Happy, kind and brave.
Together we learn, together we grow, together we soar.
Keep up to date with all the latest news happening in school at the moment.
A group of Year 5 & 6 children took part in an inter-school hockey tournament this week at Redlands - for some children this was their first proper match experience, while others had played before, but all the children joined in brilliantly and played with great enthusiasm! They showed great sporting behaviour and super team spirit. Well done to everyone :-)
In the nature reserve this week, we learnt how to tie a shoe lace knot. We found our favourite trees and gave it a hug, then had to work as a team to tie a bow on our tree using the knot we had learnt. We then worked as a year group and played hide and seek.
This half term, Year 6 have begun researching the artist Chuck Close, and have created fantastic work from it.
During the week, we had some visitors from 'The Bank of Dreams and Nightmares'. They inspired the children to write poetry about their home and where they live.The children thoroughly enjoyed working with the adults and produced some amazing poems that will eventually be published into a real poetry book.
As part of our geography topic on biomes, the children in Year 5 have made their own ‘biome in a bag’.
Using soil, gravel, water, cress seeds and a plastic bag, the children have explored the essentials for plant life to thrive, as well as revising the water cycle.
We are looking forward to watching the seeds grow.
OF COURSE NOT!
However, in English this week, this was the theme for our persuasive letter writing.
First of all, the children came up with some brilliant reasons why we should or should not have shorter play times. They then had to back up those reasons with evidence and use a rhetorical question to help persuade Mrs McCann.
What are your thoughts on the idea? Why not have a detailed conversation with your friends about it?
We have continued to work hard in all lessons and clubs - we have enjoyed more badminton and cricket coaching this week. We love school. I wonder if we should make the school day even longer? ;0)
Yesterday it was an absolute pleasure to watch Radipole at its finest!
Sport is far greater than the medals won! Sport is about the journey each athlete has been on, the resilience that has developed, friendships made, failures encountered, learning opportunities explored, passions ignited, growth of skills that can be applied to other areas of life, empathy towards others, team spirit nurtured, and encouragement of all etc.
Yes the runners were amazing.
Yes the Year 4 boys did win the team event.
Yes we had 2 first places.
Yes we had 1 second place.
Yes we had 2 third places.
More than that, everyone was a winner to me. Everyone had their own story, motivation and reasons to be there.
Some examples...
One child attempted the event last year with no strategies and placed 48th. This year they were determined to do better, so attending the weekly club, learning race strategies and developing endurance, they placed 10th! WOW! I love it when hard-work pays off!!
One child completed the first third and looked ready to stop. With gentle encouragement, they completed the whole race...running!
Another child attended the weekly sessions and gradually built up their stamina culminating in them finally reaching 1.5 km on race day.
My final example, one child became overcome by nerves that they didn't know if they would even take part. With encouragement, they took part, put in an amazing effort and was the final piece of the Year 4 boys team.
Last week, Year 2 were fortunate enough to have an extra PE lesson with a visiting tennis coach. The children worked brilliantly together and improved their hand-eye coordination and accuracy during the session.
Last week, we ventured down into the nature reserve. Our task was to work with a partner to make a stick man. We had to use two sticks and tie them together using a overhand knot.
We had a thoroughly nice afternoon, although it was a little muddy!
This week, year 5 had a special visitor who led a poetry workshop centered around Thomas Hardy's poem "The Darkling Thrush."
Incorporating musical elements, the children created a soundtrack to enhance the poem's meaning, experimenting with different instruments and sounds. This session not only deepened their understanding of the poem but also sparked their creativity whilst playing different instruments.
Well Done year 5!