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On Tuesday 30th January 2007, Year Two performed a wedding ceremony at St. Mary's Church in Whickham. Father Barry conducted the service and parents were invited to attend. Here are a few snapshots from Year Two's 'BIG DAY'!
Pre-wedding nerves!
Wedding Vows
Signing the Register
Bubble Parade!
"Congratulations to the bride and groom!"
The Wedding Party and their guests
The Wedding Cake!
Year 5 have been busy writing non-chronological reports on Foxes. The children carefully planned their reports to include important features, such as present tense verbs, questions to draw the reader in and 'foxy facts', rather than personal opinions.
Year 5 researched the internet using information from wikipedia.com, BBC Radio 4 and sources of our own like encylopedias and animal books. The class also managed to find other peoples' real life experiences of foxes. We discovered that foxes can be surprisingly mischievous by burying their food for safekeeping.
To read Emma and Callie's reports, click below to open their typed reports in Microsoft Word.
Year Three have been writing fables. Fables are simple and short tales but have a moral at the end. These morals were intended to advise people how to live their lives; they are not just about the lessons the characters (usually animals) learned but a message to those who listened to the story
After analysing ‘The Fox and the Raven’, by the famous Greek storyteller, Aesop, the children were asked to write their own versions, stealing some plot ideas along the way.
Read and enjoy!
The Snow leopard and the Arctic Hare
Once in the snowy mountains of Antarctica there was an Artic hare and a Snow leopard. Once Artic hare found a juicy piece of wild grass in the wilderness she was quite delighted. Food was in short supply. Artic hare was just about to nibble the juicy piece of wild grass but Snow leopard came along he saw the piece of wild grass and decided to flatter the Artic Hare in order to get his greedy paws on that rare and tasty morsel.
“What lovely white pure hair you have got, it’s as soft as dandelion down!� he said slyly.
Hare was pleased that he admired him so much.
“Hare, Hare what lovely pounding white legs you have!� said that cunning and clever Snow leopard
Hare was so pleased that he admired him so much that he tapped his strong hind legs.
“Hare, Hare what lovely ears you have!� came the next compliment.
Hare again was pleased that he admired him so much.
“Hare, Hare, what a brilliant singing voice you must have!� said Snow Leopard, trying to look truthful.
Hare was pleased that he admired him and opened his mouth to sing. Of course you’ve guessed it – down fell that precious clump of wild grass and the Leopard dashed forward and gobbled it and ran off as fast as he could so Hare couldn’t catch up with him. It was the tastiest sample of wild grass Snow Leopard had ever tasted and as it turned out it settled his growling stomach quite nicely. Hare was left quite depressed because he had been so near to having the finest feast for days.
So you see my friend: never, ever trust a flatterer.
Jack Page.
The Polar Bear and the Penguin
Once upon a time in the freezing Antarctica it started to snow very heavily and a blanket of snow appeared. Then a little black and white Penguin waddled along and then he found a large, plump and juicy fish floating dead. He marvelled at his good fortune and decided to take it to his cave so he took it and started to eat quite hungrily.
Then a big Polar bear with bright white fur came by he hadn’t eaten in three days so he was very slow at walking and he was so thin, all skin and bone.
All the fat fish were at short supply and he was starving and he would love a huge fish to eat. Then he saw the Penguin and that fish of his looked so juicy and he could just imagine himself sitting eating it.
So he said, “Oh penguin what a dainty walk you have!� Penguin was pleased that Polar Bear admired him.
“Penguin what beautiful squat legs you have� said that sly polar bear.
Penguin was pleased once again to be so admired.
“Penguin, oh, my dear, Penguin, what adorable black wings you have!�
Penguin was delighted with such praise.
“My dear, Penguin,� said that cunning foe, “Let me serve you. Let me mind your fish for you while you get some sea salt to season it.�
Stupid Penguin, his head so full of complements, gave that Polar Bear his fish! You’ve guessed it, the fish was quickly eaten and the polar bear raced off. So the foolish penguin was left with nothing only his rumbled in his tummy.
Beware, good friend of who you trust and never trust a flatterer.
Abbi Jones
The Giraffe and the Elephant
Long, long ago in the scorching African plains, a very friendly but dim giraffe found a large branch laden with the juiciest leaves on the planet. Then she went to her favourite spot near the riverside for a wonderful picnic lunch, so she settled down and started to munch it. Just then a bold elephant came along and thought if I get giraffe to drop the food I shall have it for myself. There was a short supply of food at that time because of a drought and Elephant longed for food. So Elephant said to Giraffe quite cunningly because he wanted those leaves so badly:
“Giraffe, Giraffe, what beautiful ochre and chestnut spots you have!�
Giraffe was pleased that all the attention was on her.
“Giraffe, Giraffe, what beautiful, long eyelashes you have!�
Again giraffe was pleased attention was focussed on her
“Giraffe, Giraffe what a long, elegant neck you have!� said Elephant quite sweetly. By now Giraffe was blushing furiously and started to smile.
“Giraffe, my dear, what a perfectly purple tongue you have!� said Elephant, who know his plan was working by now.
Giraffe was so pleased. She dropped the branch and showed her long tongue to the delighted elephant.
Elephant of course grabbed the food with his trunk and the leaves were quickly eaten. He went on his way smirking at the poor Giraffe. He was definitely happy now. Giraffe was now very hungry and very miserable. She went back to the solitary tree and found another branch which wasn’t so laden with leaves and had to make do with that.
From that day on, Giraffe had learned her lesson – never trust a flatterer as they might be after more than her friendship. You would be wise to learn that too.
Bailey Charles-Jones
The Koala Bear and the Snake
Deep in the Australian jungles with huge trees and over- grown plants and the sun scorching overhead, native animals searched for food. Koala Bear saw to his delight a gum nut tree and gathered some gum nuts for his meal. Unfortunately for him, he was been watched very carefully by Snake. That slithery sly Snake was starving because he had not eaten for several days. You would know he was starving because his stomach was bloated because he had had no food.
The Snake said to the Koala Bear “What beautiful grey fur you have!�
The Koala Bear was delighted admired him so much.
Snake said “What a perfectly, lovely pink nose you have!� continued the Snake. Koala Bear was pleased that Snake admired him so much.
Snake said, “What enchanting fawn brown ears you have!� said the Snake.
The Koala Bear again was pleased that Snake admired him do much.
Snake was on a mission and this was to charm poor Koala’s tasty meal from him.
Then Snake said “What pretty, nails you have. They look so very sharp and pointed!� Poor, trusting Koala Bear showed Snake his not so pretty, sharp nails then of course he dropped all the gum nuts and luckily for Snake, he managed to catch them in his long elastic jaws and had a perfect time of swallowing each and every one.
“My dear friend,� hissed that evil Snake, “I’ve eaten all your gum nuts and you have a meal to find.�
So Snake slithered off leaving Koala alone with his sorrow.
So they say, never trust a flatterer, they may not be friends but foes!
Paul Brown
The Dingo and the Kangaroo
Once upon a time in the sizzling Australian bush, a kind Kangaroo came bounding along and he started to eat a juicy gum nut he discovered among some dry, scorched grassed when a Dingo came along. The Dingo was sly and too lazy to search for his own food. He saw the gum nut in Kangaroo’s tiny paws and said to himself “What a delicious looking gum nut� then he said to that trusting Kangaroo.
“What a juicy looking gum nut you have there, my friend. How fortunate you are to have found it�.
“Why, thank you,� said the Kangaroo, stopping for a moment and placing the gum nut for save keeping in her pouch.
Then the Dingo said, “What a fantastic cosy pouch, you carry on your belly!�
The Kangaroo answered, “Dingo that is very kind of you�. She was delighted to be admired so much.
Next the Dingo said,
“What elegant, large teeth you have, they dazzle in the sunlight!
“Why, thank you, Dingo, how very kind of you!�
After that the Dingo said,
“What enchanting ears you have, so perfectly formed!�
The Kangaroo said
“Why, thank you, Dingo, how very kind of you to say so�
Dingo continued:
“What large feet you have for jumping so expertly with over the bush and beyond! Will you jump for me?�
So the vain and foolish kangaroo did jump for him and guess what? The food came flying out of her pouch and the Dingo swallowed the gum nut in one gulp and sprinted home. Now Kangaroo had nothing to eat for the rest of the day and the Dingo was so pleased with himself that he didn’t even feel bad about that. Kangaroo was looking forward to eating that delicious gum nut but she never got to and all because she was so careless and trusting.
That’s why you should never trust a flatterer.
By Chloe Allen
The fable of Polar Bear and Seal
Long, long ago in snowy cold Antarctica where the ground was permanently covered in a blanket of dazzling white, there was a very old polar bear. Now after an hour of fishing, she caught a gigantic fish for her tea. She was extremely delighted as food in that barren place was in such short supply. Now I will in introduce my sly character who was a very fat grey seal and the seal tempted that snowy polar bear to give him the gigantic fish. Did he manage? Why not read on and discovery for yourself…
The first thing sly, hungry Seal said was:
“What lovely snow white fur you have!�
Now Polar Bear was so pleased that Seal thought she was so magnificent.
The second thing that cunning seal said was:
“What a gigantic fish you have only the very best hunters could land such a fine example!�
The polar bear was so pleased that Seal thought she was so magnificent.
Next the hungry seal said to that gullible polar bear
“What beautiful shiny black eyes you have, they sparkle like jet in the sunshine!�
Polar bear again was so pleased that Seal thought she was so magnificent.
After that Seal said to Polar Bear,
“What an enchanting smile you have!�
The polar bear was so pleased that the Seal thought she was so magnificent that she started to smile and as she started to show off her teeth so proudly she, as you would expect, dropped the gigantic fish and Seal grabbed in his opened month. It slid down his body and in to his empty stomach. He left the poor Polar bear with nothing and she had to get to walk one hundred miles to get to another crack in the ice and fish for another gigantic fish.
This time she will never let a flatterer win her pride and she knows now way they say - a flatterer is no real friend at all.
Emily Dodds
The Baboon and the African hunting dog
Once in a midst of a hot steamy jungle forest, there was a very hungry baboon. One day that hungry baboon found to his sheer delight, a juicy round and perfect orange so he thought he should eat it but he wouldn’t straight away. He would savour the flavour later that day so he climbed up to his tree and laid down. He had a little nap, a snooze and a rest. Meanwhile below him on the forest floor hungry animals continued their own searches for food. Food was in short supply and all the creatures were very hungry.
Baboon woke up grabbed his orange and climbed down his tree. At the foot of this tree there was somebody just as hungry and baboon heard the rustling of the leaves nearby and then there appeared wild African Hunting Dog and he saw the juicy, round orange that the baboon held lovingly in his hands so he thought for a few minutes and he looked at the baboon. He had a plan.
So African Hunting Dog said,
“Baboon, Baboon, what a lovely red rounded bottom, you have!�
Baboon was so pleased that he was admired so much that Baboon gave his bottom a little wiggle.
“Baboon, Baboon, what lovely brown coarse hair, you have!�
Baboon was so pleased to be admired so much that he fluffed up the hair in his head.
The plan was working so African Hunting Dog went on,
“Baboon, Baboon, what large and beautiful eyes you have!�
Baboon was delighted to be admired so much that he fluttered his eyelashes.
“Baboon, Baboon, what perfectly manicured nails you have!�
Baboon was so delighted that he was admired so much that he showed off these nails with out stretched hands and as she showed them off he dropped that perfect orange. At that very moment, African Hunting dog, snatched up the orange and ran off with it so fast Baboon could not catch up with him. African Hunting Dog’s cunning plan had worked! Though it wasn’t his favourite food, he gobbled up the orange anyway and it made a nice change. He said to himself, “Mission accomplished!�
Baboon was taught an important lesson that day. He moaned in misery.
Well my friends, never trust a flatterer!
Adam Acaster
The Cheetah and the Baboon
Once upon a time there was a gigantic jungle that spread for miles and miles and miles. It had many enormous trees and there were lots of tropical plants fighting for space on the forest floor. There were lots of species of creatures in that jungle, and there was a scientist studying them. He had come for a scientific visit and he had a packed a lunch for his break. After a while the tried scientist, mopped his brow and had a rest on upon a rock. Next the scientist went for a little walk to try and discover a certain type of insect. Then a cheetah came behind him and noticed the scientists packed lunch and felt a little bit peckish. The cheetah went up to the lunchbox and took some cheese out of it, the he spotted some footprints in the mud and hide away quickly in the undergrowth because he knew the man would try to take the cheese from him. After a while the cheetah had a little rest on a rock as well just like the scientist and turned his gaze from the cheese.
Then a sly baboon crept behind him and took the cheese and climbed a tall tree. The baboon tried unsuccessfully to hide in the tree. Then the cheetah stirred from his sleep and opened his eyes. Instead of the proudly looking at the cheese he was looking at the bare rock! In an instant, Cheetah knew who took the morsel because he could see the baboon in the tree above him with the cheese in his hands. So Cheetah looked up at Baboon and said to him,
“What beautiful grey hair you have, dear friend!� and then followed this with, “What lovely brown eyes you have!�
Then the baboon blinked and blushed to hear such kind words. Next Cheetah said,
“What lovely, long, black eyelashes you have!�
He was hopping that Baboon would touch both sets of lashes so the baboon would drop the cheese down to the floor and then he could eat it but that didn’t happen. Baboon simply fluttered them. So Cheetah tried to say something else so his plan would work. So Cheetah said quite nervously (because if this didn’t work he would never get the piece of cheese from Baboon)
“What sparkling nails you have!� Now that foolish, vain Baboon looked at his nails on both hands and dropped the precious cheese and then the cheetah ran away with it and quickly gobbled it up.
Baboon was surprised and he really was miserable about the cheese because he really wanted something to eat in a place where food is in short supply.
Imagine if you really wanted something to eat but then someone charmed it from you, how would you feel? You would probably feel miserable wouldn’t you? That’s exactly how the baboon felt. Now don’t listen to flatterers is my advise because if you listen to flatterers, you might just lose something precious you, as they cannot be trusted. Can they?
Ben Kitchen
Leo the Lion and Pete the Panther
Once, long, long ago in the jungle of South America where it is humid and very hot lived a very young, proud and fierce lion called Leo.
One day Leo was out hunting for food, for he had not eaten for three days. When he found an antelope, newly dead and fresh by the flowing and wide river, he was delighted. He was so exited that he dragged it home straight away but on the way home, Pete the Panther had just appeared right in front of him and he licked his lips and said,
“Hi, there Leo, that’s a fine antelope you’ve got there!�
Leo said, “Thank you I would be so kind to share it but I have not eaten for three days and I am starving so I am taking it home for lunch.�
This made Pete angry so when Leo got home, Pete appeared again and that was when his trick began….
Pete said, “Leo, Leo, my dear friend, your golden mane is so gorgeous, shake it for me, Leo.�
Leo was glad that he was being admired so very much so he proudly shook his mane for Pete. Then Pete said again,
“Leo, Leo, your roar surely is the loudest roar I have ever heard, roar for me Leo, roar.�
Leo was glad that he had been admired so very much so he roared like thunder for Pete.
Then Pete said again,
“Leo, Leo your tail is so long, I bet you could wave it for me, wave it, Leo, wave it!�
Leo was glad that he had been admired so very much so he waved his tail for Pete.
Pete tried once more and said,
“Leo, Leo you look so proud, I bet you could pounce for me, pounce for me Leo, pounce.�
Leo was pleased that he had been admired so very much so Leo crouched just as if he was about to catch an antelope and just as he was about to pounce, Pete sneakily grabbed the antelope and took it home, quickly and began to eat it.
Now when Leo found out that the antelope had gone he went ballistic and roared so loudly that Pete actually heard him from his home, which was quite far away. Pete was so scared that some of his fur stood on end! Leo knew that Pete had taken his meal and he shouted,
“You dirty, double crossing beast!� which was just what he was, of course.
But Pete was already fast asleep after eating his fill.
For they do say, a flatterer is no real friend.
Liberty Caithness
The Fable of the Seal and the Polar Bear
Once upon a time in Antarctica, Polar Bear found a piece of fish lying by a water hole. Whose fish it was we do not know and besides it does not matter. In this cold and very icy place, Polar Bear was walking along when he met seal. As food was in short supply Seal spied the fish enviously.
The enormous gentle Polar Bear was walking along when suddenly Seal came by. Now Seal was as hungry as a wolf because he had not eaten in several days. He looked at Polar Bear and saw the fish. He licked his hungry lips and began to make a plan. He wanted that fish for him self and he was jolly well going to get it.
“Polar bear Polar bear, what glamorously shiny eyes you have!� said Seal.
Polar bear was pleased that Seal admired him so much.
“Polar bear Polar bear, what lovely round bottom you have!� said Seal.
Polar bear was pleased that Seal admired him so much.
“Polar bear Polar bear, what gorgeous white fur you have, it’s so pure and perfect!� said Seal. Polar bear was pleased that Seal admired him so much.
“Polar Bear, Polar bear, what such powerful paws you have. They are so wide and broad.�
Polar bear was yet again, pleased that Seal admired him so much.
“Polar Bear, Polar Bear, what a stunning black nose you have, I bet you smell food from miles away,� said that sly seal.
Polar bear was pleased that Seal admired him so much.
“Polar Bear, Polar Bear, my dear friend, I bet you have such a strong singing voice,� suggested that clever Seal.
With this, the foolish bear broke out in song. The fish fell from his jaw straight into Seals open one. The seal dived off into the sea and munched on that delicious fish.
The moral of this tale is not to trust a flatterer. Polar Bear never did after that!
Matthew Tulip
The Mouse and the Pig
Deep in the English countryside there was an unkempt disorganised farm not many creatures lived there but a small hungry barn mouse did.
One day Mouse was cleaning his house when a mushy banana popped outside the barn a child had dropped it as its way home. Mouse ran outside to get the mushy banana and ran back into the crumbling barn and jumped on a mouldy hay stack. But just as he was going to nibble it when a big fat pig came ambling in and saw the banana so he thought and thought until he had an idea. What do you think happened next?
Pig said “Mouse, Mouse, how sweet and soft is your fur?� Mouse was so merry that pig liked and admired him.
“Mouse, Mouse, how lovely your blackcurrant eyes look?� said that cunning Pig.
Mouse was so merry that pig liked and admired him.
“Mouse, Mouse, what a fashionable pink tail you have?� said that sly Pig.
Mouse was so merry that pig liked and admired him.
“Mouse, Mouse, I think your voice must also be beautiful and your two front teeth are so long and elegant!� said Pig.
Mouse was so merry that Pig liked and admired him. As soon as Pig had said that Mouse dropped the banana to open his mouth a show off his long teeth and sing a squeaky melody and Pig caught it in his gaping mouth. It happened just as Pig had planned. Mouse let out a squeak of horror. Pig chewed on the banana and ran off. Mouse was in a huge temper because he was tricked that day. Now Mouse always said after that, a flatterer is not a real friend. You would be wise to listen.
Annabel Armstrong
Year One have been really busy this term in History and Geography. We have been learning about Homes and Barnaby Bear.
Barnaby Bear visited lots of places in the U.K. and France. We learned lots of things about the seaside, the New Forest, Dublin and Roscoff.
We have been thinking about our own homes, homes in our community and homes from long ago. We used the ICT suite to create pictures using the Paint program of homes from the Stone Age, the Iron Age and the Victorian era.
In Art we have been thinking about shades of colour. We used black to make our base colour darker and white to make our base colour lighter.
As part of the nursery topic on Animals/Birds, all the children have been making bird cakes. If you would like the recipe please follow the instructions below.
For the bird cake you will need a strong plastic pot, a long length of string, fat and wild bird seed.
Each group of children had to find their names from a list and stick it to their pot.
We wound string around the inside of the pot.
Everyone put two handfuls of bird seed into the pot.
Hot fat was poured by Mrs O'Neill into the pot with the seeds and the string.
We waited until the bird cake cooled down and put it into the fridge.
The children tried to pull the bird cake out but it was stuck.
We decided to stand the bird cake in hot water.
Finally the bird cake was free!
We looked for trees in the nursery garden to hang our bird cakes on.
Everyone remembered the ingredients for the bird cake and we wrote down the recipe.
The cakes are a favourite with the hungry birds in Whickham.
Year 4 have been responsible for creating prayers for our Achievement assemblies on Fridays.
We have thought carefully about our behaviour to others, people who care for us, people we love, as well as people who help us.
You may like to read a selection.
Dear Lord,
Help us to get the courage to stand up to bullies and get the confidence to tell an adult about it. Help us to remember that if someone bullies you you must not do something horrible back to the other person otherwise we will be a bully too. If we see someone being bullied it will be very kind of us to help. Try to help us hope that bullies will recognise other peoples' feelings and realise what they have done.
Amen.
By Alexandra
Dear Lord,
Thank-you for the people who help us when things go wrong. Thank-you for the firepeople who help when fires start. Thank-you for the AA team who fix our cars when we are stuck in bad weather. Thank-you for the coast guards and the life boats. Thank-you for the snowploughs and the gritters who clear the snow and ice away. Thank-you for the ambulances and the mountain rescue team. All of these people risk their lives for us.
Amen.
By Adam
Dear God,
Thank-you for the people that love us and think about us everyday. Thank-you forout families that will always be there when we need them and comfort us when weare upset. Let us think about the people who do not have any family to love them, feed them and cheer them up. Let us pray for children who feel unloved and unwanted that one day they will find someone to love them.
Amen.
By Dominic
Dear God,
Help us to say, "No," to those who tell us to do something we know is wrong. Help us to help our friends who have been threatened. Thank-you for boys and girls who try to stop this happening. Help us to have the courage to do the right thing. Help us to remember that we should not do as someone says if we know it is wrong.
Amen.
By Olivia
As part of our investigative science work this term, we have been testing 'Flyers!' The children worked in groups to make a prototype and then came up with questions to investigate:
Does the material affect how far it travels? Does the weight affect how far it travels? Does the height of the launch affect the distance travelled? Does the shape affect how far it travels? Does the length of the Flyer affect how far it travels? We made predictions, considered fair testing, the method, how to record the results and then drew conclusions. We had great fun testing! Some travelled much further than others!
Take a look at the Flyers in flight!
Download file
Once upon a Design Technology lesson, Year Three made some fantastic photograph frames for our Valentines. We were so pleased with ourselves as they looked so impressive until...
Mrs. Armstrong said that they couldn't possibly be photograph frames because they wouldn't stand up on their own. They did not have a stand you see! Oh, no!
So we thought for a while to generate some ideas. We all thought of some winning designs.
We selected three pupils to tell us about their ideas.
We had to do a spot of problem solving. How could we create a stand? What materials would we use? This boy was successful with a triangular arrangement of cardboard. Hurrah for him!
This pupil suggested a rolled arrangement made from cardboard. The frame just rolled over. He went back to the drawing board.
Here were three clear successes!
Look, Mum - no hands! Yes we could create photograph frames that would stand on their own!
More fabulous frames!
And more!
And yet more!
Now our next problem was to decide who to send our 'Valentine Photograph Frames' to!