Sunday 28 June 2015

Monday 29th June

June 2015
Mon 29th
 Sports Day
Tue 30th
 No swimming for Year 3. Pre Prep and Year 2 will swim as normal.
July 2015
Wed 1st
 Golf @ Oakmere
Thu 2nd
 Upper school swimming gala
Fri 3rd
 PrePrep to Brackenhurst
 Y5/6 Netball Finals

Don't forget to bring some money for ice cream on Monday.  The weather forecast is good so it might be useful to have extra drinks and sun tan cream.


Sunday 21 June 2015

Monday 22nd June

June 2015
Mon 22nd
 ISA National Athletics
 Under 9 cricket v Highfields (away match) 2.15p.m.
 Year 2 Assembly
 Prizegiving Rehearsals Years3456 4-5pm
Tue 23rd
 
Wed 24th
 Under 11 cricket v Highfields (away match) 2.15
 Golf @ Oakmere
Thu 25th
 ISA Under 11 rounders - Dixie Grammar School
Fri 26th
 House Cross Country

Good luck to William, James and Joshua who are representing the Midlands at the National Athletics Championship on Monday.


Thursday 18 June 2015

Cranedale 2015 Day 4

Cranedale 2015  
Day 4 
Breakfast - The children were looking tired this morning but still managed to fill up on a choice of cereal, toast, juice, bacon, sausage, egg, beans and hash browns. 

We spent the first part of the morning returning to the traps we set last night.  There was a moth trap and five small mammal traps - all humane.  From these traps we managed to catch the sum total of one moth!  Luckily, we happen to find a moth sitting on a wheelbarrow next to the moth trap.  Ellie was terrified - I think she thought the moth was mocking us.  

Today's main focus was adaptation.  The children spent most of the day on the North Yorkshire Moors.  This included a two mile walk over various terrain and a river study.  Louis and Benjamin were dressed up as a carnivore and prey.  The children had to equip them with various adaptations to survive in the wild.  Louis has sharp teeth, large flippers and an increased lung function.  Benjamin had a wooly hat and two feather dusters.  Who said science was dull! 

Lunch was eaten at the side of a stream and the children had a variety of sandwiches, fruit and a cookie about the size of a football.   

After the river study, the children made their way back up the valley and discovered an ancient burial site which Harry thought was a toilet.  I think this was due to the fact that there was so much sheep droppings there.   

Toilets were very much the main topic of conversation on the moors today.  This is due to the lack of them.  They boys were fully prepared to have a "wild wee" at every opportunity.  The girls took the camel approach and rationed their fluid intake for the entire afternoon.   

The last game of the afternoon was called "Fox and Grouse".  The object of the game is to avoid being eaten by the fox.  The best defence is to hide in the heather.  Harmoni's decision to wear a bright pink jumper meant that she was eaten pretty quickly whilst Joe's darker attire proved more successful.  

Evening meal 
Starter: Tomato soup 
Main: Roast pork, roast potatoes, stuffing, peas, carrots, gravy and apple sauce 
Dessert: Chocolate sponge cake and cream 
Cheese and biscuits 

The children spent the evening using microscopes to look closely at some of the creatures captured in the river.  This will be followed with the last opportunity to purchase some high quality gifts from the shop although some may prefer to buy a load of sweets instead. 

Wednesday 17 June 2015

Cranedale 2015 Day 3

Cranedale 2015 
Day 3 

Breakfast - cereals, toast, cooked breakfast, croissant, fruit, yogurt and juice. 

Most of the day was spent at a local farm.  The children were given a guided tour of the farm by Ruth the farmer.  Ruth's family have farmed in the area for many years.  The farm is a mixed farm.  They grow mostly barley and wheat.  They also rear cattle.  The cattle are English long horns.  They are very popular with top quality chefs who pay extra for their matured beef.  The children were fascinated with the cows and had many questions for Ruth who answered them all - very honestly.  The children now know the difference between a bull, steer, heifer and cow.  The should also be able to instantly tell by looking where Ruth instructed them to. 

After the tour, the children looked closely at the insect population at the farm.  Louis rocked some funky dance moves in an attempt to charm some worms.  Ellie and Abbie were very good at finding a whole range of creepy-crawlies but were not so keen on capturing them.  All the results were carefully logged and were used later to compare habitats. 

We had the first appearance of rain at lunchtime.  Not a bad record for Cranedale.  Hopefully, that is the last we shall see of the wet stuff.  The forecast is promising and we should remain dry for the rest of the week.   

Lunch was a variety of sandwiches, hula hoops, fruit, biscuits, yogurt and chocolate sponge.  No prizes for guessing which was the most popular.  Harry declared it the best cake ever and no one disagreed. 
The afternoon was spent back at the centre.  The insect population was observed in the field next to the centre.  Louis' worm dance was far more successful.  Hari was soon making some shapes and over thirty worms foolishly popped their heads above the surface. 

After all the dancing, the children needed a rest.  Not really an option at Cranedale.  They were sorted into five groups and began creating some environmental art.  Louis and Hari created a triceratop exo-beetle.  Ellie and Gaya made a transforming bug called a GayEE.  All of the creations were judged equal and it was soon time to make our way back to the centre. 

Miss V was not convinced about the bathing habits of the group.  There was certainly an aroma at the farm and I'm not convinced that it was just the cows.  All the group were sent off to the showers and the aroma disappeared.   

Evening meal  
Starter - Vegetable soup 
Main - Jacket potato, curry, cheese, beans, sausage and salad 
Dessert - Apple pie and ice cream 

This evening will be spent dissecting owl pellets.  "I've found some brain tissue" - Benjamin,  "I've found a jaw!" - Harmoni. 
We are then going to set off outside to set some traps.  We are hoping to capture some moths and small mammals.  We will return to them in the morning and see what we have got. 


Tuesday 16 June 2015

Cranedale 2015 Day 2

Cranedale 2015  
Day 2 

Breakfast - Each day the children are given the option of four main breakfast.  1.  Beans on toast, 2. Toasted teacake, 3.  Bacon/sausage sandwich or 4.  The full monty (sausage, egg, bacon, beans and hash brown).  Most choose option 4 but then regret it after they realise they can also eat cereal, fruit, yoghurt, toast and croissant.  It takes a very hearty appetite to eat all that.  Hari informed me that he was not a breakfast person.  Harmoni tried to agree although it was hard to tell what she was saying with a sausage in her mouth. 

Last night, everyone was asleep by 9.30pm!  This is very unusual for a first night away.  This sensible approach to sleep did mean that the children were up and ready to go.  It also meant that they were able to take a full and active part in all the activities without feeling tired. 

Most of today has been spent at the beach.  Flamborough Head is a superb location to study coastal erosion.  There are wonderful examples of caves, arches, stacks and stumps.  There is also a large wave cut platform which provides a perfect location to hunt for sealife in the rock pools.  Louis became attached to a lage piece of wrinkly kelp which he decided must mean it is old and needed looking after.  The children had written their own song to help them remember the different types of erosion and performed it on the beach.  It was very popular and even drew the attention of some GCSE pupils who were also on the beach. 
The weather was sunny all morning and sun tan cream was applied liberally.  Even so, there were one or two pink face especially the staff who had forget to bring something important with them! 

Lunch was eaten in the only available shade we could find.  Benjamin finally took off his coat and Gaya managed to eat all her lunch including the three bananas she had somehow managed to bring with her.  

After lunch the children went for a walk along the coast and found a mythical creature.  FlamboroughSaurus is a sleeping dinosaur that has been shaped by the sea over many years.  It is a great location to sketch the landscape and a carefully drawn field sketch was produced by all.  Ellie, our resident artist, produced a piece of work that Constable would have been proud of.  Others were a little more abstract but will be a reminder of a very enjoyable day. 

Just up the road from Flamborough is Bempton Cliffs.  It is a RSPB managed nature reserve and a popular nesting place for many of our countries seabirds.  Josh, Joe and Harry were invaluable to the group.  Their knowledge and uncanny ability to spot a puffin was very much appreciated by everyone there.  A lady from Bath who was so impressed with the children's birdwatching skills that she promised to send photos of the puffins to the school office. 

Evening meal 
Starter - leek and potato soup 
Main - Chicken pasta, salad and garlic bread 
Dessert - Fruit crumble and custard. 
Cheese and biscuits 

The children are using ipads this evening to make their own stop motion movies.  The movies are going to show an example of a food chain.  Miss Venables has the popcorn ready and we will soon be able to reveal the next Steven Spielberg. 
More tomorrow.  Please tell everyone about the blog and share it with friends.