nchs junior school magazine

Junior Life 2009-2010

The cover photograph has been reproduced by kind permission of Gillman & Soame photographers and can be re-ordered by visiting www.gsarchive.co.uk or telephone 01869 328200

On January 21st 2010 it was our 125th birthday and throughout the year we have celebrated this in

various ways.

In February the girls in Year 5 wrote their annual musical looking back to the first days of Church High, when there were fifty nine girls, who did not wear uniform and paid £2.2s in fees... a year!

I wonder what those fifty nine girls would make of life at Church High now?

The Infants continued the historical theme with their Old Time Music Hall where parents, grandparents and other visitors joined in with old favourites such as Daisy Daisy and The Lambton Worm, the girls thoroughly enjoyed dressing up in their old time costumes as well.

The weather has played its part this year with the first fall of snow on 16th December and continuing to snow well into the new year. Heavy snow disrupted the beginning of the term in January, getting to school wasn’t easy but while local schools were closed we kept going with some girls even arriving on sledges. The twigloo was looking more like an igloo and made a really good play place for the Nursery and Infant girls.

We had some lovely sunny days but sadly not on our Junior Sports Day, which was cancelled and not for our Summer Fair, where our 125 birthday balloons were whisked away at speed by the stiff northerly breeze that was blowing that day!

Fortunately the sun did shine for our Junior School photograph, this is the first time we have had a school photograph of the Junior School, I thought it was a fitting way to help celebrate our 125th birthday and I hope, after looking at the front cover of this magazine you agree.

“Giving every girl a voice” is something that we strongly believe in at Church High and a formal recognition of this was put into practice this year with the introduction of our first Junior School Council. This first council has certainly set a very good example and made a real difference with various issues being discussed, the introduction of “flip flop Friday” and the personal delivery of a letter to Mrs Gatenby concerning the behaviour of some of the Senior girls in the dining room!

In our 125th year we celebrated the World Cup with a World Cup knockout together with Newcastle School for Boys. Mixed teams played each other under the banner of different nations. In our World Cup, England drew with South Africa. This was a fair score on the day, pity this wasn’t mirrored in the real World Cup!

House events enable girls from Nursery to Year 6 to meet and work together which helps to foster the happy family atmosphere that is tangible at Church High. The dance competition on the last day of the summer term is always great fun and is a real example of the lively enthusiasm with which the girls approach all the activities and learning experiences that Church High has to offer.

I am sure you will enjoy reading this magazine and marvel at all that the girls experience during the course of a year. Thank you to Mrs Scott for compiling the magazine and to all the staff for their hard work , enthusiasm and dedication.

Most of all thank you to the girls who are at the heart of what we do at Church High.

Miss J A Cunningham – Junior School Head

Junior Life

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Junior SchoolClassesof 2009 – 2010

Nursery Kindergarten Transition

Preparatory Junior One A Junior One S Lower Two F

Lower Two Y Upper Two W Lower Three C Lower Three R

Newcastle Church High School

2

Dressing Up Warm The Nursery girls enjoy getting dressed with hat, coat, boots and gloves to keep warm

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The Nursery Travel AgencyThe Nursery and kindergarten girls were very excited to see Mrs Breakey when she returned from her ‘extended’ holiday in Australia.

After much discussion we decided to set up our own travel agent, where you could book your flight and hotel, which gave the children plenty of opportunities to practise their writing skills. Our own private plane guaranteed to fly you home, even through volcanic ash!

We enjoyed observing the role play, our girls are obviously well seasoned travellers, on board drinks included sangria!!

we decided to set up our own travel agent

Junior Life

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Our creative writing is taken from one of a range of topics explored in each of the infant classes through the year

Kindergarten had fun in Fairyland


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Wonderful Writing

Transition learnt all about Minibeasts

Junior Life


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Wonderful Writing Preparatory girls looked at life on the Isle of Struay

Junior Life

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Are we nearly there yet?This year the Infant Nativity followed the Walker family who were setting off on their holiday.

Along the way they met Angels who flew faster than rockets!!

Mary and Joseph found out it’s a long way to Bethlehem.

The Walkers also encountered three Wise Men, Shepherds, Townspeople and Town Criers who all taught them the Christmas Story.


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Infant Summer Concert 2010

Junior Life

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Infant Sports Day


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Out and About

We had fun with Kindergarten at Hall Hill Farm

At the Rising Sun Country Park I learnt about doing Pond Dipping

Isabelle Evans, Transition

We all got a turn in the fire engine and the fireman explained what everything was. He asked if we would like a go on the hoses and everyone said, “Yes, yes, yippee!”

Rosa Whittingham, Preparatory

Junior Life

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Kindergarten visited The Laing Art Gallery. They took part in Sculpture and Dance Workshops.

Preparatory experimented with electricity at The Centre for Life

Transition went to the George Stephenson Museum. We dressed like Victorians.

Rosanna Carrick-Daly, Transition

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Seascape – Emma Liddle, Lower Three


Junior Life

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Chinese New Year

Kung Hei Fat Choy!

“Kung Hei Fat Choy!” was the cry to be heard from the Junior One girls as they celebrated the arrival of the Chinese New Year.

As part of their learning about Chinese customs surrounding the New Year celebrations, the girls were delighted to receive visitors from the Newcastle Mandarin Chinese School. Li Hao taught the girls a traditional dance, involving red scarves, which they performed to the rest of the school. The colour red is

considered to be lucky in China and the Junior One children hoped their dance would bring everyone good luck in 2010, the Year of the Tiger.

The traditional Chinese art of paper folding and cutting was the focus for a lesson from Xiao Jing Wang. The girls thoroughly enjoyed creating their own paper cuttings, something which has been pracised in China for over 1000 years.

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Ten Things Found in a Teacher’s PocketAll the pencils that have been missing for two weeks.

An old banana.

A girl’s book that has been missing.

Someone’s special shell.

My creative writing book.

Lots of our pens.

My big pencil I brought to show.

Her sandwiches from last week.

Some old hamster food.

Some of our old pictures.

Eve Cuthbert J1A


14

Wonderful Writing

Beth’s Journey HomeScared and shivering with fright, Beth sat very still.

It turned around slowly, went back a little,

She felt she was going to scream.

Her eyes tight shut, it stayed there silently waiting

Then shot out like a bolt from a cannon.

Pinned back to the seat, she gripped the bars tightly.

The Rock ‘N’ Roller roller coaster dipped down steeply,

Then whooshed up and around.

Beth was not frightened.

Suddenly she disappeared,

She found herself with her parents again.

She felt scared at first then surprised and happy.

She was home sweet home once again.

Sophia Greystoke J1A

The Duck and the PigMoral: Always listen to advice.

Fable: One day a pig was sitting next to frozen pond. Soon a duck came along and said “Don’t try to ice skate on the frozen pond, you might be too heavy for the ice and fall through.“ “You’re just talking rubbish!” said the pig. “No I am not” said the duck, “Stop pig, stop!”. But the pig did not listen. He headed for the frozen pond. He got straight on the ice and fell right through. He was never seen again!

Victoria Harman J1S

Summer (a senses poem)

Summer is a time when you go to the beach

and taste the salty air.

Summer is a time when you feel the hot

sun on your body.

Summer is a time when you hear

tennis balls bounce across the ground.

Summer is a time when you see

dogs chasing sticks.

Tara Broughton J1S

Time fliesIn one second

I can hiccup,

I can cough,

I can sneeze,

I can wipe my nose.

In one minute

I can open a book,

I can write the date,

I can draw a line underneath.

In five minutes

I can run out of school,

I can kiss my mum,

I can say hello,

I can jump in the car,

I can put on my seat belt

and smile.

Daisy McAllister L2F

Junior Life

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Kenning – Can you guess the animal?Fish eater

Fast swimmer

Underwater breather

Loud crier

Rock climber

Fast catcher

Beth Toomey L2O

Kenning – Can you guess the animal?Hair shaker

Face licker

Food stealer

Toy vandaliser

Cute cuddler

Water slurper

Lily-Anne Houghton L2O

QuackapusA Quackapus, a Quackapus,

He likes to have a sleepapus,

He has a feathered backapus,

And he makes a sound called quackapus,

He has a beaver tailapus,

And if you step on it he’ll wailapus,

He likes to swim in a lakeapus,

And he dives like a fishapus,

He has webbed feetapus,

And he walks very fastapus,

He has no familypus,

And all he loves is his toy octopus.

Honor Preston L2F

Once Upon A Time... a story written using 50 words.

Clara woke up and felt herself shrinking. The nutcracker crept out of the shadows. Together they climbed onto a sleigh and off they went. They went over lands of sweets and toys and watched reindeer fly across the sky. She flew back, astonished at what had happened. ‘Goodbye,’ she said.

Eleanor Pearson U2W

Once Upon A Time... a story written using 50 words.

The wicked wolf was delighted blowing the crooked straw and the wobbly wooden houses down. He was determined to blow down the third pig’s strong brick house. The horrendous wolf huffed and puffed so much he hyperventilated. The delighted pig carried the wolf into the blazing fire. Phew!

Macie Ghahari U2W


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‘Of Mice and Mozart’

Junior 1 and Lower 2 were transformed into the descendents of the mice who lived in Mozart’s house for their production ‘Of Mice and Mozart’

Oh, please Papa dear!I’ve written some music I want you to hear!

This boy is a genius. I hereby proclaim that someday the world will remember his name.

But rather than pay the Mozart family, the royalty just gave them trinkets, you see!

Junior Life

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One happy event changed Mozart’s life,Constance Weber became his wife!

A tiny gold watch, a brocaded sash, left the poor Mozarts wanting for cash.

When the mice heard the news, they cheered in delight.They danced and they sang and they partied all night.


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Junior VisitsVisitors and performers visiting the Junior School this year were:Zoo Lab

Elizabeth Wrighton for a flute workshop

The Holly and the Ivy Roadshow

Kosmic Krew

‘Blow the Wind Southerly’ workshop

‘Flauto Dolce’ recorder consort

Demonstrations from musicians on brass, woodwind and percussion Upper Two Visitors and Visits:

Winmarleigh Hall

Centre for Life – How to be an Astronaut

Ouseburn Valley Walk

Sunderland Art Gallery and Museum

The Playhouse to see Peter Pan

Ryton Music Festival

Exchange with Hadrian School

Durham Cathedral

Rockpooling at St Mary’s Lighthouse

Learning British Sign Language through visitors from Northern Counties School for the Deaf

Aztec Feast

Health and Fitness Sessions with Neil Cameron

Junior Life

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Junior One Visitors and Visits:The Great North Museum: Hancock

Newburn Activity Day

Quayside Fieldtrip

Local history walk around Jesmond Dene

Wallington Hall and Grounds

Centre for Life for a Rocks and Soils Workshop

Rising Sun Country Park

Ancient Greek Day

Hindu Temple

Hatton Gallery

Theatre Visit to see George’s Marvellous Medicine

Lower Two Visitors and Visits:Bede’s World

Segedunum

St Mary’s Lighthouse

Durham Cathedral and River Cruise

Newburn Activity Centre

Centre for Life for a Viking Workshop and a workshop about recycled materials

Lower Three Visitors and Visits:Eden Camp

Edinburgh

Ryton Music Festival

Visited by ITV Cameraman, Mr Mackenzie, in connection with making short newscast films in ICT

Stephenson Railway Museum

Christmas Singing in Eldon Square for Children North East

Christmas Singing at Kirkley Hall for NSPCC


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Art Gallery

‘Queen Victoria’ - Emily Zibe

LONDON’S BURNING

Niamh Hanlon Stella Humphrey Saffron Sims-Brydon Maddison Roxburgh Rosa Whittingham Iona Hutchinson

‘Reflections’ - Renee Fraser-Shepherd ‘Reflections’ - Millie Riley ‘Ladybird’ - Josie Taggart

‘Glasgow Rose’ - Rebecca Oakley

‘Teddy’ - Millie Hurst

Junior Life

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‘Cityscape’ - Holly Benn

‘Fireworks’ - Isabelle Evans

‘Seascape’ - Olivia Gill

‘Dolphins’ - Daisy McAllister‘On Safari’ - Alice Carmichael

‘Gruffalo’ - Ella Moody

‘Chinese Blossom’ - Tara Broughton

‘Gerbera’ - Samantha Stokoe


22

Upper Two Opera This year’s Upper Two Opera celebrated‘125 Years of Church High’

The Literary Club was the first club to be formed., plays and books were read and if one wished to, one sewed.

A debating society was formed in 1903.

For 125 years, girls have continued to look forward to lunch time!

On Wednesday 21st January 1885 The Newcastle High School opened with 59 girls.

During the Second World War, Church High girls were evacuated to Alnwick, where they were provided with warm cloaks to keep out the chill.

World War II saw girls from Church High help the war effort by picking raspberries in Scotland. They had to cycle three miles to have a bath!

A marching competition was held at the end of every term.

Junior Life

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Making Friends...Upper Two girls took part in exchange visits with Year 5 pupils from Hadrian School.

At Church High, the children worked together in the science laboratory creating and changing colours. They made spinning colour discs, separated inks using chromatography and made their own loops to blow bubbles outside. They also created a “Friendship Fish” using discs soaked in red cabbage water which changed colour with lemon juice. Most important of all, they made friends with each other and had lots of fun!

Meanwhile, they were equally busy at Hadrian School, taking part in art activities based on the concept of friendship and creating a Friendship Tree, each leaf of which contained their thoughts on friendship. The children then planted a special tree in the school’s garden.

Hadrian School was great fun. I enjoyed seeing what their school was like.

Anna Carluke

Hadrian School was one of the best memories of Upper Two, I really enjoyed making new friends.

Skye Logan

I learnt that all the children have thoughts and feelings just like us and can be great friends.

Olivia Hanlon

…just because people have a disability it doesn’t mean that they can’t have fun just like us.

Sammy Lithgow


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Fun at Winmarleigh

The best thing about Winmarleigh was having lots and lots of fun with my friends

Ashleigh Alden

Such an amazing experience, I would definitely go again

Olivia Hanlon

Junior Life

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A really fun week.It was the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done!

Skye Logan

Winmarleigh is the best place I’ve ever been to. I loved the Giant Swing. It was outstanding! Brilliant! Exciting!

Phoebe Copestake

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3DArtwork

Penguins by Grace McGovern Tara Broughton

Hansel & Gretel Houses by Lower Three

Masks by Lower Three

Clocks by Sophie Sengupta Olivia Dungait Minya Kearley Daisy McAlistair Sophie Dodd

Slippers by Rosanna Carrick-Daly


Junior Life

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Seascape – Maryam Tariq, Lower Three

NightmareThe awakening nightmare runs

free in the dark

Scaring small children who dare close their eyes

Twisting their dreams

Catch them by surprise

They wake up screaming

Nightmare laughs

Jumps from roof to roof

to scare the next house

Then when night time is over

Nightmare’s job is done

He goes back into hiding

He’s afraid of the sun

Hannah Olukoga L3R


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Wonderful Writing

Respect the SeaShe is calm and gentle

Soothing and soft

She is beautiful

With foaming white hair

Her mood is affected by the moon

She moves rhythmically

Like a heartbeat

But she can change in the blink of an eye

And selfishly her anger is released

She throws herself against the rocks

She is angry, wild and aggressive

Then just as quickly and without warning

She changes

Peaceful and quiet again

Olivia O’Sullivan L3R

I Believe...I believe that in a city of hatepeople will join together.

I believethat a childwill find its voiceafter years of abuse.

I believeit is time for peopleto show their true colours.

I believe that there is a blameless heart in everyone.

If I did not believeI would not try.

I know that every daya child’s cry will be heard.

So I believethere is hopefor everyoneI believe in youbelieve in me.

Amy Cook L3C

I Believe...I believeThat justice should be given,But the death sentence should be gone.

I believeThat there is food and water for everyone,So we should share it.

I believeThat there is good in all people,No matter what they have done.

I believe a child will find its voice,In anything it wants to do.

If I did not believe I would not be writing.

I knowThat animals shouldn’t be tested on,Because they still have a life.

So I believe That we can make a change,To the Earth and sea,I believe in you,Believe me!

Elizabeth Scott L3C

Dad! I told you not to come!

Exclusive: Scotland’s First Minister holds back English invasion!

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Lower Three’s Highland Fling!

To…

Who’s your new best friend?

Tucker Time All dressed up and nowhere to go

Take your partners...

Torture!

Hagrid drops by to say ‘hello’

Liddle for lunch!

Shopping ‘til we drop

…and fro!

Junior Life


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Lower Three Production – Oliver

‘The one who picks the longest straw asks for more.’

‘Please Sir, can I have some more?’

‘Oliver! Oliver! Never before has a boy wanted more!’

‘Asked for more! I can not believe

what I am hearing.’

‘Put him down in the cellar, leave him there for a couple of days.’

Junior Life

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‘Where is love? Does it fall from skies above?’

‘What are you staring at, ain’t you never seen a toff before?’

‘Consider yourself at home. Consider yourself one of the family.’

‘Why are you watching me? Why are you awake?’

‘Come on boy, give it back.’

‘Oh no, you are not well

enough to go out yet.’

‘My dear boy, we’ll look after you. Home, Oliver, let’s go home.’

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A Brilliant Ballot!Election fever not only gripped the nation this year, but the Junior School also. Girls from Transition to Lower Three participated in the first ever Church High Junior School Council Election on November 6th 2009. It was the culmination of a lot of hard work and preparation; candidates had been busy preparing their manifestoes in advance of Election Day. Ten representatives were duly elected and had the honour of receiving their badges from our Returning Officer, Rt. Hon. Nick Brown, MP. Since then, the Council has collaborated with peers and staff in order to implement several initiatives. These include: securing a range of new playground equipment to be enjoyed by Infant and Junior girls and also a solution for its storage. Flip-Flop Friday is a regular event which allows girls to swap play areas once a week in order to enjoy the different facilities in each area.

What a great idea!

Queuing to cast our votesPrivacy at the booth

The results are returned

Congratulations Councillors!MP’s Question Time

Counting begins

Posting into the Ballot Box

Anticipating the results


Junior Life

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Seascape – Jessica Rankin, Lower Three


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Clubs

Astronomers ClubAstronomers have been studying the stars and the heavens. Here the internet was a great help as they were able to follow the latest news and use internet sites to watch the stars and planets.

Art ClubArt Club had fun learning quilling- the art of coiling paper to then make pictures. They enjoyed using these skills to create two collaborative art works.

A new club!Pets and Pony ClubAll J1 have been very enthusiastic. A vet, (Alena’s Grandma) came in to talk about animal welfare. ‘I was amazed when she told me that they calm a snake down you put it in the fridge, ‘ said Eve Cuthbert

‘The best part, said Madelaine McGovern ‘was adopting two ponies and a cheeky donkey who lives at the ‘Redwing Horse Sanctuary. ‘

Chess ClubChess Club continues to meet each week. Members have completed their ‘Church High Bronze or Silver Award.’

Chess Club are delighted to have two welcome additions to their group – a lovely wooden chess set from India and a computer chess board. Next year the Chess Club also hope to welcome a ‘Lewis’ chess set to their meetings.

Green ClubThe Green Club have had a busy year. Their main project has been to recycle empty plastic school milk cartons, transforming them into a greenhouse. Green Club hope to have their greenhouse finished in time for the spring.

PETS AND PONIES · CHESS · ART CLUB · GREEN CLUB · OCARINA · RECORDERS · CHOIR · ORCHESTRA · ROUNDERS · NETBALL · HOCKEY · TENNIS · ASTRONOMY

Junior Life

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Who have we helped?

We held a Bazaar for Children in Need and raised £412.93. Many children ran their own stalls, including Esme and Holly pictured at their cake stall.

Our ‘Jars for Change’ collections and a generous donation raised an amazing £1050 for the Haiti Earthquake Appeal.

Children in Romania need pencils and a notebook before they are able to attend school. We were approached by NPARC, a local charity run by Northumbria Police, to see if we could help. Church High Junior School rallied together and filled a fantastic 257 pencil cases which were sent to children at ‘Garcia School’ in Romania.

The three infant classes raised a magnificent £1134 for Children’s Leukaemia with their Mr Men Challenge.

This year we sent £100 to ‘Girl India.’ This money will buy shoes, sweater and books for four girls for one year. See www.girlindia.org.uk

We have made a difference

Charities supported this yearDoctor Barnardo’s £755.15

Haiti Earthquake Appeal £1050

Pencil cases for Romania 257 pencil cases

Operation Christmas Child 81 shoe boxes

Children North East Harvest gifts Christmas gifts

Children in Need £412.93

Children’s Leukaemia Mr Men £1134.00

Riding for the Disabled £120.00

Swimathon for Marie Curie U2W £642.00

Spellathon for Mencap £1511.62

Poppy Appeal

Carol Service Mencap

Sponsor an Orangutan UK U2W

“Thank you to everyone for your continued support”

Alnwick House

Warkworth House


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Everyone in school is part of a houseNetball Warkworth House

Rounders Warkworth House

Swimming Alnwick House

JUNIOR ONE AND LOWER TWO HAD A SPORTING FUN DAYResults

1st Alnwick House 377 points

2nd Warkworth House 336 points

3rd Dunstanburgh House 314 points

4th Bamburgh House 288 points

HOUSE POINTS

Bamburgh 239

Dunstanburgh 224

Warkworth 218

Alnwick 195

Dunstanburgh House

Bamburgh House

Upper Junior Sports Teams

Junior Sporting Achievements

Fiona Kirtley Harold Champion Athlete, Tennis Singles Champion and Tennis Doubles Champion

Lucy BlairTennis Doubles Champion

Olivia O’Sullivan and Alex JoyceNovice Tennis Doubles Champions

Lauren CrozierChampion Swimmer

Chinese Dragon – Scarlett Hardie Nursery Age 4

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junior school photograph

junior school council

days of church high

real world cup