For their very first Class Assembly, Lower Prep shared all that they had been learning in Science as they explored the topic ‘Living and Growing’. By way of introduction, the pupils held up pictures of different types of seeds, including the seeds of a sunflower, avocado, apple, cress, oak and horse chestnut tree to show how seeds come in different shapes and sizes. Next they shared the results of their experiment into how seeds grow, with four hoops on the floor to represent the dishes and a pupil crouched inside each hoop representing a cress seed. One had sunlight and no water, and did not grow; one had water and no sunlight, and grew a little; one had no water and no sunlight and did not grow; and the final seed had water and sunlight and grew tall! Lower Prep also showed us their bean plants and bean diaries, where they have tracked the growth of their plants. To finish, the class used ribbons, movement and musical instruments to imaginatively take us through the journey of how seeds grow – first by us digging and planting, then by the rain and sun, then the waiting, before finally, with a xylophone flourish, the seeds start to grow into plants and trees.

Thank you to Mr Lam and Miss Cage for supporting with direction and props. Very well done Lower Prep – you spoke clearly and confidently and, most important of all, looked like you really enjoyed yourselves!

Heritage places the highest priority on getting out into the real world. We want our pupils to appreciate nature and explore some of the most beautiful places in the country – places to which they might return later. Every pupil from Year 5 and up goes on a school camp each year – always under canvas – thanks to the enthusiasm of staff and volunteers.

Just after the May Bank Holiday, our first camp went out, with Years 7 and 8 travelling to the Peak District for three nights away. They arrived to beautiful sunshine and, after setting up camp, walked along the Monsal Trail, finding an abandoned train station from WWI along the way. On the second day they enjoyed a sunrise run, then went weaselling (scrambling between, over and under the gritstone rocks) on Higger Tor and negotiated a high ropes course. On the third day they went past Castleton’s caves and hiked Mam Tor, descending along a stream in the valley and that evening relaxed around the campfire singing songs. There was lots of opportunity for downtime, playing games like frisbee, mafia and capture the flag. The campers were also fortunate to enjoy the delicious cooking of Mrs Bruins.

Thank you to Mr Fox, Mr Burden, Mrs Eastwood, Mrs Pluke and Miss Monk, and to volunteers Rachel, Ruth, Zara, Peter and Nicolas for all of their work to make the camp such a success and happy time for all. Thank you as well to Mrs Lowe, our Educational Visits Coordinator, who brilliantly oversees the planning and safe running of all Heritage trips, including the three summer camps.

 

 

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