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Barnby Dun Primary School News
A very happy new year to you all. 2012 has got off to a very busy start. The children returned from their Christmas holidays with positive attitudes and happy smiles. Now they have got back into their normal school routine and got used to early mornings again, they are producing some wonderful work and enjoying learning and playing together.
Our youngest children in school are learning all about toys this term-from making box models of robots to learning about how children’s toys have changed over the past fifty years. Years 3 & 4 are learning about Ancient Greece-having lots of fun doing Greek dancing and reading mythical stories. Teachers were very impressed with their creative responses to their homework challenge-to make a model of a Trojan horse. Our eldest children in Years 5&6 have started their new topic -‘Planet Protectors’- all about climate change, recycling and other environmental issues. This got off to an exciting start with them designing and making outfits from recycled materials. Mr Harrison erected a catwalk in the hall and we had a fantastic ‘Trashion Show’. The children strutted their stuff, as animals, robots, brides, models, and posed for photos in front an esteemed panel of fashion critics (also known as the office staff!). They will soon visit Yorkshire Wildlife Park as part of their studies of how animals are adapted to their environments.
Over the holidays, children throughout school have been compiling their new scrapbooks – with maps, postcards, drawings, pictures, photos etc of places they’ve visited and memorable events. This project allows them to celebrate their achievements and interests, as well as develop their geographical awareness and sense of place. Classes have been buzzing with excitement this week, as pupils share their scrapbooks with classmates and school staff.
We continue to be very proud of our Yr 5&6 Enterprise club. They did a fantastic job organising their Christmas Fair, doing all of the advertising, planning, budgeting, devising activities and making items to sell. The children raised £400 and have decided to spend their profits on having a hands-on workshop with a magician, to learn magic tricks and a magic show for the whole school. The club’s next venture is to organise a talent show following last year’s successful ‘Barnby Dun’s Got Talent’. From street dancing to magic tricks to baritone playing-it’s all happening here!
Our Outdoor classroom- ‘Barnbywoods’- features in this week’s Free Press which makes us very proud. Even when it is cold this area is used by classes as part of their work in maths, literacy, science, art, music and drama. Our historical area is taking shape and children are full of ideas to enable us to put that creative twist on historical topics. I spent a very cold but delightful afternoon with our ‘Ladybirds’ hunting for 2d shapes which Mrs Croft had hidden all over the woods. I was amazed how well these children, who are only 4 and 5, used the digital cameras to take photos of shapes. The novelty and different atmosphere of being outside, in a less conventional learning environment, allows children to lose inhibitions often seen in the classroom. This child-led approach is fun and unhurried which fires their enthusiasm for learning and gives them a real sense of achievement. Please remember ‘Barnbywoods’ is open to our community on the first Monday afternoon of each month. If you have any suggestions or expertise you would like to share, please ring school, we would love to hear from you.
Other interesting events this term include: another exciting whole school themed week about Healthy Living, this will bring lots of opportunities for ‘Buddy learning’ with older and younger children enjoying activities together. We are looking forward to Safer Internet Day, First aid training, a ’Pro-score’ football Fundraising Event, our ever popular Valentine’s Discos, World Maths Day and the Easter Service at church.
Our busy term will culminate with the grand Easter Egg raffle extravaganza!
We have many successful systems in place to celebrate children’s achievements and reinforce our six Golden Rules. One of the children’s and my own highlights of the week is giving my two Headteacher Star Pupil awards in Monday Special Mentions assembly. We have two big teddies who wear very fetching red jumpers complete with our school badge (lovingly knitted by one of our dinnerladies). They have been named Bernard and Snuggles by the children. The bears are given to one pupil from Reception/KS1 and one from KS2 who have stood out as Star Pupils for that week. They also receive a Star Pupil badge and special certificate. We have been lucky to have five new pupils join us in the last week. As we are a school where children do join us at various points throughout the year, we have developed effective Induction procedures-such as every class having their own handbook full of information all about the children, staff, timetable, routines. It is very important that we ensure children settle quickly and feel warmly welcomed and accepted into our school community.
The positive relationships and partnerships we work so hard to nurture are the crux of our school’s success and enable us to go from strength to strength.
Kindest regards,
Miss C E Robinson Headteacher
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