning some new ones, e, l, h, sh and r. Some children have also started to Fred Talk using the sounds that they have already learnt! Fantastic!!!

Reading a Bubbly Troubly story and decided to make lots of bubbles and use soap to see if they would ‘pop’ and disappear! The recipe in the book was ‘bubbles + (block) soap = pop’! We did make lots and lots of bubbles but…..they didn’t pop! They just made more bubbles!

Begun to notice the start of new life in our garden everyone has painted a observation painting of some daffodils

Using the iPad and Touch TV to complete matching, number and pairs challenges

Don’t forget nursery and school will be closed next week. We return on Monday 23rd February. Have the most wonderful half term.

Stay safe and God bless

Barbara

Electrical Circuits- Steady Hand Game

How time flies when you’re having fun! This half term, we have been analysing and evaluating toys. What makes a good toy and what age range they felt they were for. We have designed and made a steady hand game to fit their self-planned design criteria. As you can imagine, thirty buzzers going off as they tested their circuits was very enjoyable!! Resilience was definitely tested as we transferred the circuits into the small box with them being so fragile. Unfortunately, I am unable to send these home with a working circuit, however, you can purchase them on Amazon for £5.99 if you wish to do so.

Next half term we will be turning our attention to Drawing, where we will be looking at street art.

Lytham Heritage Centre- I have collected some of your children’s artwork from over the school year to display at the exhibition. Please do pop along to have a look. I would have loved to have displayed a piece from each child, but unfortunately, space would not allow!!

I will however, be launching a new art project in readiness for the Young Seasiders competition, to be displayed at the Blackpool and Fylde College. Where your child can enter if they wish to do so. Details to follow….

Have a lovely half term break,

God Bless

Mrs Mather

Painting and Mixed Media- Prehistoric Art.

Painting and Mixed Media- Prehistoric Art.

We have been delving into the past this half term by looking at Prehistoric Art. From experiencing making our own paint using natural ingredients, to discovering why prehistoric humans created cave paintings and why animals featured so heavily in them. Armed with this knowledge, the children then went on to develop their own drawings based on British Wildlife, in the style of thousands of years ago. Making their very own cave wall with sand and transferring their art onto it. The results have been outstanding!

Lytham Heritage Centre- I have collected some of your children’s artwork from over the school year to display at the exhibition. Please do pop along to have a look. I would have loved to have displayed a piece from each child, but unfortunately, space would not allow!!

I will however, be launching a new art project in readiness for the Young Seasiders competition, to be displayed at the Blackpool and Fylde College. Where your child can enter if they wish to do so. Details to follow….

We are now moving on to Sculpture and 3D where we will be exploring how every day objects can create a sculpture.

 Have a lovely half term,

God Bless

Mrs Mather

Painting and Mixed Media- Colour Splash!

Painting and Mixed Media- Colour Splash!

This half term has flown by, as we have explored the world of primary and secondary colours through paint. We have looked at artwork by Jasper Johns and pottery by Clarice Cliff, to help us navigate how to mix colours successfully to create new. Using an array of techniques including our hands, we have thoroughly enjoyed getting messy!!

Some of the children’s art can be viewed in the exhibition at the Lytham Heritage Centre, please do pop down to have a look. I would have loved to have displayed every child’s art, but unfortunately, space would not allow!

I will however, be launching a new art project in readiness for the Young Seasiders competition, to be displayed at the Blackpool and Fylde College. Where your child can enter if they wish to do so. Details to follow….

Next half term, we move onto Craft and Design, where we will be creating various 3D art works using paper and ending with a collaborative eight - legged friend!

Have a lovely half term.

 God Bless

Mrs Mather  

Year 1 Weekly Blog 13.2.26 - "Whoever practises and teaches these commands, will be called great in the Kingdom of heaven." - Matthew 5:19

What a week! On Tuesday our children led the Tuesday assembly so wonderfully! They told the story of Zacchaeus with such clarity and understanding. Throughout all rehearsals the children have worked together beautifully to help and encourage one another… just as Zacchaeus had Jesus to help him, our children have Jesus in one-another, and they help each other so well! We have been looking closely at the story of Zacchaeus throughout the half term, in RE lessons and when thinking about our two virtues which have been, ‘Eloquent and Truthful’. As we move into the next half term we will begin to introduce the next two virtues, ‘Intentional and Prophetic’… how are we making sure we are intentional with our words and actions, looking after one another and God’s world? How are we being prophetic in our example towards others? These are reflections we will be thinking carefully about over the coming weeks.

In RE the children have, ever so proudly, created their very own stories of the Bible books, retelling many different bible stories that we have shared together throughout the half term. We have been looking particularly at St Luke’s gospels and these are the stories that we have focused on, such as Simeon and Anna, Simon in the boat and Zacchaeus. Our class target has been to retell in detail different stories from the bible and this was a very good way of sharing just how confident they now are retelling a range of stories from the bible.

Going deeper in our learning!

During the half term we begin Lent. Please spend time this week creating your Lentern boxes, having these ready for when we come back together next Monday. We will be swapping our boxes with our partner class, Year 5 in the first week back. While making your box, talk about ways you can grow closer to Jesus during Lent. What extra things could you do as a family to help one another and also the world around you. We too will be thinking about this in class.

Magic moments

We have finished our topic of Peter Rabbit this week, with the children writing their very own stories, they are so excited to read these to you during our book look when we come back from the half term!

Reminders

Cold weather: Remember to bring all those warm layers: coats, hats, gloves and scarfs!

Snacks: A gentle reminder that as a school we are trying to reduce waste. At the start of the year we set out on a mission to bring any snacks into school in reusable containers. Please continue to help us with this, sending all snacks in reusable plastic containers. Thank you!

Emails:

c.bassett@ourladystarofthesea.lancs.sch.uk

Mechanisms- Moving Monsters

This half term has flown by with the children looking at Design and Technology. We have been looking at hoe toys move and what mechanisms they have. Our focus has been on levers, pivots and linkages to design and create a moving monster. Thinking about design criteria, the children have then gone on to design two monsters. They have then reflected on feedback from their peers as to which design was more popular, before their final decision on which one to make.

Lytham Heritage Centre- I have collected some of your children’s artwork from over the school year to display at the exhibition. Please do pop along to have a look. I would have loved to have displayed a piece from each child, but unfortunately, space would not allow!!

I will however, be launching a new art project in readiness for the Young Seasiders competition, to be displayed at the Blackpool and Fylde College. Where your child can enter if they wish to do so. Details to follow….

Craft and Design- Architecture

What a busy half term we have had! Kicking off with observational drawing to explore why every detail is important. We have explored the world of architecture, thinking about stable structures and how expansive imagination goes to creating an array of exciting buildings. We have looked at Hundertwasser, his life experiences and how they inspired him to create his colourful buildings. The children ended the unit with designing their own monument to either someone they are inspired by or a cause they hold close to their hearts.

We have now moved onto Design and Technology, where we have started to look at bridges and their design.

Lytham Heritage Centre- I have collected some of your children’s artwork from over the school year to display at the exhibition. Please do pop along to have a look. I would have loved to have displayed a piece from each child, but unfortunately, space would not allow!!

I will however, be launching a new art project in readiness for the Young Seasiders competition, to be displayed at the Blackpool and Fylde College. Where your child can enter if they wish to do so. Details to follow….

Year 6 Weekly Blog - 'Don't be afraid to take on the biggest of challenges, they offer the greatest reward.'

This week we joined up with our Reception partners for liturgy on Monday, it was a beautiful way to reflect on the teachings of God and have quiet time praying alongside our youngest pupils. This week our Liturgy word of the week was ‘fulfil’ and we shared Matthew’s gospel of the week, where Jesus tells everyone that He didn’t come to erase God’s rules, but to show people how to live them out with love. God’s rules aren’t just about what we do on the outside—they’re also about what’s in our hearts. Jesus wants our hearts to be full of love, honesty, and kindness—because that’s what makes God happiest.

Thank you to the following children for their beautfiul child-led litrugy on ‘peace’ …

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Where has our learning taken us this week?

We have reached the end of a very busy and full half term. I know I say this most weeks, but I really am in awe of the work that the children are completing and the expectations that they have of themselves. Whether it be Science, Maths, RE or Art, the children always get fully stuck into their learning and become immersed by what they are being taught. I am so very proud of them all.

In English this week we have been collecting vocabularly from Wizard of Oz and using it to make a free verse poem about a cyclone and in Maths we have been focusing on our long division practice- this will be ongoing now, so please do not worry if we are not 100% confident with this just YET- we WILL get there, we just have to be Sadie Spiders! In PE we got out the large apparatus and have been exploring different ways to use this to balance and create sequences …

We also met with our reception partners to find out their likes and intertests so that we can best design the lentern box for them. Don’t forget that these need to be brought back to school, ready to swap on the first day back please …

We loved our enrichment morning in Reception with Miss Drummond doing traditional games…

Being an active and curious learner.

I am sure the children have come home to tell you that this week we have sat more of our first mock SAT’S papers. They have completed these with great resilience and such a positive attitude. This has not been completely new for your children, they have regularly had a go at example questions, however this is the first time they have completed a whole paper. After half term, we will be receiving feedback for these, but they all understand the importance of this and I am sure lots of lessons will be learnt which will enable us to build and move forward together as a class. They will be then encouraged to think about their progress and where they want to be next time they take a set of papers. Marginal gains is what it is all about. Over the next few weeks, the children will be bringing folders home, with their papers in them. This is their opportunity to share their work with you, to purple pen, celebrate their successes and reflect on their mistakes. At this point, it is really important to remember that the Year 6 curriculum has not been fully covered yet and we still have plenty of time. Please celebrate your child’s achievements and help them to develop their own targets. You may also find, over the next few weeks, past papers or SAT examples may come home as part of their homework. This can be completed the best way you see fit- whether this is alongside your child, independently or even, if they independently start and then go over their answers after. Homework is not always about assessing your child, this is done in class, homework is all about consolidating what they have learnt in class, revising and practicing skills they will need, so this may not always be formally marked, but what they have gained from carrying out these practice papers will have helped them greatly.

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Delving deeper through talk …

What does Jesus’ name ‘the bread of life’ mean?

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Helpers in the morning for after half term:

This week we have the following children helping to take the younger children to their class:

Lorenzo Hugo Amelia Grace

Notices

• World Book Day 6th March- dress up, there are many different ideas that Mrs Gregan has put on her blog, to make this not an expensive event!

• Homework over half term- read lots and practice your multiplications- are you still green on your heat map on TT Rockstars? We have given an arithmetic and reading task to complete in books.

  LET’S GET CREATIVE

  Two creative tasks for you to do over half term…

  1. Can you design and make a special lenten box for your Reception partner. This needs to be a specially designed and decorated container that you can give to your partner the 1st day back after half term ready for them to take home and collect money during lent for our chosen charity. Think about what your partner likes and what their interests are, this may help you when planning what to do- refer to your partners card they wrote for you. You could make your box out of any plastic container, cardboard box, it is up to you- just make sure it is fully cleaned out first!

  2. Optional homework:

     if you would like to enter the Blackpool Gazettes young seasiders competition, then please read the information below. " Our Beautiful World" is the theme that we have chosen as a school to enter, as there is no limitation to creation on this topic and with the current world climate, a little reminder of how beautiful our world is vital. Entries are to be handed in to Mrs Mather by Monday 2nd March.

Have a lovely and restful half term.

Year 5 February Half Term Homework- Due Monday 23rd February

Compulsory Homework

Lenten boxes

We soon will be starting our journey to the cross, preparing ourselves for a time of solemnity and self-reflection where we recognise our failings and resolve to live a more Godly life based on the teachings of Jesus Christ. During Lent, we are going to be focused on "almsgiving," which means donating money or goods to the poor and performing other acts of charity.

As in previous years we ask that each child to decorate a Lenten box which they can swap with a child from our partner class (Year 1). Then, during the Lenten period your child can perform acts of kindness, helpfulness and generosity for a donation into their box. We will then return them to school straight after half term and donate the money to Cafod.

Your lenten box can be made out of anything- egg cartons, milk bottles, food cans- lets get creative. Make sure your box is decorated, ready for your Year 1 partner to receive when we come back.

Essential Learning

There is no official homework but please make sure to keep on top of your essentials, your reading, handwriting, spelling and times tables. Test your children on their times tables knowledge. If there are any tables they are struggling with, they are the facts to practice over the half term. Make sure we are reading for at least 20 minutes a day, ready to quiz on our new targets when we get back to school.

Optional Homework

Many of you are excited about our new Space topic in Science. You could make a ‘Space Poster’ with facts about our planet, moon and other planets in our solar system.

Year 5 Weekly Blog 12.02.26- 'The Lord God took man and placed him in the garden of Eden to care for it'- Genesis 2:15

What a final week of the half term it has been! It’s amazing to think that today, we are already at the half way point of our Year 5 journey. Apologies for my absence for the first half of the week, a combination of illness and infection came at once. On Wednesday, we faced to harsh weathers and strapped up for our eco trip down at St Annes sand dunes. The children worked extremely hard by planting Christmas trees in order to protect our wonderful town from the sea.

We have also raced through what felt like one hundred pages of our class novel- on a mission to finish this before half term of our book the Windrush Child. The children were shocked and fascinated to learn about the history of Britain during the 1950’s and beyond in relation to people with different coloured skin. They may want to ask you some questions about why certain things happened and how to law has changed now.

Notices

• Homework- Please check the homework blog for your child’ weekly homework, including the deadline date.

• On Wednesday 4th March, we will be taking a trip to UCLAN Young Science Centre to prepare ourselves for our next unit of Science- The Solar System’. Payment for this trip is live on parent pay.

• School reopens on 23rd February at normal time. Have a lovely half term.

Lancashire Sings 2026

It’s that time of year again!
The choir has been working incredibly hard in preparation for their performance at Lowther Pavilion on Wednesday 11th March. On Monday, we were delighted to welcome one of the event organisers, who rehearsed the songs with us and helped us perfect those all‑important finishing touches!

Important Information

The event will run throughout the day, beginning at 9:30am and finishing at approximately 2:15pm. Transport has been arranged both to and from school, so children should arrive and be collected at their usual times.

Throughout the morning, the children will take part in rehearsals to prepare for their big performance for parents and carers at 1pm.

Tickets

Please note that this is a ticketed event.

Due to venue capacity, each school has been allocated a limited number of tickets based on how many children are performing, and families will only be able to purchase 1 ticket. Unfortunately, capacity at the venue does mean that organisers cannot guarantee that every child will receive one ticket for a family member.

To allocate tickets as fairly as possible, I have created a form for parents/carers who wish to attend the 1pm performance on 11th March. The form will close at 9am on Monday 23rd February. After the form closes, names will be drawn at random, and those selected will receive the ticket link.

I completely understand that this may feel frustrating, but this decision is beyond our control. I have also been informed that any remaining tickets will go on general sale on Monday 9th March.

What should children bring on the day?

Children should come dressed in their full school uniform, looking smart and ready to perform.

They may bring a small backpack, which will stay under their seat. Inside their backpack, they will need:

• A packed lunch

• A drink (no fizzy drinks, please)

• A filled water bottle

• A book or small colouring book for quiet moments

For one of our songs, each child should also bring an item that represents sunshine and happiness, such as:

• Sunglasses

• A sun hat

• Yellow ribbon to wave

• A small sunshine design attached to a stick

This item should also fit inside their backpack.

Photography

Organisers may take photographs for social media and publicity. If you would prefer your child not to appear in these images, please let me know.

If you have any questions, please feel free to email:
l.woodend@ourladystarofthesea.lancs.sch.uk

Thank you
Miss Woodend