Class 4 recording studio session!

Last friday Class 4 had the wonderful opportunity to visit a recording studio at the CLC so that they could record the protest songs we have been composing in class. Each group was assigned a guitarist who was set the challenge to write a musical composition of their own to which the group would add lyrics. Each group chose a topic that they wanted to protest about which included littering, bullying, poaching, dangerous driving, rascism, lying, animal welfare and the right for all to have fresh vegetables! The pupils had a thoroughly excellent day and we finally recieved our mp3s of the songs yesterday! Superb guitar playing.....

Two guitarists and a drummer - it's a band!

Playback in the engineer's booth with Pablo and Nick!

A couple of very serious faces here....they are protest songs after all!

African Voice

Did you know that there are over 50 countries in Africa? Or that there are over 1,000 languages spoken on the continent?

Key Stage 2 had a fantastic day on Tuesday learning all about the diversity of Africa. Our guides through the continent were Magda and Simon. They are both postgraduate students from Leeds University. Through a range of activities and games our visitors showed us what life in Africa is really like. We learnt that there are huge cities with skyscrapers and traffic jams!

During the morning our workshops took place in the classrooms. After lunch we headed outside to enjoy the sunshine. Simon taught us some of the games that children play in Africa. Simon had made us a ball using old carrier bags, we were amazed how strong it was! It was great fun to play with too!

Magda and Simon had worked very hard to prepare the activities. Here we are comparing a range of maps to find the mystery country.

Our visitors shared with us stories about their life back home. Magda told us about the new government in Egypt. Simon showed us a slideshow including pictures of his university in Zambia.

The class loved the game that Magda taught us - it was tricky at first, but we got the hang of it!

Class 3 and 4 had a fantastic day - and we learnt so much! A big thank you to Simon and Magda for working so hard, we hope you'll come back and see us soon.

Year 6 Cycling Proficiency

Our Year 6 children successfully completed their Cycling Proficiency training earlier this week. Day 1 of the training took place on the tennis courts at Gateways School. It was all about learning learning the techniques to ride safely on the roads.

For Day 2 the children travelled down to Carr Manor High School and spent the day practicing these skills in real life situations. The instructors were very impressed with the speed at which the children learnt and their behaviour and attitude throughout.

The Story of School House

The School House is the building attached to the left hand side of the school. It was built as part of the original school, nearly 250 years ago. Then it was the teacher's house with the learning going on in what is now Class 1 and the offices. At some point in its history it became a private residence, still owned by the Harewood Estate. For many years the school has been in discussions with the Estate to gain usage of the house so that we can expand our facilities. Finally, through the active involvement of Lord Harewood, this has been achieved and work has begun.

The front of the building will become our new school entrance, with a path coming off the main Harrogate Road. The old front room will become the school office.

The kitchen area will be converted into an open library and sitting area.

 

There will also be Mr Madeley's office, a meeting room, a disabled toilet and storage space downstairs. On the first floor two bedrooms, the landing and the bathroom are all being knocked together to make a new classroom for Class 3.

 

One thing is certain. Taste in wallpaper was different when it was last decorated. There will also be a group room for this new classroom halfway up a new staircase.

Moving one classroom will mean that we can increase the size of the Class 4 classroom in the main building, making it a third bigger again than it is now. The rest of the old Class 3 space will be a new group work room.

So that we can get between the two buildings, the current school kitchen is moving to where the offices are now. The kitchen space will become a corridor and Class 1 cloakroom, with two additional toilets.

These are very exciting times. We hope to keep disruption to a minimum but are sure everyone will be patient while the work goes on. If all goes well the project will be competed by Christmas.

A VERY exciting hole in a wall

Finally after many years of waiting the renovation project on School House has begun. Today the first hole appeared in a wall. First they marked out where the door would be. 

Next they put in props to make sure the wall did not collapse.

And then they started drilling through.

Now we can see into the building from the outside and soon there will be a doorway. We have passed the point of no return!

13/06/11 - One doorway!

Sunshine, Sea and Sand by Class One

Class One had a fantastic time in Filey with Class Two on Tuesday and both classes were a credit to the school.
The children in Class One wanted to tell everyone what they had done on the beach. They chose the photographs and wrote captions to go with them. If you haven't already seen the notice board this week you will be able to see the children's actual writing after the half-term holiday.

I was burying Connel's digger.

Sam

This is me having my lunch.

Martha

I buried my feet.

Arun

I am in the boat. It is fun.

Jerram

I like the sand castle.

Jack

I was playing in the sand.

Theo

I like the sea.

Ptolemy

I am fetching the water.

Koutaro

I went to the sea to paddle.

Connel

I was playing with the sand.

Henry

We had fun at the beach.

Joe

Emily and I were playing in the boat having fun.

Sinead

I went to fetch some water.

Emily

I was making a cow.

Thomas

We were on the dinosaur.

Niamh

"Oh we did like to be beside the seaside!"