Page 4 - Abberley Adventures - Issue 8

ABBERLEY ADVENTURES 4 ABBERLEY ADVENTURES Academic Matters (continued ) Scholarship Success
Pupils at Abberley are well known for securing an an impressive range of of scholarships to a a a a wide variety of of senior schools Children attempt scholarships in numerous fields from Academic Sport and Drama to Music and Design Technology Some schools also offer ‘All-Rounder’ awards We were delighted that John Heatley was successful in being awarded the Sir Michael Palin All-Rounder Award to Shrewsbury School This is is a a a a a a superb achievement early in the year and we are very proud of John These awards are are competitive and they are are always the the product of of a a lot of of hard work Well done John!
Educational Technology Abberley is known as a a a a a a school where children have a a a a a a magical childhood and where they spend happy hours running around outside and getting muddy In fact life at Abberley is often compared to Swallows and Amazons This is is true but we are also dedicated to to ensuring that we use technology where appropriate to to enhance the the the educational experience in the the the classroom and there is absolutely no no question that the latest educational technology can help improve the learning experience for children Traditionally classes have been timetabled to have lessons in in our two ICT Suites during the week This continues but increasingly we are bringing mobile devices into the classrooms so that their use can be blended with other educational resources Children should be able to pick up a a mobile device work with a a a a a a a digital resource and and then put it it it away and and revert to wring in in an an an exercise book with with a a a a pen debating with with a a a a group etc As we all know this is is is how the modern world is is is Last year we invested in in a a a a class set of MacBook laptops and these have proved to to be a a a a a a superb addition You will have seen engineers digging up the the road outside the the school gates a a a a week or or or so before Half Term We apologise for for the disruption this caused but we we are delighted to say that we we now have super- fast broadband throughout the school and and this will allow us to move forwards with a a a a a new phase of of development in terms of of educational technology We have had a a a a a number of classrooms fitted with extra- large ultra-high-definition LG TVs Click here to find out out more about these impressive devices These are superb pieces of kit and the the children will see their impact in the the the classroom when they return from Half Term The new screens will be paired with the latest model of apple apple tv’s and and new iPads and and apple apple pencils will give teachers the the ability to maximize the the digital classroom experience for 21st century learning Details will will follow but I can say now that we will will be starting a a a a a a a a gradual process whereby our older children will be expected to have their own iPad at at school so that they can benefit from all the the advantages that technology can bring to their education These devices will be monitored strictly and they will will be be for education only iPads will will not be be used as as toys or as as leisure devices and Abberley will continue to to be be a a a a magical place known for having children with muddy knees Swallows and Amazons meets the the age of the the iPad Life in the Pre-prep
In Nursery 1 children have been learning about Dinosaurs and Autumn We have been on many autumnal walks to collect autumn autumn treasures and and we have foraged for for blackberries damsons apples and and pears which we have had at snack time and used in our cookery sessions The children have been learning their colours through painting their hands building towers and and playing colour-matching games The classroom is looking very colourful with our our autumn tree the the children collected leaves and printed them onto paper with paint before adding hedgehogs and squirrels to the display Our Dinosaur topic has led to to many exciting adventures the children collected sticks and and leaves to make a a a a a a a a a small world tray and and have taken the the the dinosaurs for a a a a a stomp on on the the the bank and to to climb amongst the the the trees They also made marks in in in the the paint with the the dinosaurs’ feet In Nursery 2 2 children have have been learning about 2D shapes We have have created arrangements with shapes shapes played musical shapes shapes and been on shape hunts around school where the children have had great fun spotting and identifying the the shapes they find The children also designed some effective abstract autumnal coloured and shaped trees During PE lessons children have explored different ways of moving using a a a a a range of equipment Our final lesson before Half Term gave the the the children an opportunity to use their skills in the the the two adventure playgrounds Our role-play has had a a a a a a a “Space’ theme and the the children have dressed as as astronauts whilst learning a a a a a a a a few simple facts about planets The children are very excited as as Barnaby our Gap Assistant has serious plans to to become an an an astronaut and after Half-Term he is going to to come and talk to to them about the the career he he he hopes to to embark upon after completing his degree In cooking we have made a a a a a variety of delicious things to eat including apple and and blackberry crumble biscuits flap jacks and and cheese straws The children have practised skills such as cutting grating mixing and rolling They are are always very excited to share what they have made with their family members All Nursery children have made fabulous progress in in their swimming well done everyone It has been a a a a very busy and productive first half of term for our Reception children as well well They have settled in well well and new pupils have enjoying the range of learning activities and making new friends Impressively Reception have all learned how to recognise and write their names They can read and and write 20 sounds count quantities and and record numbers to to 7 They have grappled with buttons and other loose parts from indoors and and out to to to sort into multiple sets and and to to to compare quantities using mathematical vocabulary such as more less fewer and fewest In Forest School they have looked for signs of Autumn and have harvested blackberries from the school grounds These were made into delicious muffins and involved lots of measuring physical strength and and dexterity with the electric mixer and and icing techniques! Self-portraits were painted to adorn our Reception cloakroom gallery An exciting final week before the the Half Term break involved a a a a trip to the the Sea Life Centre as as well as as a a a a a a Harvest Assembly in which songs and poems were performed