This week at Pre-School we have been reading the story Room on the Broom. The children used spaghetti to paint their own pictures and they were also introduced to sequencing. They discussed the story in small talking groups and then had a go at sticking the animals in order on a broomstick. We also had a potion making station set up for the children to create their own potions using pom poms, sequins and jewels to make magic potions for the witch and the teachers to try! On Friday we took part in Children in Need day and all of our activities were very spotty.
In P.E. this week, the Reception children have been practising their gymnastic poses. They have learnt the importance of pointed toes and hands to perfect their moves. Try practising an Arabesque and tree pose at home and see how they can balance. Christmas countdown has begun and we are in full swing with learning our Nativity songs and lines.
In science, the Year 1 meteorologists have enjoyed forecasting and reporting on the weather. They are making good use of the varied weather symbols to identify the weather as it changes from day to day and are becoming quite accomplished at telling them apart.
This week in Year 2 the children have loved practising their new language skills in French. They have been remembering the items they would have in a pencil case and been enjoying playing games to reinforce their french vocabulary. It is always a delight to pop in and see them singing along with their French songs with such enthusiasm! Despite being a very wet week at Forest School we have been outside in our warm waterproof clothes participating in some very creative activities. We have whittled sticks to make wands, invented magic words and made foaming concoctions from natural materials and secret ingredients. Being an inventor is both lots of fun and a very serious business down in the woods. Illusions such as making water disappear and producing a large pebble from a little bottle were two of the many tricks the children performed to each other, delighting and entertaining us all.
Year 3 - Year 3 were lucky enough to have Dr Sadarangani come in to talk to us about the human body. Did you know the digestive tract is 9m long? A big thank you to Dr Sadarangani for giving up her afternoon to come and speak with us. We all learnt lots of new facts, even the teachers!
In English lessons this week the children were pretending to be agony aunts and uncles. They were advising Tranio and Livia from the story ‘Escape From Pompeii’ to evacuate the island before the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. The year 3 teachers were very impressed with the use of expanded noun phrases that the pupils added into their setting descriptions.
Year 3 used their multiplication knowledge to solve equations using arrays. By the end of the week the children were able to solve equations using the written method.
During Religious studies lessons the children were discussing why the birth of Jesus is such an important event for Christians. Year 3 were challenged to create their own set of weighing scales made from natural materials in forest school lessons this week. There were some innovative ideas that involved using bricks, sticks and string.
This week’s PSHE lessons focused largely around the theme of ‘anti-bullying’. The children discussed what they could do if they witnessed someone being bullied or being treated unkindly. Several pupils then created their own posters to advise others and how they could resolve tricky situations.
In music and drama lessons the children were preparing songs for the pantomime and rehearsing Christmas songs for the final assemblies of the term. There was much excitement during the whole school assembly this week as the pupils heard the results of the recent house competitions. Well done to all of the pupils who submitted entries for the various competitions.
The Apthorp building was a sea of spots on Friday as the pupils concluded the week with an assembly for Children in Need. Well done Lower Prep for your spectacularly spotty outfits!Year 4 - In Forest School the children used trees as a backdrop for their mud paintings and extended these art skills to the painting of Mrs Green’s shed.
This week, our bright sparks were learning all about electricity in an interactive workshop with Mr G. The children learnt about static electricity by carrying out a number of activities. It was wonderful to hear discussions around renewable and non-renewable sources and the importance of becoming more responsible and not using more than we need to. The children also used fruit to create a circuit.
In English, the children have started to write their own fables using the moral ‘If you lie to people, then no one will believe you if you tell the truth.’ They have identified character traits and created two lies and a consequence. We are looking forward to hearing the children's finished fables.
Year 5 and 6 - Thank you to all pupils in Year 5 and 6 who wore their spotty clothing on Friday to raise money for Children in Need. It was great to see so many of the pupils in such colourful outfits. The money will be going to a great range of very worthwhile causes.
Year 5 - In Year 5 this week in English, children have been writing prose inspired by the poem, ‘The Listeners’ by Walter de la Mare, and absorbing new vocabulary that their reading of the poem has taught them. In Maths, year 5 they have been focusing on fractions as well as decimals and percentages. In Science the pupils have been carrying on their topic of Forces. They have seen how different shapes fall through water, showing how streamlined they are. They have drawn bar charts to show their results.
Year 6 - In English, Year 6 have continued with their study of Pullman’s novella Clockwork, and have been writing to advise the young apprentice Karl to accept - or not - the figurine manufactured by the mysterious Dr Kalmenius. Some children have employed the subjunctive form to bring an extra level of formality to their writing. In science, Year 6 have gained their Bunsen Burner licences by showing they can safely turn on and off the Bunsen and switch the flame from a safety to a roaring flame.
Year 8 took part in a chemistry practical about titration last week. This is actually from the GCSE syllabus, but we were using it to improve practical skills and the Year 8's did a fantastic job. Well done all!
It has been another very busy and successful week on the games field. We had a senior basketball match on Tuesday night, a full round of football and hockey fixtures on Wednesday, all of Year 4 boys and girls playing football matches on Thursday and Edge Grove hosted the district table tennis tournaments here all day on Thursday before an U11 and U13 table tennis fixture against Lockers Park on Thursday night.
We were very lucky to have Mr Kaboul who is a current Edge Grove parent and a retired professional footballer, having played for Tottenham, Watford and France U21, come in on Tuesday to help coach our Colts A and B squads. It obviously worked as both teams had resounding wins on Wednesday.
Year 3 and 4 have now finished all their fixtures for this term. We do need to congratulate the Year 4 football teams who had an amazing season with all the teams performing exceptionally well. A huge congratulations to the U9B team who went through the season undefeated.
Special mention needs to go to the table tennis teams where our U11 girls, U11 boys and U13 boys all won their competitions to qualify for the county finals. Unfortunately no other U13 girls teams entered so our girls have had a bye straight through to the county finals.
Music - It was lovely to welcome parents to our first ever Orchestra Open-Rehearsal last Thursday morning. Thank you to all who came and attended to support our young musicians as part of an ensemble! Ensemble playing is challenging, yet a key part of playing an orchestral instrument. The importance of listening to each other and learning from each other is paramount. Thank you to Mr Dave McCallum for leading orchestra practice each week and conducting the orchestra. Mr McCallum is a professional brass player and plays with the BBC Concert Orchestra. Please find below an article from one of our Edge Grove Journalists about the open rehearsal.
We strongly advise that over the holiday season you take your child to a live classical concert where they can observe a professional orchestra in some of London’s most prestigious concert halls.
Young Musicians Symphony Orchestra at Cadogan Hall, Sloane Square, London: https://cadoganhall.com/whats-on/young-musicians-symphony-orchestra-291122/
https://www.royalalberthall.com/tickets/series/christmas-at-the-royal-albert-hall/
https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/venues/royal-festival-hall?type=classical-music&type=performance-dance&type=performance-theatre
https://www.barbican.org.uk/whats-on/2022/series/london-symphony-orchestra
https://cadoganhall.com/whats-on/
As a parent of a young orchestra member, you can help your child by being an ‘Orchestra PAL’: Practice - Attendance - Live Concerts’.
By Miriam R, Year 5 - Edge Grove School Journalist and violinist in the school orchestra
On Thursday 17th November, parents were invited to watch their children play in the Edge Grove School Orchestra!
The Edge Grove School Orchestra was formed by Mr Leutfeld last year and children have been preparing for various concerts throughout the year. They practise bright and early at 8am every Thursday either in the music room or the Theatre.
This term, the orchestra has been currently working on ‘Tango and Cha Cha’, ‘Jingle Bells’ and ‘Half Minute Waltz’ (because it is supposed to be played in half a minute!). These were the pieces that parents heard being rehearsed.In our school orchestra we have the strings (violins and cellos), woodwind (clarinets, flutes and saxophone), brass (trumpets) and a piano. We used to have percussion (drums) but sadly we don’t anymore.
Our school orchestra is currently conducted by Mr McCallum who plays the trumpet for the BBC Concert Orchestra. An interview with him can be found here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/orchestras/learn/guidetotheorchestra/brass/
If you would like your child to join the school orchestra please contact Mr Leutfeld. Children need to play an orchestral instrument and be able to sight read music at about Grade 2 level.
We look forward to seeing you again in our next Rush Hour Concert!
By Julia L, Year 5 - Edge Grove School Journalist
On Friday November 4th,Y5 students performed the Lion and Albert in the theatre at Edge Grove School. The Lion and Albert is a funny narrative poem written by Marriott Edgar.
Year 5 English groups were very excited because they all wanted people to see how the other classes performed the poem. One of the groups even got costumes for the play which made the whole show even more special. All three groups came to the stage and performed one after another.
One star of the performances was Isaac K from 5MO who played the role of Narrator, Keeper and Pa. His accent was like a real northern accent which was more terrific and it left a great impression on everyone. Ishaan Das was also really funny as in the poem as he actually took out a pen and acted the moment when Albert, the boy in the poem, shoved his stick in the lion, Wallace’s ear. Everyone was laughing when he did that and gave him a big round of applause.
At the end of the performances, everyone was applauding so loudly that I could barely hear my own voice. It was a great day for everyone and we learnt that in English class, the more you practise a performance, the better you are and the less scared you are. And most importantly we have to remember to work in a team because teamwork is the key to success.
The poems can now be watched in the video section of the Edge Grove app.
