Week Ending 5th March 2010

We started the week with a very exciting Monday. It was our "World Book Day" celebration day, when children and staff dressed as characters from books by their favourite authors (Pat Hutchings / Allan Ahlberg / Roald Dahl.) Costumes ranged from "magnificent Matildas" to "cunning cops" and "roughish robbers!"

Our "Mike the Engine" and its station are now officially opened and in use. Here's hoping our trains are punctual!!

Next week we are celebrating Science week, by having a display of inventions from all the classes, which will be judged by a surprise visitor. (A prize for the winner in each class.) There will also be a Sharing Time on Tuesday.

The children are keeping fit with tennis / soccer / tag rugby sessions, on a regular basis.

Don't read further if you are a MUM!! Children may purchase gifts next week, in School, for their Mums - in Nursery until Thursday, and on Friday for main School.

Week Ending 26th February 2010

This half term is going to be very busy and exciting, as there are a number of special occasions. We are having our World Book Day on Monday 1st March, when staff and pupils will dress as characters from favourite books. Each class has voted for their favourite author: Hamsters - Nick Sharratt; Hedgehogs - Pat Hutchings; Squirrles - Janet and Allan Ahlberg; Rabbits and Badgers: Roald Dahl. Look out for photographs in the newspapers!

Whilst the photographers are in School, they are also going to capture the formal opening of "Eaton Bray Station", when Mike the Engine will be officially christened. The station clock is now ticking away on the platform, until it reaches 10am on Monday, when our children will be able to board - probably the strangest mixture of passengers ever, as they will probably range from "Cops and Robbers" to "Oompa Loompas!"

There are also visiting specialists for piano/violin/tennis/soccer and tag rugby scheduled.

During the week beginning 8th March, there will be opportunities to purchase gifts for Mother's Day / a Sharing Assembly to celebrate achievements and a Science Invention competition, with a prize for the winning entry in each class.

Week Ending 12th February 2010

As we rapidly approach half term, here are just a few of the exciting things we have done this week:

Homework Club: This runs three times a week at lunch times. The children love to come along, and enjoy drawing, reading, playing games and other indoor activities. They often appreciate a change from outdoor play, especially at this very cold time of year!

Monday: History Day

Everyone looked marvellous and had put a lot of effort into their costumes. We had a wonderful day, with a very interesting talk about medieval life, from a visiting historian, who brought along examples of tools, weapons and toys that people would have used in those long ago times.

Tuesday: Cookery Demonstration

Part of the first prize for our winning entry in a competition. We enjoyed fruit smoothies and stir fry tasting.

Wednesday: "Mike" the Engine!

Hamsters have christened their new engine "Mike". He had his face painted today... (photos to follow!)

Thursday: World Book Day plans

Each class has announced its chosen author, so that costumes can be planned for 1st March.

Friday: Sy Mary's Village Carnival plans

Our "top secret" theme has been decided...!!

Enjoy half term. How many of you can keep a diary for each day, and bring it to School on the first day back to share with us all?

Week Ending 5th February 2010

STOP PRESS 1: OUR CHINESE DRAGON IN RABBITS CLASS SEEMS TO HAVE PRODUCED MINI DRAGONS OUTSIDE HEDGEHOGS CLASS. WHAT IS HAPPENING??? (I wonder if our little Hedgehog know anything about this!)

We have all been very busy this week, decorating the corridors and classrooms. Displays range from: elegant peacock / castle ramparts and coats of arms / Tocuaro masks and sock puppets. Visitors this week have commented on how bright and interesting our displays are.

If you would like to see the gardens we designed and planted for St Mary's Church, there are detailed plans and photographs by the entrance. It shows an amazing transformation which was well worth the effort.

Our School cook won first prize for "Bedfordshire Cook of the Year", with our emphasis this year on growing our own produce. We made a mini allotment which was planted up with herbs and vegetables, which made a big impact on the judges. Look out for photos in the local newspapers, and interviews on the radio. Next Tuesday, there is a demonstration for our children, by a member of Eden Foods. The recipes will include smoothies and stir fries, so we look forward to a "tasty" day.

Remember, Monday 8th February is History Day, when all children and staff will dress as Kings and Queens.

STOP PRESS 2: TRAIN STATION PROGRESSING WELL. ENGINE NOW NAMED "MIKE" BY HAMSTERS (We will keep "chugging" along until all is complete.)

Week Ending 29th January 2010

On Tuesday this week, we held our first Sharing Assembly of the New Year. We celebrated the successes of children from all classes - and were even joined by a magnificent Chinese dragon, complete with sheepskin eye lashes and beard!

Wednesday was disco day, when most of our children "danced the night away." They had a delicious tea, and I'm sure slept very well that night, as did the adults, who put in much forward planning enabling the event to run so smoothly. Thank you to all who helped.

Our Healthy Schools inspectors visited on Thursday, and were most impressed with their tour of the whole School. They were chaperoned by members of the School Council, and were impressed by all areas visited. They were especially impressed by the changes made over the last couple of years. It wasn't until we came to list them, that we realised just how how much has been achieved by our hard working dedicated members of staff, who give up much of their "free" time, to make our School so welcoming to all. Aren't we lucky!!

A new edition, is the "E.B.L.S. Station", to be located in the Nursery. If you want to see the station plan, please take a look at the information boards beside the platform area. We are planning a grand opening in the not too distant future. If anyone out there has any artifacts (eg. bell / tickets / ticket machine / clock) they would be most welcome.

Remember.... History Day on Monday 8th February - everyone to be dressed as Kings and Queens.

Week Ending 22nd January 2010

Doesn't it seem strange to have had a "snow free" week! We can now see our bulbs in the entrance gardens peeping through, and enjoying a little bit of colour from the pansies in pots.

This week, younger children have focused on printing, linked to flowers and ... can you believe it ... BREAD!! It's amazing how well a slice of bread can make a print on paper. Older children have completed their art work, culminating in a Chinese Dragon parading in and out the classrooms, to the delight of both children and adults. It will be suspended from Rabbits Class ceiling, next week, so look out for those sheepskin eyebrows and sharp teeth.

Our School has won a Healthy Schools Competition, and we are looking forward to the prize which consists of cookery demonstrations, for all, from smoothies to stir fries! You children may be treating you to dinner soon.)

The next special event is History Day, on the eighth of February, when a historian will visit, with a selection of medieval artifacts for us all to investigate. On this occasion we will all be dressed as kings or queens, so Eaton Bray will be very regal next month.

Week Ending 15th January 2010

Welcome to 2010!

We have had an unexpected snowy return to School, and been thoroughly tested by the wintry weather. The children have made wonderful snow sculptures, and even made an ice fort. The team work was impressive!

We returned to School last week and finished the end of the week with a visit to Milton Keynes Pantomime (Cinderella). Everyone who went had an enjoyable time, and we all felt the benefits of the laughter.

Our Foundation topic this week has been Science, with work on "Light and Dark", and "Forces". Rabbits Class have been investigating Chinese Art and have made fans and lanterns, with floral decorations. Their Science week will be later in the term, to coincide with a visiting scientist, who will work on "Parachutes and Flight" with those children.

Later in the term, we are holding a history day, when staff and children will transpose themselves into kings or queens for the day. Watch this space for updates!