Benedictine Monks for a Day!

Upper Prep and Year 2 enjoyed a combined trip, by train, to Ely Cathedral where the children experienced what it would have been like to live for a day as a Benedictine monk. On arrival the children were shown to the ‘Chapter House’ where they were told about their day and promised to take a vow of silence. They put on black robes, tied with a belt with three knots to indicate the vows of poverty, obedience and chastity. Hoods remained down unless ‘a brother’ had not acted as he should have done and needed some time for self reflection.

Silently, in two straight lines, the children moved around the Cathedral, experiencing the daily cycle of rest in the ‘Dormitory’, prayers and worship, meal times in the ‘Refectory’, communal meetings in the ‘Chapter House’ and working for the benefit of all. As no talking was allowed the children learned hand signs to indicate more bread, cheese and ale. They worked on illuminated lettering and found out about the use of herbs for medicinal purposes and relieving bad smells.

After an amazingly quiet morning, the children enjoyed chatting with their friends over lunch. They had a tour of the Cathedral’s monastic buildings; the once covered walkways, the Infirmary, the Dormitory, the Guest House, where the Chapter House would have been, the Prior’s Chapel and the beautiful and intricate carvings on the entrance doors into the Cathedral itself, finalising the trip at the statue of Etheldreda who established the first monastery at Ely.


Nursery Rhymes Crimes

Year 5 became a jury and Year 6 became barristers, clerks and ushers when The Hall was transformed into the Nursery Rhymes Crimes division of the Courts of Ely and Cambridgeshire and Goldilocks was put on trial for criminal trespass. Crown v. Goldilocks is a mock trial created for Heritage ten years ago by Rachel Mariner, who serves as the Judge.

Susu Scott played the nosy neighbour with no fondness for bears, Rhys Williams played Papa Bear, Helen Alexander was a penitent Goldilocks and Fiona Fletcher was the incompetent but loveable arresting officer with a bear allergy. The witnesses were questioned by the barristers, closing arguments were made and the jury deliberated, finding Goldilocks guilty. She was sentenced to one week without honey.

This enrichment activity is designed to acquaint the children with the adversarial process of the courts, the rule of law, oaths, witnesses, testimony and the work of jurors.

This is the fourth time we have run the trial and the third time Goldilocks has been found guilty.

Year 11 Work with The Besom in Cambridge

On Saturday morning a group of Year 11 pupils, together with Mr and Mrs Fletcher and Mr Brealey, worked together to clear the garden of a lady who needed help as part of a Besom project. It was raining at the start of the day and the garden was a jungle of brambles.  However, with everyone working steadily together, the whole garden was cleared by the end of the morning.  The sun came out and everyone celebrated with a hot drink and  a snack. Besom is a Christian charity that helps people make a difference.  It provides a bridge between those who want to give time, money, things or skills and those who are in need.  It ensures what is given is used effectively.  The service it provides is free.

A big thank you to Anna B, a School Prefect for her vision in mobilising this project and to the whole team who gave up a lie in and worked so hard all morning.

 

An Owl Box for ‘Minnie’

The Junior School Council were delighted to welcome The Raptor Foundation and The Cam Conservancy to Junior Assembly together with special guest ‘Minnie,’ a one year old barn owl!  Following on from our Environment Awareness Day, initiated by the School Council and supported by the whole school, Heritage raised enough money to buy a new ‘Owl Box’ which is going to be put on a pole in Clayhithe, Waterbeach.  The children were told how much the owl box would help support the owl population and especially protect the owl babies!  Minnie delighted everyone, of course and we look forward to hearing news about who the first residents in the owl box will be!

Celebrating International Day

We all look forward to International Day at Heritage
and this year did not disappoint. Our International
Tuck Shop remained a highlight as pupils were able
to try food from around the world.
Infants and Juniors gathered at the end of the day for
a special assembly to share what they had discovered
about the country they had been studying.
Lower Prep had learnt about Italy. They had made
some delicious looking pizzas as well as beautiful
Venetian masks and threaded pasta
necklaces. Upper Prep were studying South Africa
and enjoyed listening to and making music and
colourful flags. They also demonstrated keen
linguistic skills as they shared some Zulu words they
had been taught by Mr Hulett and some Afrikaans by
Mrs Cubitt. Year 2 were looking at Denmark and the
legacy of the Vikings! They shared a time of Hygee –
talking about the things we love most, while drinking
hot chocolate. They made Danish heart basket crafts
and baked their our own aeblesciver!
Year 3 learnt about Georgia and made some very
detailed maps showing the various landforms. They
made khachapuri – cheese stuffed bread and learnt
about the 4 languages spoken in Georgia. In Year 4,
the children were studying Germany. They made
some fantastic puppets inspired by the stories of
Hans Christian Anderson. Mrs Scarlata also baked a
delicious apple strudel which was quickly eaten. Year
5 learnt about life in Kenya and enjoyed a visit from
Mrs Davies who shared her experiences of the
country. Year 6 had focussed on Scotland and
engaged in a lively debate about the existence of the
Loch Ness Monster. They also put their creative skills
into action making clay models of ‘Nessie.’
In the Senior School, pupils were able to come to
school dressed either, in the colours of a flag or in the
traditional dress of a particular country. A collection
was made with proceeds being given to Street Child
United, a charity which reaches out to children
surviving on the streets, around the world. Many of
the lessons throughout the day were also given an
international twist.