WORLD BOOK DAY - Thursday 1st March: Just to confirm that the children in Years 5 and 6 do
not have to come dressed as a character from Dickens on World Book Day, they can choose someone from their favourite book, however there will be various class based activities to celebrate Dickens' anniversary. The children in Years 3 and 4 can choose between a character from Dickens or their favourite book character. Apologies for the confusion
A special present for the children at Edlesborough School!
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Last month Mr Ellis returned to talk to children at Edlesborough School about his experiences whilst taking part in the Clipper Round the World 2011/12 Yacht race. He gave a fascinating presentation and showed us a video of life on board one of the competing boats Gold Coast Australia. The waves in the southern ocean were taller than the school hall, the crew were permanently wet and cold and we all admired their bravery. Despite the challenges it sounded an amazing experience, especially as Gold Coast was frequently in the lead! |
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During his talk Mr Ellis mentioned that children in Year 1 had written letters of support to him and the rest of the crew, and that everyone on Gold Coast had very much enjoyed reading the letters. The children in Year 1 all suddenly sat up smartly when Mr Ellis said he had a surprise gift for them to say thank you. He then presented the class with a large flat parcel wrapped in brown paper. When the children peeled off the paper there was an immense gasp of delight when a large framed picture was revealed. The children’s letters formed the background with a large photo of the crew on Gold Coast in the centre. The most exciting thing was that the crew members had sent several thank you messages to the children in Year 1, not written on paper ... but on pieces of the sail from Gold Coast. We were all so overcome with excitement and emotion, we all felt so privileged to receive such a thoughtful gift which in time will become a real historical heirloom. The picture is now hanging in pride of place in the school hall to be enjoyed by everyone.
Cathy Goodyear, Year 1 class teacher |
Famous sprinter takes a trip to Edlesborough School!!
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We started the very important Olympic year of 2012 by welcoming a Team GB Olympic athlete, Rion Pierre. He competes for Great Britain in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay. Rion visited the school for the morning and worked with each class by putting the children through their paces. The children got a taste of what it is like to train as an athlete. One of the children asked Rion if he was on a special diet. Rion responded by saying he eats a balanced diet of fruit, meat, fish and vegetables to stay fit and healthy; he also said to the children that no matter what they do in their lives if they work hard and do their best they will be successful. It was inspirational to hear Rion’s story of his determination to compete with the best athletes in the world. |
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Rion was born in Jamaica and moved to England when he was 5, he told us that when he first started school he was a bit ‘podgy’ and didn’t like school. Until he discovered sport! He was a great footballer but was dropped by Chelsea at the age of 14, because he wasn’t tall and strong enough to carry on. This set back did not put him off and he was even more determined to succeed; so he joined an athletics club. Here his talent in sprinting was noticed and now he is one of our Olympic hopefuls for the 2012 Games! The children responded enthusiastically to his visit and have been raising money to support ‘Sports for schools’; the money raised will be used to support our Olympians.
Rekha Slatter |
Please respond to the Home to School Transport Consultation regarding funding of transport for 2012-13 which closes on 31st January 2012. Under current proposals children living in Edlesborough would only be funded for transport to their nearest upper school, regardless of catchment or County boundaries. www.buckscc.gov.uk/schooltransport
On Wednesday 25th January from 9 -10 a.m. Mrs Ellis' husband Peter will be coming in to talk to the children about his experiences when he took part in the Clipper Round the World Yacht race at the end of last year. He travelled from South Africa to Australia and New Zealand on the yacht Gold Coast Australia.
Just to confirm there is a FOES Disco on Friday 9th December at the normal times.
As you will be aware many of the teaching unions have recommended that their members take strike action on Wednesday 30th November. I am writing to inform you that Edlesborough School will not be closing, and at this point in time, I am not expecting that there will be any partial closures. If circumstances did change, parents will be informed and I will endeavour to provide as much notice as possible. Jane Foster
Please look under Parents and then PTA for a FOES presentation on their achievements over the last year.
World Olympic Dream project
As part of the project the BBC have published some of our write ups and video clips on our Mongolian week - please click the link which will take you directly to the clip:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympic_games/world_olympic_dreams/9531948.stm
Park House School visit
As part of the BBC World Olympic Dream programme Edlesborough school and Park House School are jointly linked with a school in Mongolia where Olympic Gold Winning Boxer Badar Uugan is a former student. This long distance international partnership is flourishing and the programme has provided the opportunity to bring together pupils from the two UK schools in a new friendship.
On 22nd March students from Park House School visited Edlesborough School and took part in a joint school assembly on the Olympic and Paralympic Value of Friendship, the students then led a series of PE activities based on the Boxing training undertaken by Badar Uugan.
In the afternoon pupils from both schools had an amazing opportunity to spend the afternoon training with the GB Paralympic Seated Volleyball team, learning the skills needed to be a successful Paralympian at the world famous Stoke Mandeville centre, which was the birthplace of the Paralympic Games in 1948.
Park House Headteacher Derek Peaple said ‘The great thing about the World Olympic Dreams programme is that in addition to the international partnership building, it has also brought together students from two different areas of this country that would otherwise probably never have met. The Park House students are greatly enjoying their new friendship with pupils from Edlesborough School and are looking forward to welcoming their new friends to Newbury later this year’.
Dan Tree, Park House PE Teacher and School Sport Co-ordinator said ‘Today was one of those special days that makes you thankful that you are a teacher. The Park House leaders were fantastic, inspirational and real role models to the Edlesborough School pupils, who were equally fantastic, receptive and extremely welcoming. Attitude and behaviour was exceptional throughout the day from all pupils. I am so proud of every one of them’.
17 year old Young Sports Ambassador Amy Hooper said ‘It was an inspiration to meet the young students at Edlesborough School, they were so enthusiastic and motivated for sport. It was a wonderful day and we are looking forward to the Edlesborough pupils visiting us soon. The afternoon Seated Volleyball was a sport that was unknown to most of us, so we were all excited to learn from the GB paralympic team. It was amazing to meet them and create friendships with them, whilst strengthening ours with Edlesborough. To summarise the day was fab!’.
16 year old Junior Sports Leader Betsy Hart added ‘ I really enjoyed my experience with the GB team, we learnt how to play seated volleyball and it was great fun. I wish we could do this in our PE lessons’. This was definitely an experience I won’t forget’.
Edlesborough School teacher Rekha Slatter, who organised the visit said ‘We were so excited to welcome our UK twin school Park House. Their visit to us lived up to all our expectations and more. As a teacher this was definitely one of the magical moments that makes my job worthwhile. Our pupils responded so well to the activities set by the Park House students. Their sixth formers were excellent with our pupils who looked up to them, and were inspired by their enthusiasm. In the afternoon the children had an amazing experience when they met the Paralympic athletes and played Sitting Volleyball. The staff and children are looking forward to further developing this strong friendship’.
There are some photographs from the day in the gallery section of this website.
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World Book Day
The children and staff of Edlesborough School took part in World Book Day on Thursday 3rd March, by dressing up as a character from their favourite book. Activities over the course of the day included the children listening to some volunteer parents reading extracts from their favourite book, designing their own short stories and each child showing their character to the rest of the school in a special assembly. We wish to thank the parents who gave up their time to read aloud to children and to all our parents for helping the children with their costumes. Much fun was had by all
Jenny Finch |
Sign to Sing World Record Attempt
The children took part in a unique world record attempt on Wednesday 9th February when 102,000 chidlren around the UK performed the same song at the same time. Using sign langugage they sang 'I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing' and raised £280.83 for SignHealth a national charity, dedicated to improving the health and well-being of deaf people. To see a video of the event visit
www.leightonbuzzardtoday.co.uk Olympic Dream World Class
We are looking forward to being able to develop our links with the Olympic Gold Medalist, Badar Uugan Enkhbatyn, and his former Mongolian School over the coming months. Mrs Slatter attended a conference in London for all the winning schools and their overseas counterparts. Following the conference we had a visit from Mr Derdgee Bold, a Head teacher at the primary school in Ulan Bator, the town where Badar Uugan Enkhbatyn attended school. Mr Bold visited Edlesborough on 18th and 19th January and we are very excited at the prospect of being able to learn about such a different country and about such an amazing athlete. Watch out for updates and news on BBC World Class.
Jane Foster
Our Olympics Dream Competition Success
The children from KS2 might remember a piece of homework set some time ago based on ‘The World Olympics Dream’. This was to enter a BBC competition to twin with a school in another part of the world that an Olympic athlete attended as a child. Well I am delighted to inform you that we have been successful in our bid. On Monday, I received an e-mail from the BBC informing me that we have been selected to twin with an athlete and their school in the lead up to the Olympics. Our application was said to be of an exceptional quality, thanks to some fantastic pieces of homework. This is a great honour for the whole school. There will be more details to follow once I find out more about the athlete and the school we are to be twinned with. Thank you for all your support.
Rekha Slatter
Sign to Sing
On 9th February at 2.45 p.m. the children will be joining thousands around the County to break a world record for children, singing and signing at the same time. The purpose of this event is to raise awareness of British sign language, an expressive language which enhances communication skills whether you are hearing or deaf. Children learn sign language very quickly, and begin to understand how it helps those not as fortunate as themselves. Children will be able to donate money on the day of the Big Sing to raise money for Signhealth, the healthcare charity for deaf people. This initiative is part of the National Sing Up Day celebrating singing and music for all children across the UK, and we are sure your child will enjoy and learn from this experience!
Bernadette Freed