Tuesday 26th February 2019
There were horned helmets, plaited hair, axes and thick fur coats on display on Tuesday as the children celebrated Viking Day across Key Stage 2 (ages 7-11) and took part in a series of hands-on workshops linked to our topic.
There were six workshops in total: longships, runes, jewellery, bread-making, felting and music.
The music workshop was run by Joe Carr, the curator and education director of the Red House in Aldeburgh. The children first explored some genuine historical artefacts, such as a 1000 year old comb, before playing traditional instruments. They created their own music using percussion, panpipe and a lyre – instruments the Vikings would have used themselves.
The longship workshop was an exercise in teamwork and perseverance that resulted in three marvellous models that now decorate the atrium. Each is complete with oars, a sail, Viking shields along both sides and, of course, a dragon on each prow.
In the runes workshop the children learnt about the futhark – the Norse alphabet, then created their own tablets with their own names written using runes.
The Vikings in the jewellery workshop created some beautiful brooches, and pairs of brooches linked with beads that they used to adorn their cloaks and proudly wore for the rest of the day, showing just how wealthy and prestigious they were compared to lesser Vikings!
The bread-making Vikings, led by Mrs Tooley, cooked traditional flat breads using oats rather than wheat flour. The porridge-like flavour of the bread was improved with the addition of lashings of honey and dried fruit pushed into the top of each loaf. We learned that loaves like these would have been carried by Vikings on their incredible exploratory trips across the oceans.
Mrs Stansfeld and Mrs Waring led the felting workshops. The children, starting with the basic raw material of unspun wool, first learnt to card it, then layer it and then bind it using a secret Viking combination of ingredients and techniques. The resulting felt was used to make money pouches or wrist warmers that real Vikings would have been more than familiar with.
Children always learn best when they are completely immersed in what they are doing, so dressing up, while also being great fun, is a fantastic learning experience. This became particularly apparent at the end of the day during the assembly to share all of our achievements with the school; representatives from each group were able to talk eloquently and at length about what they had learned during each workshop –such as that Viking runes were discovered by the god Odin as he hung on Yggdrasil – the world tree – for nine days.
So we offer huge thanks to all the teachers and support staff who prepared these workshops for us – and in particular to Mr Carr – and say a big well done to the children for all that they achieved.
Many thanks to all children and adults who attended our after-school workshop on healthier lifestyles. We had some very positive comments from many people, and children all said they enjoyed themselves. From sampling vegan food, and challenging each other in a fitness circuit, to guessing how much sugar in drinks and chatting with a local author about her book on positive attitudes, everybody had a great time. You now have no excuse to get more active and enjoy life more!
Children at Fressingfield Primary School have been learning about the First World War this term to coincide with the centenary of the signing of the armistice at 11am on the 11th November 1918. This culminated on 8th November in their participation in the ‘Remembering War, Praying for Peace’ commemoration, a Suffolk-wide event, organised by the Royal British Legion to remember all the servicemen killed during the war and buried in Suffolk churchyards.
There are three soldiers buried at St Peter and St Paul’s Church – Pte Herbert Vincent, Pte James Rumsby and Deckhand John White. The children learnt about each of them and laid poppy wreathes at their graves. Three children – Jacob, Sam and Jessica – also read about how members of their own families had been affected by the war, following research conducted as part of their homework. Jessica explained that her great, great uncle Charles Mayhew died of TB contracted whilst serving on the Western Front as a driver for the Royal Artillery.
As part of the service, every child in Key Stage 2 laid a hand-sewn felt heart on the altar of the church, similar to those sewn by injured servicemen to send to their loved-ones at home. For this project – called 100 Hearts for 100 Years – the children were supported by Mrs Lindsey and other members of the Fressingfield Craft Club, who also created hearts of their own and which now decorate the pulpit in a beautiful tribute to those who sacrificed their lives.
At school, the children have been learning about the First World War throughout the term. They wrote newspaper reports about the murder of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the event which catapulted Europe into war, and are now writing diary entries about life in the trenches. They were also visited by Mr B Stephenson who kindly brought in his collection of WW1 memorabilia, including a machine gun.
The children also retold the story of ‘The Great War’ by creating a quilt in the style of Harriet Powers, a African-American artist who was born a slave in the 19th Century and who used her quilts to tell Bible Stories and stories of slavery. This project, which was linked to Black History Month, has created a powerful and moving tribute to the fallen and is on display in the school atrium.
It has been an honour to participate in the village’s commemoration events this term; the children have found the topic interesting and inspiring and have been deeply moved by the sacrifice made by people in this village to safeguard their futures.
As part of Black History Month, Key Stage 2 children have been finding out about the life of Harriet Powers, who was an African American textile artist from Georgia.
Salary: £16,495 (pro rata)
Job Term: Part Time
KS2 – 18:00 hours per week (Monday to Friday) – Term time only
Appointment: Fixed Term until 31st August 2019 (with potential for continuation)
Start Date: October 2018
We are seeking to appoint a skilful and experienced Teaching Assistant to work across the KS2 stage supporting our children and teachers. The successful candidate will be working in both a class setting and with small groups or individual pupils. Experience of delivering interventions with children in a primary school setting, is desirable but not essential. There will the potential for covering staff absences.
We are looking for:
- an enthusiastic individual and team member
- experience of supporting children in a professional setting
- excellent communications skills
- the ability to think flexibly and use initiative to support learning & development
- a patient and nurturing personality
- NVQ Level 2 Teaching Assistant desirable, but not essential
Fressingfield Primary is a friendly, community school with enthusiastic children and committed staff who are well supported by parents and governors. Located on the Norfolk/Suffolk boarder the school is easily accessible from the A143. We are part of the All Saints Schools Trust, which formed in April 2018.
Our school is committed to confidentiality, safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and staff. Our expectations are that all staff and volunteers share this commitment. The successful applicant will be appointed on completion of DBS checks and references.
We would prefer completed applications to be emailed to Mark Taylor at admin@fressingfield.suffolk.sch.uk . If applicants do not have access to email please post to the school. Visits are welcomed.
For an application form and further information please email admin@fressingfield.suffolk.sch.uk
Closing date: 12th October 2018 or earlier if sufficient applications are received.
Interviews are to be arranged with candidates on an individual basis.
