In our English lessons we have been learning all about biographies. Biographies tell the story of a real persons life. As it is black history month, we each chose an influential figure in black history and wrote a biography all about their life. We had to organise our paragraphs into the correct subheadings. Some of us even worked hard to publish our biographies! We are hoping to make a display in our corridoor for all to see.

Yesterday, in Year 5, we had a Dogs Trust assembly and workshop. We learned lots of new facts about dogs. Did you know that the top three most poisonous foods for dogs are grapes, raisins and chocolate? Or that a dog's sense of smell is so powerful that it can detect the level of sugars in a person's blood? They really are amazing creatures. We also learned lots about how to treat dogs with respect and how to behave safely around these wonderful animals that we share our environment with.

As a school, we have been working really hard to improve our joined up handwriting. We have been having three handwriting sessions a week to focus on the formation of our letter and perfecting our letter joins. If you would like to practise more at home, please use these details to log on to the letter join website. 

Letter join log in:

www.letterjoin.co.uk

Tablet log in:

Username: qr8527

Swipe code: a capital L shape starting at the top left 

PC log in:

Username: qr8527

Password: home

The whole school participated in a kindness seminar this week and we were all encouraged to spread kindness by our actions.  Pine class produced some beautiful cards for their friends, family and even teachers!  I can definitely confirm that their efforts produced a great burst of happiness across the school.

This afternoon, in Spruce Class, we have been learning all about having a growth mindset. People with a growth mindset believe that intelligence can be changed and developed throughout their lives. This is true - our intelligence is not fixed and our brain is a muscle that will continue to grow if it works hard. We will be working throughout the year to build our resilience to setbacks and to challenge ourselves to allow our brains to grow!

Throughout the past few months, a number of children across Year 5 have taken part in the Brilliant Club Scholars Programme. The children worked weeklywith a PhD university tutor on the topic of 'What is Fairness?' They completed a final assignment to showcase what they had learned during the sessions and to discuss this philosophical concept. Today was their graduation ceremony, where they received their certificates and grading for their assignments. Two of our children also read speeches about their experience on the programme during the ceremony and did a really amazing job of representing themselves and our school. We are so proud of all of the children who took part in the programme and demonstrated hard work and dedication.

On Tuesday, year 5 attended their last chess club session this year.  The group have been fantastic, sharing tips and techniques and always demonstrating excellent manners.

It has been a pleasure watching the children engage politely and avidly with each other.

Our last session was extra special as Riley O'Shea brought an incredible chess themed cake for us all to enjoy! It was as delicious as it looked.

A huge well done to Millie in Pine Class who won the Stevenage Borough Council run competition to design a poster with items that can be composted. Millie went to the council offices to meet the Stevenage Mayor and author Polly Owen to receive her prize of a wormery and a signed copy of the book Darwin’s Super Pooping Worm Spectacular. Millie’s poster was chosen from 61 entries from school children in Stevenage! Millie had a lovely time and was treated to a hot chocolate and biscuits from the mayor. Well done to all Fairlands children who entered the competition, I saw some fantastic entries across the school.

Herts Haven Cafés for 10-18s is opening in Stevenage.

Safe and Welcoming Spaces for Young People to Embrace their Emotional Wellbeing

Hosted by Hertfordshire Mind Network, these safe and welcoming spaces will offer compassionate face to face emotional wellbeing support and guidance from trained workers, without the need for a professional referral.

Workers at the Cafés will provide empathy and a safe space for young people to learn more about emotional wellbeing, ways in which they can keep themselves emotionally well and various ways in which they can better understand and/or express their emotions. Through open and caring conversations, they aim to create a sense of belonging and connection.

Practical help may include guidance on coping strategies, stress management techniques, and problem-solving skills. The Cafés will also provide a safe space and hardware to access digital support including The Sandbox and Lumi Nova, as well as opportunities to talk through alternative services.

Café is at Bowes Lyon Young People’s Centre, St George's Way, Stevenage SG1 1XY

Tuesdays (from 4 July) 3.30pm-8pm

Wednesdays (from 21 June) 3.30pm-8pm

Café staff encourage under 13s to be accompanied by a trusted adult and young people ages 13 and over can either go along on their own, with a friend and/or a family member. Drop-ins from young people will be accepted until 30 minutes prior to closing time, to allow time for the team to best support them.

On Wednesday this week, Year 5 attended a trip at the STEM Discovery Centre. We had a really fantastic day: exploring the many exhibits that the centre has to offer; creating our own alka-splat rockets; and learning all about Mars and the amazing Mars Rovers (we even got to see them in real life)! I'm sure we now have many children who are inspired towards a career in STEM in the future.