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(issue number 21)

Friday, 4th March 2016

Foundation Stage on World Book Day

Dear Parents, This week we have turned over a new leaf – or in fact many leaves - as we have immersed ourselves in Book Week. We began with staff sharing their favourite childhood books on Monday and some of the copies on show were the actual copies read by us as children and still treasured to this day. We have also had a strong focus on reading throughout the week with older children writing and reading stories to younger groups or hearing readers, as well as a whole school reading session on Wednesday morning (I’ve rarely heard such collective quiet!) A huge thank you goes to the various parents who came in to read stories to different year groups. It was a lovely experience for the children and very much appreciated by the staff. It also reinforced to the children that reading is something to be enjoyed, whatever your age, and not a chore. The big event however, was World Book Day itself. The children looked fabulous as their book characters; there was a mixture of old (Willy Wonka, the Snow Queen and Biggles) and new (Gangsta Granny, The Boy in the Dress and Alex Rider) as well as the now traditional smattering of Hogwarts residents! The staff also got in on the act, this year choosing to go with a Narnia theme (including the eponymous wardrobe itself!) During the day Foundation, Year 1 and Year 2 had a workshop with Curtis Jobling, creator of Bob the Builder and Raa-raa the Lion. He later spoke to Year 5 and 6 about his other novels all about werewolves – this included a lupine transformation of Bob himself! – as well as leading a creative writing workshop for some of the pupils. When these things weren’t happening, Key Stage 2 also travelled down to Jaffe and Neale to spend their Book Day vouchers and hear stories from the staff of the bookshop. Some of them even had their 15 minutes of fame with Mila, Catie and Maia interviewed live by BBC Oxford. In the run up, and during the week the children have had several activities and competitions to take part in, including Book Cover designs, Reading Challenges, the 500 word Short Stories and most improved reader, and we’ll be sharing some of those successes at Celebration Meeting this afternoon.

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At the start of the week the children in Foundation Stage listened to the story of Three Little Pigs. They then made the little pigs houses from junk modelling and Duplo. The children have enjoyed all the different activities that have taken place over book week. They have had lots of opportunities to listen to different stories read to them by Year 4 children and Heidi Morley who kindly came into class. The children have also started to rehearse for their performance at Celebration Meeting. This week Year 1/2 have enjoyed lots of extra stories from various visitors. They have compared different versions of the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. They imagined themselves as Baby Bear and wrote a letter to Goldilocks saying how cross they were with her! In Maths they have been looking at halves and quarters, odd and even numbers and using the x sign. They have made a start on learning songs for their class meeting. Meanwhile, Year 3 have been learning about the amazing ways in which dinosaur bones can become fossilised underground. They have also been looking at what we know about prehistoric humans of The Stone Age and The Bronze Age. To have a go at being archaeologists, Year 3 dug a trench to see what they could find. Unfortunately, they didn’t find any remnants of prehistoric life; only a bright red pencil, which one child described as being ‘a prehistoric pencil’. However, I think that a pencil lost by a recent Sibford child might be a more likely possibility! Year 4 continued to look at their class book: Zoo by Anthony Browne. When the children considered the arguments for and against zoos a very passionate discussion followed. In Geography, children studied the journey of a river and learned lots of new vocabulary. By Friday, it seemed appropriate to take the lesson outside and with the help of Jason Harris, Year 4 created and labelled their own model of the journey of a river near the Roundhouse. Children could see first-hand erosion, deposition and the forming of v-shaped valleys. What a great time Year 5 had yesterday on World Book Day! They came to school dressed as a wonderful selection of book characters, demonstrating what a lot of time and thought had gone into the preparations. A trip to the book shop got the day off to a great start, and then a really exciting and inspirational talk from Curtis Jobling. Suddenly the bunnies and hamsters so often written about in Year 5, took on a whole new persona, as Were-ferrets and Guinea-weres! Earlier in the week, preparations were made for Mother’s day, with cards and poems being drawn and written (remember to act surprised if you receive one – particularly if you’re a Dad!) They have got to the ‘sorting the costumes out’ part of their Meeting for Worship rehearsals. Please would the Queens make sure they have tights, and a plain t-shirt to wear under their costume. Sailors need an over large white shirt, and a dark Beanie hat. Servants need plain shirts and long skirts and flat shoes, and a feather duster if possible! Thank you. From the reporters: On Thursday 3rd March 2016 some people with amazing costumes were lucky enough to get interviewed by the BBC on World Book day. Year 3 to Year 6 went to the Jaffe & Neale book store for World Book day. Those who had amazing costumes were lucky enough to be interviewed by the BBC for the radio! The woman asked us what our costumes were, she also asked us how we choose books. Most people chose reading the blurb, but a few people chose looking at the front cover. Next she asked us what our favourite books were and why, we have no idea when this will be on the radio but it will be. (I think it went out live girls!) The people who were interviewed were; Maia Luxton, Catherine Harris-Harris and Mila Jabb. Hazel Sykes and Nick Hadley were interviewed about world book day too. Written by Maddie Bell and Maia Luxton.

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Celebration Meeting today was also an opportunity to say a very sad, but equally fond, farewell to Alice Goodman on her last day. During her four and a half years with us Alice has been a hugely popular figure with the children, especially those in Early Years. On top of this she has been the driving force behind setting up Forest School, which she has taught to all the year groups. This is often cited as one of their favourite lessons – a testament to Alice’s fun and nurturing approach. We will also sorely miss her expertise in teaching swimming – if not, perhaps, the occasional fire alarms set off by errant cooking mishaps! We wish her all the very best as she takes up the post of Deputy Manager of a nursery, but we have convinced her to stay on as the staff social secretary (a post she has made her own over the past two years!) so you may see her some more! In friendship. Edward Rossiter Assistant Head, Junior School Sibford School P.S. Did you know that the original names of the children in “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” were Ann, Martin, Rose, and Peter? Book Fair The Junior School Book Fair will now be held after the Easter holidays, from Tuesday, 26th April to 3rd May 2016. Sport Relief Day – Friday, 18th March 2016 Friday, 18th March is Sport Relief Day, please bring in a £1 and come dressed in your sports kit, as your sporting idol or in your favourite sport outfit. Meeting for Worship at Sibford Gower Meeting House – Friday, 11th March 2016 at 3.30pm On Friday, 11th March pupils, students and parents are invited to attend Meeting for Worship at Sibford Gower Meeting House (OX15 5RX) at 3.30-4pm. This is an opportunity for; those who are not able to attend on Sunday mornings; those who may not be familiar with Meeting for Worship or the local Meeting House; those who would like a little more time in their lives for reflection, or just for no other reason than you would like to join us! Please do come if you are able, all are welcome – In friendship – Zoe Connor. Junior School Swimming Club – Tuesday and Friday Mornings Just a reminder that there will be no morning swimming clubs w/c 7th March 2016. These clubs will recommence the following week. Crocus Concert – change of date Some of you may have been aware of the Crocus Concert the school is running in conjunction with the Rotary “End Polio Now” Campaign. This had been due to take place on the 11th March, but will now take place on Thursday 24th March (the last day of term). This means we will be finishing at the slightly later time of 4:15 on that day. Sports Fixtures On Tuesday we hosted the Sibford U11 Football and Netball tournaments. There were two boys’ teams taking part, with the B’s winning one match and narrowly losing three others. This did, though, include a “Goal of the Month” contender from Beau Kinser (he secretly admitted he wasn’t shooting, but I’ve told him he should always claim them if they’re that good!). The A’s performed very well in their group, winning two, losing narrowly in one and drawing with the eventual winners New College. The girls played well and came 2nd in the Tournament.

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Future Dates for your Diaries Tuesday, 8th March 2016 U11 Netball/Football Tournament vs Dormer House at Home at

1445 – 1600, followed by Match Teas

Wednesday, 9th March 2016 Early Years Open Afternoon – 1400 – 1530 1430 – 1700 U11 High Five Net Partnership Tournament – Home

followed by refreshments at the Pavilion at 4.30pm. Friday, 11th March 2016 Celebration Meeting, Year 5, Dining Hall at 3.40pm Sunday, 13th March 2016 to Wednesday, 16th March 2016 Years 5 and 6 Activities Week, Malvern Outdoor Elements Friday, 18th March 2016 Sport Relief Casuals Day – Pay £1 to come to school in sports kit.

Wear your team’s kit, dress for your favourite sport or come as your sporting idol!

Y5/6 ESSA Primary Team Championships – Swimming

Y3/4/5/6 Cross Country Great Egg Race – Kitebrook - Away Celebration Meeting, EYFS, Years 1/2, Dining Hall at 3.40pm.

Monday, 21st March 2016 to Thursday, 24th March 2016 STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) Week Thursday, 24th March 2016 3:45, Crocus Concert, Main Hall (school day finishes at 4:15)