It has been 2 weeks since I last Blogged and the fortnight has whizzed by in a blur!!

We’ve had children helping and participating at Schoolympics; the girls narrowly missing out on making it through from the county Kwik cricket finals; House quiz; Transition Day; Year 4 into 5 and Year 6 into 7 transition Parents’  Evenings.

It has been my first experience of transition here and seeing the excited faces of the year 4 children as they moved around school on Thursday was brilliant.  I hope the ‘delight’ of older siblings seeing younger ones lasts long into the next academic year.

The main activity this week was Sports Day, some of the pre-tournament ambivalence from Year 8 was soon forgotten once the round-robin competition began.  It was a beautiful day and fantastically supported by lots of parents.  Freman were the eventual winners with Wellington second, Salisbury third and Sadleir fourth.

So just a week to go, surely nothing much can be left to do…

Oh I do like to be beside the seaside….the only problem being I wasn’t chosen to go with Year 5 today as they set off early on their Geography trip to Clacton.  Bucket and Spades were replaced by clipboard and pencil as the children will be working on their coastal studies.  More next week upon their return.

Elsewhere this week there have been the beginnings of two major things: the World Cup in Brazil; and the introduction of a new behaviour management system in school.  Perhaps you might have heard children talking about C1’s and C3’s.  In essence nothing is really changing, our expectations are still the same and in both the previous Ofsted reports the children’s behaviour has been positively commented on – so why change?  As my Grandma always says ‘Your good can always be better, and your better can be best’ so as part of our policy review I involved the School Council to look at a system that is clearer and more consistent for both children and staff as well as helping to strengthen the pupil/teacher relationship.  The result of this is the phasing out of the 6 Stage Behaviour Plan and the introduction of the Consequences Ladder. This was launched in assembly on Wednesday and we will be trialling the system for the remainder of this term, ironing out any kinks ready for September.

This week’s sports round-up starts last weekend at the Herts Schools Athletics Track and Field Championships where Katie L from Year 7 came in 3rd in both the 200m and the 800m, an amazing achievement.  Rounders victories over Edwinstree were achieved by the Year 5 and 6 girls teams respectively.

Curriculum wise my focus has been music this week and Miss Mason has been hard at work, not only in lesson time but in supporting the children preparing for the House Music Competition next week.  Year 5 have been singing and developing their vocal skills by looking at songs from around the world.  Year 6 have been working on the recorder – composing their own group pieces and writing them down using correct notation.  Year 7 are working in groups developing lyrics for their own songs.  Year 8 have been developing their keyboard skills, using popular riffs and chords, extending their use of right and left hand.

Another new regular feature for the Blog will be a Science Club report, this week’s is written by Cameron A and Joshua G in Year 6, ‘Firstly Mrs Bingham showed us some brilliant cell models that previous Year 6’s had made.  Then we talked about the Big Bang Eastern Science Fair Trip  to Duxford and finally we looked at pictures from last years trip.’

Gardening club have been harvesting strawberries and radishes this week – they were very tasty!!

Today’s assembly by Mr Palmen was all about the World Cup, how it actually affects life in Brazil and why some people have been protesting (and not just over the award of that penalty last night!) against it.  Even having visited shanty towns myself in various countries it is difficult to convey to our children just what life there is like and how lucky they are (even as I type this I can hear my own parents’ voices repeating that very phrase to me).  Most of the children’s eyes lit up at the thought of only having to go to school for four years but the harsh reality of life beyond those years is something they can’t quite comprehend and why people all over the world campaign to get better education for their children.  To quote a former pupil of mine in a piece of homework he did about what was the point of school,  ‘At first I thought this would be easy – there is no point. However, when I looked into it, I found that if you didn’t have school it would ruin your life.  It might seem like it is ruining your life now but it is not all for the worse…school is to help you make the most of your life!’

Everyday this week I have greeted Miss Bickerstaff; whom has the misfortune to share an office space with me; the same way ‘Is it Friday yet?’ not because I didn’t want to be here but because like most people around school I was shattered! However this morning Miss Bickerstaff greeted me with the news it was finally Friday, my response to her was: ‘No it cant be – I have so much to do!’

But Friday it is, at the end of another jam packed week, unbelievably at the end of my fifth half-term!  We began today with our friends from Khandelight – a charity we have forged links with that runs a village project in India.  I was very interested to see how the money we have raised so far has been used and what the next steps will be.  They were incredibly pleased to receive a cheque from us for £500 towards their project.

On Monday the Year 6 children had an architecture workshop that looked at building all different types of structures. Charlotte O-D said ‘We learned how to build shelters for different habitats such as a rainforest and the Arctic.  The best bit was building teepees out of sticks and elastic bands.’

“Innocent until Proven Guilty!”

In PSHE this week, Sharron Cox, a Magistrate working in Hertfordshire, talked to our Year 8’s about the “Justice System in England and Wales”. Pupils were given the opportunity to discuss various cases and reflect on the implications of a trial in the court room.

Pupils thought reflectively about the consequences of a real case of assault on a bus driver and demonstrated  huge interest in the subject of fairness and justice.   Pupils argued over the correct sentence for the defendant and were surprised to hear that in law “Ignorance is no defence”. Also, Year 8’s learned that simply being with the wrong crowd means that you are as guilty as the person who took the lead in the crime. This is known as “Joint Enterprise” in the legal system.

Finally, young people, from as young as 10 years old, can be sentenced to a maximum of 2 years custody in a Young Offenders Institute which can be anywhere in the country! A good reason to stay on the right side of the law, Year 8’s!

Thursday morning saw a group of Year 7 & 8 children take a visit to Airbus Defence & Space, where they had an interesting tour and got to handle some incredibly expensive equipment!! Alex A in Year 8 will add more detail at a later date.

The Year 6 boys beat St Joseph’s at cricket but lost to Heath Mount and not to be outdone the girls A & B teams (including some Year 5’s) won all their matches at the district tournament.

And so that brings me to the end of another Blog, upon our return to school it will be Ralph Sadleir’s birthday party and I am looking forward to the celebrations.

Have a great half term break.

What a week – in so many ways!!

The main event was Wednesday’s triumph in the Wix Trophy Finals, making our Year 6 boys football team county champions.  Our semi-final was against Haberdashes Boys and despite nerves stopping the boys playing to their usual exceptional standard, they controlled the game and were creating numerous chances.  Unfortunately the ball just wouldn’t go into the net! Penalties followed extra-time and fortunately we held our nerve and won through to the final.  Will E. was superb saving 3 penalties, whilst Luke C., Austin C. and Archie G.   So to the final, against St Columbas, after inspiring words from Mr Morgan the boys were ready.  An early goal from Noah P. eased the nerves and gave the boys the belief and freedom to play, another quickly followed from Daniel L. as we dominated the match.  A breakaway goal early in the second half made the nail biting in the stands and on the touchline return, but these were eased by Dominic G. calmly slotting home to round off a well deserved victory.  The rest of the squad – Joe B., Owen M. and Austen G all made huge contributions one way or another – Wix Trophy Champions 2014!!

Both teachers from the other schools said that our team were rightful winners and the best team they had played all season.  I was immensely proud not only of the way the boys played football but the way they conducted themselves both on and off the pitch – they are a real credit to the school!!  A huge thank you to all the parents, family members, friends and staff who came along to support the team, I know they really appreciated it.

More to follow…Keep an eye on the Mercury in the coming weeks.

Not to be outdone the Year 6 girls won their first rounders match of the season, beating Duncombe.  Sadly the Year 8 boys came second in their district final, losing to Edwinstree.

In school, the Year 8’s extracted DNA in science and competed in the Maths challenge, and the Year 5’s had a very interesting Victorian Day – see the write up in the Year 5 area on the website.

Next week is SATs and we wish all the Year 6’s luck and continued success.

A warm (well it has been most days) welcome back to everyone, I hope you had a good Easter: whether you were away; enjoying family time; or just eating chocolate eggs!!

The summer term always seems so far away at the beginning of an academic year but then is upon you and over before you know it!!  The children are looking at new topics across the curriculum and there will be more of that to come in the following weeks.

Year 7 and 8 had a visit from Airbus Space & Defence Ltd. on Thursday which was all about what the company does, what the engineers do and the projects they work on.  Olly B in Year 8 said, “I found it very interesting. It has definitely opened up some new career opportunities for me.”

Sportwise the Year 6 boys football team beat Greneway 2-1 to hold onto the North East Herts U11 District trophy, goals were scored by Noah P and Austen G.  Hopefully this will stand them in good stead for the final’s night of the Wix Trophy, which is on the 7th of May at St Albans City’s ground (5.30pm kick off), please come along and support the boys if you can.   Cricket and rounders clubs are up and running too.

Sadly I have had to cancel the Dad’s House football tomorrow, hopefully the appetites have been whetted and we can run one in the future.

We had two assemblies this week with an antipodean perspective – Mr Mikelsons reminded us that we have links and can make links everywhere (Who has a jigsaw piece to link to yours?); then Mrs Brown reminded us of the significance/importance of ANZAC Day today and the more positive of Australian characteristics – courage, resilience, teamwork (mate-ship) and a good sense of humour.

Tonight there is the Quiz Night being run by Mrs Butler, Mrs Coppen and Mrs Bush to raise money for various cancer charities, hopefully it will go well and the teachers’ teams don’t come last!!