African Adventure - Day 3

Wednesday has seen the children take part in a number of activities including low ropes, indoor climbing and bridge building, as well as many other team challenges and collecting wood for the camp fire.

Flood Warning

Please be advised that many of the approach roads to school are currently under water. The A1120 outside the school is also currently flooded - this may change over the next hour, but please take care.

Gymnastics triumph!!

                                           Well! What can I say? Victorious again!
This afternoon a team of Year 2's and a team of Year3/4's took part in a gym. competition at Thomas Mills which involved exercises for body management, skills, sequencing and vaulting. The photo above is the 'before',  some slightly nervous /apprehensive children, many of whom did not take part in this competition last year.
After seemingly an eternity of practice and warm up time, we got under way, with both our teams performing their floor routines.

Then we performed the vault, though it was difficult to get photos of this.
Next followed the nervous wait for the judges totalling the marks. We weren't given any scores throughout the afternoon so it was hard to judge how well we had done. There were 5 teams in each age group and as Mr Parry began reading out the results we were pleased not to have come last (not that I expected we would!)  The Year 2's were getting more excited by the second when we weren't called out 4th either, or 3rd. Wow- we must have a silver medal, we can't have won - can we?  Second place was announced - Mellis, and by a whopping 5 point margin our Year 2's were the winners!!

  Don't  they look pleased with themselves?  ( and rightly so).

   After this excitement, (well supported from the balcony as ever!) we eagerly awaited the year3/4 results. 5th - no, not us, 4th, no,3rd, no - anticipation was rising. 2nd place - and silver medal to Earl Soham!  As was pointed out very vehemently to me - one better than the 3rd place of last year!
We were several points adrift of the winning team, Mellis, in their nice blue leotards, but nonetheless we know what we're aiming to do in the finals.

 WELL DONE - all of you, you did yourselves proud, and both teams qualify for the county finals, to be held in Bury St.Edmunds in July.
A big THANK YOU must also go to Karren for all the extra hours and effort she has put in to help the children with their routines. If there was a medal for the amount of times she said 'toes' 'tummies in',  'backs straight', 'slow down' she would easily win it!

Red Class Fundamentals

Today was the final session for Red Class children with the Debenham Sports Leaders and for the first time they managed to get outside! The photo collage shows a few of the activities they've been up to, and because they've enjoyed it so much Mrs Barker is going to carry it on for them until at least half-term.

Activities Week - Days 2 & 3 - Project Airfix

After our inspiring trip to Duxford, the children have been making Airfix models. They had a choice of either making a Spitfire or Messerschmitt 109.  Tuesday was spent following instructions and assembling their aeroplane, whilst Wednesday was spent painting and applying the transfers. It was brilliant to see the amount of care taken over this task. The results are particularly pleasing also, especially considering that only 4 of the children had made a model before. Looking at the children's faces, I think that they were pleased with their efforts too!

African Adventure - Tuesday Evening

On my arrival, the children were just finishing their evening meal. You'll be pleased to know that they are all eating well and have showed remarkable tidying up skills!
During the evening the children took part in a 'blind trail' where they needed to trust each other and listen very carefully. A good degree of teamwork and hilarity followed.

After a hot chocolate it was into the library for Mr Mansell's story time. Tonight was the tale of Winnie the Pooh and the expedition to the North Pole - the children absolutely loved it, but I'll leave it to them to try to describe the numerous voices he used during this epic re-telling!

African Adventure Days One and Two

There are still technical problems at Sizewell, however, this is the latest news I've been able to bring back to Earl Soham...
With great excitement and trepidation we set out this morning on our African Adventure. The monsoon season appears to be reaching an end and we have been blessed with glorious Spring sunshine.

On arrival at the centre that will be our home for the next week, we stowed our luggage and were informed of our mission. We are here in Africa, as an emergency relief team, to provide much needed help to the African village which has been evacuated after an attack by a guerilla force.

We began getting to know our fellow team members through a series of team building activities. We made an exploratory survey of the local area to identify possible risks and mapped the area by building a physical map of the locality.

 The children are having a great time!