St Pius X Catholic Primary School

 This week we have been very lucky to have been able to see chicks hatch in school. We had a special delivery of eggs on Monday, which at first we thought might be for some baking but then we learnt all about incubators and discovered that we thought these eggs might hatch into chicks. We have been very excited during the week as we've watched the eggs start to hatch. On Wednesday morning we came into school to find there were 6 chicks so far. During the day another 2 hatched, which we were very lucky to catch on camera and on Wednesday evening 1 more hatched, meaning by only Thursday we already had 9 chicks! The chicks have started to be moved into their brooder box, where they will live for the following 2 weeks. Now in the brooder box, they will start to eat and drink, although some of them prefer to sleep in their food! They are still very young at the moment so we can't hold them just yet but hopefully by Friday or Monday we should be able to give them lots of cuddles.  W...

⚘🐛 ' Live and Let Live' is the IPC topic for Year 2 this Spring half term. It's been the perfect opportunity to see things in action, developing their understanding of life cycles, food chains and how animals adapt to different habitats. This week Year 2 have planted poppy and pansy seeds and will make regular observations in order to track the changes from seed to flower in real-time. Last week the children were enthusiastic and excited to design their own bug hotels ! They used their knowledge of materials and thought about what bugs would want - a safe shelter! This week, using as many natural or recycled materials as possible, they used (and adapted) their plans to make their hotel. It has been brilliant to watch their curiosity and creativity whilst putting many skills into action: decision making - choosing appropriate and available materials resilience and problem-solvin g - finding ways to overcome challenges when things don't go to plan. collaboration - he...

 Today, Year 4 took part in the Superstars event. They competed against six other schools in a range of sport skill activities. The scooter race was very popular, but so was the throwing and cup stacking. The class worked realy hard and even when tasks were tricky non of the gave up. We all had a brilliant time and enjoyed the chance to go up against other schools.  We did aaxingly well. Alexis came third out of all the girls in the competetion and St Pius took first place out of all the schools.  Well done, Year 4!

Today, Year 6 have been using our new Chromebooks as part of their IPC topic, WW2: The Home Front . The children have been working with Google Sites to create their own websites, sharing information about the vital role women played during the Second World War. This exciting work has allowed pupils to develop their research, digital, and presentation skills while deepening their understanding of an important period in history. The Chromebooks have been generously funded by the PTA, and we would like to say a huge thank you to the PTA and our whole school community. Your continued support helps ensure we can provide the very best resources for our children’s learning.

Year 5 have been immersed in Louis Sachar’s There’s a Boy in the Girls' Bathroom , and as we approached the end of the novel, the big question remained: What happens next? The children were tasked with writing the "missing" Chapter 48, exploring Bradley’s journey as he continues to navigate his new friendships and newfound self-confidence. Instead of reaching straight for the pens, we took a detour into drama . Planning through drama allowed the students to: Test Dialogue: They could hear how Bradley or Carla might actually sound, making their written dialogue much more authentic. Feel the Emotion: By physically acting out a scene, the children tapped into the "butterflies" Bradley feels, or the frustration of a misunderstanding.  We can’t wait to see these dramatic performances translated into what promise to be some of the wonderful pieces of writing. 

Our new Computing topic is all about making music! We listened to some of Gustav Holst's 'The Planets' and discussed how the music made us feel, and what instruments we could hear. Listen here Watch here Find out more here It was amazing to hear the opinions of the children; music is so personal, subjective and emotive. Responses included - calm, relaxed, victorious, energetic, peaceful, loud, sleepy and joyful. The children noticed that each 'chapter' of music was different: Mars - loud, strong, energetic Venus - peaceful, quiet, chilled This also got the children thinking about how the music was made and being played - a conductor directs the orchestra and there are different instruments being used to create different sounds and moods. Year 2 then had a chance to explore 'Chrome Music Lab.'  We will be working towards creating a piece of digital music after half term.

  Year 6 were given homework to find out how World War Two affected their own families. They were encouraged to bring in any stories, artefacts, or photographs they found interesting. In class, we looked closely at a WW2 helmet, a gas mask, and a piece of wartime-inspired artwork. These items helped spark discussion about life during the war and made history feel more personal and real. Pupils are still welcome to bring in any WW2 artefacts, photos, or family stories to share with the class.

 As part of their World War Two Home Front IPC unit of work, Year 6 pupils took on an exciting hands-on challenge: designing and building their own Anderson shelter using recyclable materials. The project began with careful planning. The children researched what Anderson shelters were used for during the war and discussed why they were so important for keeping families safe during air raids. They then sketched their ideas, thinking carefully about how their shelter would look and how it could be constructed using materials that could be reused or recycled. Once their designs were complete, the children moved on to the building stage. They worked collaboratively, showing great teamwork and problem-solving skills. Recyclable materials formed the main structure, while wood and basic tools were used to add stability and strength to the shelter. Safety was a key focus, and pupils learned how to use tools responsibly and carefully. This practical activity helped bring history to life. No...

  Drama & Role‑Play – Becoming Night Pirates! This week in English, Year 1 set sail on a magical moonlit adventure inspired by the much‑loved story The Night Pirates . The classroom transformed into a world of shadows, sneaky footsteps, and brave young buccaneers as the children stepped into the roles of the characters and brought key scenes to life. Re‑enacting the Adventure To deepen their understanding of the story, the children worked together to re‑enact some of the most exciting moments: Climbing aboard the pirate ship Children used big actions and expressive faces to show how the little pirates scrambled onto the ship in the dark of night. Sneaking past the grown‑ups This was a favourite moment. The class tiptoed, whispered, and used careful body language to show how the pirates crept silently through the night. Stealing the treasure With plenty of imagination, the children acted out discovering the treasure and carrying it away triumphantly. These drama activit...

  What an absolutely brilliant day Year 5 had on their trip to the National History Museum! From the moment we set off, it was clear this was going to be an adventure of cosmic proportions. Our journey began with a smooth and enjoyable ride on the train and tube. We were so incredibly proud of the children's impeccable behaviour. In fact, members of the public went out of their way to comment on how wonderfully behaved and respectful our students were – a fantastic start to our day! Upon arriving at the museum, we were immediately launched into the wonders of their space exhibits. The children were captivated by the vastness of the universe, eagerly exploring displays about our solar system. Their curiosity was truly ignited, and it was fantastic to see them engaging so enthusiastically with all the fascinating information. The absolute highlight of our visit was undoubtedly the Mars Rover workshop with the brilliant scientists from the museum. 'I enjoyed the trip so much! When...

Year 2 have been looking at digital media (photographs) in their Computing lessons this term. It has opened up some great discussions about asking permission before taking, editing or sharing a photo of somebody. Today they also thought about what they should do if something happened online, for example: a pop-up advert asking us to click on a link a friend request from someone we don't know a message saying we have won a prize, just enter our details to claim Year 2 were very savvy - they could spot the scams and the unreliable sources ! To consolidate their ideas and learning, they created mini-posters. Their posters explained what to do in different scenarios. It was very pleasing to see the children had a mature attitude towards the possible dangers and that they knew what to do if they were unsure, for example: tell an adult block log off play a different game click the X button to close the window Excellent work Year 2! Here are some of the mini-posters: