We also welcomed three work experience students - Bridgette, Ellie and Elysia; all previous Trinity pupils - it was lovely to have them back and we hope we have inspired some future generations of teachers as a result of their experience!

We were extremely proud and impressed of our Year 6 pupils during SATS week - every single pupil tried their best and showed a wonderful attitude towards the assessments. I also wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you to our governor and parent volunteers who enabled us to provide everyone with the best environment possible to concentrate and achieve their best with the right arrangements suited to their learning styles. We are really grateful for this support from our wider Trinity community.

We have also been busy with recruitment this term. I am delighted to share that we have made two appointments for the upcoming maternity covers for Miss Parkinson and Mrs McIntosh. We are thrilled to be welcoming Mrs Charlotte Ashworth and Mrs Susan Shaw to our team from September. Both experienced teachers who will bring a wealth of experience and expertise.

I am delighted to share that our overall school attendance has risen this term to 95.9%. However, we would like this to be higher. We continue to focus on ensuring we are supporting any pupils or families who are at risk of low attendance. High attendance is so imperative for pupils to be successful at school and we have further explanation around this on our website page - Attendance.

We will be rounding off this term with the Silver Mayor of Henley Expedition, our class photos on Thursday and the Spring Fun Run raising money for The New Brainstorm School on Friday. I hope everyone has a lovely half term break and we look forward to seeing you back and ready for the final term.

COWELL - Henry R, Maggie, Eva and Arina

COEHLO - Caden, James, George and Grace

PILKEY - James, Jamie, Nieve and Max

PALMER - Jesse, Harry, Jude and Celeste

ZEPHANIAH - Evie C, Lucas, Max H and Poppy P

RUNDELL - Casian, Emily C, Arlo and all of Year 6

This term in Phonics we have been working on Phase 4, using our understanding of Trigraphs and Digraphs to read words. We have been working on blending the sounds to read such words as snapping, jumping and walking. We have continued to build on our Tricky word bank, with words such as out, were and are. 

In Maths, we have continued to work on consolidating our understanding of numbers to 20. Identifying missing numbers to 20 and what number comes before or after any given number to 20. 

In writing we have been looking at the story We are going on a bear hunt and identify different words to describe walking through the woods and mud. WE then wrote our own version of the story. 

In Learning Means The World our topic was Come fly with me. We looked at what life is like living in Japan. We then moved to Russia, where we had a presentation about Russia from one of our teachers. She taught the children how to write their names, read them a Russian story and taught them a Russian song. We then moved onto Egypt and looked at the Pyramids and Sphinx. 

We have now moved onto our new LMTW topic which is Under the Sea, in which we will look at what animals live under the sea and write a fact file about one of them. 

Last week Reception had a wonderful day at Beale Park. We started the day with a workshop about insects. We learnt all about the different kinds of insect they have at the park and the children were able to touch. 

This term, the children completed their English unit inspired by The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark. It was a joy to see their enthusiasm as they planned and wrote their own imaginative stories based on the book. Teachers have thoroughly enjoyed reading the children’s work and were impressed by their use of dialogue, repetition, adverbs, and adjectives to bring their writing to life. We have now launched into our next English adventure with The Crow’s Tale, where the children will be exploring the structure and features of fables as they learn to craft their own meaningful stories with a moral.

During their Learning Means The World lessons, the children have been deeply engaged in discovering the fascinating life and work of the Jurassic fossil hunter, Mary Anning. They were captivated by her incredible fossil discoveries and enjoyed delving into the science behind how fossils are formed through the process of fossilisation. Building on their previous knowledge of physical features, the children also began to explore the differences between physical and human features, making thoughtful comparisons and observations along the way.

We have now begun our next unit, where the children will be learning about the incredible life of record-breaking explorer Ranulph Fiennes. They will explore what he is famous for and why he is considered one of the world’s greatest living explorers. Through this unit, the children will develop an understanding of what makes Ranulph Fiennes such an inspirational historical figure and reflect on the qualities that define determination, bravery, and perseverance.

We’ve had an exciting and active term so far in Lower Key Stage 2!

Outdoor Learning & Sport

The children have loved being outdoors this term, especially during Cricket with Zak from Henley Cricket Club and Tennis with Tom from Henley Tennis Club. It’s been great to see so many children building their ball skills and showing natural talent—especially those who also play at the local clubs. Forest School sessions with Mrs Chilvers have continued to be a highlight, with slacklining and tree climbing being particular favourites!

Maths Across the Classes

In Cowell Class, children have been working hard on length and perimeter—even applying their skills to round and curved shapes! They’ve also added and subtracted fractions with the same denominator, found fractions of amounts, and are now moving into weighing and measuring. Practical activities at home, like weighing ingredients using grams and kilograms or measuring liquids in millilitres and litres, would really support their learning.

In Coelho Class we have been exploring fractions in depth, looking at the different types of fractions and understanding the relationship between proper fractions, improper fractions and mixed numbers. We have learnt some actions to help us remember how to convert between mixed numbers and improper fractions. We are looking forward to a short unit on measurement and perimeter before returning to more fractions.

Pilkey Class have explored fractions in depth and are now working with decimals. Using number lines and place value mats has helped them visualise these concepts, and they’re now moving on to adding and subtracting decimals, followed by hundredths and money.

Reading & Writing

It’s wonderful to see many children becoming free readers! Popular authors include Holly Webb, Caroline Lawrence, Dav Pilkey, Jaqueline Wilson and Katherine Rundell. Cowell class have been reading The Thieves of Ostia—the first in the Roman Mysteries series, which many are enjoying.

In Writing, we’ve just completed a diary module from the perspective of a Roman slave. Children then created their own diary entries, imagining Roman banquets or Gladiator events at the Colosseum. They’ve worked hard to include a range of features: exclamation marks, rhetorical questions, time adverbials, similes, metaphors, and inner thoughts.

Learning Means the World

Our afternoon topic this term is ‘Cry Freedom’. The children have shown real empathy while learning about slavery across history—from the Americas and Europe to Africa. Their thoughtful questions and discussions show a deep concern for injustice. We will end the unit by exploring modern-day slavery and how people are still affected today.

Thank you for your continued support with reading, spelling and Doodlemaths at home, and a special thank you to all the parent volunteers that helped out for Forest School. We’re looking forward to a strong finish to the term.

Term 5 has been brief, busy and very varied in UKS2.  The highlight has to be the 80th anniversary of VE day celebrations, with the children coming to school dressed in red, white and blue, observing the national 2 minute silence and taking part in a range of poignant and exciting activities - our class school council representatives also did a fantastic job representing the school at The Town Hall event in Henley.

Our Learning Means the World lessons have covered the animals and plants of the Kruger National Park in South Africa, the topic of diversity and apartheid laws, biomes, Martin Luther-King and the Jim Crow laws in 1950s and 1960s USA. We have a sequence of music lessons coming up to complete this unit.

In English, Year 5 have been exploring the book 'The Lion Above the Door'. Inspired by its themes, the children have begun writing their own stories from the perspective of a child who has moved to England from another country. These narratives focus on personal experiences and include the use of dashes, colons, and speech marks to strengthen their writing. We'll be ending the term with a powerful speech-writing project, where pupils will present to the class on the vital roles of women and other cultures during the war. 

Year 6 continue to work hard towards the end of KS2 writing assessment, covering a number of different genres and objectives including: a non-chronological report about the plant Pandora; a short adventure story 'The door to ...' and a pep talk letter addressed to year 5!

In Maths, all 3 classes have been focussing on their arithmetic skills - using mental strategies and working at pace. The children have all made great progress this term, supported by their endeavours at home on doodlemaths. The key topics that we have covered include: performing the 4 operations with decimal numbers; perimeter, area and volume; position and direction; scale and ratio and a range of geometry objectives. SATs revision has been the focus for our Year 6 pupils this term.

Our PE sessions this term have been developing our game knowledge and coordination skills in net and wall games such as volleyball and handball - it has been lovely to be outside in the sunshine this term and the children's teamwork skills have really progressed. Year 5 have also enjoyed their swimming lessons this term where we have seen a great increase in confidence and competence over the 4 sessions - the water safety and self-rescue survival session was particularly valuable. Thank you very much to the parent helpers who have supported these lessons.

As we say goodbye to the SATs for another year, the final week of term will see Year 6 begin preparations for their end of year production which will be Matilda Jnr - they will also commence an enterprise project kindly supported by FOTS and facilitated by Jo McGinn. 

We all have much to look forward to next term, including the Year 5 trip to Hill End and the Year 6 residential. It has been a fantastic term of learning - well done to all our students and especially to Year 6 who showed great resilience and focus during their week of assessments. 

In KS1, we have been enjoying our lessons entitled 'Run, Jump, Throw'. We have been learning how to throw underarm and overarm, considering the power we put behind a throw, how to jump correctly using our arms to propel us forward and how to remain balanced, as well as how to run as fast as Usain Bolt by keeping our eyes forward and using our arms.

In LKS2, as well as tennis with Tom on Mondays, we have had the pleasure of being taught by Zac from Performance Sports and learning how to bat and bowl with accuracy in cricket. Here are a few photos. 

In UKS2, children have been learning the skills involved in net and wall games as well as swimming in Y5. UKS2 are enjoying lessons led by Mr Brown from MNR on both Mondays and Wednesdays.

Outside of school, on Sunday 18th May several families came together at Stonor Park to run 340m (EYFS), 780m (KS1), 920m (LKS2) or 1850m (UKS2 and adults). Trinity children (and parents) did remarkably well and there were several Trinity families on the podium. A huge well done to everyone who participated, and a special mention to Oscar who encouraged his sister, in Y1, all the way around the course, even running alongside as she came in first. It was fantastic to see so many Trinity families taking part - next year, let’s try for the trophy with the most participants from one school. Well done everyone.

VE Day Commemoration & Fundraising Success

To mark the 80th anniversary of VE (Victory in Europe) Day, Trinity pupils came to school dressed in red, white and blue. The afternoon was filled with meaningful learning as children explored the significance of VE Day through a range of engaging activities. These included making celebratory bunting, creating blackout poetry, writing newspaper reports, and producing thoughtful artwork.

We are thrilled to share that, thanks to your incredible generosity, we exceeded our fundraising target for the Royal British Legion Industries. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who donated!

While the rest of the school marked the occasion in colourful dress, our school council took a step back in time, coming dressed as 1940s children to attend a special celebration at the Town Hall. Alongside other local primary schools, they explored wartime artefacts, experienced what an air raid siren would have sounded like, and learned what life was like during the Second World War. The day ended with a traditional meal of fish and chips — a favourite of the time. The children thoroughly enjoyed the experience and brought their learning back to share with their classmates.

Spring Fun Run for New Brainstorm School, Uganda

We’re excited to announce that on the final day of term, Trinity pupils will be taking part in a Spring Fun Run to raise funds for New Brainstorm School in Uganda, supported by our partner charity, Empower a Child.

Children will be running throughout the day in a joyful celebration of fitness and community spirit, aiming to raise £500 to support students and teachers at New Brainstorm School. If you would like to support their efforts, voluntary donations can be made via: friendsoftrinityschool.com/event-details/trinity-spring-fun-run

Every pound raised will help build a brighter future for our friends in Uganda — thank you for your continued support and generosity.