For Science Week we welcomed Lesley Lightning from 'Sublime Science' for a series of workshops across the school. The children took part in a range of experiments and demonstrations, including slime making, forces investigations and 'climate chaos' experiments. They finished off the day with an amazing rocket show on the playground!
We also celebrated World Book Day in March and this year we were extremely impressed with the variety of book characters. The whole school worked in small groups to create a ‘Once Upon a … Fairytale’ and co-wrote and illustrated their own adventure story.
Class 1 & 2 pupils visited SCEEC, a 19 acre nature reserve with woodland, meadow and ponds which is a haven for wildlife even in the depths of winter. A skilled education team led our day, engaging our pupils’ heads, hearts and hands as they learnt respect for the natural world and how wild animals survive.
Class 3 & 4 pupils were given an introduction to the exciting world of engineering by using K’Nex to produce a solution for a given problem. Mr Dorey led the workshop and the pupils experimented with structures, gears and other mechanisms while modelling their design. The pupils were also introduced to some of the careers that are associated with STEM and some of the routes into these careers.
We are excited to now have a link to Bethany School in Ethiopia. Throughout the year we will be exchanging communications with Bethany School and fundraising for them. We have installed a sign-post on the field to direct our attention to the local area and to represent important people in our lives such as family and friends. It also sign-posts the direction of Bethany School in Ethiopia and their pupils and staff who will be in our hearts and minds going forward. The School Council have also written a School Prayer for the pupils and staff at Bethany School. We are excited with this link and we will be exchanging communications, updates and photographs with Bethany School. We are very much wanting the children to take ownership of this project and each class will be planning and promoting fund-raising initiatives throughout the year to raise money for Bethany School. Thank you for your generous donations this week (£116.00 was raised) and everyone looked very colourful dressed in the colours of the Ethiopian flag!
SAFER INTERNET DAY This year’s global theme was Inspiring change? Making a difference, managing influence and changes online It focuses on smaller changes that can happen online and on devices every day, such as a screen pop-up, a familiar character looking different or a video clip change. We will be discussing with the children the importance of keeping safe and who to talk to if they have an online safety concern.
We celebrated STEM Week (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) in January. Within their mixed age family groups, the whole school took part in a number of practical activities and challenges using many different STEM skills whilst also focusing on our values for the week ‘Patience and Tolerance.'
This year Class One and Two performed the Nativity Play ‘Rock the Baby’ and we raised £172.10 for Play2Give’s Christmas Appeal ‘Sleigh2Give.’ This charity provides presents to children in hospital, low income families, vulnerable children and those with disabilities throughout Oxfordshire, Wiltshire and Berkshire. Our Christmas Service at St Faith’s church was held at the very end of the term. The children in Class 3 led the service and used shadow puppets to re-tell the birth of Jesus. We sang several carols, the Choir performed, the staff read Bible readings and led the whole school in pray. It was a joyous occasion.
Our School Choir visited Feredune Care Home in Faringdon, to perform a Carol Concert to the residents. The Choir also performed at the Carols by Candlelight Service held at St Faith’s Church in Shellingford.
On Friday 17th November the whole school had a great time walking across the fields, and taking part in the exercise challenges! We raised £80.00 for the appeal, thank you.
