Grounds Day 8th Feb 2025: We got so much done!

We would like to thank all those who helped us on Saturday morning with projects around the school – we got so much done!

Mr Hare, ably supported by his young apprentices James and Daniel (and later by the rest of the Hares) serviced all our bikes, including pumping up the tyres, tightening the brakes, aligning the handlebars, oiling the chains and, finally, giving them all a big wash. This was so helpful – it means we will be able to get our children back on the balance bikes and riding again.

Mr Mee did sterling work removing the two rotten sheds at the back of the playground. This opens up a bit of space which we intend to use for a new shed where we can store all our playtime equipment and games. Thank you.

Mrs Mee, Mrs Hadingham, Arthur and Tabatha did great work in the Early Years garden chopping the overgrown willow structures back into shape and tidying up all that came off them. As they grow back, the plan will be to reinstate the dome and tee-pee shapes.

Mr and Mrs Sargent, Mr Haddingham, Mr and Mrs Wright, Ada and others were kept busy in the garden chopping back the overgrown hedge, fixing the fence, and reinstating some of the raised beds. It looks transformed.  

Another group were based in the Sensory Garden where Mrs Sheldrake and Mrs Pipe, supported by Eva and Emily, cut back all of last year’s growth and prepared the beds and borders for spring. At the same time, Mr Barker installed ropes for the espaliered fruit trees. The area looks completely transformed.

Thank you so much to all who helped. The school looks so much better and it feels great to have some long-awaited jobs finally complete. Thank you.

DO YOU LIKE SPROUTS AS MUCH AS WE DO?

We would like to thank Mrs Tuthill for cooking us a delicious Christmas dinner yesterday including turkey and all the trimmings. Every morsel was devoured and there was absolutely nothing left by the end of the service. The children in Year 6 were once again invited to take part in the Sprout Challenge and these were soon demolished. Some children seem to like mountains of sprouts, whilst others prefer to hold their noses and swallow with lots of glugs of water. Whatever the technique, there were none left in the room by the time pudding was started.

After lunch, each class had their class parties – thank you to FOFSA who provided fantastic party boxes for us to use (and which we are still using whenever we have a spare moment).

We wish you all a very merry, sprout-filled Christmas.

EXCITING EXOTHERMIC REACTIONS IN AMAZON CLASS!

The children in Amazon Class learnt about endothermic and exothermic reactions in science today. The lesson started by thinking about how the reaction in an ice-pack will cause it to become very cold (an endothermic reaction), whereas the chemical reaction in a handwarmer will cause it to heat up (an exothermic reaction).

The children then explored exothermic reactions in more depth by investigating what happens to the temperature of the mixture when Calcium carbonate is added to water. They asked the question: How does the volume of calcium carbonate affect the temperature of water?

A large part of the lesson focused on assessing and mitigating risk. You will notice in the pictures that the children are wearing goggles, aprons and gloves to avoid getting calcium carbonate onto their skin or in their eyes (as it can be an irritant) and that they are using a long-arm-pour technique to keep the reactants away from their faces.

The children were really interested to learn that there is a direct link between the quantity of CaCl2 and the temperature of the water, which on the fifth repetition heated up to more than 400C!

We would like to thank Mr Burroughs with providing us with the idea and some of the equipment from Hartismere High School.

Animals with Moving Heads

Well done to children in Amazon Class, who have completed a great DT topic on ‘Animals with Moving Heads’!  

To start with, we looked at some adverts for moving toys on the market, including a very old one for Action Man with a moving eyes lever!  We then used our theme, Endangered Animals, to research an animal and how its mouth moved.  The next step was our prototype when we had a go at creating the 3-d model and adding a crank or lever mechanism, to make the mouth or tongue move.  This was the tricky bit! 

 Finally, we used what we learned from making our prototypes to create our final products.  We decided to use thicker card.  Lots of us used a crank mechanism for waggling tongues; a few of us had a lever for nodding heads.  We even had a few flapping wings!  I was really impressed with the way children worked on the detail, to make their models really professional. Then, as you do, we had a great discussion, or evaluation, to talk about what we enjoyed about this topic, what we found easy and what was downright fiddly!  Great work, Amazon Class – your creativity is amazing!

A SAILOR’S LIFE FOR ME!

What a great trip we had to London on 4th November! The children in Amazon and Zambezi Classes visited the Cutty Sark and National Maritime Museum to find out about the Great Explorers of the Age of Exploration, and what life was like aboard a sailing ship in the middle ages.

The children coped magnificently with the very, very early start (6am) and had fun on the coach journey down – they particularly loved the tunnel under the Thames. Once there, we split into two groups – one group had a workshop on board the Cutty Sark about life at sea, whilst the other group explored the magnificently interactive Maritime Museum. The children seemed to love the whole day —even lunch was a bit of an adventure because we were in the dry dock underneath the hull of the ship! They were fascinated by tales of weevils in ship’s biscuits, punishment and the ‘cat-o-nine-tails,’ and climbing the rigging in all weathers to furl and unfurl the sails.

Thank you parents for getting up so early and thank you to all the volunteers who came with us—we wouldn’t have been able to do it without you!

Year 4 Hilltop Trip 2024 – Photos from Wednesday

Year 4 Hilltop Trip 2024 – The Final Day

After a restful night and a hearty breakfast, the Year 4 children were geared up for their final day of adventures – and they truly surpassed all expectations!

The Crazy Climbing Wall

The first challenge of the day was the Climbing Wall, a thrilling test of bravery and teamwork. The children had to decide not only how high to climb but also the difficulty level of their route. True to form, they supported each other, steadying the ropes to ensure safe ascents and descents. Every child pushed beyond their comfort zone, and we couldn’t be prouder of their efforts!

A wooden structure with a rock wall

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The Battle of the Bell: Crate Stacking Challenge

The final trial of the trip was the ultimate team challenge: stacking crates to reach a bell and give it a loud ring. Communication and teamwork were key, as each child took turns stacking the crates carefully to avoid wobbling while others kept a steady eye on safety. With great determination and collaboration, all those who wished to participate rang the bell with pride, celebrating their success as a team.

A group of people wearing helmets

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Home Time

Our journey back home presented its own challenges. After navigating the tricky task of carrying bags downhill to the coach, we discovered that the coach was too large to park at the bottom! The children then had to carry their bags back uphill – quite the workout! Then came the challenge of manoeuvring the bus through tight spaces to get us safely out of the centre! However, thanks to our expert driver, we overcame these obstacles and made our way home safely.

It was truly heartwarming to see the Year 4 children reunited with their families. We take immense pride in knowing that each child has returned with new skills, stronger friendships, and unforgettable memories of their time away. Their journey was filled with personal growth, learning, and adventure.

A special thank you goes to Ms. Perry, Mr. Taylor, Mrs. Scott, and Lisa, whose dedication and support made this trip possible. We are deeply grateful for their invaluable assistance in making everything run smoothly.

Please be patient, more pictures will follow.