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.

Week Ending 26th April 2013

The kind weather this week has allowed the children to begin sowing seeds and planting vegetable plants, in our allotment.  The kitchen staff are looking forward to cooking the fresh vegetables for lunch.  Watch this space so that when the fresh produce is ready to pick, visitors can book their lunch, to sample the fare.

A new range of Choices began on Thursday, enabling all Main School children to sample a new subject.  There are talks by visitors about their hobbies / jobs, and a new selection of science and sporting activities.  The children thoroughly enjoy the opportunity to work with children from other classes, and return to their base classes, bubbling with enthusiasm and excitement.

An outing has been booked for this term, so watch this space for details of where and when!  Our H.S.A. have lots of original ideas for activities during the summer, so do please try to support at least some of these events.

This year the Village Carnival theme is Science Fiction.  we, as always, will have a School float, and have decided on our theme - which remains top secret at this moment in time!  Do consider helping in some way, as this ensures a "space on board" for your children.

Week Ending 19th April 2013

The first week back at School after Easter, has flown by, with lots of exciting things already happening.  Our two new classrooms are nearing completion, and will soon be ready for furnishing.  The grounds will be grassed and planted soon, so by next year there should be a lovely wild garden area to admire.  Access to the brook will enable water exploration and investigation, as suggested by Ofsted.

Hopefully the weather will warm up soon, so that plants can be planted out in our allotment.  At the moment there is a splash of colour from our spring daffodils and lovely viola hanging baskets.

There are two new brightly coloured storage containers for P.E. play equipment that can be shared at play times.  Another new item is the imaginative play area in the Pre-School, which, at the moment, is Eaton Bray Hospital.  So, if anyone is in need of medical help, there are lots of mini doctors and nurses ready to administer treatment!  (... if you're brave enough.)

On Thursday, children in the Main School had the opportunity to practise cricket, with visiting cricketers from Eaton Bray Cricket Club.

Watch this space for updates on the latest developments and progress at E.B.A.

Week Ending 28th March 2013

The eagerly anticipated day has finally arrived.  Yes, I am talking about the EBA Talent Show!  The Year 4 organisers have been planning for months.  They designed and displayed their posters, plotted and planned how to score, decided on the number of acts and how many entries from each year group.  The layout of the hall and the back stage arrangements were all put in place.  Below is a small selection of the talent on display. watch out for us - remember, it all started at EBA...

Just in case too many Easter eggs are going to be consumed, Miss Topp and Mrs Hawkes made sure the Key Stage 2 children were well able to cope by extending the cross country run this week!  If you see them ploughing their way across local fields, give them some encouragement!

Wishing you all a happy, healthy, if not hot, Easter.