Thursday 12th February - half term! 

We have reached the end of yet another amazing busy half term.

The children continue to impress us every day; their progression is wonderful to see on a daily basis.

We end of big question of What would it be like if the world were frozen? The children have worked so hard and had so much fun thinking about this question. They have explored so much amazing learning and especially enjoyed exploring lots of ice!

Our big question next half term is: Is there anything above the clouds?

We hope you all have a wonderful half term and look forward to seeing all the children back at school on Monday 22^nd February.

The Foundation Team 

What a fantastic half term it has been!

The children have worked incredibly hard over the past weeks, showing determination, enthusiasm and such positive attitudes towards their learning. We are so proud of everything they have achieved - not only academically, but also in the way they have supported one another, challenged themselves and lived out our school values each and every day.

We truly couldn't have asked for a better way to end the half term than with our wonderful trip to Cotehele. The children represented our school brilliantly. They planted saplings with care and determination, demonstrating excellent teamwork and responsibility. It was a joy to see them embracing the experience so positively and showing off their very best Brunel values throughout the day.

They were a credit to the school.

Now it is time for a well-earned rest. We hope you all enjoy a relaxing and refreshing half term break, and we look forward to welcoming the children back, ready for another exciting term of learning.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support.

See you after half term! 

We began our final week this term with our Wellbeing Morning - time dedicated to positive mental health for all. We completed our yearly RSPB Bird Watch and then took part in a series of activities: a book and a blanket, Lego, pebble painting, arts and crafts and hot chocolate and camp fire story-telling. It was a lovely morning; Tristan loved telling stories to the children in Reception and Y1.

We have completed our Midnight Fox 'write the story's ending' and then Miss Randle read the final chapters of the book to see if our written predictions were correct. We were thankful to find out that both the vixen and her cub were rescued and fled to safety!

In Maths, we are winning fractions, decimals and percentages and have worked hard this week to order, compare, convert and find equivalences. 

In our Wider Curriculum, we made 'Dracula Detection Devices' in Science - using pressure pads - to complete our investigation into circuits, created powerpoints on our fundraising charity and event and completed our Basquiat-themed neo-expressionism artwork. 

REMINDER
A letter was sent home today with with information regarding SATS club timings:
Tuesday (3:15pm - 4:15pm)
Wednesday (12:30 - 1pm)
Thursday (8am - 8:30am)
This is a great opportunity for the children to work through their SATS revision books and work together to help with any misconceptions they have.

That's all from me so have a lovely half term and see you all on Monday 23rd February.

Miss Randle and Mrs Clary.

Now we have reached the end of this half term, I'm not sure where the weeks have gone. The staff and children have been working extremely hard and everyone deserves a rest. Hopefully, we will have some better weather next week and when we return on Monday 23rd February. I was told it has been the wettest January on record in Cornwall and it has certainly felt like it.

Art Exhibition
At 3.20pm on Wednesday 25th February, we are inviting parents and carers to join us in classes for our latest art exhibition. Here is a taster of what you will see. Class 3 have been learning about art activism and produced their own artwork with a message they want to share with the world. Class 3 have been learning about repeating patterns and how they are generated for the textile and design industry. They have created their own. We look forward to welcoming you on the 25th.




Football Tournament
Well done to our Year 5 and 6 football team, who completed their tournament fixtures this week. A 5-0 win against Menheniot in the first match was followed by a narrow 3-2 defeat to South Petherwin in the second. I was very proud of their attitude, effort and teamwork. A special thanks to Jacob from Year 4, who stepped in to make up the numbers and support Rioch, Rosie, Belle, Seth, Alfie and Jayden. 

Half Term Activities
I look forward to seeing everyone again on Monday 23rd February but, in the meantime, here are a couple of ideas for half term:





Finally, here is something for the summer term:

 Hello Everyone,

What a wonderful end to the week we have had at Bodmin airfield!
We learnt all about the materials used to build the planes and how they are designed and made. We saw an incredible range of planes and even had a turn at sitting in the cockpit. 

This week, we have also been busy weaving landscapes using different materials in the style of the Cornish artist Caroline Saxby. 

In English, Year 2 have been finding features of recounts, while Year 1 have been improving their punctuation in sentences. 

In music, we enjoyed listening to different genres of music, which had the theme of flight. This included 'The Lark Ascending' by Vaughn Williams, and 'The Aviary' by Camille Saens Saens. The children used a range of musical vocabulary to describe the music and explained how the music made them feel. We then enjoyed some uplifting singing.

On Monday we spent time in our house groups, enjoying some fun and relaxing activities that the children felt improved their mental health. These activities included painting, bird watching, spending time outdoors, playing collaboratively, building, reading and playing games. It's always so lovely to see the older children in the school, helping the younger children in Penhallow.

We hope you have a lovely half term.

From The Penhallow Team

Spring 1 

Nessa Class

This half term, Nessa Class has travelled back in time to one of the most fascinating civilisations in human history: Ancient Egypt. The pupils have embraced the topic with enthusiasm, curiosity, and plenty of creativity. In English, they have been crafting their very own tomb raider adventure stories, drawing inspiration from the mysteries of ancient tombs, hidden treasures, and mythical legends.

To enrich their narratives, pupils even invented their own Egyptian gods, each with unique powers, appearances and symbolic meanings. These imaginative creations have helped bring their stories to life and deepen their understanding of Egyptian mythology. In history lessons, the class has taken a broad look at Egyptian civilisation-exploring everything from the daily lives of ancient Egyptians to their remarkable achievements in architecture, writing, farming and religion. Pupils have been particularly enthusiastic about learning how the Egyptians built their iconic structures and developed hieroglyphic writing.

As part of our design and technology work, Nessa Class stepped into the shoes of engineers, building impressive cardboard pyramids, sphinxes, obelisks, and sarcophagi. These models showcased not only their creativity but also their understanding of how and why these structures were important in Egyptian society. Alongside their engineering, the children also had the delicious opportunity to make gingerbread pyramids, combining baking skills with historical knowledge-an activity that was as fun to smell and taste as it was to build!

To complete the topic, pupils explored Egyptian art, experimenting with patterns, colours and shapes inspired by artefacts and wall paintings discovered in tombs. Their artwork reflects the bold colours and symmetry typical of ancient Egyptian style, and the pride they have taken in the final results is clear. It has been a truly exciting half term filled with imagination, problem‑solving and hands‑on learning.

Kensa Class

Kensa Class has journeyed much further back in time this half term, delving into the cold and captivating world of the Ice Age. Through this topic, pupils have gained an excellent understanding of the animals, environments and challenges of this prehistoric period. In English, the children have been working hard on their explanation texts, focusing on how Ice Age animals adapted to their environments. From thick fur and camouflage to migration and specialised diets, pupils explored a variety of fascinating adaptations and explained them using clear structure and technical vocabulary.

In art, the class has been learning the skill of weaving. Using different materials, colours and patterns, pupils produced beautiful woven pieces that required patience, resilience and fine‑motor precision. This practical craft offered a calming and rewarding contrast to the more scientific elements of their topic.

Geography lessons have centred on climate change, helping the children understand how climates have shifted over time and why changes are happening today. They learned about the impact of global warming, the importance of protecting natural environments, and simple actions we can take to care for our planet.

In maths, our Year 1 and Year 2 pupils have been working on multiplication, using arrays to help them visualise groups and repeated addition. By arranging objects into columns and rows, the children gained a stronger understanding of how multiplication works and built confidence in solving problems independently. It has been a thoughtful, creative and enriching half term for Kensa Class.

Storytellers Nursery

This half term at Storytellers Nursery has been full of exploration, imagination and meaningful learning experiences. Our theme began with space, which immediately captured the children's curiosity. Using paper mâche, they created their very own planets, carefully painting them once they had dried. This hands‑on creative work supported sensory development as well as early artistic skills. Alongside the practical activities, the children enjoyed learning the names of the planets and developing early maths skills by ordering them by size. This simple but effective task encouraged problem solving, comparison language and mathematical reasoning.

As the term progressed, we spent a week exploring emotions and feelings, using the beloved story The Colour Monster as our focus. The children learned to recognise and name different feelings, and to understand that all emotions are normal and can be talked about. Through discussion, play and creative activities, they strengthened their emotional literacy and began developing key skills that support wellbeing and communication.

To end the half term on a calm and nurturing note, the children enjoyed a special Spa Day. This included making and tasting a healthy fruit snack, taking part in relaxing and mindful activities, and spending moments of quiet interaction with staff. It was a wonderful opportunity for the children to unwind, feel cared for and build strong relationships with familiar adults.

Year Group Newsletters
To see what learning has been happening in classes, and what's coming up after half term, please take a look at the Year Group Newsletters emailed home today. Copies can also be found on the class pages of our website.

Year 4 Assembly
Congratulations to Year 4 for their wonderful assembly this morning. We were all taken on an historical journey with the Anglo Saxons and Vikings. The performance was fantastic, ending with a roaring rendition of a catchy 'Heave Ho!' song. Parents and family members were then shown the children's work before being challenged on their knowledge of multiplication facts using the iPads.

Scholastic Book Fair w/b 23rd February
We are excited to let you know that the Scholastic Book Fair will be taking place in school during the week beginning Monday 23rd February. Books will be available to purchase each day after school, and children can also use their World Book Day token towards the cost of a book. We can accept cash payments, or you can choose to pay online using a QR code provided at the fair. Please note, if there is only one copy of a particular book available, you will need to pay for your order, and the book will then be delivered to school for us to hand to your child once it arrives.
We hope you'll come along and enjoy browsing the wonderful selection of books.

PE days after half term
Please note your child's PE days after half term:

Nursery: Monday & Tuesday
Reception: Friday
Year 1: Friday
Year 2: Thursday (except w/b 2nd March for their week of swimming lessons)
Year 3: Wednesday
Year 4: Tuesday (except w/b 9th March for their week of swimming lessons)
Year 5: Monday
Year 6: Thursday (except w/b 16th March for their week of swimming lessons)

House Points
Congratulations to this week's winners, Puffins. Overall, Choughs are in the lead:
Choughs - 7185
Puffins - 6591
Swans - 6275
Cormorants - 5679

Parent Teacher Consultations (PTCs)
A reminder that the booking system on Arbor to make your 10 minute appointment closes on Monday 23rd February at 12noon. For parents/carers making appointments for children in Big Nursery, please note these will be on Tuesday 24th February only.

How to book your PTC appointment
1. Click on the Arbor App
2. Select your child
3. Click on Guardian Consultations

The system works on a first come, first served basis, however there are enough slots for each child's parents.

No teacher-led Extra-Curricular Activities (ECAs) first week back
Please remember there are no teacher-led ECAs w/b Monday 23rd February. Dance (Friday) will be running as normal. Pro20 will be starting again from Monday 2nd March in-line with the rest of our ECAs, which run Friday 27th March.

If you have any questions or queries about making your PTC appointment, please contact the school office.

St Piran's Day & World Book Day - Thursday 5th March
To celebrate St Piran's Day and World Book Day (on the same day this year), there is the option of your child wearing Cornish colours: black, white and gold or dress up as a book character to celebrate - or a combination of both! Please don't feel you need to go to any unnecessary expense; homemade costumes or keeping it simple is fine. Equally, dressing up isn't for everyone so if your child prefers to attend in their own clothes/school uniform, that is fine. Throughout the day, the children will take part in a range of book related activities including some paired reading with buddies in the opposite key stage over a hot chocolate and a biscuit. For this, we ask that each child brings in their favourite book to share.

Last day of half term reminder - today!
A reminder that today is our last day of half term. Tomorrow, when school is closed for children, we look forward to welcoming staff from across all Bridge Schools for a fantastic day of training and development with a focus on Neurodiversity: A Universal Approach.

Wishing you a fantastic half term break.
Best wishes,
Chris Wathern 

Happy Half Term!

This week has zoomed by! On Monday, we hosted a whole school wellbeing morning, where all the children participated in a range of mindful activities, as part of Children's Mental Health Week. One of these activities included rock painting, which the children found very relaxing. On Tuesday, we participated in Safer Internet Day, which focused on making smart and safe choices around the use of AI technology.

We finally constructed our toy cars in DT! All of the children worked so hard on their designs and demonstrated excellent determination. See if you can spot yours below! As a result of hard work, all the children independently made a moving car with axles and wheels. Well done Landaviddy! We of course had to spend some time racing with our finished products, which was lots of fun. 

In English, we have enjoyed learning the story The Lonely Beast by Chris Judge and developing our skills as writers, thinking carefully about our choices of vocabulary. We constructed character descriptions of the Lonely Beast which we will use for a missing poster. In Maths, we have been looking at the 4 times table, applying our knowledge of multiplication and division. 

Congratulations to Iylah for being noticed by Mr Langley as a Person of the Week. And a big well done to Lowen for achieving his 99 club badge this week. 

We hope you have a restful half term and we look forward to welcoming you back in school on Monday 23rd February 2026. 

Mrs Wilkie, Mrs Lister and Miss Colton