|
|
Junior News – 13 October 2023 |
|
I had the pleasure of joining our Year 5 and 6 A and B hockey teams on Wednesday this week for their matches against Wellingborough School and Bedford Girls School. I was struck by each and every girls confidence on the pitch to get stuck in and make contribution to their teams’ performance. Their exemplary team spirit and skills are clearly innate as I observed them on multiple occasions, without prompting, offering their teammates encouragement and engaging incredibly positively with the other teams. The routine they have for giving the opposing team three cheers and awarding a ‘Player of the Match’ was heartwarming to observe – so genuine and passionate. At the ages of 10 and 11 years old, I was heartened and proud to observe such social confidence and exemplary sportsmanship. Evidence suggests that 2/3 of girls give up on exercise by 9 years old, and from 7 years old their interest in sport drops off. I find this shocking and saddening and I’m incredibly proud that we buck this trend at Northampton High School. All of our Junior School pupils know and value the importance of sport in their school experiences, with many of them choosing to participate sport outside of school too. Many pupils proudly and confidently share with us their sporting achievements in our Friday celebration assemblies, and it is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate their progress as a school community. This term, we embrace our hockey season whilst continuing our weekly swimming lessons, training for the upcoming netball season and offering other sports clubs such as football, gymnastics, equestrian, dance and tag rugby. It has been very encouraging to see increasing numbers of pupils enthusiastically engage with football and tag rugby opportunities. Whilst we pride ourselves as a school on our academic outcomes I am also very proud of the broad and balanced curriculum offer we can provide. I am looking forward to cheering on our Junior School teams on the hockey pitch this term, and I am hoping to be able to celebrate some victories as a reward for the girls’ excellent efforts and commitment! Miss Hair |
Upcoming Events |
|
Autumn Term Holiday Club for Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 |
|
Bookings close today for the October half term holiday club for pupils in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2. We are pleased to be able to offer childcare during the two week October half term and part of the Christmas holiday, 8am to 5pm, at a charge of £39 per day. We have a limited amount of spaces available and would encourage you to secure your places as early as possible to ensure we have availability. Please see the following links: – October Holiday Club: 08:00-17:00 (Monday 23 Oct to Friday 3 Nov) Bookings will close one week in advance. Should you need extended care during the holiday dates, the following daily sessions are also open for bookings: Early Session – 07:00-08:00 (includes Breakfast) and Late Session – 17:00-18:00 (includes Tea). If you wish to pay for any of the above via Childcare voucher or Government Tax Free Childcare Allowance, or have any further queries then place contact nhsaccounts@nhs.gdst.net, and for any support with booking the sessions you require, please contact junioradmin@nhs.gdst.net. |
Uniform Reminder |
|
When we return to school on Monday 6 November after half term, all pupils will need to be dressed in our winter uniform please. Please see below for a list of essential items: Preschool to Year 2: Tartan pinafore, white polo with royal blue tipping, navy cardigan, navy tights or navy long socks, navy crested reversible storm proof jacket, navy fleece gloves, navy crested fleece beanie and plain black shoes (no slip ons). Year 3 to Year 6: Kilt, navy v-neck slipover, white reverse collar blouse, navy tights or navy long socks, navy crested reversible storm proof jacket, navy fleece gloves, navy crested fleece beanie and plain black shoes (no slip ons). Uniform items can be purchased from Schoolblazer or through the Swap Shop which is run by parent volunteers. Swap Shop is open on Fridays from 2.30 – 3.30pm in term time. To contact the Swap Shop please use parentswapshop@gmail.com. |
Key Stage 2 Forest School Sessions |
|
Key Stage 2 Forest School Sessions will be taking place on the following dates this academic year. The children will need suitable clothing and footwear, including trousers and long sleeve tops, to ensure their arms and legs are covered for each session.
|
News from our classrooms: Nursery and Preschool |
|
This week in Nursery, we have been exploring different size and shaped coloured pumpkins and squashes in our autumn patch outside. Our story of the week has been ‘Peace at last’, and we have been able to act out the story with our own props. We climbed into a rocket (big box), we wore our space boots (wellies) and our helmets (colanders). This really brought the story to life! Continuing with the space theme we did some cosmic space yoga moves, this was a big hit! The swede and potato mash exploration tray however was not so popular. At Forest School, we made potions from various sources including a water pump and we had to work hard as a team to source the water. |
|
|
|
This week in Preschool, we have been exploring seasonal vegetables. The girls have been chopping, mashing and scooping the vegetables, practicing their hand eye coordination and fine motor skills. At Forest School, the girls completed an obstacle course and made their own potions. We have been sorting our natural resources by grouping them in various ways and thinking about where we found them. In Maths, we have started to play a new game called ‘3 or not 3’. In this game, the girls have to look at a picture and decide if the photo has 3 of something or not 3 of something, shouting out their response as fast as they can. Outside we have been comparing our heights, which has been a child initiated activity, and exploring the under the sea creatures which one of our friends has been telling us all about. |
Reception |
|
This week, we have enjoyed reading ‘The Leaf Thief’ by Alice Hemming, a brilliantly funny story of the seasons. Squirrel loves counting leaves and teams up with his good friend Bird to discover who the leaf thief could be. In phonics, we have been listening for the sounds in 3 letter words and learning the tricky words ‘the’ and ‘to’. In our topic we went on a listening walk to see how many different sounds we could hear, and in Maths we have been subitising, sorting and writing numbers, focussing on 0-3. At Forest School, we looked for signs of autumn and collected items to bring back to the classroom. We have also enjoyed preparing a salad in our Cookery lessons. |
Year 1 Science Focus |
|
Year 1 have embraced their first science unit, ‘materials’, with great enthusiasm and interest. The girls particularly loved being scientists and investigating which material would make a good umbrella for a teddy bear. They found that net and felt made teddy very wet, but the material from a reusable shopping bag kept him dry. |
Year 2 Science Focus |
|
Year 2 have been studying light and seeing this half term. We have investigated how shadows are formed and learnt new vocabulary such as opaque, translucent and transparent. This week, the girls have researched nocturnal animals and worked in Google Classroom to share what they have discovered. |
Year 3 Science Focus |
|
Year 3 have enjoyed looking closely at soils, first with a hand lens and then with a microscope. The girls were amazed by the bits of wood that could be seen in the organic soil, the ‘rocky’ lumps in the clay soil and the tiny grains in the sandy soil. Words such as ‘gritty’, ‘smooth’, ‘loose’ and ‘firm’ were used to describe the consistency of the soils when touching them. |
Year 4 Science Focus |
|
Year 4 made their own switches from card, split pins and paper clips, before testing them to find out how a switch can be used to control a circuit. It was a challenging task that required a lot of patience and teamwork! |
Year 5 Science Focus |
|
At the moment, the Year 5 girls are thoroughly enjoying their unit on ‘Living Things’. We have been looking at the sexual and asexual reproduction of plants, and have started an investigation to propagate an African Violet using just one leaf. So far, nothing much has happened, the leaves are just sitting in little pots of water, but we are keeping our fingers crossed that they might grow some roots soon. |
Year 6 Science Focus |
|
Year 6 have been learning about microorganisms and this week they set up an investigation to find out which conditions lead to the most mould growth on bread. They are comparing wet and dry, warm and cold and light and dark. Which slices of bread do you think will have the most mould after one week? |
News from outside of the classroom: Year 5 Grafham Water Residential |
|
Last Wednesday, Year 5 went on a residential trip to Grafham Water Centre for two nights. Briony, our instructor, met us when we arrived. We had lunch and went to get our wetsuits and paddles then set out in the canoes. We played a game called ‘Fruit Salad’, where we were sorted into different fruits and had to shout, ‘jump’, and switch places with another person who was the same fruit. We also played ‘Body Part Bingo’ which involved sticking different body parts in the water, including our hair! Next up was paddle-boarding and we all jumped in after running over six boards in a row. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
On Thursday, we did climbing and archery in the morning. When climbing, if you weren’t on the wall you had to hold your friend’s rope. Archery was also really fun and we even had professional targets. Our next activities were crate stacking and low ropes. We piled crates on top of each other while we climbed up them – it was hilarious when we fell. Low ropes were a lot harder than we all thought! Friday was great. We set off on a bike ride around the reservoir in two groups. The first went all the way round but the second went to Fossil Beach and back. Overall, it was an amazing opportunity to do some team bonding and we all had the best time ever! If you would like to look through our Grafham pictures, please click here. Elizabeth F-W |
News from outside of the classroom: U10 and U11 Hockey Match Report |
|
U10: On Wednesday, we had a hockey match against Bedford Girls School and Wellingborough School, and everyone tried their best. The Player of the Match for both matches was Elizabeth, as she dribbled the ball and passed to other players with skill. The scores were not the best but at least we tried. Our defence was strong and Olivia, our goal keeper, saved a few more shots from going in the goal. Our final scores were: Bedford Girls School – Lost 0-5, and against Wellingborough School – Lost 0-4. Lydia C, Year 5 U11: On Wednesday, we played a hockey match against Bedford Girls School and the score was 0-0. Annabelle was very close to scoring but unfortunately the goalie stopped her shot. Her amazing shot was recognised by the other team, awarding her Player of the Match. We all worked very hard and worked well as a team. After that we played against Wellingborough School, who were a very strong side. There was some good passing of the ball to one another but we were unsuccessful in scoring a goal. Unfortunately, the other team hit a very powerful shot into our goal. We ended losing 1-0 but it was a very close match, and the Player of the Match was Annabelle. Poppy P, Year 6 |
Awards This Week |
|
Star Learners of the Week – Annabel W, Zehra S, Inara F, Evie I, Isabella B, Constance H, Emma B, Angelie B and Anna H External Achievements: Jasmine I – achieved a Rainbow Promise & Drawing Badge |
Birthdays This Week |
|
This week, we wish a very Happy Birthday to the following members of our Junior School family: Zehra S and Annie T |
What's On - Autumn Term |
|
|
Forest School Halloween Community Session |
|
|
Community Sessions |
|
|
Netball Half Term Training Session |
|
Please use this form to book a place for your daughter. |
Athletics Club - Autumn Running Club |
|
|
Musical Theatre and Acting Workshop |
|
|
Term Dates |
|
|
|
Northampton High School |
|
