This week has been jam-packed with learning and icy fun. 

We have been planning our Jack and the Beanstalk stories in English. We will be rewriting them with a Christmas theme and I am pleased and amused by some of the children's ideas:
Instead of selling a cow at market, Jack will be selling a micro-pig in a blanket. 
Jack will get magic sprouts instead of magic beans which will grow into a giant sprout stalk. 
At the top, he will find a gingerbread house with an evil elf inside and he will steal a golden advent calendar. 

In maths, we have been learning about angles and how we can use our knowledge of triangles, straight lines and angle properties to find missing angles. 

In science, we investigated with voltage and the effect this has on a series circuit. We tried different amounts of cells, motors, wires and bulbs to see what would happen. We also discovered that a circuit with a 1.5v cell and one bulb would still work even with 27 wires - it was a very dim light though. 

Have a great weekend!

Miss Burton

The children in Treyarnon class got to experience life as an evacuee child today. They came to school with their wonderful outfits ready to learn all about World War Two. 

We started off by creating pictures about the The Blitz using silhouettes and shadows. We couldn't resist adding a bit of glitter!

Then, we found out all about rations and how people had to be very creative with their recipes. With that in mind, we made some carrot biscuits using a recipe from the war. Despite being dubious at first, the children  all agreed that they were delicious. 

We have been learning about electricity in science and we have become experts at building circuits. We were able to use that knowledge to learn Morse Code and send messages and codes to each other. 

It has been a fantastic day full of learning and creativity!

We celebrated World Kindness Day by giving compliments to each other. We learnt what makes a good compliment first and why it is so important to be kind. Each child now gets to keep a list of shooting stars which are filled with all the lovely things people like about them. 

Embracing Nature

What a wonderful week we've had in Tregantle Class!

At Forest School, we embraced the beauty of autumn by making our own nature necklaces. The children carefully selected colourful leaves and threaded them to create unique pieces of natural art. This activity was fantastic for strengthening fine motor skills and encouraging creativity in an outdoor setting. It was lovely to see everyone so absorbed in the magic of nature.

Back in the classroom, we got into the festive spirit by making gingerbread ready for the Christmas season. The children practised weighing and mixing the ingredients, using all their senses to explore the spices and textures. The room was filled with excitement-and the delicious smell of ginger!

We've also been getting stuck into books! Tregantle Class have shown a real enthusiasm for reading this week, spending time in our cosy book corner and enjoying story times with both old favourites and brand-new reads. Their love of books is truly shining.

One of the highlights of our week was our trip to Saltash Cinema-our very first trip out of school together! The children walked beautifully to our local cinema and were thrilled to watch The Wild Robot as part of National Cinema Week. It was a memorable and exciting experience for everyone.

Well done for another fantastic week, Tregantle Class! Your curiosity, enthusiasm, and teamwork continue to make us proud.

Class Blog: Weekly Learning Update (Year 2/3)

We've had another wonderful week in Year 2/3, full of rich learning experiences and exciting events. The children have continued to impress us with their enthusiasm, resilience and growing confidence across the curriculum.

Class Assembly:
A huge well done to all the children for their brilliant class assembly this week! They made us incredibly proud as they shared everything they have been learning about 'What Was Important to Ancient Egypt?' From mummification to hieroglyphics, gods and goddesses to daily life, their knowledge shone through. Most importantly, they spoke clearly, remembered their parts, and supported one another beautifully throughout the performance.

Cinema Trip:
We also enjoyed a fantastic visit to Saltash Studios to watch Dogman. The children behaved impeccably on the walk to and from the cinema and were a credit to the school. They thoroughly enjoyed the film and happily chatted afterwards about their favourite moments - a lovely treat during a busy term!

Christmas Show:
Exciting news - lines for the Christmas performance have now been handed out and rehearsals have officially begun! Thank you in advance for practising lines at home. The children are already singing enthusiastically and we can't wait to see the show come together.

Topic - Antarctica:
Our learning about Antarctica was brought to life this week with a fascinating visit from Jay Gates, who has worked on a ship supporting scientists travelling to Antarctica. The children were captivated as Jay shared photographs, stories and real-life insights.
They learned about:

• The extreme climate and what it's like living in such freezing conditions

• The remarkable wildlife, including penguins, seals and whales

• Local scientists and explorers who have contributed to Antarctic research

• The different research bases found across the continent

• And even the meanings behind the colours of icebergs - something that truly amazed them!

The children asked thoughtful questions and came away inspired, ready to continue exploring this incredible part of the world.

Continuing Classroom Learning:
Alongside all these special events, we have continued our formal learning:

• Maths: Ongoing work on addition and subtraction, using place value to help solve calculations efficiently.

• English: Continued study of Jack and the Beanstalk, by writing their own versions of the story.

• Science: Further investigations into forces and magnets, beginning to explore how different materials respond to magnetic force.

It has been a packed and memorable week - well done, Year 2/3!

Thank You, Brunel Community!

A huge thank you to our whole school community for coming together to support Children in Need 2025.

Thanks to your kindness, enthusiasm and generosity, we raised an amazing £130!

From our pupils and families to our staff team, everyone played a part in making this a success.

Your support truly makes a difference, and we are incredibly proud of what we achieved together.

Well done, Brunel! 

#ChildrenInNeed2025 #BrunelPrimaryAcademy #SchoolCommunity #ProudToBeBrunel #TogetherWeCan #FundraisingSuccess

What a busy and exciting week it has been in Year 2 and 3! The children have shown wonderful curiosity, enthusiasm and teamwork across all areas of the curriculum, and we are very proud of their hard work. A flurry of snow was enjoyed for a brief moment today!

English

In English, we have been learning to become questioners-asking and answering thoughtful questions about the texts we read. This helps us understand stories more deeply and builds confidence in reading comprehension.

We have also continued developing our descriptive writing skills. The children have been working hard to describe settings in detail, use accurate speech punctuation, and begin planning their own imaginative version of Jack and the Beanstalk. We can't wait to see where their giant adventures lead!

Maths

In Maths, the children have been practising working across 10s and 100s. They have been using practical strategies and place value knowledge to solve problems and explain their thinking.

Class Assembly

Rehearsals are well underway for our class assembly, ready to share with you on Monday afternoon. The children are very excited to perform and celebrate their learning with you.

RE

In Religious Education, we have been learning about Shabbat and how it is observed in the UK today. The children discussed family traditions, special meals, and the importance of rest and togetherness.

PSHE

In PSHE, our focus has been on how families may look different from one another but are all important. The children shared thoughtful ideas about what makes a family special and how we can appreciate the differences between us.

PE

Our gymnastics unit continues. This week the children have been practising linking jumps and travelling movements, working on balance, control and creativity in their floor routines.

Art

Our penguin and Antarctic scenes are looking wonderful. The children are using colour, shape and texture to bring their icy landscapes to life.

Science

In Science, we explored forces and magnetism. The children enjoyed predicting and testing which materials are magnetic and how different forces can make objects move.

Geography

In Geography, we learned about the physical features of Antarctica. The children were fascinated to discover that Antarctica-despite all its ice-is actually classified as a desert because it receives so little precipitation. We explored its mountains, ice shelves, and unique climate, linking what we learned to our Art too.

Design & Technology (Sewing)

A real highlight has been our festive stocking sewing project. The children have shown brilliant perseverance and growing confidence, supported by some wonderfully patient parents and grandparents.
If you are able to offer your help with sewing over the coming weeks, please do get in touch-your support makes such a difference.

We look forward to seeing you at our class assembly on Monday.
Next week brings even more excitement with our cinema trip and a special visit from a real Antarctic pilot!

Have a lovely weekend, and thank you for your continued support.

A fun filled week! 

What a wonderful week we've had in Tregantle Class!

On Friday, we enjoyed a fantastic trip to Saltash Library. Visiting the library is a great way to nurture our love of books and reading, and the children were so excited to explore a new space filled with stories. We listened to a brand-new story and learned how to use the special machine to check out a book-this was definitely a highlight! Every child was able to borrow a book to take home for the week, and we're already looking forward to returning on Friday to choose new ones.

In PE, we had lots of fun playing with the parachute. We worked together to bounce and catch balls, and even turned the parachute into a cosy little den that we could all sit inside. There was plenty of giggling and teamwork!

Outdoors, the children have been busy in the large sandpit, where lots of imaginative construction has been taking place. It has been lovely to see everyone working collaboratively, building, digging, and creating.

During Forest School, we linked our activities to our class story Room on the Broom. The children gathered natural materials to create their very own magic wands. Each wand was unique, and the children were very proud of their enchanting creations.

It's been a fun, active, and creative week of learning. Well done, Tregantle!

A huge thank you to the large number of our wonderful school community who turned out for the Saltash Town Christmas Light Switch-On on Friday evening.

It was truly incredible to see so many Brunel children looking so smart, festive and full of Christmas spirit!

Our children sang beautifully, filling the town with the sound of Christmas cheer.

Their performances of Silent Night, O Little Town of Bethlehem and The First Noel were absolutely magical and created such a warm, joyful atmosphere.

They represented our school with pride, confidence and kindness throughout and their behaviour was exemplary from start to finish.

We are immensely thankful to every child who came along to perform and to all the families who supported this wonderful community event.

Your presence made the evening even more special, and it was heart-warming to see so many smiling faces joining together to celebrate the beginning of the festive season.

The Christmas period has officially commenced-and what a fantastic way to start!

We're excited to welcome families back for this half term's Parent Cafe at Brunel Primary and Nursery Academy.

It takes place this Tuesday at 9am.

This session will be led by Lucy King from the Cognition and Learning Team, who will be sharing helpful insights and support for our school community. Come along for a warm drink, a friendly chat, and valuable guidance. We can't wait to see you there!

We have had a wonderful week here in Lantic class where we have paid our respects for Remembrance day and created the most beautiful art work to display outside. We were very careful when we made our poppies.

In Maths, we have explored place value and learnt to count to 100! We have been comparing numbers using greater than and less than.

In English, we've been learning about Jack and the beanstalk, creating our own class story version which we rehearsed using actions. We have also been swimming every day this week which has been so wonderful and the children enjoyed this so much. They made so much progress it was amazing to see.

Next week, we will be getting lines sent home for the Christmas Play which is called 'The Fleece Force'. Be ready to receive lots of song lyrics to practise at home! Have a lovely weekend and we will enjoy more fun next week.

Mrs Scott, Mrs Quick and Miss Sleep.

Duckpool Update

What a busy week!

Firstly, it was Anti-Bullying Week, which we introduced with Odd Socks day on Monday to celebrate our differences.

We've commemorated Remembrance Day on Tuesday with a special assembly for everyone in our Brunel Primary community. There were poppies in abundance, which made a truly striking splash of colour on a dull November day.

There was also a cyber security workshop run by the RAF and organised by Miss Henning, which was a huge success.

Wednesday brought more excitement, for a group from our class went to Looe to film for next year's Beyond Paradise Christmas Special. Wow we can't wait to see it!

Then on Friday we supported Children in Need 2025 by collecting all our loose change to donate. Well, Duckpool, what a generous class you are! We were absolutely astounded by the amount collected. Thank you so much to our wonderful, supportive families. During the evening, we met at the Guild Hall for the Christmas Light Switch-on and the early chance to practise some carols. 

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Thank you for your continued support this week and your generosity for providing some loose change for Children in Need today. In addition, thank you to all the parents who joined us for our Remembrance Service on Tuesday; it was brilliant to all come together for this very special date in our country's calendar. Just a gentle reminder that we will be meeting at Saltash Guildhall at 5:15pm tonight for the Christmas Light switch on. We hope as many of our families as possible will be able to join us. In the meantime, please find this week's edition of The Brunel Bulletin.

Remembrance

What a wonderful week we've had in Tregantle Class! Our learning has been full of creativity, kindness, and music.

This week, we explored a poppy theme for Remembrance Day. The children showed such thoughtfulness and respect during our special service on Tuesday. It was lovely to see everyone creating poppies in so many different and imaginative ways - our classroom looked beautiful and meaningful.

In music, we had a super fun lesson using the xylophones! The children explored how sounds can move from low to high and high to low, and they did a brilliant job following the conductor to create loud and quiet sounds.

During maths, we've been investigating shapes with four sides. Using lots of different equipment, the children made squares and rectangles - it was fantastic to see their problem-solving skills in action.

Our writing skills are also going from strength to strength! The children have been using amazing firework words such as pop, bang, and whizz to make their writing sparkle.

To celebrate National Kindness Day on Wednesday, the children made heartfelt thank-you cards for all the wonderful people who help us in school - from our cooks to our caretaker. It was a lovely way to show appreciation and spread kindness.

Well done, Tregantle Class - what a brilliant week of learning, creativity, and kindness!