The Roundup - Edition 94

Monte (Nursery) children enjoyed a wonderful time in Forest School this week exploring the theme of birds and their nests. The session began with careful observation around the pond, where the group were delighted to spot not one but two newts – a male and a female – which sparked lots of curiosity and conversation about how animals prepare homes for their babies.

Using binoculars, Monte (Nursery) children searched the skies and treetops for birds while discussing what nests are made from, why birds build them, and how their size might vary depending on the bird. The children also explored the idea of eggs, feeling and comparing two eggs that had been brought along and thinking about which birds might have laid them.

There were plenty of opportunities for imaginative and independent play too. Some children enjoyed weaving and filling their own nests with natural materials, while others experimented with floating leaf boats on the pond. A game of hide and seek added to the fun, and one child proudly climbed into the big apple tree for the first time before making marks in the mud with a stick. With bird spotting, nest building and exciting wildlife discoveries, Monte (Nursery) had a fantastic and memorable Forest School session.

K Group (Reception) had a joyful and busy Forest School session last week as they celebrated World Book Day outdoors. Inspired by storytelling and the natural environment, the children embraced a range of imaginative and practical activities throughout the afternoon.

Some of the children enjoyed energetic play, taking turns on the swing and confidently climbing trees. Others worked creatively together to design their own swing, while another group teamed up to roll large logs across the forest floor. Nearby, one child recreated a scene from The Gruffalo by building their very own Gruffalo log pile, bringing a favourite story to life in the woods.

There were also plenty of opportunities for exploration and discovery. The children spent time investigating the impressive Celtic wall previously built by G Group (Year 3), while another keen observer spotted both last year’s teasel and a new teasel plant beginning to grow by the hedge.

K Group (Reception) also took part in some gentle gardening, carefully sowing spinach seeds which they will look forward to watching grow in the weeks ahead. The afternoon finished with a relaxing moment in the sunshine as the children gathered together to listen to a story, before an exciting wildlife sighting when a newt appeared in the pond. It was a wonderful way for K Group (Reception) to celebrate books, nature and time outdoors.

It has been an exciting and varied week for J Group (Year 1), filled with adventure, creativity and hands-on learning. The highlight of the week was a special class trip to the Paddington Experience in London. After a lovely walk along the South Bank, J Group (Year 1) arrived ready to explore the world of Paddington. The children visited 32 Windsor Gardens where they met Mrs Brown, helped Mrs Bird in the kitchen and even travelled all the way to Darkest Peru in search of oranges to make marmalade – all in one memorable day.

Back at school, J Group (Year 1) continued their learning across a range of subjects. In Science, the class has been exploring the characteristics of birds, mammals and reptiles. This learning was brought to life during a visit to the Animal Centre, where the children had the opportunity to observe animals up close and think about how they are classified.

In Design and Technology, J Group (Year 1) developed their food preparation skills by making marmalade sandwiches and colourful fruit kebabs. There was lots of careful chopping, cutting and threading involved before the children enjoyed the results at a delightful Teddy Bear’s picnic in the afternoon, sharing a story together while eating the delicious food they had prepared.

Forest School provided another opportunity for exploration and creativity. Continuing the theme of birds, J Group (Year 1) discussed eggs and the different sizes they can be, before building their own nests using natural materials. Some children placed their nests carefully in the trees, while others crafted clay eggs to place inside them. A few keen observers used binoculars to see whether their nests might attract visiting birds. The class also spotted the two newts now living in the pond, which prompted an interesting discussion about amphibians and how they differ from birds. Throughout the session, J Group (Year 1) impressed with their imaginative ideas, inventive games and thoughtful creations.

H Group (Year 2) enjoyed a busy and rewarding week, full of exploration, teamwork and opportunities to share their learning with others. During their Forest School session, the children embraced a variety of hands-on activities in the natural environment. Working together, they created impressive dens using natural materials, demonstrating great collaboration and problem-solving skills.

The group also spent time carefully observing the pond, looking out for wildlife and enjoying the calm moments that come with pond watching. Creativity was on full display as some children built bug hotels to provide shelter for insects, while others even made “soup” for insects using a mixture of natural ingredients gathered from around the Forest School area. These imaginative activities encouraged curiosity about the natural world and how we can support the small creatures that live within it.

Later in the week, H Group (Year 2) proudly welcomed their families to a special morning talk. The children confidently shared what they have been learning about explorers as part of their Spring topic. It was a wonderful opportunity for H Group (Year 2) to showcase their knowledge, enthusiasm and growing confidence as they reflected on the discoveries they have made throughout the term.

It has been a wonderfully active and hands-on couple of weeks for G Group (Year 3), with many opportunities to bring their learning to life. Last week, the children had a fantastic time in the sunshine at Forest School working on their Celtic wattle wall. The wall had already been carefully woven from willow, and the next step was to create the daub. G Group (Year 3) mixed clay, water and grass together before plastering the mixture onto the woven willow, experiencing first-hand how Celts constructed their homes. The practical nature of the activity made the topic feel vivid and real.

Their exploration of Celtic life was taken even further during a memorable trip to Celtic Harmony. G Group (Year 3) began the day by getting into character, weaving headbands and decorating one another with ‘woad’ tattoos. The children then took part in warrior training, including an archery lesson and an exciting woodland quest. They also watched a demonstration of Celtic battle techniques before practising them themselves against some very convincing “Roman” opponents. The day concluded with a dramatic Celtic story told by one of the leaders, leaving everyone fully immersed in the atmosphere of the time.

This week, G Group (Year 3) enjoyed another sunny afternoon outdoors as they visited the rhubarb patch in Arunwood to harvest rhubarb for a school event later in the week. The children learned how to tie a knot around their bunches so they could carry them more easily, developing practical outdoor skills. Afterwards, they made the most of the beautiful weather by exploring and playing in the much-loved daffodil maze, a long-standing feature of the St Chris grounds.

Back in the classroom, G Group (Year 3) have been working hard in Maths, using cubes to support their understanding of dividing by eight. Through practical exploration, the children investigated how to share amounts into eight equal groups and how to group numbers into eights, helping to strengthen both their mathematical language and understanding.

F Group (Year 4) enjoyed an exciting trip this week to Hobbledown, where the children spent the day exploring, learning and taking part in a range of adventurous activities. It was a wonderful opportunity for F Group (Year 4) to experience learning outside the classroom, and they represented the school brilliantly with their enthusiasm, engagement and excellent behaviour throughout the day.

One of the highlights of the visit was a workshop on habitats and adaptations. F Group (Year 4) impressed the session leader with their knowledge and thoughtful contributions, demonstrating how well they understand the ways animals adapt to survive in different environments.

Although a couple of planned activities could not go ahead due to time constraints and some rainy weather which made certain areas slippery and unsafe, the day was still full of memorable moments. F Group (Year 4) made the most of their visit, returning with plenty of stories about their adventures — and perhaps even some requests to return again in the future.

D Group (Year 6) represented the school brilliantly this week as the netball team took part in an exciting tournament. Competing against several other schools, the team demonstrated fantastic teamwork, determination and resilience throughout the afternoon.

Despite some very challenging weather conditions, D Group (Year 6) approached each match with great spirit and supported one another both on and off the court. Their positive attitude and strong sense of teamwork helped them secure an impressive fourth place out of seven teams, a result they should be very proud of. It was a wonderful display of sportsmanship and perseverance from D Group (Year 6).

The Junior School enjoyed a wonderful evening of music on Wednesday, showcasing the talents of our young musicians from J Group (Year 1) through to D Group (Year 6). Students performed a range of pieces, including Fur Elise, the Harry Potter theme tune, and Naughty from Matilda, demonstrating both skill and confidence. 

It was a delight to see the children supporting and celebrating each other’s performances, creating a warm and encouraging atmosphere. Everyone left feeling inspired, and we look forward to another music-filled evening in the Summer Term!