Week Ending 21st June 2013

At last some sunshine this week!  The allotment has sprung to life, as have the flower beds around our School, giving a warm welcome to old and new visitors.  Lots of exciting lessons have been held outdoors.

On Wednesday evening parents came to a presentation about our year five / six plans and expectations.  The evening was also an opportunity for parents to discover which class children would be in for the the academic years 2013/2014, and with which teachers.  Mrs Healy and Mr Wallis provided a delicious range of mini quiches, tempting pineapple upside down cake, and hearty bread pudding.  There was an exciting selection of science experiments, with the "Big Bang" probably being the favourite.

Badgers have been working hard on their Enterprise Extravaganza, for the Summer Fayre.  Rabbits have been overrun by wood lice, who moved even faster than some of our Marathon runners!  Squirrels have been studying Mother Teresa, and were all awarded their own Nobel Peace certificates for specific kind deeds.  Otters have had a busy week doing their Phonics Tests, but have also had a lot of fun creating lovely paper mache heads!

Hedgehogs have moved most things into their new room, and are settling into their bright environment.

Hamsters have enjoyed outdoor fun in the sun.

Remember: Summer Fayre on Saturday 12.00 - 3.00pm.

Week Ending 14th June 2013

Another busy week has flown by, with a very special day trip for the whole School, to Stockwood Park.

Coaches arrived early, and our children set off in sports kit (with packed lunches), full of anticipation and excitement.  Soon we arrived at our venue, and found our seating areas.  The track was amazing and it all felt as though it was an Olympic event!

Here is a sample of photos of our SPORTING DAY!

Week Ending 7th June 2013

The last half-term of the School year has begun, and we have welcomed five new children!

On Wednesday, our Key Stage Two children went swimming for the first time this year, and had an enjoyable morning at the pool.

Choices on Thursday offers some new topics, and all children will rotate to a new choice.  Next Tuesday, there will be a 9 o'clock Sharing assembly, when children celebrate their achievements with invited guests.

Friday was a non-uniform day, when the children were able to wear their own clothes to school in return for bringing in an item for the School Summer Fayre.  We now have a fantastic selection of bottles and sweets for our tombolas, so thank you to everyone for your support - we are looking forward to a successful day on 22nd June!

Some important dates for your diary:

Tuesday 11th June - Sharing Assembly
Thursday 13th June - Stockwood Park Sports Day
Monday 17th June - Fire Brigade Visit Year 2s
Wednesday 19th June - Primary Open Evening
Saturday 22nd June - Summer Fayre
Week Beginning 24th June - National Sports Week
Wednesday 26th June - Visiting Speaker on Healthy Foods
Saturday 6th July - Village Carnival
Week Beginning 8th July - International Week
Tuesday 9th July - Open Afternoon 3.30 - 5.00pm
Monday 15th July - Hedgehogs and Otters Sports Day
Tuesday 16th July - Disco
Friday 19th July - End of Term and Games Day

Week Ending 24th May 2013

The wonderful highlight of this week was our Main School outing to London.  Coaches left School at 9 o'clock, and arrived by the River Thames at 11 o'clock.  Our transport was ready and waiting... so off we went!

 

 Having seen and photographed all the sights, we then hopped back into the coach for a trip to Trafalgar Square, and the National and Portrait Galleries.  The children all enjoyed looking around the galleries, and particularly liked the pictures of the younger members of our Royal Family (William, Kate and Harry) and the portrait of David Beckham asleep!  We were delighted that gallery staff commented on how well behaved our children were - well done children, you were a credit to our school!

The day in the words of one of our Year Two children:
       "On Wednesday we went to London. First we got on coaches and went to London. We went on the M1. When we arrived at London we got on a boat. We saw lots of famous buildings like Big Ben, London Eye, The Gerkin, The Shard, Tower Bridge and lots more! Then we ate our lunch then we got off and got on coaches to the National Gallery and saw alsorts of famous pictures and sculptures. Some pictures were African, some were Indian and lots more countries. It was FANTASTIC! Then we went back home.!

Week Ending 17th May 2013

The kitchen has been extra busy this week, when some of the older children attended after school Cookery club on Tuesday afternoon.  The children made fresh strawberry fruit jellies and were taught the scientific processes of dissolving and filtering, then decorated shortbread biscuits with a selection of icing.  The children worked like professional chefs and had a lovely time.

Cookery Club is open to all Key Stage two children - great value at £2 for an hour of cookery instruction with two teachers - ingredients included - and your child gets to take home what they prepare!

Hedgehogs also enjoyed some cookery fun - they made tasty, healthy fruit smoothies, which tasted delicious!

Badgers Class have been investigating portraiture, as part of our "All About Me" theme, and have created their own self-portraits inspired by the artist Henri Matisse.  They have also been looking at celebrations from different cultures and have shared their experiences of weddings and other celebrations that they have attended.

There was great excitement once again on Thursday afternoon, as our Choices visitor was a lady from the "Birds of Bray," who brought along four owls - two British and two from South America.  The children enjoyed learning all about birds of prey from the UK and abroad, asked lots of question, and were all lucky enough to be able to hold an owl.  It was a truly marvellous experience for the children in this group.

Meanwhile, the Science Choices group had a wonderful time making things explode!  Everyone was asked to stand well back and wear safety goggles... because when mint sweets are added to cola, this is what happens...!

All the science experiments that the children have enjoyed this term, including the coke fountain, can be bought from www.samssimplescience.co.uk.

Reminder: School Trip on the River Thames - next Wednesday!

Week Ending 10th May 2013

Another busy week has flown by!

Everyone has been working hard decorating the classrooms and corridors, making our School look very exciting and invigorating!

Year Two children have been completing SATs tasks, and doing their very best English work.  Well done Year Two children!

During Choices, we have been lucky enough to have the opportunity to meet, and listen to talks, by a policeman, a diver, and a batman!

(We have been asked to point out a very significant error in last week's blog: as any diver knows, the cylinders used in diving contain air rather than oxygen!  We apologise for a potentially lethal mistake!)

Our new classrooms are virtually complete, so will soon be ready to be furnished and decorated internally.  A very exciting development for our School.

The School trip on the River Thames will be a wonderful finale to this half term - how unique, to travel on a boat, exclusively for our Academy!  Aren't we lucky?

Week Ending 3rd May 2013

This week, there have been two very unusual visitors to our School.  The first, on Wednesday, was Sidney the Skeleton, who looked as though he should be joining diners for a substantial School Dinner!

The second, was an amazing diver, who "flip-flopped" up the corridor to Rabbits Class, complete with oxygen cylinder on his back!

It has been a busy week for visitors, all the rest of whom were rather "normal", ranging in age from nine days old to ...?!!

Our Hall board has changed... the theme is "Our Portraits", so do see if you can spot anyone you know next time you pop in.

The corridor is full of owls, who are all friends of "Plop the Owl", who is perched on a Spring blossom tree, as he surveys the Parliament of Owls.  (It's amazing what a brown paper bag can become!)

Rabbits have been taken over by Romans, so look out for a re-enactment of a Roman Battle soon.

Planting has continued this week, and now the allotment is planted up with a selection of fruit and vegetables (rhubarb, strawberries, beans, Brussels sprouts, onions, leeks, mange-tout.)

Next Tuesday, there will be a Sharing Assembly, when some children share their most recent achievements.  If you come along, please remember to listen QUIETLY!

Reminder: School trip is on Wednesday 22nd May.