Posted on: December 2nd 2011
This first term has been full of new events and initiatives. We have started the BRICKS project which is an acronym for Building Relationships In a Caring Kind School. This idea awards pupils who have excelled in manners and social behaviour, with their name up on our BRICKS notice board. The person who has the most bricks every half term is then privileged enough to have tea with the Head Teacher.
The Student Council has chosen a charity, Leap, which is a local organisation that helps young adults to get qualifications and jobs, teaching them a sensible way to deal with conflict that does not resolve in violence. Another Student Council initiative is the Buddying Scheme, which links in with our BRICKS project. It builds relationships between pupils in Years 5 and 6 with the new Reception children, who are helping them to settle in to Norfolk House. The children are paired with Reception children who share similar interests. We really cannot wait for our first play with them!
This has been a good term for sports. The netball team have come fourth in the ISA Tournament and won one of their four games, with another still to come this Friday! The football team have done comparatively well, winning one of their three games. The chess team, however, have done the best; Norfolk House are now second in the Barnet Chess League, after three successful matches and one loss. We beat Lochinver House School but suffered a heavy defeat in our next match against them.
This term we have had Art Week where each year had three afternoons entirely devoted to Art. Our theme was nature. We had a fabulous Art Evening at the end of the week. Work that had been done by every year group was on display in a gallery that took up two rooms! As well as this, there were lots of art workshops ranging from nature filled windows to vegetable printing. It was a popular event, with many children and parents involved. Mrs Ellison’s class made papermache bowls decorated with an autumn leaf design. Miss Ward’s class took up lots of different types of art, including wreaths made from natural objects and ‘sgraffito’ which uses oil pastels and sharp items to scratch out beautiful and colourful designs. Year 6 made trees by bending wire into shapes and whist some were silhouettes, others were customised with beads. Year 2 did lots of artistic activities, such as digital art on a fun program called Revelation Natural Art.
Forms 5 and 6 went on a Canal boat through Regents Park earlier in the term; this trip was called The Floating Classroom. We had an interesting lesson on nature and wildlife in a lock as a Science trip. Form 2 enjoyed their trip to Saint Albans to learn about the Romans and they also visited the Science Museum which they really enjoyed. Year three, because they are learning about Judaism, went to the Jewish Museum and Reception went with them, and Preprep went to the Museum of Childhood as part of their topic on Toys.
The whole School took part in the Harvest Festival Service, where pieces of work from each class were shown or read out, and offerings were given. We also had a fabulous Halloween Party in October organised by FoNH, where there was apple bobbing, a spooky haunted house and a live DJ who everyone loved- Mr Marvel! Soon, the choir will be singing to parents and students in our Carols by Candlelight evening.
Key Stage One have been rehearsing very hard for their Nativity play that is coming up soon as well, which we’re all very much looking forward to seeing!
This has been a long and exciting term, packed with interesting and enjoyable events.
