The BBERKHAMPSTEAD SClHOOaL MAGAZIzNE er SPRING 2014 Aliens Visit Berky Inside: House Pancake Races History Mystery Time Science Orchestra Regular features: Music Notes Staff on the Spot Sports Reports Trips and Visits N EWS N EWS STAFF ON THE SPOT Science Headmaster’s News Bethan Evans is our ulfilment comes from many more things than fabulous new Head of Chess Mates doing well in tests. A real education fulfils English and Drama who Orchestra Tunes Fand is about so much more than national joined us in September curriculum results, spelling ages, verbal reasoning and has made quite an scores and the like – we do very well in these but impact already! Up! they aren’t what matters most. A Berkhampstead You have done two terms at Berky – what education is broad, it involves and engages were the highlights? children across a range of areas. It helps them to The Spring Concert and grow into accomplished young people with many the Pancake Races, the strings to their bows and with the right attitude to 500 word story - the embrace life’s challenges. Fulfilment can come from completing a science enthusiasm and commitment of all the children - and the stories written were The Berky chess team can look back with some project successfully, solving maths problems collaboratively, playing sport fantastic to read. satisfaction on the season although it just missed out on league for the school, singing one’s heart out in a gospel choir session - with Berky puddings – iced buns or cherry and cup honours. A record of P10, W8, D1, L1 is more than actions (see below), being part of a team, solving a history mystery, crumble? encouraging and we have plenty of promising players waiting in discovering something about life for The pear and chocolate crumble! the wings. Two key players have played their last matches for a deaf person, skiing down a snow- Do you play any instruments? How well? the school and I salute Henry Wayt (this season's captain) and Benjamin Wyman's superb chess careers. covered mountain for the first time I did my Saxophone Jazz Diploma and Classical Grade 8, Piano Grade 7 and Cello Numerous Berky players won prizes at the District Congress. … or all of these! Grade 5 but I’m a bit rusty now! Congratulations to Henry Wayt and Poppy Sathasivam on their Playing French games, performing Which book did you love as a child and 4th place - a super achievement. Other prize winners are As part of the Year 5’s study of Sound, pupils were set the on stage or giving a recital, solving would recommend as a must-read? Benjamin Wyman and Lauren de Burgh-Thomas (8th) and challenge of creating a musical instrument - in three weeks and puzzles or standing up in church to Joan Aiken – the James the Third series. Sasha Sathasivam and Oliver Wiles (11th). Poppy also wins a using only recyclable materials. It is always a pleasure to see say what’s so very special about They were books I read over and over prize for being the highest scoring Year 4 pupil, while Oliver how the pupils can extend themselves on such a task, and they claims the best Year 3 prize - despite still being in Year 2. Olly is your mum..... again; the whole series is a fantasy history created a variety of instruments out of numerous materials. world to which you can escape. the current county champion at U7 level and is certainly a player Musical instruments ranged from French horns made out of What’s the best thing about your job? for the future. garden hoses, glockenspiels made out of old wood and pipes, Getting to be there for ‘lightbulb’ moments The chess league Y3 champion is Hugo Bawtree while Amelia guitars from shoe boxes and elastic bands, to drums and where things click, and seeing the Keogh and Flora Harvey won the Y3 Division 2 and 3 leagues shakers made out of old food tins and Pringles tubes filled with excitement and satisfaction for that child. respectively. The main chess club league was won by Benjamin rice or pasta. When presenting their instruments to the rest of Watching children develop their writing, Wyman while Ben Gibson topped Division 2 and Ruby Atack their class, each pupil described how their instrument created a especially their creative writing, and seeing was Division 3 champion. Congratulations to all! sound (with reference to what is vibrating), how to change the them explore language regardless of ability. The summer term sees House chess, the famed staff vs pupils volume and how to change the pitch. It was a fun activity for The enjoyment they get and the pride in the challenge and the Year 2 club. Lots to look forward to! Mr Cole the pupils to complete and a nice way to show how science is work they produce is great to see. all around us, not just in the classroom/laboratory. Mr What was your first role in a play? Little Strings Morphew Hotel manager in Percival the Performing ...there’s so much on offer at Berkhampstead and the above relates to just Pig – with one line - ‘I have a room you can some of this term! What opportunities, what fun – I hope that you enjoy stay in’. Your favourite subject at school? reading about them! Richard Cross, Headmaster History, I enjoyed learning about the past, I thought it was like listening to stories; History can be magical and unbelievable. What skill would you like to have? To be able to play the guitar - it is next on the list. I would also love to be able to draw in more detail than stick men! What have you done that you are most proud of? Got this job! Every pupil was given a violin and, with the expert guidance of I f you ran away to join the circus, what our Strings specialist, Mr Trim, managed to make some would you be? wonderful music! All had fun, some made sweeter sounds than I would like to say trapeze artist, but might others and several have signed up to learn more - it bodes well need someone to push me. for the future of Berky music! Mrs Mitchell ACTIVE CREATIVE TEACHING Hihse lastt daoy befrorey half terMm was ya most tery Day extraordinary one. Mrs Agg and Mrs Owen Twent missing and were replaced by Zig and LEARNING Zog who, while secretly being on the hunt for a mysterious substance desperately needed to power 1950s/1960s Experience their ailing spaceship, were most enthusiastic about helping with the day’s activities and learning all Year 2’s History project for the term focused on about the lives of the children at Berkhampstead. comparing children’s lives now to those of They checked carefully children in the 1950s and 1960s; as all the to ensure that the facts Year 2 teachers date from that era, there was the children were told plenty of evidence to be scrutinised and much about Space were true reminiscing to be done! On the penultimate and were quite fascinated day of term, their project culminated in a to discover the ideas of Shopping Day - five traditional specialist our planet’s early astronomers. retailers emerged miraculously from piles of Lunchtime was tricky for Zig and Zog as they had to serve the cardboard, metre rulers and rolls of sellotape lunch tables but the children were on hand to help and advise. as the children used their marketing, design After solving a quiz, piecing together jigsaws, cracking codes, and display skills to create shops that were memorising lists of artefacts and solving a riddle, the children both practical and attractive. By lunchtime, were finally able to hand over the required substance and wave the staff of a grocer, a greengrocer, a butcher, goodbye to their alien friends, who left the Solar System loaded a baker and a sweet shop were busy selling with lovely cards and messages from their new friends from their wares to each other and the Year 1 planet Earth. Mrs Agg and Mrs Owen were most surprised and children before all sat down to eat their puzzled to hear what had been going on in their absence….. purchases. The money collected amounted to Mrs Agg almost £60 and this will be donated to a charity chosen by the School Council next term. Rations for Year 6 After playtime, there were more treats in store. In the gym, a live band – the Four of Diamonds – were busy wiring up to play As part of their WW2 history PEveryoune lozoks zforwalrde to B erkFy's aunnualn Puzzle Day - a busy, two sets of authentic dance numbers from the time. The dancing was groovy and topic, the children were faced fun-packed event for the children were soon joined by various members of the older generation who very with a homework challenge - children from much enjoyed the opportunity for a trip down Memory Lane. ‘99’ ice creams, to cook and bring in a dish Reception to complete with flakes were served during a short interval to keep everyone cool! made using only the rationed Year 6. By Mrs Agg ingredients that would have playing games been available during that test logic, wartime. Rising to the spatial occasion, such delights as awareness, ‘no cook' chocolate cake, lateral thinking carrot biscuits, carrot jelly and strategy, and sausage and sultana the children's casserole were produced. skills are Year 6 sampled each other’s stretched and dishes and then invited the they have plenty of fun excited children from Year 2 - too! Our super Year 6 love as well as the Headmaster - helping the younger children to for a tasting.