Monday 24 December 2012

Christmas Dinner 2012

Last Thursday was our traditional Christmas Dinner. This year the children were joined by staff, governors and our Toddler Group. Our cook, Caroline, did a fantastic job serving up 97 plates of food which were delivered to the tables by our Year 6 pupils.
Blue Class made crackers for everyone and the Christmas spirit flowed nicely!

Sunday 23 December 2012

Talent Show

On Thursday we gathered in the hall for the highlight of the school year - The annual Earl Soham School Talent Show. What a feast of talent there was this year, with songs, dances, piano recitals, sketches, magic and even burping the alphabet!

Here are some of the highlights of the afternoon.












Friday 21 December 2012

A Letter from the Minister of State for Schools

Our 600th blog post!

I thought you'd like to read the contents of a letter I've just opened from Rt Hon David Laws MP - Minister of State for Schools...

It gives me great pleasure to congratulate you on the excellent performance of your pupils in the 2012 national Key Stage 2 tests as published on 13 December 2012.

The overall percentage of your pupils achieving Level 4+, combined with excellent rates of progress in both English and mathematics place you amongst the top performing primary schools this year.

Mastery of English and mathematics is critical to success at secondary school and beyond, so these pupils now have a really good start for the next stage of their education.

I would like to congratulate your staff, governors and pupils for their hard work and success, and to thank you for your leadership in continuing the drive towards the highest standards of educational achievement.

Here's to another great year in 2013

Wednesday 19 December 2012

Wolsey Theatre Trip

This afternoon children in years 2 - 6 visited the Wolsey Theatre in Ipswich to see the latest Rock 'n' Roll pantomime, Sleeping Beauty...


King Candlestick Camelot is all of a dither. The Wicked Witch Morgana has put a curse on his little baby daughter and he needs all the help he can get. So he summons the fabulous Fairy Fanciful, her tomboy assistant Frederica, and his unlikely district nurse - the outrageous Dame Taffeta Trott. We saw their attempts to foil Morgana's evil plan to make her son Mordred King... 
Mr Mansell had another fabulous afternoon as Dame Taffeta Trott took a shine to him... again!

Christmas Party

The children enjoyed a fantastic Christmas party with a disco and a visit from Father Christmas!

Thank you to the PTFA for all their hard work in organising it. 






Tuesday 18 December 2012

Christmas Carol Service

Last night St Mary's Church was heaving with people coming together to celebrate Christmas at our school Carol Service.
The service opened with a medley of Christmas Carols performed by the recorder group, which was followed by readings, poems and songs. Red class made a Nativity tableau, the choir sang beautifully and the staff choir finished the evening with a surprise sketch and Italian carol. What a fantastic night!



All of this excitement was followed by a party in the school hall to say a fond farewell to Mrs Barker, who is retiring at Christmas. We wish her all the best as she embarks on a new phase of her life, and hope that we will see her pop into school in the near future.

Thank you.

To all the staff, parents and pupils past and present -
I would just like to say a huge thankyou to you all for this evening. I was totally overwhelmed by the occasion, the gifts, the sentiments expressed by so many, and even the song at the end!  I can hardly believe all of Yellow Class kept the plate such a secret!
Thankyou too, to the choir for their brilliant rendition of my favourite carol.
I leave after 13 years with so many happy memories - Earl Soham is truly a great place to work.
Barbara
P.S  I'll be watching the blog to see what you're all up to!

Thursday 13 December 2012

Wolsey Studio Trip

This morning children from reception and Year 1 visited the Wolsey Studio to watch the Little Angel Theatre's production of The Magician's Daughter...
The rain won't stop, it's drip, drip, dropping all the time.  Isabella just wants to go out and play but there's a storm raging, and now it is time for bed. Her mother Miranda tells amazing stories of her time on an island, with her father Prospero and the comical creatures Ariel and Caliban.  So, Isabella makes a plan to stop the rain by using Prospero's magic staff … if only she could get to the island and find it…
The children took full part in the show, singing along and responding to prompts - they found Caliban's attempts to pronounce 'Isabella' particularly amusing!. A great show was completed with the opportunity for the children to meet the puppets at the end.


Wednesday 12 December 2012

Dance Club

This afternoon, parents were invited to watch the work in progress of our dancers, who attend Dance Club with Mrs Jarvis on a Wednesday. Although some of the dances are yet to be finished, they put on a superb performance. It was great to see children from lower KS2, right through to some ex-pupils in year 7, who return specially to take part in dance club. 

I hope you enjoy watching the videos. 








Christmas Crafts

We have been making use of our natural resources for some Christmas Craft activities this year. Our willow house was in need of a trim, and we decided to use the off-cuts to produce some woven Christmas stars. The children decorated them using floristry ribbon and will be bringing them home soon. We hope you like them.


Making Bread in Blue Class

Today, each of the bread groups had a second opportunity to produce their loaf, and make any improvements they needed to make.

They were very busy and I hope you will agree that they produced some fantastic looking results.





Friday 7 December 2012

Blue Class - Emotions

This week, Blue Class have been writing poetry based on emotions. This afternoon these pieces were produced having built on their ideas over the course of the last 5 days.


I don't mean to be happy
or to be sad
and bad.
I'm good at smiling
that's just me
and if you don't like it
let it be.
My favourite thing
that puts a smile on my face
is the people around me
being happy.
If you don't believe me
come and see
I'm happy.
You're the only thing
that makes me smile.


He comes when you need him
He is always full of joy
He never stops smiling
He is never angry or sad
And he is always happy no matter what
What do you think I am ?

People think
I come with a rainbow
or a surprise
but I do not.
I can sometimes
but not always
for I am happiness.
All I ask for
is a child's love
and nothing else.
For when they are sad
or angry with something
I swallow 
those feelings inside
At Christmas when Santa's here
People think I'm not here
it's just Santa
but no, I'm always here.

I am who I am
I am who I am
why can't people accept that?
When I get scared
people make fun of me
when I cry
they call me names.
I accept who they are,
why can't they accept me?
I find it tedious
when will they stop?
I try not to care
but it just doesn't work.
Oh when will it stop?
I just have to get on
maybe one day I'll be happy
instead of being annoyed
which is what I am now.

It strangles sadness, despair, fear and anger
it delivers love, joy and hope
which all together equal something special.
It picks you up,
places you in the spot-light
and gives you amazing features.
It makes sure you're unique
different from everybody
inhabiting the planet.
It kills anxiety that has been
in your heart 
for ages.
It talks to you at night
and visits you
when you're lonely
It takes the weight
that lines your shoulders
and hurls them away
into the atmosphere.
It makes me strong
when I am not.

Anger strikes me
Nearly kicks me
It even hit me
I rarely get it
but when it comes
I just can't beat it.
I think I'll stick to joy.

Please, please
stop it, stop it
I don't like it
leave me alone.
Why can't you see that?
Don't make me cry
help me, help me
someone, please!
I can't stand it
Don't make me cry.

What should I do?
I've used up my mum's fave perfume
she'll find out soon
I hope she'll assume
that it was the dog!
Oh well...

He comes when you need him
He is always full of joy
He never stops smiling
He is never angry or sad
And he is always happy no matter what
What do you think I am?

Hello everyone
I love to smile
I never hide my shame
unless it's a trial.
I would never lie
because I get very shy
if I did
I'd offer you some pie.
I love pears
but I don't accept dares
if it was something bad
I'd have nightmares.

Anger, anger
it's all around us
left, right, up and down
anger's everywhere.
ANGER
When you just go down
to the shop
when you drive through
your local town
I bet you'll see ANGER.


The boy who was alone
never spoke a word
always without a friend.
There he was
in the corner of the room
as soon as you spot him
he'd run away.
We never knew why...
You shine as you do the right things
for other people
but sometimes you can overdo a good thing
and it makes people angry
when someone breaks your memory
you get angry
but sometimes the lightning strikes
and you can't stop.
Why does that happen?
What should I do?
There's no going back
beginning to get lonesome.
It destroys the love inside you
it wants to destroy your happy life
and makes you despair
there's no going back.
When you get angry
it changes the whole of the world
inside of you
and everything becomes miserable.

It spreads laughter
it dries up your tears
it reigns over you
you wonder where it is?
You need it in your life
it's right there
if you need it
come and get it.

He is a man full of joy
with a face full of hope.
You can cuddle against him when you're sad
he can cheer you up in the darkest hours
for he lives inside everyone
and will do forever.
He destroys sadness within you
speeds around you with his big rosy cheeks.
He has a staff
that can spread laughter
and clouds disappear wherever he travels.
You must hope he never goes
as he takes away sadness
in this world. 

It makes me smile
as it rises up inside me.
It makes me sigh with bliss.
It overflows like water
infecting everyone it touches.
When I laugh I can't stop.
When it gets into my system
it comes and conquers everything.
It brings cheer
it brings joy
it makes me see the world
through different eyes.
It switches my mood
it turns me around
it conquers me
making me only feel...

I am the boy with a lonely sigh
I am the boy who will sit and cry
I am the boy who is sad and loopy
I am the boy who's never happy or loopy.
But, one day I will see
the world in peace and harmony.

It creeps up without me knowing
and takes me by surprise
my hands get sweaty and sticky
and I know I'm gonna cry.
They always expect so much
and sometimes I can deliver
but when it doesn't make sense
I start to feel myself shiver
and get in a complete mess...

I am happy today
because I have the biggest smile on my face
at school I made
a new friend.
Lucky me.
Even though i might not
be pretty or beautiful
I am still wonderful, kind
and caring.

Some people think
that their life is full of sorrow
always expecting sadness.
But in everybody's life
there will be happiness.
Most people treasure kindness
where others may not.
Kindness is important
it's what everybody needs.

I like the outside
I don't mind if they don't like me
I'm not going to change.
Maybe I can make friends with them
but I'm not going inside
It is so pretty out here.
I don't mind if you disagree,
I cannot change.

It swallows happiness
it destroys confidence
it supports despair
and encourages loneliness.
It drowns you in a sea of emptiness...
There's something missing
it's never there.
I wonder where it is,
where it is in the world?
I do not know.
There's something missing
it's never there.
Will it ever return?
I want to know
why I never see it.
There's something missing
it's never there.
I want it badly
I need it desperately
to guide me through life
though it isn't there.
There's something missing
it's never there.
There's no happiness without it
oh, when will it come?
I miss it all day and night.
There's something missing
it's never there
though when it comes back
happiness will reign.
There's something missing
it's never there.
When will it return?

Like a ball of light
it lights up the darkest night.
Sadness has no place to come in
when you're feeling like this -
chuck sadness in the bin.
You cannot beat it
it's invisible.
Try to beat it and you'll fail
it is indestructible.

My emotion is so hard to explain
it's like anger
and sadness
blended together
by a mixer in my stomach.

I make the most of my time
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter.
My smile is like the sun
my laugh lights the world
I make the most of my time
my friends respect who I am
and I appreciate that.
The one thing I try to do
is carry on lighting the world. 



Writer of the Week


Wall of Fame




Thursday 6 December 2012

PTFA Christmas Fayre

The afternoon saw the whole school community come together for the Christmas Fayre. There was plenty for the children to do with sand art, making Christmas decorations, hair styling and 'Gueuss where Father Christmas is' to name just a few.
Scrumptious refreshments were on sale and appeared to be enjoyed by many.
The hall had a lovely 'Christmassy' feel to it, with the marvellous tree really catching the eye.
The school choir performed magnificently with their two sets and brought the hall to silence and then rapturous applause.
It really was a marvellous event with a great deal of effort put into proceedings by our extremely supportive PTFA - thank you for another great occasion.



Friday 23 November 2012

2012 Small Schools Netball Tournament

On a bright(-ish) but chilly Friday morning, our girls (fresh from last week's success), ventured forth to play in the tournament at Thomas Mills. For many of the team this was another first experience, but were they overawed or daunted? Not a bit of it!















They had to play a round robin of 5 matches - they won every one, with scores of  5-0 , 4-1, 4-2, 4-0, and 2-1, resulting in a total of 15 points. Easton were runners- up with 13 points. (A reversal of last year!)
WELL DONE!
Thanks again to Jennie and Dawn for all their time spent at after-school practices, to Jennie for umpiring some of the matches, and a huge thank you to the parents who helped on the scoring and timing after a last minute hiccup!!

Tuesday 20 November 2012

Earl Soham v Creeting St. Mary

This afternoon saw the first meeting of these two schools for what turned out to be an entertaining game of football. In fading light, both teams are to be congratulated for the spectacle they produced.
In their first ever competitive match, the visitors did themselves proud with their positive approach to enjoying the experience. Although Earl Soham (attacking the 'mound' end) took an early lead, Creeting St. Mary scored a fabulous goal making the score one apiece after ten minutes. At half time, the hosts led 3 - 1 meaning that there was all to play for during the second 20mins. 
Not surprisingly, the visitors tired in the 2nd half and Earl Soham turned out to be 8 - 1 victors. Goals were scored by Ashwell (4), Smith (2) with the Nesling bros. picking up a goal-a-piece. It was particularly nice to see young guns Orford and Upton picking up more valuable experience, whilst the defensive trio of Parr, Handley and Cardin should be pleased with their efforts in restricting the dangerous attacking threat of the visitors to one goal.














Friday 16 November 2012

Writer of the Week


Wall of Fame





Pyjama Party for Pudsey


 Pudsey's Pyjama Party - organised by the School Council - with invaluable assistance from staff members, it looks from the faces to have been a resounding success!!! Total raised to be confirmed, but over £100.