The Bishop of Buckingham, the Right Reverend Alan Wilson, opened our new building resplendent in fine style. Mrs. Doris Stephens accepted the plaque naming this extension after her late husband. The children, with Year 2 guests from St Andrew's CE School sketched the building and considered how its design and symbolism was reflected in its appearance. The Bishop stayed for lunch with the children and invited guests and commented on the community 'feel' of the celebrations.
We celebrated Mother's Day in style with an afternoon assembly at which heartfelt sentiments were expressed and the children gave their mothers a hand-crafted gift and card as well as a seasonal posy of daffodils.
The Biggleswade Bird Of Prey Centre paid us a visit with several species of bird that amazed and delighted us with their aerial skills. Falconer Kate flew the birds with relaxed skill, each with its own distinctive 'personality', and gave an informative commentary on their histories and life-styles.
Our current Creative Partnership moves ahead across the three schools with our artist Yaw Asiyama leading the work. A talented story teller, Yaw also prepared a lovely hot lunch for the children of chicken and butter-bean & mango curries. In all these activities many supporters of the school, particularly PTFA members Jo Cowley, Janeanne O'Loughlin and Melanie Duncan and our own Sue Temple have been stalwart contributors enabling these events to take place. This partnership was given a further boost by the news that we have secured funding to allow it to continue in the following academic year. Staff, governors and children wish you a happy Easter break. CS
18 March 2011
There were plenty of red noses and beautiful pyjamas as we took part in
red nose day events for comic relief. Many thanks to the PTFA for their
organisation including Anya's delicious baking.
12 March 2011
Our new building extension, at the time of writing to be opened by the Bishop of Buckingham, is named the Charles Stephens Building after the first Headmaster of the 'new' school. Mr. Stephens was appointed in 1956 and the first stage of the building opened in 1957. It has been a real pleasure to have Mrs. Doris Stephens as our joint guest of honour at the opening ceremony. Fifty-four years later we are very proud to be showing a new, updated and very professional new face to the wider world. The new area will significantly enhance the present and future learning and working environment for pupils and staff.
Our recent 'open door' session saw all of our children celebrating their recent work and sharing it with their parents and family members.
Our three school Creative Partnership got underway with our first visit from artist Yaw whose own enthusiasm and 'presence' was matched by the response of the children and initiated some excellent opportunities for creative work various curriculum areas. Yaw told many stories both traditional, modern and invented during the sessions and the children wrote and illustrated their own.
The new building has required some cosmetic developments in the school grounds and for this we are most grateful to out groundsman Dave Goss. This has run alongside our own local annual Springwatch whereby we are listening to various bird songs, looking at our nest and bee boxes for signs of habitation and eagerly awaiting the first frogs to arrive in the pond. CS
18 February 2011
The school ended the half-term on a busy note; Year 1 made fossils with written instructions for their construction and a biography of the creature represented. Thank you Mrs Vale for your geological expertise.
Alex and friends made us all veggie pasties to go with a hot soup lunch and Reception children provided the dessert - a lovely cherry cake from their weighing activities .
Year 2 forged ahead with their extended rewrites of stories about Anansi the African man-spider and some lovely water colour art work inspired by Beatrix Potter.
The Dragon Club, founded by three children for extra Art activities at playtimes, held its first exhibition and is planning its next series of projects.
11 February 2011
The scaffolding was taken down, the safety fencing dismantled and the friendly builders packed up and left; yes the new building is completed and we will move in soon. A Bishop and assorted guests will officially bless and open the building in March giving the school a forward-looking face-lift.
Our student Miss Suki Sunner successfully completed her school experience and we said 'goodbye' with jelly and cake and some lovely school poems from a book she donated to our Literacy resources.
We have begun our yearly transition exchange visits with Sherington Pre-School and were warmly welcomed by the children and staff when we visited recently.
As we prepare for Creative Partnership with Yaw a new character from West Africa has enthused our curriculum with his adventures. It is Anansi the Spider Man, the clever trickster who reclaimed all the stories from the Sky God.
The children returned after the Christmas break full of news and enthusiasm for the new topics. In particular Mrs Borner's Yoga 'club' has been developing well and reception have adopted '3D mind mapping' to help plan their own flow of activities. Our new building is tantalisingly 'almost' complete with the final touches being added as we write. Watch this space.
