Year 1 enjoyed a glorious day at Knebworth House on Friday. With the exception of a film crew on location, we had exclusive access to the grounds and gardens. With the beautiful house as a backdrop, we followed our volunteer guide Michael to our meeting point with the Head Gardner. We then split into three groups where we enjoyed a morning hearing all about the produce grown in the walled garden, identified grand trees and heard all about the historic use of herbs and finally explored the dinosaur trail. After a picnic lunch in the sunshine, the children enjoyed some free time in the fort adventure playground. I was so proud of all of the children; their behaviour was exemplary and they got involved in all of the workshops with enthusiasm. Miss Booth and her intrepid team of volunteer litter pickers worked hard to ensure that our school grounds look the very best they can and are a safe haven for wildlife. The children can all speak confidently about how each and every one of has a responsibility to care for our environment. This followed Mrs Doughty’s meeting with the whole school team of Environmental reps who are busy planning Environment Day on June 10th. It is a busy and exciting time for outdoor education, as the Forest School camp has a makeover and the maintenance team are busy preparing the ground for a new shelter funded by the FOEG.
Year 3 - The children came back refreshed and ready to learn after the bank holiday weekend. In English, they have continued to explore the book ‘The Vanishing Rainforest’. This week they are learning how to write a non-chronological report. They have continued to learn about the effects of deforestation and now know that rainforests are found near the equator. This week, the children have been practising being weather forecasters and have written their own weather forecast for a given rainforest.
In maths, the focus has been comparing, ordering, adding and subtracting fractions. It has been good to hear children using mathematical language to describe how they know one fraction is larger or smaller than another.
This half term we have been exploring simulations in computing. The children can explain why simulations are used and some of the shortfalls of simulations.
Year 4 - We have had a wonderful week in school and this has certainly been helped by some glorious sunshine. In English, children have continued writing their own newspaper reports based on Varjak Paw. They have produced some excellent writing and have really immersed themselves in the role of reporter.
In Maths we have continued our work on money and have looked practically at adding amounts, working out change and converting from pounds to pence. We ended the week with some challenging word problems and investigations.
In topic lessons we have been learning about the social hierarchy of the Shang Dynasty. Children have drawn up their own fact files to show how the different classes today and have considered how these differ to our lives today.
Year 5 - This week the children were discussing ‘being principled’ in form time. On Tuesday morning Miss Leighton led a phase assembly to share two stories based on ‘truth telling’ with the children. These two books explored honesty and challenged the children to think about how sometimes being too honest can be hurtful. In English lessons this week the children were looking at their test papers from last week. The year 5 English teachers spent lots of time checking through their answers and discussing targets for the rest of the term. The week concluded with the children reading an extract from ‘Black Beauty’. In maths lessons year 5 were looking at angles and were learning how to use protractors. By the end of the week the children were confident using these to measure various acute, obtuse and even reflex angles. Ask your child to teach you how to use a protractor at home! The children had lots of fun in science lessons as they continued their investigations into soluble and insoluble materials. This week year 5 were looking at the temperature at which sugar dissolves in various liquids. In computing lessons pupils have started to design their own websites. In art lessons the children continued to work on their ‘Ben Day’ inspired art work. These involve them creating a picture using dot art. In P.E lessons year 5 were getting ready for sports day and were practising throwing a javelin. In French lessons the children were looking at the verb ‘faire’- to do. Year 5 have thoroughly enjoyed their classics lessons this year and they have loved hearing the story of ‘The Jewel of Paris’ this week. Unfortunately rain called off a few of the matches this week but we look forward to the sunnier weather next week for cricket!
Year 5 & 6 Mathematics Championship at UCS
Last week a selection of Ignite students from Edge Grove competed in a heat of the National Junior Maths Championship at UCS. Our two teams compromised of four Year 5 pupils (Robert C, Imeth M, Khushi S and Esmé N) and four Year 6 pupils (Tara S, Ayo D, Artem K and Yousuf U).
It was wonderful to be back competing with pupils from other schools face to face and our teams participated with notable maturity and resilience. After a very tough hour, our teams placed 9th and 11th respectively.
Well done again to all involved - we will be back competing again soon!
Mr Kieldson and Miss O’Sullivan
Photography - The photography module group have started to stitch out their art photography pieces which are looking great. They will be sewing into card next week to start their final pieces. I have been really impressed with how all of the group have applied themselves and look forward to their final pieces in a couple of weeks.
Photography elective have been finalising their own assignments and presentations ready to present to the rest of their class next week, the will need to make a 5 minute presentation explaining their assignment and then will be passing their assignment to one of their peers to follow.
Art - The Year 7 and 8 artists have been looking at red peppers. Having drawn a pencil sketch and completed a watercolour study, they are now working through their collage artworks. So far the results are looking magnificent!
At the other end of the Lower Prep, the Year 3s are finishing their death mask backgrounds for their Egyptian papyruses. They have worked so well on this project and are looking forward to starting their final project of the year.
Well done to everyone who took part in cricket fixtures last week. Some rain stopped play but we also had some great fixtures in the sun. Match reports can be found here. Congratulations must also go to Laurence who plays for Barnet Elizabethans Rugby Football Club and won the club's U9 Player of the Season trophy! He also completed his first rugby tour travelling to Devon with the club over the last Bank Holiday weekend where he competed against teams from Scotland, Wales and other clubs in England. Well done Laurence!
We have a few tables remaining so please visit the booking website here to secure your place at the event of the year!
We made the decision a few weeks ago to donate surplus funds raised at this special event to the DEC Ukrainian appeal, putting the greater needs of others before our own. As ticket sales barely cover the cost of the evening, we rely on fundraising both on the night and in the lead up to the ball to make money for our designated charity. We would love the children to be involved with this too and more details regarding this will be sent out nearer the event. In the past, parents have been incredibly generous in donating items for our live auction and raffle, and the school has previously offered the chance to bid for your child to be “Head for the day”, a prize that I’m sure they would all love to win and which will be up for grabs again this year. Other items that we have had donated previously have been to watch a training session and meet the team at West Ham, use of a holiday villa in France for a week and a private dining experience for 8. Our school community has many contacts that may be interested in helping to raise as much as possible on the evening so, with this in mind, we are once again reaching out to you all for any help that you can provide with the following: Raffle Items: Any gift is a grateful gift. No matter how big or small the gift, we will gladly accept it to be used in some way. Suggestions of vouchers, wine, pamper products, jewellery, experiences, electronics? Live Auction Lots: Maybe you own season tickets for rugby or football teams that you can donate for one game? Do you own a holiday property that you can donate for a week's stay or have connections to a holiday company that can help? Could you donate Theatre tickets or a restaurant table/experience? Training or lessons on a particular skill? Donate a piece of artwork or photography?
Whether you were kind enough help us at the last ball and can help us again or if you are new and can offer anything you think would be of help to us for the Ball, then please e-mail me (smaughan@edgegrove.com) or call the school to have a direct chat with me. Please bring donations to the main reception. My sincere thanks in advance for your continued support for this event whether by attending, donating prizes, buying raffle tickets or bidding for items. Best wishes, Sue Maughan Development Manager