To all our wonderful Highflyer families

We have enjoyed a great final week to Term 1 this week, learning about animals (including those who live in the Amazon rainforest!) to conclude our topic on Hot and Cold Places; with all staff feeling really privileged to have welcomed all the children’s own experiences (and those of our wonderfully adventurous parents!) and what the heat (or, equally, chilly conditions) felt like for them … THANK YOU.

In English, we continued to retell the story of ‘The Great Kapok Tree’ using our own story boards and reading the delightful ‘pages/pictures’ together. It is always SO lovely to hear the children reading aloud, taking it in turns, but also – and, perhaps, more importantly – simply loving each new story …

In Maths we have continued with our composition and equations involving addition and subtraction; however, in our first week ‘back’ we shall excitedly begin our new topic, 'How was school different in the past?'; hopefully, finding out all about the Victorians and how families used to live. It promises to be a great History topic – starting with our first English text of The Toymaker by Martin Waddell.

Reading

Next term we shall also be starting another new book – ‘The Great Escape’ – so please do look out for it in planners (and return any copies of Animal Poems if you happen to find a copy at home ;) Also, a BIG thanks to all, for a united effort to supply a plastic bag for protection of these books – as know it might potentially make a huge difference … particularly as the weather begins to turn slightly wetter occasionally!

Phonics Focus

In Week 1 (T2) our phonics will look at revising words beginning ‘wr’ (including reviewing words with ‘wh’ and ‘ph’) including a new list of spellings from Monday 2^nd November.

Maths (Oak Academy) for Term 2 will begin with a second addition and subtraction unit; including learning points of bonds to 100 (tens), add and subtract 1s and/or 10s, adding three 1-digit numbers alongside further ‘real-life’ reasoning and problem-solving activities.

We will also be continuing our Mastering Number sessions – even just to practice the smaller steps of understanding number at the beginning of every lesson.

Reminders - Forest School - Term 2

Our first session will begin on Wednesday morning (4.11.26); therefore, full waterproof kits would be greatly appreciated.

All Year 2 should also continue to wear their fabulous PE kits to school on a Thursday (for their Performance Sport outdoor sessions) – although PLEASE do check through the ‘Lost Property’ tuff tray outside the Highflyer Classroom for any missing items – with our apologies - yikes … !?!

I have also updated our Knowledge Organiser, Curriculum Letter and Term 2 timetable on our ‘Highflyer Page’; however, please do not hesitate to drop me a quick email if there is anything else which you might like to be included – or that we may have missed?!

On a final note, our Poppy Collection Week starts on Monday (9.11.26); therefore, Year 6 shall be coming through our classroom every day with their terrific smiles but also various poppy ‘bits and bobs’ … however, we shall also be making our own class wreath – which will be placed on our external door in preparation for our whole school 1 minute silence …

Wishing you all a fabulous, and equally lovely, half term break (including some refreshing time with your gorgeous families) – as, truly, HUGELY well-deserved by the children themselves!

With very best wishes – as always,

Mrs Winters and the Year 2 ‘Team’