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Headmistress’s Message

Dear Parents

The term has simply flown by with many exciting events which you can read about in this edition of the Oaklands newsletter, trips such as Transition’s trip to Tropical Wings and the Year 6 trip to Battle Abbey.

The OPA is busy organising the School Fete which takes place on the school field on Saturday 6 June. The fete opens at 2pm after the Dance Display. Children from Transition to Year 6 will perform a dance for you on the playground and welcome your support both at the Dance Display and the fete afterwards. If you can help in any way, please do not hesitate to get in touch with the OPA or your OPA class representative.

We would like to inform you that Mrs Martine Quadranti will be leaving us at the end of this half term. We would like to thank Mrs Quadranti for running our very successful French Club for the past twelve years and wish her good luck in her move back to France. We will shortly be advertising for her replacement.

This half term ends on Friday 22 May and we are back on Monday 1 June. Please remember to check the website and the downloadable App to keep abreast of all our forthcoming events.

Cheryl Macnair

19 May 2015

In this issue Page

Headmistress’s Message .........................1

Bancroft’s Swimming Gala ......................1

Year 1 Seaside Workshop .......................2

Years 4 and 5 Residential Trip .................2

Lower Kindergarten, Garden Room and Transition—Ark Farm Visit ..............3

Music Assembly ......................................3

Transition Chicks .....................................4

Transition Tropical Wings Trip ...............4

Year 6 Trip to Battle Abbey .....................4

The Lion King Show (Garden Room) .......5

Year 2 Numeracy .....................................5

Year 2 DT Project ....................................5

Cookery Club ...........................................5

Outstanding Poetry .................................6

Oaklands School Website and App .........6

Year 6 Residential Activity Week ............7

Woodford Green Athletics League .........8

Neighbours ..............................................8

The Oak-Tree Group’s Annual Chess Competition ..................................8

School Reminders and OPA News ..........8

Bancroft’s Swimming Gala

The annual Bancroft’s Swimming Gala was held on Wednesday 22 April 2015. Once again, the children in the Oaklands swimming team swam superbly resulting in many excellent individual and team relay successes.

Harry D, Maddie, Ciara, Natasha, Kitty and Hannah all came 2nd or 3rd in their individual races. Libby in Year 6 came 1st overall in the Y5/Y6 freestyle final.

The Y3/4 medley relay team came 2nd in their heat, the Y5/6 medley relay team came 1st in their heat and 3rd in the final, the Y3/4 freestyle relay team came 1st in their heat and 3rd in the final, the Y5/6 freestyle relay team came 1st in their heat and 5th in the final and the squadron relay team came 1st in their heat and just missed qualifying for the final.

The team are to be congratulated on coming 4th out of 12 schools at the gala; it was a fitting end to a very successful swimming season.

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Years 4 and 5—Residential Trip to PGL Liddington

The Year 4/5 trip to PGL in Liddington was very memorable. The children had to test their team building skills and prove that they could build a sea worthy craft! Things got a little competitive when it came to paddling the rafts on the water.

Amongst other activities such as the giant swing, climbing and archery, the group got to test their driving skills on the quad bike track. A few budding Lewis Hamilton's in the making!

Here are a few comments from some of the children on their experience:

Aliya ‘I faced my fear of heights and conquered the zip wire!’ Lindsey ‘Raft building was brilliant!’ Sienna ‘It got my mind going!’ Kamille ‘Everything was new, especially the giant swing and archery.’ Claudia ‘It was just really fun.’

Year 1 Seaside Workshop—Thursday 30 April

Year 1 were very excited to experience seaside holidays in the past. The workshop allowed the children to enjoy a day full of seaside-related activities.

In the morning the children took part in a carousel of activities including; boat making, decorating keepsake boxes with shells, serving tea in the café, dressing up in Victorian clothing and having a very serious photo taken, sorting old money in the bank and making train tickets for their afternoon ride to Brighton. In the afternoon the children were transported to Brighton Pier where they were each given 12 pennies to spend on the arcades. Children watched a Punch and Judy show, made sandcastles and wrote post cards.

Thank you to the Year 1 parents who helped to make our day such a success.

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Lower Kindergarten, Garden Room and Transition - Ark Farm visit Oaklands

On Friday 1 May Ark Farm came to visit Early Years Department at Oaklands School.

Garden Room The Garden Room children were really excited about Ark Farm coming to visit. They enjoyed learning about the different animals that lived on the farm. They learnt that all the animals were different. Apples and Pears the pigs have hair, Bert and Ernie the kids have fur and the ducks and chickens have feathers. The children all had the opportunity to meet the animals in their pen.

Alexandra R said ‘I liked the kids. They tried to get on Miss Moore’s lap and we said no we don’t having any milk.’

Siena said ‘The kids were lovely. One kissed my leg.’

Transition Each Transition class got to see the animals which included a pig, a donkey, goats, ducks and even some baby lambs! After hearing a talk about the different animals the children were able to go inside the pen and stroke them. The star of the show was the farm dog, a Labrador, who dutifully rolled over on the grass to have his tummy tickled by all!

Music Assembly

On Tuesday 12 May for our morning assembly two of our instrumental teachers, Mrs Jennings and Mr Bartels demonstrated some of the instruments the children are able to learn. The pupils from Transition to Year 5 were treated to a fabulous mini concert. Mr Bartels struck up a funky beat with drums and bass guitar, while Mrs Jennings showed us the beautiful and haunting sounds of the violin. Mr Bartels (a man of many instruments!) then played a fast and furious flute piece. Everyone listened intently and clapped appreciatively at the end.

As an encore, as the children left the hall, flute and violin joined together, with Mrs Rathbone on clarinet, to play Bobby McFerrin’s ‘Don’t Worry, Be Happy’.

A good message for the day!

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Transition Chicks

Transition had a very special delivery of eggs in an incubator. We learnt how to care for the eggs keeping them warm and safe. Then some cracks started to appear…

By the end of day three we had three little chicks! Then by the end of day four, three boys and six girls.

As soon as they were dry we transferred them in to a bigger box and they soon settled in to life in Transition.

All the girls are now settling in to their new home in Brentwood courtesy of

Frances (Mrs Macnair’s daughter), and the boys on a farm.

Transition’s Trip to Tropical Wings

On Monday 11 May, Transition set off on their trip to ‘Tropical Wings’. We learnt all about caterpillars, chrysalises and butterflies in the hot tropical house.

We met some beautiful birds and even a macaw who said ‘hello’ to us! There were lots of other animals to meet including lemurs, wallabies, capybaras, giant tortoises and goats. The children even got a chance to get really close to a coati, a rat and a skunk during the ‘Furry Friends’ workshop. We had our delicious packed lunches in the marquee and even had time to play in the adventure playground.

Year 6 Trip to Battle Abbey

Year 6 had an interesting and informative trip to Battle Abbey as part of their Anglo-Saxon studies. The pupils took part in a workshop and were able to dress up and handle actual replica weapons used in the Battle of Hastings. They learned how William The Conqueror transported soldiers and supplies across to England and marched into battle against King Harold.

The day ended with the pupils marching to the field where the Battle took place and the spot where King Harold died.

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Year 2 Numeracy Lesson

We have been learning to find fractions of a number. We found a quarter of the ingredients needed to make rice crispy cakes so we had the correct number for our class.

Cookery Club

In cookery club the children made gingerbread—gingerbread men, women, teddies and even ninjas!

Year 2 DT Project

Year 2L completed their DT project in which they made birdhouses. They designed, painted and then joined the materials using a glue gun. Lastly they evaluated their finished products. The children were all very pleased with the finished results.

The Lion King Show

The children in the Badger and Rabbit class decided that they wanted to put on a show. A few of the children went to London to watch ‘The Lion King’ and their enthusiasm continued in class.

Both Miss Collins and Miss Moore were under pressure to provide a back drop, curtains and costumes for the performance. The show was directed by Maisie who was supported by her mother who provided the masks.

There has been a rumour about a new show coming soon to the Garden Room, Kung Fu Panda!

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Outstanding Poetry

Morning

by Sameer, Year 5

Morning came in on a golden chariot

And gradually night retreated.

The birds sang as the sun peeped over the horizon.

Slowly, one by one the town became awake;

People rushing to and fro, the town was buzzing with life.

Day had come.

Morning

by Florence, Year 6

The sunlight broke out

Waking the quiet world.

The morning has dawned.

The drops of sunlight

Broke through my open window,

This is the morning.

Who woke up the sun?

Who woke up the animals?

The morning calls us.

Dark splashes the world,

The daylight begins to fade,

Darkness has returned.

Morning

by Evie, Year 5

The bright sun rises up

Like an orange, brightly glowing.

No more dangerous darkness to fear,

No more evil creatures.

Birds are chirping a beautiful tune,

A song like peaceful music.

Shop doors fly open by the wind,

Sounds of bells, smells of food.

The sun’s brightness, like tears from a baby

Crying for its mother.

Sun’s tears are like strong,

Racing, striking lightning bolts.

Soon the light begins to fade.

They wish it never went away.

The fisherman packs up his fish

As darkness drops again.

Oaklands School Website

See the Calendar page for upcoming events.

More photographs from our activities posted on the News page

Oaklands School App launched

Download the Oaklands App

iOS Apple Store for Apple devices Google Play Store for androids

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Year 6 Residential Activity Week at the Young Mariner’s Base, Cheshunt

Year 6 spent five days and four nights at the young Mariner’s Base, Cheshunt taking part in various activities including canoeing and caving. By far the most popular activity was stand up paddle boarding.

........You got to go on a sort of surf board and paddle. I fell in at least eleven times! (Maddie)

.........because we got to stand up, paddle and fall in the lake. (Libby)

.........because the whole year group got to do it together and we got to jump in and get wet! (Ellie)

.........because we all got to jump in the lake! (Jack)

.........because you had to balance on a board but we had to fall in on purpose! (Lara)

.........because it was really great fun and I most enjoyed falling into the lake! (Harvie)

Activities also included canoeing (in which our boat capsized) and wind-surfing (I was not particularly skilled in this area and managed to fall in several times!). If we were able to participate in another activity then my preference would be caving. (Florence)

It was an outstanding adventure! I learnt how to control a sail, how to stand up on a surf board and how to squeeze through tight holes when caving. (Annaliese)

I really enjoyed caving as I managed to do things I never thought I was capable of. It was scary when we had to switch off our head torches and feel our way around the cave! (Riya)

My second favourite activity was caving because I wriggled through tiny spaces and didn’t get stuck! (Natasha)

I also enjoyed bushcraft because we toasted marshmallows. (Beth)

My favourite activity was wind surfing as I got really wet and I learnt how to attach a sail to a surf board. (Alex)

Overall this has been a great trip. My two favourite activities were stand up paddle boarding and orienteering. I hope Year 5 have a trip just as amazing as ours. (Kitty)

The Young Mariner’s Base was a thrilling experience and one I

will never forget! (Keira)

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Transitions to Year 6 Dance Display - Saturday 6 June 1pm

The Oak-Tree Group’s Annual Chess Competition

Great effort from the Oaklands team for finishing in 3rd place!

OPA SUMMER FETE Saturday 6 June 2pm

Dance Display Costumes A plea from 2S!

If you have any Indian style dress (boys or girls) suitable to borrow for our Dance Display, please could you let Ms Sandford know, or better still bring the costume into the school office in a named bag. Thank you.

Miss Lucy

Neighbours

We would like to put in another plea for consideration of our neighbours! Unfortunately the temptation to walk along a low level wall outside one of our neighbour’s properties is too much to resist for some of our children. The neighbour is somewhat dismayed to find that her plants are being damaged in this way. The children will be reminded in assemblies and in the classroom the importance of respect for other people’s property and we would be grateful if this could be reinforced at home. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Woodford Green Athletics League

The Year 5 and 6 athletics team have been in action at the Woodford Green Athletics League on Thursdays this term.

The boys and girls have competed well in running, jumping and throwing events. The girls are currently in 4th place overall and particular congratulations to Lara who was 3rd in the Standing Long Jump with a new school record.

Well done team!