DPSSA Netball League
This evening Team B took part in their second evening of netball fixtures. First we played against Sudell and came away with an 11-0 win and then we played St Joseph’s which was a super tight game but we managed to secure a 6-5 win in the end. A great evening of superb play and sportsmanship by every member of the team- well done!
Year 5 - History
In History, we concluded our study of Ancient Greece by learning about some of the great philosophers including Pythagoras, Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. We then looked in greater depth at the trial of Socrates and how his anti-democratic stance and questioning of authority created powerful enemies. The children were then asked to decide if they thought Socrates was deserving of his punishment.
Year 6 - Numeracy Day
As part of National Numeracy Day, our Year 6 children took part in an exciting oracy-based maths activity using a concept cartoon linked to real-world numeracy challenges. Working collaboratively, the children discussed and solved a variety of problems linked to important global themes including tree planting, clean energy, water conservation, recycling and reducing carbon footprints. The tasks encouraged pupils to apply their knowledge of percentages, ratio, area, multiplication and reasoning in meaningful contexts. Throughout the activity, the children explained their ideas, justified their methods and listened respectfully to the opinions of others, developing both their mathematical understanding and their speaking and listening skills. The concept cartoon showed the children that there can be more than one way to solve a problem and encouraged deeper mathematical thinking. It was fantastic to see the children demonstrating resilience, teamwork and confidence while recognising how maths can help make a positive difference in the wider world.
Year 1 RE: How Do Jews Welcome Babies?
In this RE lesson, the children explored how some Jewish families and communities welcome babies. We learnt about Jewish naming ceremonies and discussed how these can differ for boys and girls. The children discovered that, in many Jewish traditions, boys may take part in a Brit Milah ceremony, while girls may be welcomed through a naming ceremony, Brit Bat, often held at the synagogue or at home. We discussed that practices can vary between different Jewish families and communities, and not all Jewish people celebrate in the same way. The children compared similarities and differences between the ceremonies, identifying that both are often joyful celebrations where the baby is welcomed into the community and given their Hebrew name. They also recognised differences in some of the traditions and rituals involved. Throughout the lesson, the children showed respect and curiosity when learning about Jewish beliefs and practices and were able to make thoughtful comparisons with other welcoming ceremonies they have studied.
The Vikings in Year 4
Today Year 4 looked at the impact of events using cause and consequences. We discussed important events in Anglo-Saxon and Viking struggle for Britain, explaining the meaning of cause and consequence and suggested the impact of these events. The children really got involved in these discussions and worked really hard to identify the correct answers.
Whole School Worship with Rev Ben
Today our Whole School Worship was led by Rev Ben and focused on The Ascension. We started by signing The Trinity together and then we began a quick history quiz where we had to guess who was in the picture. We had Queen Victoria, Abraham Lincoln, Queen Boudicca, King Henry the Eighth and Nelson Mandela. These people were all leaders and the Bible story told us all about Jesus being in control and in charge. In our Bible story, instead of being sad, the disciples were filled with joy! The Ascension teaches us three big lessons:Jesus is with us everywhere: Even though he isn't walking on Earth anymore, Christians believe he is always with us. A wonderful promise: Jesus promised to come back one day. We are his helpers: Jesus left his followers in charge to be kind, share love, and be good helpers to others. In our time to think this week we discussed why Christians believe that it is good news that Jesus returned to heaven. The children thought of some lovely responses such as ; People believe that Jesus can help and support anyone from anywhere in the world, we look up to Jesus in heaven and treat his name with respect.
Kids with Bricks Lego Club
The theme for this week's Kids with Bricks Lego club was 'Loud or Quiet'. We watched our weekly video, which gave us facts about the loudest and quietest things on earth. We then had to create our own loud or quiet builds. The children had some really amazing ideas, including volcanoes, bombs and silent electric engine cars! A special well done to our Builder of the Week: Rosie!
Reception- R.E- Exploring the features of a mosque.
It was fantastic teaching the Reception class all about the different features of a mosque, exploring what happens inside, and discussing who goes there to worship. The children were deeply engaged throughout the lesson, showing great curiosity as we looked at the daily practices and rituals that take place within a mosque. It was wonderful to see them so inspired, and they asked a variety of thoughtful questions to deepen their understanding of other faiths and cultures.
Year 5 - Smart School Council
The Year 5 members of Miss Kachwalla’s school council convened a meeting to discuss the latest issues brought up at the last council discussion. The children participated in group discussions before sharing their thoughts and ideas to the councillors, who recorded them. Year 5 proposed sensible improvements to school life at St Barnabas, such as new clubs and alternative uses of the school grounds. These ideas will go forward and be considered by the council.
Year 6 - Emotive Poetry
This week, Year 6 have been exploring emotive poetry writing, focusing on expressing their feelings about SATs and how these assessments do not define who they are. The children reflected on their own journeys throughout the process, including the challenges they have faced, the progress they have made and the importance of recognising their wider strengths beyond test results.
Year 6 - Debt Awareness: Enterprise
This week, Year 6 had a visit from the Debt Aware team. The theme of this module was enterprise. The children learned what it meant to be an enterprising person and the qualities needed to start a business. They discussed costs, diversifying, profit and loss for businesses and what business owners need to consider when starting a new business or buying property. They also learned what it means to be an entrepreneur and that sometimes it can take a lot failure before someone creates a successful business.
Year 3- Class Worship- Do We Learn More From Winning or Losing?
Today in class worship, we explored a news story about the recent Men’s FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium, where Manchester City and Chelsea competed. We used this event to reflect on the question: "Do we learn more from winning or losing?" Under our theme "More Than a Winner," we focused on the Christian value of Faith and read from 1 Corinthians 9:24–25, which compares life and faith to running a challenging race. We discussed how, while only one team can walk away with the physical trophy, the true value of any competition lies in giving our absolute best, developing self-control, and building an honest character. During our group discussions, the children shared that we learn more from losing, but it's great to win too. We noted that while winning is thrilling, losing often teaches us the most valuable lessons about effort, resilience, and how we can improve next time. We even reflected on an inspiring quote from footballer Mohamed Salah, who shared that he always looks at his weaknesses and works on them to become a better person and player. To close our worship, we sang the historic hymn "Abide With Me" as a moment of unity and reflection, and said a final prayer asking for the strength to persevere, to value our shared efforts, and to always choose kindness and integrity.