Godstowe news
Autumn Term 5 November, 2021
Weekly Awards
Our fantastic Autumn Recital
Headmistress' Letter Dear Parents, A very warm welcome back to the second half of this Autumn Term. We are all looking forward to what I am sure is going to be a productive and festive few weeks and it has been wonderful to lead two Main School assemblies this week and to see first hand the girls’ enthusiasm and energy as well as to celebrate their many achievements this morning. We are having a real focus on ‘staying safe’ this half term, following on from the attention that we gave to ‘resetting’ in the first few weeks. On Monday we talked about COP26 and keeping our future safe and next week the older girls will be helping me talk to the school about all of the other things that we have in place at Godstowe to look after everyone and keep all of our pupils healthy and safe. We will be covering a wide range of topics, including the importance of talking to trusted adults about any worries, moving around the school safely, looking after our mental wellbeing and many more.
This has been a very busy first week with notably a very large number of sports fixtures taking place with even more to come tomorrow. In assembly this morning we heard about netball fixtures and swimming galas and it is lovely to see that term has got off to such an energetic start on the sporting front. Tomorrow we have our rearranged Open Morning and we are all looking forward to showing off our school. I do not want to temp fate but at the moment the number of cases at school is very low and so we are able to risk assess each event as it comes up, but it has been lovely to be able to welcome parents back to watch outdoor fixtures and we are certainly very much hoping to invite parents into school for forthcoming events.
Rachel C Marla N
Boarders of the Week Walker - Duchess N Highlands - Leonor M-T Turner - Scarlett Y
Friday Badge IH - Arabella T IM - Ariana D IC - Elodie B
Sports Star of the Week Wishing you a weekend that is both relaxing and enjoyable,
Nancy S Reece N Emiliya P
Aryana T Anuskha B Alice O
Typing Awards
Accelerated Reader of the Week Chimamanda O Olivia C Alice D
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Artwork
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Beginner: Imogen D Alice D Luella D Princess N Eden S Shukee W Ella I
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Intermediate: Annabel D Athena L Advanced: Katie M Chrissie Z
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Claire Gillett, Head of Lodge
Hannah Smart, Head of Nursery
It has been lovely to see all the children return after half term with great enthusiasm for their learning and for all the upcoming activities. As the weather has become colder, please make sure the children have their coats and jumpers in school. Any gloves, hats and scarves need to be the red uniform ones and please make sure they are named.
The sound of the week in Nursery was "p for parrot". We hope you enjoyed all the pretty parrots that came home! The Number Zoo character was Snappy Six, who is a crocodile with 6 sharp triangle shaped teeth. The children all made their own crocodiles to display in the Nursery and each counted out 6 teeth for their crocodile.
Nursery started their 'Celebration's' topic with bang, with a Bonfire Night and Diwali theme. The children loved exploring lots of colours, shapes and patterns. They have enjoyed plenty of sensory activities and a particular favourite was mixing colour rice together in small pots.
This week in Beginners we have been learning all about the special celebration of Diwali. We read the story of Rama and Sita and made our very own Diwali books.
On Tuesday the children made delicious vegetable samosas and we were really impressed at how their knife skills have developed. We have also made beautiful firework pictures and colourful, glittery diva lamps.
We also got creative making clay Diwa lamps and designing some beautiful rangoli patterns and mehndi hands. In Maths, we have been learning about 'one more', learning how to find one more than a given number. Happy Diwali everyone! The Kindergarten children have returned after the half term break and are approaching all the lessons with the same enthusiasm and effort that they have already demonstrated. In Literacy, they have begun a book analysis of The Owl Babies, focusing this week on describing the feelings displayed by the characters during the course of the story. As part of the cross curriculum, they created an owl out of Model Magic in Art. During the Maths lessons, the children have continued to consolidate their understanding of Addition and Subtraction by learning how to solve word problems.
Young Climate Warriors Dr Jane Goodall, alongside Sir David Attenborough and Ellie Goulding, are COP26 Advocates – invited by the UK government to support the UN Climate Conference and help bring the world’s attention to the importance of tackling climate change. Agreements reached in Glasgow will be crucial to accelerating action to tackle our climate crisis – protecting our planet for future
Possibly, their favourite lesson this week has been History, as we start our topic on Toys. Having had a chance to play with different types of toys, they then described them and enjoyed making a split pin model of a Teddy Bear in DT. Next week, they are being invited to bring into school their favourite toy in order to share with their friends the reason for their choice, as well as comparing the toys with those from the past. Transition has appropriately had an environmental theme this week in their Literacy and Science. They have been looking at the story of 'The Bog Baby' and have been thinking about what wild animals need to be happy in their habitats. We have also been considering the Countryside Code, and how we can avoid pollution. In Science, we have continued to study recycling, and have been learning about the process of recycling glass. Our Art lessons were great fun this week, as we created fireworks pictures by blowing paint! We are very excited about our visit to the Chiltern Open Air Museum on Monday.
You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. WHAT YOU DO MAKES A DIFFERENCE, and you have to decide what kind of a difference you want to make.
DrJane Goodall – World renowned environmentalist, particularly famous for her work amongst the chimpanzees of Tanzania
generations. As individuals, we also have a part to play. As Jane Goodall says ‘what you do makes a difference’. www.youngclimatewarriors.org
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Charity News and Updates
Rosie Lake, Charities Co-ordinator
On Friday 12th November, Main School girls will be having a mufti day in aid of our chosen overseas charity, the SKSN School for Disabled Children in India.
On a final note, when Naomi Cansdale left Godstowe in the Summer, she requested that, instead of a parting gift, we put money towards starting a scholarship for Shilpa, the young woman whom we helped to house all those years ago. Shilpa has decided that her
We have been supporting this wonderful school for several years now and always try to make it the focus of one fundraising event a year. The ever generous Godstowe Community has embraced this charity and helped in various ways including building a house for a pupil and building toilets in the village.
vocation is to teach, and so we have pledged to donate £300 a year towards the cost of her BEd degree.
Therefore, on Friday 12th November, we would love the children to come to school dressed in an outfit reflecting the vibrant colours of India, with at least £2 contribution. Of course, you are welcome to donate more!
If anyone would like to send in a little money to help us reach this target and enable this extraordinary young woman to realise her dream, despite the most desperate odds, please send in your donation in an envelope named "Shilpa". Once again, I am so grateful for all that you give. You are amazing!
Thank you in advance for assisting your child to be part of this super fundraising cause.
Cross Country results Nina Sloggett, Head of Cross Country
Godstowe's Autumn Recital The music department organised a fantastic Autumn Concert at the end of last half term. Although parent and family members weren't able to attend, the children thoroughly enjoyed themselves and performed brilliantly.
Click here to watch the video from our Autumn Recital
On Saturday 16th October, Godstowe had their 2nd Cross Country match of the season at Hervines Park against 15 other schools. All the Godstowe girls ran brilliantly and we were particularly proud of them as the conditions were wet and muddy. Individual medal winners were: U8's: Elodie (2nd), Ingrid (3rd), Coco (4th), Isla (8th) U9's: Mala (6th), Hattie (7th), Skye (8th) U10's: Lottie (1st), Ines (2nd), Juliet (3rd), Elysia (4th), Ella (5th) U11's: Katie (1st), Ella (5th) We also achieved many excellent team medals which were awarded to the top 3 runners in each year: U8's: Elodie, Ingrid and Coco (Gold) U9's: Mala, Hattie and Skye (Silver) U10's: Lottie, Ines and Julie (Gold) U11's: Katie, Ella and Mair (Gold)
Please note the next recital has moved from 19th November 2021 to 12th November 2021.
Boarder's Corner At Monday‘s assembly, Miss Green divulged the theme for this half term has been taking care of ourselves. This week began with a focus upon COP26, in that we can look after ourselves by looking after the planet. It will come as no surprise that this latest UN conference on climate change has led to issues such as sustainability, carbon footprints and the use of fossil fuels being brought very much to the fore over recent days. Continue Reading
Click here to watch the Boarders' Video from 16th-17th October
Well done to everyone who ran!
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