Week Ending 20th March 2009

If you are a Mum, please do not read this first paragraph! On Friday, the children could purchase a gift for their Mum, to give on Mother's day. The children found it hard to choose, as there was a lovely variety of gifts - edible, jewellery, toiletries, plants - all gift-wrapped. This week, everybody has been busily making Mother's Day cards, ranging in shapes from daffodils, tea-pots, hearts and dangling beads.

Yes Mums, you may start reading from here!

Our pond is looking wonderful again. We had forgotten how large it is! Lots of the children have already visited it, and some Badgers even rescued "Brian the Frog!" The next stage is painting the fence and shelter.

Our allotment is now planted with potatoes, leeks and carrots. The children have also planted nasturtiums, as a decoy from the vegetables, for all the munching, crunching predators out there! Rhubarb and strawberries are also flourishing, and our cook is looking forward to using them in her splendid desserts. How many of you out there saw our cook on television? Yes, once again, first prize for her delicious Italian turkey main dish. Well done! Next year, she is hoping to use mostly School-grown produce, so keep up the gardening children!

And now, a warning for all the animals at Woburn Safari Park! We are all visiting at the end of term, and looking forward to producing art work related to our visit next term.

Week Ending 13th March 2009

We finished the week by celebrating "Red Nose Day". Everyone wore something funny - staff made the children laugh due to the jokes they wore on their outfits... are you ready? "What do you call a donkey with three legs?" "Wonky!" Can you manage another???!! What initials are used for a hungry horse?" "M.T.G.G."

Children dressed in funny outfits, and it was hard to know which direction they were travelling in, as clothes were worn back to front!

Our pond is on its way to being rejuvinated. It is inhabited by many frogs, who are now happily hopping in and out , and using the new "beach" areas, as landing stages. The next phase, is to paint the fence and shelter, and put up information posts to inform the children about ponds and pond-life.

Afternoon subject this week has been science. Badgers have investigated magnets and springs and culminated their topic by making "chair and band" catapaults! Rabbits have been looking at contrasting areas. (Watch this space to discover how tall their bean plant grows to.) Squirrels have thought about "Forces", and discovered what makes vehicles move more quickly / more slowly. Hedgehogs are refurbishing their mini-beast garden... so creepy-crawlies LOOK OUT!

Week Ending 6th March 2009

The most flamboyant and exciting day this week was definitely Wednesday, when staff and pupils celebrated our World Book Day, by dressing as birds! The costumes were magnificent, with many species from foreign lands, linking to our Global Learning work. The children were treated to a talk and display by "Birds of Bray" (Look out for an article in the local press!).

On Tuesday we celebrated the achievements of many children, in Sharing Time. It is a time for invited parents to share not only their own child's/children's achievements, but also applaud the other children from all classes.

Wednesday was the evening for our Governors' Meeting, when plans for the next academic year were made.

Outside, our allotment is being gradually filled with vegetables and fruit. Our water butt is in position and we are continuing to compost daily. The next outdoor project is the rejuvenation of our pond and refurbishment of the pond shelter. After that, the children are to help design and camouflage a bird-hide. If anyone out there has a pair of binoculars that they could gift to the School, we would be most appreciative!

Week Ending 27th February 2009

Time is flying by - the end of the first week back after half term already! Key Stage one children have been concentrating on Samuel Pepys and the Great Fire of London. We now have many "millionaires", who gained the money by answering correctly many questions, on the programme "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?" Great Fire of London edition!

Key Stage two children have made their tie-dye fabrics into money containers, in many styles. Some are to be gifts for brothers, sisters or mothers... sorry Dads!

Some children have been planting in our new allotment. The fruit and vegetables are to be used in the kitchen - so five a day will be no problem!

Our whole school trip for this year has been arranged - more details soon...

Next Wednesday, we are holding our "World Book Day". The theme is birds, and everyone is invited to come dressed as a bird and bring a book with facts or a story about their chosen bird. "Birds of Bray" will visit, and we are very excited about watching them fly.

Hope you saw the lovely History Day photos in the Dunstable Gazette and Leighton Buzzard Observer.

Week ending 13th February 2009

A wintry start to the week, but as always, our School made the most of the situation. Our children discovered: why some ice shapes moved more easily than others / how to play tennis over an "ice net" / which ice statue was the tallest - even encompassing our whole School target for maths this half term.

Our younger children have been studying floral art, and now understand how to print in the style of Georgia O'Keefe. We also had a printing session incorporating "Barge Rose Art". Key Stage two children have linked their art to their Egyptian theme on History Day. The children examined an Egyptian version of the "Cinderella" story, and then worked in groups to create panels of decorated fabric, retelling the fairy tale (Bayeux Tapestry eat your heart out!)

Friday was History Day - a wonderful day when our children had fun dressing up as characters from the period of history being studied in their classes. Many children had made items for their costumes - Egyptian necklaces and bangles / kings' and queens' crowns / bakers' hats and flames. Can you guess our three topics? Don't panic is you see a few rats around ... they originated in 1666!

Have a lovely half term break!

Week Ending 30th January 2009

On Tuesday our hall was very busy, as we held our first Sharing Assembly of 2009. Children from all classes proudly shared their achievements.

Hamsters and Hedgehogs have been celebrating the Chinese New Year. Our Nursery is now guarded by a large green dragon!

Afternoon subject this week has been science. Squirrels Class held lessons in a toy shop, and discovered how toys moved. Rabbits kindly shared their wind-up Incy Wincy spiders, who sneakily climbed up and down their water spouts! Rabbits have been learning about the changing states of materials, and discovered that ice cubes melt more quickly next to the radiator, than they do when left out in the cold playground! There was also a tasty toast aroma coming from their classroom on Wednesday, when they learnt about how bread changes when heated! Badgers have been investigating insulators (I wonder if this is why the zebra fur covering Squirrels' big chair has suddenly shrunk in length!)

On Friday, we had a special Assembly about our E.B.L.S "Flat Eaton" (based on the "Flat Stanley" project). We all decorated individual pictures, and took them home, to be sent off around the world. We await their return, along with responses about various topics. A map of the world in the Hall will chart destinations.

Our next event, remember, is History Day, on the thirteenth of February, so don't panic if you spot Egyptians, Kings and Queens, or people and creatures from the seventeenth century, in the village!

Week Ending 23rd January 2009

This week, on Tuesday afternoon, we welcomed a string quartet to School. They played a variety of tunes and talked to us about their instruments.

Our topic in the afternoons this week has been Religious Education. Hedgehogs and Squirrels thought about the "Seven Wonders of the World". They invented an "Eighth Wonder of the World." (There was even a pyramid made of chocolate!) Rabbits investigated celebrations and special times, and learnt all about Shabbat - the Jewish Sabbath celebrations. Badgers concentrated on places of worship for different religions. They made 3D models, with intricate details and labels.

Our flower borders around the School are looking very interesting, with splashes of colour from primroses and pansies. The children are looking forward to seeing our gladioli, daffodil and tulip bulbs flowering in the Spring.

KS2 children enjoyed a multi skills session on Monday afternoon.

Our next special interest will be History Day on the 13th February, when all Staff and children will dress in costumes that echo the topics being studied. Hamsters and Hedgehogs: Kings and Queens; Squirrels and Rabbits: The Great Fire of London; Badgers: Egyptians.