Every year in school we remember those who have given their lives in war so that we can live in peace and freedom. We remember the sacrifice of the Armed Forces in Britain and the Commonwealth. We reflect on the difficulties that many families face during conflict and remember the fallen with great respect in a two minute silence which we shared together in our whole school assembly last Monday, and again yesterday in our "Bubbles" around the school.
I am very proud of the respect our children showed this week and urge you to view a moving tribute by Class 5, assembled by Mr Tranter.
Tomorrow, we look forward to our Inter-House Recitation Competition. We are delighted that so many children will be taking part and have learnt their poem ready to recite tomorrow. It is not easy reciting a poem in front of your peers from memory with confidence, and we are proud of all those who have entered the Inter-House challenge.
Next week is Anti-Bullying Week 2020. We thought we would recognise this in school by wearing "Odd Socks". The idea of "Odd Socks Day" is to promote discussion around diversity. We want our children to celebrate individuality and recognise what makes us unique. It also raises an awareness of bullying and how important it is to not accept any form bullying at our school. Hopefully, wearing odd socks will be fun too!
Mrs Korcz Headmistress
Remembrance Day - Poetry
Class 5 this week have marked Remembrance Day by reciting some famous poetry written during The Great War. The following video speaks for itself and all that is to add is to say how proud of the children I am with the respect and empathy they have shown towards this topic.
Covid has affected everything including the way the ABRSM hold exams. A new “Performance Exam” has been trialled and some of the TGPS musicians are amongst the first in the country to try it out.
The exam is a recording of a straight run through of Four pieces, introduced by the candidate. While there are no aural tests, sight reading or scales and arpeggios to play, this exam comes with its own set of challenges.
I am hugely proud to announce the following exam results.
The Youth Sport Trust will deliver a free virtual after school club as part of a national response to the second lockdown. The 30-minute club will take place at 5pm each weekday on YouTube Live and be led by a different member of the YST’s Athlete Mentor network. Starting on Thursday 12 November with world number one female inline skater and 10-time British Champion Jenna Downing. Aimed mainly at primary-aged children, a different theme has been assigned for each day of the club - Adventure Monday, Tuesday Play, Wild Wednesday, Thinking Thursday and Fun Friday. Follow us using #YSTAfterSchooland click below for more information.
The children in EYFS had a lively, fun PE lesson this week with the parachute and Mrs Atkins leading the activity. It was lovely to observe some super listening and excellent team building skills. I thought that the children had disappeared at one stage when they went under the parachute and all I could hear was lots of giggling!! What a fun lesson!!
Pre-school and Reception had fun in the sun last week with Mr Park during our P.E. lesson.
First up we spotted our shadows and then we did some warm up exercises on the spot, marching and stretching. Mr Park then marked out a rectangle on the astro turf that the children had to run around in, before chasing a partner’s shadow! Mr Park asked the children to try and jump on their partner’s head. Mrs Whinney was a bit worried at this point! But no fear Mr Park meant the shadow’s head. Phew! Nobody could stand on Mr Park’s shadow head; he was too quick for us. Our last exercise was about team work and running in relay and passing a ball between the members of the team! Something we will continue to work on!
Remembrance Day – At the end of last week the children in Reception started to talk about why we celebrate this time of year and wear red poppies. The children have all been making their own poppy wreath for our Remembrance Day celebration area in the classroom. This helps us to think about this special time of year. We also continued this learning at the start of this week with an acrostic poem about a hero. The children were able to think of some very poignant words to use in their poem.
On Wednesday 11th November at 11am the children joined Pre-School for the special two minute silence. Well done Reception- keep it up!
Mrs Ives
As part of our History studies, Class One have been thinking about why poppies are such an important flower to wear whilst we are remembering the soldiers who have fought, and been killed or injured, in wars that have ensured that the United Kingdom is kept safe.
The children have been reading the story "Where the Poppies now Grow" by Hilary Robinson and Martin Impey, which is a poignant tale of two little boys who played in a field as children and grow up to become soldiers of the Great War.
The children have painted poppies; learning about the meaning of the colours red, black and green. They have also been busy making poppy wreaths to display at home. This year, more than with any other group, the children in Year One have been very keen to find out about the battlefields, trenches and special memorials linked to the lives and conditions of the soldiers.
Also Sophia enjoyed talking to the Class about her Daddy's time in the Army and showing them all of the medals that he has been awarded.
Their inquisitivity has been amazing to witness. We have all learned so much and the children have shown maturity and empathy beyond their years. I am so proud of you all. Mrs Bell
As part of their RE studies, Class 3 have been learning about the Hindu Festival of Diwali this week. They have been researching the festival using books and the IPads and have produced some interesting fact sheets about the celebrations. The class have also been colouring in their own Rangoli patterns which look fantastic on the display board.
Well done Class 3.
Miss Linehan
Class 4 have been busy in Mathematics, working on conversion of money, and solving additions using different currencies. They used the sterling pound, the Euro and the United States dollar. After all the sums were completed, pupils enjoyed putting their money skills to the test, playing the game ‘Money Lotto’. Alice must have keen monetary skills, winning both games – very well done!
Other pupils sharpened up their recent work on Fractions, playing ‘Fraction Lotto’. Ahaan was the definite winner here, showing a clear understanding of his fractions – well done!
This week class 5 have been looking in mathematics at the formal method of long multiplication. While this topic is often quite tricky to grasp it seems that one particular member of the class has an eye on the teacher's job!
We have continued to study the complex Shakespearean tale entitled The Comedy of Errors. The children have really enjoyed acting out a re-telling of the main points of the story, and have, in fact, decided to dedicate our drama lessons to creating a shortened version using the original Elizabethan text. This is no mean feat. I am super proud of how well they have risen to the challenge of understanding context and plot. We will continue to look closely at key sections of the play as well as considering, in a wider context, the difficulties of staging a play that has two sets of identical twins; and how it would have been performed in the 16th century.
The class have been incredibly excited preparing for the many varied activities they have produced for Children in Need. They entertained class 5 with some games, including splat the rat and the human fruit machine and will deliver their game boxes to the other bubbles on Thursday morning. Pictures and more information to follow next week.
Class 2 have produced some lovely collages inspired by Monet’s Waterlily paintings.
Pupils enjoyed using wax crayons and paints to create the watery ponds, then cut out lily pads and constructed delicate tissue paper flowers for the waterlilies. The weeping willows surrounding the ponds were created with different wools and threads. Well done, Class 2, beautiful work!
Class 3 have been busy painting and drawing creative stars and skies.
Star templates were carefully cut around, and then pupils used ready mixed paints to blend different midnight skies. The stars were decorated using metallic pens to create vibrant patterns to represent rays of light and energy. The work looks fantastic Class 3, very well done!
Class 4 have looked at the theme of autumn leaves to create these colourful paintings and drawings.
Pupils worked well to perfect scissor skills, colour mixing, delicate drawing, and finally arranging their work to form a pleasing composition. Super work, Class 4 – well done!
Well done everyone for working hard in art.
There is more display work to come from Classes 5 and 6…..watch this space!
Mrs.Jackson
If we look back in time we will not remember when we learned the parts of the body. But we will never forget the song "head, shoulders, knees and toes " and it will always remind us of our childhood.
Identifying body parts and being intentional about using them is a cognitive, physical, and language-enriching process. In early childhood, we learn through sensory discovery which happens by moving through and experiencing the world. With each physical ability we acquire, we become more aware of something else we can do/see/explore. Our bodies are essentially our toolkit for discovery.
To find out the parts of the body, we make a large puzzle and distribute cards to the students with the vocabulary studied. Progressively the children were placing the cards in the corresponding part of the body and thus all participated in completing the human body.
Obviously Mr. Potato and the traditional song: “head, shoulders, knees and toes” could not be missed. What a good time the 3-year-olds had with this topic!
Soraya Sarmiento
Teacher Infants
Colegio Internacional Levante VALENCIA - ESPAÑA
Learning Spanish As A Foreign Language
We learn Spanish in an active and dynamic way. From the very beginning the students know the unit objective and at the end they demonstrate their new skills in the form of a poster, writing a blog, showing a presentation of a city or doing an interview. These give a sense of what they really “CAN DO” with the language. All of the activities are around the development of the receptive and productive skills, listening, reading, writing, speaking, grammar and vocabulary. The project is a very creative, independant and enjoyable activity. They put all they have learnt into practice and they show what they can say in the new language. Grade 6 have completed their first project where they introduced themselves and shared some personal information with their classmates and parents.
Offstage Drama has resumed their Saturday drama workshops.
There are two sessions:
9.30 am - 10.30 am - Children aged 4-11
10.30 am - 11.30 am - Secondary aged children
We ensure that children are spaced out, the hall is well-ventilated and that good hand hygiene is adhered to. We have contact details for all of the families, so that if there are any concerns, these can be shared quickly. This is subject, of course, to any further updates from the Government nearer the time.
I would like to offer any current children in Year 6, whether or not they already attend the sessions, the chance to join the 10.30am workshop.
Please contact Ellie Dickinson for more information on offstagedrama1@gmail.com
School Bus Collection Points & Times
Bookings for this week:
Please contact the school office to book a place for your child.
8.10am Normanton on Cliffe
8.20am Ancaster
8.25am Wilsford
On Fridays the bus will run 15 minutes earlier to ensure pupils arrive in time for the *Music Machine" School Band rehearsal.
Access to the School Building after 4.30pm
As you are all aware there is now a gate which has a key code access to the Creche in the evening. If you do not have the code, please call 01476 593293 and your call will be answered by Creche.
