Bablake Junior Runners do the Double at City Cross Country Championships! Simba
DIARY DATES
A Christmas Thought from Mr Price
“A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination,” said Nelson Mandela, a great man who shaped our understanding of what is possible. By his example and his deep understanding of the human spirit, he brought peace where there had been violence and suppression.
At school we hope to share this ideal. Nelson Mandela valued education in the broadest sense. When asked by followers what they should do to prepare for the time when he was no longer around to lead them, he replied, “Go back to school.” At Bablake we are blessed to be part of a community that values ‘a good heart and a good mind.’
Christmas is a time of joy, especially for our children. It is a time of celebration and compassion, an opportunity to reflect and time to share. Amidst all the presents and materialism we should retain faith in the understanding that our greatest gift is forgiveness and our greatest strength is our love.
Bablake Junior Pupils Support the Shoe Box Appeal
Saturday 16th November dawned damp and soggy but still over 360 young athletes took to the fields of Keresley Grange in the annual Coventry Primary Schools Boy’s Cross-country Championships.
The A Team race was first off with almost 200 runners dashing past the whooping crowds. Bablake runners Josh Connolly and Sam Herniman pressed the leaders from the start but were never quite able to catch them. However, with Josh finishing 3rd, Sam 4th, Oliver Pemble 5th, Matthew Hart 10th, Asad Ssemewogerere 12th and Reef Billingham 25th, the team won the competition ahead of 33 other schools!
The B Team race had attracted record numbers and 178 hopefuls set off with great pace at the sound of the hooter. Patrick Heffermann chased the leader all the way to come home second with Adam Tyas in 5th, Archie Burdett in 6th and Ray Thomas-Devaney in 7th. Several other young Bablake runners were not far
behind which augurs well for the future. The team once again ran out winners from 23 schools.
This was the first time we have won both the A and B boys’ team competitions and we now hold all of the Coventry Schools trophies following the girls successes last year. A fabulous achievement and the result of much dedication and hard work. Well done.
go!
BABLAKE
SCHOOL
Bablake Junior School pupils have put together over 100 shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child. This charity sends gifts to needy children around the world who might otherwise not receive a gift this Christmas.
Bablake has supported this very worthwhile cause for many years and this year the number of shoe boxes put together by Bablake pupils looks like being a record.
“The children have been fantastic,” says Mrs Katie Dawson, the school’s charity coordinator. “They are always keen to help other children in the world who are less fortunate than they are and the shoeboxes are particularly lovely because they have to be put together with such a great deal of thought.”
The B Team boys prepare to
The Victorious Cross Country Teams
Year 3 Chedworth Villa Trip
After our fantastic trip to Chedworth Villa in the Cotswolds, the Year 3 pupils wrote a recount of the amazing activities they had taken part in during the day. Here are a few interesting excerpts:
At Chedworth my first activity was in the school room, being an archaeologist. I discovered animal bones from rabbits, cows and dogs that had been found at the site. I found out how the Romans had used mosaics as floor tiles and pictures. Then I looked at old pieces of pottery. I tried to put it back together but it fell apart. An amphora was a huge pot that the Romans used for keeping wine and oil in. They ate snails and oysters. I think they must have been slimy. Vanessa Dadson 3P
There were piles of pottery, animal bones, shells, mosaic pieces and old nails. We got to look at Roman sandals, a spoon and a comb, both made out of cow’s horn. Imogen Harmston 3P
For my second activity I had to put on a rough tunic and a slave necklace. We used a mortar and pestle. We put different herbs into the mortar and pestle and mixed and crushed all the herbs up with the pestle. Then we tipped the herbs on to a piece of material and pulled up the four corners and squeezed the top of our mixture. Finally we tied it up with green string. It smelled horrible. Alice Richardson 3P
For the third activity we had a tour around the whole of Chedworth Villa. We learned how they went to the toilet . They walked into their little hut and sat down on a wooden box. Because they didn’t have toilet paper they used a sponge on a stick to wipe their bottom, then they put the sponge in a bowl of water, ready for the next person. When bathing it took them three or four hours to get themselves clean, because they thought it was unhygienic, they plucked out all their body hair. Libby Stinton 3P
Our next activity was to look at the Roman baths. There was a warm bath and a cold bath and the Romans had to wear shoes because the floor was very hot. The hot bath never went cold even when it was snowing because they heated it and built a gargantuan building over it. When it was snowing they would put snow in the bath to make it even colder. This bath was called the frigidarium. Arjun Thandi 3P
We discovered the Romans could fit fifteen people in the bath. Instead of soap they used olive oil and then scraped it off with a strigil, a type of metal hooked thing.Claudie Mutatie 3P
We went to the museum where we saw the necklaces that they stole from other countries that they visited Aryan Gajjar 3P
We went to the spring that the Romans found. It never froze over in winter. The Romans were amazed so they built a wall over it to protect it. Shannon Holder 3P
The Romans built a temple around the spring. When they came to worship their gods, they gave gifts to them. Elizabeth Akinkoye 3P
Rugby Report 2013
Learning how to tie up our medicine bags
It’s a hard life being a slave
Year 3 archaeologists sorting Roman artefacts
The Under 8 team have shown much enthusiasm this year and have some great talent. However, the excitement of a first away fixture against Eversfield proved a little bit much for the A and B teams, who unfortunately both lost. A more focussed approach later in the term meant both teams convincingly beat King Henrys in front of a delighted home crowd. Well done boys.
The Under 9 team have gone from strength to strength and have thoroughly enjoyed playing contact Rugby. They won their first match against The Croft School and were narrowly beaten by King Henry’s in an early season tournament. They followed these strong performances with a tough draw against Eversfield and were unfortunate to be beaten in the last game against King Henry’s.
The Under 10’s have seen several new faces join the squad this year with many of the boys having
Netball Report 2013
This term has seen all Bablake Teams record many superb victories.
The Under 11 A have defeated teams from Eversfield, The Crescent, Bilton Grange, Solihull and St Osburgs. The Under 11 B team continue their success from last year to remain unbeaten against other schools B teams and can be very proud of securing a 4-4 draw against Bablake U12B team. Congratulations to the Under 11 C team who drew 2-2 against Eversfield B in their first match of the season.
Our Under 10 A team have made a promising start and won all 6 home matches. They also reached the final of the Under 10 Solihull Tournament defeating teams from Edgbaston High, St Martins, Eversfield and King Henry VIII. After a fiercely contested final against the The Croft, which saw an injury to the Bablake GK, we were unfortunately defeated by 1-3 goals to finish as runners-up.
never played Rugby before. Improvement has been remarkable and the highlight of the season was an A, B and C fixtures against King Henrys where all of the boys in Year 5 participated in a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon of Rugby.
The Under 11 A team have had a mixed season of results. When playing to the best of their ability they are able to beat any opposition and they have had good wins against Eversfield and Warwick B. Disappointing losses were experienced at Solihull and King Henrys but, with just a little more determination and application, the team will reach their full potential.
The Under 11 B team have also had a full set of fixtures and they have performed very well. They have beaten King Henrys and The Croft and Eversfield, in a 41:40 thriller of a game. All of the boys in Year 6 have participated in fixtures this term and have won the majority, well done.
Not to be outdone by the A team the U10B team have won an impressive 5 of their 6 matches, defeating Solihull 6-0, Bilton Grange 13-1, Croft 10-3 and Eversfield 11-1.
Congratulations to the Under 9 team who show great promise. After a 4-4 draw in their first ever fixture against Bilton Grange, they then defeated Croft 3-1, Eversfield 8-1, King Henry VIII 9-3 and Crackley Hall 13-5.
Well done to all teams. Everyone has played with great determination and the strength in depth has been great to see. Mrs Reed & Miss Shorter
Harry’s marvellous medicine
Year 5 are Victorians for the Day at Holdenby House
In early November, the eager Year 5 travelled to Holdenby House in Northamptonshire to find out about the gruelling lives of Victorian servants. Alex Mousley 5K
Like a flock of sheep, we were herded into a cobbled courtyard. Slowly and steadily, the noise of our chatter climbed rather high. Suddenly, a door flew open and Mrs. Bumbridge, the housekeeper, swept across the now silent courtyard. “Get into three straight lines,” she barked. Lauren McGladdery 5K
We had to repeat the house prayer and other dreadful chants such as, “spare the rod, spoil the child,” “cleanliness is next to godliness,” and “God bless the squire and his relations and keep us all in our proper stations.” Suwetha Bhavanandan 5K
My first chore was clapping books of all shapes and sizes in order to clean them. However, the drudge (Mrs. Knibb) kept distracting everyone from doing their work so she got a “beating.” Mrs Knibb said, “I deserve much better than this.” At that moment I felt fear shrivel through my body.” Maya Koria 5K
After we had our lunch we headed off to the grand hall where we were meeting Lady Annally, the lady of the house. When we went in we were told to look at the floor because it is rude to stare. Emma Ashby 5K
As a valet (the second highest ranking male servant) I had to re-write the menu for the day. Mrs. Bumbridge, who I’d renamed the black bat, told me to “dip, blot, write”. I was terrible at it because it was easy to smudge my writing, so I was glad I didn’t get told off. I found it amusing that lunch was called luncheon. Luke Brown 5K
The trip taught me that Victorian servants had a hard life for there was always so much to do. I would recommend this trip to the next Year 5 as I really enjoyed and benefited from it. Clive Freeman 5K
Year 4
As part of our work on Anglo-Saxons in History, Year 4 examined pictures of artefacts found in the excavations at Sutton Hoo. Each group was asked to think about the materials that the object was made from, decoration and possible uses. We then explored what these objects can tell us about this period in time. To find out more, you could visit the British Museum in London or the Sutton Hoo site at Woodbridge.
In the rainforest it is very gloomy, the rain pouring on the trees like pouring water in to the sink. Water falling swiftly as quickly as the rain falls on it. Thunder roaring like somebody shouting, birds tweeting and crowing, making a lot of noise. There are animals swinging from tree to tree, creaking like old floorboards. Charlie Crinigan 4H
In the pea green rainforest there are lots of animals like colourful, rainbow parrots flying in mid-air, or big slimy, slithering snakes who slide around everywhere in the dry, brown leaves. On the colossal trees are lush, green leaves and a great velvet curtain of wet rain. There are all kinds of tropical birds, for example, toucans, pelicans and lots more! Bianca Booth 4L
The Tunnel
Two days ago I went to play with Davey. I had spectacular fun with Davey. I suggested when the clock struck 9 o’clock, that we should tell ghost stories. However, Davey had a way better idea, he suggested that we were to go down to the forest. Although I‘d never done it before, I exclaimed that I would do it.We used the 20 minutes to grab everything like Davey’s biology encyclopaedia and binoculars. I went to get my telescope, coat and shoes and after that we were off. The forest was fun and exciting. We saw loads of birds like a robin, crow and blue bird. After that we went home for a hot chocolate and marshmallows.Archie Burdett 4L
As I crawled out of the gloomy tunnel I was surrounded by big, leafy trees, but as I walked, slowly deeper into the forest, it became an endless wood. There were loads of threatening objects around me like axes and gravestones, but I heard threatening noises as well, was that a wolf howling? witches cackling? twigs snapping? bears roaring? I started to run, I could not stop myself, before I knew it I was sprinting like mad! My heart was in my mouth, I still couldn’t see my brother. I hated it, absolutely hated it. Oh my goodness, was that a wolf I saw? I couldn’t be sure. Aaaaaggghhh!!! A bear, a boar, branches like witches fingers trying to grab me! It smelt like cabbage water, my heart was in my mouth! I could taste death on the tip of my tongue. I could see an object in the shape of a human being, was it my brother??? Bianca Booth 4L
I have had the most amazing day with Davey! We went to the old beech tree, though in Davey’s head, it was a spaceship that crashed into Earth 1,000,000 years ago and is stuck. Then, I saw it too. We scrambled to the top where there were all sorts of wires with falling sheets of dust dangling off into the wreckage. We tried to find a door but it was obviously sealed in the crash land. Then, we climbed back up the tree and, in the distance, we saw another blunt rainbow. Before very long, it was night so we went to Davey’s house to do some star gazing. It was a clear night so we could see the stars easily. Harry Scott-Burt 4L
Dear Diary,
Dear Diary,
Rainforest
Bablake Pupils Sparkle at The Coventry Festival of Speech and Drama
The performances of Bablake Junior School pupils were amongst the highlights of the recent Coventry Festival of Speech and Drama. Building upon previous successes, they won no less than seventeen major prizes. Fifty children from the school took part and showed tremendous commitment and dedication, learning and rehearsing their pieces with enthusiasm over the term.
First places with distinction were awarded to Joseph Robson and Imogen Harmston in Verse Speaking, Classes C and D, beating almost 30 competitors in each section. First places also went to Manav Jaspal in the Humorous Verse
Class C, Amelia Shaw in Prose Speaking Class C and Bryony Camwell and Anna Williams for their Choral Speaking duo. First place with highly commended was awarded to Priya Fensome in Prose Speaking Class D. In all, Bablake pupils won six categories and thoroughly enjoyed the experience, gaining great confidence and bravely sharing the spotlight, the accolades and the tension!
Second places with highly commended were won by Libby Harrison, Bertie Hancock and Tom Dewes in Humorous Verse and Lily Harmston in Verse Speaking, both Class D.
Third places were awarded to Imogen Pemble, Arjun Thandi, Theodore HutchinsonHayes and Oliver Spencer in Humorous Verse Class D, Archie Burdett and Giacomo McGibbon in
Verse Speaking Class D and Eleanor White for her Verse Reading Class C.
Many congratulations to everyone who took part, this was a super effort in challenging circumstances.
Bablake Junior School Pupils Support Children in Need
Everyone at Bablake Junior School dressed-up in onesies and pyjamas on Friday 15th November to raise funds for Children in Need. Pupils still worked hard but there were certainly a few more smiles on people’s faces as even the staff joined in the fun. Lessons went with an added bounce and over £330 was raised for this tremendous charity. Cakes were also brought in and the funds raised from the sale of those were shared between Children in Need and the Philippine Typhoon Disaster Relief Fund, which will receive £101 from the children’s efforts.
Art Competition Success!
Kubra Seker was stunned in Assembly on Thursday 14th November to discover that she was the winner of the Recognition Express sponsored national road safety competition. Her poster was selected from amongst entries from one hundred and fifty schools. Mr Alan Newman from the sponsors came in Assembly to present Kubra with her prize.
Kubra’s picture has been turned into a banner which will be
put up outside the school. Mrs Mason, Kubra’s Art teacher, was thrilled by the award.
“Road safety is a very important subject, especially for children, and we wanted to raise awareness of the significance of speed when driving in urban areas. Many of our children entered the competition and I was delighted to hear that Kubra won. She is a very talented artist highlighting a very important issue.”
MacMillan Coffee Morning at the Pre Prep
Children in Need
September 27th saw Bablake Pre Prep staff don their aprons to produce a wonderful selection of cakes for Macmillan Coffee Morning. The Morning (and afternoon) was supported by lots of Pre Prep parents who came along to sample the culinary delights and contributed to the grand total of £267.75. We are extremely grateful for their support and hope that next year’s coffee morning (and afternoon) will be even more successful. Mr Powell
We had a great day at the Pre-Prep in our pyjamas. Thank you for donating to Children in Need. Krish Bodalia and Amrita Ajikumar (Head Boy and Head Girl)
Staff Update
The Pre Prep children made wedding hats for Miss Fiddler and Miss Furlong and celebrated with them shortly before their wedding days. Congratulations to
and
Coombe Abbey - Year 5
To support our Geography topic, Year 5 went to Coombe Abbey County Park to carry out an investigation on a river. As part of our fieldwork we observed the features of the river and the creatures which could be found in that habitat. We also measured the width, depth and flow of Smite Brook. We had a thoroughly enjoyable experience despite the rain!
Year 5’s Imaginative Recounts
Year 5 have been inspired by our History topic this term. After visiting Holdenby House and reading extracts from Street Child and Oliver Twist they wrote some imaginative recounts.
I was sitting in the schoolroom, just scribbling nothing on my slate. The peeling, dark green walls were very high with no windows. Occasionally a gas light would flicker or hiss. It was January and all was frozen. It was so cold I could see my own breath swirling like a ghost from the past days of the workhouse. Every part of my body was pinched by extreme, lunging temperatures. Mr. Crowitt strode down the silent aisles, looming over every boy’s work. James McCook 5K
Australia (Year 2)
‘I really enjoyed looking at the photographs of the red back spider and other Australian animals.’ Lara Uchil 2M
‘In Northern Australia, it can get quite hot because it is close to the equator.’ Amrita Ajikumar 2M
After trudging through fields for half a day, we finally reached Holdenby House. What a magnificent sight! Securing the house, the large gates made me tremble. Intriguing wall designs, grass as smooth as felt and topiary clipped into peacocks made me remember my dream … Aarushi Khurana 5K
Anxiously I stepped into the grand building. “My name is Mrs. Pantridge. I want you to all try your hardest here”. I never realised how much they would expect from us. Mrs Pantridge has already set me six jobs: cook mince pies for her Christmas party, iron her best gown, make tea, set out some jewels, light the fire and dust her books. Tiredly, I looked at my list to see what to do next. I picked out her crimson red gown and rich red earrings and dropped them on the bed. Jemima Pawar-Price 5K
I was cleaning the Lord’s best vase when “CRASH” it smashed to smithereens! I felt fear gnawing at my stomach. I was as silent as a shadow. What would happen now? Sophie French 5K
Without warning, a door flew open and a strange well-dressed person came striding in like a regal peacock. “Hello horrible urchins!” pronounced the stranger with a severe sound of disgust in her voice. “My name is Mrs Bumbridge and I am here to take ten of you rag piles for a trial at Holdenby House.” Joseph Robson 5K
Mrs Sawdon
Mrs Connell!
Our Roman Day by Year 3
Year Three pupils all arrived in a wonderful variety of outfits, ranging from emperors, empresses and gladiators to humble slaves, eager to start their Roman Day.
Our amazing day started with a bit of a shock for the girls, (or was it a pleasant surprise?) as they learnt that in Roman times they would not have gone to school. So the first thing we had to do was send the boys to their Maths class, where they used Roman numerals like I, V and X to complete their calculations.
Meanwhile all the girls tackled their housework admirably and cared for all the babies’ needs. Sadly, the boys missed out on some important nappy changing skills! Fortunately, after an exhausting morning, the girls had enough time left to learn some hairdressing skills and then they learnt how to dance.
The boys spent the rest of their morning practising their marching skills. Dex means right and sin is left so this took a while to get used to! Appetites were definitely sharpened by lunchtime and everyone eagerly anticipated the Roman feast promised….. perhaps not the dormice which were being gently roasted, though!
By the afternoon the boys were beginning to feel that they ought to share what they had experienced with the girls. Maybe it was only fair but would they cope with
those wailing babies when it was their turn to find out what they had missed?! This resulted in lots of fun, as girls marched, boys danced and, predictably…. “When is it feast time?” was the question on everyone’s exhausted lips.
The food was scrumptious, especially the cinnamon sweet cakes. Even the dormice went down well, proving that all that marching can make a Roman really hungry!
Thank you to parents for helping to make such amazing outfits and to Mrs Price for our yummy banquet. We hope that each activity will stay in our minds for a long time to come and bring our Roman studies to life.
The Choir Sing for Free
The choir are very excited to have been selected for the Free Radio ‘Christmas Stars’ competition this year. Along with 9 other primary schools in Coventry, their recording will be heard on Free Radio and the interviews recorded by Dami, Georgie and Maya will be aired for everyone to hear (photo of the interviews attached). Nayna from Free Radio was really impressed by the choir’s singing and by how disciplined they were in reading out the ‘titles’ for the recording as well – everyone was given a sticker and Free Radio wristband to thank them for their hard work!
The children in the choir worked very hard to learn a lovely Christmas song, ‘Love Shone Down’ by Sheila Wilson, in only 2 rehearsals, so that we could make the recording on the 13th November. They will then be rehearsing hard for the Christmas service in Coventry Cathedral on December 16th. It’s great to have a mixture of children from all year groups involved in the choir, and after Christmas we will be preparing to enter the National Festival of Music for Youth in March, so come along to rehearsals if you’d like to join us! Mrs Scott-Burt
Senior School Pupils help Bablake Junior School Readers
The paired reading scheme continues to be a great success with dozens of Senior School pupils coming down to the Junior School to hear young readers as part of their community service for the Duke of Edinborough Award scheme. Everyone gains and Junior School pupils enjoy getting to spend time with their older peers. In the picture are some of the readers in the Junior School reading lounge.
Recorder Practice
Merry Christmas!
Harry Scott-Burt
National Children’s Orchestra
Woodwind Group
Centurion Holder puts the boys through their paces
Folding clothes....a tiresome but necessary chore Don’t mess with this Emperor Grace tucks into a feast after a hard morning at work
Young soldiers teaching the girls to march Slave Avneet teaching the boys about cleaning
