Godstowe News: Autumn 2021 24/09

Godstowe news

Autumn Term 21 September, 2021

Weekly Awards

Headmistress' Letter Dear Parents, As we approach the end of the third full week of term we began our day with assembly, in which we celebrate the girls' weekly achievements, and the awarding of the shield for School House points. So far this school year, in total the girls have been awarded 2035 points, and it is inspiring to reflect that that represents 2035 acts of citizenship and hard work.

Our theme for the week has been kindness, and the pupils as always continue to be very aware of the importance of looking after ourselves and each other. On this theme, we have been thinking all about helping those who are unwell in readiness for today's charity mufti day to fund raise for Macmillan. Thank you to all the Godstowe community for your generous donations in aid of this very deserving organisation.

The boarders enjoyed their day in Brighton last weekend, and we were delighted to watch their video this morning in assembly. At the beginning of the school year, trips and activities

like this really help to cement the friendships in the houses and prove that weekends at Godstowe are extremely good fun!

Sports fixtures are up and running, and we have already had some fantastic results in netball, lacrosse and cross country, and also a great result from Bella for our Godstowe Equestrian Team. I am always so impressed to see our girls embodying the spirit of teamwork and striving to do their very best, whilst clearly enjoying themselves!

This week has also seen the Main School girls taking some early assessments, and the focus and diligence that has been on display is striking, so I would like to say well done to all concerned for the way they have approached these tests.

The Uppers have had the opportunity to take part in group practice interviews this week with senior staff from Downe House, which I know has been very useful, and a wonderful chance to ask lots of questions about senior school life as well.

At the end of such a busy week and with Exeat fast approaching I wish you all a sunny and enjoyable weekend.

Artwork Evelina W

House Shield Pankhurst

Accelerated Reader Tabitha L - our first word Millionaire of the year!

Boarders of the Week Walker - Leela-Lorraine Highlands - Olivia C Turner - Charlotte S

Friday Badge IH - Eloise IM - Tamara IC - Isabella

Sports Stars Cecily Isabel Lily-May

Rayanne Blanca Sula

Typing Awards

Music News

Melanie Martin, Director of Music

The music department has had a busy start to the year with rehearsals for our symphony orchestra, smaller groups (including guitar and flute ensembles), many choirs and of course instrumental lessons. Last week, with great excitement, our musicians performed in Godstowe's first student recital this academic year. It was the first time performing to a live audience since the pandemic began and it was a wonderful experience for all. The standard from all the performers was excellent!

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Beginner: Bella B Zsofia J Muyu K Morife M Zara O Evelina W

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Intermediate: Advanced: Isla H Clover C Tabitha L Lydia M Zara M Victoria S

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Claire Gillett, Head of Lodge

Hannah Smart, Head of Nursery

It has been lovely to see the children in their Mufti clothes today, and thank you for your support for the Macmillan nurses charity.

see. We have made a great start on our phonic learning journey and have enjoyed the opportunities to be outside in the sunny weather. All in all a great week.

This week Nursery have enjoyed lots of fun activities related to our 'All about me' topic. We have looked at our families and how many people are in each family and what they are called. We have noticed how everyone has a slightly different family but they are all very special to us. The number of the week this week was 'Penguin 1'. We enjoyed making some penguins and learning about how Penguin 1 got his name. Next week we will be learning about Ticklish 2 and our sound of the week will be 's'.

Children are welcome and encouraged to bring an item for the sound table beginning with 's'.

Kindergarten have had a lovely week exploring The Gruffalo in their Literacy and DT lessons. They worked in teams to create story maps and detailed puppet theatres with a woodland setting. Next week they will act out the story of the Gruffalo with using these theatres. On a less positive note, there have been recent sightings of the Gruffalo around High Wycombe. Luckily, Kindergarten have created fantastic Wanted posters describing the Gruffalo, so he should be found soon! In a practical Maths lesson, the children used physical resources to demonstrate their understanding of the words smallest and greatest, when ordering numbers.

Transition have been enjoying their ICT lessons this week, learning how to use the Purple Mash programme to create and illustrate stories on the Chrome books. In Maths, we have now finished our topic on Place Value and are moving on to methods of addition. It would be very useful for the children to make sure that they know their addition bonds to 20. In our History lessons, we have been continuing to find out about the Victorians, looking at their clothes and schools. We are very excited about our Victorian day visit to the Chiltern Open Air Museum next Tuesday!

imparting information, inspiring action or suggesting behavioural changes; it is also crucially about enabling understanding, stimulating enquiry, encouraging deliberation and discussion; and provoking curiosity, consideration and choice. It’s National Recycling Week, and our Young Climate Warriors challenge is ‘but why?’ ‘why do we

bother with all this recycling, and how can it help combat climate change’. Children are encouraged to embrace their household recycling – checking nothing slips through the net, as well as considering why they choose to recycle, and then sharing and discussing their views and thoughts with their family.

This week in Beginners we have continued to settle well into our new routines and learning. We have spent a lot of time this week thinking about ourselves and our families, talking about what makes us happy and recreating our happy smiling faces. We have chatted about what makes us the same and what makes us different and talked about likes and dislikes. We have also spent time using 2d shapes in our work and play, making pictures and patterns and describing the shapes we can

Young Climate Warriors At last week’s Climate Education Summit Alok Sharma MP, President for COP26, suggested that ‘education is a weapon that can change the world’. Would you agree?

At Young Climate Warriors we believe that climate change education is not only about

Education is simply the soul of a society as it passes from one generation to another G.K. Chesterton

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Boarders' Corner

Sports Results

A reflection from Turner Houseparent, Mr Scriven

Rachel Hearnshaw, Director of Sport

A whole new world!

Setting aside the rather corny reference to Disney's 'Aladdin', where the main protagonist shows Princess Jasmine a previously hidden side of life in downtown Agrabah, there pervade some tangible similarities for the Godstowe boarding community.

This term has seen a number of hitherto forgotten ‘reboots’ take place…firsts since Covid took hold back in March 2020.

Perhaps the most noticeable return to normality has been the reintroduction of mixed year groups into the boarding houses.

For example, in Turner, the previous academic year had been spent with the same 18 Fourths living together under one roof, without spending any time socially with their peers and contemporaries outside of the school day. Conversely, this term has seen part-time borders return to every house, bringing with it variety and colour. As a result, there are now 30 girls in Turner house across three year groups, with the total number of boarders just four runs shy of a century! Continue reading

LII Assembly Monitors

The following Netball matches were played this week against Berkhamsted:

Click here to watch the boarders' video!

U12A - lost 33-5 Player of the Match -Ilsa H U12B - lost 23-3 Player of the Match - Poppy S U13A - drew 21-21 Player of the Match - Evie V U13B - lost 24-6 Player of the Match - Annika S

Gold for Godstowe Runners!

On Saturday 18th September Godstowe had their first Cross Country fixture of the season at Chenies Manor against many other schools. Each race involved at least 50 runners and the Form 1 and 2 races had 70 participants. All the Godstowe girls ran brilliantly and we were very proud of all our new runners this year and the large number of medal winners we had. All of the Godstowe teams won the gold medal, something that we have not managed before! Read more here.

Maths Challenge for Form II

In a week of trying to be kind, it was superb to have our new LIII Assembly Monitors helping in Tuesday's Lower School Assembly. These girls make sure that the rest of the Lower School all come into assembly respectfully and are seated smartly. They did a really good job - thank you Assembly Monitors!!

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Form 2 Mathematicians are having great fun at this afternoon’s Maths Challenges at Davenies School.

Good luck girls, we can't wait to hear how you got on next week!

Individual Portrait Photographs School photos were taken earlier this week, so watch this space for details on how to order.

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