Lyonsdown News - 29th March 2019

From the Headmaster’s Desk

“What do you read, my lord?”

“Words, words, words.”

When Polonius is mocked by Hamlet in Shakespeare’s eponymous play, Hamlet suggests that words are worthless, no more than one’s thoughts and nothing that will lead to action. If there were one piece of evidence to prove that the Prince is mad, pretending to be mad, or becomes mad by pretending to be mad (it’s a complex play)… this is it. Words are so much more than mere noise.

Conversation, and the art of it, is one of the main reasons that Lyonsdown pupils all lunch together, and why eating the same food oils the wheels of conversation. For example, the children who sit next to me are usually persuaded to eat a new food stuff; perhaps beetroot – usually met with initial reservation until the taste is appreciated, before a topic is chosen for conversation. This week, books were our focus and I was reminded that it is hard to keep up with the number of new children’s titles that are published: The Wizards of Once is an emerging favourite for older girls. You may know that, in terms of sales, the popularity of children’s fiction is now greater than adult fiction. This is partially fuelled by the popularity of series such as Harry Potter and The Hunger Games for kids of all ages, but a great number of Lyonsdown boys and girls almost literally eat books – I am confident that there is a very local spike in the sales of Murder Most Unladylike in EN5. Reading for pleasure is a wonderful past time: Lyonsdown children know they should be reading every day. But reading is also a simple way to expand one’s vocabulary and improve one’s spelling, punctuation and comprehension. In a single thirty-second conversation over lunch, I observed Year 4 discussing the meaning of and then contextualising “internal” in relation to body heat… all because of a book, because of a conversation.

Words, in the form of music and song, also played a huge role in this week’s musical extravaganza, the Upper School Spring Music Concert. A mixture of modern and contemporary, classical and popular, the event was a tremendous success – bravo to the pupils involved, their teachers, and especially Mrs Roberts. Always a highlight of the Spring Term, the girls really outdid themselves. A full report will be in next week’s addition.

All the best for the weekend. I hope you can relax with a book at some point.

C. Hammond

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Due to an incident this week, we must remind parents, NOT to park across driveways on

Richmond Road and Gloucester Road or any surrounding roads. Please consider how you would

feel if you could not leave for work on time or get back into your driveway. Please set your

children an example, and park responsibly. We try to keep good relations with our local families

and having parents park across driveways makes this difficult. Thank you for your co-operation.

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Nursery

Nursery have been enjoying the first signs of Spring in the Outdoor Classroom. Many of the children have also been to the local park to take part in the 'Introduction to Forest School' sessions. In the classroom we have been singing as a class. The Nursery Team

Reception

Reception Mums and Dads are people who help us!

Great excitement in Reception this week. Ella and Emmie’s parents were wearing their wonderful paramedic uniforms and talked in detail about dealing with emergencies; Ella kindly consented to being their casualty!

Riya’s mummy explained that the police use fingerprints to help them solve crimes. Reception lined up and had their fingerprints taken and returned home carrying the evidence on their colourful balloons!

Melina’s mummy tested the children's vital signs and reassured the very curious Reception children that when poorly, a visit to the doctor is a helpful, rather than a scary experience.

Reception have continued to ask questions at school about all the-se careers and are keen to share their new knowledge. Huge thanks to all the parents involved.

The Reception Team

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Reception

What do you do all day? Reception would love to hear from you!

Dads and Mums: if you would like to share your experiences with our very interested children this term or next, please email the Reception teachers.

Thank you.

The Reception Team

Year 1

What’s the time Mr Wolf?

Year 1 have been working hard on telling the time this week.

The children have been focusing on telling the time to the O’clock, half past, quarter to and quarter past.

The children even made a ‘Human clock’ to help them learn how to tell the time.

Time flies when you’re having fun in Year 1!

The Year 1 Team

Year 1

Performance Poetry

This week, Year 1 have been enjoying poetry.

They have been reading, writing and performing Easter poems.

The girls used actions and expressive voices when performing their poems!

Well done to our Year 1 budding poets!

The Year 1 Team

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Year 2

On Wednesday, Year 2 went to St Katherine’s Church to see how Easter is celebrated in the Greek Orthodox community. We were extremely lucky to meet Father Damian, who showed us around the church and told us about icons, symbols and the Gospels. The children did well to identify the different features of the church and loved the golden eagle lectern. It was very interesting cracking our eggs which were dyed red to represent the blood of Christ and loved our delicate palm crosses. A big thank you to Father Damian for making us so welcome. A big thank you also to Despina’s Mummy, Auntie and Grandma for all their hard work in making the trip so interactive and informative. We hope to come back soon.

The Year 2 Team

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The Peacock and the Pigeon

By Mayuri

One hot summer’s afternoon the peacock went to the

waterhole. She always went to her waterhole. Then

suddenly a pigeon came for a drink of water. Peacock

shouted, ‘Go away! This is my waterhole,’ and with

that she stood tall and proud, showing off her

beautiful feathers.

Pigeon said ‘You’re right, this is your waterhole,’ and

went. But, surprisingly a few days later when peacock

asked to play, pigeon said ‘Yes!’

IT’S BETTER TO BE KIND ON THE INSIDE THAN PRETTY

ON THE OUTSIDE.

Year 3

In Year 3, we have been writing fables to make our own book of fables. Here are two of the lovely stories that are in our class book. I hope that you get the chance to see our whole book if you visit Year 3.

Mrs Smith

The Tabby Cat and the Bluebird

By Delilah

One hot summer’s afternoon the tabby cat was

sitting in her owner’s well-kept back garden. She

was just about to stretch out and start to sleep

when a bird flew over the garden fence. As soon as

the tabby cat heard the fluttering of the blue tit’s

wings the tabby cat pounced and caught the tiny

creature.

‘Please, please let me go!’ pleaded the blue tit. ‘I

know it sounds ridiculous but I will repay you some

day.’ And, the bird kept her word. One night the

tabby cat went out, but when she was coming home

she realised that it was too dark to find her way

back. ‘Help, help!’ cried the tabby cat, ‘I can’t see

anything!’ Just by chance the bird who the cat had

decided not to kill, was sleeping in a nearby tree.

Despite being annoyed at being woken up, the blue

tit flew over the cat. ‘Calm down!’ said the bird, ‘I

can lead you home. I know the way to your front

garden and you can go in through the cat flap.’

And, the cat got home and was friends with the bird

for ever.

ONE GOOD TURN DESERVES ANOTHER.

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Poetry Corner

My Magic Box by Selvi Year 4

I will put into my box

the middle of the shimmery moon

a blue petal from a yellow glossy flower,

the most precious dream a baby could ever have,

I will put into the box

a mind-reading clock,

the book, A Kitten in Daisy Street.

Inside my box nocturnal animals have a disco in the day.

I will put into the box

All the love from the Solar System,

a swimming pool which is never cold and

the swish of a dozen jellyfish.

My box is made of an enchanted garden and a billon of Medusa’s stares.

In the box I will be welcoming all these different things.

Mrs Windsor

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Prayer and Praying in Assembly

Over the past two weeks, we have been thinking about prayer and praying in some of our assemblies. We thought about how, when and where we can talk to God , no matter what our faith, and the things we can talk about. The children shared their experiences of prayer: at places of worship, in religious classes and at home, where many said that they have a shrine or a special room set aside for quiet contemplation or family prayer. We learnt so much from each other about our experiences of prayer and that it is an opportunity to say thank you and also to ask God to be with us and help us in our daily lives. Many children offered up suggestions for a prayer that we could all share. So we asked God to help those children who were learning their lines and dances for the Lower School show. We also asked God to help us to be kind to each other and to try our best in all that we did. We also wanted to thank God for all the animals in the world – cheetahs were a particular favourite! And finally, we looked at The Lord’s Prayer and ‘translated’ it into words and phrases that we can all understand today.

Our Father who is in Heaven,

Holy is your name. Let life on Earth be as wonderful as it is in Heaven.

And let everyone on Earth be as kind, loving and thoughtful as you ask them to be, just as they are in Heaven. Give us all the food that we need for today.

God, forgive us when we do wrong. And help us to forgive and make up with our friends when we have argued.

Help us not to do wrong things, And keep us safe and away from hurt and harm.

For you are the father of everyone and are in charge of the world and you always will be. Yes, we agree.

Lunch Menu: week commencing 1st April 2019

Yogurts & fresh fruit available daily. HM—Homemade V—Vegetarian MSC - Certified Sustainable Seafood

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MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY

Main Course Option 1

Meat Free Monday Pasta with Roast

Garlic and Tomato HM V

Chilli-Con-Carne HM and Fluffy Rice

Roast Dinner Day Roast Chicken

HM Roast Potatoes and

Quorn Dippers V and Tomato

Sauce Oven Chips

Happy

Vegetarian Option 2

Sweet Potato Falafel and

Hummus Wrap HM V

Macaroni Cheese and Garlic Bread V

HM

Quorn Fillet Roast Potatoes

Freshly Baked Cheese and

Tomato Pizza V HM

Easter!

Sides Carrot Batons Peas

Mixed Salad

Baked Beans Rainbow Coleslaw

Mixed Salad

Broccoli Buttered Cabbage

Cucumber Sticks Sweetcorn

Mixed Salad

Have a Lovely Break

Dessert Yoghurts

Freshly Cut Fruit Apple and Blackberry

Crumble HM and Custard Fruit Jelly

Freshly Cut Fruit HM Yoghurts

Easter Nest Cakes HM Fruit Yoghurt

The fourth merit awards for the Spring Term

are now available to view on the parent

Portal under ‘Awards’.

The Week Ahead

Monday 1st Last Fencing Club.

FLS 2nd hand uniform sale, 2.45pm - 4.30pm

in the Foyer.

Tuesday 2nd Last LAMDA lessons

Last Rugbytots.

FLS 2nd hand uniform sale, 8am—9am

in the Foyer.

Wednesday 3rd Year 1 trip to Mountfitchet Castle.

Ballet recital for pupils who attend ballet,

9am in the School Hall.

Thursday 4th Last day of term.

See you back at school on Thursday 25th April

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