Week Ending 25th September 2015

This week started with a trip to a very important historical site for our Year 5 and 6 children. As part of their work on World War II, they visited Bletchley Park, where they found out all about code breaking and how the work that was done there helped change the course of history.

They had a tour of the house and grounds from a very knowledgeable man who had worked at Bletchley Park as a code breaker, then took part in a workshop where they learnt all about codes and ciphers.  Using the "Pigpen" code they learnt to decipher coded information, and discovered how to create their names in Morse Code.  They then found out all about wartime life, viewing 1940s room sets, and examining various items that evacuated children would have been familiar with, such as gas masks and identity cards.

An interesting and informative day was had by all, and the children enjoyed the opportunity to look around at all the various exhibits on display, including the Colossus computer, the wartime garage of WWII vehicles, and the Imitation Game exhibition, which included props and sets from the recent film.

This week was Bikeability week for our Year 5 children.  They all brought their bikes to school, and were given training in cycling skills and road safety on the playground, venturing out later in the week to cycle on the roads through the village.  The course was run by Cycle4Life, who reported that the children were courteous, well behaved, attentive and a credit to the school.  All children who completed the course will receive a certificate, and their parents can have the satisfaction of knowing that their children now have the skills to cycle safely!

Back in the classroom, Rabbits Class have been finding out about the legend of Pandora's Box.  They made finger puppets and had a lovely time acting out the story for their classmates' entertainment.  Badgers Class became budding electricians this week, and investigated circuits and motors.  They were all able to create a circuit to make a bulb light up, and then found out how to connect a motor to a battery pack to allow an object to spin around.  Meanwhile Hedgehogs have enjoyed the very British ritual of Afternoon Tea - with cakes of course!

As you will know, we are very keen for every child at Eaton Bray Academy to be able to voice their opinions, and have some say in what goes on in our school.  We also encourage children to take on roles where they can demonstrate responsibility, and work together with others to make decisions.  We have a Head Boy, Head Girl and Deputy, and a School Council, who this week enjoyed a lovely meeting in the sunshine with Mrs Hounslow.  We have now also appointed Student Ambassadors and Sports Leaders.  Each group has their own tasks and responsibilities within the school, and will represent the children of Eaton Bray Academy throughout 2015/16.

Don't forget - it's Sports Day for Badgers, Foxes and Deer on Monday - please do come along and cheer!

Week Ending 18th September 2015

It was an early start for some of our enthusiastic sports stars this week.  Our "Elite Running Group" were up and out at 8 o'clock in the morning, managing to get a few miles under their belts by the time the bell went for the start of School!

Squirrels donned their wellies and raincoats and enjoyed a walk through the Nature Trail on Wednesday.  They were on the lookout for animal habitats, and managed to spot several interesting looking holes, with evidence of animal occupancy.

The big day this week was Thursday, when all the children in Years 1 to 6 returned to Kidzania for a great day out.  Everyone had a wonderful time, and we are really grateful to the staff at Kidzania for making every effort to ensure that our children were able to make the most of their day.  Queues were minimal, and everyone was able to partake in all the activities that they wanted to experience, whether that be doctor, fireman, musician, flight attendant, actor, racing car mechanic...

There was of course, extra excitement for Rabbits and Badgers Class (and a few Squirrels) when their coach broke down on the way home, delaying their return to School by a little over an hour!  All the children were very well behaved during the wait for a replacement coach, and we are grateful to parents for their understanding of the situation, and for cheerfully coming back an hour later than planned to collect their children.

Please enjoy a selection of photos showing some of the activities we are doing in Choices this half term.

Week Ending 11th September 2015

Welcome to the new school year at Eaton Bray Academy!

We are very excited about all that we have got planned in the coming months, and are delighted to welcome lots of new children, and some new staff who have joined us as we start the new term. Over the summer holiday, the school had something of a "face-lift", with shiny new doors and windows having been fitted.

We also have new interactive whiteboards in Rabbits and Foxes Classes, and a wonderful new projector and pull down screen in the hall, which will give us plenty of opportunities for exciting assemblies.

Our new Head Boy and Head Girl have been elected, and an enthusiastic School Council is in the process of being formed.

Head Girl and Head Boy 2015/16

We have all been enjoying a bit of late summer (early autumn?) sunshine this week, none more so than our new Hedgehogs, who have had lots of fun with water play and their new "pick and mix" kitchen.  They have all settled in beautifully, and are quickly getting used to the routine of Big School!

On Wednesday we all celebrated an important milestone for Great Britain, when the Queen became the longest serving British monarch in history.  Rabbits marked the occasion with a special royal art lesson, where the children painted portraits of Queen Victoria, using lots of gold paint!

Choices has started this week, with a variety of activities on offer, and EBA Enterprise has taken off again, with craft items and tasty homemade produce being made.  Following a visit from a university student, who raised lots of money last year for an overseas challenge adventure, the children have thought of lots of fantastic ideas for their own fundraising!  The Enterprise allotment has flourished over the summer, with herbs and vegetables in abundance, including an enormous butternut squash that was cooked, and served for lunch on Thursday.  It was delicious!

A busy week in store next week, with a return trip to Kidzania taking place on Thursday for all the children in Years 1 to 6.  The following week will see a trip to Bletchley Park for our oldest classes, and Bikeability training for Year 5.  Then a Key Stage 2 Sports Day, to take up to the end of September.  We hope the sun continues to shine for a few more weeks!

Week Ending 17th July 2015

The final week of the 2014/15 school year!

The week started with Sports Day for the youngest children - Hamsters in the morning, then Hedgehogs, Otters and Squirrels in the afternoon.  The weather was rather damp and drizzly at times, but that didn't put the children off, nor the parents, who enjoyed spectating from under the cover of their umbrellas!

It's been a week of hellos and goodbyes.  On Tuesday we had an induction day for new children due to start in Pre-School in September.  Everyone is looking forward to getting to know the new children.

On Wednesday, our Year 6 children, who are leaving us to go to Secondary Schools in September, had a special celebration trip to Wicksteed Park in Northamptonshire.  They had a wonderful fun day with the Year 6 teachers and Mrs Hounslow (who is apparently a bit of a troublemaker on the dodgems!)

On Thursday morning we had a Leavers Assembly for the Year 6 children, which parents and carers were invited to attend, then the children had a tea party with a special "Goodbye" cake, made by our very own Mrs Healy.

We are so very proud of our first Year 6 group - they have been a real credit to the school this year, and we wish them all well in the future.

Thursday afternoon was great fun for all the children in the Main School, as they hosted their own version of "The Voice" talent show, complete with judges in swivel chairs, certificates for the participants, and several renditions of a certain song from the film "Frozen"...

On Friday, we had a special assembly to say a fond farewell to Mrs Norton, our Senior Teacher, who is retiring having taught here since 1989.  A whole generation of Eaton Bray children have passed through Squirrels Class over the last twenty-five years or so, and will have lovely memories of their time with Mrs Norton.  

Beautiful hand made cards and gifts were presented from each class - most having chosen green, Mrs Norton's favourite colour - and a book of memories to "Squirrel" away.  It is the end of an era for Eaton Bray Academy, and we all wish Mrs Norton a very happy retirement.

We hope that everyone has a wonderful enjoyable summer holiday, and we look forward to seeing everyone in the new school year.  Don't forget - the children are all back on Monday 7th September, except new Hedgehogs, who start on Wednesday 10th.