This year we have been developing our music curriculum. Firstly, all children have been having weekly singing sessions with Sam Evans since the beginning of the year. Over the past couple of weeks, classes have started to use our new instruments – ukuleles and glockenspiels. It is always exciting when we get to learn a new skill! Not only are we learning how to play the musical instrument itself; we are also developing ourselves as learners. We are needing to demonstrate determination, resilience, and teamwork to create a collaborative sound. The children will be sharing their musical masterpieces with the rest of the school in term 6.

In addition, we have had two other visitors this year. Earlier in the year we had a performance from the West of England Youth Orchestra. On Tuesday this week, years 4, 5 and 6 got to take part in Rock music workshops. During these sessions, the children learnt about key elements of music such as pulse and rhythm before getting to play a range of instruments. The children got to play bass guitar, electric guitar, drums, tambourines, and vocals. Using these instruments, the children were able to perform part of the song ‘We Will Rock You’ by Queen. They made an amazing sound!

As always, Newtown were noticed for their fantastic behaviour! All the children behaved beautifully and showcased some real talent, impressing our guests. We hope to see Danny and Rhia again in the future!

Mrs Dowler

During our Harvest Festival on 12th October, our families very generously donated non-perishable items for the Storehouse Foodbank in Trowbridge.  Our Youth Parliaments went along to the Foodbank to drop off our donations and talk with the staff about how the Foodbank works and how our donations will be used to help the people in our community.

Our children were lucky enough to be invited to the Bethesda Church for a Harvest celebration and our Youth Parliament representatives, Daisy and Michael helped with sorting out the many donations of non-perishable items for the Trowbridge Food Bank.

On Tuesday 21st July we said goodbye to our fabulous Year 6's at a socially distanced assembly on the school field. The weather was very kind to us!

On Friday 24th January Lucas, Ellie, Mia and Dylan from Year 6 joined many other schools in Trowbridge to take part in The Big Trowbridge Sleepout.  This involved the children staying overnight in the Town Hall with just cardboard to sleep on and a sleeping bag to keep them warm.  Whilst they were there, the children learned all about what it was like to be homeless and spent some time writing kind messages to the homeless community in Trowbridge.  So far they have raised an amazing £655.21! 

Last week the children from Sycamore and Maple classes returned to school for an evening of bedtime stories.  The children shared stories in front of the 'fire', drank hot chocolate and ate cookies.  Later on they investigated the school in the dark with their torches - it's a bit spooky at night!

This week we received a letter from Nick Gibb, who is the Minister of State for School.  He had written to congratulate the children on their exceptional reading achievements in Year 1.  It is rare that a school receives a letter such as this.  We are extremely proud of the children.  The staff always work hard to help the children with their reading, but we also know that the children

develop their skills so well because they have support and encouragement at home with their reading.