Welcome to the new Year R!

We have enjoyed welcoming our first two groups of Reception children into school, and are looking forward to the third group joining us next week. It has been lovely to see how confidently the children are settling in, and they have all had lots of fun exploring the classroom- both indoors and outdoors.

The YR children enjoyed making 'listening ears' and going for a walk around school and the school grounds to find out what sounds we could hear. There were lots: we heard voices, musical instruments, water running, footballs bouncing, birds singing, cars, buses, an aeroplane and even a train!

Music themed day 29.9.11

Next week Bitterne Manor is having a Music Day - and we love our themed days in school!

A professional musician is coming in to work with each class with a focus on composing and performing. All the details can be found in the letter your child has brought home, so rummage through their bookbags if you haven't read it yet!


Next Thursday, the 29th September, every pupil has been asked to bring in some junk items in order to make their own percussion instrument. (In a named bag please.) Each class will be creating their own piece of music playing their instruments, which the children will then be able to bring home. If you'd like to come to help at any point during the day, please see your child's teacher. We'd love to see you!

Year 4's patio garden

Spurred on by our successful entry in this summer's 'Southampton in Bloom' competition entry, Year 4 have moved on from growing flowers. This year we will have a vegetable plot instead. We have now sown some winter vegetables, along with spring bulbs too. By covering the plots with fleece, we're hoping to deter cats (and small people!).

Green finger's crossed for a harvest later in the year!

Year 6 coastal visit

Year 6 enjoyed two fabulous trips to Milford-on-Sea as part of their 'Coasts' topic. They studied the coastal features and sea defences in the area. The weather was fantastic and of course the ice-cream tasted great!

Rosebowl Cricket trip

Some lucky children in year 3 to 6 attended a special trip to the rosebowl cricket ground. They were taught some skills and played some games on the pitch while a Hampshire Warwickshire match were breaking for lunch. Then they had their own special buffet lunch in a special room overlooking the match. Finally they helped sort some cricket kit to send to charity and the third world countries.

Year 4 visit Clausenteum

Year 4 have settled well into their new class. We've kicked off our Time Team project by exploring the local area in which we live, which was the Roman town of Clausenteum. It was great that so many parents came on our walk led by a local archaeologist, Dr Andy Russel. Two highlights of the walk were hearing that the skeleton of a Roman woman had been found buried on the rampart behind Rampart Road and seeing the house which found a bag of Roman coins buried in their front garden!



We look forward to our upcoming visit to Fishbourne Roman Palace. At the end of term we'll be celebrating with a Roman Day. Details to yet be decided!

Year 1 visit Blue Reef Aquarium!

Welcome back to Year 1! We began this week by exploring our new classroom and sharing our holiday stories through show and tell. We have also been completing lots of activities based on the book ‘The Sea Horse’ and ended the week by visiting the Blue Reef Aquarium in Portsmouth! We had the chance to explore the Aquarium and took part in a rock pool encounter where we found out lots of interesting facts! Unfortunately the Sea Horses where hiding but we had the chance to ask lots of questions about them. Well done Year 1 for fantastic behaviour on our trip!