European Partners Visit Our School

The end of May was a very special time for our school. Yes, tests were over for KS2 and the Jubilee Party was coming up very soon. The weather was great and everyone was enjoying the sunshine and the outside play.

But I'm talking about something else. A European something else!

A group of 15 teachers from our partner countries have visited our school for the first time. Six teachers came from Spain, three from Italy, two teachers and two students from Poland and one teacher from Turkey. Some of them had already been to London, but quite a few of them were visiting our beautiful city for the first time. We just had to make it truly memorable for them!

On Monday, 28th May 2012, the teachers had a big meeting at the Holiday Inn Express with Mr Cook and Mrs Thomson. They needed to talk about the first year of the partnership and decide on next year's activities. When the meeting was over, they all set off for a yummy lunch cooked by Patsy and her team, followed by a quick tour of the school and classrooms. Mr Cook, Mrs Grehan and Mrs Thomson proudly showed the school to the European teachers, introducing them to some children and showing them how we teach in the UK.

That afternoon, Mrs Thomson took a group on a Thames River Cruise all the way to Greenwich. In the evening, Mr Cook, Mrs De Silva, Mrs MacDonald and Lyn joined everyone for a typical pub dinner at The Ship! Fish & Chips was a winner and so was Pimm's!

Tuesday, 29th May 2012, was Jubilee Day at St. Faith's! Everyone was really excited! Children and adults came wearing British colours (red, white and blue) or royal fancy dress. We had a special Jubilee Assembly at 9am to which we invited our European guests. After we sang the National Anthem, Mr Cook asked the School Councillors from each KS2 class to help hand out some souvenirs to the visiting teachers. As you already know from my previous posts, we had lots of fun activities that day, including a Crown Competition judged by Loles, Przemek, Monica, Anna and Ahmet.

It was 3pm and, sadly, time to say goodbye to our visitors. It was great having them around, wasn't it? They were all extremely kind, interested and always smiling! Can they come back soon, please?!

Sending lots of love to everybody!

Mrs Thomson xx

The Big Party

Here is a video with some photos of our Big Jubilee Party!

Look at Mr Cook serving scones to the children and staff:

Enjoy!
Mrs Thomson

Jubilee Assembly

Here's a photo book of our 9am Assembly on the 29th May 2012.

Mr Cook talked about the Queen and her role/responsibility for Britain and the Commonwealth. Then we stood up with our arms behind our back to sing the National Anthem. At the end, we gave a few gifts to our visiting European friends!

Mrs Thomson

God Save the Queen!

Children and Staff at St. Faith's have celebrated the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in style last week. They have organised a Jubilee Day which started off with an Assembly at 9am where they sang God Save the Queen.

The children spent the morning doing a variety of activities in their classes. Later in the morning, the PTA very kindly organised some games in the back play pitch. They were great fun!

Lunch time was full of Jubilee goodies, with the lunch hall suitably decorated! While children were having their lunches, Lyn, Jade, Chris, Vikki and Mrs Thomson set up the top playground ready for the afternoon Jubilee Party.

All classes went outside where they played Pass the Parcel and ate loads of party food, including lovely British scones with jam and cream that Mr Cook asked the kitchen to baked especially for the occasion! During this time, a Crown Competition was held. Our European friends were there to help us judge!

The children have ended the day by singing the National Anthem again. Listen to them singing so well!

More photos of the Jubilee day will be uploaded soon so that you can remember this wonderful and special day!

Mrs Thomson

World Games Day

On the 25th of April 2012, Mr Cook invited a very special lady to teach all classes some games from around the world, including from our partner countries. We have been playing some of them in the playground.

Here's a video of Year 3's experience of this fun day!

Soon, I will be uploading photos of the rest of the classes.

Keep Fit and Healthy!
Mrs Thomson

Les couleurs

Year 3 have been learning how to name and identify the French colours. They have made up a song to help them remember all the colours to the tune of Frere Jacques. Here's the video:

Bleu, blanc, rouge
Jaune et orange
Vert et violet
Noir, gris, rose

There are three colours that they have not included in the song: brown, gold and silver. Find out how to say them in French and comment on this post. Remember to say who you are so that Mrs Thomson can praise you!

A toute a l'heur,
Mrs Thomson

Year 3 do a Turkish dance

Here they are practicing in class:

And then presenting to the whole school in a special assembly:

Well done children!
Mrs Thomson

European Cooking!

Here is a video with photos of the children cooking European recipes and selling their food after school for their parents to try.

Enjoy!
Mrs Thomson

Y1 and Y5 dance the Tarantella

As promised, here are two videos of the Y1 and Y5 children dancing a typical Italian dance: The Tarantella. It must have taken hours of practise but it was worth it. Hard work and perseverance do pay off!

Molto Bene!! Well done to both classes!!
Mrs Thomson

EUROPE IS MY HOME - ASSEMBLY

All children at St. Faith's have spent the last Term learning about our partner countries and preparing a presentation for each other. They have learnt dances, played outdoor games, researched facts about the countries, cooked some of their foods and produced Art work. All of this wonderful work is now displayed in the main hallway and it would be great if parents could spend some time reading (and learning!) about each country.


We have worked in buddy classes, each in charge of a country:
Nursery and Y3 - Turkey
Reception and Y4 - Poland
Y1 and Y5 - Italy
Y2 and Y6 - Spain


Having practised and prepared our materials, each group then presented it to the school so that we could all learn from each other. We had two fantastic assemblies to celebrate their effort and hard work! At the end of each day, some children from each class set up a selling stall and sold what they had cooked for their parents to try. Wasn't it all yummy?! :)


Below is a video with some photos of the two assemblies. Not everything is included in it, but we will upload everything the children have done very shortly. The backing track is called "Ode to Joy" by Beethoven and is considered to be the European Anthem.

Still to come in further posts:
- Y1 and Y5 dance the Taratella
- Y3 do a Turkish dance
- All children cook delicious recipes


Once again, very well done to all children and teachers from St Faith's. The work you have produced was OUTSTANDING!!!


Happy Easter to everyone!
Mrs Thomson

Year 2 parle français!

Year 2 class have surprised us all today with a fantastic mini role play of some of their recent French learning. They have been leaning about the Weather and Days of the Week.

Here's a video of their performance!



Super les enfants!!!

Ceilidh Dance by Years 3 and 4

Years 3 and 4 have put together a video where they show off their dance skills. They have been practising a ceilidh (Scottish Country Dance) called The Dashing White Sergeant. Here they are: 

Here are some basic instructions:

1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 (turn)

1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8, (stop. Get into 2 groups of 3 facing each other)

Out, in, dance with your partner

Out, in, dance with your partner

Dance with your partner, Dance with your partner, Dance with your partner (Back to threes)

1,2 (forward), stamp, stamp, stamp

1,2 (backward), clap, clap, clap

1,2,3,4 (one of the threes goes through the other three)

5,6,7,8 (join another three that walks towards them)

Start again

Top Tip: In each group of 6 children decide who is the group of three that only lifts arms up to let the other group pass. This group should not move on. Instead, they should be joined by a moving three. 

Next half term, children from Turkey, Spain, Italy and Poland will be learning this dance. We will be learning one of their dances too. We can't wait to show you the final result!

Teeth and Healthy Eating

Our lovely school nurse, Fiona, visited Year 3 today to talk about Teeth and Healthy Eating. Here's a snapshot of our learning!

If you're not sure how to, when or why brush your teeth, be sure to ask Year 3! They are experts now!

Try to answer our small Quiz now by writing the answers in the comment section with your name and class:

1. When should you brush your teeth?

a) After Breakfast and Before Dinner

b) After Breakfast and Before Bed

c) Before Breakfast and Before Bed

2. How should you brush your teeth?
a) Up and down, starting at the top
b) Up and down, starting at the bottom
c) Sideways, starting at the top
d) Sideways, starting at the bottom

3. What is a good way of keeping your teeth fresh if you don't have your tooth brush handy?
a) Put toothpaste on a finger and brush
b) Drink water
c) Drink milk

4. How can we take care of our teeth? 
There are three things you can do. Check the video for the answer.

Good luck!

Packed Lunch Policy

The children of St Faiths have voted and made up guidelines for a healthy packed lunch. A healthy packed lunch should help improve your child’s attention, behaviour and learning.

The children have used a traffic light system to sort food.

Green foods - You can have as many as you like every day!

Fruit

Vegetables

Fish 

Yoghurt 

Fruit Juice

Salad 

Chicken

Fromage Frais

Dried Fruit (such as raisins)

Amber Foods - Two from this group each day.

Bread 

Bagels

Pasta

Rice

Eggs

Cheese

Meat

Red Foods —One from this group.

Cake

Cereal bars

Chocolate Spread

Crisps

Cheese Strings

Desserts (including yoghurt based ones where you add sweets or chocolate)

Biscuits

Jelly

Crackers

Mini Cheddars

Cheese Dunkers

The following items the children have decided SHOULD NOT be in Packed Lunches:

Chocolate 

Pepperami

Fizzy Drinks 

Sweets

Lunchables 

Sausage Rolls

Fruit Winders 

Nuts

Chocolate drinks

Juice based drinks such as Fruit shoots (many so called juice drinks are really only juice flavoured sugary water)

We now leave you with some ideas for Healthy Sandwiches:

- Tuna and sweetcorn

- Ham and coleslaw

- Egg and tomato

- Chicken and Salad

- Humous and celery

- Cottage cheese and pineapple

In addition to all this, there are Packed Lunch Targets each week which are set and checked at lunch time by our lovely Teaching Assistants.

We hope the above was informative. If you've got any questions, just leave us a message and we'll try to answer them here.

Packed Lunches and Healthy Eating

We have finally managed to put together all the work we've done last Half Term. Take a look at the video we have made of our Family Worship on the 6th January 2012.

Don't forget to leave a comment. It would be nice to hear from our readers! :)

A Healthy and Balanced Diet

Last Thursday we were lucky to have a Theatre Company come to our school to talk to us about Balanced Diets and Healthy Lifestyles.

We have taken pictures and added some comments to them. Take a look at our video and let us know what you thought of it!

Anton, Eve, Natalia and Leshay participated in the play by doing some exercise. Here they are in action:

Remember... Stay Healthy!