This week in Class 2, it has been mostly about houses, homes and habitats.

In Maths, we have continued to dig deeper into Fractions. This week, we have learned to find a quarter and a third of not just shapes, but also amounts. We ended the week by using our knowledge of fractions to help us find a whole. In Literacy, we have continued to edit and polish the details of our setting description by adding adverbials of manner and expanded noun phrases.

In Science, we looked at different micro-habitats and where we might find them. Then we went on a glorious bug hunt in our forest school area. We wrapped up our learning with a very interesting discussion around why some of our mini bests prefer their micro-habitats. In History, we learned the details of the coronation ceremony in the UK. In RE, we learned about the Christian's view of forgiveness through stories from the Bible. We have also completed our block coding and this week, in our Computing lessons, we have all downloaded our codes into our micro:bits.

Finally, we ended the week with a really colourful Art lesson where we explored the art and architecture of Hundertwasser, the Austrian visual artist and architect. After learning about some of his fabulous buildings, we responded to some of his works in our sketchbooks. Please find below a selection of some of our sketchbook responses.

Finally, a very well done to:
> Ella for getting the Ready Award for coming back into the classroom with such a cheerful and ready to learn attitude.
> Finley for getting the Respectful Award for always remembering our class rules.
> William for getting nominated by the Positive Potato Police for the Safe Award for letting other people join in his game during lunch break.

Have a lovely May Bank Holiday weekend Class 2 families and see you all again bright and ready to learn on Tuesday 5 May 2026.

This week in Science, we have been learning about the different parts of plants and discussing the important jobs they do, as well as exploring the fascinating ways seeds are dispersed, including by wind, water and animals. The children have enjoyed making links between what plants need to grow and how seed dispersal helps plants survive and spread. In English, we have been focusing on writing speech, thinking carefully about how dialogue is punctuated and how it can be used to show character and move a story forward. In Maths, Year 6 pupils have been developing their skills with co‑ordinates, plotting and reading positions accurately, while Year 5 have been working hard to match fractions with their equivalent percentages and explaining their thinking clearly. We would also like to remind families that May Day dancing will take place on Bank Holiday Monday at the village hall just after midday, and we hope you can come along to support our fantastic dancers and enjoy the celebrations.

This week we held final rehearsals for the annual May Day celebrations. Starting at 12pm on Monday 4th at Harrowbarrow Village Hall, there will be music from Callington Brass Band, food, games and our very own maypole dancers. Hopefully, the weather will be better than the forecast currently indicates. 



This week, we also welcomed Sarah Parker-Clavier from the Cornwall Music Service. As music lead, Abi Fashman successfully applied for funding for each class to have music lessons to complement our music curriculum. The first lesson for the junior classes was about music tech; using GarageBand to compose music. Next week, Class 3 will be learning to play the ukulele and will be learning to play this instrument for the duration of the term. Perhaps, before the summer holidays, there will be an opportunity for 29 Year 3 and 4 ukulele players to perform to parents and carers!

Welcome back to everyone after the Easter break. We have a busy term ahead and will be sharing many of the children's wonderful learning experiences as they happen. This week, an invited group of Year 4 & 5 pupils participated in an art and sustainability workshop at the University of Plymouth. Well done to Joey, Harriet, Anoud, Elodie and Thomas, who worked brilliantly alongside children from two other Bridge schools. The headteacher from Brunel was in attendance and emailed me with the following message: 

We know how brilliant our children are but it is always nice to hear it from someone else.

Art
This week, I had the pleasure of working with Class 4 at the start of their summer art unit. This unit explores the work of designers and craftspeople. The point of our lesson was to make something from a fairly abstract prompt card. For example, they could make something that looked introverted, something that was shy, something that balanced etc. This allowed the children to design as they worked, so they didn't become fixated on trying to make something recognisable. This freedom, led to some very creative outcomes:



Reading
As we progress towards the annual summer reading challenge within our local libraries, there is an opportunity for children to meet local author Tom Palmer:


Sun Safety
In our assembly today, I reminded children of the need to keep themselves sun safe. I am sure we have all enjoyed the sun this week but we need to make sure we protect ourselves in the correct way. Please send your child to school wearing sun screen, with a sun hat and a bottle of water to ensure they are sun safe. Thank you in anticipation of your support.

I look forward to sharing more as we progress through the term.

It's been wonderful to see all the children this week and my how they have all grown over the 2 weeks! 

Class 2 have had a brilliant week back after the Easter break. As usual, we dove right into learning beginning with a new unit in Maths (one that we have all been eagerly waiting to learn) - Fractions. This week, we explored equal parts and learned how to find halves of shapes and numbers. In Literacy, we continued the unit on setting description. This week, we planned our piece and have begun writing our setting descriptions using our plans. We will continue writing our original pieces next week and learn how writers improve their writing by editing their original piece.

In Science, we have started a brand new unit this term - Living things and their habitats. This week, we learned the key features that defines a living thing, and learned how to use these key features to differentiate between things that are living, dead and things that have never been alive. In PSHE, we reminded ourselves about the Green Cross Code and used the dry weather outside to practice it on our school grounds. 

We have also started a new unit in RE with Miss Walker. This week, we listened to the story of Matthew from the Bible and looked at how Jesus was a friend to the friendless. In History, we learned about King Charles III and explored what kind of role he plays in our country and in the world.

We ended our week with an exciting Art session. This term, we are all becoming architects. We begun our unit by looking at what architects really do and the kind of amazing buildings that we have around the word because of the ingenuity and creativity of architects. Then, we took a walk around the school to identify some features and had an interesting discussion around why some of these features have been designed in our building. One of the key theme that came out of our discussion was around accessibility and why ramps are needed in a building like ours but not so much in our houses. Finally, we ended our lesson with a calm sketchbook session where we responded to visual architectural prompts.

Please note that this term, our KIRF focus is the 5-times table and related division. Children should have come home with the KIRF document. However, if you have misplaced it, you can download the PDF document from the link above (Year 2 Sum 1. pdf).

Finally, a very well done to:
> Theo for getting the Ready Award for his awesome writing during Literacy lesson.
> Isla for getting the Safe Award for being a kind and patient learning partner.
> Ivy for Respectful Award for being always kind and helpful around the school.
 

Well done to the group of children who visited the University of Plymouth today to take part in a fantastic art workshop. During the session, the children learned about early photography methods and explored how images were created before modern cameras. Using photo-sensitive paper, they produced their own beautiful pieces of artwork inspired by leaves and flowers. The work created was thoughtful and creative, and we are very proud of the care and focus shown by everyone involved. These artworks will be used alongside poems as part of an exhibition in October, which is very exciting. Above is an example of the work that was produced.

Back in school, learning has continued across all subjects. In Maths, Year 6 have been developing their understanding of graphs and charts, while Year 5 have been finishing their unit on fractions, focusing on finding fractions of amounts using clear and accurate methods.

In English, we have been studying a text inspired by Oliver Twist. The children have been exploring how authors bring characters to life through speech, thinking carefully about how dialogue can reveal personality, mood and relationships between characters.

In History, we have been looking closely at the design of the £5 and £10 notes, discussing why certain historical figures have been chosen. This led to some excellent discussions as the children considered who they think should appear on the £50 note from history, giving thoughtful reasons for their choices. It has been another busy and productive week, with lots of creativity, curiosity and excellent thinking on show. Well done to everyone for their hard work!

Over the past week, our class has been hard at work writing up our non-chronological reports inspired by the incredible creatures of Pandora. Using their imagination and carefully chosen vocabulary, pupils have created fantastical species, describing everything from unusual habitats and diets to fascinating adaptations and behaviours. We have been so impressed with the quality of the writing, and it has been wonderful to see pupils take such pride in refining their work. Some truly fantastic pieces have emerged, and these reports are a real celebration of creativity, detail and descriptive language. We are excited to be able to share this work with parents soon and would love to invite you in to read through the amazing pieces your children have been writing. Please look out for further details coming shortly about how and when you can join us.

Alongside our writing success, we also enjoyed some brilliant Rock Steady performances this week. Pupils impressed us all with their confidence and enthusiasm, particularly showcasing some amazing guitar playing. The performances were full of energy and talent and were thoroughly enjoyed by everyone watching. Well done to the whole class for another fantastic week of learning, creativity and performance!

Aaaannnndddd... that's a wrap!

What a glorious last week of the term it has been this week. We have had a full week of learning and performances and fun in the sunshine.

In Maths, we completed our unit on Statistics. In Literacy, we wrote and edited the introduction to our setting description. We cannot wait to continue planning and writing the rest of our piece next term. In Computing we continued exploring block coding by looking at how our algorithms look like paper chains. In DT, we finally finished our pouches and spent time decorating and personalising them with Miss Walker. This week, we took time to consolidate our Geography learning by celebrating the amazing world we live in. Please look at the larger photo below for a selection of writing from the children about their own world.

Besides all these learning, we also had a special treat from the amazing Rocksteady bands on Thursday. We finally had the chance to listen to the very talented musicians as they performed the music they have been learning as a band. We rounded off the week with an awesome Easter fun in the sunshine. We started the fun with an Easter animal race, which led to much laughter as the tiny animals seemed to have a mind of their own. Then, we headed out into the forest school for a special Easter Egg hunt which also served as a chance for us to recap some key learning from the term.

A very well done to:
> Emily for getting the Ready Award for making an effort to use a range of interesting adjectives in her writing.
> Lilly T for getting the Respectful Award for her amazing effort at improving her presentations.
> Jimmy for being nominated for the Safe Award by the Positive Potato Police for being a very good buddy in the playground.
> Isla for getting the London Achievement Award.

Finally, a very big thank you to the Class 2 family for your amazing support through this term. Have a wonderful Easter break. See you all bright and refreshed on Monday 20 April 2026.

Just a short post to wish everyone a very Happy Easter and share the last news items for the term.

PSA Easter bake sale and film night
Thank you to the Parent Staff Association for organising the film night this week. We appreciate the contribution our volunteers make to school events and the funding they contribute, such as paying for the space dome last week. Thank you to all those who contributed to the Easter bake sale. The range of bakes on show was fantastic; it was clear a lot of skill and hard work had gone into making them.



Class 1 Theatre Royal Trip
On Wednesday, Class 1 visited the Theatre Royal to watch a performance of The Enormous Turnip. This wonderful opportunity to engage with performing arts will help the children as they prepare for learning about growth next term.

Rocksteady Performance
Well done to our Rocksteady bands, who performed to their parents and carers this week. These lessons are very popular and it is amazing to see how Joe, the band leader, has developed the children's skills in such a short space of time. The performance was brilliant and it was lovely to see how proud the watching adults were.

School Nursing Support
For parents and carers who may need some health advice about their children, the school nursing service can be a source of support:


Cove Macmillan Centre - Fruitfly Collective

This Week in Class: Exploring Space, Solar Power, Fantastical Creatures, and Fractions!
What an exciting and busy week we've had! Our learning has taken us on adventures across Geography, English, Maths, and even into outer space. Here's a look at what we've been up to:

Geography: Finding the Best Spot for Solar Panels
In Geography, we've been using our problem solving skills to investigate the best place to install solar panels around the school. We explored:
• Which areas get the most sunlight,
• Where shadows might block the panels, and
• How the angle and direction of the sun affects energy production.
Everyone worked like real environmental scientists, thinking about how renewable energy can help our school become more eco friendly.

A Visit from the Space Dome!
This week became truly out of this world when the Space Dome arrived!
Inside, we learned about:
• The planets in our solar system
• What the constellations are like at the time of year in the night sky

English: Creating Non-Chronological Reports About Pandora Creatures
In English, we began planning our non-chronological reports about fantastical creatures from Pandora, inspired by the world of Avatar. We focused on:
• Writing clear subheadings,
• Organising information into sections,
• Using formal language,
• Expanding our vocabulary to make our creatures sound believable (and magical!).
We're excited to continue building these reports as our creatures start to come alive on the page.

For the penultimate week of the term, we have had a FULL week of learning adventures! 

To start with, Class 2 have been really enjoying our Maths lessons on Statistics. Even more fun was applying our learning in our Maths lessons in our Science and Geography lessons.  First, we used our knowledge of using tally charts in our Science lessons to record the changes in a young chick over 5 weeks and using available data to predict how it might change next. Then, we applied these same skills in our Geography lessons where we surveyed our forest school area for mini beasts. We then used our knowledge of block diagrams to display our findings.

In Literacy, we have started a new unit of work. This time, we are focusing on fiction, and learning how to write a setting description. In RE, we continued to explore the Easter story and related Christian Easter traditions. Class 2 have also successfully completed a whole half term of swimming lessons at Launceston, with Friday being the last lessons. They have had a lot of fun brushing up key skills and learning new skills to keep them safe in the water.

We ended the week with the most amazing morning at the space dome where we learned not just about our solar system but about some faraway stars we see in the night sky. We learned how to find the constellation Orion and how to use his belt to find the Greater Dog constellation. We also learned how to use the Great Bear constellation to help us find the North Pole Star. We even watched a demonstration of how the Pole star ALWAYS stays above the North pole!

Finally, a very well done to:
> Isla for getting the Ready Award for her amazing writing.
> Harriet for getting the Respectful Award for bouncing into class with the brightest of smiles and absolutely ready to learn.
> Freya for getting the Safe Award for being such a helpful friend and learning buddy.

Besides our weekly Praise Awards, class 2 have now added a award - the London Achievement Award. Children in Class 2 earn this certificate when they cross the number bonds stage of the Around the World Challenge and move on to the Times Table stage. So far, we have had 4 children who have been awarded this certificate. Ella was the first one to achieve it, closely followed by Sofia, Freya and Ivy. I can't wait to give out more of this certificate in the next term!  

As we approach the end of term, there is a race to complete lots of activities before starting again after Easter. Here are a few of the things that have kept us busy:

Design Technology
Class 4 children have been finishing their model playground structure designs. From measuring, cutting and joining materials to thinking about the aesthetic quality of different finishes, there has been a lot of learning over the last couple of weeks. Meanwhile, Class 3 have been designing model cars with the design brief that they must be able to assemble it from a kit.


Bridge Trust Singing Event
On Monday 16th, Year 6 pupils attended a Bridge Trust music event in Liskeard. Working with Canadian folk musician Luke Wallace, who writes songs about the environment, the children learnt and performed some songs before singing their own song, which they had been learning in the build up to the event. The Harrowbarrow song, Easy On The Earth, was written by Melissa Pinfield. She also accompanied the children on her clarinet in St Martins Church.

Songfest
Barrow Beats children joined pupils from lots of other schools to enjoy  singing together at the Sterts Theatre on Wednesday. This annual event is always popular with the choir.

Space Dome
To conclude our science learning for the term, the children enjoyed a visit to the Space Dome at the village hall today. Classes 1, 2 and 4 participated in a space workshop, whilst Class 3 learnt about light and sound. This fantastic resource brings science to life and adds an awe and wonder element that can make learning so magical. Thank you to the Parent Staff Association for kindly funding this brilliant learning experience.



Parenting Support
For a better quality version of the poster below, please see the noticeboard at the front of the school or pop into the school office for a copy.



Last day of term
A reminder that next Thursday is the last day of term and so children will need collecting at 1.30pm. We look forward to seeing everyone for the start of the summer term on Monday 20th April.

This week, Class 2 have been on so many learning adventures that we are absolutely exhausted and ready for the weekend!
 

We have finally come to the end of our unit on measurement in Maths. We have measured and compared length, heights, mass, volume, capacities and temperatures. There has really been an awful lot of stretching, walking, weighing, teeming and ladling in the classroom!!! Hopefully we have learned enough about measurement so that we can apply it to well in our portions masterclass later this term. On the other hand, Literacy lesson has been calmer as we have been writing the neat copies of our explanation text.

In Science, we looked at the life cycle of a butterfly in detail and learned some Tier 3 words associated with it - metamorphosis, chrysalis, pupa and larva. In DT, we been working with Miss Walker to design and plan our pouches. This week we have begun sewing them using simple running stitch. In Geography, we explored aerial photos of Harrowbarrow and used Google maps to zoom in on our school. We looked at OS maps of the village and identified key symbols used. We then used our learning to draw our own sketch map of the school grounds, identifying 6 key areas a visitor might want to find and adding them to the map. We also created our own keys to represent these key areas. In between all this, we also managed to learn about another Patron Saint - St Patrick. 

However, the highlight of the week has to be our second visit to Haye farm. It was a gloriously sunny day and we had oodles of fun exploring the farm again and meeting some of the new additions to the farmyard since our last visit. Please look below for some photos from the day.

A very well done to:
> Jane for getting the Ready Award for her hard work and amazing progress in Maths.
> Roux for getting the Respectful Award for his exemplary behaviour during our trip on Wednesday.
> Roma for being nominated by the Positive Potato Police for the Safe Award for checking on her friends during playtime.