Year 6 Weekly Blog Friday 6th November

Another busy and productive week in Year 6!

Our RE lessons have focused on some of the women from the Old Testament. We have explored their lives, the roles they played in biblical times and considered how their experiences and opportunities compare with those of women in society today. Over the nest couple of weeks we will be looking at some of the women’s lives in more detail and making presentation to share with the class.

We have been busy writing our adapted stories. We have been working hard to include a balance of dialogue, description and action to bring our characters and stories to life. There have been some fantastic ideas developing! In Maths, we have been investigating what happens to the difference when the subtrahend (the number being subtracted) is increased or decreased in a subtraction equation. We have been exploring patterns and using our mathematical reasoning to explain what happens.

Our class assembly is fast approaching, so we have spent lots of time practising and getting everything ready for next Tuesday. We are looking forward to sharing our hard work with you!

TT Rock Stars Day was amazing! The children looked absolutely fabulous in their rock star outfits and really embraced the occasion. I set them a multiplication challenge, which led to them creating some wonderful star decorations. These will be taking pride of place on our class Christmas tree in a few weeks’ time! Perhaps they could share the challenge with you at home and see if you can give it a go too!

A huge well done to our boys’ football team, who represented Our Lady’s so brilliantly at the tournament at Poolfoot. We are very proud of you!

Conversation Starter

What is Remembrance Day? Why are poppies significant?

Morning Helpers

Nathan, Alana, George C and Fletcher

Virtue Star

Our virtue is Faith Filled and Hopeful this half term.

Our star this week is awarded to George C, who has really stood out helping his reception partner this week. Well done George.

Information & Reminders

• PE days are Tuesdays and Wednesdays. PE kits (school tracksuits) can be worn to school on those days. Please make sure that the children have shorts for indoor PE on a Tuesday.

• Class assembly - Tuesday 10th November 9.15am

• Dance Festival - Tuesday 10th November. Please see blog post

• Wednesday - Remembrance Day. We will be walking to Ashton Gardens Cenotaph to represent our school at the Memorial Service.

• Don’t forget your wellies! The field will be open next week to those children who have brought in their wellies.

• We are collecting buckets and spades in preparation for our new sandpit being built.

• Eco councilors - please bring a change of clothes to school on Monday. Mrs Teirney needs your help, you will need clothes that you don’t mind getting a bit messy or muddy and suitable shoes.

• Travelling Nativity has started going home with children, please remember to return the next day - this ensures we have enough time for it to go home with every child in the build up to Christmas.

Have a wonderful weekend,
Mrs Naylor and Mrs Barker

DANCE FESTIVAL ARRANGEMENTS 2026

The time is here and we have now finished our dance, we are so excited to share it with you all. Here are the arrangements for next Tuesday…

We will leave school at 1pm by coach to the Blackpool Tower, where 4 members of staff will be taking the group and staying with them in to the evening. The children will be there all afternoon, to allow time to practise and run through the show. Therefore, they will need to bring a packed lunch for their evening meal. We recommend that they have a hot school dinner for lunch before they go, to ensure they have something warm and filling before a long afternoon/evening. Snacks throughout the event are welcomed, but please no sweets/ chocolate and no fizzy drinks, although one juice is permitted. As it is a long afternoon, with waiting time, please feel free to pack a good book, any homework to complete and maybe a puzzle/ colouring book to keep them busy (no electrical devices or aything of value). Children will not be able to see any of the audience before or during the show.

Children are only permitted to leave once the show has finished, due to safeguarding reasons. Once the competition has finished (approximately 9:15pm), children will then go backstage to collect their belongs and then we will take them to our school’s pick up point which is outside the entrance to Boots on Bank Hey Street, so please meet us there- we can not let your child go until we are at this meeting point. Please make sure you tell us when you take your child, to ensure a safe transition as it does get very busy!I will have all mobile contact numbers in case there are any problems, so  please ensure you have your mobiles with you on the night. Please fill in the form below to let us know who will be taking your child home on the evening:

Doors open to the public on the evening at 5:30pm- make sure you have your tickets. The anticipated finsihing time is 9:15pm.

Please make sure that children have their costumes in school and leave them in school ready for the day- they need to be in a clearly labelled bag.

Children can wear their PE kits this day. Please make sure you pack plenty of water and if your child needs an inhaler, please ensure they have this. We will also door hair in the afternoon, so pack a brush and plenty of bobbles/ hair grip- boys gel? We might even add a bit of face glitter and hair glitter- we will also be asking permission on the form for this.

Any questions or queries about the event, please contact me via email:

k.harrison@ourladystarofthesea.lancs.sch.uk

Year 6 Weekly Blog Friday 23rd October - Happy Half Term

We have reached the end of our first half term in Year 6! Well done, everyone – you have come into Year 6 and shone like the stars you are! You have taken on your new responsibilities and challenges in your stride, showing maturity, kindness and a fantastic attitude.

From our unforgettable trip to Castlerigg to our Terrible Tudors morning at the theatre, you have given 100% in everything you have done and I am so proud of you all!

Next half term promises to be just as exciting! After getting straight back into our learning routines, we will be preparing for our dance show and class assembly in the second week. There is plenty to look forward to!

It was lovely to meet with parents today to celebrate the children’s successes and discuss the next steps in the children’s Year 6 journey. Thank you for your continued support as we work together to make this a happy, successful and memorable final year at primary school.

Have a wonderful half-term break, everyone. Rest, recharge and come back ready to shine even brighter! 

Mrs Naylor and Mrs Barker

Information & Reminders

• PE days are Tuesdays and Wednesdays. PE kits (school tracksuits) can be worn to school on those days. Please make sure that the children have shorts for indoor PE on a Tuesday.

• Maths Challenge Day Friday 6th November - Come dress as TT Rockstar!

• Year 6 Class Assembly 9:15am Tuesday 10th November

• Dance Festival - Tuesday 10th November (Please see separate blog post)

• Please send in your empty shoes boxes ready for out DT unit of work with Mrs Mather after half term.

Year 6 Weekly Blog Friday 16th October-“Always do your best. What you plant now you will harvest later.” — Og Mandino

Our class prayers and liturgy have been led this week by Fletcher, Heath, Isaac, Jackson and Myles - thank you boys for leading our prayers so beautifully. Our RE lessons have focused on Sacrament of Baptism, exploring the different objects and symbols used during the service and thinking about what they represent, and sin, how the first sin was committed by Adam and Eve in Garden of Eden and how humanity has continued to sin. We spoke about how God always forgives, and mistakes we make are an opportunity for us to learn and try again, we know that everyone makes mistakes..

Learning in Year 6
In Maths, we have been using the strategies of adjustment and compensation to solve a range of calculations, including those involving decimal numbers. We have been developing our mental maths skills and thinking carefully about how we can make calculations easier to solve.

We learnt about data packets, in our computing lesson, and how information is broken down and sent between computers. We explored how these packets travel across networks to help information reach its destination.

In our final history lesson on the Tudors, we have examined portraits of Elizabeth I and tried to put them in chronological order. This proved trickier than expected! We discovered that Elizabeth I controlled how her image was presented, banning portraits from being released unless they had been approved by her. She wanted to appear powerful and strong, rather than weak or showing signs of ageing. This helped us understand how portraits could be used to influence people’s opinions of a monarch.

The highlight of our week was our trip on Thursday to Blackpool Grand Theatre to watch The Terrible Tudors – Horrible Histories! We thoroughly enjoyed the singing, audience participation and amazing 3D effects, although some of these were a little scary at times! It was a fantastic opportunity to bring our Tudor learning to life, and the children had a brilliant time.

Well done, Year 6, for another week of hard work, enthusiasm and fantastic learning!

You can find about our fifth and final Kidsafe session by clicking the button below.

Conversation Starter

Was Elizabeth I a good leader? What makes a good leader? Was she a better leader than her father Henry VIII?

Morning Helpers

George L, Phoebe, Anna and Rodney

Virtue Star

Our virtue is Loving and Compassionate this half term.

Our star this week is awarded to Alana , who is a thoughtful and caring friend. She puts others before herself and is ready to giving a helping hand when needed.

Information & Reminders

• PE days are Tuesdays and Wednesdays. PE kits (school tracksuits) can be worn to school on those days. Please make sure that the children have shorts for indoor PE on a Tuesday.

• Year 6 Book Look is at 9am on Tuesday 20th October.

• Eco Councilors will be planting bulbs next Tuesday afternoon, please send your children to school with suitable clothing, suitable footwear and a waterproof coat.

• We will be visiting St Annes Library on Thursday 22nd October at 2pm to borrow/return books. If you are able to accompany us, we would be very grateful.

• Parent’s Day is on Friday 23rd October -please email me to arrange your appointment. Face to Face appointments are colour coded green, online ‘teams’ appointments are blue. I will update appointments here as I receive emails.

• Please send in your empty shoes boxes ready for out DT unit of work with Mrs Mather after half term.

Year 6 Weekly Blog Friday 9th October

Our class prayers and liturgy have been led this week by Ava, George, Joseph, Lucia and Mia-Grace. On Wednesday, we were very fortunate to be led in prayer by Father Peter. He spoke to us about the Rosary and then prayed a decade of the Rosary with us.

Today, we visited our friends in Reception and spent time with our partner children. Together, we prayed a decade of the Rosary, sharing this special time of prayer with our younger friends.

Learning in Year 6
We have been working hard on developing our mental maths strategies, particularly when adjusting equations. We have been learning how to use what we already know to help us solve calculations efficiently and explain our thinking.
We have been comparing the opening chapter of The Nowhere Emporium with The Clockwork Sparrow, Madame Pamplemousse and scenes from Harry Potter. We noticed how authors often begin with a wide view before zooming in on particular settings, characters or areas of interest. We have now started exploring how authors create atmosphere and the impact this has on the reader. We designed our own shop fronts and have begun collecting expanded noun phrases to describe them.
In Science, we have been investigating series circuits and testing our theories. We explored whether changing the number of batteries in a circuit makes a difference. We have also been learning about the structure of atoms and developing our understanding of the tiny particles that make up everything around us.

It has been another fantastic week of learning, curiosity and teamwork in Year 6!

On Monday we had our forth Kidsafe session, you can read about what was covered by clicking the button below.

Conversation Starter

This week we have been learning how authors create atmosphere in their writing. If you could step inside any book or film, which world would you choose and what would the author need to do to make you feel like you were really there? What expanded noun phrases would they use?

Morning Helpers

Jackson, Martha, Louisa ann Louie

Virtue Star

Our virtue is Loving and Compassionate this half term.

Our star this week is awarded to Albert, who consistently demonstrates the virtues of being loving and compassionate through his kindness, care and consideration for others. He is always willing to help his classmates and offer support when someone is finding things difficult. His thoughtful actions and gentle words help to create a happy, welcoming classroom where everyone feels valued and included.

Information & Reminders

• PE days are Tuesdays and Wednesdays. PE kits (school tracksuits) can be worn to school on those days. Please make sure that the children have shorts for indoor PE on a Tuesday.

• Class trip to see ‘The Terrible Tudors’ at The Grand Theatre Blackpool on Thursday 15th October. Children should come to school in their usual school uniform. Cost of trip will be £18 and can be paid on Parentpay.

• Year 6 Book Look is at 9am on Tuesday 20th October.

• We will be visiting St Annes Library on Thursday 22nd October at 2pm to borrow/return books. If you are able to accompany us, we would be very grateful.

• Parent’s Day is on Friday 23rd October -please email me to arrange your appointment. Face to Face appointments are colour coded green, online ‘teams’ appointments are blue. I will update appointments here as I receive emails.

• Please send in your empty shoes boxes ready for out DT unit of work with Mrs Mather after half term.

Dance Festival Information

The Dance Festival is being held at Blackpool Tower Ballroom on Tuesday 10th November. The children will be there for the afternoon, but doors will open for the public from around 5.45pm with the festival starting at 6.30pm. More details around the arrangements will be sent out nearer the time for your logistics and what the children will need but for now…

Dance Festival Update

Our dance preparations are going really well, and the performance is coming together beautifully. The children have been working hard during their PE lessons, showing enthusiasm, creativity and commitment as they learn and refine the choreography. As we move closer to the main event, with ticket information being shared soon, it is important that we gain a clear picture of the level of commitment from all Year 6 pupils. As the dance is taught and developed during curriculum PE time, it is vital that all children participate to the best of their ability in these lessons. However, we also recognise that dance is a hobby to be enjoyed and that performing at the festival requires a significant commitment from both children and parents. Whilst we would love every child to join us and experience the excitement of performing at the Tower Ballroom, we understand that this may not be possible for everyone. To help us plan, choreograph and organise the event effectively, we kindly ask that you confirm your child's interest and commitment to attending the festival. Children who are unable to attend will still take part in the indoor PE dance unit but will not be included in the organisation and preparations for the festival itself. Thank you for your support.

Costumes

The theme for the dance festival is ‘when I grow up’ and our dance is all about how, as children, we can all dream big and with the right self-belief and determination, we can be anything! So with this in mind, the children’s costumes will be vocations, but they need to be easily identified occupations for this to be obvious to the audience. To avoid all the children coming as footballers or the same occupations, the children will choose from a list in class next Thursday, and a sheet with their occupation will come home. We ask that you please source this costume for your child, props would need to be minimal or attached to costume, but can not restrict their dancing capabilities. Please could this be brought to school Tuesday 3rd November, for a dress rehearsal. Thank you for your support.

TICKETS GO ON SALE MIDDAY MONDAY 12TH OCTOBER

The link below for tickets only goes live on Monday 12th Ocotber midday, so be ready! This event will sell out so please purchase your tickets as soon as possible as once they are gone - they are gone. If you click on the button below, it will take you to the Blackpool Tower Ballroom via Ticketsource but please make sure you buy tickets for the correct evening of TUESDAY 10TH NOVEMBER, as there are two shows in the same week. A text will be sent out on this day to remind you.

Wyre & Fylde Dance Festival 2026

We are delighted to share some exciting news from Year 6! During our indoor PE sessions on Tuesdays, the children have been working incredibly hard to learn and rehearse a special dance as we prepare to enter the Wyre & Fylde Dance Festival 2026, which will take place in the world-famous Blackpool Tower Ballroom on Tuesday 10th March 2026.

This year's festival theme is "When I Grow Up...", and our dance celebrates the wonderful message that every child can achieve their dreams. Through movement, music and performance, the children will explore the idea that they can be anything they want to be if they dream big, believe in themselves and work hard towards their goals. We feel this is a perfect theme for our Year 6 pupils as they embark on the final stages of their primary school journey and begin to look ahead to exciting new opportunities.

Taking part in this festival is a truly special experience and one that many children remember long after they leave primary school. Performing on the iconic dance floor of the Blackpool Tower Ballroom alongside schools from across the area is an exciting opportunity, and we hope every member of our class will join us in being part of something memorable in their final year together.

We are currently developing our costume ideas, and further information about costumes will be shared with parents next week once our initial plans have come together.

On the day of the festival, the children will spend the entire afternoon at the Tower rehearsing and preparing for the evening performance. School will provide transport to the Blackpool Tower Ballroom. Parents and carers will need to arrange collection from the venue once the show has finished. Full arrangements and further details will be sent out closer to the event.

Ticket Information

Tickets for the festival will go on sale at 12:00pm (midday) on Monday 12th October. We will share the booking link via the Year 6 blog before this date.

Please be aware that there are two separate shows taking place during the festival week. It is therefore very important that parents use the specific booking link shared by school for our performance evening- Tuesday 10th November. The ticketing website does not identify which schools are performing on each night, so parents who search for tickets independently online may accidentally purchase tickets for the wrong performance. Tickets will sell out - so you need to be on it if you want to come and watch.

We are incredibly proud of the enthusiasm, commitment and creativity the children have shown so far, and we cannot wait to see their confidence continue to grow as preparations progress. We are sure this will be a wonderful experience and a fantastic way for our Year 6 children to create lasting memories together during their final year at primary school

Castlerigg Day 1

We’ve arrived and we have had a wonderful first afternoon. The children have been busy taking part in lots of team being activities, enjoyed exploring the Castlerigg gardens and the facilities in the games room.

The theme for our next three days is ‘Let Your Light Shine’— something our children do so well. This afternoon, the children have taken part in some fun ice-breaker games, before being split into smaller teams and creating robots to change the world. As always all their ideas were amazing with an Our Lady theme of kindness thread through them all - we were very proud.

After a long journey and a busy afternoon of team building the children were more than ready for their chicken fajitas at dinner, followed by delicious cinnamon roll birthday cake to celebrate our lovely Anna’s birthday.

We are about to finish the day gathering in the Chapel followed by a bedtime story.

Enjoy these few photos of our first day.
Night night and God Bless from Castlerigg

Our school ... our class ... is richer because of you

What an emotional but beautiful week we have had in Year 6. It is always sad to say goodbye, but my goodness, are they all so ready to spread their wings and fly at High School! It has been such a privilege to have taught Year 6 this year and we have loved every minute being with them on their magical journey. They have risen to every challenge, worked their socks off and showed so much love and compassion along the way. They will all be greatly missed by everyone at Our Lady’s.

It has been a week of celebrations and goodbyes. After a beautiful leavers mass for our Year 6 and Mrs Cornwell, Miss Lavelle, Mrs Marshall and Mrs Carragher, the next day we made our way to complete our crazy golf, chippy lunch and then to the beach! The ice cream’s Mrs Gregan treated us to were also wonderful. We had so much fun altogether! These photos are just fabulous - enjoy them!

Wow, what a performance! Robin Hood was amazing! We are so proud of them all, please enjoy the pictures on Mrs Gregan’s blog…

Codes have gone home for the digital copies of the films today so please check yout child’s bag!

Today was a perfect way to end their primary school journey … this morning we had a beautiful celebration assembly, where we truly celebrated each year 6 child and their journey.

Finally, the Year 6 team would like to thank you all for your continuous trust and support throughout the year. We have loved reading all the children’s cards and kind words and really appreciate the gifts we have received, although the real gift has been to teach all of your beautiful children. Thank you.

Have a wonderful summer and remember what Mrs Gregan said… ‘once an Our Lady’s, always an Our Lady’s’ so please do stay in touch.

Robin Hood Raffle Prizes

The draw has been made and the winning tickets and their prizes are listed below. Please share this with friends and family who too bought tickets. Over £200 has been raised for Brain Tumour Research - thank you all so much. Please bring the winning ticket into the school office to claim your prize.

Year 6 Weekly Blog 'It's the Final Countdown!'

"Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop" (Matthew 13:8).

In this week's Gospel, Jesus says, "Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop" (Matthew 13:8). This reminds us that our hearts are like soil. When we listen carefully to God's word, make kind choices, and try our best to do what is right, we are like the good soil where seeds can grow strong. In our final couple of weeks, year 6 have many opportunities to show kindness, work hard, include others, and be positive role models as they prepare for the next stage of their journey. Just as a tiny seed can grow into something amazing when it is cared for, the small choices we make each day can help us grow into the person God created us to be and make a positive difference in the lives of others.

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Not long now until ‘Robin Hood’- we can’t wait for you to see it …

It has been another busy week next week, with the play. Most of you have ordered and received your tickets now. The show starts at 6:00pm and will be approximately 1.5 hours long. The children need to arrive at school at 5:40pm, to get changed in to their costumes. They all look fabulous in their outfits! Here is a sneaky peak at rehearsals …

Forest school has been wonderful this week, the children have climbed, explored and played. A beautiful way to spend an afternoon …

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We are all looking forward to the leaver’s day out next THURSDAY! It is imperative that all children MUST have a bag with them, containing plenty of fluids, a snack, hat and sun-cream/ waterproof coat dependent on the weather. We will be out ALL day, come rain or shine, so having the right things is so vital! They are able to wear their own clothes on this day, leavers hoodies might be nice for pictures? Sensible shoes for walking must also be worn, as we are doing ALOT of walking! The PTFA are kindly subsidizing the cost for some of the trip, but we are please asking for a small contrubution of £8, which is now on parent pay- many thanks.

Reports will be sent out on Monday, I hope you enjoy reading and reflecting on them, they have so much to celebrate from their time at Our Lady’s but like everyone, always something to take away and learn from. The most important part of your child’s report, is the one written by us, as their teacher. We celebrate the WHOLE child, not just their performance on one day, so please let this be your focus and not the SAT’s results. SAT’s results will be sent out at the later date on Thursday, as explained on last week’s blog. Please have a good look at them along with the explanation- the standardized score on reaching expected for all papers was 100 and for Greater Depth is 110. Remember, results from a test never define you as a person, just look at what they have all achieved this year- there is so much to celebrate and be proud of!

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Well done to Hugo!

Wow Hugo, our eyes are drawn to you while you are on stage. You have grown so much in confidence and we are so proud of how you have listened to directions, took risks and let yourself go! Your enthusaism and desire to give your all is really shown in rehearsals, keep this up as it is magical! Thank you for working so hard on your character, and doing your absolute best on stage!

Curious and Active Stars

This half term we will be on the lookout for all the children who are active by taking part wholeheartedly, helping others, and using their talents to make a positive difference, just as Jesus showed love through his actions. We will also be looking for the children who are curious by asking questions, exploring new ideas, and seeking to understand the world around them, following Jesus who taught through wonder, stories, and discovery. These children live out these virtues with Jesus at the centre, letting his example inspire both their curiosity and their actions each day. This week we thank Charlotte for always being active and curious.

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Shout out to the girl’s cricket team…

Well done to our girl’s cricket team who took part in the county finals competition yesterday!

Final Notices:

PLEASE BRING X2 PLASTIC BAGS IN TO SCHOOL ON MONDAY AND TUESDAY READY TO BRING BOOKS HOME

Spare school shirts (not to be worn) for signing need to come in to school on Wednesday 15th July and be kept in trays until ready for signing on the last day.

Robin Hood: Monday 13th and Tuesday 14th July at 6:00pm. Please arrive at school at 5:40pm.

The Play will be filmed Tuesday morning and DVD’s for the performance will be available soon!

Leavers Mass Wednesday 15th July 9:30-10:30am

Thursday 16th July- The leavers day out

Friday 17th July- Break up at 2pm.

Have a lovely, restful weekend.