Year 5/6 Sportshall Athletics
What a fantastic evening we have had at the Blackburn with Darwen Sportshall Athletics. We had some great successes over the course of the night, especially in the various relays. The final top three schools were extremely close on points and Team B managed to medal achieving 3rd place overall! A huge well done to everyone involved - you do us all proud! Well done!
Year 5 - RE
In RE, we studied the Sermon on the Mount and the Beatitudes from the Gospel of Matthew. The Beatitudes are blessings Jesus gave to explain the character expected from Christians and include: trusting God through humility, forgiving and showing mercy to others as well as bringing peace to the world. The children considered what these Beatitudes mean for Christians today and re-wrote them for a modern audience.
Year 5 - Speak Out with the NSPCC
Jan from the NSPCC (National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children) visited Year 5 today about the different types of abuse that children may experience. The class talked about how to identify when abuse might happen, including the differences between bullying and cyberbullying. The key message about staying safe was to speak out to trusted adults about any concerns that children may have alongside using the Childline website and phone number 0800 1111.
Foodie Friends Club: Making Chocolate Brownies
This afternoon, in our Foodies Club, the children took on the challenge of baking chocolate brownies, becoming little mathematicians as they weighed out sugar, flour, butter and rich cocoa powder. The highlight of the afternoon was cracking the egg and licking the chocolate from the spoon and bowl. Some of the children were initially terrified because they had never cracked an egg before, fearing the mess or a broken shell. However, by supporting one another, every child conquered their fear, successfully whisking the eggs into the mixture. The children could not wait to take their brownies home, serving their treats with a scoop of ice cream or whipping cream.
Year 5 - PE
The children continued developing the fundamental actions of gymnastics: tuck, straddle, pike, star, front support, dish and arch. Then they developed these actions by adding rotations, balances and jumps using the gymnastics apparatus. The children had time to practice and develop their skills while encouraging each other.
Year 5 - Music
In this lesson, children were introduced to musical notation such as quavers, semi quavers and crotchets. We also studied time signatures and how they are used to count in music. The different time signatures we looked at were 4/4, 3/4 and 2/4.
Go All In: 2026 National Year of Reading
Dear Parents and Carers, As we move into 2026, we are excited to share that this has been designated the National Year of Reading. This year-long celebration, spearheaded by the Department for Education and the National Literacy Trust, isn't about schoolwork or exams—it’s about helping our children rediscover the sheer joy of a great story. The theme for the year is "Go All In." The goal is to show children that reading isn't just something they do in a classroom; it is a way to dive deeper into the things they already love. Whether your child is a fan of gaming, sports, music, or space, there is a book, graphic novel, or audiobook out there that speaks to their interests. The campaign reminds us that "if they’re into it, they can read into it," and that every form of reading—from a football programme to a digital comic—is a step toward success. We know how busy family life can be, but research shows that sharing a story for just 10 minutes a day can dramatically boost a child’s wellbeing and their confidence at school. You don’t need to be an expert storyteller to make a difference; simply sitting together and exploring a book, or letting your child see you reading your own book or magazine, sets a fantastic example. Throughout the year, there will be exciting events to look forward to, including a record-breaking World Book Day on March 5th and a music-themed Summer Reading Challenge titled "Read to the Beat!" Our local libraries will also be hosting free activities, from author workshops to interactive storytelling sessions. We invite you to join us in making 2026 a year of discovery for our children. Let’s help them find the stories that make them want to "go all in." For more resources and book recommendations tailored to your child’s hobbies, you can visit the official campaign website at goallin.org.uk. For our first challenge, I would love the children to send me some photographs of them reading their favourite story in their favourite place. Happy reading! Mrs Wilkinson
Year 5 - RE
In RE, we continued exploring the role Jesus played in the Bible as a teacher. We examined the parable of the Widow’s Gift. This story told by Jesus celebrates the generosity of those who are genuine and give as much as they can to help others. It emphasises the Christian values of generosity, sacrifice and love in action over greed and selfishness. The children considered how important such values are in the modern world.
Year 5 - PSHE
In PSHE, we are exploring how to stay safe online. Today we looked at what cyber bullying is using case studies and group discussions. The children identified similarities between traditional and online bullying, which included exclusion, emotional harm and harassment. We also defined some of the unique dangers of the online world, such as trolling, flaming and doxxing.
Amazing Attendance Awards
We had such a busy end to the Autumn term that we’re only just getting around to celebrating our amazing attendance award winners. What a fantastic term it was for attendance! Awards were presented in two categories: firstly to all those who achieved 100% attendance, and then to those who achieved above 96% attendance. Both are amazing achievements and we are super proud of all of the children.
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Whole School Worship - God is Kind
In our whole-school worship, Mrs Ham revealed our first Kindness Kite celebrating the Blackburn Diocese centenary. This week, the focus is ‘God is Kind’. A small selection of Year 6 children were chosen to read three Psalms about God’s kindness and we learned that God is everywhere, always, even when it’s dark, even when we hide. The children were then invited to share some of the kind things that they have heard people say, such as ‘I like your hair’ , ‘Your dress is pretty’ and ‘You are so smart’. We reflected on how kind words make us feel and we all practised paying compliments to our partners. We are looking forward to adding kind words to our classroom kites.
Year 5 - Science
In Science, we learned about the features and structures of our solar system. The children discovered how the solar system began, with hydrogen and helium gas coming together through gravity to form the Sun and the large gas planets. We learned about how the four inner planets are rocky, warm and small compared to the large outer planets. The children did their own research to find three interesting facts about each planet, including their orbit, day length and moons.