Godstowe News - Autumn 2021 20/10

Godstowe news

Autumn Term 20 October, 2021

Weekly Awards

A wonderful example of online and on-site pupils learning together in science this week!

Headmistress' Letter Dear Parents, At the time of writing there is quite a buzz in school as we all prepare for this afternoon’s Half-Term concert! The girls are so excited about performing live, just as much as we all are at being an audience. I hope that you will all enjoy watching the concert via the link that has been sent.

The last week and a half have been very full and particularly of note was Godstowe’s wonderful contribution to One Can Trust: it was overwhelming to see all of your generous contributions on the stage on Friday in our Harvest Assembly and the trustee of the Charity who came to speak to us even had to send for more vehicles to transport it all to their base in High Wycombe! It is wonderful for us to be able to help so directly, as all the people who will benefit are Buckinghamshire residents. In the same week we also enjoyed an assembly from Robyn who is the children’s minister at All Saints in High Wycombe in which she reminded us all about the differences between need and want.

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Artwork Sophie P Holly H

Yesterday I visited Lodge and spoke to Kindergarten and Transition all about the importance of believing in oneself and one’s ability to achieve even difficult tasks. The children surpassed themselves with their thoughtful answers and were very keen to encourage me to brave the wind and rain to take Meg for a walk on the theme of fulfilling tasks that may appear difficult or unappealing!

We have also been marking Black History Month.

The girls have listened to an assembly all about Black British women in History and then another one about Walter Tull, the first black British

Friday Badge Harriette M Nancy S Juliette W Sports Stars FI - Georgina F FII - Nia B LIII - Theodora B-S MIII - Paige R UIII - Charlotte B IV - Lucy B

Typing Awards

professional footballer: thanks to Mr Emm for delivering such an interesting insight. Lessons have

Beginner: Amina N Elsie P

also focused on this important month as well.

It is hard to believe that we are now more than half way through this term but I am sure that all of our girls and boys are very ready for a rest. I wish you all a safe and very happy break and we look forward to seeing everyone back in school on the 1st November.

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Intermediate: Layla R

Godstowe's Christmas Fair Save the Date!

The Christmas Fair will be on Saturday 27th November from 2pm - 5pm. Please make sure the date is in your diary - it's sure to be a wonderfully festive event not to be missed!

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In Art this week, Transition have been looking at the work of Gustav Klimt, and have been using gold and silver paint to create their own version of 'The Tree of Life.' In our Literacy lessons, we have been focusing on poetry. We have written some Claire Gillett, Head of Lodge Hannah Smart, Head of Nursery acrostic poems on a Harvest theme, and have been working in pairs to write verses This week Nursery have had another Kindergarten have enjoyed learning about to a class poem called 'On the Way to Autumn themed week. Some of our the Queen this week, as part of our topic on School.' We have been trying to add favourite activities have been baking the United Kingdom. Having looked at a adjectives to make our writing more autumn tree biscuits, hammering into timeline of her life, they then went on to interesting. Transition children have also pumpkins, sorting number leaves into the create portraits of Her Majesty, using a been working hard this week in their correct bucket and sponge painting combination of watercolours, crayons and Maths lessons, as we have moved onto pumpkins. The sound of the week was ‘t’ lots of jewels! subtraction, looking at different methods and we made treasure. Next week our to take away. Transition are also starting sound is 'i' so please try to bring an item to learn their x10 table and please for the sound table beginning with this encourage them to practise this in their sound. The Number Zoo character we times tables books over half term. added this week was Feathery 4, who is a beautiful peacock with 4 feathers.

Please could you ensure that all children have the correct named kit in school, In Beginners this week we have been including red socks which are needed for inspired by the story of Oliver's Games lessons, and jumpers and coats as Vegetables. It tells of a little boy who the weather gets colder. We hope that supposedly doesn't like vegetables but everyone has a very enjoyable and relaxing when his Grandad asks him to help him half term and we look forward to a busy pick the vegetables growing in the garden, second half of term. he gets to try a whole range and, surprise surprise, he loves them. We wrote about the vegetables that we like to eat and we FoG Spooktacular Halloween Raffle - Winners talked about the benefits of having a diet Thank you to everyone who purchased tickets for the FoG Spooktacular Halloween Raffle. that includes fruit and vegetables. We got to touch and smell some unusual We are pleased to share that your generosity helped raise £504 which will be divided equally vegetables and have a go at drawing them. between the FoG fund for school and this term's school-supported charity Macmillan Cancer We continued with our fun phonic Support. The winners of the hand-crafted Tricks or Treats crates were: learning and started to think about - Alison Niven different ways to make 5 in Maths. Outside - Billie Clark Shorten Thank you all again for supporting FoG and we wish you a we are beginning to spot the falling leaves and notice that the air is getting slightly - Nicola Wager spooktastic half term! - The FoG Committee cooler. Autumn is definitely here.

Young Climate Warriors The Earthshot Prize, created by Prince William and the Royal Foundation (and supported by David Attenborough and Christiana Figueres amongst others), aims to inspire an unprecedented global search for the most inspiring and innovative solutions to the environmental challenges facing the planet.

One year in, and over 750 nominations later, the ‘Earthshot Prize – Repairing our Planet’ documentary series was released last week – and it’s excellent.

On Sunday 17th October @ 8 pm the inaugural Earthshot Prize Ceremony is being held at Alexandra Palace (and live on BBC 1).

Whilst innovations like the tumble-dryer do have their place, this week Young Climate Warriors are encouraged to help with the laundry - hanging clothes to dry and avoiding the use of a tumble dryer.

Tumble dryers are one of the most energy-intensive appliances in the home.

We need to design our own future, and make it better than today, and better than the past Chibeze Ezekiel, Ghanian renewables project entrepreneur – Nominee in the ‘Fix our Climate’ category, The Earthshot Prize

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Boarders' Corner As I am sure you can imagine, the final few weeks of this half term have been very busy for the boarding community. As well as lots of revision for tests, the boarders have kept themselves gainfully occupied on site, in line with the recent guidance due to the ongoing pandemic.

written this week by Highlands House In addition, lots of our girls have been busy representing the school on Saturdays playing lacrosse and netball, not to mention some of our younger girls participated in a local cross-country competition.

As we commence the half term break, we The last few weekends have involved a would like to wish all our boarders and wide variety of activities including an their families a relaxing holiday, wherever autumnal photo shoot, art activities, it might take them! We look forward to swimming in our gorgeous pool, not to welcoming the girls back to Highlands, mention a fantastic street dance workshop Turner and Walker on Sunday, 31st run by Urban Strides.

October between 18.00 and 19.30.

Second Hand Uniform Shop (SHUS) The SHUS is part of FoG and raises money for the school and charities through sales of very good quality, second hand uniform. At the same time, help the environment by recycling your old uniform and buying from us.

Where to find us You can find the SHUS in the main school area behind Highlands boarding house.

How to donate We are grateful for any donations of clean, good condition, current uniform stock from all year groups. Donations can be left 'out of hours' in the storage bench box outside the shop or at main school reception.

How to purchase We are currently open on Monday mornings from 8.20am - 9.10am. We operate a drop-in policy but if you know what you need with sizes we can get this ready for you by emailing your request to gsfogshus@gmail.com

How else you could help

Sports Results

Rachel Hearnshaw, Director of Sport

On Wednesday our U9s had their very first experience of a Netball match and.

With the opposition unable to come, we decided to go ahead and play a mini tournament amongst the four U9 teams. The girls were clearly excited about both the netball and the match tea! In preparation, they had learned how to warm up for a match, which positions to play and how to be captain and do the 3 cheers at the end. They also voted for ‘Players of the match’. They are as follows: Blue Team: Saskia Yellow Team: Michaela Red Team: Martha Green Team: Honor

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The following U10 teams played against Maltmans Green: U10A Lost 2-3 Neeva U10B lost 0-2 Elsie P U10C won 5-0 Nesia U10D won 7-1 Ally Z

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We would love to open the shop more and continue to raise funds for the ‘icing on the cake’ items that FoG purchases for school support but we need volunteers!! If you can commit to a couple of shifts a month please get in touch and we will put you on the rota! The current shop team are a lovely group of mums, but we have had Grannies and aunties too, even Dads and Grandads! We’d love your help, so please get in touch via email. gsfogshus@gmail.com

Lacrosse Results On Saturday, the U12 and U13 Lacrosse teams played against Queen Anne's School. The U12 team had no subs due to illness, but they played very well to win 7-2.

Player of the match was Sara M. The U13 team won 107 and the player of the match was Angel M-I Congratulations to all who played!

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