Oaklands School

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June 2017 Item Page Headmistress’s Message ....................... 1

Year 3 Trip to Hadleigh Country Park .... 1

Transitions Trip to the Farm .................. 2

Year 5 Taster Day at

Brentwood School ................................. 2

Year 1 Play ............................................. 2

Celebrating our Inspection Report ........ 3

Salvador Dali Display ............................. 3

Election Day .......................................... 3

Sports Day ............................................. 4

Year 2 Music Concert ............................ 4

Year 2 Trip to Rye Meads ...................... 5

Fathers’ Day Fun in Transition .............. 5

OPA Learning iPads ............................... 5

Lower Kindergarten to Year 6 Dance

Display 2017 .......................................... 6

Year 6 French Pen Pals .......................... 6

OPA Summer Fete ................................. 7

NSPCC Fund Raising Event .................... 7

Reminders ............................................. 7

Headmistress’s Message

Dear Parents

The end of the academic year is quickly approaching us. Since the last newsletter, we have enjoyed a number of events in school such as the Year 1 performances of ‘Stella the Starfish,’ Sports Day, the Dance Display, the Year 2 Music concert and the superb Summer Fete last Saturday. Three year groups have visited venues in the local area: Year 3 went to Hadleigh Park and Year 2 went to Rye Meads. Pupils in Year 5 travelled to Brentwood School for a ‘taster morning’ and returned to Oaklands full of enthusiasm about life in secondary school.

Please take the time to read all about these events in this newsletter.

We still have events to look forward to including the Year 5/6 production of ‘Porridge’ at Lopping Hall, Loughton, the Year 6 Leavers’ assembly and Mini Fete and our annual Celebration of Year and Prize Giving afternoon on Wednesday 5 July.

Remember to check the website and app for more details about these forthcoming events.

Sue Belej

Year 3 Trip to Hadleigh Country Park

On Wednesday 7 June, Year 3 visited Hadleigh Country Park where they were greeted by a Roman citizen. The first stop on the trip was exploring a typical Celtic roundhouse. It was a fantastic opportunity to be able to handle the artefacts inside. Pupils then ground flour from wheat using a quern, it took all their muscles as the stones were very

heavy. After that they excavated the sand pits looking for Roman treasure and became real archaeologists. The children then got a chance to join the army, making a tortoise formation with shields to successfully survive a barrage of enemy missiles. It was a lovely day and everyone learnt a great deal about life in Roman times. Our thanks to Mrs Sharp for joining us.

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Transition Trip to Old McDonald’s Farm

The children in Transition had a fantastic day at Old McDonald’s Farm on Thursday 24 May. They were taken around the farm on a tour and were able to feed pigs, chickens and goats. They then had the chance to meet and stroke an eagle owl and a tortoise. The children enjoyed the petting areas and were calm and gentle as they came across new born rabbits and a

chick. One of their favourites was the maze.

A big thank you to our wonderful parent helpers!

Year 5 Taster Day at Brentwood School

At the end of May, Year 5 had the opportunity to go on a taster day at Brentwood School. Pupils were bowled over by the sheer size and ample facilities that the school had to offer, but what made the biggest impression on them all were the students that they met. They were so polite and helpful, even just walking around the school with their friends, they definitely set the bar high. After hearing lots of interesting information about the school from the Headmaster, pupils then got to take part in a Drama lesson, where they had great fun creating physical theatre with just their bodies! This was followed by a tricky but enjoyable Maths lesson where they used their problem solving skills to make number snakes, and then a Geography lesson where the children were enlightened about all of the different aspects of Geography that they could learn about at the school. A memorable highlight was definitely the lunch! There was a world of choices from the myriad of different cuisines at each counter. Everyone left feeling well and truly satisfied (and perhaps a few pounds heavier!).

It was a fantastic day that gave the Year 5 a taste of life in a secondary school, and definitely gave them food for thought when making their applications next year.

Year 1 Play

Before the half term holiday, all of Year 1 took part in a production of ‘Stella the Starfish’. Both classes performed their own versions to friend and family. The children did brilliantly with learning lines, dancing and singing the songs beautifully. They performed proudly and

with confidence and looked absolutely stunning in their costumes. As they performed to the large audience, it was hard to believe that these children were still only 5 or 6 years old!

Well done to all of the performers of ‘Stella the Starfish’. Your

teachers are very proud of you.

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Salvador Dali Display

In Year 4, pupils have studied the work of Salvador Dali and the Surrealist Art Movement in the 1920s. They discovered the artistic movement was when writers and artists experimented with ways of unleashing the subconscious and explored the workings of the mind. Beautifully painted replicas of some of Dali’s most famous paintings can be found on display outside the Year 4 classroom.

‘Intelligence without ambition is a bird without wings.’ Salvador Dali.

Election Day

On Thursday 8 June 2017 the whole school held an election day from Transition all the way up to Year 6. The House Captains and Vice-Captain had to present one of their policies from their manifesto in the election assembly. All children then had the opportunity to vote for the best house proposal using a secret ballot.

The Year 6 children were very helpful during this process. The Year 6 classroom was turned into a polling station with the Year 6 children on hand to advise any younger children who were unsure of the procedure. All teachers also took part in the vote.

This was a very successful event with the following results:

1st Place – Beech House – To get a static gym at school

2nd Place – Holly House – Adopt a granny/grandad

3rd Place – Sycamore House – Food bank/box in school

4th Place – Willow House – Recycling in school

Celebrating an Excellent May 2017 Inspection Report

An inspection team visited the school at the beginning of May, and we are delighted with the results. This was the first of the Department for Education’s new-style inspections that were introduced in September 2016. They inspect against three areas: the quality of pupils’ personal development, the quality of pupils’ academic and other achievements and focussed compliance. We were judged to be ‘excellent’ or ‘good’ in all areas, and fully compliant.

If you have not already done so, please read the full Inspection Report on the Oaklands website which can be found here: http://bit.ly/2qZthjJ

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Sports Day

The sun was shining on the last day of half term creating a fantastic environment for Sports Day. All the children tried their best in all their races and there were a number of very close finishes resulting in a number of joint 1st and 3rd placings. Everyone was particularly

impressed by the sportsmanship shown by the children; on one occasion a child in KS1 stopped running to help the child next to them after she had fallen over.

The parents also showed their fitness and determination to conquer the obstacles in their race as they earnt points for their child’s ‘House.’ It was lovely to see so many parents joining in and supporting their children.

Holly House were unstoppable, winning both the KS1 and KS2 cups by quite a margin of points.

Well done to all the competitors!

Year 2 Music Concert

On the first week back after half term Year 2 instrumental pupils’ entertained a large crowd during their concert in the School Hall. Everyone played extremely well, and overcame the nerves of their first public performance. There were pieces on the

recorder, piano, guitar, ukulele and violin and it was encouraging to see so many pupils playing. Thank you to all who listen and encourage these young musicians.

Year 5 & 6 School Production

Wednesday 28 June 6.45pm at Lopping Hall

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Year 2 Trip to Rye Meads Nature Reserve

Year 2 visited Rye Meads Nature Reserve on Friday 9 June and had a great time. They took part in pond dipping, bird watching and bug

hunting.

Charlotte said “She enjoyed seeing the homes of nature.”

Zaid said “I liked the pond dipping as I caught a bloodworm.”

All children were able to participate in the activities and thankfully no one fell into the pond!

Fathers’ Day Fun in Transition

Transition children have been talking about Fairy Tales in class, so they invited their daddies to come in for a reading and storytelling session. They shared their favourite Fairy Tales and gave their daddies a special cupcake they had made them to celebrate Fathers’ Day on Sunday!

OPA Learning iPads

The children have been very excited to start using their new set of iPads in their classrooms. 3G and 3C used them in their Humanities lesson to research Roman houses. 2J had a great time trailing some of the Maths apps that the ICT department have loaded onto them. 2S are looking forward to using them to research countries from around the world and Year 3 are animating play figures during their ‘Be a Teacher’ day later in June.

Thank you to the OPA for purchasing the iPads for the children, they are being put to great use!

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Lower Kindergarten to Year 6 Dance Display 2017

Parents, friends and families were treated to a superb display of dancing in the sunshine from children in Lower Kindergarten to Year 6 on Tuesday 13 June.

Everyone was entertained by dances based on ‘Walking on Sunshine’, ‘Whistle While You Work’, ‘Beach Babies’, ‘Hawaii’, ‘High School Musical’, ‘Celebrate Life’, ‘Re-cycling’, ‘Ghostbusters’, ‘Play that Sax’, ‘Karate Kids’, ‘Shake it Off’ and ‘Can’t Stop the Feeling’.

Congratulations to all of the children for performing so confidently!

Year 6 French Pen Pals

Year 6 have written to their pen pals in Paris. Last week they received their replies from pupils at Ecole Elementaire Alexandre Dumas School. Having pen pals in another country is a great way to help the pupils further understand a second language, while also learning about other cultures and making friends.

Mrs Bashorun arranged the pen pals in their French lesson, so a big thank you to her for the great opportunity.

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OPA Summer Fete

Hoards of pupils, staff, family and friends gathered on the field on Saturday 17 June for Oaklands’ annual OPA Summer Fete. It was packed with people enjoying the sun and there were lots of fun activities to take part in including fairground rides, zorbing, a bouncy castle, ball pond, stalls, a wonderful jazz band to listen to and a delicious BBQ and refreshments!

The great jazz band helped to add to the relaxed atmosphere, and the children loved the range of inflatables to bounce around on.

Certainly the most popular game was ‘Beat the Goalie’ when Teddy Sheringham stepped up in goal!

Everyone had a fantastic day so a huge thank you to the OPA for organising such a lovely event.

EYFS Celebration of the Year - Wednesday 5 July 2pm

Year 1 - Year 6 Prize Giving - Wednesday 5 July 4pm

NSPCC Fund Raising Event

The amount the school raised for the NSPCC has increased since the

last newsletter. The final total now stands as £6,468.67! This is the

largest amount of money raised by a school in this area for the

NSPCC.

Well done everyone and thank you for your generosity!