The School Council plays an important role in our school : six
children of different ages who meet weekly to discuss issues of importance to
the pupils. The School Council recently visited the Houses of Parliament to see
how democracy works on a national level. We were then delighted to welcome
local MP Mike Penning to the school to tell us about his life as an MP and to
answer questions. The children’s questions
were equally as challenging as those from the floor of the House. For example:
-
How do you
raise money to keep the Houses of Parliament running?
-
As an MP,
how do you feel about troops being sent to War?
We hope that these types of experience will encourage our
children to be ‘confident, respectful and successful citizens of the future’.
Recently five of our children attended an ‘Able Maths Day’
at George Street School, using Art to inspire the budding mathematicians. Tasks
included working out how many assistants Damien Hirst would need to make Spot
paintings of various sizes and making Anthony Gormley figurines from plasticine
and estimating how many would be needed to fill the school hall (252,000!!!).
Certainly a different approach to mathematics with plenty of practical
activities. Children will also be attending an ‘Able Writers Day’. These events
are an excellent way of enriching the curriculum and giving children the
opportunity to work with pupils from other local schools.
On National Poetry Day children throughout the school wrote
their own poems. There are some beautiful examples of their poems on our
website. Year 5&6 wrote poems inspired by the First World War and I would
like to share a poem written by Oscar in Year 6:
The trenches are
dirty
The trenches are wet
The trenches are our
homes
Covering our silhouette.
Violets are blue
Poppies are red –
Representing the
blood
that we shed;
We wear our poppies
with love and respect
We will never forget
We must never forget.
Leaving our families
Holding hands with
our future;
Bravely marching, we
the British warriors
We will never forget
We must never forget.
The oceans of
poppies,
Blood and sweat
We must never forget
Please don't forget.
Alison Wilkinson
Chair of Governors
