This week’s Buzz once again captures the enormous range of things our children enjoy each week, so much of which is testament to the incredible dedication and passion of our teachers and support staff. We have been encouraging our children to be grateful, and to show their gratitude, not only through their words, but more importantly through their actions.
We hope you have much to enjoy and be grateful for this weekend and look forward to the start of another buzzy week on Monday.
‘We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.’ Alphonse Karr
Chris & Harriet Searson
We hope you thoroughly enjoyed watching the Year 3 children in their ‘Just So Stories’ production today. From learning how the camel got his hump to how the elephant got his trunk, the wild world the children created in the Performing Arts Centre was witty, imaginative and very entertaining. Our Pre-prep got a sneak peak yesterday during the dress rehearsal and had a wonderful time!
In Art this term, the Year 8 children have been printmaking using foam. All of their prints are inspired by areas of the main school building and have been added to their concertina sketchbooks, which reflect back on their school life at Beaudesert.
While the weather has been rather changeable recently, the children have taken full advantage of our sunny days, with lots of classes taking advantage of our beautiful grounds.
With the Performing Arts Centre set up for the Year 3 play, Thursday’s Drama activity took their rehearsals outside onto the Terraces, right outside the Headmaster’s Study!
On Friday last week, Year 1 decided to take their books outside to do a spot of reading in the Rose Garden…
Children have been taking part in an important citizen science project in Ecology. Our Year 5s are collecting data for the Pollinator Monitoring Scheme (PoMs). Scientists are trying to find out how pollinator populations are changing, and they need help to gather lots of data. The children went out onto the Common to count the amount of insects visiting buttercups in a certain timeframe. So far, the children have recorded solitary bees, hoverflies and small flies, and learnt about how to identify different insect groups. If you would like to take part in the study at home, please visit the PoMs website.
The U11 boys enjoyed playing in the annual 8-a-side cricket tournament at Malvern on Sunday, ably led by Kubar and Mr Bird. The team were pipped to first place in their group, just missing out in the cup competition due the number of wickets taken, and so went through to the plate competition. An excellent team effort saw the boys win four out of their five matches, making them worthy plate winners.
We were treated to an excellent block fixture against Cheltenham College on Saturday. The weather was good to us and the children put on a real show for both parents and staff. This was repeated on Wednesday with great games against Tockington and The Downs, as well as some tennis matches against Dean Close. We are looking forward to our block fixture against Dean Close next Wednesday.
Mr Holmes’ assembly on Monday was all about being grateful for the things that we have. 5EH spent their form time this week creating beautiful gratitude wheels, listing all the things they were grateful for, including friends, family, clean air, teachers and cake.
This week we hosted our first strings lunchtime concert in two years! We heard a wide range of string instruments including the violin, viola and cello, from those just beginning their musical journeys (just two lessons!), to those honing their craft. It was a pleasurable lunchtime for all who came to watch.
There was great excitement this week, as Year 1 children embarked on their first school trip. They became intrepid oceanographers for the day exploring the undersea world at Bristol Aquarium, in connection with their Sun, Sea and Sand topic. A wonderful tour of the aquarium by our guide, Moss, helped us learn interesting facts about various creatures including starfish, seahorses, sharks and a giant grouper called Sheila! After the tour, children enjoyed exploring the aquarium at their own pace, asking and answering questions and using their observation skills. After a packed lunch and some time to look at the boats in the nearby dock, it was time to head back to School. The children were so excited to be able to go on this trip together, and the teachers all felt proud of how well they represented Beaudesert while on this excursion. The Year 1 children are looking forward to sharing their experiences in their assembly next Friday.
Our Minibeast topic in Nursery has truly ignited children’s curiosity and engagement. This week, they have been studying ladybirds; engaging in printing activities to create their own ladybird artwork, and they have been introduced to simple doubling in Maths. The bug house in the outdoor learning area is full of insects, and the children are observing the pupae in class, awaiting the arrival of some butterflies.
Reception children have been focusing on ‘cycles’ through their PSHCE units as well as their Splish, Splash, Splosh topic. Children have enjoyed learning about the life cycles of frogs, writing about this and reading related texts to build their understanding. They have also been thinking about the water cycle and how to protect our rivers and wider environment through texts including ‘The Messy Magpie’.
On Monday afternoon, 1N had a very special visitor in the form of Delphie’s mummy who came in to talk to them about Norway’s Constitution Day. Stina wore a traditional costume while she told them about the main customs and practices, and also showed them photos of her time in Norway as a little girl. We were given a real treat as Stina also brought in waffles with strawberry jam and cream. Thank you, Stina!
Year 2 have been building their mathematical skills with a focus on Time, learning to tell the time on an analogue clock and exploring clocks in different ways. Within their ‘Wild and Wonderful’ topic, the children have been continuing to build their African dioramas. Children added lots of lovely detail to their animals and the Savannah. Year 2 have also been using group drama techniques to help them act out how to deal with worries or conflicts, and how to seek help from an adult when needed. I am grateful to the Year 2 children for taking a lead in sharing such skills and information with our Reception and Year 1 children through posters and assembly presentations.
We are very much looking forward to celebrating our Year 2 musicians in their upcoming concert on Thursday, 23rd June at 2:15pm in the PAC. If your child learns an instrument in school, their teacher will inform either Mrs Saunders or Mrs Figgis of their choice for performance. If your child learns an instrument out of school and would like to perform in the concert, please get in contact with Mrs Figgis.
Anna Packman, Head of Pre-prep
On Thursday, four plucky Year 7 golfers represented the School at the IAPS Golf Championships, competing against schools from all across the country. Conveniently, the competition was based in our own back yard, on the Avening Course at Minchinhampton Golf Club. Our golfers played their rounds in separate groups against children from different schools, conducting themselves superbly on the course. Schools as far afield as Framlingham, in Suffolk took part in the event, which was eventually won by Eagle House, in Surrey. From our team, Doug came 5th, Jean Christian came 9th, and Hugo and Henry came 10th. Great results against tough competition!
Huge well done to Mia in Year 3 who has been awarded Skier of the Year at Western Counties Ski Racing Club! Mia also represented Beaudesert at the South West Schools Ski Championship and came third in the Year 3 and 4 category. She was the fastest girl in Year 3 in the race. Well done, Mia.
It has been another wonderful week in the Boarding House, despite a fair bit of wet weather getting in the way of our evening routines in the fresh air. However, it never dampened our spirits and we still had the most wonderful evenings, full of laughs and fun; a good distraction and important respite from the rigours of exams.
On Monday, the Year 5s had some time in the swimming pool, a rare treat as the pool is often used by the public in the evenings.
On Tuesday, the Year 4s split their time between outside and in. Those outside played their first game of rounders – it is hard to believe some had never played this classic game before! The Year 7s decided on a game of dodgeball in the Sports Hall which was enjoyed by all.
With heavy showers on Wednesday evening, the Year 8s stayed inside and chilled.
On Thursday, a troop of boarders headed over to the Playing Fields to watch the Dads vs Staff cricket match.
From all of us upstairs, as ever, have a great weekend and we look forward to another fun filled week, next week!
Tom and Joey Layton, Houseparents
Following on from our letter about using the Metaverse, please see the posters below produced by the National Online Safety team, with safety tips and information about Oculus Quest and VR headsets.
For lunch this week, the Pre-prep children have enjoyed ratatouille pasta for meat-free Monday, pork and leek sausages with mashed potato, a butter chicken curry with naan bread, beef and mushroom pie with new potatoes, and fish fingers and chips today.
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