Junior School Newsletter Friday 31 January 2020
DEAR PARENTS The official newsletter of
@SibfordJS
El Dorado High School teachers
Following the excitement of last week, we continued our STEM fortnight, cramming as much engineering and technology into the week as possible. This has involved lots of work in the individual classes along the theme, as well as some bigger events. On Monday some of the Key Stage 2 classes were treated to two fascinating parent presentations. The first, from Rai Wahlen, detailed his work in elemental analysis and it was wonderful to learn about some of its applications in real life. This was followed later in the afternoon by a session with Jason Somerville who told us about his work with aerodynamics within Formula 1 – we even got to hold a piece of a car! Tuesday saw the whole Junior School have a chance to learn about optics and sight as Jonathan Walford talked to us about his work as an optician – I’ve never seen quite so many contact lenses! Splitting into House groups on Wednesday, we had a Vertical Learning Morning where we rotated between four activities. These included using our eco-bricks to begin making a new wall around the raised beds, making recyclable bags out of newspaper (the best designs held over a kilogramme), constructing bridges from spaghetti and investigating electrical circuits using special playdough. Throughout the morning there was some excellent investigations and no small amount of teamwork. Thursday saw the visit of Peter Samain (Lottie’s grandad). As well as telling about his 45-year career in engineering and showing us some of the projects he has worked on, he also brought in a range of tools to demonstrate to the younger pupils. The main part of his visit, however, was to help us launch our eco-project. Over the next two weeks, the children have been given the challenge of designing and creating a model of an energy-efficient Eco-classroom. The best designs will be shortlisted to be presented to a judging panel on the 14th February and, who knows, may result in a sustainable school of tomorrow!
@SibfordOxon
@SibfordOxon
Junior School Newsletter Friday 31 January 2020
As if all of this wasn’t busy enough, we also managed to squeeze in a busy Open Morning to end the week! A big thank you to the Year 5 and 6 pupils who did such a wonderful job acting as guides for our visitors. After this we’ll just have time for a spot of lunch and an early games lesson for Key Stage 2 before we begin our extended STEM fortnight Celebration Evening – for those of you who are coming, please note the earlier start time of 3:30 and the change of venue to the dining room. If you are unable to make the Celebration Meeting do pop into the main corridor to look at all the various displays of the things we’ve been doing. Next week, alongside working on our Eco-Classroom projects we’ve also got hockey, rugby and cross-country fixtures – another exciting week! I hope you all have a wonderful weekend; enjoy the first weekend of the 6 Nations and “come on England!” as they take on France! In friendship Edward Rossiter Head of Junior School PS. Did you know that, although the famous first flight at Kitty Hawk took place on December 17, 1903, the secretive Wright Brothers did not demonstrate the technology to the broader public until August 8, 1908?
@SibfordOxon
@SibfordOxon
FOUNDATION AND RECEPTION
#SibfordJSSTEM has continued to weave a wonderful thread through our learning this week. On Monday we used the extra apples we had in our fruit bowls to make Apple Pie Swirls (AKA Apple Dappy). The Science of changing materials, and using maths to help us measure and time, gave us a lovely link to STEM. On Tuesday we had a wonderful visit from Peter Walford to tell us all about our eyes and how lenses work. The children all went home desperate to find some glasses to clean with their new clothes and skills. On Wednesday it was the Vertical Learning Day where it was a joy to watch the older children supporting the little ones with their learning and to see how engaged and motivated the children remained throughout the whole morning. On Thursday we had a visit from ‘Pop Pops’ AKA Peter Samain/Lottie’s Grandfather who showed us some very exciting tools. We loved the one used to make straight lines in chalk! On Friday we finally had the chance to play with the new crates and planks we have had delivered and engineer our own constructions.
YEAR 1 AND 2 Pirates mostly spend their time sailing the seas and looking from eye level, however KS1 have been looking as the crow flies and aerial views. They looked at how to find clues in one picture to match it to an aerial view, spotting key landmarks and features to help them. Amongst the busy moments of various STEM activities this week, Year 1 and 2 have found time to have calm. Relaxing in front of an underwater meditation scene, they investigated how to make different tones and shades of blues using paints, crayons and pencils. This then helped them to decide how to start their final underwater artwork, then using different materials to layer on top to create seaweed, coral and rocks. Finally creating an array of colour collaged fish and other marine life to bob in amongst it all. They enjoyed reading a new story in their English this week ‘The Night Pirates’; working in pairs they sequenced the story in the correct order as Becca Edwards had unhelpfully muddled it all up. This then helped them to think about how to re-write the story as a Big Write later in the week. The children in Year 1 and 2 are always quick to answer maths challenges as they line up but realised that using simple number bonds can help with addition and subtraction, working to the nearest multiple of 10 to find the answer. In their RE they made links between the story of Jonah and the Whale and their marine based topic and the important lesson of compassion and how we can use this in our daily life.
YEAR 3
Green screen has come a long way since Lawrence Butler won an academy award for his special effects in a 1940 film. Back then, the process was quite complex. All it takes today is an app on your iPad and a simple green cloth or even a roll of green paper. In Year 3 we learned how to use this technique which allowed us to combine two and even three images together. We decided to impose dinosaurs into still photos. We also had a go at putting ourselves into some very unusual prehistoric situations.  In Geography we looked at data to answer some questions to do with Oceans. Looking at a grapy we could tell that the Pacific Ocean is the largest Ocean and the smallest is the Arctic Ocean. Looking at a chart we discovered the Pacific Ocean has the deepest point on earth at the Mariana Trench – 10,911m, that is the same as nearly 2000 double decker buses!
YEAR 4 It has been another busy week for 4KS with stimulating STEM activities interwoven between our other learning. I was very impressed with the class during the Vertical Learning Morning, immersing themselves in the different tasks, working well with the younger children and thriving on the challenges presented to them. We took some time at the start of the week to remember Holocaust Memorial Day. We talked about events that have happened in the past, when people were treated badly. This is so that we can learn from them and make sure they do not happen again. This led onto a discussion about Anne Frank, so we looked briefly at her story and tried to imagine the situation she was in and how she would have felt. We continued to look at circuits in Science. The children firstly predicted whether different materials were going to be conductors or insulators. We tested out coins, paper, fabric, glass, paperclips, wood, rubber and wool and captured our findings in a table. Later in the week we found out that play-doh is a conductor too. We started to look at ‘list poems’ in English. The children read and compared some poems - looking at their structure and spotting similes, rhyming patterns and alliteration. They then composed their own poem, choosing their favourite lines to put towards a collaborative 4KS list poem. Finally, do ask your children about the exciting Eco Classroom Challenge!
YEAR 5 This week has been even busier than last! We have packed in a range of interesting STEM talks, from the intricacies of atomic spectrometry to learning about Formula One. A definite highlight of the week was a talk from Jonathan Walford about his work as an optician. We learned about the workings of the human eye, experimented with a range of different lenses, and even had the opportunity to handle a contact lens. The children couldn’t believe that something so small could do the job of a much larger lens, and also had a great time testing their durability (tearing them up into tiny pieces)! On Wednesday, we took part in a Vertical Learning Morning, where the children completed four activities in their house groups, each one focussing on improving our awareness of building a sustainable future. On Thursday, we took part in a workshop led by visitor Peter Samain to introduce the Eco Classroom Challenge. This will take place over the next two weeks and will involve the children exploring the energy usage and sustainability of our school and considering ways in which we might improve this in order to be more environmentally friendly and protect our planet for future generations. In other news, Year 5 boys took part in a hockey tournament at New College Oxford, Kids Marathon continues to keep us all fit and healthy and our cardboard chair challenge is nearing completion. Do look out for updates on Twitter – we have posted lots more pictures for you to enjoy.
YEAR 6 We have been going STEM-tastic in Year 6 again this week. We have been treated to a variety of talks and taken part in various exciting activities and experiments. Wednesday was the highlight, with the Junior School Vertical Learning Morning. The Year 6 children proved themselves to be excellent at helping the younger children, showing initiative and taking responsibility. We also took advantage of the lovely weather to literally ‘get stuck in’ by the raised beds. We have been looking at the life and work of John Constable and have tried to sketch and paint our own rural landscapes. As part of RE, we have looked at the story of Moses, and this week focussed on the Ten Commandments. Some children wrote their own ‘Commandments for a happy school’. Here are some of Evie’s, Hanne-Lydia’s and Charlotte’s: Listen to the teachers Work hard and try your best Bring Alice Pennell biscuits Respect other people’s opinions Have a positive attitude If something is wrong, tell someone Don’t stress about something that can be solved Don’t leave anyone out Be honest and polite Always be kind to everyone
DISCOVERY AWARD STORIES
The pupils participating have come to the end of the first term and the first two themes of this year’s Discovery Award. From September to Christmas the children focussed on “Letting their life speak” (looking at supporting and addressing local issues) and “Living adventurously” (learning a new skill). Below is Lucy's story: As part of 'letting her life speak', Lucy organised and ran a cake sale at one of her Brownies meetings in late November, at which she raised an amazing £44 by herself for the Katharine House Hospice here in Banbury. Family donations topped it off to £60, and Lucy visited the hospice to drop the money off to the fundraising officer Nina Baker, who explained how all donations - big and small keep the lights on every day.
OTHER NEWS Sport Reports U9 Netball match v Kitebrook at home. Won 3-2 On Tuesday afternoon, the girls wrapped up warm to face both the biting winds and netball skills of Kitebrook. In very chilly conditions the girls quickly got to grips with their positions and put in great effort from the first whistle. Throughout the match, marking and speed of passing improved. There was some super shooting from our attackers, with a fantastic long distance shot from Emma not even touching the hoop! We will continue to work on ensuring we are using the full width of the court, making space to create more opportunities. The pressure was on in the final quarter, but not only did the girls manage to hold onto the 2-2 score line, they went one better and secured a goal to snatch a well-deserved victory – well done everyone! Player of the match: Evie U9 Football match v Kitebrook at home. Well done to all year 3 & 4 boys who played in the football match on Tuesday against a very strong Kitebrooke team. Sibford battled hard throughout the match and it was great to see lots of enjoyment and improvement throughout the match. Our goals were scored by Jack and January transfer window signing Connor. U11 Hockey (boys) v New College School – A On Tuesday two U11 hockey teams travelled to a very cold but sunny Oxford to take on New College. For many of the boys it was their first experience of a competitive game with the stick in hand and this was reflected in the results. However, the boys showed a marked improvement as the afternoon went on and we are looking forward to hosting New College for return fixtures next Tuesday.
OTHER NEWS Charity update – Australian Non-Uniform Day and Cake Sale – Friday, 17th January Through the Australian non-uniform day and cake sale, we raised the fantastic sum of £317.89. This total includes the money raised by Thomas, Y5 (£41.62) from his Lemonade Stall and will be added to the WIRES total. The money raised from non-uniform day and the cake sale will be split between the following charities, all doing fantastic work for the ongoing work needed to support the relief efforts linked to the Australian bushfires: - The New South Wales Rural Fire Service - The Salvation Army (Australia) - The New South Wales Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service (WIRES) Thank you for all your support with cakes and donations and to Thomas. Les Misérables School Edition Tickets for the Sibford School production of Les Misérables School Edition are now on sale and selling well. Performances take place at 7pm on March 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th. You can purchase tickets online via this link for the price of £8 + booking fee: http://bit.ly/SibfordLesMis. Alternatively, tickets are now on sale via main reception for the price of £8. We can accept cash or cheques made payable to Sibford School.
OTHER NEWS
Sibford School Fun in the Country Holiday Club! The Sibford School Fun in the Country holiday club is now taking bookings for 2020 school holidays in February, April, May, July/August and October. The club runs for ages 5 – 11 and costs £30 per child per day. Children can be dropped off between 8.30am and 9.10am. Collection should be between 4.30pm and 5.30pm. Activities include art, crafts, forest school, swimming sessions, climbing, team games, sports and outdoor play. The number of children per day is restricted so early booking is recommended. To book, click here: https://www.sibfordschool.co.uk/fun-in-the-country/. PSFA MAY BALL - TICKETS NOW ON SALE A Night on the Orient Express’ May Ball is being held on Saturday 9 May 2020 and bookings are now open! Tickets are £65 each, and are excellent value for what promises to be a fantastic night, including reception drink and canapés, formal 4 course meal with coffee, live music, live and silent auction, and as always, some surprises on the night! The event is supporting another fantastic charity this year, Blue Skye Thinking (you can find out more about them here: www.blueskyethinking.org), as well as raising funds for PSFA to support projects within the school. If you would like to book a table or tickets (we can do tables of any number between 8-12) please email Heidi Fowler at psfa@sibfordschool.co.uk. In previous years tickets have sold out so do book early to avoid disappointment.
Junior School Newsletter Friday 31 January 2020
DATES FOR THE DIARY
The official newsletter of
El Dorado High School teachers
@SibfordOxon
@SibfordOxon
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