Godstowe News Summer 2021 18/06

Summer Term 18 June, 2021

Weekly Awards

The Fourths had a great time learning circus skills as part of their leavers' programme this week!

Headmistress' Letter Dear Parents,

Artwork Emily M IM Sybil E IC Anna C IH

The Leavers’ programme is well underway and yesterday the girls enjoyed learning about, watching and then taking part in, various circus

Accelerated Reader Reader of the Week: Lilli S

activities as well as having all sorts of fun in the swimming pool.

Boarders of the Week Highlands - Lisa W Walker - Seraphine M Turner - Yuiko N

It has been lovely to see our children enjoying the sunshine this week. In fact we took advantage of the warm weather to hold a full main school assembly outdoors on Monday morning. This was the first live assembly with all girls present to be held in 15 months and it was both emotional and positive. Where possible, lessons have taken place outside and certainly the girls have made the most of the weather at break times.

Godstowe featured in BSA Summer Magazine Head of Boarding, Michele Western-Kaye talks to the BSA about the benefits of the Prep School boarding experience. To read the article, please click here.

Today’s rain has failed to dampen spirits and the girls are making their way to the exeat weekend with lots of energy and enthusiasm.

Wishing you a happy and enjoyable weekend,

Sports Stars FI Sybil E FII Raphaela LIII Ruby A

MIII Charlotte UIII Manera (sp?)

Friday Badge 1H Amber W 1C Mala B 1M Honor D

Success for Siana at Bucks Schools Athletics Championships!

Congratulations to Siana for running an impressive 13.0 sec and coming 2nd in the 100m (U15’s) at the Bucks Schools Championships at the weekend

Music Certificates LIIIM Olivia C - Grade 4 piano with Distinction UIIIA Kelly H - Grade 5 Oboe with Merit UIIIA Adeline S - Grade 3 Alto Saxophone with Distinction IVP April N - Grade 3 Piano with Distinction

Typing Certificates Grace C IC Amy C LIIIM Poppy S MIIIE Charlotte L MIIIC Grace N MIIIN

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Claire Gillett, Head of Lodge Hannah Smart, Head of Nursery Lodge have had an exciting week, enjoying some Drama workshops from Perform on the theme of 'Under the Sea'. As well as finding the magic pearl, we also learnt about how we can help to protect all the creatures of the sea. Some year groups have also been very busy recording songs in their music lessons, which we hope to be able to share with parents later this term.

This week was a very exciting week in Nursery as we went to The Bucks Goat Centre on a school trip. It was a wonderful day out and we got to feed lots of goats, pigs and llamas as well as holding some bunnies.

We talked about how to care for all of the animals and the children had some great ideas. Our sound of the week was x and we made some xylophones. We also made Father's Day cards for Sunday.

In Beginners this week we have continued to discover more awe and wonder under the sea.

We have been busy spotting and naming sea life, describing the patterns and shapes of the creatures we have spotted. We have listened to the story of The Fish who could wish and written our own version, imagining what we would wish for if we were in the story. We have continued to explore doubling numbers, in a practical and an artistic way. Rumour has it, next week the Pirates are on the way .

Transition had a wonderful time on Tuesday when they met up with Form I on the Main School Astroturf. Form I was able to answer all Transition's questions about moving up, and gave some informative and funny presentations. It was lovely for Transition to meet the Form I teachers as well, and they enjoyed playing on the outdoor equipment afterwards. Transition has been watching their classroom caterpillars reach the chrysalis stage of their development as part of our Science topic, Animals including Humans.

As part of their ongoing Science investigation, Kindergarten tracked and recorded the weather this week, which was rather changeable to say the least! They also went on a tree hunt around the grounds of Godstowe, noting the various species of both deciduous and evergreen trees. In their computing lesson, the children had their first foray into Coding!

They learned how to input code to cause objects to move and disappear.

Library Books wanted As we approach the end of the school year, please could everyone look at home for any library books which need to be returned?

Please look in unlikely places as well as bedrooms and bookshelves. There are still over 40 books outstanding from before lockdown, and it is particularly important to bring these back to avoid a bill.

Thank you!

Uppers bring WB Yeats Poem to life

Form I put their questions to Godstowe's very own Olympic Champion

Form 7K performing scenes from the poem The Stolen Child by WB Yeats in which a group of mischievous fairies steal a child away from his home because they feel 'his world is too full of weeping for him to understand'

Post CE Leavers' Programme

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Our Form I girls were totally enthralled on Monday afternoon listening to Godstowe's Walker Housemistress and Paralympian medal winner, Mrs Whitley talk about her experience training and competing for Great Britain!

Our Leavers' programme is well underway with a jam-packed schedule of activities, talks & general fun! So far the girls have enjoyed Zorb Racing, High School Musical show rehearsals, self-protection classes, mental health/wellness talks, & skipping challenges!

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Boarders' Corner written this week by Walker House

On Saturday, we headed down into High Wycombe for a trip to the cinema. This was a very special moment for many of the girls and staff alike as a number of us had not been to watch a film on the big screen since lockdown restrictions were first put in place back in 2020. As the boarders walked into town, proudly wearing their house t-shirts (or leavers’ hoodies for the fourths) and chatting together, under a lovely summer sky, it was a good time to reflect on how the uncertainty of the past few years can lead us to be more appreciative of simple, ‘everyday’ activities which we may have taken for granted before. When we arrived at the cinema, the girls who were old enough went to see Cruella, a Disney prequel exploring the famous 101 Dalmatians’ villain while the younger girls enjoyed lots of giggles watching the fun-filled Peter Rabbit 2.

After a more relaxed indoor activity on Saturday, Sunday saw the boarders from all three houses outside in nature and making

the most of the amazing warm weather (with plenty of suncream on of course!).

The Highlands girls went on a local walk where they followed paths through the cool shade of leafy trees and were able to reward themselves after the journey with a delicious ice-cream. Turner house also chose to go out on a walk and found a perfect picnic spot with gorgeous views out over rolling green fields; this was an excellent way for the girls to celebrate and unwind after weeks of dedicated study for Common Entrance and other exams.

With just a few more weeks left until we say ‘Goodbye’ to Godstowe for this academic year, we are feeling grateful to have spent such a lovely weekend together and for the happy, sunlit memories it has given us to treasure.

Click here to watch the Boarders' video from last weekend!

Walker House began their Sunday afternoon with some mindful yoga and then, later, the girls discovered a fantastic surprise waiting for them in the garden- a paddling pool and sprinkler! They made a splash cooling off in the water, danced to some of their favourite songs and then had some chilled out time playing Top Trumps in the shade. It was like a mini camping holiday. Highlands and Turner did not miss out on the water-based fun. After their walk, the girls in Turner also got a paddling pool out while Highlands enjoyed some thrills and spills on the Slip ‘n’ Slide in the garden.

Graduate Boarding Assistant at Godstowe is looking for babysitting/au pair workfrom 16 to 30 August 2021 DBS Checked Email: beatrice.fanti95@gmail.com / Telephone: +39 3313320081 / +44 7927964190 / Skype: beatrice.fanti Nationality: Italian.

Education: Masters degree Experience with children: Volunteer at S.Abbondio Nursery School in Cremona, Italy (children 6-8 years old) Traineeship at EF International Campus, Oxford, UK (students 16-20 years old) Boarding Assistant in Godstowe School, High Wycombe, UK (students 11-13 years) Language skills: Italian, Spanish, English, French and German Interests & Hobbies: travelling, getting to know new cultures and languages, fencing, fine arts, photography, cinema, theatre, books and Asian culture

WEEKLY QUIZ! You can start changing our world for the better daily, no matter how small the action Nelson Mandela

Last week's answers: 1. The G7 Summit Day 2. Angela Merkel

There will be a quiz in Tutor time this week.

The Covid pandemic has brought home the realities of globalisation and how inter-connected we are. The virus’s invisibility has made it all the more frightening. Palm oil is an invisible ingredient in many processed foods and household products, yet the consequence of the unsustainable management of palm oil plantations is devastating for climate change and biodiversity.

Rather than seeing these big, invisible issues as overwhelming children are encouraged to take a leaf from Nelson Mandela – making small daily changes can help make our world a better place.

This week’s challenge encourages Young Climate Warriors to learn about palm oil, and ‘sustainable palm oil’, and to make and enjoy some homemade biscuits instead of factory-manufactured ones containing palm oil.

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