Welcome to Phoenix 2025-2026!

Hello! Welcome to Phoenix Class 2025-26! This year, we have 21 children from Years 5 and 6. I am Mrs Prior, the class teacher. Mrs Townsend is our brilliant teaching assistant, and Ms Domoney will be teaching on a Friday while Mrs Prior is planning exciting things for us to learn.  

Each morning, the children complete a 'Quick Maths' challenge and work on their spelling and maths passports. This is a vital time of day so arriving and being organised by 8.45am is essential! 

We spend our mornings focused on our literacy and maths and the afternoons are Science or non-core subjects. 

Here is a snapshot of our learning for the second half of the Autumn Term:

Reading - 'The Explorer' by Katherine Rundell

Maths - revision of all key concepts 

English - Descriptive writing, Non-Chronological Reports, Persuasive writing

History - The Kingdom of Benin

Computing - Programming

Design and Technology - Applying Computer Knowledge

RE - Christianity

French - Numbers, Calendars and Birthdays

PE - Dance and Hockey

Science - Classifying Big and Small

PSHE - Valuing Difference

Music - Sea Shanties

The above curriculum areas gives you so many opportunities to complete additional work at home. Why not find out about the ancient kingdom of Benin? You could try using Scratch Junior online and follow a tutorial to try out some coding. How about writing a book review? Investigate the similarities and differences between biscuits or chocolates using a Branching Key. Please ask if you need more ideas! 

Homework link 14th November: 

SAPS-Introducing-keys-and-liquorice-allsorts-Teaching-Notes.docx

Things you can do to help your child to learn well in school:

• have good routines in place
• encourage good organisation, e.g. making sure they have their PE kits and water bottles in school
• spend time reading together daily
• ensure your child does their homework
• enjoy conversations around any home activity or outing 
• be a curious role model

A little note on homework - reading daily will benefit your child in so many ways and is a great time to snuggle up together. Working on their passports and helping them to practise their times tables and spellings will have a great impact on how they feel in the classroom.

We hope you check this page frequently to keep up to date with the learning in Phoenix Class! 

Thank you for your support. 

Mrs Prior

p.prior@st-johntisbury.wilts.sch.uk 

Useful online safety websites:

www.thinkuknow.co.uk/

https://www.nspcc.org.uk

http://www.safetynetkids.org.uk/personal-safety/staying-safe-online/