Last week, every class at Minet Junior School visited Botwell Library. During the visit, library staff explained how pupils can use their library cards, not only to borrow books but also to access audiobooks and even loan sports equipment! The children enjoyed exploring the library and discovering the wide range of resources available to them. The visit helped encourage reading beyond the classroom and built excitement in the lead up to World Book Day!

On Thursday 5th March 2026, Minet Junior School celebrated World Book Day with a fantastic display of creativity and enthusiasm for reading. Pupils arrived dressed as their favourite book characters and brought along a book that they enjoy or that holds special meaning to them.

Throughout the day, children shared their books and discussed their favourite stories. Each class also held a costume competition, with winners receiving a book written by our visiting World Book Day author. We saw a wonderful range of characters across the school, including: Matilda, Mary Poppins, Willy Wonka and Harry Potter and friends. The children looked fantastic and many members of staff joined in the celebrations by dressing up too!

Children’s Mental Health Week is a special time for us to shine a light on the importance of looking after our feelings and supporting one another. This week, we are celebrating the fantastic work happening in our classrooms, where children are learning to talk about their emotions, build resilience, and show kindness to others. Our non-school uniform day, “Wear It Bright,” was a fun and colourful way to spotlight mental health, reminding everyone that it’s okay to speak up, ask for help, and spread positivity.

Last week, Minet Junior School took part in an exciting Kurling Competition against ten other schools – and we are very proud to share that Minet Junior School finished in third place overall! The day began with a group stage. The team worked brilliantly together, showing great communication and teamwork, and successfully won their group, which took them through to the next round of the competition.

Throughout the event, the children demonstrated determination, resilience and improving technique. They supported one another, celebrated good shots and stayed positive even when the games were close.

Anshjot said, “It was a really good day. I enjoyed learning new skills and it was fun to be on a winning team.”

Hana said, “It was a really nice day. I enjoyed working as part of a team.”

Mr Vijay wanted to give a special mention to Hana, who was our star player on the day. She showed fantastic accuracy, particularly when aiming at the opposition stones and successfully knocking them out of the target area. Her controlled and precise throwing made a big difference in several matches. Well done to everyone who took part!

During Culture Week, Year 4 delved deep into the vibrant traditions of Africa. It was a week defined by community and immersive learning. Our hands-on drumming workshop allowed children to explore African musicality through rhythm and song. A massive thank you to our wonderful parent helpers (guest speakers), who brought the magic of Somali heritage to life by providing invaluable first-hand insights into Somali culture. We were captivated by stories of Somali traditions, beautiful clothing, culminating in a joyful performance of music and dance that had the whole year group on their feet!

Across the curriculum, the children demonstrated great curiosity:

• Geography: We explored the concept of "Global Citizenship" by comparing life in the UK to different African regions. 
• Creative Arts: Our classrooms were transformed by vibrant animal silhouette paintings and intricate Somali-inspired designs.
• Computing: Using digital research skills, pupils celebrated the achievements of famous African pioneers.

Year 3 threw themselves into Cultural Week with real enthusiasm, exploring traditions, art and music from around the world. They kicked things off with an energetic drumming workshop, then dived into the vibrant world of Pakistani truck art, discovering the colours and stories behind these beautifully decorated vehicles. The class also became young researchers, investigating the UAE and creating their own fact files to share what they had learnt. To round off the week, they explored the Arabic alphabet and experimented with patterns inspired by Islamic art. It was a lively, creative week that opened their eyes to new cultures and ideas.