Simba - Autumn 2011

Simba

Bablake Junior School

Autumn 2011

Going Spotty for Children in Need Through everyones fantastic efforts we have raised over £700 for Children in Need!

We all enjoyed getting spotty and the cake sales were so successful they had to be spread over three weeks. Thanks for all your baking!

Anna Scales the Heights!

Anna White, a Year 6 pupil at Bablake Junior School, has just been selected for the National Children’s Orchestra. This is a great honour, and Anna was chosen from thousands of applicants.

Anna has been playing the cello since the age of six and is currently studying with Peter Wilson for Grade 6. She loves music and also plays the piano and enjoys singing. Anna hopes to take part in the Regional Orchestras as well as joining young musicians from around the country for the National Orchestra camps and performances during 2012.

“I am very excited about playing in the Orchestra. It will help me improve my playing and be fun to make new friends and be part of such a wonderful musical team.”

Coventry Festival of Speech and Drama Saturday 19th November 2011 Bablake Junior School recently took part in the Coventry Speech and Drama Festival.

We had resounding success and won 3 of the 4 sections. Special congratulations go to Maria Savage who came 1st out of 43 competitors in the Years 3, 4 and 5 Humorous Verse section. Maria scored an impressive 90 marks, whilst Harry White and Suwetha Bhavanandan were just behind and came joint 2nd with 89 marks. Katy Davis won 1st place in the Verse Speaking competition with 89 marks, closely followed by Jhodi Thandi and Grace Hollis. Anna White came top of her class in the Verse Speaking section, with 87 marks.

Drama teacher Gemma Davies was delighted: “Everyone who took part did really well. It is very brave to perform in front of so many people. Of course I’m thrilled our pupils were so successful, they worked hard and can be very proud of their performances.”

Our Coventry Speech & Drama Participants

Year 3 Science In Science, Year 3 have been looking at light and shadows.

As well as making a sundial at home, we made a large one on the playground. We noticed that the stick’s shadow changed size and direction during the day.

We also made shadow animals with our hands using an overhead projector. Then we designed our own shadow monsters. We made them even more scary by moving them closer to the light source.

Maths News

Year 3 have been learning about measures, including length. We were asked to choose equipment from a selection of: trundle wheels, metre rulers, 30 cm rulers, tape measures and foot measurers. We worked in groups to measure our hand span (distance from thumb to little finger on an outstretched hand), foot length and height amongst other measurements.

Some pupils measured all of their fingers to check whether these added to the length of your arm. We compared foot length to shoe size too. We are expecting these measurements to have changed by the Summer term.

Maths Association National Primary Schools Challenge Mr Norman’s Maths Set took part in the Maths Association National Primary Schools Challenge in November. The questions were very demanding! Our pupils all rose to the challenge and did very well. They were all awarded certificates.

Particular congratulations go to Amrit Gill and Robert Tyas, who both managed to win a gold certificate, something achieved by only a few people in the country!

In early November, our keen, energetic, lively Year 5 class travelled to the ancient Holdenby House. The purpose of the trip was to further our knowledge about the lives of Victorian servants. We did this by actually experiencing what they would have done!

We were playing happily in Lord Annaly’s courtyard, when suddenly Mrs Bumbridge (who had a colossal bottom) swooped out of the doorway and started screeching at us for making such a racket in a lord’s courtyard! We all had to line up in the corridor, looking only at one another’s neck. We were about to enter the house. My spine was tingling with excitement, suspense and fear…

Ayman Farid 5K After a nerve racking night, we shuffled and trudged the long walk to Holdenby House. It was more like a palace than a house, with its grand gates and clean, white walls. My spirits rose at the sight of the huge, towering chimneys, arched doorway and neatly clipped gardens. We followed the servant’s route to another entrance where there was a red door and a cobbled courtyard. We had been given some new boots with a warning, stating that we should look smart to get a job. We were proudly walking around in them when suddenly, the door flung open and a wooden stick poked out, then a shadowy figure appeared. We froze. The figure had straggled white hair and was dressed from head to toe in black.

Christie Thomson 5K Mrs Bumbridge, the housekeeper, had a temper hotter than a volcano. When she spoke we were all petrified. I won’t ever forget the amazingly long lecture she gave us. She told us exactly what to do and say. We had to repeat sayings such as “Speech is silver but silence is golden”, and “Children should be seen and not heard”.

Zahrah Jahangir 5K My chore was to make the bed with Sophie. We had instructions to tuck the sheets in with no wrinkles.

It seemed an impossible task. After attempting to do the job twice, Mr Rhett, the butler, still wasn’t satisfied. Even though we had tried our best, he rejected our work, it was so frustrating!

Rhiya Srivastav 5K Mr Rhett was an extremely strict butler. He wore round glasses on the end of his rather pointy nose. He kept repeating, “Look with your eyes, not with your hands”.

Eva Kant 5K One of my jobs was to polish a table. Time ticked by slowly and we were still polishing the table as Mr Rhett said we had to be able to see our faces in it. After we finished this terrible chore, we were set the task of making lemonade. When we were squeezing the juice out it really hurt because I had a stinging cut!

Kelly Turnbull 5K Finally, it was time to meet Lady Annaly in all her splendour. After we recited The Owl and the Pussycat, Mrs. Bumbridge asked Lady Annaly to remove her veil. As soon as the veil fell away, we looked up. It turned out that Lady Annaly was my teacher, Mrs. Knibb – what a shock it gave us!

Matthew Cooper 5K

Year 5 visit to Holdenby House We finally arrived at Holdenby House after a treacherous journey across the city. From the oak wooden trailer I was looking out the side when Holdenby House came into view. At first I couldn’t believe my eyes but then I pinched myself hesitantly. It was a magnificent manor house. I realised that everything was true, even the thought of being picked for a job was amazing.

I was in a palace fit for a queen but that thought scurried away in a flash when a man, who was as thin as a pencil and with a distorted face, emerged with a bamboo stick. Next to appear was a fat woman with grey hair that looked like a rat’s nest.

She wore a long black dress and an elegant mop cap over her wrinkled, ugly face. I tried and tried to find a word of greeting but nothing came. I gulped. The stranger who’d brought us left the room silently, closing the huge door behind him.

The thin man shouted in my delicate ear “My name is Mr Rhett and she is Mrs Sprindle,” Jasmyn Leong 5P I couldn’t sleep that night. I was still scared. Were we going to get hung? I stayed awake, squished in my little trough-like bed. Then a loud knock woke me out of my trance. Had I been awake all night? Another loud knock was followed by a harsh voice saying, “Get up”. Edith and Susan slept in my dormitory so I quickly shook them awake for a wash. The icy cold water nearly made us turn blue.

After dressing, we joined two boys at the main gates. I looked up to see a carriage waiting.

Unfortunately it pulled away leaving a shabby old cart, a shabby young boy and shabby old horse. He looked up at us and said, “You’re the ones goin to ‘oldeny ‘ouse aint ya?”. I looked up to see he was a few years older than me. Nobody spoke for a moment then a small boy my age with blonde hair and freckles spoke up, “Yes we are, but are you sure the Queen lives there?” The boy thought for a moment then spoke, “Nah, she lives somewhere down London in Buckinum Palace or somethin’.” We climbed sullenly on to the back of the cart and plumped ourselves down on to the straw.

Sophie Arora 5P

CREATIVE WRITING

Shipwrecked by Hannah Yolland

I gasped for air. The vicious waves never paused to take a break. They hauled themselves everywhere, trying to drown me. I struggled violently although I didn’t want to attract the bloodthirsty sharks I’d seen roaming the bitter cold waters around me. I could see the Peggy Sue drifting peacefully away. My memories flashed before me. Last of all were the faint glimmers of my mum and dad.

I saw something in the distance. I thought it was Stella. I swam desperately over to it. My ball! I clung onto it for a while, pinching myself to stay awake. I knew I couldn’t fall asleep but it was too hard…

I woke up expecting to see the masts and the sail of the Peggy Sue, however I only saw trees and leaves. I slowly sat up. I had sand all over me and I was as itchy as ever. I could see lush white sand shining in the light. I was stranded on a desert island.

The Pathway of Secrets by Isabelle Hemus The eerie, black sky approached the invisible, dim pathway. A blinding, bright golden light suddenly appeared out of nowhere. The golden light crept closer, closer, CLOSER, CLOSER........... until you could see it no more. All you could see was your friends or parents, telling each other secrets. You could hear them too! When they had stopped it all vanished. Nothing was left but the bright golden, blinding light glaring at you.

Then……I was back in my bed. It was all a silly old dream.

The Magic of the Brain Such a sight I saw: A vast boat gliding on the never ending sea, Huge sails stretching up into the sky.

It made me feel merry.

Such a sight I saw.

Such a sound I heard: The roaring sound of fighter planes splitting the air, Twin turbine engines propelled them arrowstraight.

They made me feel scared and agitated.

Such a sound I heard.

Such a smell I smelled: Fire spreading through the forest, Leaping from tree to tree.

Choking smoke stretched sky-high.

It made me feel alarmed!

Such a smell I smelled.

Such a smooth conker I felt: A smooth, polished, golden conker, Falling from the horse chestnut like treasure.

It made me feel powerful and strong, Such a smooth conker I felt

by Lucas Bennett

Sitting on the shelves, My spine is stiff, I have 268 pieces to me.

At 210, I had a little tiff.

My childhood is an adventure to be told, To whomever there may be.

When open I reveal a whole new world, Where creatures live and roam.

Where anything can happen, Life, death or home.

I live beneath the sea, My friends are all around the world, I’ve seen many divers over the years, Stealing from inside of me, I’ve seen so many of the unknown ship wrecks, I’ve seen treasures no one’s found, I dream of being above the sea, To sit snuggled up next to my brothers and sisters, Sitting magnificently around an elegant neck, I do not understand why they have left me here.

I long to see a light, A life where I can shine.

A life where I’m a best-seller, And sold out all the time.

It is hard being a book.

I am a pearl.

By Hana.D and Hannah.Y

Sat on a shelf by my brother thesaurus, Useful for a variety of games (such as scrabble), I know many things that are stored in my pages, Oxford and Collins have adopted me in the past, 26 letters provide me with my knowledge.

I live in a pencil case, Always dropped, Standing propped, Against the desk.

Will I ever have a rest?

By Kieran Thomas and George Parker

? ?

Big sweaty hands, Gripping me tight.

Will they ever let me, Out of their might?

People pull me in half, When I am running out and old.

Do they ever have to be told?

I am a pen.

Lorna Williamson and Megan Rose

By Christina Tomschey and Milli Morris

I wait all day and I wait all night, To most people I’m an ugly sight.

?

I sit on a shelf feeling so bored, And every day I pray that someday I’ll be bought.

I’m never eaten, just boiled and thrown away, They just look at me and have nothing else to say!

My name is Mr.Brussel Sprout.

By Mehreen Kazmi and Rhea Raizada.

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The Sutton Hoo Helmet YEAR 4 VISIT TO THE BRITISH MUSEUM IN LONDON Hands on History

On Monday the 23rd of November, Year 4 went to the British Museum in London. This trip was to help us with our History studies of the Anglo-Saxons. In the Anglo-Saxon exhibition we saw the remaining pieces of a helmet from Sutton Hoo and a replica of the whole helmet. We also saw Frank's Casket, drinking horns, shields, swords and lots of jewellery. After lunch we had the chance to look at other exhibitions in the museum. We were able to handle some of the artefacts. It was a fun day out where we learnt a lot.

Frank’s Casket

Helmet from Sutton Hoo

Artwork

& Projects

Year 3 and 4 have been producing some spectacular artwork and projects, as you can see from these pictures. Reef produced the wonderful Rainforest box and Crystal the Rainforest model. Mrs Mason has been doing work inspired by Bridget Riley and some beautiful patterns have been created. These were made by Hema and Amy Smith (Yr 6). The stained glass windows were made

by Year 3. The excellent examples above were made by Amy Burton and Suwetha. We enjoy being creative, whether through designing and making things in lessons and clubs, or in our writing and Drama.

Nativity Returns!

Following the great success of the feature film Nativity in 2008, the sequel has been in production this term. Bablake was the setting for Oakmoor School, again locked in a dramatic competition to produce the best school nativity show in the land.

Jason Watkins stars as Mr Shakespeare, the Oakmoor Drama teacher, whilst his opponent in the new film is played by David Tennant. Many Bablake Junior pupils feature in the film, as you can see from these photos.

Being part of this exciting event was a great thrill for all concerned and we look forward to the release, planned for next year.

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Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Appeal This year’s Shoe Box Appeal for Operation Christmas Child has been particularly well supported, with the children (and parents!) filling 72 shoe boxes.

This will bring significant Christmas cheer to many children who might otherwise have little to celebrate at Christmas.

Thank you for all your efforts.

Mrs Debby Lapworth, who works in our office in the afternoon, is delighted to have secured a charity place to run in next year’s London Marathon.

She has been training hard and we look forward to helping her raise money for ‘Children with Cancer UK’ next term.

Boys Coventry Schools Cross Country Sixtenn boys represented the school at the Coventry Schools Cross Country at Keresley Grange earlier this term. The A team put in a tremendous effort and came 4th out of 24 schools. George Parker led the way home in 10th. The rest of the team weren’t far behind.

In the B team race the boys went one better and came in third. They were thrilled with their medals. Congratulations to everyone who took part and who tried so hard in this very testing event.

A Team: George Parker, Xander Bennett

Connor Jelley, Lucas Bennett

Guy Jewkes, Joshua Connolly

B Team: Asad Ssemwagerere, Robert Tyas

James McCook, Luke Edmiston

Oliver Pemble, Ben Harrison

Tom Canning, Alex Starling

Jamie Bevan, Luke O’Neill Sandeep Dhaliwal

Year 5 Team at St Martins

Year 6 Team at St Martins

St Martins Cross Country On Saturday 24th September Bablake sent two teams to run in the St Martin’s Open Day X-country relays. It was a perfect day for running as the weather wasn’t too hot.

The Year 5 team set off first with Lawou Mpafe making a very strong start. She passed the baton on to Sophie Arora, who also ran an excellent race despite having novice’s nerves. Katy Davis took over next, powering on to overtake the runner ahead. The last leg, Freya Bennett overtook yet another runner and this placed the team in silver medal position.

The Year 6 team was lead out by Isabelle Hemus, who set a cracking pace. She handed over to Emma Allroggen (Yr4), who continued to lead the pack even though she was the smallest girl in the competition. Hannah Yolland was third leg and ran a very good race against stiff competition.

Finally Christie Thomson ran an outstanding last leg, bringing home the silver medal.

NETBALL Congratulations to all netball team players who have made a tremendous start to the 2011–12 season.

There have been some excellent results. The U11 and U10 teams remain unbeaten at the game of High ‘5’s, where all players rotate positions at the end of each quarter.

More recently the team showed a tremendous spirit to earn a 9-9 draw against a combined Year 5/6 team from St Martin’s.

The U11 A & B teams continue their success of last year and have won 11 and drawn 1 of their 14 games. Notable games include a fine 13-6 A team The U9 team have made a great impression this victory over Bromsgrove School and a brilliant 11-1 term and to date are unbeaten after 4 matches. B team victory over Bilton Grange.

They recorded a fine 7-2 victory over Warwick Prep and a 7-2 defeat of Eversfield.

Thank you to all players for your enthusiasm and The U10 A & B teams have performed admirably. commitment and to parents for your support and The A team scored a magnificent 6-3 victory over encouragement at matches.

Bilton Grange and an 8-0 success at The Crescent. Mrs Reed, Miss Summers and Mrs Huxter.

The Year 6 Netball Teams

Bablake Junior School Supports Coventry City Junior School pupils were recently out in strength to support our local big team, Coventry City, in their match against Southampton, the Championship leaders. Over 50 tickets were sold to Bablake families and the honour of making the players tunnel before the game began fell to our pupils.

In a thrilling game Coventry fought back to level the scores 2-2 at half time, only for the Saints to snatch a late victory, winning the game 4-2.

Rugby

Some of the Year 6 Rugby Players With the Rugby World Cup taking place during Bablake Juniors Rugby season there was an increased interest and enthusiasm from all the boys to learn new rugby skills and emulate their Rugby heroes.

The Under 8’s have great strength in depth, with the B team being undefeated all season and the A team only narrowly losing 1 game.

The Under 9’s have worked tirelessly all season. Their tackling and rucking has become ferocious and they were rewarded with great victories against Eversfield and The Crescent. I am sure with a little more experience they will win more games next year.

The Under 10’s have played some excellent rugby this season and have proved that if they pass the ball out of contact areas they will score tries. They have also had excellent wins against Eversfield and The Crescent and had a thrilling 0-0 draw against Warwick.

The Under 11’s have been the most successful team this season and they have improved significantly since last year. They quickly learnt that in order to compete and be successful every single player must make a tackle. It was a harsh lesson, but one that then spurred them on to great victories against The Croft, Eversfield and Solihull School. The Under 11 ‘Barbarians’ team had a superb game against Warwick and came out victorious.

All of this success has been largely due to the boys’ enthusiasm and hard work and it has been great to hear that so many boys now play for Rugby clubs outside of school.

A big thank you must go to your mums and dads at home. Having two games sessions per week is not easy for them as it now means an awful lot of washing and cleaning! Well done everyone.

Mr Benfield