« October 2007 | Main | December 2007 »
There’s something of the calm before the storm about school this week. It will be clear from the diary of events in this Newsletter that there’s lots happening in school before the end of term—Pantomime, Christmas Fair, concerts, carol service, Christmas Dinner, parties etc., etc.
Lots to look forward to in the next four weeks, including some ‘big occasions’ such as the Carol Service—our single biggest gathering of the year.
There’s something of the calm before the storm about school this week. It will be clear from the diary of events in this Newsletter that there’s lots happening in school before the end of term—Pantomime, Christmas Fair, concerts, carol service, Christmas Dinner, parties etc., etc.
Lots to look forward to in the next four weeks, including some ‘big occasions’ such as the Carol Service—our single biggest gathering of the year.
'Elmer The Patchwork Elephant' is a favourite in nursery. Everyone painted an elephant and glued on coloured squares.Can you see lots of elephants hiding in the jungle?
The children have also been painting 'Elmer' on the interactive whiteboard.
On the building site, the children are building a house. Plans have been drawn, foundations dug and now it is time to build!
'Bob The Builder' reminds the children to wear a hard hat.
The rough wood is feeling smooth now after being rubbed with the sand paper. The drill is a popular tool with the nursery children.
It is time to dig up the leeks in the nursery garden.
Everyone is busy cutting and grating the leeks and potatoes to make soup.
All the children tasted the soup, some even asked for a second bowl!
The children have been busy filling bottles and buckets with water.
Outdoors, the children are using water to wash the bikes and cars at the car wash.
Soft play is always fun. Everyone enjoys climbing, sliding, building or jumping.
Outdoors, we practise climbing up the climbing wall. It has special steps for small feet.
Nursery days are always busy and full of fun!
The second half of the autumn term is traditionally very busy both in school, and I'm sure at home, and this year is no exception. Please find below a list of the events up to Christmas.
Year 5 have created some fantastic bar charts and line graphs this term. Firstly, the class collected their data using tallies and frequency tables. Next, the children plotted both bar charts and line graphs by hand and then, in later lessons, they linked this numeracy work with ICT to present their charts using Microsoft Excel.
Click below to see some more examples of their super graph work.
Some more examples of the children's work:
What a fantastic day! Today Year Six travelled back in time and became evacuees. The children and staff dressed in costume from the 1940's and were evacuated to Home Farm at Beamish Museum. We had the opportunity to work on the farm as children would have done during the Second World War and experience a little of the life of an evacuee. A huge thanks to the Richard Stevenson and Katy Swainston from the museum for organising the activities and bringing history to life.
Pickling eggs!
Scrubbing turnips!
Beating carpets!
Making a scarecrow.
Making cottage cheese and butter.
Sweeping the yard.
Stuffing the mattress.
Doing the washing!
Listening to war being declared.
The children in Reception Class have settled into school life so well.
They have learnt new routines and love all the different areas in their new classroom.
Look how busy we've been...
We've made a rainbow circle of connecting camels in the number area.
Building a village in small world
Look how big we can draw using the chalk board!
Sorting shapes in the number area.
Building a bus in soft play.
We even had time to visit Whickham library!
Tracing numbers using dough.
A quiet time with a book.
Puzzling out numbers to 10.
Using Biff, Chip and Kipper in the puppet theatre.
Having fun with friends while we complete a jigsaw.
A collage of Kipper in cut and stick.
Our first assembly...look at all those people in the hall!
Year Four have been looking at repeating patterns in their I.C.T. work this term.
We looked at some examples of wrapping paper with a repeating pattern and then decided which type of paper we would like to design.
In the I.C.T. suite we set up a grid for our images to sit in to create the repeating pattern. We then had to select our images and decide how many and in what order we wanted to use them.
We concentrated on using horizontal, vertical and diagonal patterns using two or three images.
Here are some of our results:-
An example of some birthday wrapping paper.
Some of our Christening gift wrapping paper.
Here is some more birthday present wrapping paper.
Look at this frightening Halloween paper!
If you want to wish someone luck you could wrap their gift in paper like this!
We then talked about the fact that some of our designs had been limited by the images that we could find so we decided to create our own images.
Here are some of our designs:-
Christmas is coming soon!
Football mad!
We even wrapped some parcels using our own wrapping paper.
This term, Year Two's Design and Technology topic has been 'Puppets'. First, the children made moveable stick puppets which they joined using paper fasteners.Here are some of them:
Next, the children made simple finger puppets with holes for their fingers to wiggle like legs. They designed their character, then added colour and paper decorations.
Here are some of their wonderful characters:
Year Six have been designing buddy shelters as part of their design technology work this term. We worked with Michael Mullen at Gateshead City Learning Centre to develop our ideas and produce 3D models.
One of these will be selected and constructed from living willow, this will then be placed in the Key Stage Two playground.
Year One have been working hard in their Design Technology lessons sorting fruits and vegetables and taking part in tasting sessions. We have been discovering how they are prepared before they are consumed and trying our hands at making food.
One of our activities was to make 'Fruit Kebabs'. With fruit kindly donated by parents we set about making a delicious healthy snack. What fun we had! All of the children tried a new fruit they had never tasted before as we had an array of exotic fruits to choose from. After all the washing, peeling and assembling we all tucked in! It was finger licking good - quite literally!
Want to find out more? Read on...
How to make Fruit Kebabs
Fruit Kebabs are a tasty snack and can make a awesome table arrangement for a party table.
What you will need:
A selection of exotic fruits
Skewers
Large potatoes
Tin foil
Chopping boards
Knives
Plastic covers for the desks
Plates
1. First wash your hands, cover the tables and select your fruits.
Think for a while about whether the fruits will need washing or peeling.
2. Next put on your apron and start to prepare the fruits.
Peel off skins and chop into chunks.
3. Then start thread the fruits in a pattern onto a skewer.
Can you spot this boy's pattern?
What about this one?
4. When the skewer is full, push the end into the foil covered potato. This makes a lovely display. Try this for a party!
5. Repeat with more skewers and fruit chunks and pieces.
6. Finally wash hands that have become sticky and enjoy the fruits of your labour!
Why don't you have a go yourself!
To write a good story opening
We looked together at a painting of Neptune and some web pictures of underwater kingdoms.
We discussed how to open a story:- grabbing the reader's interest so that they want to read on
To describe a setting - use of exciting vocabulary
The next day we discussed underwater settings and how the children could use their senses to help descriptions.
To develop a character
The following day we decided which of the characters- Neptune, a diver, a mermaid or a merman ,we should develop. We needed to think about their appearance and their personality.
Writing a good story opening
As I dived backwards into the murky water I got caught in some seaweed.Then a sudden thought struck me" What if I was going to be late for tea at Neptune's Kingdom? He would be very angry with me". I felt very very whoozey and started to get a headache. I checked my oxygen tank and to my horror it was very low. I struggled free and swam quickly to Neptune's Kingdom. What if I was too late.............. Alistair
As I dived deeper underwater I found myself whizzing around on a dolphin's back. I flew into a dark black mysterious hole, then suddenly I saw the most spectacular kingdom. I quickly checked my oxygen tank but it was dangerously low so I took it off and to my absolute amazement I could breathe normally without it! Finally I don't know if it was my imagination, but I heard this strong booming big voice. Who in the world was it.....................? Daniel H.
Describing a story setting
....... I checked my oxygen tank........it was empty! How was I still breathing normally? I looked in front of me and I was amazed because there in front of me was ......rough beautiful coral with wavy seaweed blowing in the calm waves. Round pebbles lay on the ground during their soft slumber. Mermen were racing around in the calm ocean. Little figures were swimming gently across the blue ocean floor.Mermaids were brushing their long golden hair with gentle fingers. I could hear mermen laughing strangely along with the dolphins.
Then all went silent when everyone noticed us. One of the mermaids reached out to try and touch me and she did. With a whoosh everyone quickly swam away. What now..........?
Pippa
Developing a portrait of a character
All was silent as I swam towards a glimmer of gold. I tried to take it but as I pulled I had a sudden shock as a musclular man staggered out of a black cave." I, Neptune, am king of this place." boomed a loud voice. There was a lovely diamond on his golden crown which was actually what I had been pulling.
"What are you looking for in Neptune's Kingdom? I am Neptune and this is my kingdom!" His
face was very tanned, old and wrinkly. He was so very very tall that it hurt my neck to look up at him. He seemed to like gold a lot because he had a golden necklace and golden hair as well as his crown.
Finally" Come in for dinner" boomed Neptune. So we went in to a very dark cave. The next question is what's for dinner..........? Pippa
Term Dates for 2008 - 2009
Autumn Term Mon 1 September 2008 to Fri 19 December 2008
(note: Mon 1 September is an In-Service Training day, children will not be expected to start until Tue 2 September)
Half Term Mon 27 to Fri 31 October 2008
Spring Term Mon 5 January 2009 to Fri 3 April 2009
Half Term Mon 16 to Fri 20 February 2009
Summer Term Mon 20 April 2009 to Fri 17 July 2009
Half Term Mon 25 to Fri 29 May 2009
Additional Days
May Day Bank Holiday - Mon 4 May 2009
One Occasional Day (To be Agreed)
Dear Parents and Carers
On behalf of the Board of Governors we commend this OFSTED report to you, and would like to congratulate every member of the Fellside team in their outstanding achievement. Such inspections shine a spotlight on the entire team and highlight a snap shot in time of a team who continuously strive to give their very best for our children, each and every day.
The outcome of the inspection is of no surprise to the Governing Body who are acutely aware of the strong and purposeful leadership of Mr Doran in transforming vision into action, together with superb teaching and learning delivered by all staff, which makes Fellside a truly exceptional environment.
This achievement is a result of the professionalism of everyone within the Fellside team, all of whom have contributed significantly to the development of our school. I am certain you will agree with me when I say that the professionalism, dedication and enthusiasm of all staff at Fellside make our school a truly unique and inspirational environment in which our children can, and do, flourish.
Furthermore, this report recognises the efforts of all partners within the Fellside community; staff, parents, carers, Friends of Fellside, Governors and supporters within the local community, who together have assisted in achieving our vision of “providing an inspiring and caring environment in which we are all challenged to maximise our potential”. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for the continuing support that you give to Fellside and look forward to your ongoing support as we strive to maintain these exceptional standards and further develop both the learning environment and curriculum.
Together we really are making a difference.
John Baines
Chairman
Fellside Community Primary School
Dear Parent/Carer,
So from what you’ve just read, it looks like we’re doing OK!
Naturally we are delighted with this report. What shines out, is that the success we currently enjoy is a result of the entire school community’s efforts – the children, all staff, governors and the parents and families of our children.
We can all allow ourselves a brief moment of pride in our achievements…before resuming our programme of further improvement.
All your questionnaire responses to Rosemary Rodger, the inspector, of course remained entirely confidential. She did however share with me that a number of parents had indicated a sense of privilege they felt at having a child at Fellside. Thankyou.
Equally may I take this opportunity to express to you the huge privilege it is for me to work with your delightful children, professional and dedicated staff, a ‘switched-on’ governing body, and supportive caring parents. Every element of this school is committed to the best possible education for the children of this community.
Many thanks,
Kevin Doran
Phew! A busy week for us all—nothing new there—but yesterday of course we were subject to the close scrutiny of an Ofsted inspector.
At this stage I am not able to give you any detail of the judgment as the findings are not yet within the public domain. You can look forward to receiving the full report in two or three weeks time.
From the feedback we’ve received it will certainly be a report to look forward to.
Your children, as ever, were exemplary yesterday, as were all staff. May I take this opportunity to thank the many of you who extended your best wishes to us in the last few days. It’s much appreciated.