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Junior News – 12 May 2023 |
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On the surface, tradition and modernity seem poles apart because of their different values. Advancement in science and technology of the modern world seems to have come as a challenge in some respects, to deep-rooted tradition. However, moving with the times and adapting to the changes around us is true modernity. With both the school’s 145th birthday and the Coronation of King Charles III in the last fortnight, we have been gifted opportunities to celebrate and respect history whilst also looking forward to a progressive future. |
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There are some who question the place traditions have in a modern society, but also those who argue respecting traditions is imperative to valuing our heritage and ensuring our future is successful. A balance of respecting tradition whilst meeting the demands of modernisation was a well reported challenge the coronation of King Charles III faced. Ensuring traditions are respected whilst enough adaptations are made to engage and satisfy the seek for progressiveness. It’s important to me that our girls learn about the past, appreciating its depth and valuing it as a source of learning and guidance but also recognising the importance of progress and modernisation. Striking this balance is important – never dismissive of traditions, yet open to progress and development. This weekend, I’d encourage you to have conversations with your daughters and share with them your own experiences at their age. Help them to make comparisons and to see progress in such a short span of time, before then considering what progress might look like for future generations. Miss Hair |
Dates for your Diary |
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Class Assemblies (8.35am unless specified): Other Trips: Key Dates: Father’s Day Breakfast: Friday 16 June (more information to follow) |
KS2 Forest School sessions: School Trips for this term: Swimming Watching Weeks and Galas: |
Junior School Sports Day Events |
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Junior School Sports Days this year will be held on the following dates: Nursery, Preschool and Reception – 7 June, 9.00 to 10.00am, to be held in Junior School. On arrival, please make your way to the Sports Field. All parents and families are welcome and we would love to see as many of you as possible cheering on your daughters. We look forward to welcoming you for a day of sporting fun! |
Upcoming Events and Notices |
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FIlm Night: Our next film night will be held on Monday 15 May from 3.30pm until 5.00pm and we will be showing two films: ‘Matilda the Musical (PG)’ and ‘A Bug’s Life (PG)’ You can secure your daughters place via ParentPay at a cost of £3. Holiday Club: If you wish your daughter to attend Holiday Club on any days from 30 May to 2 June, please could you book following this link. Thank you. Swap Shop: Our next Swap Shop events will be held on: Tuesday 23 May 3.00pm – 4.00pm in the Junior School Dining Room Friday 30 June 8.00am – 9.00am and 11.30am – 12.30pm in the Junior School Library |
Match Report: U9 Cricket vs Quinton House |
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We enjoyed our recent cricket match against Quinton House. When it was our turn to bat we did amazing! Although we could keep our eyes on the ball, we slipped way more when it started raining! However, when we bowled, we managed to deliver some very straight bowls and we ran someone out. As Quinton were fielding they played really well, and they managed to run us out as well. Our team scored lots of fours and some sixes, and we also got many, many ones and twos! I am really glad that our team managed to sneak in so many extra runs. I really enjoyed playing our match and we are so happy to be invited. Even though Quinton lost they did astonishing work, so a big well done to our opponents. It was a pleasure playing in the match – see you at the next one! Avani |
News from our classrooms: Nursery and Preschool |
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Our new friends are settling well into Nursery, and some experienced ballet with Miss Sinead for the first time! Apologies for the cornflour covered clothing! This activity was explored by every child and each one gained something different from it. Some used it to mark make, others scooped and poured, while some added other resources to use it for role play. On Thursday, we added water to the cornflour which provided yet another experience for us to explore. We introduced science to the girls by comparing the dry cornflour to the gloopy wet cornflour, showing the difference between solids and liquids. |
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This week in Preschool, we have been continuing with our interest in mini beasts by using clay to make different creatures. The children used their experience of finding slugs last Friday in Forest School to accurately make a clay model of one. Whilst making clay spiders, the children were able to draw on their mathematical knowledge to work out how many legs they needed to make at each stage of their creation. We have started to plant vegetable and herb seeds to extend our knowledge of how things grow and how food gets to our table. The life cycle of a seed is not our only interest in life cycles, as our book of the week is ‘The Very Hungry Caterpillar’. We read the book and then reinforced the children’s knowledge by watching a short video about the lifecycle of a butterfly. |
News from our classrooms: Reception |
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After another long weekend, we were pleased to hear all about what the class had been doing to celebrate the Coronation. The girls told us they saw the King getting his crown and the orb and sceptre. This week we have been inspired by the story ‘Doris the Loris’, and have learnt some names of other Rainforest animals, which we have researched and written about. In cooking, we made Lemon and Poppy seed cupcakes, with one group having a few too many poppy seeds. This proved to be a great learning lesson, showing that once ingredients are in the mix they can’t be taken out! |
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In Maths, we have been learning the number pattern of odd and even. We started by sharing out a number of fruits and if there was one left over, then we knew it was an odd number. We looked at the numicon and sorted the pieces into odd and even and then we each drew an alien, which had to have an odd number of body parts! Our mini beast focus has been the spider with eight legs and an even number of eyes up to eight! We have been looking out for webs which are all different, and very cleverly made by spiders. |
Headteacher’s recommendation for EYFS/ KS1 by Miss Hair |
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This week we thought we would share some of our favourite reads from each year group and the Junior School staff. Our first recommendation is written by Miss Hair:
Title: Everything possible Title: You have the power |
Year 1 Reading Focus |
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Title: Hairy Maclary from Donaldson’s Dairy |
Year 3 Reading Focus |
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Title: You’re a Bad Man, Mr Gum Why is this a good read for Year 3: Mr Gum is a delightfully nasty character who hates children, lives with a cantankerous fairy and maintains a perfect garden. The madcap, unlikely and achingly funny adventures will grab young readers attention. With short chapters, colourful descriptions and memorable language, this text is ideal for reluctant readers. Perfect for group reading, this is excellent text to help Year 3 pupils develop reading. Agnes R |
Year 4 Reading Focus |
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Title: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe Why is this a good read for Year 4: Narnia, a land frozen in eternal winter, a country waiting to be set free. Four adventurers step through a wardrobe door and into the land of Narnia, a land enslaved by the power of the White Witch. But when almost all hope is lost, the return of the Great Lion, Aslan, signals a great change – and a great sacrifice. I love this book due to it being full of magic in a world of ice. There is excitement mixed with heaped spoonfuls of suspense. Lucy is my favourite character as she is very confident, yet at times she can be frightened. Cristina SR |
Year 5 Reading Focus |
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Title: The Girl Who Speaks Bear Why is this a good read for Year 5: The Girl Who Speaks Bear is a very emotional book revolving around who Yanaka has to be, who she is and who she wants to be. It shows that if you put your mind towards something you can do it. I enjoyed this book because it moves your heart and it feels like you get drawn into the story as if you were actually there. This adventure book is full of twists and surprises, not only for the character but for the reader as well. It made me want to read more and more. However, it was so good it made me cry! Aurelia T
Title: Amelia Fang and the Unicorn Lords |
News from outside of our classrooms: KS2 Coronation celebrations |
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Year 3 enjoyed the challenge of being set a budget to spend as a group to buy ingredients and prepare food to share as part of our Coronation Celebration tea party. The girls prepared sandwiches and wraps, fruit kebabs, cupcakes and cookies. They also designed their own placemats during art and learned a special Coronation song to sing together. Year 4 enjoyed celebrating the Coronation last week. They had a fabulous time creating a trivia board game in small groups based on King Charles III. They used many skills but most importantly they had fun playing them together. |
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Year 5 had an in-depth discussion about the rules of succession and watched video clips to answer quiz questions about the Coronation of King Charles III. We ended the afternoon with tasting a delicious Coronation quiche containing spinach, broad beans, cheese and tarragon! Year 6 worked together to make delicious Coronation quiches in celebration of the Coronation. The children learnt about the history of the original Coronation quiche recipe, and compared it to the adapted recipe they would be using.
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Awards for this week |
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Star Learners of the Week – Anaya V, Grace R, Emily T, Eloise A, Rosie B, Iman S, Ellie A, Caoimhe H-T, Avani A, Lydia C, Zoe Z, All of 5H, Amelie N, Cora S, Asmi S, Harriet S. A huge congratulations to Marine A, Amelia C-L, Luna D, Penelope J, Pearl P, Georgina P, Anaya V, Annabel W, Jasmine I, Ella K, Aleya L, Isabelle L, Amari A, Ellie A, Grace A, Eve C and Pixie R who achieved their RAD Ballet Examination certificates and medals. All the girls passed with 100%, Distinctions and High Distinctions. Well done girls, you all did amazingly well! External Achievements: |
Dobbies Children's Activity Morning |
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Why choose a ‘made for girls’ education? – Wednesday 7 June |
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We are delighted to be hosting a special ‘In conversation with’ event, in which our experts will explore how a girls-only education can transform your daughter’s life. Drawing on landmark national research in The Girls’ Futures Report, our experts Dr May Lee, Head, and Dr Kevin Stannard, GDST’s Director of Innovation and Learning, will explore:
The event commences at 6.00pm with a drinks reception, followed by the ‘In Conversation’ event at 6.30pm. There will be an opportunity to ask questions and explore these vital topics with our experts. We do hope you will be able to join us for what promises to be an invaluable discussion with pioneering experts in girls’ education. Please click here to book your free tickets today. Mr Nash |
Northampton High School - Where girls learn without limits |
In Conversation With: Lorraine Whitmarsh |
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GDST’s next ‘In Conversation With’ event is with Environmental Psychologist and Portsmouth High School alumna, Professor Lorraine Whitmarsh MBE. The event will take place on Friday 23 May, 12.30-1.30pm, via Zoom. The ‘In Conversation With’ events are open to all alumnae, Sixth Formers, staff, parents, and GDST’s Partnership and Outreach schools. The aim is to engage wider alumnae audiences from all over the world and promote the network and inspire both alumnae and current GDST students with a huge variety of speakers and topics. More information and sign up for your free spot, please click here. Mrs Wilmot |
Alumnae of the Year 2023 |
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We are delighted to announce that nominations are now open for GDST Alumna of the Year 2023. This special award recognises remarkable individuals and celebrates their inspiring achievements. To find out more and to make a nomination, please find a link to the nomination form here. Nominations close on Tuesday 23 May. Mrs Wilmot |
Community Sessions |
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Creative Arts Festival |
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Alumnae Reunion Lunch |
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External Sports opportunities |
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Term Dates |
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Northampton High School |
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