As we reflect on the first term of the 2024-2025 academic year, our primary students have achieved remarkable milestones across various subjects. From engaging classroom activities to successful showcases of creativity and collaboration, this term has been filled with enriching experiences that have fostered both academic growth and personal development. Our students have embraced challenges, celebrated their achievements, and created lasting memories, making this autumn a truly vibrant and inspiring time in our school community.
This term has marked a fantastic start for the Year 1 students of Britannica. The children’s progress in Maths and English has been impressive, and they can all be proud of their hard work at school and at home. Two particular highlights of the term have been the school trip to Shanghai Zoo, which helped the children review their Science unit on animals, and the Mini Highland Games, where they learned about Scottish culture and wrapped up their Geography unit on the UK. It was wonderful to see so many parents participate in the games, fostering a sense of community. The Year 1 team looks forward to welcoming all the children back in the new year for more fun activities and learning.
This term, Year 2 celebrated their English learning with an engaging event where parents joined their children in exploring recipes. Focusing on technical language and recipe features, each child crafted their own sandwich and wrote a matching recipe, showcasing their creativity and understanding. This collaborative effort created a delightful experience for everyone involved.
In Year 3, students enriched their learning through a variety of subjects. They built a solid foundation in Mathematics by exploring place value and operations. The English unit on Fables and Traditional Tales allowed students to write and publish their own stories using Book Creator. In Science, they studied Animals and Humans, engaged in experiments about Rocks and Soils, and explored the lives of Stone Age people through hands-on activities, culminating in a trip to the Natural History Museum.
Our class assemblies were a highlight of the term, with both sets of children working diligently in the lead-up to their respective performances. Their involvement in planning made for truly student-led showcases, fostering a sense of ownership that motivated them to impress their parents and peers. Both assemblies were a resounding success! Additionally, our Ancient Greek Olympic Games served as the perfect ‘hook’ to engage students before diving into this fascinating topic. The children enjoyed participating in javelin, sprints, and the Ancient Greek version of long jump, which added an element of fun to their learning experience.
Year 5 shone brightly with the launch of ‘Mr Brit and Little Miss Annica,’ where students showcased their hard work and creativity in writing. The event allowed them to present their published books to families and friends, highlighting the dedication they put into their projects. This celebration not only fostered pride in their achievements but also created lasting memories for our Year 5 students.
Specialist Highlights
Mandarin
The Chinese department has enriched the curriculum with "Culture into the Classroom" activities, including making mooncakes for the Mid-Autumn Festival and molding traditional foods with clay. Students transformed traditional stories into comic-style skits, helping them connect with Chinese culture in a fun and approachable manner.
Music
The autumn term has been vibrant for music, featuring Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 Christmas performances that showcased students' creativity and growing abilities. The Key Stage 2 Rockband ASA delivered an energetic live performance at the Winter Wonderland event, demonstrating their enthusiasm and dedication to teamwork and skill development.
Art
Art classes across the year groups fostered creativity and critical thinking. Year 1 focused on the basics of lines, shapes, and colors; Year 2 explored various artists and their techniques; Year 3 engaged with abstract art; Year 4 created pieces inspired by influential artists; and Year 5 delved into abstract techniques to express their unique interpretations.
As we reflect on this enriching term, we celebrate the hard work and achievements of all our students. Their creativity, collaboration, and enthusiasm continue to inspire our school community. We look forward to more exciting learning experiences in the coming months!
