Mad Science After School Club-Cosmic Bubbles
In the final lesson for the after-school club today, our future scientists explored the final frontier. They looked at planets, stars, and crashing meteorites before the children invented and named their very own galaxies. They then used straws to blow bubbling, frothy cosmic art to represent their creations. It was a wonderfully messy and out-of-this-world way to finish a fantastic term of 'Mad Science Club'.
Reception: Visit to Imagine That
Our Reception class had an incredible day at Imagine That! in Liverpool, diving into hands-on science with dry ice experiments, magical snow, and slime-making. From painting a car and crafting magnets to exploring the roleplay and creative zones, the children’s imaginations were in full swing. We are so proud of their exemplary behaviour, as they represented our school beautifully throughout this fantastic adventure!
Reception: Class Worship
Our Reception class shared a heart-warming Songs of Praise worship today to celebrate Mental Health Awareness Week. It was a beautiful start to the morning spent exploring our emotions and supporting one another through the power of music and reflection. The children sang their hearts out to some of our favourite songs, including "I Can Make a Difference," "My Lighthouse," and "Build Up." These songs helped us think about how we can shine and use our words to encourage our friends. We finished our worship with moving Thank You Prayers, where the children shared their gratitude for family, friends, and the things that make them feel happy.
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Reception: All About Minibeasts
The Reception class had a truly unforgettable afternoon thanks to Fiia and her dad, Adam from the Animal Garden who introduced the children to an incredible array of minibeasts. The session was packed with tactile learning, starting with the massive Giant African Land Snails and the fascinating life cycle of Pachnoda bugs, which the children learned eventually transform into vibrant fruit beetles. The class also got a glimpse into the animal food chain by meeting Mario worms, cockroaches, and locusts—the "snack pack" typically used to feed pet lizards. The highlight for many was the tarantula gallery, featuring the Red Rump tarantula (appropriately named for its red "bum") and a South American Curly Haired tarantula affectionately known as "Chewy." The children learned about their unique defense mechanism: the ability to flick itchy hairs at predators to stay safe. By examining a discarded tarantula skin, the students were able to get an up-close look at the spider's teeth and red mouth without any risk. The excitement continued with the arrival of the sleek Asian Forest Scorpions, adding an extra layer of mystery to the day. The afternoon concluded with a wonderful takeaway about how spiders do not have a brain! They simply know how to live. Thank you so much to Adam and Fiia, we learnt so much!
Reception: Class Worship for Mental Health Week
Today in Reception, Mrs Wilkinson led a special Class Worship to launch Mental Health Awareness Week. We began by exploring the concept of mental health together, which led to a heartwarming discussion with our talk partners about the people who fill our hearts with love. The room was buzzing with affection as Poppy shared her love for Mummy and Daddy, Mason spoke about his Grandad, Bowen mentioned his brother, and Eva told us all about her Nanny. Moving from love to laughter, we explored the things that bring us pure joy. It was wonderful to hear such a variety of answers: Luna finds happiness in spending time with her family, Jackson loves a good tickle, and Eryna’s face lit up talking about trips to the play centre. We also took a moment to reflect on our "cheer-up" strategies—those special activities we turn to when we need a little boost. For Coban, that meant getting creative with writing; for Phoebe, it was all about the rhythm of dance; and Erin shared her passion for gymnastics. To wrap up our session, we put our words into action! We finished our worship by dancing together, filling the room with energy and big smiles. It was a truly joyful and uplifting way to start the week, reminding us all of the simple things that keep our minds and hearts healthy.
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Mad Science Club- Our Sticky Science Adventure
In today’s Mad Science After School Club, our young scientists explored the incredible world of chemistry by looking at the building blocks of everything around them! The children dove into the process of constructing and deconstructing molecules to understand how polymers are formed. Putting their knowledge to the test, the children successfully created their very own Potty Putty using simple household ingredients like PVA glue and a magic activator. By mixing these together, they witnessed a "cross-linking" reaction where liquid molecules hooked together to create a stretchy, bouncy, and gooey solid. It was a fantastic, hands-on way to see how everyday materials can be transformed into a brand-new scientific creation.
Reception - Celebrating David Attenborough
Today we have been celebrating David Attenborough’s 100th Birthday. We have been reflecting on his amazing work alongside God’s creatures and his contributions to our planet. In class, we created birthday cards and decorated birthday cakes with his favourite things. Happy Birthday Sir David!
Amazing Attendance Award- Top 10% Nationally
🌟 We’ve Struck Gold -Amazing Attendance Award 🌟 We have officially been honoured with another National School Attendance Award for the 2025/26 Spring Term to go with our 2025/26 Autumn Term Award. Thanks to the incredible dedication of our children and the unwavering support of you—our parents and carers—we have been ranked again in the Top 10% of all FFT primary schools in England. Excellent attendance isn't just about a certificate; it’s about ensuring our children have every opportunity to learn, grow, and succeed alongside their friends. Being in the top 10% nationally is a massive achievement and speaks volumes about the value our families place on education. 🙏 A Heartfelt Thank You 🙏 We know that getting the children up, ready, and through the gates every morning takes effort. This award belongs to you and your children just as much as it belongs to the school. Let’s keep this amazing momentum going into the Summer Term! 🚀 #StBarnabasProud #AttendanceMatters #TopTenPercent #SchoolSuccess
River Darwen Disco
Today, River Darwen enjoyed their disco and came in their own clothes to celebrate earning the most Value Points last half term. Thank you DJ Bloomfield for hosting!
Reception - All about Insects
Our Reception scientists have had a "buzzing" time exploring the fascinating world of insects! To kick off our learning, the children investigated the essential characteristics that make an insect unique, discovering that they all share three body parts (a head, thorax, and abdomen) and exactly six legs. We put this knowledge into practice at our creation station, where the children used play dough and various craft accessories to build their own 3D models, carefully counting out pipe-cleaner legs and antennae. To finish our study, we practised our "scientific eye" by using magnifying glasses to create detailed observational sketches of real preserved specimens. It was wonderful to see the children transition from imaginative play to careful, accurate recording of the tiny details they discovered!
Whole School Worship - One Way Giving
In this whole school collective worship, we developed our understanding of one way giving. Our Year 6 heads and deputies began by sharing what each class did for our Hop, Skip and Jump event. Jacqui, a representative from East Lancs Hospice came to award us with participation certificates and to reveal that we raised a fantastic £357 during our event. Thank you to all our children and parents for your support. Mrs Ham then shared this week’s One Way Giving kindness kite. Three of our KS2 children volunteered to read the sections of the kite and we learned that the Bible says we should give in secret and God will reward us. After this, we watched a cartoon of the event when Jesus turned water into wine at the wedding in Canaan. He secretly asked the servants to fill the jars with water and turned it into wine. The master of ceremonies tasted the wine and approved it to be a very good wine thinking it was provided by the groom. The groom received the praise, and only the servants and God knew that Jesus had performed this miracle. This was a great example of one way giving. Finally, Mrs Ham and Mr Bloomfield put up our new Widgit symbols, with the help of our children, on our Big Frieze to help the children understand God’s Big Story.
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Ocean Awareness with the Marine Conservation Society
Today, we were joined by Lorna from the Marine Conservation Society for a brilliant session. The children explored the wonders of our Ocean while learning about serious challenges such as climate change, overfishing, and ocean pollution. A particularly memorable moment was learning that sea turtles often mistake floating plastic bags for jellyfish, their favourite food, highlighting the dangers of litter. Lorna inspired the children to think creatively about waste, showing them how to repurpose plastic items, such as turning old milk gallons into birds or bird feeders. The children loved sharing their favourite things about the sea, and to help us keep learning, Lorna mentioned that there are plenty of fantastic free resources available on their website to explore at home or in class.