Reception Observational Spring Art
As part of our Spring topic this week, Reception have been looking at Spring flowers and have been developing their drawing skills using charcoal. The children looked carefully at daffodils and tulips, then applied different pressure on the charcoal to create light and dark tones.
Reception Maths - Odd and Even
This week in Maths we have been introducing odd and even numbers. We looked at the numberblocks, splitting them into two groups of ‘odd blocks’ and ‘even tops’ - we looked carefully at the shape of the number blocks to help us to identify if they were odd or even, noticing the doubles that could be seen in the even tops.
Whole School Worship - The Value of Kindness
Today, our whole school worship was focussed on the value of kindness and our Kindness Kite of God rewards kindness. We talk about kindness frequently at St Barnabas, especially as it is one of our 4 Be’s. As we came into worship, a video was playing that showed how kind acts affect the recipient, prompting them to pay the kindness forward so that it spreads. The children spotted some acts of kindness in the video and linked these to the charitable activities we have taken part in as a school family recently. Mrs Ham read some motivational quotes and we all acted out sprinkling a glitter trail of kindness and throwing around kindness like confetti. She then showed us the story of The Good Samaritan and explained that showing kindness isn’t something we reserve just for our friends and family; it’s for everyone. Quotes from the Bible about kindness were read brilliantly by Matthew, Darcy and Charlie from this week's Kindness Kite. We then spent some time reflecting on how we will show kindness this week and beyond, and we finished by singing one of our favourite songs, Rich in Kindness.
Reception: Chicks have come to visit
The Reception classroom is buzzing with excitement this week as we welcome some very special, fluffy new residents! Our little learners have officially begun their journey as mini-farmers, starting the week by discovering exactly how to care for our baby chicks. Today was a particularly big day, as the children practised their "gentle hands" to learn the proper way to hold and stroke the chicks, marvelling at how soft and delicate they feel. Beyond the cuddles, it was a fantastic day of discovery. The children spent time observing the chicks' behaviour and learning the essentials of their routine, from the specific type of food they need to grow strong to the clever way they use their beaks to sip water. It has been wonderful to see the pupils so engaged and showing such natural kindness toward their new friends. We are all incredibly excited to spend the rest of the week looking after them and watching them grow!
Reception: Muddy Monday
What a fantastic afternoon we had at Whitehall Park today! We were blown away by the children's bravery and determination as they explored the great outdoors. Many of our little explorers challenged themselves to reach new heights, showing incredible physical strength and focus as they climbed trees much higher than they ever have before! It was wonderful to see their confidence grow with every branch they conquered. Whether they were finding the perfect foothold or cheering on their friends from below, the teamwork and grit on display were truly inspiring.
Mad Science After School Club- Exploring the Chemistry of Curiosity: pH Levels
We had a fantastic start to our Science club today, delivered by the Mad Scientist, Jo. Our future scientists focused on the power of pH levels, learning how to identify acids and bases using professional liquid indicators and pH paper. The children put on their safety glasses and learned the vital importance of protecting themselves while conducting experiments. From observing the chemical reactions used to clean oxidised coins to testing the acidity of common household liquids. It was inspiring to see the children’s curiosity come to life as they realised that science isn’t just found in a textbook, it is happening in their kitchen cupboards and the world around them.
Reception - Hop, Skip & Jump
Reception thoroughly enjoyed taking part in our yearly ‘Hop, skip & jump’ around our school 1k track to raise money for East Lancashire Hospice. The children wore their Easter crowns with pride and moved around our school track by hopping, skipping or jumping. What a brilliant effort by all.
*Spring Amazing Attendance Awards *
*Spring Amazing Attendance Awards * A huge congratulations to all of the children who achieved an amazing attendance certificate today for having over 96% attendance throughout the Autumn and Spring terms! We are so proud of you!
Whole School Worship - God’s Green Earth
As we approach the end of Lent, Mrs Ham led a special worship to celebrate all the efforts our school community has made to give back by looking after our local area and beyond. We couldn’t believe just how much we’ve all achieved in 2026 so far. Some key actions include: Reception class earning the Ruby Robin Award through building bug hotels, spotting birds and taking part in a wildlife quiz; our collective Big Winter Wander to raise money for the World Fund For Nature; our whole-school tree planting day on Jack’s Key; the WOW group planting two community orchards on school grounds; Mr Fairbanks building bird boxes and placing them around school; the Rota Kids collecting pre-loved teddies and coats for charity; the WOW group creating posters about the community poo bag dispenser located outside school, and putting them up all around the local area; and some of our children and parents choosing to go litter picking to help keep our streets clean. We have much more planned for the future, so keep a lookout for our next initiative. We ended our worship with prayers of thanks for God’s creations and singing one of our favourite Fischy Music songs: Make A Difference. Key Stage 2 stayed behind to hear the winners of the March TT Rockstars battle. A huge well done to the winning classes, Years 3 and 6, and to our class champions: Charlie, Charlie, Isabella and Isabelle.
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Reception RE: The Easter Story
Today we talked about the Easter Story and its importance to Christians and the church. They then created Easter cards with paint and expressed love to each other.
Reception-Maths - Weight
Today in our Maths lesson we talked about weight and what it means when things are heavier and lighter. We used weighing scales to prove which items were heaviest and which items were lightest and which we could balance because they were equal. The children really enjoyed testing different objects such as stones, shells and pom-poms.
Reception: Class Worship
We had a beautiful start to our day as we gathered for class worship, beginning by signing the Trinity together. Lisa led us in a heartfelt repeating prayer, reminding us that "God is good, all the time," before we settled in to listen to a story about the depth of God’s love. To help us connect with the message, Lisa asked the children if they ever felt overwhelmed by having too many jobs to do. Eva shared a relatable moment, mentioning how she often needs a helping hand when it’s time to clean her room! We learned that even Jesus’ disciples needed support, which is why they appointed apostles to help them spread their message. We were also joined by Bishop Philip, who shared a powerful message about the heart of a servant. He explained that servants are special because they prioritise the needs of others, which creates a sense of peace and allows everyone to share the good news of Jesus. In a world where arguments can happen, we discussed how Jesus calls us to be servants who put others first. Whether we are visiting a friend, being kind, or standing up for a good cause, we are choosing to be peacemakers who stand up for what is right. The children had some lovely ideas on how they can serve others in their daily lives. Mason suggested cheering up those who feel sad, Chester reminded us that we can always lend a helping hand, and Phoebe shared that a simple hug can make a big difference. We concluded our time together with a "sorry prayer," asking for forgiveness for the times we fall out with one another and seeking God’s help to be better peacemakers. We ended on a high note, joyfully singing "Our God is a Great Big God"!