Year 5 joined the other Year 5 classes in the St Thomas More cluster for a morning of musical collaboration. Working together as a choir, we performed a range of songs and mash ups to a hall full of parents and teachers after only 2 hours of rehearsing. A huge thank you to the STM Music Department for their help and expertise!

Today, Year 5 had a FANTASTIC day! This morning, we were learning in Forest School: planting seeds, tools, fires, a tactical game involving water pistols and, as always, hot chocolate and marshmallows! This afternoon, we had the opportunity to try out a new sport - Badminton. Showing off our sporting prowess, Year 5 picked up the techniques in lightning speed to cap off a wonderful day of learning.

The Minnie Vinnies in Year 5 have taken on a special role during Lent this year - preparing and guiding the rest of the school through a series of Lenten prayer stations, Our pilgrimage this year took us all around school, contemplating the life of Oscar Romero and the themes of Lent in a still and prayerful way. Year 5 were mature and reverent in the way they helped our school to become an even more prayerful place.

As part of our Lenten journey, Years 5 and 6 worked together this afternoon in our sponsored activity - a water carry! With a full container of water at one end of the yard and an empty one at the other, the members of each team were given a plastic cup and tasked with transferring the water from one end to the other in a relay style. Despite our best efforts, we still found it tricky not to spill any precious water, which only increased our admiration for those in our world who have to travel and transport their water for miles every day. A huge thank you to all of our sponsors and to Year 5 and 6 for their efforts!

Today Year 5 visited the Centre for Life for a workshop named 'Destination Space' as part of our Earth and Space topic in Science. After a brief message from Tim Peake, we were tasked with working with tools wearing a space glove, operating a robotic arm and even investigating hyper-absorbent materials (in other words - SPACE NAPPIES!) After the workshop, we were free to explore the exhibitions - LEGO landmarks, The Brain Zone, a science show and a trip to the planetarium. Thank you to the Centre for Life for an amazing day! 

Today marked World Book Day and Year 5 impressed with their efforts in the costume department! From Pippi Longstocking to Gandalf, Clark Kent to Stig of the Dump, The Highwayman (Mr Colling!) to the Little Pigs and even Humpty Dumpty, Year 5 showed their passion for reading a range of different genres and that they love to dress up too!

Year 5 kicked off the start of a Year of Cycling at St Mary's (especially in Year 5!) with a visit from Ben for a puncture repair session. We are looking forward to learning more from Ben as the year progresses. 

Today we approached the end of our Advent preparations in school by celebrating a class liturgy to conclude our most recent RE topic, which was based on the theme of 'Hope'. Using Isaiah 9: 6 and the hymn 'Prince of Peace' as inspiration, the hopeful message of Christmas and the gift of light of Jesus taking away the darkness in our lives was at the forefront of our thoughts and reflections.

Congratulations to our Reading Champions over this half-term - who have shown an incredible enthusiasm and passion for reading in class and at home. Here's to crowing more Reading Champions in the Spring Term!

As part of our STEM week, Year 5 were tasked with creating their own Saxon shields from scratch - using cardboard! After creating our own compasses and battling with scissors, foil pots and a glue gun, we were able to add typical Saxon designs. Throughout the day, we approached our task like true engineers, scientists, artists and problem solvers. We must also say a huge thank you to Charlotte, our excellent guide, for the advice, expertise and most of all the amazing longboat that we later posed in!