Newsletter 30 November 2018

 

We have been counting down the days until the performances of our Nativity play and at long last it’s here! Today is the day, but not without its dramas! First thing this morning we learned that one of our children was ill and unable to perform. As she had already been covering a part left vacant by a child who left after half term, this left two parts to be filled. I have to say a huge thank you to Poppy, Alice and Mia who stepped up to the mark beautifully as if they had been doing it all along! As I write there has already been one performance to the Prep school, who were incredibly warm and supportive in their reception of the play. And now the stage is set, the players ready and the seats just waiting for you to fill them this afternoon! Our play begins at 2.30pm and we are all so excited to perform it for you. See you there!

 

Newsletter 23 November 2018

What a busy week! It seems that I am always saying that! I would like to start by thanking you very much for supporting our Christmas Market. It really was so lovely to see so many of you and I hope that you enjoyed it and were able to start some of your Christmas shopping. Believe it or not, some members of the teaching staff have got all their presents already! The Key Stage One children continued our Christmas theme and went to visit St Andrew’s Church. This enabled them, not only to compare a Christian place of worship with the Vedic Temple visited earlier this term, but also look at the Season of Advent and learn that it means more than just chocolate Advent Calendars! The Nursery class had a Christmas visit of their own and went to Stewarts Garden Centre today. They always love to see the Christmas decorations and especially the Reindeer. I was told that they are actually very small which is why Father Christmas needs so many of them to pull his sleigh. That does make sense. I suppose that they are actually not much bigger than a Shetland pony. You see, we learn from our children as they learn from us.

 

Newsletter 16 November 2018

Our Reception Class visited the Winchester Science Centre and Planetarium on Monday where they had a wonderful time. You can read more about it on our website and see more pictures on our Twitter and Instagram feeds, which I wholeheartedly suggest you join as we post lots of news about the Pre-Prep on them! I love the picture above. It epitomises not only the effort but also the fun and the teamwork which the children often put into their learning and the science day trip was a great example of this. ‘Fun’ is one of those words which is rarely formally associated with learning but it is actually very important, as I know you are aware. One of my favourite lessons this week was with Years One and Two. They were having great fun making their clay snowmen. They were enjoying each other’s company and singing their Christmas songs but at the same time they were learning. Clay is a unique art medium because it is highly responsive to touch and very forgiving. As soon as children are given clay, they immediately begin to mould and shape it. They become aware that they are in charge and have influence over the medium as it is quick to respond to their fingers. The feeling that they are in command of the clay gives the children the confidence to attempt any project which opens the door to greater self-expression and imagination. Clay also allows a child to learn to repair mistakes and therefore not be afraid to make them. Making mistakes is essential for learning but can be difficult and even an obstacle for some children. The forgiving quality of clay, and therefore the ability to readily fix mistakes, gives the child a sense of control over their project’s success which improves self-esteem and self-expression as they realize that mistakes aren’t going to stop their progress. Who knew something so simple could be so positive?  We are having an Open Day this afternoon and tomorrow we are hosting the Christmas Market and open again to visitors. Do come and see us. You are very welcome.

Newsletter 9 November 2018

I always admire the adaptability and sensitivity of our children. One minute they can be revelling in all that is Christmas and practicing for our Nativity; or else they can be excitedly working as a team, chattering like starlings to create their Diwali Rangoli patterns and the next they can be learning about the meaning of a Poppy and the importance of Armistice Day. We had a simple but rather powerful little service of our own whilst the Prep school were having their Service of Remembrance. We watched a short film together about the meaning of a Poppy (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7ESRBMk36E) and observed our silence. Mrs Carver added a personal element by telling the children about two of her relatives who served, one of whom was mentioned in dispatches. There are photos of them in the Entrance Hall if you would like to see them. Mrs Hookes-Gosney then read a book to the children which Ricky and Leila had brought in to share, ‘Where the Poppies Now Grow’, by Hilary Robinson and Martin Impey. Another beautiful book, written by the same pair, is ‘The Christmas Truce’, which tells the true but barely believable story of the night when the guns fell silent in the trenches and opposing Armies celebrated Christmas together. The EYFS were wearing poppies which they had made and Years One and Two have done some rather thoughtful work on this subject too so do keep an eye on their display boards.

Newsletter 2 November 2018

We have had another busy week in the Pre-Prep! On Monday we visited the Life Bus. You may have seen it parked next to the Pre-Prep car-park. With the help of Harold the giraffe the children were led through a variety of topics including the correct use of medicines, friendships and bullying strategies to use when angry and healthy eating and the body parts responsible for digestion. There was an interactive mannequin on which the parts became illuminated much to the children’s delight. On Tuesday the Reception class went to the Fordingbridge Fire-station. There was much excitement involving the sirens and fire hoses and the children came back with the homework of finding the smoke alarms in their homes, so don’t be surprised if you are asked to test them! Wednesday saw the visit of Key Stage One to the Hindu Temple in Southampton. Beatrice has written a lovely report on this which will be on the school’s Newsfeed on Monday but all the children learned a lot from this visit even if it was an increased respect for other peoples’ way of life and beliefs, rather than a detailed knowledge of the Hindu religion and culture. It was a fascinating and very informative visit and as always, we are grateful for the wonderful welcome which we received. Yesterday was Outdoor Classroom Day. Outdoor learning is not such an unusual event for us at FSM as we are outside all the time but it is the day in which schools are encouraged to learn outside. Our EYFS went outside to explore the sensory aspects of Autumn and they made a beautiful piece of ephemeral art based upon that of Andy Goldsworthy. As I write there is a hum of activity coming from all the classrooms. Year Two are practising their recorders in the Den and the Nursery are working on their numbers with Ten-Town. The Reception class are making Bonfire pictures and doing their one to one reading practice whilst Year One are writing up their recount of their visit to the Vedic Temple, as mentioned above, using ‘time connectives’. Incidentally, just a teaser! I will be sharing some of the KS1 reports of their visit in Celebration Assembly today. Perhaps we will see you then!