What happened to Christmas? a colleague remarked as we neared the end of term with Easter in sight. But then reviewing the results that our tracking of children's progress yields we can see that the time was well spent. And then the Inspector dropped in... but, as we write, the official Ofsted report is undergoing quality control and no comment can be made. This will appear later. The post-inspection toasted marshmallows in the classroom under-the-trees were all the sweeter.
Our Reception group, making steady progress to independent Literacy, have been following Percy the Park Keeper into Spring time stories. Planting our baby trees to start Percy's Wood next to our classroom under the trees will enlarge the viable habitats for Percy's smaller friends as well as giving our youngest children something to measure their own growth against.
Year 1 have been exploring stories from other cultures and the contribution these make to our lives today. Researching the sad story of the Willow Pattern plate they decided to rewrite the ending to allow the lovers to escape from the maze and into various imaginary and new worlds (populated by dinosaurs, undercover leprechauns and having many more surprising adventures).
Year 2, having made good strides in extra number problem solving, have also been enjoying a box of poetry books left by the school librarian after a book talk. Using one of them we have been able to trace four generations of poet Michael Rosen's family tree. This began with humorous anecdotes about a two-year old toddler and his nappy then progressed into evidence for oral history and the reasons why some people seek to emigrate and seek sanctuary in our country.
Children in Years 1 & 2 enjoyed an Art lesson from visiting teacher Mrs Leicester that extended their understanding of flat shapes and tiling patterns by considering the work of M. C. Escher.
We ended the term with a basket full of Easter creations to take home, a spectacular parade of bonnets (everyone a winner) and traditional egg rolling. Then hot soup to supplement our packed lunches and a regular 'Open door' session to share work with our parents.
Having achieved a greater measure of calm and stability with our Interim Headteacher Ms. Anne Shedden our school community looks forward to the summer term with anticipation and confidence.
Thanks are due to our Governors, staff and the regular helpers and supporters of Sherington CE School. But our most valuable, delightful and constantly engaging asset are the children who make the whole enterprise meaningful. Well done to you all. Have a happy Easter break.
15 March 2010
The term continues to unfold very productively with pupils in all groups well into their stride and making good progress. We welcome Grace Ecclestone into our Reception grouping and hope that she continues to thrive with as many happy smiles as we have seen during her induction period.
Beatrix Potter Day with Emberton School was a great success with Key Stage 1 children sharing the day, creative activities that the author herself was fond of together with the story of Jemima Puddleduck as our focus for Literacy, friendship and much more. Who would you wish to be your friend, Jemima or the gentlemanly and elegant Mr Fox? Opinions were divided on this (and other matters to do with the eating of duck) so close to our celebrations of Chinese New Year. These were carried out with a healthy vegetable stir-fry with noodles and rice as well as the making of cards and Tiger masks to celebrate the story of the Chinese calendar.
Our youngest children explored the topic of 'Friendship' through play, art, conversation and Literacy while Year 1 got to grips with telling the time and some rather tricky extended arithmetic (such that two bright sparks showed their work to year 2 and were 'kidnapped' to continue with the older group's lesson). Year 2 led the way on Beatrix Potter Day being hot-seated to field questions from our visitors. Along with Year 1 they have also been involved with some busy and productive D&T workshop sessions on the theme of 'Playgrounds'. Many thanks are due to Mrs Sue Temple for her hands-on involvement in facilitating these activities.
Our Art work 'Investigating Materials' was given a professional boost with the day visit of weaving artist Alana Jolley. Using a contrasting selection of natural and fabricated materials the children worked to a very high standard under her tutelage revisiting and remembering many skills and facts from our Creative Partnership Project of last year.
While the Spring season brings birds to our nest boxes (Great Tits in the front of the school, Blue tits elsewhere), frog and newts to the pond and baby voles in the long grass it also sparks the beginning of our extended induction period for next years intake. School staff will be visiting Sherington Pre-School to share activities and meet our future pupils.
Sherington CE School bid a second, and no less fond, farewell to one of our most loved and respected of former Headteachers; Mrs Joyce Tranter. Having retired in 1996, and been a regular helper since 2001, Joyce's personal warmth and love of children has inspired generations of pupils both here in the village and at the schools she taught in previously. In lieu of a tree, (hard to pack in an already full removal lorry) Joyce took garden tokens along with our warmest wishes to Durham and her new rural location. The children looked at the farm on Google Earth? and waved - we didn't see anyone wave back but we do have hopes. Perhaps she was out helping in the local school that she had already earmarked? A wild Rowan tree will be planted at school and christened 'Mrs Tranter'.
Once the new term got fully underway after the snow hiatus all year groups settled to their new topics and are making good enthusiastic progress. Bridging the half-term break will be the (Year of the) Tigers in Reception and Year 1 as they celebrate Chinese New Year. Year 2 similarly completed their Beatrix Potter topic with student Miss Natalie Adam who leaves us not only with an excellent result but our thanks and offer for a return anytime she is passing by.
Our classrooms are buzzing with the installation of new computers to power the interactive white-boards and the provision of 'Visualisers', a digital camera projector, which will add another supportive dimension to our teaching.
Lunchtime play is enlivened by the appearance of Milton Monkey, a play coach from MK Dons who is teaching us various ways to enjoy exercise, competition and cooperation. A hot lunch addition of herby tomato soup and garlic (school grown) bread ended the half-term.
We fully expect to be on the lookout for Spring, frogs and newts in the pond, planting vegetables and completing our Robin song survey upon our return after half-term.
17 January 2010
With Christmas a recent memory we returned to school full of enthusiasm only to be snowed out after two days. This enforced closure tried the patience of staff, students and parents and it was with renewed enthusiasm (and the kind help of two parents to clear a path into school - thanks again) that we really began to resume work in earnest in the second week.
Our two students began to take responsibility for their groups of children. Mr Jamie Flegg continues to explore the adventures of Percy the Park Keeper with our Reception children (the story of One Snowy Night proving very apposite). Year 1 are conducting researches of their own using non-fiction information books before moving onto considering Stories from other cultures. Miss Natalie Adam and Year 2 are enjoying the stories of Beatrix Potter greatly assisted by a magnificent collection of resources lent by Natasha whose Grandma had collected them for her before she was born! A workshop with our Emberton partners is planned for the future.
Snow proved to be an asset as well as a trial as the younger children made sculptures and are exploring the scientific and poetical properties of ice and snow with Mr Flegg.
Staff and Governors showed a fulsome welcome to our new Interim Headteacher Ms Anne Shedden and we look optimistically forward to a period of stability and development across all aspect of the school.