Great Gaddesden CoE VA
School
I
start my news this month with an account from Miss Ayres our Early Years
Teacher who writes about our recent Science Day:
Whole School Science Day Report
Recently the whole school took part in a science
day full of fun, hands-on experiments. We came to school dressed as mad
scientists and awards were given at the end of the day for the person in each
year group who had been the most inquisitive scientist.
In Nursery and Reception we did a colour experiment
with cabbage water and one with milk, made colourful frost patterns, explored
torches, mirrors and coloured materials and made some bouncy silly putty to
take home!
“We poured cabbage water into 3
different liquids. It changed them all different colours.” – Leo
“I liked making the silly putty.
It was bouncy!” – Fionan
“I liked the milk experiment. We
put colours in the milk. Then we put special stuff in [washing up liquid] and
it was like an explosion!” – Dexter
“We made
snowflake patterns. We spread icing on the paper. Then we dropped colour on it
and it turned into a beautiful snowflake!” - Hannah
Staff and pupils have also been
busy participating in other areas of school life too.
Nursery and Reception have been learning
about India this month. They used spices to make scented pictures, explored
scented playdough, learnt about Indian animals and have also cooked and eaten a
range of Indian food including naan bread and dahl. They also listened to some
Indian music and learnt some Indian dance moves. It sounds like they have been
having lots of fun learning about India!
In Literacy, years
one and two have been unpacking the well-known tale of Jack and the Beanstalk
and retelling the story in their own way. Additionally, year two attended a
local Sports Fayre recently where they had the opportunity to participate in
Sport and compete against other schools.
The Junior years
had an exciting visit from author Edward Hugh Trayer this month who writes
under the pen name of “Billy Bob Buttons”. He is the author of “I think I
Murdered Miss” and lives in Stockholm Sweden. He ran a workshop giving pupils
tips on their writing and provided some inspiration for writing stories on
myths and legends. The pupils had an opportunity to ask Edward lots of
questions about being an author and were left inspired and raring to go on their
stories by the end of the day.
There have
also been some fantastic class assemblies happening during the last month, with
all pupils enjoying an opportunity to share their learning with their families.
Assemblies have included class poetry, individual stories, amazing art
compositions and exciting science experiments. As governors we have been
impressed with the pupils’ confidence and willingness to stand up in front of
an audience and share their work – a fantastic skill for the future!
The School
Council were provided with an opportunity to meet the Mayor of Dacorum recently.
They all very much valued the chance to meet someone working in politics at a
local level and were keen to discuss their school initiatives with him.
In a bid to
lessen the amount of cars parking around the village, the school council are
zealously promoting the “Walk to School” initiative to their peers and we have
seen an increasing number of parents and pupils now parking at the Garden
Centre and walking to school each day. Whilst it is harder to promote this
initiative during bad weather and darker evenings, we hope that this is having
an impact on easing congestion in the village during the start and end of the
school day. If you have any concerns about school parking please come and talk
to us.
December
marks the end of the first term of the new school year and in the run up to the
Christmas Season there are lots of exciting events to look forward to.
The PTA will
be running a School Disco with a visit to Santa’s Grotto which is always a
great hit with the children. Staff and Parents will also be taking part in the
Santa’s Sleigh event collecting money for local charities with the Berkhamsted
Lions Club.
Children in Nursery
and Reception will be performing the traditional Nativity Play during December
whilst Years One to Six will be recounting the story of the first Christmas
through drama and song at our Carol Services.
The Carol Services will be held
on Tuesday the 15th of December at 2pm and 7pm at the church for
anyone who would like to join us.
It’s time for
Panto this month too (Oh no it isn’t! Oh yes it is!) Children and Staff will be
travelling to the Elgiva in Chesham for the annual whole school Panto trip. This
is one of the highlights of the year as the children love watching the Panto
with their friends.
Staff and
Junior aged pupils will also be Carol Singing around Great Gaddesden Village on
Thursday 10th December after school and we look forward to the
opportunity to sing to you and share the Christmas spirit with you. If you or
someone you know are located in the village and would particularly appreciate
hearing some carol singing, please let the school office know so we can ensure
we get to you (weather and location depending).
The school
term ends with our annual Christingle Service. Children decorate their
Christingles at school and line up in the shape of the cross inside the church.
They light them and angelically sing “Away in a Manger” which always invokes a
few tears from some of the adults!
It is a very special service and a lovely
way to round off the Autumn term.
On behalf of
the Great Gaddesden School Community, we wish you all a peaceful and happy
Christmas Season and look forward to sharing our school news with you in 2016.
