Whitehouse Common Primary -

Phonics: How to pronounce sounds (using pure talk)

Following requests from our workshops with Nursery and Reception parents, this video shows you how to pronounce the sounds.

This video shows the principles of RML and a speed sound lesson session in progress (12:05 - 15:39).

Whitehouse Common in the news!

Whitehouse Common pupils (and others from the Four Oaks Cluster) attended an event held at the Arthur Terry School just before the half-term holidays. During the event, MP Andrew Mitchell was questioned by the children, with issues ranging from what his job was like to environmental issues and student fees! An article about the event was in appeared in last weeks Sutton Coldfield Observer (dated November 4th 2011).

Foundation Stage - Fun in Maths!

Take a look at the video below to see a selection of the various activities that Nursery and Reception classes do during their Maths lessons!

 

TES Article

Congratulations to Mrs Stevens who has had an article published in the Times Educational supplement (TES). Modern Foreign Languages -Now you're talking, is about her language work with pupils from our school. We are all very proud of Mrs Stevens and all our pupils for working so hard! To read the article please [click here].

WHCPS on Twitter

Don't forget to follow us and read our tweets on Twitter! To view our Twitter page please [click here].

If you have a modern 'smart-phone' (ie iPhone, Android or WP7), you can receive our twitter updates direct to your mobile phone, meaning you can keep up to date with all of Whitehouse Common Primary's news while on the move! 

For more information on using twitter on your mobile phone [click here]. Of course you can still follow our twitter account the normal way by using a computer too!

Day Ten -Viernes/Friday Continued

Our last day in Barcelona was cold and wet. We spent the day at Els Pins where the children were busy preparing for the 'La Castanyada' celebrations in the afternoon. They made special masks and cones to collect their chestnuts and sweets. They created a large 'castanyera', a lady that sells chestnuts on the street, that was displayed in the entrance hall.

Some of the teachers joined Miss Kenny and I for tapas at lunch to mark our last day at the school. We bought Mar some flowers to say thank you for all her help during our time at Els Pins.

Then it was back to school to join in with the celebrations. The Year 6 children wore traditional costumes and shared out all the special food to the younger children. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Els Pins and have lots of lovely work to share with everyone at home. Hopefully I'll be lucky enough to visit again one day.

We wanted to make the most of our last day, so after finishing school at 4:30 we jumped back on the Metro and hotfooted it across to the Museu Olimpic I de l'Esport. This is a museum containing artefacts and information on the Olympic games. The Summer Olympics were held in Barcelona in 1992 and visiting the museum has made me really excited for London 2012!

After the museum we traveled back to our accommodation ready to catch the bus to Gerona airport. Our flight home was delayed by an hour but that gave us time to have something to eat before we got on our flight.

I feel extremely lucky to have been given the opportunity to take part in the trip to Barcelona and am sad to be home. Barcelona is an amazing city and Els Pins is a wonderful school that we are lucky to have links with. I am thankful to the British Council for providing the funding for the trip and to Mrs Allen for her support with my visit. I have met some great colleagues and look forward to developing links with all the schools involved in the trip in the future!

Operation Christmas Child

Once again, we are collecting shoeboxes, filled with toys, as part of 'Operation Christmas Child' which is operated by Samaritan's Purse. We had special assemblies looking at what happens to the shoeboxes and all children were given a leaflet, giving them information and ideas on what to include in their boxes. Pupils will get three housepoints for each box they bring in as well as a special certificate to thank them. Our collection date for the shoeboxes is Thursday 17th November. For more information about what happens to the shoeboxes please [click here].

Day Ten -Viernes/Friday

We had a lovely meal last night to celebrate the end of our successful trip. We were really pleased that Carmen and Isabel were able to join us. They presented us with our University certificates and gave me a letter for Mrs Allen. They also said that they had seen this blog and thought it was so good that they have put a link to it on the Barcelona University site! I'll have to make sure I mention that in my report, about the trip, for the British Council.

I had a delicious 'Arroz negro con gambas y almejas' which was black paella, made using squid ink, with prawns and clams.

We are looking forward to joining in with the celebrations at Els Pins later for 'La Castanyada'. The Castanyada is a popular traditional Catalan festival, celebrated on All Saints' Day and in the evening before. Traditionally, ‘castanyes’ (roast chestnuts) are eaten along with ‘moniatos’ (roast sweet potatoes) and ‘panellets’ (small almond balls covered in pine nuts). Historically, La Castanyada was to honour saints and dead ancestors. Whole villages would stay awake in vigil, and the church bells would ring throughout the night. The traditional, high energy foods were served up to prevent them from feeling ill from lack of sleep and the effort of ringing the heavy bells. Children at Els Pins have been busy preparing special food and decorations all week so I'm really excitied about joining them for their celebrations.