CLAREMONT

SCHOOL

Weekly Newsletter Monday 13th June 2016

Contact Us

Claremont Prep and Nursery School Baldslow St Leonards-on-Sea East Sussex TN37 7PW Tel.: 01424 751555

Website: www.claremontschool.co.uk General Enquiries: enquiries@claremontschool.co.uk

Newsletter Editor: louise.constable@claremontschool.co.uk

Dear Parent,

After all of the hard work, preparation and anxiety, the Year 8 examinations are

finally over. The relief and happiness on the faces on the pupils was tremendous

to see and their elation undoubtedly contributed to the success of their post-

Common Entrance trip to Camber Sands. The pictures which you will find within

the newsletter tell the story: games, laughter, ice-cream and paddling and some

incredibly well-earned relaxation time for all. On Friday, it was back to work:

preparing for this year’s Page to Stage performance and while I cannot say much,

for fear of spoiling the surprise, I can say that Miss Jackson has assured me

that this has never been attempted before.

Other than the Page to Stage performance on Thursday this week, we will be

bidding “Au revoir” to our Year 6 pupils as they set off on the penultimate visit

to St Omer this year, for what promises to be a busy and exciting trip. Year 8

depart the following day for Wiltshire, where there will be many exciting

challenges (and a lot of fun too) courtesy of PGL. On Friday, the competitive

spirit will be high as the Pre-Prep enjoys their Sports Day – I know that there

have been some very impressive performances during practice, so we can look

forward to some records being broken. For the slightly older children the county

athletics at K2 Crawley offers more opportunities for our pupils to compete and

make us all proud. Let us hope that the weather is kind to our pupils.

I am very pleased to share news of an exciting new venture. Established by

Arabella Ansar, Claremont’s former Head of Drama, ON STAGE IN 5 (OSI5), is

a specialised performing arts programme which aims to prepare pupils for the

stage. Students will study acting, singing and dancing, whilst learning the

necessary skills required for successful auditions. Classes are for those who are

passionate about the world of Performing Arts and wish to study at an advanced

level alongside highly skilled tutors. We are delighted that Arabella has chosen

to house her Performing Arts Centre for Excellence at Claremont School.

Further details and information to follow.

Years 3 – 7 pupils also have examinations over the next three days. We wish

them all the very best of luck.

Abra Stoakley

Claremont School is rated outstanding in all areas by Ofsted

2016.

Polite Notice: Exams this week. Remember to revise and relax.

WEEK 3

April 2

5

Mon

2

6

Tue

Swimming Gala v

Gildredge House

Yrs 7 & 8

16:30 @

CSS

2

7

Wed Cricket v St

Ronan's:

1st XI, Colts A,

Colts C (A)

2.15pm

2nd XI, Colts B

(H)

Girls Cricket v

Gildredge

House:

1st, 2nd, 3rd (A)

Girls Cricket v

Battle Abbey:

14:15

14:30

14:30

2

8

Thu Maths Challenge

- Years 7 & 8

Quest for Kings,

Queens and

Castles Pre-prep

Cricket v

Marlborough

House

U9 A (A) 2:15

U9 B (H) 2:15

Rounders v

Vinehall:

U9 & U8 (A)

Pre-Prep Parent

Focus Group

Morning

All day

14:15

14:30

2

9

Fri 1066 Choirs

finals - White

Rock Theatre -

6.30pm

3

0

Sat

WEEK 9

June 13 Mon School Exams Year 3-7

14 Tues School Exams Year 3-7 Nursery and Early Years staff twilight INSET session.

18:00

15 Wed School Exams Year 3-7 Year 1 Trip to Blue Reef Aquarium and Life Boat Museum, Hastings. Girls Cricket v DPS 1st, 2nd, 3rd (H) Girls Cricket v Bricklehurst (H) Girls Cricket U11 v Moira House (A) Cricket v DPS 1st XI (A) Cricket v Ashford Prep Colts A (H) Colts B (A)

14:30 14:30 14:30 14:30 14:15 14:15

16 Thur 6E and 6C depart for la Maison Claremont Girls Cricket v St Andrew’s U9 and U8 (A) Year 8 Page to Stage

14:30 18:00

17 Fri Year 8 Leavers Trip departs County Athletics: Years 6-8 at K2 Crawley Squirrels, Badgers, Foxes and Pre-Prep Sports Day

8:00 8:30 14:00

18 Sat 6E return from la Maison Claremont 14:00

RATED OUTSTANDING IN

ALL AREAS BY OFSTED -

2016

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Prep News ................................ 2

Pre-Prep News .......................... 5

Senior School News ............... 6

Match Reports ....................... 9

Menu, Commendations,

House Points. ........................... 11

Nursery News ........................... 12

A huge thank you for

facilitating a fantastic

fundraising opportunity for

Handicap International on

Sports day. It was a

wonderful to raise awareness, as well as to raise some money. I’m

awaiting the final figure from Finance, but my estimation is that

we are not far off the £300 mark, which will convert to £600

with the Government UK Aid match contribution. This is a really

significant amount of money in

terms of its buying power - only

£30 for an artificial limb for a

child, £75 for an emergency

wheelchair, and £128 for

physiotherapy sessions.. so many

thanks indeed. Chloe Wilson.

These photos were taken on Sports

Day showing Mrs Wilson handing

out rewards to those who took part

in the race dedicated to Handicap

International. This event inspired

our French lessons and thanks to

Mrs Wilson we have

started researching French speaking countries such as

Madagascar.

Year 5, 7 and 8 pupils did some

research and made posters about

countries where French

is the official language.

Raffi's new film THE HAVE-NOTS (DIE

HABE NICHTSE) directed by Florian

Hoffmeister, has been nominated in three

categories at Munich FilmFest and will

premiere at the festival in June.

Raffi has a major Hollywood movie

premiering this year, Miss Peregrine’s Home

For Peculiar Children, directed by Tim

Burton, is released on September 30th

2016. You can watch Raffi in the trailer on

YouTube where it has had over six and a

half million views already!

Congratulations to Ruairidh

Handyside for winning The

President's Poppy Appeal Cadet

Award.

Summer has arrived and we can make

some great shadows! An alien from

outer-space or gosh my muscles have

improved?!

Inspired by folklore and legends

surrounding the Rollright Stones and

Stonehenge, Year 3 created their own stone

circles this week using materials found on the

woodland floor. The children made up

some fantastically creative stories

to explain their designs! They

discussed a variety of ancient

circles (and how they might have

built them) and created their own

woodland versions along with creepy

stories! The winning story was a

joint effort from Orlando, Liberty

and Harvey who had a burglar who

was trapped in the stones....if you

enter you are trapped forever unless

you know the correct sequence of

stones to escape!

Thank you to Hattie, Evie and Olivia for

organising the fundraiser Messy Hair Day

for Cancer Research. You raised £400

overall. An extra £115 was donated by a

sponsored swim by Evie and Ella.

Claremont needs you! We

could win £5,000 of

National Book Tokens -

enough to buy

hundreds of

books for the library.

Accepted in thousands of

bookshops and online, National

Book Tokens are the perfect

way to reward, encourage

literacy and inspire a love of

books.

The winners of last year's prize - Stanley Road Primary

School in Worcester - transformed their library and

filled their bookshelves with new books. Will it be

Claremont's turn this year?

To enter, simply fill in the form on the website

http://www.nationalbooktokens.com/

schools#.V1lZrpErLIV

The competition closes on 31st July 2016.

Creating mud picture art, by creating our own paint using

mud water and paint brushes from leaves and twigs.

William was awarded this trophy

for saving two goals in a football

match recently. Well done William.

Sophia and her pony

Daisy were

brilliant at the Pony

Club annual show.

Sophia won the lead

rein class out of a

very strong class and

came 5th in the

coloured class in a

very big class! Sophia

was so pleased with

herself and Daisy she

celebrated with an

ice cream. She will be

a very strong

contender for our

equestrian team and

we can't wait to get

her going next year!

Teddy went to the

Springwatch studios

at RSPB Minsmere

over half term.

Here he is being

presented a Golden

Eagle feather by

Chris Packham. The

feather was shed by

a golden eagle that

appeared on the

show.

We had a fantastic session

with all Year 2 pupils who

visited the French room on

Wednesday afternoon with

Mme Patel and Mme Brownbill.

They enjoyed talking to me in

French and learning the Je

suis une pizza song! Merci

Year 2, you are fantastic

learners of French. Mme Hood.

Year 9 Musicians Create Four Chord Song Medleys - with Photographic

Evidence! What does James Blunt's, You're Beautiful, Bob Marley's, No Woman,

No Cry, Summer Nights from Grease, Aha's, Take on Me and Let It

Go, from Frozen have in common? Not sure? Well, Year 9 students

from Claremont Senior School know: they are all based around the

primary four chords you get in a pop song. In any key this is chord I,

V, VI, IV (in the key of C Major that would translate to C, G, Am and

F chords).

We have had a lot of fun here listening to the band Axis of Awesome's

Four Chord Song. (Check it out on YouTube if you don't know it!) Year

9’s have been then trying this out for themselves creating their own

medleys of a selection of four chord songs - our latest class project.

Music class 9X last Tuesday were even photographed rehearsing and

performing their medleys by a Your County magazine photographer, I attach a few shots with this article. You only

have to look at their faces to see how much fun they are having! (The photos are being used as part of a bigger article

on teaching in which Claremont musicians feature heavily.)

Year 9's are very excited about our forthcoming Open Air Music Festival ClaremontFEST on Monday, 27 June at 6pm

at the Senior School. Why don't you come along? Remember, entry is free - bring a crowd (and a picnic) to support our

young musicians. When our performers are receiving their first Grammy, you can remember you heard them here in

Bodiam first!

Mrs Bartle, Head of Music

Thomas Millington (acoustic guitar), George Blatchford

(cajon-box drum), Mrs Bartle.

Maya Ostle, Poppy Payne, Isobel Burrows, Alice Singer

(all vocals), Mrs Bartle.

Will Turner (electric guitar), Rupert Flynn (bass),

Thomas Millington (acoustic guitar), George

Blatchford (cajon-box drum),Mrs Bartle

Bruno Dickie (piano), Elliott Glynn (snare drum), Marcus

Kent (guitar), Dan Chapman (bass), Mrs Bartle.

Matches

Senior Mixed Rounders Triangular Fixture v Buckswood and Battle Abbey On Thursday, 19 May, two senior mixed rounders teams from Claremont travelled to Buckswood for a triangular fixture

with Buckswood and Battle Abbey. This was our first time playing mixed rounders, and it proved to be great fun.

The year 13 team was captained by Floss Atherton, and consisted of Guy-Louis Rongier, Jack Clayton, Polly Forbes,

Sam Harrod, Joe Smerke, Elliot Waters, Jess Carswell, Summer Trevallion, Ellie Richardson and Louise Raust. They

lost their first match against the Claremont Year 12 team, but once the boys began to grasp more of the rules, the

team began to gel nicely. They went on to draw with the Buckswood team, and were only narrowly beaten by the

Battle Abbey team.

It was an afternoon of great fun, and something we may look to host ourselves next year.

Miss Taylor, Girls' Games Department

Senior Rounders v Bede’s The girls are really enjoying the rounders season. On Tuesday, 24 May, once again we started this game by losing the

toss. We started in bat where we did well, but Bede’s fielding was so strong we struggled to score. Well done to Amy

Hilton, Laura Smith and Maddy Stichbury for their consistency in bat. Claremont came in to field and made an

excellent start getting 6 fielders out in a row!! There were great catches from Jade Murray, Jess Carswell and Polly

Forbes in deep field. Unfortunately our batting let us down and we lost: 18 - 8.

U14 Girls Cricket v Hastings Academy

The girls have really been working hard in cricket training and their efforts are starting to show. On Tuesday, 24 May,

Claremont started in bat against Hastings Academy and Betty Taylor and Bella Giddins opened with a very high scoring

35 runs off 2 overs. All the girls batted well with Claremont setting a very high score for the Academy to chase. In

field, the girls were really focused. Their bowling was excellent with Tamara Raman and Ameillia Cameron-Clarke each

taking a wicket. The fielders managed to stop balls before the boundary making it difficult for Hasting Academy to

score highly. It was a well deserved win for Claremont. Well done!

Girl's Cricket As v Bede’s

Claremont bowled first and kept Bede’s run total minimal with some accurate bowling. Fielding showed great

improvement. All girls were alert and quick to field the ball and return it to the bowler. Claremont managed to take 4

wickets. Two came from the bowling of Ellie Lee, whilst Alice Humphreys and Victoria Nard picked up a wicket each,

both caught and bowled.

When it came to batting, Claremont started well with Mollie Saunders hitting several boundaries. Unfortunately, we lost

focus in the middle order, losing many wickets in quick succession.

Girls Cricket Bs v Bede’s Ruby Bowyer took the only wicket for Claremont by bowling the opposition. Despite some accurate bowling from others,

and quick fielding from Claremont, Bede’s managed to accumulate a good runs total without losing any more

wickets. India Taylor-Johnson and Maddy Spencer batted well together, putting on the most runs of any pair, and

limiting Bede’s wicket total.

Equestrian Team Training This half term the equestrian team had their first ever Claremont Training Session, which was held at Petley Wood. It

was great to see such a large turn out of pupils from both the Prep and Senior Schools. Sarah Kellard-Smith, our

instructor, is an accredited coach for Pony Club and Eventing. The training has been very successful with students

gaining a lot of confidence and knowledge, as well as bonding with other members of the team. We are looking forward

to the next team training day.

Norton Heath Sadly, only a small number of Claremont equestrians were available for the National Championship show jumping qualifier

at Norton Heath Equestrian Centre, Essex, held during half term. However, what a great team they were! Sarah

Crouch, Amy Hilton, Izzie and Alfie Marshall made the trip very worthwhile by coming 3rd in the 90cm Class and

winning the 1m Class and in doing so, qualifying for the National Championships at Addington in October. Well done,

Team Claremont!

National Tetrathlon Competition Mollie Saunders, in Year 10, has spent last weekend competing in the

Southern England Pony Club Team for an annual National Tetrathlon

Competition held at Warwick College. There were 25 teams competing,

including Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Mollie's team came fifth overall,

which is a huge success for the Southern England Team. We understand

that Mollie rode an amazing clear round in her cross country, and finishing

within her time limit. The course was very technical and there were few

clear rounds. She

also achieved a

personal best in

her swim. Many

congratulations to Mollie for her great riding and for an

excellent placing.

Miss Pippa Blackman, Head of Girls’ Games

Professional trial for Claremont Academy scholar Claremont Football Academy Scholar Mishal Moeen Al Ajou travelled to Gothenburg

during the half term, after being offered a professional trial with Swedish club

GAIS. Mish performed very well and was technically as good as they had. He

trained with the U17 and U19 Academy sides and impressed the coaches. He did

find the fitness level requirement higher than anticipated and has been given a

fitness plan by the Academy’s Head of Performance Analysis Elise Lovell. Once she

is happy with the progress GAIS want to see him again for further training.

Well done Mishal we are all proud of you.

Mr Jim Colston, Football Academy

Mollie Saunders competing in The Southern

England Tetrathlon Team

U13 v Moira House

In their last rounders match at the Prep School, all the Y8 girls represented in these two matches.

Not much between the teams with the bat, but boy, their girls could hit. Great fielding from Emily M earned POM from MH. Sharp

stumping at 2P by Millie W (my POM)

U10 v Moira House

The Year 5's had tough games away at Moira House this week.

Our decision-making in the field was a little slow which allowed Moira House time to get round the posts without undue pressure. A

couple of the Moira House players, including the top tennis player in the country for her age group, gave themselves plenty of time to

score by hitting every ball bowled at them to the other end of the field!

This powerful batting display proved too much to contain and gave Moira House a commanding lead at half time and victory overall. Miss

Hurst

Team 2 lost 12 - 17 1/2 but played much better in second innings when I was with them - Izzy W was put in as bowler for the second

innings. Hattie H got two players out in quick succession - stumped and caught.

U9B v St Ronan’s

Lots of progress was made throughout the game in terms of decision making. POM was Rose C who scored 3 rounders in total with some

intelligent running.

U9 v St Ronan’s Claremont 12.5 – 18.5 St Ronan’s

The girls were full of positive energy on Thursday afternoon. Mia was our top batter, scoring a total of 4 rounders. In the field, Lizzie

S stumped six people out and Rosie B made a great catch. The girls supported each other well throughout. We should now improve on

backing up in the field. POM: Lizzie S. Miss Compton.

U8s v St Ronan's

Claremont 3 ½ St Ronan's 15

Claremont started positively in the field, with some great communication so that the fielders knew which posts to throw the ball to.

Heidi M showed excellent catching and ball stopping skills to stump out five batters at 2nd post! Batting was not so productive. Even

with some good hitting from Summer McC and Liberty BM, Claremont couldn't quite get round the posts quick enough to score more

rounders. Olivia W batted well, scoring 1 1/2 rounders for the team.

Players of the match - Olivia W (voted by St Ronan's) and Heidi M (voted by Miss Lovell)

U13 League Cricket v Gildredge House

Despite losing the match I was SO pleased with the girls' performance. Positives:

1. We scored more runs against GH than any team this term.

2. We scored more runs against their opening bowlers than any team.

3. We ran lots of quick singles and converted 1s into 2s.

4. We got more wickets than GH.

POMs: Batting- Millie P Bowling - Hannah G All Rounder - Amelia B

2nds cricket vs. Gildredge House

Claremont 198 – 242 Gildredge House

POM; Fielder: Annie Wilson, Bowler: Grace Spencer, Batter: Tippi Willard.

There was lots of positive energy in this Cricket match which was fantastic. Players supported each other well which resulted in an

enjoyable afternoon for everyone. We bowled and backed up well in the field. When we went in to bat, we hit some lovely shots

demonstrating use of the horizontal and vertical batting techniques practiced in games lessons. Grace Spencer hit an excellent shot

that went for 6. However, we must improve on calling and backing up when batting. Miss Compton.

3rds Girls Cricket v Gildredge House

Claremont 236-3 Gildredge House 235-6

The 3rds played a thrilling game that went down to the last over! Claremont batted first with Emily M using a vertical bat shot to score

our only boundary. All the hard work in games lessons this week paid off, as the rest of the team contributed by scoring quick singles

and pushing twos. Claremont then limited Gildredge House's top batters by keeping it tight in the field. We attacked the ball well

resulting in two run outs each from Marysia and Amaya. Gildredge House were leading by 9 runs going in to the last over, meaning

Claremont needed at least two wickets (-10runs) to win. With two balls to go, Amaya bowled one of the batters out, and Abigail V-S got

a run out off the last! Claremont took the win by 1 run!

Players of the match - Sophie B (voted by Gildredge House) and Amaya (voted by Miss Lovell)

Week 9

Years 3, 4, & 5 Swimming Gala

Claremont 150 - 170 Saint Ronan’s

Our junior swimmers had their very last gala of the year. The improvement over the past year, most notably from our swimmers

in Year 3, has been fantastic. A special thank you to Mrs Gardiner for the time she puts in with them on a Monday afternoon.

Our Year 3 & 4's girls and boys have gone from strength to strength in terms of performances and their all-round technique.

The Year 5's have maintained an extremely high intensity in everyone of their galas and proved to be a match for any school and

on the whole coming out stronger in the majority of their galas. Well done to all of our swimmers who have competed so well this

year; you should all be proud of your efforts. Break down of results are below:

CL SR

U8 Girls 17 27

U8 Boys 19 25

U9 Girls 22 36

U9 Boys 31 27

U10 Girls 31 27

U10 Boys 30 28

The 1st XI got a win under their belt in an exciting game v Rose Hill. Claremont fielded first and got off to an

uncharacteristically wayward start, with plenty of wides and no-balls being offered up. Captain Ollie C brought himself on and

the more accurate bowling and two sharp run-outs saw a flurry of wickets. For a while, the run rate was squeezed but the next

two RH batsmen saw out the remaining overs whilst accelerating the score, leaving a target of 92 to win.

The Claremont innings got off to a sound start with Ollie C (8) and Tom S (9), but both openers fell within 2 overs to put the

middle order under pressure. The run-rate stalled, but gradually Titus (21) and Sam C (35) built a strong partnership, and runs

started to flow readily, with the target looking reachable. With the scores tied, the last over was a dramatic affair - Claremont

losing 2 wickets and missing the next two balls - until the bowler put an end to the game by bowling a no-ball.

Result - won by 5 wkts. Man of the match - Sam Carter.

Week 9

Ameya Gomez, Amelia Coomber, Lyra Cookson, James A Gardiner, Alfie Saunters, Orlando Soucek, Henry Strevens, Poppy-

Jane Taylor-Heath, Max Giddins, Samie Haidar, Jack Millan, Nathan Brown, Digby Burrows, Edward Gear, Oliver Marshall,

Elliot Wilson.

Bronze Badge: Emilia Hudson,

Red Badge: Olivia Wilson, Max Woodfear, Genevieve Davies, Joshua Mathew, Tallulah

Stichbury.

Green Badges: Josh Langham-Underdown, Tabitha Lowe, Jamie Millan, Poppy-Jane Taylor-

Heath, Harvey Wheeler, Alfie Saunters, Amelia Coomber, Ella Stockdale.

Yellow Badges: George McGee.

Ella Stockdale, Evie Stockdale, Galina Baxter.

WEEK’S TOTAL HOUSE POINTS:

Athens: 946

Sparta: 932

Corinth: 883

TERM’S TOTAL HOUSE POINTS:

Sparta: 3286

Corinth: 3282

Athens: 3266

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

Meat Option Meatballs in Tomato

and Herb Sauce Hot Pot with Herb

Potato Topping Roast Chicken Sweet & Sour Pork Fish and Prawn Pie

Vegetarian Meat Free Meatballs in

Tomato and Herb Sauce Vegetarian Hot Pot Quorn Fillets Sweet & Sour Quorn &

Vegetables Vegetable Pie

Special Diets As above Gluten, Diary,

and Pork Free As above Gluten,

Diary, and Pork Free As above Gluten, Diary,

and Pork Free As above Gluten,

Diary Free As above Gluten, Diary,

and Pork Free

Potato Bar Jacket Potato with

Grated Cheese (Available to Pre-Prep)

Jacket Potato with

Tuna Mayonnaise Jacket Potato with

Grated Cheese (Available to Pre-Prep)

Jacket Potato with

Baked Beans Jacket Potato with Grated

Cheese (Available to Pre-Prep)

Side Dishes/To Go With

Penne Pasta Garlic Bread

Sliced Carrots Roast Potatoes Country Vegetables Yorkshire Pudding

Brown Rice Spring Rolls

(Vegetable)

Green Beans

Salad Bar Lettuce, Tomato,

Cucumber and other

assorted salads.

Lettuce, Tomato,

Cucumber and other

assorted salads.

Lettuce, Tomato,

Cucumber and other

assorted salads.

Lettuce, Tomato,

Cucumber and other

assorted salads.

Lettuce, Tomato, Cucumber

and other assorted salads.

Dessert Banana Cake with

Cream or

Yoghurt or

Fresh Fruit

Fruit Crumble or

Yoghurt or

Fresh Fruit

Oat and Raisin Cookies or

Yoghurt or

Fresh Fruit

Milk Jelly (Vegetable

Gelatin) or

Yoghurt or

Fresh Fruit

Yoghurts or

Fresh Fruit

Claremont’s Summer Term Menu

We have been admiring our plants in the

Jubilee Garden. Luckily some have survived

despite a tough start with the very chilly

weather in May. Our mini meadow is just

beginning to bloom and should look amazing in

a week or so. Already there are honey bees

appreciating our efforts on their behalf.

On Wednesday we made wonderful forest floor pictures from leaves and

blossoms strewn by the blustery wind on the ground at Hill Top. We then had

the most fantastic run around in and out of the trench and all our other

favourite places. It was so good to be back and it felt like ages since we’d

been there. The canopy is now fully leafed- out and it was delightfully shady

playing there on a muggy hot day.

We have used proper grown up marbling inks to make some very jazzy marbled paper. We found this quite a magical

experience.

On Tuesday, we had a general swop around of rooms as children got used to being in new spaces with new grown-ups - all

part of our on-going transition process. The children have taken it all in their stride including playing host to some of the

future Foxes which was huge fun.

We are now in the penultimate term for the Badgers before the transition into school; so

we have been visiting Pre-Prep, so the children understand their surroundings and to help

them familiarise themselves with the staff too. We even conducted one of our phonics

sessions in Pre-Prep, looking at the letters ‘x’, ‘r’ and ‘g’. We discussed where we might hear

these sounds in words and thought about these letters in the names of our peers. To help

with our phonics development, we have also been playing 'Phonics Bingo!'

We have been looking at the concept of adding this week, looking at adding one to a number. We used the unifix cubes to

help us and also the number fans as a visual aid. We can now look at adding more than one to a number, promoting the use of

mathematical language. We also joined up with Year 2 again, to create our own dens and also explore the forest.

The weather has been variable this week, and on Wednesday when it was very hot, Eliza came up with the idea that we could

create fans to help cool us down, so we did exactly that. We decorated the paper and then demonstrated how to fold it and

it was the Badgers chance to copy this! They helped cool us down. We have also been practising our sports skills in our PE

session this week, preparing for Sports Day.

We would like to welcome Annie - Rose, Archie, Joseph

and Francesca who join us from Robins; who we know

will make great additions to the room.

This week we have been looking at shapes in our

environment and making shape pictures with paint.

We have also enjoyed the sunshine by having

This week in Robins we have been very

busy getting creative. We have made

lots of brightly-coloured fish, for our

washing line display, to go with our under

the sea theme. We

have also been

enjoying music and

movement, dancing with our friends.

This week, we celebrated Austin's

birthday with some yummy cake -

Happy Birthday, Austin.

We have started learning about the days in the

week. We listened to songs about the days of the

week and then we made days of the week

'people'. There are seven people, all holding hands,

with their names and the days of the week, written

across their tummies, like t-shirts!

Each day will have a favourite activity named

after them. Monday will be motorbike day,

Tuesday, trampolining, Wednesday, water

slides, Thursday, throwing balls, Friday,

Frisbies, Saturday, swimming and Sunday,

skating. The idea is the children will associate

the day of the week "person" with an activity

beginning with the same "sound" and hopefully

help them to remember!

This week, we have been busy going on minibeast adventures! We searched the gardens and found

butterflies, flies, woodlice, ants, spiders, and worms! We had a close look at them, using the

magnifying glasses, then brought some of the worms back to nursery, where we made a

wormery. The children are so excited and anticipating what might happen next.

This week, the Ducklings and Butterflies have had a lovely time walking

down to the Jubilee Garden to plant our potatoes. We also loved looking

at all the beautiful flowers and vegetables that the Nursery have been

growing. The Butterflies enjoyed a walk around the Forest School on

Wednesday, where we found lots of flowers, leaves and sticks to make

our mobiles with. Towards the end of the week both rooms enjoyed

cooking, where we made yummy cheese straws which smelt and tasted delicious.

A reminder to all parents to please bring in Suncream and sun hats for their baby/child as the weather is getter hotter -

otherwise they will have to stay inside.