Thank you to all of you who came to our last Toddler Taster session of the academic year to join in with our summer fun! We had a wonderful time playing with our brand new waterwall, making foam ice creams, hooking ducks and designing our own sunglasses to name just a few of the fun activities we had on offer! Everyone also enjoyed cooling off with an ice pop too! Please join us in the Autumn Term for our next session, messy outdoor play!
Our 4 school representatives attended the final event of the year recently at the Netherwood Hotel in Grange.
The day started with some ‘ice-breaker’ activities creating a structure out of art straws that could support a golf ball. Then we took part in a debate on a subject that we had carefully researched and discussed with the rest of Scafell and with our parents as a homework task.
“Do young children in 2018 have more social challenges to cope with than their parents at the same age?’ Everyone contributed some very thoughtful ideas and opinions; articulating their views confidently and clearly. After the debate we moved into our school groups to work together to produce a poster documenting the points raised during the debate and to use to feedback our day to the rest of the school in our Good Work Assembly.
After a delicious lunch, we learnt all about the work of Select Committees and even had the chance to take part in a Select Committee research project about opinions on sugary drinks using individual electronic voting pads.
Well done to our four school representatives who have been great ambassadors for our school; learnt lots about parliamentary systems; developed some new skills and their confidence.
Year 2 are enjoying working with Skiddaw on symmetry. Here they are exploring symmetrical shapes with their bodies; independently and in pairs.
We continued exploring symmetrical shapes in the classroom using mirrors or folding shapes in half to ensure each half was exactly the same. We found symmetry in a range of 2D shapes, letters and flags from around the world.
Some of us also built symmetrical models using multi-link cubes.
On Wednesday, Reception, Year One and Year Two enjoyed orienteering! For some it this was their first experience of such an exciting activity! The afternoon had been organised by Dallam and involved the children finding their own pre-designed cookies which had been taken by the cookie dragon and hidden in the woodland! We were lucky to have lovely weather for the afternoon and the children enjoyed a beautiful hunt in the sunshine. Everybody managed to find their cookies and were rewarded with juice and a cookie at the end. Many thanks to all the parent helpers on the day for both providing transport and accompanying us on the hunt. Everyone had a great time!
Yesterday, Y5 enjoyed a whole day outside (and in) with QKS staff and students. The children loved being outdoors with Mr Daton; completing an adventure hunt; working in teams with another school to untangle themselves; putting up tents; making lovely hot chocolate and learning life skills. We then enjoyed a lunch hour outside with our picnics and were excited for our Science afternoon.
In the afternoon, we had fun gaining our ‘bunson burner’ licenses; creating the pH Scale rainbow colours; making slimy slime and destroying Jeffrey – our jelly baby friend! We loved our day at QKS and really enjoyed making new friends and learning new skills.
Thank you to all of the staff and students for making our QKS day possible!
What an incredible day we have enjoyed in Bowfell Class exploring Humphrey Head with our Dallam Outdoor Education team. Once kitted out with our helmets and our back-packs over-flowing with refreshments, we set off to explore the headland. Our first few challenges enabled us to develop our skills, our confidence and learn how to support and encourage one-another. Each section became a little more tricky and included squeezing through tiny gaps in the rocks; pulling ourselves through ‘rabbit holes’; scrambling up the hillside; and traversing along very narrow ledges.
Every child showed determination, resilience and enthusiasm every step of the way!
At the end of the morning we enjoyed a wonderful picnic lunch in the outdoors before heading up to the summit of Humphrey Head.
As spring turns into summer we have a selection of birds nesting in, on and around school.
Right by the front door we have a pair of Collared Doves. Less than a metre away from the comings and goings they have just hatched two eggs. There are several House Sparrow nests, one in the wall and one under the roof of Scafell Class. High above the office window there are three House Martin nests with lots of visiting adults. One has youngsters peering out! Whilst there are no nesting Swallows on school this year they are next door and regularly swoop across the playground and chatter away on the phone wire. The one thing that doesn’t have any nesting birds is the nest box! It is full of bumblebees! Nature has a home on Levens School.
Year 5&6 are preparing for their three day residential at Lockerbie Manor, an outdoor education activity centre, at the end of June. This week they have been finding out more about it and using the information to write persuasive leaflets. They have also enjoyed some team building exercises and problem solving tasks. We are aiming to develop our communication skills; our resilience and our determination to succeed however challenged we might feel.
Work has started on our shelter in Bowfell’s outdoor area this week to enable all-year-round provision whatever the weather. The large canopy is one of the resources the children decided they wanted for their new space. But something else is being installed this week – a wall with a lot of holes in it!! Whatever could it be?
Hola! This morning, Y5 really enjoyed their time at Dallam, learning about different languages and culture. We learnt how to have a basic conversation in Spanish and met new friends through our practice. We also created a fantastic pinata each; which has lots of tasty sweets inside! Thank you to our parent helpers for their offer of transport and to the children for contributing so positively to the session and listening extremely well. Last but not least, a big thank you to Dallam School for organising this wonderful event (and for the cookies!)
Adios for now!
