🌸 Signs of Spring & A Week Full of Learning

We’ve started to see the very first signs of spring over the past week, and with them have come some beautifully warm days. The children have loved spending more time outside, enjoying the fresh air and open space. There’s something about a little sunshine that brings extra energy and smiles to our days!

It has certainly been a busy week. With dance class, swimming, music, a field trip, and our regular lessons all packed into four days, the children have shown fantastic stamina and enthusiasm. They rose to the challenge and embraced each activity with positivity and focus.

In the classroom, we have continued working hard on phonics and mathematics alongside our Unit of Inquiry. In maths, we explored shapes and repeating patterns, while also continuing to strengthen our addition skills and deepen our understanding of base 10. We have now reached 31 in our “Number of the Day” and have been investigating what happens when we add 10 to a number. This can be tricky to wrap our heads around, but the children are beginning to notice patterns and see how numbers connect and fit together. It has been wonderful to watch their confidence grow as these concepts start to click.

In phonics, we focused on our “special friends” sounds and practiced reading passages that included many of the different special friend combinations we have learned so far. The children worked carefully to spot these sounds in their reading and are becoming more fluent and attentive readers each week.

As part of our Unit of Inquiry, we also explored street signs and discussed why they are important for keeping us safe. If you’re out for a walk this weekend, see how many different signs your child can spot and explain!

The highlight of our week was our field trip, which gave the children a real-world opportunity to apply what they have been learning. They practiced important safety rules when walking near roads and visiting the train station, and demonstrated excellent manners in a public place. Upon arrival, we carefully rode the escalator, making sure to step on and off safely. We visited the front of the station and counted the lanterns — be sure to ask your child how many there were!

Three station staff members, dressed in smart uniforms and hats, kindly showed us around. They reminded us of three important rules: stand behind the yellow line, do not run, and hold hands with your partner. We then passed through the ticket gates and went down to the platform, where we saw several different trains, including the impressive Shinkansen. The children were especially excited to hear about a “secret slide” at the station — ask them what it is used for!

One particularly exciting moment during our visit was watching the conductors at work. From the back of the train, we saw the conductor change over. The two conductors carefully exchanged a special key and saluted each other before beginning their new roles. The children were fascinated by this respectful and important routine, and it was a wonderful opportunity to see teamwork, responsibility, and procedure in action in the real world. 🚆

After thanking the staff, we had the chance to interview passengers in English. We met visitors from England, Australia, and Canada, and discovered that many had been skiing and snowboarding in Hakuba. The children spoke clearly and politely, showing confidence and wonderful manners throughout.

It truly was a fantastic week. We are so proud of how well the children followed rules, supported one another, and represented our school with such maturity and enthusiasm. Spring is off to a wonderful start! 🌷