Virtual learning has been taken to new heights this week with the Early Years team engaging in virtual phonics lessons. Children and parents loved joining in with Fred fingers for spelling and Fred talk for using sounds to read words correctly. It was great to see so many people joining in.

The children and parents were able to join teams for live lessons despite the children not being in school. It was a fantastic sight to see and everyone had lots of fun learning. Remember, if you need to get on teams for remote learning, please see the video on the school website to support you. 

How to access teams – https://bloxwichacademy.co.uk/teams/ 

On Friday 13th November 2020, Bloxwich Academy (primary) will be supporting the Children in Need event. Children can come into school wearing their own clothes. You can wear spots, stripes, patterns – it is up to you! We are asking children to make a small donation to support the charity. The suggested donation is £1, but more or less will be put to good use by Pudsey Bear, I’m sure. 

Throughout the day, we will be finding out about Children in Need and taking part in related activities. One of these activities will be taking part in Joe Wick’s PE livestream. If you are at home on Friday, you can still take part by going to the BBC website: https://www.bbcchildreninneed.co.uk/. For children at home, there will be activities uploaded on Microsoft Teams for you to enjoy. If you are having any issues with Microsoft Teams, there is a support video on the website to help: https://bloxwichacademy.co.uk/teams/

We’re looking forward to seeing the Children’s amazing work from both home and school.

Something really strange happened in year 2 last week. We were just starting our new writing topic ‘The Way Back Home by Oliver Jeffers’ when some of the children noticed smoke and flashing lights outside the classroom. We were so shocked, but we decided as a class to investigate what was going on. Then, we saw a bright, green alien pop up from out of nowhere. The alien looked like it was lost and started running around the field (it was even chasing Mrs Shepherd).  

After the alien disappeared, we decided to go outside and see what was going on for ourselves. We were amazed to see an alien spaceship. We couldn’t get too close to the scene because it was taped off. Smoke was coming out of the tunnel, which was illuminated by flashing lights. It was so mysterious. There were 2 alien-looking robots guarding the crash site. In the distance, we could see a spaceship and test tubes next to the tree.  

Year 1 arrived outside to help us solve the mystery. We decided it was best to write about what happened in our writing books – so we had some evidence. When we were finished writing, we went back outside to gather some more information. We couldn’t believe our eyes when we saw that the alien ship had vanished! We couldn’t see a single piece of evidence. Where did the alien go? Did it go back home? Did somebody take it? We will keep reading about the alien and we will post our findings soon on the website.

In Nursery this week, we have been exploring lots of Halloween themed activities. We have been reading Meg and Mog as a class and acted out the story. You can find the story on YouTube if you would like to read it with your child https://youtu.be/NFcXxjdoN4I 

In our tuft spot, we have had lots of fun making potions and turning our friends into mice. We have been chanting ‘bubble, bubble, bubble’, like Meg (whilst mixing our ingredients together). In our creative area, we have been decorating pumpkins using different textures: tissue paper, feathers, paint and orange lentils. We have been having lots of fun singing and dancing to music on the interactive screen. The children have enjoyed dressing up as witches, wizards and bats. They then acted out their experiences.   

This week, year 2 have been learning all about Geography. The children have been looking at maps and aerial photographs of the local area and identified key features. We have been learning about different map symbols and why they could help us when we look at a map. During this topic, the children have found it interesting to see a bird’s eye view of the local area. They were spotting local parks, shops and familiar roads. 

Mr Watters 

They have been using Google Earth to locate their own houses and they have found it interesting to see parks, ponds and other areas around them they wouldn’t normally see from looking on the street. Year 2 also looked at a plan of the school and were able to identify where each of the classes are on the map.  

This week, we have started learning about addition and subtraction in maths. We have been using our knowledge of place value to answer some tricky problems. We have also been using counters and different materials to help us count forwards and backwards.In writing this term, we are learning about poetry. We have been looking at different poems about the sea and have started to create some of our own. Last week, we created actions for the poems and made it into a performance. We will be creating our own poems next week, which will go on display outside our classrooms. The children can’t wait to write their own poems!

Mrs Watkins 

In such unprecedented times, community spirit and care is vitally important. Ensuring that we stay connected and offer thanks to those who play a vital role in keeping our communities thriving. Bloxwich Academy joyfully accepted the request from local MP Eddie Hughes, to offer support and positivity to the residents and staff in our North Walsall care homes.
Primary and secondary pupils currently attending the academy during the lockdown period joined creative forces and produced beautiful heart-shaped bunting, colourful craft flowers, as well as pictures and letters to send our well wishes and lift spirits during this difficult time. The process encouraged pupils to reflect on the feelings of others and the importance of key workers in our community. Most importantly, recognizing that a
small gesture can mean so much to others.

It was lovely to hear that the efforts of our pupils were greatly appreciated
by staff and residents at Woodcross Care Home in Bloxwich, noted with a
kind thank you from Eddie Hughes MP (North Walsall).

“Thank you to all staff and pupils involved, hopefully, your great work will help lift the spirits of residents and staff at Woodcross. Best wishes, Eddie”.

Bloxwich Primary staff have been having a sing and a dance and have an important video message to share with the children!

Keep reaching for the stars!

Eddie Hughes, Member of Parliament for Walsall North is running an Easter Egg Competition! Get entering and don’t forget to be creative. There will be a prize for the winner! Good Luck.

Download the template here: bit.ly/2wgxUL1