Charities Day saw a superb selection of Easter bonnets and a very interesting range of wildlife arriving at school.

The day then started with the children parading in their bonnets and outfits to an appreciative audience of parents - many of them having enjoyed a bacon or sausage sandwich for breakfast. Parents were further entertained with some songs before both parents and pupils visited stalls set up by the whole school community.

The theme for this year, the 33rd Annual Charities Day run at the school, was Wildlife Conservation and the charities, selected by the pupils, who will be the recipients of the monies raised are: Save the Children, British Wildlife Conservation, Diabetes UK, Shooting Star Chase and Action Aid.  

Thanks to all the organisers and to everyone whose contributions will help our chosen charities.

Author Gwyneth Rees visited the school on Monday 20 March and talked to Years 5 and 6 about her writing. Her books were also on sale and many pupils bought copies which Gwyneth signed for them.

Gwyneth Rees grew up in Scotland, studied Medicine and qualified as a doctor before she became a full-time writer. Her bestselling books include the Fairy Dust series, Cosmo and the Magic Sneeze and The Mum Hunt, winner of the Red House Award.
 

The pupils thoroughly enjoyed meeting Gwyneth and hearing how she plans and creates her books and where she finds inspiration for her characters and storylines. She also outlined the difficulties encountered when trying to get a book published and encouraged our pupils to persevere in projects that they tackle – as she did to get her books published.

Science Week (13-17 March) was a great success and full of exciting experiments and demonstrations. 

The pupils were both entertained and engaged, The range of activities included launching rockets, making parachutes, investigating a crime scene and creating teeth!

We now know for sure the answer to Reception's latest topic, "Are Eggs Alive?" ... and it's a very definite Yes!

The eggs, very generously donated by Jason, have now hatched and some very cute fluffy chicks are being looked after by Reception pupils and teachers.

A World Wild Life Fund competition was run in Year 5 – Eliza W and Ava H from 5V explain what was involved:
 

In Year 5, we have been holding a competition to adopt an animal from the World Wild Life Fund. Each teacher chose an animal to be put up for a vote. In the end the four species were:
 

Lion (Ms Lee)
Polar Bear (Miss Mitchell)
Amur Leopard (Mrs Bertin)
Gorilla (Miss Vernazza)
 

To vote every child had to choose which animal they wanted to adopt. Each caption (on posters the pupils produced to promote their animal) had to have legible handwriting and include speech marks with a tad of humour!
 

Votes came in thick and fast and were stuck on to each animal poster – made by the teachers and children.
 

After lots of counting, it was concluded that the winner was ….
 

THE GORILLA!!! with 40 votes
 

In second place was the Amur Leopard with 30 votes. In third place was the Polar Bear with 14 votes. In fourth place was the Lion with 7 votes.
 

Congratulations to Miss Vernazza and Hannah M and Flynn H for their funny captions:
 

Hannah M: “I need my beauty sleep so leave me to put my rollers in” stated the gorilla

Flynn H: “Save me, I’m too cute to die” wails the baby gorilla

by Eliza W and Ava H

Thanks to Eliza and Ava for an excellent report

We were delighted to welcome one of our parents, Jason, and his hens into school for an assembly to launch Reception’s “Are Eggs Alive?” topic.
 

Pupils got a chance to meet and stroke the hens as well as learn more about them. Eggs will certainly seem more alive in a few days’ time as Jason has very kindly donated eggs and an incubator to the school and pupils will be able to witness chicks emerging from the eggs shortly.
 

Ms Sarah Peterson, Early Years Leader, said: “This was a fantastic launch to our “Are Eggs Alive?” topic and we are very grateful to Jason for coming in to see us and for the incubator and eggs – we are really looking forward to seeing the chicks hatch!”
 

Jason has also said that he is happy to help any families who are interested in keeping hens – he has suggested you contact him via the school office and he will make sure you know what is involved and that the hens will be looked after well and are homed in the correct environment. All just for a small donation to the school.
 

Thank you once again Jason.

Site team member Lionel received a very appropriate birthday card from the pupils to celebrate a very special birthday.

The card was created by Isabella and Jasmine (6KS) and celebrated not only Lionel's birthday but also the fact that he wears shorts ... whatever the weather!

The girls presented the card to Lionel in Assembly it said:
 

Shorts never trousers
How can you get up so early
Outstandingly early
Right at 5:00am
Totally amazing
Shorts Man!