Week Ending 21st November 2014

Visitors to the school may have been surprised by the number of bikes in the playground this week! That is because we have had a visiting team from Cycle4Life who have been giving Bikeability training to our oldest children. Years 5 and 6 had their first session on the playground on Monday, then ventured out onto the streets of Eaton Bray later in the week - all kitted out safely in their cycle helmets! The weather remained cheerful throughout the week, right up until Friday, when it was the turn of Year 4. They had to contend with heavy rain and a chilly breeze... (which they did without complaint!)

On Thursday, it was the last Sharing Assembly for this term, and in fact, for the whole of 2014! Children shared their achievements, showing talent in all areas of the curriculum.

The Hall was also very busy on Friday, as the display of art work from all the children in Main School was exhibited and sold to parents. How wonderful to be able to purchase your child's art work, fully framed, as a keepsake for life.

St Mary's Church was the focus of Squirrels Art work on Tuesday afternoon. They produced close observational work, based on the stained glass windows.

Practicing is underway for Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 Concerts, with children deciding if they would prefer a speaking or non-speaking role. The children themselves will choose parts that they feel most suited to them.

Here is a selection of photographs of things that have been going on around the school, and work being in the classes from Pre-School right through to Year 6. Enjoy!
 

REMEMBER: CHRISTMAS FAYRE - 29th NOVEMBER 12.00 - 3.00pm

Week Ending 14th November 2014

We have had a week of Remembrance at Eaton Bray Academy.

On Tuesday 11th, the whole school wore poppies and observed two minutes silence at 11.00am. Afterwards, some of the older children read out poetry that they had written as part of their work on World War One.

 

On Wednesday, Key Stage Two children enjoyed a fantastic day out in London, visiting the Tower of London and viewing the famous display of poppies.  The children had a tour of the Tower and took part in a workshop, "Pack Up Your Troubles," which gave them an insight into the life of a young soldier fighting in World War Two. They had the opportunity to handle some of the items a soldier would have had in his kit bag, and, along with their teachers, were made to stand to attention and salute!

 

 On Thursday, Squirrels Class made a Historical Walk around Eaton Bray, focusing in detail on Wallace Nurseries, in The Comp. The children will be designing and making their own futuristic greenhouse of the future over the next couple of weeks.

Otters Class also enjoyed some local history this week, and found out all about the "old school" in Eaton Bray, from a primary source - Mrs Warby who attended Eaton Bray Primary School an undisclosed number of years ago... The old school was situated in a Victorian building on Eaton Bray High Street, which was demolished around thirty years ago when our current school was built. The children were fascinated to learn that the school had outside toilets, and that the boys' toilet didn't have a roof! The children had lots of questions, and were particularly interested to find out about punishments in the old school - and whether Mrs Warby ever got the cane!  (She didn't.)

Also on Thursday, all the children in Main School had the opportunity to attend a "Movie Night," with two showings. The first was straight after school, for Hedgehogs and Key Stage One, with an evening performance from six to eight o'clock, for the older children in Key Stage Two.

 Next week, the older children will be bringing their bikes into school and taking part in Bikeability. They will practice riding their bikes on the playground, before taking them out onto the road with their instructor.

All the children in Main School have produced a piece of artwork, which will be on display from 21st November in the Hall, with a view to purchase. How wonderful to have the opportunity to posses a framed piece of your child's art - unique and original!

Week Ending 7th November 2014

Hopefully everyone enjoyed a lovely half term break... now a countdown to Christmas!  The children can already be heard humming familiar festive tunes, as they move around the School, ready for their Christmas performances in just a few short weeks!

Great excitement this week because... OUR NEW MINI BUS HAS ARRIVED!!!  It has already been used for an outing to Totternhoe Knolls - needless to say the children (and staff) all love it, and we have so many plans for its use!

Our Forest School is proving to be a great success and another exciting addition will be our outdoor classroom, which is being designed and built by our Science Co-ordinator, using a bamboo frame, living willow walls, and reclaimed wooden railway sleepers as seats.

Next week will be another busy week, as Key Stage Two children will be visiting the Tower of London on Wednesday, and are looking forward to viewing the famous poppies. Thursday evening is "Movie Night" in the School Hall, where the children will be treated to a cinema experience complete with a film, popcorn and a drink - younger children from 3.30pm, and older ones coming back at 6.00pm. They are sure to have a great time!

Week Ending 23rd October 2014

This week Squirrels Class and Badgers Class have been "over the moon" because there is now a brand new  interactive white board in each classroom... it's as if Christmas has come early!  A big thank you goes to our Home School Association, who helped fund the purchase, and to all the parents whose contributions to fundraising made it possible.

On Thursday, our friends from Cafe Masala came to talk to our older children about food preparation, and demonstrated how to cook pilau rice. Lots of useful cooking tips were picked up by some of the adults as well!  Last week, the children made their own trays of colourful pasta - for more pictures of our cooking activities, please visit the EBA Enterprise page of our website

Also on Thursday, children helped to fill shoe boxes with gifts for children less fortunate than themselves.

Otters Class have been making pieces of stained glass, using techniques they found out about from the stained glass artist's visit.

Squirrels Class have been investigating the artists Lowry and Georgia O'Keeffe, and created fabulous reproductions of some famous pieces of artwork.

On Friday it was a non-uniform day, when children brought in items for the Christmas Fair, which is on Saturday 29th November. Please keep this date in your diary free... the more the merrier!

Enjoy a restful half term week.

Week Ending 17th October 2014

Parent consultation evenings were held this week, on Tuesday and Thursday, and many parents attended to find out all about the progress of their children. It is always amazing to see how much is accomplished within the first half term of a new School year.

Also on Tuesday and Thursday (the busiest days of the week?!) Art Club children were able to take home their creations. The children were very excited, and were heard making plans about where they would display their work.

Our ukulele players are progressing well, and can be heard strumming away happily, as they learn new chords and pieces of music. The joy of making music seems to have really taken off with our young musicians, who have been enjoying impromptu "busking" sessions in the library at lunchtime this week, involving a variety of instruments - trombone, violin, percussion... it lovely to see - and hear!

Younger children have been considering Harvest, and some re-enacted the story of "The Little Red Hen."  Next week, older children are looking forward to a visit from our friends at the Cafe Masala, who will be coming in to talk to them about spices and give instruction on how to make pilau rice. Meanwhile, some of the younger children will be food tasting, linked to the story of "Feeding the Five Thousand"

Don't forget, next week, School breaks up for a week for the half term holiday! Friday 24th October will be a non-uniform day, in return for a donation of sweets or a bottle for the Christmas Fair tombola.

Week Ending 10th October 2014

This week, it was Squirrels Class' turn to enjoy the Forest School. They made mini "shelters" using recycled  items and natural objects.

On Monday, Otters Class walked down to St Mary's Church (in the pouring rain) to look at the beautiful stained glass window they have there.  The vicar was able to tell them lots of information about all of the windows, some of which are very old, and some much newer.  Otters children now have lots of ideas and inspiration for creating their own stained glass windows!

Older children have been delving into the works of Rudyard Kipling and have studied "The Jungle Book", especially the antics of the cheeky mongoose Rikki-Tikki-Tavi. They have also been learning about World War 1, and created an array of 3D models. Do have a look at the "Poppy" board in the corridor next time a visit to School is called for... many names from the past!

The real highlight of the week though, for Foxes and Deer children, was on Thursday afternoon, when as part of their EBA Enterprise work, they had the opportunity to visit a real working restaurant. The Cafe Masala in Eaton Bray kindly welcomed us, and treated our children like VIP guests, laying a table beautifully and serving a selection of their delicious curries, rice and poppadums for the children to taste and enjoy!  The children learned such a lot about running a successful business, and came back buzzing with ideas that they hope to turn into reality when they establish their own restaurant.  We would like to extend our huge thanks to the Cafe Masala, and would encourage anyone to visit, if you want a fabulous Indian meal!