INSPIRE A GENERATION Thursday 8th November was a very exciting 'Olympic Day' at Burley Oaks. The children were given opportunities to find out about the Olympics from those who were directly involved. In the morning, we were joined by Team GB gymnast, Matthew Firth. The children completed a sponsored fitness circuit with him. Money raised (an outstanding ÂŁ1700) was split between the charity 'Action for Children', funding for Team GB athletes and our school. After the circuits, Matthew wowed everyone with his gymnastic skills including an amazing diving forward roll over five very worried teachers! At the end there was a chance to ask Matthew some questions about his inspiration and the commitment and dedication it takes to become an international gymnast and to maintain such a high standard of performance. In the afternoon, we were joined by six more professional athletes. They gave the children an inspirational snapshot of their lives, talking about the single-minded approach they have to their careers, as well as explaining the life style choices that they have to make.
Bradford City Players: Nakhi Wells, Kyle Reid, Will Atkinson, Ritchie Jones
International Sprinter: Umah Hameed
Team GB Diver: Matti Lee
We were also joined by three other guests who had important roles to play within the Olympics:
Opening Ceremony Organiser: Andy Flood
Olympic Torch Bearer: Margaret Cook
Games Maker: Emily Corbett
LIFE ON THE HOME FRONT War broke out in Year 3/4 - well not quite but the pupils have thoroughly embraced their Autumn topic: Life in Britain during WW2. A highlight of this project was a visit to Murton Park, York. The children arrived as evacuees and were greeted by the evacuation coordinator from the local branch of the WVS. During the day the children carried out a range of activities including baking on a ration and „make-do-and-mend‟ tasks. They discovered first hand just how much work was involved on wash day and helped the local farmer by cleaning tack. They also learnt from the local ARP warden the dos and don‟ts of air raid precautions, gas mask drill and how to deal with a fire bomb in a range of practical activities. The role play, craft activities and scenarios helped create a realistic and unforgettable experience for our children.
LET IT SHINE In September we held another of our fantastic 'Shine' afternoons. It offers the chance for children from across the year groups to work together. There is a wide variety of different opportunities ranging from the sporting, to the creative to the unusual! This year the options included:
Muffin Making
Cross Stitch
Dodgeball
'Wicked' Singing
WHO SOLD ALL THE CAKES? Well done to our year 6 pupils Bethany, Rhiannon, Megan and Lucy who spent a morning at the Parish Centre helping run a cake stall on behalf on Burley Rotary Club. They worked extremely hard to raise ÂŁ444 for Children in Need.
HARVEST Two Harvest assemblies were held in a packed school hall with the children sharing their harvest work and entertaining the parents with their singing. A huge collection of food was brought in and this was distributed to Bradford Soup Run, Keighley Salvation Army and St George's Crypt, Leeds.
ACTION PACKED THREE DAYS In October our Year 6 pupils experienced the immensely popular and action-packed three day residential trip at Robinwood, Todmorden. The children stay in the fabulous buildings and grounds of Dobroyd Castle. As the timetable shows below it is a non-stop, fulfilling and challenging experience from the moment of arrival until the children leave. A firm favourite with the children is “Piranha Pool” which resembles a scene from the Crystal Maze. The children enter a room and the door is locked and the key posted through a box. The children have 40 minutes to solve the problems which lead to the key being released. If the door is still locked after 40 minutes, guess what is released into the pool of water?! And it is perhaps no surprise that the children are left on the wrong side! We all returned (despite being very tired!) with new-found skills, increased confidence, stronger relationships and new friendships. All of the children threw themselves into the activities and challenged themselves in testing situations. These experiences also develop many vital “Learn to Learn” skills: communication, teamwork, perseverance and independence.
Obstacle Course 9:00am
Giant Swing 10:20am
Raft Building 1:00pm
Lunch 11:50am
Breakfast 7:40am
Quest 1:00pm
Climbing 9:00am
Caving 2:40 pm
Night Line 3:50 pm
Zipwire 2:10pm
Dungeon of Doom 10:10am
Crate Challenge 4:50pm
Canoeing 3:40pm
Archery 11:20am
Evening Meal 6pm
Welcome Meeting & Lunch
Lunch 12:30pm
Team Challenge
Piranha Pool 6:10pm
Departure Meeting and walk to coach
Showers
Breakfast 7:40am
Walk to Centre
Evening Meal 5pm
Arrive 10:20am
Showers
TIMETABLE
Depart 2:00pm
Review of the Day
Trapeze 7:40pm
In Bed 10pm
Review of the Day
In Bed 10pm
IGNITING WRITING - WALK ONCE A WEEK We are very committed to the 'Walk Once a Week' (WoW) National Initiative which encourages our children to walk to school. Each day the children record who has walked to school. At the end of the week the class with the most pedestrians wins the 'Golden Wellie'! On a monthly basis, every child that has walked at least once each week is rewarded with a collectable WoW badge. We used the launch of the new scheme as the inspiration for our “Igniting Writing” days. For three days, the whole school used “Walk Once a Week” as the purpose for their writing. Writing was produced to persuade people to walk, to inform people on road safety, and to discuss whether walking to school is a good idea. Poetry beautifully illustrated what might be seen on the walk to school. As always the children were enthusiastic, engaged and were able to produce fantastic work.
LIGHT UP BURLEY Our school choir helped the village celebrate the switch on of the Burley lights. The choir entertained the crowds with a number of festive songs. Every class helped to make decorations for a Christmas tree in the Methodist Church. It is one of 16 trees decorating the church over Christmas. As this edition is being written, the school is busy in the build up to Christmas. By the time we have broken up on Thursday 20th December there will have been: o o o o o o o o o
Reception Nativity KS1 Christmas Performance KS2 Carol Concert Sing for Shelter Buddy Craft Afternoon Christmas Parties Christmas Charity Fund Raiser Year 4 carol performance to the Hockney Group School choir performance with Ilkley Choral Society
CUDDLES THE CHICKEN FLIES IN We had a very unusual visitor to our assembly in October when we were joined by 'Cuddles the Chicken' from West Yorkshire Animals in Need Charity. Every child entered a painting competition to help raise funds, 'Cuddles' was on hand to give out the prizes. We raised a total of ÂŁ350.
FAMILY MEALS This term we have set up some 'Family Meal Times'. 400 children eating their lunch in just over an hour can be a very tricky task and due to this does not allow the full social element that we would like. 'Family Meal Times' is an opportunity for the children to sit with their class friends and adults, enjoy their meal and to enjoy each othersâ€&#x; company. It is also the opportunity for us to promote some of the values of a family meal, such as conversation, helping to serve and clearing away, manners and politeness.
"OH I DO LIKE TO BE BESIDE THE SEASIDE" In September Year 5/6 went on a trip to Whitby. The aim was to discover Whitby in preparation for the theme lessons on the town. It was a great day with the children seeing the abbey, crabbing, going to the amusements, walking the 199 steps, strolling along the pier, seeing the Captain Cook and Whale Arch momuments and not forgetting a fish and chip tea.
OUT OF SCHOOL CLUBS AND TOURNAMENTS Our school has offered a wide range of clubs and tournaments in which the children have the opportunity to participate during the term. Clubs available this term have been: yoga; cross country; football; tennis; multiskills; dodgeball; choir; African drumming and art. Another club available for the first time this term has been 'Code Club'. Our club is run by a very talented computer programmer called Jamie Van Dyke. He is a volunteer who gives up his free time to teach a group of year 5/6 pupils the basics of coding. Coding is the language used to create computer programs. Our pupils are using it to create their own games – which will be available to play on our website later in the year. We have also taken part in a variety of inter-school tournaments competing in football, dodgeball, handball, netball and cross country. A big “Well Done!” to all the children for the skill, effort and team spirit they have shown in these events. Huge thanks also go to our staff who regularly offer up their own free time to allow these clubs and events to take place.
CHURCH VISITS As part of their 'New Beginnings' topic in RE, year 3/4 visited various churches in our local community. In each church they were shown what happens in a baptism to then compare the ceremonies. They visited the Methodist Church, Salem Church, St Mary's Church and St John Fisher and St Thomas More Catholic Church.
Our School Choir also visited Bradford Cathedral to take part in a gospel workshop to help celebrate Delius' 200th anniversary.
BRUNEL EXHIBITION Year 2 invited their parents and grandparents into school to share their work and learning about Isambard Kingdom Brunel. They were able to see writing, art work and design technology all linked to Brunel.
LEARN TO ROCK Walk into our school on a Tuesday afternoon and you won't be met by silence! Our Year 5s have been given a brilliant opportunity to further develop their musical skills. Currently we offer lots of opportunities for children to learn 'classical' instruments in school. We are now expanding our music curriculum in collaboration with „Learn to Rockâ€&#x;, who brought some secondary school students to showcase their skills by performing to our pupils as well as offering an evening performance to parents. Learn to Rock now runs for all our Year 5 children who by the end of the year will have experienced electric guitar, bass guitar, keyboard and drum lessons. We now offer individual lessons as well as group sessions in these instruments.
RED HOT MAGNA DAY Magna Science and Adventure Centre was the destination for a Year 1/2 trip. The trip helped to enhance the teaching and learning of their 'Materials' theme. Four areas were visited by the children: Earth, Air, Water and Fire. This interactive, hands-on learning was linked to steelmaking and considered the environmental, technological and industrial impacts humans have made. Whilst at the centre the children watched the interactive 'Kitchen Sink Show'. It took them on a journey around the kitchen where they looked at the curious, messy, slimy world of the materials and objects of everyday life.
BUSY RECEPTION The fun and learning in Reception just never stops! Highlights have included planting bulbs with Habitat Heroes, making dice to go with dice games made at home, creating Diwali pots out of clay, apple bobbing and a 'Wellie Walk'.