Or could you tell us about a time when you were kind?

Or could you explain a situation where you experienced some wonderful kindness? 

We are celebrating World Book Day this year by asking pupils to come dressed up as a word. This is known as a vocabulary parade. It is important that your child’s costume includes a piece of card with their word clearly written on it and if possible, a ‘child friendly’ definition of the word. You could also include synonyms and antonyms as well. The children will also take part in activities where they get to share their word and explore and experiment with them. Here are some examples: 

The Speaker competition involves children writing their own speech; they deliver this to an audience. It is a competition and there are different heats for the children to take part in, where oracy is key. All the children have been introduced to the competition and have discussed this year’s topic. They have also completed a Big Write with their teachers to gather ideas. No child will be forced to take part and deliver their speech, but we hope many children will. It has also been set as an extra challenge on the blogs this week for half term where they can re-write, improve and practise delivering their speech.

This year’s topic is:  If I ruled the world, the first thing I would do would be to....

What exactly is The Speaker?

• The Speaker is an oracy competition.
• Pupils in each class will prepare, rehearse, and perform a speech around the topic.
• The speech should be no longer than 2 minutes and should not use props or presentations.
• Each class will vote for their preferred speaker – 3 from each class will be found. (Class heats are the week beginning Monday 19^th February and will take place in the children’s classrooms).
• There will then be a year group heat where 12 children will compete and 3 will be selected to move forwards. (Week beginning 26^th February)
• The year group winners will then compete across the school by performing their speeches once more. Parents of these children will be invited to this heat. This will take place on Wednesday 6^th March Letters will go to those children taking part.
• The judges will then vote for 3 school winners.
• These winners will perform their speech once more…this time competing against other school winners.
• An overall speaker will be chosen, and awarded the title ‘The Viking Young Speaker, 2024’. The date of the trust final is Friday 22^nd March at the Royal Harbour school.

What is oracy?

• Oracy is our ability to communicate effectively using spoken language. ​
• It is the ability to speak eloquently, articulate ideas and thoughts, influence through talking and have the confidence to express your views

Key dates:

• Over the half term write the speech. Information can be found on the blogs.
• Practice at home in front of people.
• Class heats are the week beginning Monday 19^th February and will take place in the children’s classrooms.
• Week beginning 26^th February - Year group heat where 12 children will compete and 3 will be selected to move forwards.
• Wednesday 6^th March (PM) - The year group winners will compete across the school by performing their speeches once more. Parents of these children will be invited to this heat.
• Friday 22^nd March – The 3 winners will perform their speech once more and go with Miss Scarr to Royal Harbour where they will compete against the winners from Chilton Primary School and Ramsgate Arts Primary School. 
• An overall speaker will be chosen, and awarded the title ‘The Viking Young Speaker, 2024’.

The Speaker is a wonderful opportunity for all children to get involved in and develop their oracy skills, which are essential life skills.

I look forward to hearing all the wonderful speeches that the children create. 

Miss Scarr 

Our afternoon learning was based around PSHE in which we were learning about emotions, changes, losses and recapping our core values. We then made a class canvas linked to one of our core values.

Key Messages

Please remember to bring water bottles into school. Please also remember to label uniform and be wearing all of the correct school uniform each day.

Home Learning:

We are in the process of setting up Times Table Rockstars and Accelerated Reader. Your child should bring home a reading record shortly with a reading book ready to start this at least 3 times a week.

This term, our 'Thematic Curriculum' home learning will be based around our 'Make a Noise!' topic. Each term we will provide a 'menu' of activities of you to choose from to demonstrate your learning. This term, we would like you to tell us/show us how we hear sounds/what affects the pitch and volume of sounds/how vibrations travel through different materials.

You can complete one or more activities in your homework book (which will be sent home with your child shortly) or presented in another way should you wish to make something. Your work will be due in on the 13th October, giving you plenty of time. If you need any help, ideas or resources, please speak with your class teacher. 

Blue Peter have a new and exciting badge that any child can earn by reading, and you can even join their book club. Click on the link above and it will take you to the Blue Peter Book Badge where you can download the form and get started. 

To earn this badge, you must:

• Be aged between 5-15 years old.

• Apply for your Book badge online using the uploader form, or click the 'get the Book badge' button above (link), to download the paper application form.

• Ask your parent or guardian for permission to apply and ask them to read the Privacy Notice and badge attraction terms and conditions.

• Tell us about a book you have read and what you think about it. Maybe you liked the characters, or perhaps you enjoyed going on exciting adventures in faraway places.

• Upload your illustration of a character or a scene from the story. This could be a drawing, painting or even digital artwork.

• Let us know what other books and authors you have enjoyed reading and why.

• Get your parent or guardian to help you fill out your form and personal details.

• If applying by post, send your application with the correct postage to: Blue Peter, BBC Bridge House, MediaCityUK, Salford, M50 2BH.

All of the children have settled back in so fantastically, displaying our core values and ensuring they are following all of our school rules. Behaviour for learning has been excellent!

What a great way to start the year. We can't wait for what's to come! The Year 4 Team.

https://youtu.be/zGSli8C6yhQ - Watch a video about this year's competition.

500 Words, the UK’s most successful children’s writing competition, opens on Tuesday 26 September and will run till Friday 10 November.

Since the competition was first launched in 2011 by Chris Evans on the Radio 2 Breakfast Show, it has received over one million stories from children throughout the UK.

This year, the two age categories will be 5-7 year-olds and 8-11 year-olds.

Children of all abilities are encouraged to use their creativity and imagination to write a story they would love to read without the pressure of having to worry about spelling, punctuation and grammar.

Our brilliant 500 Word judges are back: award-winning and best-selling authors Frank Cottrell-Boyce, Francesca Simon, Charlie Higson, and former Children’s Laureate, Malorie Blackman. We are delighted to say that this year there will be a new addition to the panel, TV legend and children's author, Sir Lenny Henry. The judges will be casting their expert eyes over the final 50 stories. You can find out why they are perfect judges here.

We are also very lucky that once again the competition has been given the royal seal of approval and has the support of Her Majesty, Queen Camilla.

This year, BBC Breakfast will be hosting the competition supported by us on BBC Teach. The winners will be featured in a special 500 Word programme on: World Book Day, Thursday 7 March 2024.