On Wednesday morning we received an e-mail from Mrs Michelle Grimsey, writing on behalf of members of Girlguiding Brightlingsea District who attend our school. Mrs Grimsey explained that Girlguiding UK is theUK's largest voluntary organisation for girls and young women and, as part of a worldwide Movement, enables girls and young women to fulfil their potential and to take an active and responsible role in society through it's distinctive, stimulating and enjoyable programme of activities delivered by trained volunteer Leaders.
Mrs Grimsey continued: “February 22nd is a special day for members of Girlguiding worldwide. Each year girls celebrate "World Thinking Day" on this date. The date was chosen as it is the joint birthday of the founder of the Girl Guides, Robert Baden-Powell and his wife Olave. It is hoped that all Rainbows, Brownies, Guides, Senior Section members and Leaders will wear their Guiding uniforms, on Thinking Day which falls on Wednesday 22nd February 2012. As the girls will be at school that day, I am writing to ask your permission for girls to be allowed to do this at your school”.
Of course we will, so any girls who want to wear their Guiding uniforms to school on that day are more than welcome to do so.
THE NAUGHTY IDEA
A naughty idea crept into my head.
It messed up my memories, I thought I was dead.
It ate all the cake from my second birthday.
It invited insanity round for play.
It poked happy memories as hard as it could.
It laughed at the sad ones, who cried (as they should).
It swore at the ghosts who haunted my dreams.
It graffitied on ideas and ate custard creams.
I hit my head, hard; it fell out of my ear.
"So long," I cried, "out, you stupid idea!"
by Tess and Jak.
Please look at our ideas and suggestions, as discussed at today's meeting. We love the Whacky Hair Day idea. Go to Pupils' Area and School Council dropdown to read more.
The school will soon be re-assessed for Green Flag status. You will find information about this on the Community section dropdown.
Please note the latest parental survey is available to download from the Newsletter dropdown. Your response is much appreciated, with paper copies being sent home for all familes to complete.
In the 'Seconday Schools' dropdown we are updating dates and times of open mornings, evenings etc as the information becomes available from each school. Al details, on the application process, are included.
Now that all refurbishment work, on the the recycling and wildkife areas is complete, we can forge ahead in September with a new programme for exploiting these resources to the full. Also, our poor busy-lizzies have been devastated by the weather - the first time that this has happened in six years! As a result we will have to get replanting as soon as possible. During our first Eco-School meeting we will plan for the coming year.
LETTER TO A TROLL
by James W
Dear Troll,
What you should do is be nicer to people and have feelings for other people. You could always try using your heart to show that you like them.
Try to somehow be famous to get some money or get a job, because people will like you for your money. Don't shout at people and don't stop them from going over the rickety, rackety bridge. Let people go where they want to go.
I wish you good luck in finding a friend.
Best wishes from James.
Read more by clicking on Children's Work!
Apologies, with the Year 6 Residential there has not been time to upload this week's Newsletter until Monday morning, 04.07/2011. There will be three more Newsletters before the end of term, although the final issue will go out on a Thursday, rather than a Friday, because of Leavers' Assembly involving all staff on the last day.
For information about the National Teachers' Strike (Thursday, 30th June, 2011) please read Newsletter 07. Thank you.
Please note that the revised dinner menu, starting 20th June, 2011, has been published under the Newsletter section of the website, for ease of reference.
The school's version of the Royal Wedding, just before the end of the Spring Term, was a real success and we are showing some of the pictures taken on our plasma screen in the entrance foyer. The Look East film was also excellent, of which we kept a copy, plus a download of the BBC radio interview, which is still available on BBC iPlayer site.
Go to Children's Work and open the dropdown for Year 6. Take a look at our Powerpoint!
Go to Children's Work and click Year 1 to read some of the poems written about the senses.
Check the Children's Work section of the website. Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 have added some excellent work during the last two weeks of the Autumn Term.
The wind was strong, the trees were bare and there was no sound of rummaging foxes, or even birds singing in the languages we never knew.
The two girls that sat at the end of the forest aren't there. Why is this?
I felt like something was sneaking up on me, but I was safe - it was the smell of the Winter wind.
I saw birds nesting. I heard the birds twitting in their mysterious voices. What are they talking about? I walked further into the forest and I saw more animals nestling and getting ready for a hard Winter.
Later, there were no signs of animals anywhere!
On Thursday, we were one of only a few schools still open in Essex, and the children, parents and staff who made it through are to be congratulated. We must also thank Mr Clare, our Site Manager, for clearing tons of snow in the early hours of the morning! Every effort will be made to keep the school open during the months ahead!
Today, the school was open with about 60% of the children and staff, whilst the vast majority of Essex schools was closed. At lunchtime the decision was taken to close the school at 14.30 again, to ensure everyone can get home safely in good light. Taking into consideration the weather forecast, with temperatures continuing to fall, we have decided to keep the school closed tomorrow. Only by taking this decision now can parents have sufficient time to make care arrangements. We apologise for this, but are pleased that we managed to keep going as long as safely possible.
Another very cold winter, but much the snow has arrived much earlier this time. Providing it is safe to do so we will do everything we can to ensure that the school remains open during periods of snow. Today, Wednesday, 1st December, the school opened as normal, although the school will close at 14.30 to allow everyone to get home before the light fails. ParentMail will be used, as last year, to inform parents immediately of any decision taken.
The Story of Dr. Ape
by Rebecca
Prologue:
Dr. Ape was a marvellous doctor. A few years ago, he set up a small hospital in his hometown, Chimptown. He soon became famous. Now he has a massive hospital, crowded with animals begging to get treated.
Chapter 1 - The Crash:
On a cold icy day, in December, Dr. Ape drove to work at 7.00am in his monkey-mobile. Suddenly, another monkey-mobile appeared from nowhere and hit him head-on. It was his rival, Dr. Monk!
While Dr. Ape was staggering about looking for a monkey wrench to repair his monkey-mobile with, Dr. Monk opened his bag and quickly stole his secret medicine recipe.
It was then that his side-kick, Super Chimp appeared and took the recipe back, while unzipping her costume. It was actually Mega Monkey, Dr. Ape's nurse!
Go to Children's Work - Year 5 - to read the rest. The story is being updated each day!
Hi Everyone,
Greetings from South America. I have had a very busy few weeks travelling through Argentina, Chile and Bolivia. I have seen some amazing landscapes and visited some very interesting places.
On Tuesday I visted a mine in Potosi, Bolivia. We were told that we would see some children living on the site above the mine and that we could take along gifts if we wanted to. I still had a few colouring books and pencils from the Elmstead package, along with a few baby grows that belonged to Lottie Sawyer.
When we arrived at the mine, we were greeted by two beautiful children that lived in a one room shack just outside one of the mine entrances. The children`s appearence was truly shocking as they were very dusty and dirty. They looked very unhappy which was very sad to see. The most shocking part was that there were only two of us on the tour that would approach the children. It really was a stange experience to see grown adults that were too afraid to go and talk to children, just because of the way they looked.
As I handed out the gifts to the children, they began to smile...what a difference a bouncy ball and a colouring book can do! When one of the little boys thanked me I gave him a big kiss on the cheek. His Mother was so taken aback and touched that she invited me into her home. I accepted and decided not to go inside the mines, but instead to stay and play with the children. We played catch with the bouncy ball, did some colouring-in and played hide and seek outside. It was one of the best afternoons I have ever spent. The children in Potosi start mining at just 12 years old. The average life expectancy for a miner is 40, which isn`t very old at all. The health of the children that live around the mines is very poor, as they don`t have toilets or running water inside their homes.
I am looking forward to sharing the photos with you all, but I am unable to do so at this time due to bad internet access.
Looking forward to seeing you all
Miss O`Sullivan
Go to Noticeboard and Messages to read Miss O'Sullivan's latest account of her time in Brazil.
