Godstowe News - Spring Term 2021 05/02

Godstowe news

Headmistress' Letter Dear Parents, We have enjoyed our focus on children’s mental health this week. We began the week by talking about Valentine’s Day in assembly.

However, the unusual idea is for all of the pupils to send THEMSELVES a Valentine’s Day card as a way of remembering to be kind to ourselves as well as to our neighbours. It is my wish for every single pupil at Godstowe to be happy in his or her own skin and confident to be the person that they really are, and this week has been a great way of communicating this message to our children. Of course, one aspect that is very important for our children’s mental health at the moment, is to value and encourage time spent away from the screen, and I would really encourage everyone to try to do this as much as possible in the week after next when it is the half term break.

Spring Term 5 February, 2021

It has been a busy week on the virtual events front too: on Thursday we welcomed 100 guests to our senior schools information evening and on Thursday it was a pleasure to host a virtual social event for Lodge parents. It is so helpful to hear your thoughts and comments about Virtual Godstowe as well as the Critical Worker School and as always your feedback is valued tremendously.

Our latest fundraising initiative has got off to a fantastic start. All of the girls and staff were wearing yellow in assembly this morning in order to raise money for the Michael Palin Centre to help children who stammer and it was amazing to hear from Mrs Lake that we have already raised more than £1500!

Having just returned from a rather rainy and muddy dog walk I wish you all a relaxing and enjoyable weekend.

Artwork Michelle L Art Scholar) Bella B (Art Scholar)

Accelerated Reader Leona Wu Boarders of the Week Highlands - Emily W Walker - Princess Turner - Abila

Sports Stars Lucy B Sofia M Leila N Georgina E Ella T Alba M Friday Badge Isabel G Anna C Sybil

Music Id H Arabella Adeline S Anaiah E Theodora B

Typing India B - Beginner Certificate Annie C - Intermediate Certificate School House Shield Alexandra singing Guter Mond, du gehst so stille

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Evie performing Mendelssohn

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Seacole

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Claire Gillett, Head of Lodge , Hannah Smart, Head of Nursery This week we have been 'Under the Sea' again with a mermaid-themed week. What a busy week it has been with baking cheesy starfish biscuits, ordering number shells, size ordering mermaid objects and exploring lots of different ways to print and paint with texture. I was particularly impressed with some amazing mermaid pencil control and it was incredible to see how well the children could write in the mermaid sand too. The sound of the week in Nursery was 'G'. The children enjoyed making their magic bag of 'G' items, joining in with Mrs Gwiazda’s 'G' song and creating 'G' for goldfish tanks. They also did a great job joining in with a baking tin activity, searching for initial sounds. Well done Nursery for working so hard this week!

This week in Beginners we have been continuing our exploration of all things dinosaur! We read a story called 'Dinosaur Roar' all about opposite kinds of dinosaurs and we had a think about lots of opposite words too. We have also been writing some lovely dinosaur sentences this week, working hard to apply our phonics knowledge and to remember to sit our letters on the lines and use our finger spaces between words. In Maths we have been investigating number bonds to 10, using lots of different items to discover the different ways to make 10. The virtual Beginners have enjoyed their first week of their new timetable, and have really enjoyed our live PE, Music and French lessons too. Well done everyone!

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This week, Kindergarten became puppeteers and performed the Owl and the Pussycat, using their own shoe-box theatres. They went on to write this unusual tale in their own words, using adjectives and joining words to enhance their writing. The children also took part in a PSHE challenge, where they tried their hand at 20 life-skills, such as tying their shoelaces, washing the dishes and learning who to phone in an emergency.

Hopefully, there will now be tied shoelaces, spotless bedrooms and perfectly laid dinner tables up and down Bucks! In Maths, the children have enjoyed learning to measure using various units of measurement, including their own bodies. An additional practical involved testing the theories about the relationship between body part measurements, such as an arm span being the same as height. The children were amazed!

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This week, Transition children have been continuing with their Food Tech lessons, learning how to use a peeler and grater.

Having peeled and grated a carrot, they used this to make some delicious breakfast muffins. In Maths, we are still measuring, but have moved from measuring lengths to measuring temperatures, learning how to use a thermometer. Our Literacy work has involved looking at playscripts and poems.

Transition enjoyed writing interviews with various different nursery rhyme and fairy tale characters, as well as imagining what they would do if they found a magic pebble! We continue to be impressed with the diligent approach to tasks shown by Transition in all areas of the curriculum. Well done!

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The boarders and staff in Highlands House have had another busy week

Today, staff and girls were cheerful in yellow for mufti day, raising money for the Michael Palin Centre for Stammering Children. The centre, run by Action for Stammering Children, provides invaluable support and speech therapy for countless children across the UK, giving them the confidence to go out into the world and pursue their dreams, even if their stammer can sometimes make life a challenge.

At Godstowe, we are all about encouraging girls to fulfil their dreams, whatever hurdles may appear in their way, so we are keen to support the life-changing work of the MPC! As well as the mufti donation of £2, we are asking you to help raise extra funds for this worthy cause by sponsoring your child as they take on the Tongue Twister Challenge! See below for details. Lodge children will be raising money

here at school. The Fourths have been most industrious with scholarship lessons, not to mention putting the finishing touches to their Art portfolios and perfecting their interview technique. When time permitted, the girls enjoyed the fantastic sports’ hall with badminton and boarders’ Krash Mat Cricket proving firm favourites. The staff have appreciated looking back on old Highlands House photo albums from years gone by - it is true to say that the Godstowe uniform has stood the test of time, but that fashion and hairstyles have moved on considerably!

A weekly highlight in Highlands is Friday afternoons when Mrs Olliver and Miss Gardner have the opportunity to meet with the Highlands’ girls, virtually, of course, to catch up on their news and stories. Stay updated with all things boarding with our Boarding Twitter: @GodstoweBoard

for the MPC through their mufti welly walk on Friday 12th March.

Click here to donate via the JustGiving website. Every penny raised will help more children to pursue their dreams in life. Find out more about the Tongue Twister Challenge here!

Here is a snap from the early 1990s of Highlands girls and staff walking to church in their Sunday best!

1. 12th February 1809 was the birth date of which well-known scientist?

2. What is the name of his most famous book?

Last week's answers: 1. The Wolf Moon 2. 384,400 km (238,855 miles)

MIIB resplendent in yellow; Mrs B with her lovely dog sporting a yellow scarf; our new Head of EAL, Mr Rau in his yellow tie!

‘The Economics of Biodiversity: the Dasgupta Review’ was publicly launched this week by HRH Prince Charles and the UK Prime Minister. It recognises that transformative change with be required - underpinned by levels of ambition, coordination and political will akin to, or even greater than, those of the Marshall Plan. It also suggests that socially responsible conduct requires each of us to serve as judge or jury for our own actions.

Our demands far exceed nature’s capacity to supply us with the goods and services we all rely on. We would require 1.6 Earths to maintain the world’s current living standards Professor Sir Partha Dasgupta. The Economics of Biodiversity.

This week’s challenge encourages children to choose ‘nude food’, and say NO to snack-packaging –empowering them to make choices about what they eat, and encouraging them to think about their impact on the environment (and their health).

Please remind children to HIT THE RED BUTTON when they have completed the challenge.

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#VirtualGodstowe Showcase Thank you so much for sending in your photos and videos, we love seeing what Godstowe pupils have been getting up to as part of their remote learning! Please keep sending in your photos to marketing@godstowe.org, or tweet using the hashtag #VirtualGodstowe

The girls in Form I carrying out 'Soil Investigations' this week in Science.

Proving that despite being remote, we're all still learning together!

Yuiko (IV) enjoying taking part in an interactive music lesson online!

Ella (FII) giving a stylish performance of Mamma Mia in Mrs Lake’s music class concert on Monday.

Emilia (UIII) in a maths lesson with her gorgeous study companion đ&#x;?ą

A couple of brilliant photos from this week's Sports Diaries.

Including yoga with a lovely pet dog, and impressive skateboard skills!

Katya (FII) getting some fresh air in between Virtual Godstowe lessons, riding her 2 wheeled scooter at lunchtime.

Lucy (FI) made these terrific canopic jars for the Form I project on Ancient Egypt.

Bethany (KG) and Maddie (Nur) snuggling up for storytime!

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Lana (Tr) showing her brilliant balancing skills in a PE lesson this week!

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Talitha (IV) getting away from the screen to bake this delicious and beautifully decorated cake!

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