1. Once Again it is the beginning of the new academic year. We have a busy and exciting time ahead and would like to take this opportunity to outline some of the activities to come and some procedures for Year 6 during 2008/2009. General Information There are two classes: 6F – Mr P Fitton, 6S – Mrs C Sherrington. Assessment As you may already be aware the end of Key Stage 2 SAT’s have been phased out over previous years. As a result alternative assessment procedures are now fully in place. Assessment will take place over the year and certain tasks will be used for assessment purposes which the children will be fully aware of. At the end of Year 6 a level for English, Mathematics and Science will be given on the basis of tasks undertaken and the teachers professional judgement. Parents will be informed of the levels awarded and offered the opportunity to discuss achievement when the end of year reports are distributed. Monday TuesdayGames WednesdayWelsh(6F) Art (6s) Art (6F) Welsh(6s) ThursdayPE (6S)PE (6F) FridayICT (6S)ICT (6F) Year 6 Timetable The Year 6 timetable is very busy to accommodate all National Curriculum requirements. The 2008 curriculum means that there is more flexibility in when and how subjects are taught. This is reflected in our timetable. Assemblies and Productions Year 6 children will take the lead in our Harvest Festival, take part in a Christingle Concert at the local church during December and perform an end of year production in July 2009. Parents / Friends are very welcome to join us at the local church in December and attend the end of year production in July. Parents of Reception / Year 3 are invited to the Harvest Festival as new parents / friends of the school.

2. Curriculum The Year 6 curriculum is very exciting and captivating. We study a range of topics throughout the year and here are just some: English – Shakespeare's “The Tempest”, Jonathan Swift’s “Gulliver’s Travels” and Nina Bawden’s “Carrie’s War”. Science – Forces (Gravity / Air resistance), How materials are formed, Recycling, how we see things, habitats, food chains and life cycles. Mathematics – Place Value, Multiplication and Division Strategies, Real Life problems, Mathematical Investigations. History – The Victorian Era and World War II. Geography – Cardiff Bay ICT – Multimedia Presentations, Controlling Devices, Spreadsheets and Graphics. School Trips We have several trips planned for this academic year. All trips are curriculum based and from previous experience enhance the curriculum greatly. Costs are an approximate guide and further information and permission slips will be provided nearer the time: London (The Globe Theatre) linked to English and Shakespeare's “The Tempest” - £25.00 (approximate figures only) Cardiff Bay (Welsh Assembly, Boat Trip and lunch at Harry Ramsdens) linked to Geography - £15.00 (approximate figures only) Crucial Crew (Road Safety Activities) linked to PSHE – Free Wings to Fly Theatre Trip linked to PSHE – Free Ynys Hywell Outdoor Pursuits Centre (A range of outdoor pursuits including Mountain Biking, Ab-Sailing, Rock Climbing and Orienteering - linked to PE / Games - £15.00 PE / Games PE will be undertaken on a weekly basis and our PE day is Thursday. Kit will be required on this day every week. The PE kit consists of a plain t- shirt and plain shorts / tracksuit bottoms. Games is undertaken every week. Our Games day will be Tuesday and we advise that kit is brought into school every Tuesday. Kit consists of plain t-shirt or long sleeve sports top in Winter, Plain shorts or Tracksuit bottoms and a pair of trainers. Kits can be stored in the cloakroom areas and taken home every few weeks for washing. PE and Games are a statutory requirement of the National Curriculum and therefore all children must participate. Children can be excused for medical reasons only on receipt of a note from parents. If a note is not received children will need to participate. All notes are kept as a record of attendance. Homework Mathematics: Task usually given on a Friday and due on the following Monday. Further tasks may be given during the week on occasions. The homework given will usually mirror what has been undertaken during the week. Children may use any strategy they find beneficial and please feel free to explain any strategies that you may have for completing the work. Literacy: Spellings will be given out every Monday and the test will be on the Friday. A spelling task may accompany the spellings in the form of sentences etc Topic and Task Completion: On occasions children may be asked to research and present a topic as a form of Independent study. It may be necessary for some class work to be brought home for completion. We ask for your support regarding this matter. Children will be provided with a homework book / diary where all tasks can be completed and a record of homework noted. Parents are asked to sign the pupils homework book / diary. We will notify you if homework is repeatedly late or not completed. If the homework cannot be completed for any reason children are asked not to worry but to simply bring the uncompleted work with a note to explain. We simply ask for children to “give it a go!”