Blog 1
Dear Mantis community of 2025-2026
Welcome all to Year 6 and to the first blog. In these blogs we will report on aspects of our learning during the week, share successes and celebrations and let you know of any events coming up in our term to look out for.
It has been a great first full week in Mantis class. Everyone has settled very quickly into new routines and new pupils to Hornbill school should be very proud with how quickly they have adjusted to this tricky time of transition.
It will take a few more weeks I think, for everyone to be completely up to speed with the quicker pace in Year 6, but the class have made a promising start, in maths, in particular, I have seen some exceptional work already.
Hopefully you all received a timetable and a learning pathway for the term, sent home last week. We will be studying World War 2 this term and children have already made a good start on our history unit, showing great general knowledge, as well as working enthusiastically on biographies of key WW2 figures.
This learning will hopefully guide us towards a key responsibility for Year 6 this year, which is to create and lead our Hornbill Remembrance Day service. More information will follow on this event, but I am sure the class will be able to showcase their learning and lead the service expertly.
Reading records:
The class have started very well with handing reading records to me every day, showing their daily reading. There will be rewards in school for those who can keep this reading up every day as well. Please encourage your child to read as much as possible at home as it is so valuable to their learning in terms of their imagination, vocabulary and spelling. If parents can assist with reading, that would be even better. Let your child read aloud to you, ask for summaries of what has been read and discuss new vocabulary and please sign it each day.
Passwords for computer log ins should be stuck inside – signing in to our Google Classroom is advised at home so that learning can be returned to if needed and homework can be accessed.
Spellings will come home each Monday to practise for a Friday quiz.
Homework will follow shortly – but is not compulsory.
Meetings with new parents:
In the coming week, I will make contact with parents of new pupils to discuss how your child has settled in so far. All parents will then be invited, shortly after half term, for more formal parent/teacher meetings to discuss progress and next steps.
Highflyer:
This week our highflyer was E-BH as she made such a fantastic start to her time at Hornbill school. E-B managed to fight off some early nerves and has led the way this week with her courage and resilience, setting a very good example for others to follow this term.
Next week:
Tuesday – PE kit needed.
Thursday – PE kit needed.
Friday – Spelling test day.