Crew White have been working hard to improve their fluency recently by putting in the effort with Reading Plus. The more we read, the more we will know! This week’s awards were given out to Charlie and Greatness for achieving their next level up!
Hook Week launched our learning in unforgettable style as Crew White were thrown straight into the world of the Tudors. The hall was transformed for a Tudor banquet, giving the children a taste of life at court and a chance to imagine the sights, sounds and atmosphere of the period.
The highlight of the week was a powerful mock trial of Anne Boleyn. Taking on different roles, the children interrogated a wide range of evidence, questioned its reliability, and debated how convincing it really was. They were challenged to think critically, weigh up claims, and consider how power and bias may have shaped events.
The level of engagement was fantastic. Children asked sharp questions, justified their opinions and showed real maturity when discussing complex and controversial evidence. Hook Week did exactly what it promised: spark curiosity, excitement and a deep desire to learn more about Tudor England.
What a brilliant way to round off the term. Christmas Party time in Crew White was full of laughter, music and festive cheer. The classroom was buzzing from the moment the children arrived, proudly wearing their party clothes and ready to celebrate all their hard work this term.
One of the highlights was a balloon game, complete with some very entertaining forfeits designed by Mrs Rhodes. We had headless chickens, nursery rhymes and some of the worst jokes yThere were plenty of giggles as balloons popped and challenges were revealed, and it was lovely to see everyone joining in with such good humour and confidence. We also enjoyed music and snacks, with lots of chances for the children to relax, chat and enjoy time together.
Moments like these really matter. They give us time to celebrate our community and reflect on how far we’ve come together this term. Crew White have worked incredibly hard, and this felt like a well-earned celebration.
In DT this week, Crew White stepped up to a real challenge: sawing and measuring wood at an angle. It was the kind of task that demanded precision, patience and a steady hand, and our crew absolutely rose to it.
There were moments of frustration, moments where pieces didn’t quite fit, and moments where starting again felt like the only option. But the crew showed real courage, sticking with the process and supporting one another to get it right.
By the end, they not only had neatly cut pieces of wood but also a new appreciation for how skilled carpenters and joiners truly are. It was a brilliant mix of resilience, teamwork and craftsmanship.
This week, our Reading Buddies programme has been in full swing, and it’s been brilliant to see. Our older, confident readers have been supporting younger students with their pre-reads, helping them practise tricky words, build fluency, and talk about the story before they meet it in class.
They’ve shown maturity, independence and genuine care in the way they guide and encourage their partners. The younger children have absolutely loved the one-to-one attention, and their confidence is growing every session.
It’s been a lovely reminder that reading isn’t just a skill, it’s something we share as a community.
This week, Crew White have been exploring the striking patterns and features of the Northern Tiger Cat through Art. After studying photographs and discussing what makes this elusive animal so unique, the children chose either to sketch the whole creature or zoom in on a single feature—most popular were those bold, expressive eyes.
Using oil pastels, our crew has layered colours, blended carefully, and experimented with texture to bring their artwork to life. The results are brilliant: vibrant close-ups full of detail and powerful full-body pieces that really captured the movement and markings of the tiger cat.
The class showed real focus, creativity, and pride in their work. We can’t wait to display these in our expedition products soon.
We have been using our 8 grids to make number bonds of 8! We love that we can see the two parts of 8 using double sided counters and we were all able to verbally chant the systematic number bonds independently. We love to use our fast maths eyes!
The children have been using their creative skills in expedition. Using fine motor movements and discussing the features of plants, to create water colour paintings with a range of lines and shapes that will be used within the community. Well done F2.
Crew Haigh have started to explore and sort items during maths sessions – including colour and shape; some fabulous work seen already. Well done Crew
