May ‘15 / St. Hedda’s R.C. Primary School
SummerTerm Newsletter - 49

Topic

This term our topic is Egypt.This half term in Class One we have been learning about Egypt. We have been looking at globes and atlases to locate Egypt and identify the 7 continents and 5 oceans. We have been learning about ancient Egypt, writing our names in hieroglyphics and making masks just like the one found on Tutankhamun! We have been learning all about woodland animals in science and each carried out research using the internet to find out more about them. We have also been classifying animals and finding out the different ways in which this can be done!

St. Hedda’s Election

On Thursday 7th May, St Hedda’s School held their very own Election. As the children were not old enough to vote in the General Election, we decided to hold our own in school.

The children formed different parties andthought about the following topical issues: schools, jobs, the environment, crime, young people and voting age. In the weeks leading up to Election Day, each party wrote their manifestos and made posters, rosettes and stickers to try and secure votes! They also spent time packing envelopes with postal voting forms, polling cards and canvas leaflets to send out to parents. Throughout Election Day, both children, parents, staff and visitors cast their votes in our polling booth.

Votes were counted and verified, and on Friday 8th May 2015, The Cool Kid Party was elected into Government. Party Leaders and newly appointed Prime Ministers, Max Upton, Ewan Mould and Charlie Parker would like to thank their voters for all their support and promise to keep their pledges. Their first duty as Prime Ministers was to choose a celebratory lunch.

Facts and figures

Number of voters 77

Number of votes cast145

Turnout 94%

(nobody had to be turned away!)

R.E.

This half term we have followed the Biblical events which recordwhat happened after the Resurrection.
We learned about Ascension Day when Christ returned to Heaven and there after thecoming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.
We always celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit by having a Pentecostal picnic when we are joined by the "top school", St. Hilda's. The children dressed in Pentecostal colours, red and yellow the sun shone and we all enjoyed ourselves. Afterwards we all played together on our field.We had invited St. Hilda's to join us for Mass, their children doing the bidding prayers and our children the readings. We had written thoughtful prayers on the outline of doves and these decorated the pews in church.
Following our Mass service we all congregated in the playground and Fr Guiver released a white ‘dove’.

Further R.E. Studies will show us how the Christian Church was born and grew.

Sport

Swimming:This half term we returned to Loftus Leisure Centre for our weekly swimming sessions.

Multiskills:Class One went to Eskdale School to take part in Key Steps Gymnastics. Activities were led by students from Eskdale and all of Class One took part. It was a busy afternoon of balancing, jumping and rolling and we had some very tired but very happy children at the end of it!

Tour de Yorkshire

Did you see it? All the excitement that led up to it and thenit was all over so quickly!!
On the previous Friday to the race, the junior children joined some four hundred children at East Whitby Primary School to a special recording of the song, ‘The Road’written by Alistair Griffin. Thirteen schools took part and the school hall was packed and rather warm!
We were put through our singing paces, the children had to work hard but it was a very interesting experience having the making of a music disc explained to us and then to have a real live "pop-star" guide us through!
It was quite an exhausting morning but the children enjoyed themselves.
We were also joined by Tyne Tees T.V., B.B.C. Radio Tees, Whitby Gazette and Yorkshire Coast Radio. This is the link to download:

KS2 SATs

This half term Y6 pupils have successfully completed their Y6 SATs. They all worked extremely hard and should be proud of their achievements.

Peat Rigg Residential Trip

On the final week of half term, the year 5s, 6s and Miss Evans took part in a residential trip to Peat Rigg where they spent a week taking part in lots of different activities. We look forward to reporting how they got on in the next issue!

Attendance

The following children received a certificate for 100% attendance for this half term; Ella, Grace, Isobel, Sophie, Robert, Sophia, Rhys, Ellie, Poppy, Jack, Carla, Daniel, Lucy, Byron, Eleanor, Amelia, Charlie, Max, Hannah and Alfie. Congratulations to them all.

House Points

At the end of the Summer half term the winning house was the Kestrels with 462 points, Lapwings – 410, Swallows – 406, Barn Owls – 399, Kingfishers – 375.Congratulations to the team members of Kestrels; Izabelle, Byron, Matty, Amy, Charlie, Noah, Ella and Ellie.

Shopping Vouchers

Many thanks to all those who have contributedSainsburys shopping vouchers, we are very grateful. We have not had a final count of the last few as yet but we know we are well over 4000. These are no longer being issued. An order has to be placed by the end of June so if you have any more we would be very grateful before this date.

Friends of St. Hedda’s

Thank you to everyone who contributed to the recent Bags2School collection we will let you know how much we raised in due course.

HOLIDAYS

Return: Mon 1st June

Break up: Fri 17th July

IMPORTANT DATES for the future

Sports Day – Wednesday 17th June

End of Year Assembly – Wednesday 15th July.