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P R E N D E R G A S T V A L E C O L L E G E

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Voice of Vale

The London Children’s BalletLast half-term, Year 4 had the chance to see the London Children’s Ballet performance of The Secret Garden. The children absolutely loved seeing a production on stage with a full orchestra and even got to meet some of the dancers after the show.

This half-term it was the Ballet’s turn to come to us for a workshop. We started by trying out some basic ballet steps. It took a lot of strength to do them well. The dancers wanted to see how well we could jump as it’s useful in some of the moves. Laura’s jumps impressed us all!

We got to make our own version of the gardeners’ dance from The Secret Ballet accompanied by

‘in perpetuum discimus’ - we are forever learning

Junior Maths Challenge Success 2013Pupils at PVC achieved 1 gold, 5 silver and 5 bronze awards in this year’s UKMT Junior Maths Challenge. Over 240, 000 pupils from across the UK sat the Junior Maths Challenge with roughly the top 6% receiving a gold certificate, 13% a silver certificate and the next 20% bronze. Mya Titus (7T) achieved a gold certificate and a certificate for the ‘Best in School’ so a particular well done to her.

Our Newsletter Issue No 3 June 2013

V O I C E O F V A L E

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music on the piano, which made it feel really special. The gardener was a comic character in the ballet and this part was a lot of children’s favourite.

Faris & Tracey said they particularly enjoyed making the routines.

Whilst we caught our breath, the Ballet team showed us some of the costumes from the show and told us about different jobs there are in the theatre. Some of us even got to try the costumes on.

For the finale, we learnt the wuthering wind dance we had seen in the Secret Garden. The wind dance is really fast and you have to use all the space in the hall. Kanyinsola and Malachi said they really enjoyed the speed of the dance. It was very exciting and a lot of fun!

How Does Your Garden Grow?

Reception Class have created their own garden out of recycled tyres as part of their Lifecycles topic. They have grown beans and sweet peas from seed with great success. They already have flowers and they are expecting a bean feast by the end of term!

“If they are not feeling well, they need water, or they won’t grow!” Dylan.

“Flower!” Jackson.

“We need to give them drink or they will die. We could make tomatoes!” Chloe.

10,000 Hands

On May 23rd Barry Mizen addressed a group of students on theme of forgiveness. Something he knows all too well, after his son had his life taken away from him by a bully, in 2008. Mr Mizen shared the importance of forgiveness, as the bad things other children sometimes do can often lead to bitterness and anger. Mr Mizen stayed behind to offer his hand print as part of the school’s dedication to the City Safe cause.


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Year Two: Indian Film Project

Last half term, Year Two had a great time making a film about India. The children gained an insight into reporting to camera, filming and producing and editing a short film. They also became experts on the geography of India and thoroughly enjoyed taking part in rich learning experiences such as an Indian fashion show and food tasting session.

Thank you to the parents who came in and shared their knowledge and experiences with the children, this really brought the topic to life.

Lemoine House TripOn Monday 20 May, Lemoine House experienced the luxury of an exclusive booking at the Greenwich Picturehouse to watch the Oscar-winning film Life of Pi. We were joined by 8 Hall for the private screening and thoroughly enjoyed the thought-provoking film, which was based on the novel which won the Booker Prize in 2002. After lunch, we said goodbye to 8 Hall and made our way on the DLR to the Monument. Every intrepid pupil who climbed the 311 steps to the top was rewarded with an amazing view of London, and with a certificate to mark their achievement.

The Salters’ Chemistry Festival - 15th May 2013

We arrived with a buzz as we walked through the door of London South Bank University. There were about 13 other schools competing in the festival. As we walked through we were talked through the day. There were two tests. Each one focused on a different area of chemistry. On the first task we had to identify substances through testing, and make an estimate of which was which. In this task we thought we had done terribly.

The second task rolled around and we had fun creating a mixture to take two minutes to go cloudy. On that test we did well.

We then had a lecture which I found really interesting and fun, with lots of experiments. Then it was time for prize giving. We managed against all odds to get first prize in the test due to excellent safety and teamwork. We walked home happy and full of chocolate.


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ArtYear 7 Art Sculpture: Theme Portraiture

Year 7 pupils have studied a unit in Sculpture. They have all made masks based on their own original Cyborg drawings inspired by the artist H.R Geiger. Pupils used papier mache and recycled objects to construct their masks. They have also learnt about performance art and have produced performances wearing their masks. Please see the Year 7 Art page on the school website to view the Cyborg mask video and Mask performance videos.

Year 8 Art- Ceramics: Theme: Environment

This year pupils in Year 8 have had their first taster of working in ceramics. We have a fantastic new kiln and have used it to its potential, producing 120 tile pieces and 120 slab pots. Continuing the theme of

Environment year 8 pupils have learnt about Turner Prize winning artist Grayson Perry and his Walthamstow Tapestry and have taken inspiration from his work. All pupils produced their own Lewisham tapestry looking at their own experience of life in Lewisham and used their drawing skills to depict life in Lewisham onto the surface of the pot. The quality of work has been outstanding. Please visit the year 8 Art page on the website to view more examples of the ceramic work.

Design and TechnologyIn Design and Technology we have had a very successful run in the food technology room. All of the students have completed a series of recipes which have gradually built their skills and knowledge of how to safely prepare food. To finish off the topic all of the students have demonstrated their independence by planning and preparing a recipe of their choice. The outcomes have been amazing (and very, very tasty). We have now moved into the Resistant Materials workshop with both Year 7s and Year 8s. Both year groups have brought the spirit of food through to RM and made thermoplastic chocolate moulds using the vacuum former.

The Year 7 students are now working on a project where they make a device holder. They are cutting acrylic, heating and bending it, and joining it to wood which they have shaped.


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The Year 8’s have been looking at different design movements and are using their research to design and make working 3D clocks out of High Impact Polystyrene and MDF. They have already made mini plastic galleries printing underneath the surface of the plastic using the sublimation printer.

Both year groups have been looking at the problems associated with using plastic and have been thinking of ways to design ‘smarter products’ for the future. Please see our Design and Technology pages on the school website to see examples of the students’ work

MusicIn Music this term, we have been following a summer theme.

Children in Year 4 and Year 5 have been learning the Ukulele. This instrument appears to have brought with it some lovely weather, as children learn to sing and play ‘Like the Lazy Coconut’ – a Caribbean ditty, tinged with the humour and playfulness of the West Indies. Year 8 have also continued the summery topic, and have been learning how to play the acoustic guitar, playing ‘Three Little Birds’ by Bob Marley. Year 7 students have been learning the Latin-American number ‘Mambo No.5’ on keyboards.

Physical Education With the end of the sporting calendar fast approaching, the PE department and all students involved can hold their heads high knowing that such a successful academic year will be difficult to emulate in September. With outstanding achievements in Football, Lacrosse, Netball and Rugby the summer term has not failed to impress.

Glass Mill Leisure Centre

Exciting times are ahead with the opening of the new Leisure Centre in Lewisham. The Glass Mill Leisure Centre will form a focal point of learning and extra-curricular sports within the PE department due to its location of 200 metres away from our front gate. With first class facilities on our doorstep the students and staff are fortunate to have such a great opportunity with the Year 3 and 4 students being the first to experience the state of art swimming pool and changing area. We look forward to updating you with more information about our close links formed with Fusion Sports.


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Racquet Academy

The academy has gone from strength to strength this year opening the doors to primary students to experience high levels of Table Tennis, Badminton and Tennis. The first Tennis fixture of the season was recently contested between Prendergast Vale and Sedgehill.

Callum Jones (Year 8) writes about his experience below. "On the 25th of May a team of boys from Prendergast Vale headed to Sedgehill school to play the first ever tennis fixture in Prendergast Vale history.

When we arrived we saw what we were up against we were quite nervous. The boys from there school looked much older than us and seemed more experienced, but we were determined to do our best.

The tournament consisted of four rounds, each player playing one game each. After the first few rounds it became clear that we were pretty evenly matched and that we could even manage to win. After we realised this our confidence

soared, and it became evident in the last rounds that we had pulled off a win.

After the team rounds came the individual finals where the top three scoring players from each team played for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place. Nuzan and Ronald both did really well in their matches for second and third, leaving only the top scoring player on the team (Callum) to play. Unfortunately Callum narrowly lost in the final but it was a surprisingly close game.

We enjoyed the fixture and hope that we will get the opportunity to play again soon."

Golf Academy

Unfortunately the Golf Academy has been delayed due to examinations in the sports hall. Coaching sessions will start again in September with date in the diary already arranged for a 'Pitch and Putt' session in preparation for the 9 Hole Golf course.


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LacrosseWhat a year the Lacrosse team have had! Week after week, girls from Years 6, 7, and 8 have given their all to this extra-curricular subject, with twenty girls attending week in week out. With this in mind Miss Bounds felt it necessary to bring in England International player; Sophie Brett. Sophie is currently training for the Lacrosse World Cup happening in July, so it is an absolute privilege to have her assistance in coaching the girls in these final few weeks before the World Cup. No other school has had an England International player assisting them, this being therefore an incredible asset to the school.

From the start of the year the girls have continued to blossom and are now confidently passing and catching, checking and defending, using professional techniques. Some of the team are even researching new tricks and skills at home, and teaching their peers. It has been a privilege to work with the lacrosse team this year and fixtures have been arranged for next year, and I am confident that the girls will come away with incredible results. I would like to thank Sophie Brett for her time and commitment to the school and I am sure you will join me in wishing her and the England team the best of luck in Canada, during the World Cup.

Athletics

Prendergast Vale have been involved in a number of Athletics meetings this term which includes the Lewisham School Sports Association Event for Year 7 and 8. With strong teams entered for both Year 7 and 8 students participated in disciplines varying from 100 metre sprints through to Javelin. All students were a credit to the school but special mention must go Jayden Berry Garvey (400 metres), Rihanna Yawson (200 metres) and Jazmine Mckinson (High Jump) for making the Lewisham team. The three students will represent the borough in the London Finals at Mile End Stadium. Congratulations. Primary School Dance

Students from Key Stage 1, 2 and 3 have been participating in Dance sessions on Monday afternoon. Students have been choreographing routines to help with hand and eye coordination, rhythm and movement with cross curricular links with Music. A thoroughly enjoyable time has been had by all.

Primary Hockey

A professional hockey coach has been coaching a select group of Year 1 and Year 2 students on a Monday afternoon. Students have learnt skills varying from the Indian dribble through to flicks in order to outwit opponents. The progress made by the group is superb and all students should be very proud of their achievements. Rounders

I am extremely proud of the Rounder's team who have played this season. Itwas great to see a team so determined, focused, driven and motivated, whowere not fazed by the fact they hadn't had one training session when arriving at their first match on the 1st May.

The girls arrived at Sydenham High on the 1st May and had half an hour to go through therules of the game, learn their positions on the field, and get in roughlyfifteen minutes of practical practice. The first match was against SydenhamHigh and PVC started out on field whilst Sydenham batted. Leah bowled greatballs time and time again with only a few points being awarded to theopposition. Next we batted and managed to score 5 rounder's. Unfortunately this was not enough to win this match with Sydenham who scored 7 and a half points. The final score was 7.5-5. The second match was against Sedgehill. PVC were more confident after the first match and went out strong. Sedgehill managed to score 5 rounders so PVC knew they had to have a good batting round. They went out and scored several superb rounder's making the final score 7-5.

The Lewisham School games continued and ended with Prendergast Vale College coming 4th out of 10 other schools in Lewisham. Congratulations girls!


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Year 1 ReadingIn Year 1 we love reading and we read all the time! We read in groups, as a class and on our own. Recently we have been reading in pairs and we really enjoy this!

When we read a book which we really like we write a book review. This lets our friends know which books are fun to read! Here are two of our seaside book reviews:"

Ghostly soundless wavesHe slowly creeps to his preyAnd devours it whole

-‐ Mikaella

Silently divingin the turbid Amazoneating reptiles

-‐ Bradley

Slithering, slidingYellow silky stripe patternsHissing through the tree

-‐ Niomi

Jumping silentlyribbiting very loudlycrunch his dinner

-‐ Yu Ting

Creeping through the nightWaiting for its prey all daySilently sneaking

-‐ Jamie H

Can You Haiku?In year 4, we have been exploring different forms of poetry such as haiku, which are short poems in a traditional Japanese style. We used animals from our rainforest topic as inspiration for the poems. Can you guess which animals these haiku are about?


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KEY DATES FOR THE END OF TERM

Tuesday 25th June Year 3 visit to Greenwich

Tuesday 2nd July Secondary transfer transi;on day

(new year 7 intake in school)

Wednesday 3rd July Year 7 and 8 trip to Opal Coast

Year 3 and 4 trip to Horniman Museum

Tuesday 9th July Year 1 and 2 trip to seaside

Friday 12th July Drumbeat Coffee Morning. Drumbeat are holding a coffee morning at 8.30-‐9.30 for Parents of children with ASD. We look forward to seeing you there.

Tuesday 16th July Sports Day: Secondary at Bellingham Playing Fields

Primary (Year groups?) in school

Wednesday 17th July Fes;val of Crea;vity 2.30 to 6.30

Thursday 18th July Speech Day

Friday 19th July LAST DAY OF TERM

School Closes at 12.10pm

Contact DetailsSchool AddressPrendergast Vale CollegeElmira StreetLondonSE13 &BN

Telephone: 020 8297 3540

www.prendergastvale.com

Head Teacher — Paul O’NeillPA to the Head Teacher — Shirley Halm

Telephone: 020 8297 3544

Email: [email protected]

Executive Head Teacher — Erica Pienaar

Hilly Fields, Adelaide Avenue, London SE4 1LE

Telephone: 020 8690 3710

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