For Ethiopia

We have recently received information back from the Charity For-Ethiopia regarding the fantastic amount of money raised. From your generous sponsoring of Mrs Josephs sky dive, we have been able to help the school in Addis Alem to rebuild their well. A big thank you to everyone who contributed and well done Mrs Joseph!!

Below is a video of Mrs Joseph's sky dive to prove that she actually did do it!

The David Bracey trophy

On Tuesday afternoon, some of the children in the Tag Rugby club represented the school at Cleve RFC in the David Bracey trophy.
The afternoon started with the children having a training session with some local coaches.



After this the matches began. Despite a somewhat slow start, the team improved dramatically throughout the matches scoring a number of tries. What was evident early on in the tournament was the quality of their passing.



Thankyou to all the parents who helped with the transportation of the children to and from the event. Without this we would not have been able to take part. An additional thankyou to those who were able to stay and cheer the team on.

A big thankyou must go to Trevor Wallace. He has been running the Tag Rugby club this term as well as coaching the side on the day.

Advent

Y5/6P have been looking at the Advent Wreath and discussing why it is made the way it is. The class then focused on the first week in advent and how, during that week, we are asked to look out for Jesus in our everyday lives. Below are examples of the writing produced following the discussions.

To See God
To see anyone, is to see God.
To walk outside, is to see God.
To see a pebble, is to see God.
To see a tree, is to see God.
To see the Wendy House in your garden, is to see God.
God is always with you.
(Ashley)

We can look for Jesus everyday, because we see Jesus in all the people who do good things for us. We should always keep him in our hearts. If you help someone, it's like you're helping Jesus. You might see Jesus in happiness, a good laugh. Today, I saw Jesus in my friend because, when I was upset, she lifted my spirit up a bit and she made me feel happy.
(Justyna)

To hear God is to laugh together.
To see God is to look into your heart.
To feel God is to feel kindness all around.
(Jack)

We look, not with our eyes but with our hearts. To look at Jesus is to look into your heart. Jesus is not visible, but we know when he is near. Each day he is with us in our hearts and our love.
(Elliott)

The Advent Wreath
There are three purple candles on an advent wreath,
The three purple candles are a sign of grief.

There is one candle coloured pink,
It makes you look forward and makes you think.

There is also a candle coloured white
Jesus, the light of the world- A beautiful sight.

The base of the wreath is always green,
The evergreen God, you have never seen.

The base is a circle
The unending love of Jesus and God's miracle.
(Anna)

We see Jesus when we meet someone. We see Jesus in our hearts. We see Jesus in our friends. We see Jesus in our Mum, Dad and Grandparents. We see Jesus in happiness. In smiles. There is Jesus in laughter. We see Jesus in everybody. Today, I saw Jesus when someone helped me. I saw Jesus in my teacher. I saw Jesus in kindness. I saw Jesus when my mum got me breakfast. We see Jesus everyday, every night and everywhere.
(Oliver)

Let there be light

As part of our topic work in Year 2, the children have been exploring electricity. I was impressed with how much the children know about being safe with electricity. The children were challenged to use components to make the bulb light up. They enjoyed the challenge and were able to use wires, a battery and a bulb to create a working circuit. Next week we might see if we can include a switch.

VE Day party

On Friday Year 5 & 6 celebrated the end of their topic on World War two with a VE Day party. We had great fun with war time food, songs, games and dancing.

Evacuation boxes

During the course of our topic on World War Two, Year 5 & 6 children have been bringing in evacuation boxes. The children imagined that they were an evacuee today, selecting items from home to place in a box. These items were things that are important to them, or activities to amuse themselves whilst evacuated.

Dear Bristol City Council

In Year 2 we have started our new topic of 'Journeys'. Earlier this week the children did a traffic survey to find out if the roads around our school are busy or quiet. They discovered that Lodge Causeway is a busy road. Today we have been talking about how the children travel to school and discovered that lots of children thought Lodge Causeway is too dangerous to cycle or ride their scooters to school. Therefore, they thought up ideas of how to make the road safer so that they can cycle or scooter to school. The children have written their ideas in letters, which we are going to send to the council. Perhaps our letters will lead to a cycle lane on Lodge Causeway!

A celebration of learning

Year 2 celebrated their learning today. With help from the microphone, the children told the rest of the school about some of the activities and skills they had learned during their 'Food' topic last term. These included tasting, cooking and using kitchen utensils, creating a menu using Microsoft publisher, creating fruit faces in the style of Giuseppe Acrimboldo in real life and on the computer, using shape and tone to draw vegetables and bottles. It was amazing to hear about all the learning that had taken place in just 1 term!

I spoke to some of the Year 2 children afterwards about the skills and activities in the topic. Here is what they said:

Mikenagh
"My best skill I learned was how to mind map."

Ruby
"My favourite bit was making the fruity face."

Nadia
"I enjoyed making the fruity face on the computer."

Anique
"I liked walking to the park for a picnic."

Joe
"I found making 3D food packages fun but hard."

Lewis
"The hardest part of the topic was writing open questions to ask Zoe, the school cook."

New after school clubs

There was a real buzz after school on Thursday with two new after school clubs, cookery and fencing! As you can see from the photographs the children really enjoyed themselves.

Sukkot

As part of our Judaism week we have been learning about the Jewish festival of Sukkot. We have learned that during this festival Jews build small huts, called Sukkahs, in their garden to remember thier ancestors, who were led to the desert by Moses. Here is what Mikenagh wrote about Sukkahs:

I like Sukkahs becuse I like the green leaves. The Jewish peopel bilt Sukkahs becuse to make shelters. They need to make them becuse to celbrate Sukkot.

Well done Mikenagh

Year 2 Psalms

This week in Y2S we have been learning about Judaism. We started off by learning about the Psalms that are in the Jewish Bible. We listened carefully to Psalm 8 being read and also being sung by a Jewish choir. The children then had a chance to write their own version of the Psalm. Here are some of the children's Psalms:

Wen yoo put the stars and the mone I can see how grat yoo r. Wen yoo mac th tres and the fllawers I can see how grat yoo r to mee.
By Meigan

When I'm doing so good I can see how great you are. When I ride on my bike I can see how great you are. When I see my friends I can see how great you are. When I see a good draaing I can see how great you are.
By Maciej

Wen I see you meyd the wold, I can see how great you ar. Wen I see you meyd the skay and the sun in the skay, I can see how great you ar.
By Sandra

Well done!

Stars of David

As part of our Judaism week, my class have been drawing their own Stars of David. Not only did we learn that it is one of the most important symbols to the Jewish community, but we were also able to use our Maths skills. This has meant a lot of practice with rulers, angles and equilateral triangles!



Although finding it quite tricky to begin with, all of the children produced a really good effort. Here are some good examples.

Remembrance Day

Today we held a special Remembrance Day assembly to remember all those men and women who were killed during the two World Wars and other conflicts. Year 5 & 6 read out prayers, poems and sang the peace song to commemorate the day. It was also a chance for Year 5 & 6 to show off some of their World War two topic work.

New Challenges

Congratulations to those children who completed last term's challenges and received prizes. This term's exciting challenges are now available on our challenge website stjosephschallenges.ik.org


This terms special challenge is to design a Christmas card as part of the Prince’s Rainforests Project for schools. You will have to be quick as entries need to be in on the 24^th November 2008. There are also lots of new web challenges -why not create your own Super hero comic?