Dear Parents and Carers

Value of Responsibility

As a core value at Christ Church School, ‘Responsibility’ is something that we return to in much of the teaching and learning throughout the school day, both formally in lessons and on the many occasions and opportunities that arise. A key message that we always work to encourage all children to understand and adopt is to be responsible when no one is looking. Over the coming weeks we will again focus on this in our assemblies and we look forward to helping children to ‘live’ this value in everything that they do at school.

Sporting Stars

This week we hosted our first netball match of this academic year. Our team of Year 5/6 took on Headley Park primary school in the Ashton Park Sports partnership league. Well done to all the team and thank you to Miss Barsby for organising the game for the children.

Well done also to the Year 5 and Year 6 football teams, who played brilliantly on Monday, demonstrating our school values on and off the field. Next week will be the final training session for our Year 5 & 6 girls football teams as they prepare for their final matches in the school league. We wish them luck for their final week.

World Book Day Winners

Following our Story in a Jar competition on World Book Day, our winners visited Heron Book Shop in Clifton village, to spend their vouchers on their chosen book. Thank you to everyone who supported and helped with the day and the competition and to the school Governors who came in and found out about all the Jars and made some difficult decisions to choose the winners.  We hope that it has encouraged more of our children to pick up a book and read for pleasure. Jars will be coming home with the children today.

Parents Evening

Next week we look forward to welcoming you into school for our parent and carer evenings. We are looking forward to sharing with you, information about how your child is progressing through the school year, their successes and next steps, whilst answering any questions that you may have.

Red Nose Day

Mrs Richardson set a goal of £500 and we managed to raise £503.66! Wow well done Christ Church School! The children really enjoyed ‘Dressing to Impress’ and the Christ Church Circuit went brilliantly. Thank you to all the children who spoke so confidently whilst telling jokes. It definitely made for an enjoyable lunchtime!

Neurodiversity Week

It has been both interesting and an opportunity to learn more about how our children understand celebrating difference and what neurodiversity is. Miss Holland led a very informative assembly to support the children’s understanding. They have been learning about the facts and also thinking and talking about what life is like for a neurodivergent person. As adults, we know that our ability to accept one another for who we are and to learn to communicate and socialise in different ways starts during childhood. We are proud and impressed by the mature attitudes of the children during this week and we have all learned a lot.

Toys in School

I would politely ask that you please ensure that your child does not bring toys into school as these are not allowed. We provide playtime activities and are continuing to work with the children on the School Council to improve this. Thank you for your support.

As we close another successful week at school, we wish you all a happy weekend ahead.

Kind regards

Mark Oldfield

Inset and Academy days for the rest of the year (training for school staff - children are not in school on these days):

• Friday 23rd May - Academy day
• Monday 21st July - Inset day
• Tuesday 22nd July - Inset day

On Tuesday Miss Holland led an assembly highlighting the importance of understanding ‘neurodiversity’ and we heard different stories explaining what it is and how we can recognise and help others by being  ‘an ally’ to those who are neuro-diverse.

We then started learning about ‘People who help us.’ We have loved learning about the jobs that adults do at night whilst we sleep, and thinking about the jobs people do to look after us and keep us safe. We used junk modelling materials to make emergency vehicles. We used our knowledge of left and right  to make finger prints like the police officers do. In the outdoor area we dressed up as firefighters and police officers and built our own emergency vehicles to enhance our role play.

We really enjoyed the sunshine this week as we went outside to look for signs of spring in our playground. We saw blossom, daffodils and lots of new buds on the trees and shrubs. We also made observational drawings of daffodils using watercolour paints. "Butterflies" also had time to prepare the ingredients to make salsa and guacamole for the tasting table in the school hall.

We are really looking forward to starting yoga sessions with Carolyn which will take place on Monday each week. Please could children children wear their P.E. clothing every MONDAY and NOT on Tuesday from now on.

Many thanks for your continued support.

Mrs Petters and Miss Biancardi.

This week Year 1 had their highly anticipated trip to the Downs with Anna from the Avon Gorge and Downs Wildlife Project. The children had a wonderful time in the spring sunshine learning about the local wildlife that can be found just a stone’s throw from school. The workshop focussed on birds; the themes of reproduction and survival were explored through a trail which highlighted the difficulties of successfully raising new life from egg to chick. We learned about the wide variety of bird species and even learned how to recognise them from their unique songs.   

In science we prepared for our trip to the Downs by searching for signs of spring in our playground. We ventured into the woodland area to look for signs of new life. We found buds, blossom, blooming flowers and animals like birds and insects who have woken up from their long sleep or returned from warmer climates.

Finally, we have been doing a great job of eating them to defeat them! The children have been getting stuck into trialling new foods, flavours and textures at the tasting table.

This week year 2 have been learning about money in their PSHE lesson. They began by recapping the difference between a want and a need. They then explored and discussed different types of bank accounts and what their specific uses are. The children finished the lesson by designing their own bank cards! 

In literacy they explored what an advertisement poster needs to include and what its purpose is, children then went on to plan and write their own advertisement posters encouraging tourists to visit the moon.

In maths this week year 2 have been using weights to compare objects by using grams and kilograms. They went on to use different containers and water to measure in millilitres.

This week, Year 3 children put the finishing touches on their incredible 3D doughnut sculptures! After carefully painting their designs last week, they added extra details and decorations to make their creations look even more delicious. From colourful sprinkles to glossy glazes, each doughnut is now bursting with creativity and personality.

Inspired by the playful food sculptures of Claes Oldenburg, the children have shown fantastic imagination and attention to detail throughout the project. Their hard work has paid off, and we are so proud of their wonderful masterpieces!

Maths

Year 4 have been diving into decimals this week, stretching their brains by grappling with tenths in all their different guises. They’ve explored how numbers shift when dividing by 10, quite literally moving digits and discovering how place value plays a crucial role. Their hard work and determination have really added up to some fantastic learning!

Neurodiversity Week

This week, Year 4 have been embracing and celebrating the Brainbow in all its vibrant colours as part of Neurodiversity Week. Through thoughtful discussions, they have explored the beauty of our differences and developed their empathy towards those who experience the world in a different way. Their learning culminated in the creation of some stunning bunting, filled with ideas on how we can make sure everyone—no matter how their brain works—feels included, valued, and celebrated.

Literacy

In Literacy, the children took a virtual stroll through the streets of London at night, exploring the dazzling lights and bustling energy of Piccadilly Circus. Using this as inspiration, they created stunning illustrations to capture the atmosphere, bringing the capital to life on paper.

This week, Year 5 put their persuasive skills to the test in a lively debate about the most important legacy of Ancient Greece. The children passionately argued for democracy, architecture, language, inventions, and theatre, each presenting compelling reasons why their chosen legacy has had the greatest impact on the modern world. Well done to all our young debaters for their enthusiasm and well-reasoned arguments!

This week, we also took part in insightful lessons on Neurodiversity, learning about ADHD, Autism, Dyspraxia, Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, and Tourette’s Syndrome. Through engaging discussions and activities, they explored how different people experience the world in unique ways. The children reflected on the importance of empathy and thought about how they can support and understand their neurodivergent friends. It was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate differences, foster inclusivity, and develop kindness and awareness in our school community.

This week, in history, we have been learning more about the Ancient Greek Olympic Games. We discovered how the games began in honour of Zeus and explored the different events, including running, wrestling, and chariot racing. We also compared the ancient games to the modern Olympics and discussed how some traditions have lasted over time. Year 6 enjoyed finding out how the games brought people together and celebrated strength and skill.

Our large group collages inspired by Gustav Klimt, have been returned to school -they were in an art exhibition at Victoria Methodist Church - and are now proudly displayed in school, showing off the creativity and teamwork of Year 6!

On Thursday, we had a memorable and reflective Easter experience at the church. The visit allowed us to explore the story of Easter in a meaningful and interactive way. The journey began with a warm welcome from the church team, who guided us through a series of stations that helped us reflect on key moments of Holy Week. We moved through different parts of the Easter story, from Palm Sunday and The Last Supper to Jesus’ arrest, crucifixion, and resurrection. Each station encouraged us to think deeply about the emotions and decisions faced by those involved in the events. Through creative activities, storytelling, and reflection, we gained a better understanding of the significance of Easter for Christians today. The experience helped us appreciate the values of sacrifice, forgiveness, and hope that are at the heart of the Easter message. Year 6 returned to school inspired and thoughtful, with a greater appreciation of the Easter story and its importance. A huge thank you to the team at Christ Church Bristol for giving us such a special experience.

This week, we have been celebrating Neurodiversity Week! Our assemblies have been filled with inspiring stories of people who are neurodiverse and have overcome challenges to achieve their goals. We’ve learned about Billie Eilish, who lives with Tourette’s Syndrome, the brilliant author of the ‘Captain Underpants’ stories,  David Piley, who has ADHD, the space scientist Maggie Aderin-Pocock, who has dyslexia, and the young climate activist Greta Thunberg, who has autism. And that’s just the beginning—there are so many more trailblazers to discover!

We’ve also been reading stories featuring neurodiverse characters, helping us to understand different ways of thinking and experiencing the world. A big part of our week has been the lessons where we’ve learned about how people think, learn, and experience life differently. It’s been a reminder to us all that inclusion and kindness are essential for making everyone feel valued and understood. 

In Key Stage 2 the children have all watched the Brainbow video which explains more about neurodiversity.  It also interviews local Bristol children who share their experiences of living with different types of neurodiversity. If you would like to watch it again, the link is BRAINBOW VIDEO

On Tuesday, our tasting table for ‘Eat Them to Defeat Them’ featured avocados and tomatoes. The reception children made salsa and guacamole by chopping, grating, blending, and mashing. These were served with tortilla chips and pitta bread.

The tasting table was extremely popular, especially the guacamole. Everyone loved the triangular-shaped food—perhaps even more than the vegetables themselves!

We gave stickers to everyone who tried the vegetables, and some children were spotted with more than one.

We look forward to next week’s tasting table, where sweetcorn and peas will take centre stage.

By Sebastian and Cecily

Brunel House Captains

Adult Quiz Night - Friday 9th May, 7pm

The PTA committee are delighted to be hosting another ADULT Quiz night full of fun, facts and fizz (non-alcoholic options also available)!

Please sign up and join us - this event is a fabulous social opportunity too! You can come as a team of 8, or join a team on the night.

The QR code takes you directly to our new booking system, here you can book and pay for your tickets. This is a new system that we are trialling for this event with the intention to simplify the process for future events.

The event is held at the school - doors will open at 7pm and the quiz will start promptly at 8pm.

See you there!