gap ST u DENTS
Miss Brandon-Cooper
Winterfold has been the most amazing experience, and the best GAP year I could have ever imagined; it has without a doubt changed my whole perception of what I would love to do in my future. To write a brief article on the year I have had and the experiences I have shared on an average school day with these children is so hard to do because everyday has been so different and with many highlights that it makes me emotional to reminisce on. To wake up in the morning and know that each day you are surrounding yourself with the most beautiful children and the most supportive and wonderful group of teaching staff, makes you feel at home away from home.
Most importantly, the children are the most creative, sporty and talented bunch of children that have fully immersed themselves into the cocurriculars and academic pursuits and opportunities that they have been given. Their constant company made my time here so much more enjoyable. On a bad day, or when I felt home sick, their warm smiles and cheery faces lightened up my mood immediately (especially ‘cha-cha slide’) on crossing duty.
The teaching staff have been so inviting to me and have truly subbed in as ‘parent-like’ figures this year and have made the adjustment from Australia so seamless. The foundation of generosity and kindness that they preach in and out of the classroom and to the children at every instance is reciprocated in every corridor throughout the school, and to be a part of this culture is so special. They have most importantly trusted me to build such special bonds with the children and become what feels like an ‘older-sister’ to many.
I never considered being a teacher and it was never really on the cards, but the year I have had has opened my eyes up so much for my love for coaching and teaching. Winterfold truly has such a wonderful atmosphere and holds such a strong community and such a special atmosphere to work.
Miss Bowen
What a year it’s been. It’s a bittersweet mix of joy as I reflect on the countless memories made, and sadness knowing it’s time to move on. This year has truly been amazing, and I feel so lucky to have had the opportunity to be a gappie at Winterfold.
Each morning began with my time at the crossing, watching each car roll down the drive, offering warm smiles and waves in return, and a few giggles with certain cars. Seeing some of the Pre-Prep children roll down their window shouting out “hello” truly brightened my day. Even on those mornings when I was utterly exhausted or longing for home and warmer weather, I don’t think some families realise the impact of their warmth by greeting us with a cheerful smile can bring each day. I then commenced my morning in Kindergarten 2, an amazing, and sweet group of children. It has been a joyful experience, reminiscent of my own childhood, as I engaged in singing nursery rhymes and reading books, that we read over and over again.
I just wanted to take a moment to express my sincere gratitude to the
teachers. Working alongside such dedicated, passionate, hospitable and inspiring individuals makes every day a rewarding experience, and has really made this experience away from home rewarding. Thank you for your constant support, your collaboration and kindness never go unnoticed, and I feel so lucky to have been part of this school this year, it has truly been a privilege working year, and such a valuable experience that I will treasure for ever.
Finally, I want to express how incredible the children have been. From the beginning all the children have brought me so much joy, and made waking up early, when it is still pitch black outside that much easier as I genuinely adore each of the children’s company and looked forward to seeing them. Seeing each day the children flourish academically, athletically and socially is one of the most gratifying experiences, and this is reflected as they are raised by remarkable role models.
This year has truly been the best year of my life, and I feel forever grateful to have come to work at Winterfold. It will undoubtedly hold a special place in my heart forever.
a C a DEMIC NEWS
The start of the new academic year is always both a hardworking and exciting time.
English
From Year 3 to Year 6, the children have worked hard across various writing genres and enhanced their comprehension of texts. Year 3 studied War Game by Michael Foreman, using drama and writing to create soldier diaries from Christmas 1914, incorporating emotive language. Year 4 explored classic texts such as Carrie’s War and The War and Me, analysing characters and writing detailed descriptions with expanded noun phrases. They also wrote newspaper articles about an accident involving a car and a hole in the road. In Year 5, the children studied Greek myths, created mythical creatures, and wrote their own myth stories. Year 6 began the year with diary writing, including extracts from Anne Frank’s Diary, and studied classic narrative
poems such as The Highwayman, The Listeners, and The Lady of Shalott. They also learned to construct short stories and write persuasively.
In Years 7 and 8, the children explored challenging extracts from classic literature and famous poets. Year 7 studied Kid in the Bin, analysed themes and language, and wrote an alternative ending. They practiced 13+ style comprehension, using the Point Evidence Explain technique, and studied Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, focusing on themes of love and social standing. Year 8 read extracts from Dracula and Frankenstein, writing a short story about an invention going wrong. After an interactive workshop by the Young Shakespeare Company, they explored the complex themes and characters of Twelfth Night.
The Scholastic Book Fair at the end of the term was a success, raising funds for new books to support our English studies.
Mathematics
The new academic year in the Mathematics department at Winterfold started with the introduction of the White Rose Infinity program, used across Years 3 to 8. This online tool allows students to practice targeted questions based on their individual needs while earning points in a fun, competitive environment. It is userfriendly and a great preparation for online assessments.
Year 5 and 6 students participated in the Primary Maths Challenge, enjoying a morning of solving challenging puzzles. While results are still pending, the experience was engaging for all.
At Winterfold, learning extends beyond the classroom. Recently, Year 8 students applied their mathematical knowledge in a real-world context by going on a “circle hunt.” They searched for compound curved shapes around the school, such as car wheels, manhole covers, and windows. Students measured and calculated the circumference and area, gaining valuable hands-on experience and creating a memorable learning moment.
Science
Year 4 students have conducted experiments on tooth decay and learned about electrical circuits. Year 5 enjoyed studying life cycles and using Bunsen burners for the first time, including toasting marshmallows. Year 6 made excellent progress with light and electricity studies, including experiments with the Van der Graaf generator, and learned about evolution and the work of Darwin and Wallace.
In Key Stage 3, Year 7 students have built on their skills, from Bunsen burner use to microscope work and graph analysis. Year 8 has deepened their understanding of photosynthesis and conducted neutralisation experiments, finishing the term by researching advancements in alternative energy technologies
MFL
A notable change this term is the introduction of a weekly rotation between French and Spanish for Years 4 to 7, which has been met with enthusiasm. This new structure allows students to experience both languages in a balanced and engaging way. The curriculum has been evaluated, and new ICT-based resources have been introduced to enhance lesson variety and student engagement. A highlight of the term was the French Café during an open morning, where students showcased their language skills in a real-world setting. Overall, the children have shown great effort and enthusiasm in their studies.
geography
This year’s Royal Geographical Society’s Young Geographer of the Year competition saw excellent entries from Year 8 pupils, with Amelia Wright winning the school competition. Her poster, “Why Choose Geography,” featuring her AI-generated graphics, was submitted to the national competition. Year 7 took on the challenge of exploring new places with a trip to the Lake District, where they investigated rivers and flooding in Keswick. Their time at the Blencathra Centre also included gorge walking, mammal trapping, and climbing.
Year 8 conducted an urban study of Birmingham, revealing interesting findings such as people over 60 having a more positive view of the city than those under 30. Using advanced mapping software, they discovered areas developed under the Big City Plan have higher sustainability scores.
Year 6 has enjoyed learning Ordnance Survey map skills and is looking forward to orienteering later in the year. Year 5 explored Africa, studying major features like Victoria Falls and life in Kenya. Year 4 focused on the UK, learning about towns and cities in Worcestershire, while Year 3 studied hot and cold places on a global scale.
History
This term has been marked by exciting developments in history lessons, including introducing rising year groups to new historical eras. In September, we staged our first collaborative event with Harvington Hall. The Harvington Hall/Winterfold Day featured fifteen members of the Harvington History Club, dressed in Tudor attire, offering tours and participating in activities such as cooking Tudor food, making wax seals, code breaking, creating tuzzy muzzies, and soap making. Students from Year 5 to Year 8 had spent their Tuesday activity time since April learning about the Hall’s history with James from Harvington’s education team.
The event was such a success that a second one is planned for May 2025.
In October, Year 7 visited Stott Park Bobbin Mill in the Lake District during their residential trip. They explored the impact of the Industrial Revolution on the area and saw a working mill powered by a 19th-century steam engine. Though more relevant to Geography, it was also a useful revision for Year 7, who studied the Industrial Revolution in Year 5.
Next term, Year 8 will visit the Commandery in Worcester to study the English Civil War, while Year 5 will return to Blist Hill Victorian Village to experience a Victorian school and museum.
Latin and Classics
Year 5 have experienced their first taste of Latin and Classics this term under the watchful gaze of Minimus – the mouse who made Latin cool. They have begun to translate short sentences and have also enjoyed writing acrostic poetry based on the myth of Perseus and Medusa, and learning about the morality behind the story of Daedalus and Icarus. The Cambridge Latin Course has continued to be the focus of study in Latin for the upper years in the Prep School. Year 8, who have now completed the first book in the series, have recently experienced the shock twist of the last chapter of the course – no spoilers
here though. In Classics, Year 6 have enjoyed studying about the origins of Rome and storyboarding the myth of Romulus and Remus. Year 7 have been researching the Greek Gods and exploring the stories of Jason, Theseus and Perseus. This will result in an extended ICT project and an opportunity to teach the Year 7 Latin group about Greek heroes next term. Year 8 have embarked on their study of Homer’s Odyssey. They completed various written tasks based on the epic journey of Odysseus’ return from Ithaca to his homeland.
Debating
The English Speaking Union’s Mace competition is the country’s oldest debating competition for schools. This year, Winterfold had the honour of being invited to host the regional round of the competition in Penryn Hall. Our team of Year 8 speakers were asked to propose the motion that ‘This House supports the introduction of a four-day school week’. Even up against a team of Sixth Form English students, the Winterfold team were undaunted and more than held their own; confidently answering points of information and rebutting the oppositions arguments. Our girls spoke extremely well, impressing the judge and earning the respect and admiration from the older and more experienced speakers.
OWLS
In the Christmas Term, we welcomed a number of new OWLs to our Parliament (the collective noun for owls) from Year 6, and a few new faces from Year 8. As has now become tradition, we spent the majority of time honing our debating skills. For some, this was the first opportunity to take part in a structured debate, whilst our old hands enjoyed refining their skills and using their experience to help and instruct the newbies. Topics included: ‘School uniforms should be phased out; ‘Schools are no place for mobile phones’; and ‘It is immoral to be a billionaire’.
Just before the Christmas break, we researched a number of Christmas traditions which were then presented in an assembly in the last week of term. We were able to determine if Brussel sprouts really are from Belgium (they are), if Coca Cola really is responsible for a red Santa (it is) and the origin of pigs in blankets (apparently, they used to be oysters wrapped in bacon before the sausages muscled in).
Next term we will turn our attention to this year’s Dragon’s Den activity and will research, create and perform our own TED Talks.
pa STOR a L
What a rewarding term we have had in the pastoral care aspect of Winterfold.
Throughout this term, we have continued with our weekly themes, focusing on Resilience and Confidence. The children have been actively engaged in our PSHE and Assembly programs, contributing to a positive and enriching experience.
At Winterfold, the safety and welfare of the children is always at the heart of everything we do, and we remain dedicated to providing a nurturing environment where every child can thrive. We are committed to fostering expectations of positive daily routines and experiences that shape the character of Winterfold pupils and their families. The experiences this term alone have helped enrich memories that will last a lifetime.
In November, we celebrated AntiBullying Week, where children explored age-appropriate topics and ways to support one another. This year’s theme was “Choose Respect” giving the children the chance to reflect on how their words and actions impact those around them. The week included our annual Odd Socks Day, a celebration of individuality, with the children sporting an amazing variety of mismatched socks.
We continue to prioritise the well-being of every child and offer activities to support this, including our Gardening Club, Origami, Animation and Radio. The children are instrumental in choosing their activities and voted for a Taskmaster-esque activity that the older pupils are loving. The Pre-
Prep and Early Years club offering has also massively expanded, with the introduction of many new and engaging activities.
Pupil Voice has grown significantly again this academic year, where every pupil across the Prep School is actively participating in a committee. Their contributions are making a tangible, positive difference both within Winterfold and in the wider community; you will have seen the new Buddy Bench in the Prep Courtyard.
As we continue to expand and refine our Pupil Voice programme, we are particularly proud of the Charity Committee, Peer Mentors and Kindness Teams that continue to be a positive influence throughout the School. The positive impact of
this is clear, as the mentors spread compassion, understanding, and a listening ear to those in need. As the term progressed our Charity Committee have conducted a whole school “Reverse Advent Calendar” focusing on giving to those in need when they need it most.
The spiritual life of the School remains at the centre of all of our actions. Father Lamb continues to play an active role within our community, offering guidance, prayer, and opportunities for reflection. Our worry/prayer boxes remain in
each form to help tutors proactively address any concerns. For our younger students, tools such as Worry Monsters, Kindness Jars, and Prayer Bears provide opportunities for them to nurture their well-being and spirituality.
This term we opened our new Penryn Hall and Chapel. Our Masses this term have been incredibly special, from whole school to year groups joining together for collective worship. Our Harvest Mass was a celebration of giving, where we donated a large amount of food to the Basement
Project, helping families less fortunate than our own. Witnessing the older pupils supporting the younger is always a heartwarming experience. Penryn Chapel has created a beautiful and light space for our children to be present with prayer and reflection.
Throughout all our initiatives and programs, the safety, welfare, and emotional well-being of every child remain central to our approach. It has been an inspiring and impactful term at Winterfold, and we look forward to continuing these efforts into the New Year.
u SIC
The Christmas term at Winterfold has been full of festive fun and new developments.
This year, we celebrated the opening of the impressive Penryn Hall, an exciting addition to our campus. Seating 250, the hall features a state-of-the-art digital sound desk, fourteen-microphone side panels, a top-tier speaker and monitor system, and one of the region’s largest screens. With spacious wings, two green rooms with live feeds, and a
foyer for pre-show gatherings, Penryn Hall has transformed our performance capabilities, taking us into the realm of professional theatre.
The term kicked off with a Gala performance to showcase this incredible space and its features. The event highlighted the talents of our drama and music students while allowing us to get familiar
with the hall’s capabilities. Our Groove Diggers debuted with a performance of “Rolling in the Deep” alongside alumna Lola and Frances performed on the cello to honour our distinguished guest, cellist Lloyd Webber. Our Senior pupils and music award winners, Freddie, Cameron, Cecilia, and Sophia, took the big stage with poise, giving moving
performances. We also enjoyed a charming duet by Alice and Matilda and were thrilled to feature a house band, demonstrating the potential for live music in future school shows.
The term was filled with many musical moments, including mini-me concerts and morning performances in the new foyer. Students from Mr Thomas, Mr Sproston, Mr Hobbs, and Mr Popescu’s classes brought joy to our mornings. Our students also shared their talents outside of school, with Year 4 and the Chamber Choir performing carols at a local elderly care cafe in Chaddesley, and in Bewdley and Hartlebury. Additionally, we had a wonderful orchestral day at Bromsgrove School.
Christmas at Winterfold was marked with a flourish of festive cheer, beginning in November with a magical performance of carols around the tree in the Main Hall. Picture a scene straight out of Downton Abbey meets The Sound of Music, with children singing beautifully from the grand staircase. The Hall was packed with families and friends, who enjoyed festive mince pies and drinks, adding to the warm and celebratory atmosphere.
Our talented ensembles took center stage in the foyer during the Christmas Market. String groups, Brass, Saxophone, and Flute ensembles delighted the audience with a lively selection of carols, showcasing their
skills and adding a musical sparkle to the festivities. These events truly captured the spirit of Christmas at Winterfold, bringing joy and togetherness to our community.
The Carol Service was a beautiful highlight of the season, showcasing the hard work of all involved. And to wrap up the term, we celebrated the Winterfold tradition of “A Song for Christmas.” This lively event, originally introduced to replace the staff panto, gives students a chance to write and perform their own Christmas songs. From boy band tributes to ‘80s hits and rap numbers, the songs filled Penryn Hall with music, lights, and laughter—another new and memorable Winterfold tradition!
S p ORT
We have seen a great deal of competitive matches take place, where teamwork and sportsmanship has been demonstrated at high levels.
Hockey
The teams right from U8 up to U13 have had a number of competitive matches, showing dedication and perseverance throughout. The girls all work consistently hard in matches and training, enabling their skills to develop. As always, our teams show great sportsmanship, whether they are winning or losing they always play in the right spirit of the game.
Mr Gooderham and Mr Terry from Bromsgrove have led the girls’ sessions on a Monday afternoon which
has been of great value to the girls, enabling them to develop their skills further. Thanks, should also go to all the teachers, games staff and gappies who offer great support and help at all sessions and matches.
Rugby
The boys have done very well overall with their rugby and have made excellent progress over the course of the season. The 1st team have really developed as a team this term and have learnt the art of teamwork. By the
end of the season, they were playing some excellent rugby. We teach Winterfold pupils to have the right skills to take them forward in the game as they get older, and it is great to see the boys develop as they progress from Year 3 all the way up to Year 8. The 2nd team also had a very positive season and their tackling and ball handling skills improved a great deal. Some of the Year 7 boys have certainly put their hand up to be considered for the 1st team next year. The U11 and U10 teams had a very full fixture list and have kicked on from last season.
The U11A team played expansively with good skills and our U10A team also worked hard to understand the game further and put into practice what they are learning in their games lessons. The B teams of both age groups started the season playing touch rugby and as their confidence with contact skills developed, they transferred to playing contact after half-term. Allowing boys to progress at the best rate for them is fundamental to enjoying the game of rugby and they had a very positive season. The U9 boys did well this season with the A team having an exceptional season and showing promise for the future whilst the B team worked very hard to
improve their catching and passing. Year 3 boys thoroughly enjoyed the tag rugby and worked consistently to improve their catch-pass skills and support running.
Cross-Country
This term we held the Winterfold Cross country for a second time, with a slightly differing course. All of the Winterfold runners, ran exceptionally hard with each one finishing with a real sprint finish. Amélie Davis-Beard had a particularly strong performance in the U11 race finishing in 2nd place. Our children also found success at the RGS Cross Country, with Amélie finishing in 1st place for the U11
category, George Maxwell-Ralph in 1st place and George Jones-Elliot placing 3rd in the U9 race. Each of our runners put their very best effort into each race and all finished in commendable positions. After the Christmas break there will be more cross country to look forward to.
All in all, a very busy term of sport for everyone at Winterfold. Thank you to the children who have taken part, to our superb coaches for their help and expertise, to our grounds staff who prepare and maintain our pitches, to our kitchen staff for providing such great match teas and to all of the parents who have supported the teams so positively so far this year.
DR a M a
It certainly has been a most exciting term in the Drama department. With only four weeks to rehearse, we opened our wonderful new penryn Hall with a gala performance attended by Julian Lloyd-Webber.
Every child in the Prep School took part in the production with each year performing two numbers from the past six years’ Senior Shows. We also welcomed back former students to reprise their leading roles; they performed fantastically and it was quite unbelievable that they performed at such a high standard when they had just one day to get back into their roles. Working with these older performers was so inspirational for our younger students and we are already seeing a huge improvement in performance standards as a result of their Gala experience.
Without a moment to waste, we were straight in to rehearsing the Year 5 plays. During Drama lessons,
the children had explored how performance skills are used to bring the plays from the page to the stage. We then chose two short plays: Bill’s New Frock and The Mayor who Cancelled Christmas to prepare for performance at the end of the term. Every child performed with confidence and enthusiasm. They took responsibility for managing their own props and set, and demonstrated their competence as independent performers.
During the last days of term, Year 3 showcased their hard work in Drama lessons when they took on the mantle of the Nativity tableaux. This is performed annually as part of the school’s Carol Service. It is a
Winterfold tradition that all Year 3 pupils play their part in the Nativity and it is always heartwarming when Year 8 readers and Year 3 performers come together to rehearse. This year’s Nativity cast were more prepared and relaxed for the scale of the performance, after having taken part in the Gala only a few months before. As an extra challenge, the children took on additional lines which brought the tableaux to life perfectly. Year 3 are certainly a talented group and it was wonderful to see how much the children enjoyed performing to an audience.
One of the best places to learn about Drama and performance is at the theatre. At Winterfold we
look for opportunities to develop the pupil’s appreciation of live performance through regular visits to the local theatres. This term, a number of Senior pupils enjoyed a performance of Come From Away at the Wolverhampton Grand. This show tells the moving real-life story of the 7,000 air passengers from all over the world who were grounded in Canada during the wake of 9/11, and the small Newfoundland community that invited these ‘come from aways’ into their lives. The piece used limited set and costume and we were all amazed at how we were transported from a school, to a plane and back again with simple changes in positioning of the chairs on stage. The pupils certainly learned a lot about the power of storytelling and how it can transport the audience to far off places. It is a Christmas tradition that all children enjoy the magic of live theatre as a Christmas treat.
This year, our very youngest children were able to join in with this as we had a visiting theatre company perform their show, Search for Santa to our children in Kindergarten. In the final weeks of term, pupils in Reception to Year 4, had an enjoyable time watching the traditional pantomime Aladdin and they immersed themselves in the production, fully committing to the audience participation elements. Our older pupils, in Year 5 to 8, watched a compelling production of A Christmas Carol which beautifully incorporated both traditional and modern stage craft to transport the audience back to the spooky streets of Victorian England.
Whilst there were many special events this term, there was also some excellent work taking place on a weekly basis in Drama lessons, LAMDA sessions and within the Drama Scholars’ group. Ten new members
of the Drama Scholars’ group joined in September, after successfully auditioning for their places. We started in at the deep end, by preparing Shakesperean monologues for the ESU Performing Shakespeare competition. The first round was held in the final week of term and two of our children have been chosen to go through to the next round which will be held, in March, at a venue in the Midlands.
This term has certainly been one to go down in the history books of Winterfold. The Gala performances have left their mark in so many ways, not least through the confidence that our children gained from the experience. We are so lucky to have such a wonderful space to work and perform in and it is clear that such excellent facilities are enabling our children to flourish and fully explore their many talents within the Performing Arts.
p RE- p RE p
This year’s Christmas term has been extremely busy and productive for Key Stage 1.
Every child returned to school after the summer holidays with a fresh enthusiasm for learning and quickly and maturely adjusted to new teachers and class routines.
In Year 2, children studied informative leaflets in English that helped them plan their own trips. They created their own leaflets for their favourite tourist destinations after using the iPads to study locations, facilities, and opening hours. They then gave us some suggestions for upcoming school trips by making a sales pitch to the teachers. Year 1 took a journey to Antarctica, where they wrote descriptive phrases using their senses. They used adjectives to add more excitement to their sentences and paid close attention to the animals they would encounter there. In Mathematics, both year groups have focused heavily on numbers and place value, and Year 2 has loved learning
about our Times Table Rockstars programme.
Both year groups have enjoyed History this term. Year 1 children have studied historic homes. They have studied the first English castle ever constructed and examined the materials and architecture used to construct various homes. The children were fortunate enough to take a tour of the Black Country Museum as part of their topic. The history of transportation has been the main topic of Year 2 History lessons. They researched car manufacturers and space travel in addition to making timelines of cars and contrasting the past and present. When Year 2 visited the British Transport Museum, they learnt interesting facts about Karl Benz, saw vehicles that had been in several wellknown movies, and even got to sit in the very first bus.
The children in Years 1 and 2 made us proud by attending Harvest Mass, the first Mass of the year. The pupils made fireworks pictures in their Art and ICT lessons, and Mrs. Williams gave an assembly about Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot in advance of our spectacular Winterfold fireworks display. Pupils in Years 1 and 2 attended the Remembrance Mass and showed excellent behaviour and attentive listening. As they researched the significance of this historic day, children from Years 1 and 2 made poppies. We were thrilled to announce that, in conjunction with Penryn’s launch, we would be hosting a whole Pre-Prep Nativity this year, encompassing students from Kindergarten 1 through to Year 2. We gave a performance of Prickly Hay which put a hoedown spin on the traditional Christmas story.
E a RLY YE a RS
Early Years have had a wonderfully busy and enriching term.
The children have been immersed in a variety of exciting experiences, from outdoor learning at Peacock Lodge to lively performances and festive outings.
The term kicked off with enthusiasm as the Kindergarten children were keen to dive into new learning opportunities at our outdoor learning centre, Peacock Lodge. They eagerly pull on their all-weather suits and wellies each week.
There has been a hive of activity in the classrooms with our younger children developing friendships and building relationships within their classes. They have enjoyed creative activities and
begun to develop the skills of speaking and listening in a small group.
Reception children have enjoyed starting out on their journey to learn to read. They have shown dedication, perseverance and determination to learn their sounds and participate in phonics activities.
The Harvest Festival, a highlight of the term, was a heartwarming event that brought together the children and their families for a joyful celebration of autumn in our newly opened Penryn Hall.
Kindergarten 1 and 2 welcomed the Shooting Star theatre company into school for a performance of ‘Search
for Santa’ which was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone and put us all in the festive mood.
The Christmas fun continued with Prickly Hay, where all the Pre-Prep children had the opportunity to take centre stage, impressing everyone with their dedication, performance skills and singing spreading plenty of festive cheer.
There was a trip to the Swan Theatre to watch Aladdin which was another highlight, filled with enjoyment and ice creams. It’s clear the children have had a memorable and action-packed term, filled with learning, fun, and festive cheer.
FRIENDS OF WINTERFOLD
What an exceptional term it has been for the Friends of Winterfold! Our community has come together in remarkable ways, making this term not only successful but also filled with joy and community spirit.
MacMillan Coffee Morning Fundraiser
Our MacMillan Coffee Morning was a resounding success, thanks to the fantastic support from all our parents. The delicious array of baked goods donated by families created a warm and welcoming atmosphere, allowing everyone to enjoy a lovely time together. Not only did we indulge in delightful treats, but we also raised a significant amount for a truly worthwhile cause. The spirit of generosity and community shone brightly that day.
Fireworks Night Spectacular
The Fireworks Night was another highlight of the term, featuring a spectacular display that left everyone in awe. A huge thank you goes out to our dedicated catering team for the delicious food that fuelled our festivities. Additionally, our volunteers who ran the sweet store ensured that everyone left with a smile and a treat in hand. The teamwork and enthusiasm displayed
by everyone involved made this event unforgettable.
agM update
In November, we held our Annual General Meeting where we were pleased to see Catherine Hale continue in her role as Parent Chair, with Rebecca Northall as Treasurer and Alice Nuttall-Basham as Secretary. We want to remind all parents that you are automatically members of the Friends of Winterfold. You don’t need to be on the committee to participate in meetings or lend a hand at events. We always need volunteers to make our events possible and we are so grateful to those who come along and help out on a stall or help set up. We welcome ideas and support from everyone, so please join us at our next meeting in January.
Santa’s Breakfast
The magical Santa’s Breakfast was a highlight of the term, bringing joy to our children. A massive thank you to all the volunteers, especially the elves and reindeer who assisted Santa and
made the morning extra special. The catering staff provided a beautiful breakfast that was enjoyed by all, and we are grateful to the many mums who helped set up and facilitated activities such as face painting, decorating Christmas trees, and running the toy shop.
Christmas Market
The term concluded with our muchanticipated Christmas Market, we didn’t allow Storm Darragh to dampen our spirits, we moved our fun inside to the sports hall. The four Packs organised fun games for the children to enjoy. Everyone had a lovely time enjoying the various stalls. A huge thank you for all your generous donations for the tombola. It was the perfect way to celebrate the season and bring our community together.
As we look back on this wonderful term, we extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who contributed to our events. The support and enthusiasm of our parents and volunteers make all the difference. We can’t wait to see what 2025 has in store.
g REENFIN g ERS
Following the success of the first year of greenfingers we have worked hard to expand the range of plants available for sale.
We now have a core range of twelve different types of perennial plants that we have grown from very small plugs, these were on sale at the Autumn Sale and sold very well, with the help of information labels created by our marketing team. In future years we will take cuttings of these plants to grow on and sell.
Our Winter and Spring sales will focus on selling pansies, polyanthus, wall flowers and primroses grown this year from seed. Over 5000 seedlings were grown over the summer, testing the
capacity of our new polytunnel. This has allowed us to supply plants around the school site and fill many containers and baskets for our future sales. We have plants available for our charity partners Foley Grange Care Home and The Learning Herd. We hope to be able to supply some to local Primary Schools, enabling them to start their own gardening projects too.
The profits from last year’s sales have allowed for significant development of the Greenfingers site. We have expanded the raised beds in our
vegetable garden and children have worked hard to clear and flatten the area beyond the polytunnel to create a fruit garden. We hope to be able to harvest fruit and make jams and chutneys in the future.
Finally our willow arena is now fully developed. Keeping the area tidy by cutting back growth produces a large amount of willow that we have been able to use in CDT lessons. Year 5 have produced bird feeders, Christmas stars and wreaths from the harvested willow.
p E a COCK LOD g E
The first term at peacock Lodge has been jam packed with exploration, excitement and adventure.
There really are too many amazing moments to share with you here so this is just a little taster of some of what we have achieved so far.
Kindergarten 1 children spend their mornings accessing the extensive grounds and surrounding areas of Peacock Lodge offering them the freedom to explore and grow. Outdoor learning creates in the moment learning opportunities enabling our children to follow their own unique interests in an environment facilitated by trained staff.
This term Kindergarten 1 have particularly enjoyed accessing the large sandpit where they have dug, built and knocked down many sandcastles. They are strengthening their gross motor skills pushing the wheelbarrows full of apples from our apple tree and creating music on the outdoor drums and xylophones.
Within forest school, the children have been exploring the beautiful signs of Autumn; catching leaves as they fall, learning about different shapes, sizes and colours of leaves and making leaf crowns with their favourite leaves.
During the afternoon, Kindergarten 2 children are taken on a learning
adventure, providing experiences that make learning fun and exciting. These may take place within Forest School, at the Lodge or within the school grounds. Learning opportunities build on and extend learning happening in the classroom whilst also making links to the natural world.
Over the past few weeks Kindergarten 2 have loved accessing the mud kitchen within forest school and at Peacock Lodge to create Autumnal recipes ranging from ‘Twig Trifle’ to ‘Leaf Pie’. We have focused our learning on the changes in nature and have been inspired by our surrounding environment, the children learnt two poems, ‘Leaves are Falling’ and ‘A Basket of Apples,’ which support the children’s memory and language development.
Reception have regularly been visiting the Lodge to take full advantage of our outdoor learning opportunities. Over the first half the term their learning was linked to their topic of ‘Ourselves’ and the children enjoyed making ‘pebble families’ and faces using natural resources. More recently, we have had great fun making connections to important celebrations. At the start of November, we learnt
about Diwali and Bonfire Night; the children made large scale firework pictures by flicking and spraying paint to create different effects as well as making Diwali/firework sparklers.
We have also had half-termly visits from Years 1 and 2 who have been exploring inside and outside of the lodge empowering the children with first hand experiences creating experiential learning from leaf rubbings to sensory exploration using our new herb garden.
Visits have continued with the welcoming of Kindergarten 2 parents who joined their children at the lodge for a special Harvest celebration of activities as well as the much-anticipated introduction of our WOW Toddlers sessions. These free sessions are held every Tuesday afternoon from 2pm-3pm and are based in the outdoors of the Lodge. They include sensory based play, craft activities, exploration of the ‘Crooked House’, use of the mud kitchen and refreshments. Do spread the word and encourage those with young children to join us for a fun filled afternoon in the outdoors.
