Latest News
Keep up to date with all the latest news happening in school at the moment.
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Christingle Service
Fri 04 Dec 2020This morning we met together as a whole school (virtually) like we do every Friday morning but it was extra special today as we had our Christingle Service.
Each class had a representative who made their class Christingle whilst I was making one for our whole school. The children listened intently as I explained why this service goes ahead each year but to be honest we wouldn't expect anything less from our children, as they are always so respectful and committed to listening and responding appropriately in occasions such as these.
I explained that in the past, on Christmas Eve, Christians passed lighted candles around to children, however now these candles have been replaced by the ‘Christingle’. The idea of a Christingle originally came from Bishop Johannes de Watteville way back in 1747, as a simple way to explain the happiness of knowing Jesus. The Children’s Society revived the idea and introduced it to Britain over 50 years ago now, as a way of shining a light on our vulnerable young people. It is now a popular, much-loved family event for Christians. Christingle means ‘Christ – Light’ and represents Jesus being ‘the light of the World’. Christingle celebrations can take many different forms from a large church service to a school assembly. We included songs and prayers too. Children in Years 2-6 passed around the lit Christingle whilst they listened to the calming songs - a little awe and wonder for them all as they shared a magical moment together.
I am hoping our children will be able to explain to you all what each part of the Christingle represents but in case our younger children get a little muddled..... the orange represents our world, the lighted candle - is for Jesus, the Light of the World, the red ribbon is the blood and love of Christ, and the dried fruit and sweets on 4 cocktail sticks are to represent the four seasons and the fruits of the Earth such as love, food, water, family, beautiful landscapes, etc - all God's gifts to everyone.
Our children had time to reflect for hope, wonder and peace as well as enjoy the excitement of the service.
Some of our children may like to make a Christingle with you at home and here are the links to the special music we played alongside as we lit them.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWCG6IiCAQI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9M8SmWh2Fo
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A new exciting addition for our EYFS classrooms
Thu 03 Dec 2020Our EYFS children can't wait to play in this magnificent new role play area we have for them. Mr Quilter practiced popping it up in our music and drama room yesterday and he is going to transfer it in sections to the children's classroom after school on Friday so it is all fixed and ready for our super children on Monday. We hope that you all love it. I know other year groups including the adults are mightily envious!
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A fun Advent Assembly by Rev Tim Dennis
Mon 30 Nov 2020The simple but fun Advent assembly is available for download from https://www.dropbox.com/s/atednxwfe30b5vt/Advent%20Assembly.mp4?dl=0.
It's by the (Rev) Tim Dennis, the Curate over in Winklebury, and he's kindly made it available for other schools to use.
Thank you Reverend Tim
Enjoy children.
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Year 2 visitors
Thu 26 Nov 2020Year 2 have been very lucky over the last couple of weeks to have two virtual visitors.
We were first joined by the fire service over video calling who gave a really engaging presentation about the importance of being safe with fire. We learnt some catchy songs to remind us of the rules and they even showed us their uniform. We then used this knowledge to think about the difference between the fire service now and the one in 1666. We were really pleased we were able to still chat with the fire service, despite the current situation.
We then had a virtual visit from Warburtons who gave us an insight into how the bread is made. Through the video call she gave us a demonstration of each stage and showed us how we could also make our own bread. We learnt about how the Warburton factory works and all the important roles they have their. We then thought about how different this would be to how the bread was made in the bakery in pudding lane.
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Perform - Year 1 and 2
Mon 23 Nov 2020Today Year 1 and 2 had an exciting session with Perform. Today the drama session was action packed, as the children had to rescue the Fairy Tale Story book from the wicked Red Queen! The Funky Fairy helped the children along the journey, where the children had to use fairy flying dust and ride a unicorn! Thankfully the mission was successful and the book is now back in the safe hands of the Funky Fairy. A great team effort. Which part of the session was your favourite?
The children in Year 1 and 2 will be bringing home more information on how they can attend Perform.
Key Stage 1 Team
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Year 4 Ancient Greek Day
Thu 19 Nov 2020What a brilliant day in Year 4! It all started with admiring all of the wonderful outfits - well done and thank you everyone for your effort. We then got into character and creating some Medusa gorgon inspired masks using collage skills. Each one was different and everyone could explain their design.
After a chilly break time in our outfits (Sandals were not made for a cold November day!), we then heard the news that Zeus was retiring as King of the Gods. We each designed our own new God or Goddess that we think could rule the Gods based on what we have learnt about them so far. Many were quite powerful, bad tempered and scary characters. Others were kind natured with interesting powers. Whilst this was going on, the children were called into the kitchen to start cooking. They contributed to the making of Lamb kebabs, flatbreads, tzatziki and a Greek salad. There was chopping of onions, sprinklings of mint and grating of cucumber happening in the kitchen and the smell filled the corridor of the entire school.
After lunch, we were then given a role within Greek society. Some of us were Greek women, some were scholars, warriors, slaves or Olympians. We read a range of information about our group and then had to convince everyone in the class why we were the most integral, key part of Greek society. This really tested our skills of justification.
Finally, we finished the day with enjoying a plate of the delicious food that Year 4 prepared. Miss Rogers even popped down to have a taste - she had a big smile on her face as she left with her plate. Everyone was really bold when it came to trying something new and we were again really impressed with how polite and sensible everyone was. Perhaps you will try cooking some of this food for your family at home?
We had a brilliant day and loved every minute. Enjoy looking at the pictures.
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Year 1 Food Festival!
Thu 19 Nov 2020This morning, Year 1 had their fantastic Food Festival! They tried different foods from an array of countries such as France, Italy and China. The children were very brave and tasted all of the foods - many of which they loved! It was great that all the children had the opportunity to try something new.
The children also read festival books, and together, we learned even more about festivals from around the world.
Another great day, another memory made. Well done Year one!
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Year 3 Play in a Day
Wed 18 Nov 2020On Monday Ben from the Treehouse Theatre visited to complete a Victorian Play in a Day with Hazel and Hawthorn Class. Although the structure of the day was slightly different this year, the Treehouse Theatre worked hard to give the children a great experience, as with any other year. Children worked in small groups to understand more about the variety of Victorian characters within the play, including chimney sweeps, coal miners and richer families. All children had a line to practise and perform before putting the parts together to produce a scene of the play. These scenes were then recorded so that we can watch them back as a whole play! We are looking forward to doing this in the next couple of weeks.
It was great to be able to create this play as it not only linked with our Victorian theme but also our recent English learning about play scripts and their structure.
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Christmas Wishes shared with Tesco
Tue 17 Nov 2020Recently our children thought carefully about what they are wishing for this Christmas carefully considering the year we have had as a nation. Some of our children's thoughts are really lovely.
They have been placed on stars which have been made into trees and these are now proudly displayed on the windows of the main Tesco store in Chineham.
It would be lovely if you get to have a peek when you are next in the area with your family.
Thank you GBP children for contributing, the teachers and LSAs for popping the trees together and for Mrs Harvey and Miss O'Hagan for displaying them this morning.
A real team effort once again and it will bring smiles to many as they stop to read them.
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Appreciating nature in our area and how happy it makes us all feel!
Mon 16 Nov 2020Today for our assembly, we were celebrating the fact that we live in a wonderful part of the world and how experiencing nature is really good for our wellbeing.
One of our local Chineham residents Darren Burton is a photographer and he has been posting some superb photographs on the local Chineham Community Noticeboard of when he has been out and about with his trusty camera. I had to share these superb shots with our children here at GBP in the hope they would be inspired to continue exploring their local area even now the weather has got cold and grotty.
The children were blown away with the beauty of each photograph I shared this morning and they gave a huge 10/10 for his work. I reminded them all that Darren would have had to be patient and wait for long time to get some of the shots and he would have had to sift through lots of them before deciding on what he thought were best. He would have had to use a lot of our growth mindset strategies. Many of the children were agreeing they were going to take their cameras out the next time they ventured out with their parents on a local walk. I have challenged our GBP children to post their best picture onto Seesaw so we can have a gallery share in the future.
Thank you for inspiring us Mr Burton. Our children loved your work - seeing them in awe, getting excited and be thankful of the area we live in was priceless this morning!
