Week ending 13th February

In Class 1, students embarked on an exciting journey into the world of science and computing, delving into the concepts of materials and programming. In science, the focus was on understanding different materials and their properties. Students explored various everyday objects, learning how to categorize them as soft or hard, flexible or rigid, and shiny or dull. Through hands-on activities, they investigated the properties of materials like wood, metal, fabric, and plastic, discovering how materials are used based on their characteristics. Simple experiments, such as testing the strength of materials by bending or stretching, helped them gain a practical understanding of how materials behave in real-life situations. This session we started our science experiment and investigation into which materials would be best for Button’s to build his house out of. In computing, Class 1 students were introduced to basic programming concepts. Using simple coding tools, they learned how to give commands to make characters or objects move on a screen. By dragging and dropping code blocks, they grasped the fundamentals of sequencing, loops, and debugging. This hands-on approach allowed them to explore the logic behind programming in an engaging and interactive way. We explored another new resource called Bluebots. The children used the Ipads and the bluebot to give instructions and to debug if anything went wrong. Combining science and computing, Class 1 students gained a deeper understanding of the world around them and developed important skills that will support their future learning in both subjects.

Continuous provision:

The children have been busy learners this week exploring all of the busy learning time activities which had a link to Valentines day! We made playdough valentines chocolates, valentines day cards, petrol station role play on our bikes and our teachers role play.

A very well done to:
Ava for getting the respectful award for making better behaviour choices and engaging in her learning.
Jimmy for getting the ready award for spending so much time on his art work and producing a beautiful piece.
Jane for getting the safe award for always being a fantastic role model and a kind friend.


Notices: Information has gone about our school trip to the Box - please make sure the permission slips are filled in and returned. Many thanks.

Nessa Class Explores Retro-Futurism and Street Art

Nessa Class has completed an exciting six-lesson art unit, exploring the vibrant worlds of 1960s retro-futurism and the dynamic street art of contemporary artist Teis Albers. This creative journey has allowed pupils to experiment with bold colours, textures, and layering techniques while developing their artistic skills in printmaking and drawing.

The unit began with an introduction to retro-futurism, a 1960s artistic style that imagined the future with sleek designs, bold typography, and space-age aesthetics. Pupils examined how this style influenced everything from posters to architecture, inspiring their own futuristic concepts. They then explored the work of Teis Albers, a Dutch street artist known for his use of layering, mixed media, and urban textures. His fusion of collage, graffiti, and digital art provided a fresh perspective on modern creativity.

One of the key skills pupils developed was creating printing plates using a mix of textures. They experimented with different materials to create varied surfaces, which added depth and contrast to their final prints. Through this process, they gained an understanding of relief printing and how texture can be used to create striking visual effects. Pupils also explored layering techniques, combining prints, drawings, and collage elements to build up complex and engaging compositions. This process encouraged them to think critically about composition and balance while embracing the unpredictable and expressive nature of mixed media art.

Throughout the unit, pupils refined their drawing skills, using bold lines, futuristic patterns, and abstract shapes inspired by both retro-futurism and street art. Their final pieces showcased an impressive blend of past and present artistic influences, demonstrating their creativity and skill. Well done to Nessa Class for their enthusiasm and hard work in this unit—your artwork is truly out of this world!

Mr Hodgins hosted a TEAMs call where he taught Class 3 how to scan an image on the photocopier, the children will then use software to alter and adapt them. Their scanned images will be used to create a piece of artwork which can be used as part of a wider presentation about the planets in the solar system.

Lantic class have been having fun with lots of new things to explore in their outdoor area. A big thank you to the Lantic staff team for creating such a wonderful environment for the children.

Thank you to all the children for their donations to Comic Relief and everyone’s odd socks for Down Syndrome Awareness Day.

Thank you to Mr Lewis for leading our assemblies this week. We were set challenges across the day to explore who our trusted adults are, our top tips for staying safe online and what to do if we are playing a game and we receive messages/click bait. We also thoroughly enjoyed 3/4A's rap - 'Stay Safe, Safe'! The children in KS2 in particular were very knowledgeable of what they can do to keep themselves safe online and all of KS1 and EYFS were able to share who their trusted adults are and how they help them stay safe. An email has gone out to parents with more information about online safety to help at home too. 

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Hello Everyone,

We have enjoyed a variety of learning tasks which have helped to improve our wellbeing in Penhallow. After watching a clip from the film ‘Inside Out’ we were able to name and describe different feelings and emotions. We  read the story ‘The Colour Monster’ and created feelings jars using colours which helped to describe different feelings. We also learnt a song, linked to these ideas. The children’s vocabulary has really improved throughout these activities. 

We have all been really proud of our reception children recently, who are beginning to write their own words and captions, using their recently acquired phonic knowledge. We even caught some children writing for fun during choosing time. Well done reception!

Year 1 have been working very hard in maths this week, adding and subtracting numbers to 20. They have been using number lines and drawing on their knowledge of number facts to represent their knowledge in different ways. We have written fact families using addition and subtraction and used bar models and part while models to record number sentences.

During our Geography lesson this week, we went outside to observe different forms of clouds. We located different areas of the UK on a map, and learnt about seasons and weather patterns in the UK.

We all had a lovely end to our week, with a day of birdwatching, yoga, and outdoor learning. All of this, combined with a fascinating visit from a Hindu lady, who brought in a huge selection of artefacts which helped us to understand her religion and beliefs, has made sure that we have had a very varied and interesting week.

We hope you all have a lovely weekend.

From the Penhallow team.

As part of our learning this week we have been looking at sizes.

In our focus story, Goldilocks came across bowls of porridge, chairs and beds that were small, medium and large so the children were tasked to find different resources or parts of the activities where they could compare and find different sizes.

We talked about other words to describe small (tiny, little, minute), medium (middle sized) and large (huge, enormous, gigantic, massive); we also talked abut how the size of something could change if we compared the item to other things that were smaller or larger.

Blisland Blast Away Competition

On Thursday 6th February we attended the Bridge Schools Dodgeball Tournament at Callywith College. We were only allowed to take 6 children from Year 3 & 4, in order to make it a fair pick we put names in a hat and drew out 6 for the team. Our squad for the day was Todd, George, John, Harry, Cadan and Emma. We arrived at Callywith College and lined up along all the other teams. The tournament started off not so well with us losing the first game against Polperro, this seem to get our team fired up and they went on to win every game after that. We finished the 1st phase at the top of our group, this meant that we qualified to play in the play off for 1st and 2nd place. Our final game was against Looe who were the winners of the other group. We won the final game making us the Dodgeball Champions!!! Massive well done to the team, we are so proud of you all.

Gate opening times

A quick reminder that the school gate will be open from 8.30 -8.45am. Please ensure all pupils are dropped off as promptly as possible. After the gate is closed, parents will need to contact the school office using the buzzer. Staff will ensure the gate is manned between 8.30 and 8.45am but we are desperate to get back to supporting learning so please help us keep this process as efficient as possible.

Blisland Primary School’s Valentine’s Disco Fun!

The Valentine’s Disco was a fantastic afternoon full of fun, laughter, and celebration! Held at Blisland Village Hall, pupils enjoyed an exciting night of dancing, games, and friendly competition, making it a memorable event for everyone who attended. The dance floor was full of energy as pupils showed off their best moves to their favourite songs. From classic party tunes to the latest hits, everyone had a great time dancing with their friends and joining in with group dances. The atmosphere was filled with smiles and laughter as pupils celebrated Valentine’s Day together. Alongside dancing, there were plenty of fun games to enjoy. Bingo was a big hit, with pupils eagerly marking off their pictures in hopes of winning. "Pin the Kiss on the Frog" brought lots of giggles as blindfolded players tried their best to place their kiss in the right spot. One of the most exciting parts of the afternoon was the battle remote control cars, where pupils took turns racing and competing in thrilling head-to-head battles. A huge thank you to everyone who helped organise the event and to all the pupils for bringing so much enthusiasm! Keep an eye on our Facebook page for more photos from the night!

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What a brilliant week we have had in Daymer Class! The children have been working hard across all subjects, developing their skills and creativity in so many ways. Here’s a look at what we’ve been up to:

Monday’s St Anne’s visit celebrated Elmer’s birthday! 

English – Stories and Poetry
This week, the children edited and improved their adaptations of Stone Age Boy, showing great creativity and attention to detail. We also began our poetry unit by reciting poems in groups and as a class, building confidence and expression in our performances. It has been wonderful to see the enthusiasm for poetry growing!

Art – A Splash of Colour!
We started the week by immersing ourselves in the artwork of John Dyer. The children practised different artistic techniques in their sketchbooks before creating their own bright and colourful pieces of Daymer Bay. They worked so hard to capture the beauty of this iconic place while keeping to the Daymer theme. The results are stunning!

Number Day Fun!
Today, we celebrated Number Day by becoming Times Tables Rock Stars for the NSPCC!


History – Trading in the Bronze and Iron Age

In History, we explored the concepts of trading, importing, and exporting during the Bronze and Iron Age. The children had a great time role-playing as traders, exchanging goods with their friends to create the perfect survival kit for the era. It was fantastic to see them thinking strategically and working collaboratively.

Children’s Mental Health Week
Throughout the week, we took part in various activities for Children’s Mental Health Week. From whole-school assemblies to class discussions, we focused on personal growth and self-reflection. We read The Colour Monster, which helped us think about our emotions. The children also shared thoughtful insights about how they can ‘grow’ in different ways.

Dance – A Performance to Remember!
Mr Woolner was delighted to watch the final dance pieces that the children have been working on. Their teamwork, effort, and commitment to perfecting their routines were truly impressive!

Computing – Exciting Coding Projects

·       Year 3 have been coding on Scratch, creating sequences and variables to make music. They have really enjoyed experimenting with different sounds and functions!

·       Year 4 have been working with Micro:bits, designing step counters, night lights, and emotion badges. Their creativity and problem-solving skills have shone through!

Science – The Power of the Sun
In Science, we explored the effects of sunlight and how it can damage our skin and eyes. The children were fascinated by this topic and had great discussions about how we can protect ourselves from the sun.

A Celebration of Art Week
We ended the week by enjoying a wonderful art display, showcasing the fantastic artwork created by classes across the school. The children loved seeing what their peers had produced and took great pride in their own work.

Thank you for your continued support. We hope you have a lovely weekend!

In Science, we took our learning from our previous lessons to investigate a variety of everyday materials and sort them into a variety of categories. We had a lot of scientific talk during our investigation as we used our senses to explore the materials and describe their many properties. 

In RE, we learned the story of Prophet Muhammad. We will be exploring this story further next week and use it to help us understand why the Prophet is so important to Muslims. 

We finally used sketchpad this week in ICT to design our rockets. Working in groups was fun as we shared skills and knowledge to create the best design possible for our rockets.  

Finally, in Art, we explored all the different printing methods we have explored so far to try to understand which ones work best for us.  

Art, Numbers and Mental Heath

What a busy week we've had in Tregantle! We have been so immersed in creativity during our Brunel art week. The children of Tregantle have been studying several local artists who create pieces about the sea. We used this as inspiration to create wave scenes by tearing and layering pieces of paper. We added detail with felt tip pens and cotton bud painting. The final pieces are each unique and capture something of our beautiful coastline. It was wonderful to be able to share our art work with the community during our Brunel Art Gallery on Friday. 
We have also been taking part in lots of health and well being activities across the week in recognition of Children's mental health week. In Tregantle, we have focused on exploring our emotions. We have been using our star emojis to think about the emotions we experience and how they feel. 
On Friday we had lots of fun taking part in the NSPCC number day. We thought about why numbers are so important when we read the story 'Spinderella.' We found out that playing teams games is very difficult without being able to count! The children then thought about what numbers are special to them like birthdays, house numbers and how old we are.