Family Matters October 2019 | Frome and West Wilts. edition

FROME AND WEST WILTS EDITION

ISSUE 57 • OCTOBER 2019

prizes to be won!

school news

www.familymatters-uk.co.uk

what's on this halloween

WELCOME Well would you look at that, school has only just started and yet you’re already half way through your first term of the school year! Well done you!

For many people, autumn is their favourite season, the leaves start changing colour and there are loads of great events taking place like Carnival, Bonfire Night and of course, the lead up to Christmas (we’re sorry about mentioning the C word... but speaking of, we have a few tips to help those of you who are thinking about getting started on your preparations in this issue!).

Don’t forget to check out the What’s On pages for a whole host of great events that are going on over the half term holiday and be sure to keep yourself and your pets safe during firework displays, we have a couple of tips in this issue to help you do just that!

If you want to appear in our next issue, don’t forget to send us news of your achievements, we love hearing from you whether on social media (you can find us on Facebook and Twitter @ukfamilymatters) or by email, news@ignyte-uk.co.uk. We’re always amazed to see all the incredible things you achieve and love to share them, so please do submit your photos to our website and look out for yourself in next issue’s WOW feature!

For now though, enjoy half term and we hope you have fun watching the seasons change and taking part in all the exciting events that are coming up!

p7 carnival time!

p9 KEEPING PETS SAFE DURING THE FIREWORKS

p19 TAKING CHILDREN TO WATCH

p20 are you worried your child is

LIVE THEATRE

being bullied?

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Why do we celebrate BonFire

Night?

"Remember, remember the fifth of November Gunpowder treason and plot We so no reason Why gunpowder treason Should ever be forgot."

No doubt you will have heard the rhyme and will have started noticing adverts going up for local fireworks displays and fireworks appearing in the shops ready for bonfire night, but why do we celebrate it?

Bonfire Night and the burning of an effigy of Guy Fawkes is a tradition that has been in place since the 1600s in the UK and it all stems from a failed plot to kill King James I by blowing up the Houses of Parliament with gunpowder hidden beneath the building.

During the reign of Henry VIII, he changed the UK’s main religion from Catholic to Protestant in order to obtain a divorce, but in doing so created a difficult atmosphere for years to come. The monarchs that came after him would swap back and forth from Protestant to Catholic and by the time that James I came to power, those that followed Catholicism were being persecuted. He ordered all Catholic priests to leave England and many that were caught practicing the religion were sentenced to death. A group of conspirators, which included Guy Fawkes, came up with a plan to kill King James I and support his daughter, Elizabeth, who was only nine at the time, to claim the crown in the hope that they could shape her into being Catholic.

In all there were twelve people involved in the Gunpowder Plot. The group rented out a house located right next to the Houses of Parliament and smuggled 36 barrels of gunpowder into the cellar of the House of Lords!

Guy Fawkes wasn’t the leader of the group, but the reason we all remember him is because he was the one who was in charge of lighting the gunpowder and as such, was caught red handed. In fact, he was the first of the group to have been captured and for two days, was thought to be the only person involved in the plot. Guy Fawkes was imprisoned in the Tower of London and visitors can find graffiti he left in his cell prior to his death.

After the plot was foiled, the people of London started lighting bonfires to celebrate the survival of the King and the following year, an Act of Parliament named November 5th as a day of thanksgiving so everyone could celebrate the fact that the King wasn’t harmed.

Ever since then, the whole country has come together to remember the 5th November, celebrating Bonfire Night with fire works displays and the burning of effigies of Guy Fawkes.

Are you planning to attend a firework display this year? Many of them are used as a way to raise money for local charities, so keep an eye out and support your local display. If you plan to have your own bonfire night celebration at home, make sure to stand well back from the fireworks and to keep water on hand. Also make sure not to handle any of the fireworks with bare hands and to ensure that a responsible adult takes care of the lighting of each one!

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Image courtesy of Somerset Carnivals

Carnival Time!

As the nights get colder and darker, we know that it isn’t all doom and gloom because Carnival is just around the corner. In this part of the world there are plenty of carnival displays to keep you entertained featuring floats, bright lights, dancers and amazing costumes.

Carnival season runs from October into November, just when you need something to get your excitement up before Christmas. Whichever carnival you choose to visit, check the route, arrive in good time as roads will be closed along the route, dress warm and be prepared for big crowds. Also, make sure your pockets are full of loose change as carnival is all about charity and any small donations will be gratefully received.

2019 CARNIVAL DATES Ilminster

Saturday 5th October

Chard

Saturday 12th October

Taunton

Saturday 19th October

Bridgwater

Saturday 2nd November

Burnham on Sea

Monday 4th November

Weston-super-Mare

Friday 8th November

North Petherton

Saturday 9th November

Midsomer Norton

Monday 11th November

Shepton Mallet

Wednesday 13th November

Wells

Friday 15th November

Glastonbury

Saturday 17th November

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How to keep pets safe and happy during

Fireworks Season While you now know the history of bonfire night and are no doubt excited about heading out to watch a fireworks display, if you have pets, you’ll know that this season isn’t a pleasant time for them. These days, bonfire night isn’t just the 5th November, there are displays held at several points in the month, so for dogs, cats, rabbits and more, it can be a very stressful time.

Here are a few suggestions to help your pets stay safe and happy during firework displays.

For indoor pets

For outdoor pets

For pets that primarily live indoors such as dogs, cats and any other creatures, make sure that they are inside on the nights you think there might be fireworks let off nearby. Of course, we can’t always tell if our neighbours or homes nearby choose to have their own display, but for any organised public events, we will have had plenty of notice.

Some of us might have pets that live outdoors such as rabbits, guinea pigs, chickens etc.

Where possible, it is advised to bring them indoors when you know there are going to be fireworks – we know that isn’t always possible, but if you have a shed, garage or conservatory for instance that you can put them in during fire work displays, this will help.

Shut windows and doors - this not only helps muffle the sound, but will prevent your pet from running away and getting lost if they get spooked.

When moving an outdoor animal inside for the night, make sure to bring them in their hutch or pen so that they aren’t overwhelmed by new surroundings on top of the noise.

Make sure blinds and curtains are closed.

Make sure that there is somewhere for them to hide that they feel safe and comfortable in.

Try putting on the TV or radio and talking to them normally so they are distracted by more familiar noises.

Soundproof their cage by putting a breathable blanket over the top.

Give them some extra bedding or a space that they can hide if they do get scared that will help them feel a little more comfortable.

Don’t get angry with them or make a fuss if they are unsettled as this will heighten their distress, just give them some space and act normally.

Do you have any other tips for keeping animals safe and happy during firework displays?

You can share your suggestions online on Facebook and Twitter, find us @ukfamilymatters ukfamilymatters |

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Enter now at www.familymatters-uk.co.uk

Win Prizes

Win a family ticket to the 'Xmas at Cheddar Experience' Little did you know that deep within Cheddar Gorge, Father Christmas has deployed his elves to help with the demand of all that is Christmas. Go behind the scenes and even meet the man himself who will be stopping off to ensure his operations are up to scratch.

You’re sure to have a merry old time with this authentic experience as you sing some songs, receive a special gift and listen to the festive tale that explains how Christmas at Cheddar came to be. Your Day Ticket also includes all the other attractions such as Beyond the View: a cinematic journey through the gorge, Dreamhunters at Cox’s Cave, the Museum of Prehistory, Jacob’s Ladder and Cliff-top Walk.

Win a family ticket to see Snow White Mirror, Mirror on the wall, what's the greatest pantomime of them all?

Don't miss the spectacular, fun-packed, family pantomime, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs! The show promises to be exceptional entertainment with strong casting, stunning costumes and scenery and a genuinely funny script. The tickets for the show will be on Sunday 8 December at 11am.

Win a Family Day ticket to the 'Festival of Light at Longleat' Join Longleat on a thrilling odyssey this winter, as the renowned Festival of Light returns for its sixth year. The much-anticipated festive lantern spectacle will showcase ‘Myths and Legends’. It draws inspiration from epic stories from around the world; from the gods and magical beings of ancient Greece, to heroic tales of British folklore.

New for 2019, gaze in awe at the breathtaking choreographed light projection on Longleat House – the iconic frontage of the stately home will spring to life as never before. Book online and save up to 15%.

Win a family Winter Wonderland ticket Wookey Hole will have you feeling festive with over a thousand lights illuminating the caves for a magical tour!

The Christmas Circus Show will wow you with glitzy performers delivering a show stopping line-up of trapeze, hula, juggling and magic!

Wander through the Grotto and be greeted by the elves before meeting the man himself!

Santa will be checking off his nice list with a gift for every child who pays him a visit. The 4D festive cinema will be showing ‘Happy Feet’, a family favourite for all ages.

TO BE IN WITH A CHANCE OF WINNING THESE FANTASTIC PRIZES, simply visit www.familymatters-uk.co.uk, click on the Competitions button and complete the form. It couldn’t be easier! Closing date for entries: 15th November 2019

what’s on 12th October - 31st October Farrington's Pumpkin Festival Come along and pick your own pumpkin. It’s FREE entry to the pumpkin fields, just pay for the pumpkins you pick. www.farringtons.co.uk 19th October - 5th November Raven’s story wands As the raven tells his tale of Stourhead, families are invited to gather natural objects and weave them into their own special story using natural 'story wands'. Stourhead, Wiltshire.

19th October Trowbridge Carnival Procession Come along and lend your support by donating generously - the procession starts from Canal Road at 7pm, continuing through the town and ending at Cradle Bridge. Time: 7pm to 8:30pm.

19th October HorseWorld Charity Open Day Meet the horses, staff and volunteers on our working rescue yard. Free entry and free parking.

HorseWorld Trust, Staunton Lane, Whitchurch, Bristol.

19th October - 3rd November Halloween Trail: The Curious Case of Mildred Hester Become a detective as you search high and low, crack the riddles and solve the mystery of Mildred’s disappearance. www.hestercombe.com/event/halloween-trail/ 23rd October - 3rd November A Halloween Tale This Halloween, get ready for some ghostly goings on at

Cheddar Gorge & Caves. Some infamous literary figures have come to life and taken up residence inside Gough’s Cave.

Can you help Cheddar’s detective duo solve this mystery? www.cheddargorge.co.uk 24th October - 1st November Museums Week at Holburne Museum: Totally Tree-mendous Create a collaged mosaic-style tree from images of birds, bugs and flowers based on the Holburne’s pottery collection. During Museums Week entry to the Holburne will be FREE for residents of B&NES, on production of a valid Discovery Card. www.holburne.org 26th October Heavy Horse Day Meet George and Bertie two Suffolk Punch horses who are visiting us for the day from Steel Suffolks. Somerset Rural Life Museum, Glastonbury.

26th October - 3rd November Great British Autumn Bring your friends and family together with sensational seasonal activities and discover the astonishing kingdom of Longleat. Join a spine-chilling tour of Longleat House, which will take you through unseen cellars, eerie attics and dark corridors. You’ll hear all about Longleat’s ghostly residents and maybe even see a few. www.longleat.co.uk/whats-on/the-great-british-autumn 26th October - 4th November Half Term Fun at The Bishop’s Palace Join a week of all things Autumnal at The Bishop’s Palace.

Children will be encouraged to explore the range of trees around the site and collect leaves of different types to collect

For further information about each event

their sticker prize at the end of their visit. www.bishopspalace.org.uk 26th October - 3rd November Have half-term fun at Avebury Fun family trail in the Old Farmyard Avebury has a real sense of mystery at this time of the year; the monuments keep their secrets and the lives of people long past echo through the ages. nationaltrust.org.uk/Avebury 27th October Pumpkins on the Platform Somerset and Dorset Railway, Silver St, Midsomer Norton.

28th October - 1st November Spooky Puxton Park!

Throw some scary shapes at the Halloween disco... Count the legs in the Creepy Critter Show... Check out the slithering snakes and the beautiful bugs! It’s all going on at Puxton Park this October Half-term! Puxton.co.uk

28th October - 2nd November Sea Dragons of Street 19 large ichthyosaur fossils will be on display, as well a selection of smaller fossils found in the local area. Known as ‘sea dragons’, ichthyosaurs were dolphin-like marine reptiles which swam in the warm seas which covered Somerset around 200 million years ago. alfredgilletttrust.org 28th October - 1st November Stop, Look and List In Help our Ranger team survey our wildlife.

Grab your pocket ranger booklet from reception and go on a wildlife hunt, making notes of what you spot along the way.

Montacute House, Somerset.

30th October Model making with Aardman Participants receive a step-by-step demonstration by an expert model maker from the Aardman studio, and discover how to craft a Gromit model to take home.

Montacute House, Somerset.

31st October After Dark… in the Animal Park Jump aboard our spooky Ghost Train, where you'll take a ride around our Animal Park in the darkness. You'll come face to face with some friendly faces, and a few scary ones too. After the fun and frights of your journey, you can enjoy a 2 course evening supper. Hope Nature Centre, Trowbridge.

31st October Family Fun: Naturally Nocturnal As the nights draw in, get creative with crafts and activities based on creatures of the night including owls, mice, rabbits and bats! Somerset Rural Life Museum, Glastonbury.

1st November The Little Prince The Little Prince is brought to life using Protein’s awardwinning mix of dance, humour and spoken word. Find out how the Little Prince leaves behind his own tiny asteroid and beloved rose and journeys through the universe, coming face to face with the baffling world of grown-ups! Have you ever heard of a king who reigns over nothing? Or a businessman obsessively counting stars? www.edgearts.org/whats-on 30th November Puxton's Annual Grand Light Switch On The star of the show will be the 40ft Christmas tree adorned with thousands of lights and traditional decorations. To make the event even more magical, Father Christmas and Mrs. Claus will be there to meet all of the children. www.puxton.co.uk 30th November - 1st December Elf Hunt Farrington’s is teaming up with Elf in the House to bring the best Christmas experience to the South West. This cheeky event is fun for all the family. Forget Santa this is all about the elves! www.farringtons.co.uk

please visit www.familymatters-uk.co.uk

CARVE THE BEST PUMPKIN

!

N E E W O L L A THIS H Carving vegetables into scary faces then lighting them is an odd kind of custom that just must have interesting roots.

The Irish do not disappoint. Folks there have a legend of a drunken farmer, whose dealings with the devil led to him being turned back at both the gates of heaven and hell upon his death. Forced to wander the darkness of purgatory, Jack made an o'lantern from a turnip and lump of burning coal to guide his lost soul. Every Halloween, communities in Ireland would craft their own turnip lamps to scare him and other wayward spirits away.

Use these ideas to carve your very own scary pumpkin.

Dare we mention the C word…?

We know, we know, it is only just getting into autumn, we shouldn’t even be thinking about Christmas just yet, even if supermarkets are starting to put out their decorations and dropping the odd Christmas themed song into their playlists. Despite how annoying it is for Christmas to be forced on us too early, it pays to be prepared for the holiday season as you can easily save money and time by keeping one step ahead of everyone else.

Here are five top reasons to get started on your shopping early.

YOU CAN RELAX AND ENJOY THE FESTIVE SEASON Look, we know that this can be a super stressful time if you’re a parent. Fighting your way through crowds to get the food or the presents and having to stress about making your day as perfect as possible. If you get a head start though and are prepared, you can avoid all that stress and actually enjoy yourself and spend time with your loved ones instead of worrying about whether you have enough food or the must have gift of the year.

GET YOUR CARDS SORTED With the emphasis on recycling it is becoming rarer and rarer to receive and send cards, but it is always nice to let people know you’re thinking of them with a card. Getting yourself prepared early means that you can beat the rush for the Christmas post!

YOU CAN SPREAD THE COST Aside from the Christmas Wish Lists that seem to grow every year, the lead up to the festive season is an expensive month for most families. The change in the weather and the darker days mean that we’re all using more energy and electricity, plus as December hits and the decorations go up, that’s even more being added to your monthly bills. That’s not even counting the extra food. Being prepared and getting started on your preparations as early as possible means that you can spread the cost.

MORE TIME TO PARTY! The festive season is full of parties, work parties, visiting friends and family... It can be tough fitting everything in, especially if you leave things later in the month, so starting early can free yourself up to enjoy the celebrations. Christmas is supposed to be a holiday after all.

SET AND STICK TO BUDGETS If you leave your shopping for gifts, decorations or even food for the big day until the last minute, you can find that prices start to fluctuate and you can spend more than you’d like in a panic to get the right things. By getting prepared, you can set budgets and stick to them because things won’t be in such high demand.

As well as all that, think of the satisfaction! There is nothing better than knowing that everything is ready and you can relax and enjoy yourself!

++++ The Observer

++++

“Charming, imaginative and playful�

The Stage

Fri 1 Nov, 6.30pm

01225 386777 edgearts.org

design: www.snowcreative.co.uk photos: Chris Nash performer: Faith Prendergast

The classic tale reimagined on stage for children and their grown-ups

T

AKING CHILDREN T N O TO IPS

E H A T TRE E V I L

A visit to the theatre can be a life-changing experience, as well as an opportunity for a unique kind of learning.

It can touch the imagination, arouse curiosity, or fire an artistic impulse in your child Typically, toddlers through age 4 do best with shows that include lots of opportunities for participation and are short 30 to 50 minutes. Many older children can enjoy a longer children’s play - 60 to 75 minutes. Also, audiences of shows created for children will expect some noise and wiggling - it’s all part of the experience!

It’s a good idea to get a seat near the aisle. This will be helpful in case you need to leave the theatre for any reason (remember: their bladders are smaller than yours!).

BEFORE YOU LEAVE HOME

WE DID IT – AND IT WAS AMAZING.

What to wear? Depending on the show, you’re likely to see audience members in all manner of apparel, from jeans to dress clothes. We always recommend children wear what they’ll feel comfortable in. Some kids enjoy a chance to dress up. But if a T-shirt and jeans are more their style, then go for it. Don’t let a battle over clothing spoil your day.

Hooray! Try following up on your outing by reading a related book or planning an art, music, or dance project.

Provide dress-up clothes, props, and other materials so children can re-enact the performance - or create their own, unique one!

If you must bring a snack for your child, make it a “quiet” one that’s easy to enjoy independently. Sweet wrappers or crunchy crisps can be surprisingly loud and leave sticky treats like chewing gum at home.

ARRIVING AT THE THEATRE Arrive 20 to 30 minutes before your show time. This gives you time to park and walk into the building, hang up your coats, use the toilet, take a look around and find your seats (theatre doors open 30 minutes prior to most shows).

Show your appreciation and enthusiasm for the performance by providing close, quiet attention, as well as participation and applause at the proper times. Remind kids that part of being a good audience member is not talking or getting up during a performance unless it’s a real emergency. And, remember to watch your child’s face as they see characters come to life on stage. You will cherish these memories!

“HOUSTON, WE HAVE A PROBLEM!” Sometimes it’s just not the right day for sitting quietly. It’s okay to excuse yourself when your little one’s attention has run out. Try taking a stroll out to the reception, sometimes a little break is all it takes. An usher can help you re-join the show later. If all else fails, chalk it up to experience and try again another day.

ukfamilymatters |

DECEMBER 5TH UNTIL DECEMBER 14TH TICKETS £8.50 - £12.50

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Are you worried that your child might be being bullied?

IT’S A UNIVERSAL WORRY FOR ALL PARENTS – is my child being bullied and if so, what can I do about it? The thing about bullying is that it can take many forms, especially these days with social media becoming a bigger part of our children’s lives, so it can be difficult to spot and even harder to define.

There’s no one universal sign to indicate that your child might be having problems with bullies either, though there are a few things that you can look out for and speak to your child about.

In some cases, children will come forward and speak to a teacher, family member or other friends if they are feeling harassed but many will keep it to themselves.

If a child or another adult comes to you to tell you that your child is having problems, make sure to approach them in a calm manner and ask them about their experiences. If you can, compile a folder of screen shots from social media accounts or text messages from bullies, this can help you when you then speak to the school as they can not only deal with the issue itself, but also use this as a way of educating other children about bullying and cyber bullying.

More often than not though, children will keep these kinds of problems to themselves, which can make it difficult for you to help them. There are a few behaviours that you can look out for such as a reluctance to go to school, frequent and unexplained illnesses/headaches or anxiety the night before school starts. Parents have also reported their children becoming withdrawn and quiet as well as noticing their belongings being missing or damaged.

The worst thing you, as a parent, can do is panic. If you’ve noticed your child displaying an unusual behaviour or they have come to you with a problem, you will need to remain as calm as possible when you speak to them.

Finding out your child is in distress is upsetting, but you will need to be strong and support them. Children learn from their parents, so you don’t want them to see you getting angry or panicked, as this could encourage them to retaliate in a way that could get them into trouble.

Reassure your child that you are here to support them 20 |

ukfamilymatters |

and make sure that they are happy with you approaching the school or other parents before you do so. The only time you should go straight to the school before talking it over with your child is if you fear that they or someone else is in serious and immediate danger – otherwise you could run the risk of your child feeling like you’ve betrayed their trust and you don’t want to give them a reason not to come to you with problems in the future.

It can be hard for parents to find out that their child has been accused of bullying too. The important thing to remember is that anyone can be a bully and some children might not even realise that what they are doing is being interpreted in this way. There is often a specific trigger when it comes to children becoming bullies so talk the issue through with them in a calm and clear way so that everyone understands what is and isn’t acceptable.

A great way to approach the subject of bullying without making your child feel like you’re accusing them or prying, is to get involved with Anti-Bullying Week 2019.

Anti-Bullying Week happens in schools all across Britain each November, this year the event is happening from 11th-15th November and Monday, 11th November is Odd Socks Day where everyone is encouraged to wear odd socks to raise awareness for anti-bullying schemes. It is likely that the school is already planning workshops and discussions around bullying for this week, but you can also talk about it with your children at home.

Remember:

If you think that your child is showing serious signs of distress such as depression, anxiety or self-harm, visit your GP without delay. We would always encourage parents to involve their children when talking about bullying, but it can have a serious impact on their health, so do intervene sooner if you are worried about their health in any way.

@UkFamilyMatters | familymatters-uk.co.uk

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LATEST SCHOOL NEWS

EVENTS

DIARY DATES

YOUR SUCCESSES

News and Reviews EXCITING TIMES AHEAD AT WESTBURY LEIGH PRIMARY SCHOOL! At Westbury Leigh Church of England Primary School, everyone has been working hard to re-energise the curriculum for the start of an exciting and dynamic new academic year.

Ms Abi Isherwood (the school’s Assistant Head Teacher) explains: “Our new curriculum is designed to give children a range of experiences and learning that is relevant to their locality, heritage and wider global identity.

“With this in mind, the teaching team explored what we felt every child should experience, and this included environmental and political issues that are relevant to their future. We want to develop the spiritual, cultural and moral development of pupils, to make the world a better place. In teaching the curriculum, we will promote our fundamental British values and a greater understanding of the world in which they live and their role within this in securing a bright future for everyone.”

Already pupils have visited Stonehenge, held objects from the British Empire, received a WW2 Home Guard soldier, checked out an Antarctic Explorer’s bag and undertaken making mosaic tiles as starting points for their topic work this term.

22 |

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EUROPEAN DAY OF LANGUAGES On Thursday 26th September, Westbury Junior School celebrated European Day of Languages. In typical style, both staff and children threw themselves into the spirit of things and spent the whole day speaking new languages, food tasting and enjoying lots of other exciting activities!

Year 3 studied Romanian and had a native speaker visit the school to teach the children how to count to ten.

Year 4 chose Danish as their language and made Danish pastries which they sold in their cake sale after school.

Year 5 studied Welsh and learned how to say the numbers, colours and sing ‘Happy Birthday’ in Welsh.

Year 6 looked at Mandarin Chinese and completed a maths lesson in Mandarin, learned how to use chopsticks and practised calligraphy skills writing Chinese characters. Overall, a great time celebrating our multicultural society!

@UkFamilyMatters | familymatters-uk.co.uk

WESTBURY’S SPORTS AMBASSADORS

OAKFIELD’S AUSTRALIAN VISITOR

Four children from Year 6 at Westbury Junior School were taken to Trowbridge to be trained as the new West Wiltshire Sports Ambassadors. These children have shown excellent leadership potential and will be championing sport at Westbury Junior School this year.

Miss Heslop, PE subject leader, said: “These four children have some excellent ideas for how to enhance sport within our school. I can’t wait to see what they achieve this year!”

Oakfield Academy welcomed a former pupil, Mr John Cresswell and his wife, Margaret, recently who were visiting from Australia.

Mr Cresswell, who is now in his eighties, was evacuated to Frome as a child during World War II. New Oakfield Prefects, Thomas Roughley and Amelie Thomas, were delighted to give them a tour of the site and Mr Cresswell was thrilled when he was presented with a photocopy of a register from the time he was at Oakfield, which showed his name.

Mama’s Music The benefits of Music on your health are so important, that Music is now available on prescription from your GP! For further information on this fantastic new concept, join Psychoneuroimmunologist Dr Daisy Fancourt on the Serious Science YouTube video, Arts “on Prescription,” to hear her discuss “Social Prescribing” & the impact of the arts on our health & well-being.

Musical “Me time” for Mamas!

The opportunity for mums to combine some much-needed “Me time” with a chance to learn a musical instrument has been launched by local professional musician.

Alexandra Bass, is a highly qualified and experienced international Flautist who recognises that music lessons provide an ideal chance for busy mums to give themselves time away from home life, replenish and have some fun in the process.

Mama’s Music offers flute and piano tuition, performance practice, stage presentation, theory, aural and history of music, which all benefit from Alex’s skills developed over 35 years.

Mums who take music lessons are in a better position to help with their own children’s music practice sessions at home.

There is also the opportunity to play duets, trios and to perform in our students concerts, with other Mums in our musical community.

Something to look forward to for next summer, Alex will be running a Mama’s Music Retreat:

“Music, Meditation and The Magic of the Breath” at the heavenly “Molino del Rey” Yoga Retreat in Southern Spain.

Located in the “Sierra des las Nieves” Nature Reserve, it is rated one of the best in the world.

t: 07525 031400 e: alex@alibasmusic.com

Save the date 17th - 23rd August 2020 For more information about Mama’s Music lessons or The Retreat please contact: Alexandra Bass GRSM(Hons) ARCM PGCE(Cantab).

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WESTBURY JUNIOR SCHOOL’S CHOIR

CHRIST CHURCH ARE FROME IN BLOOM WINNERS!

Year 6 children at Westbury Junior School enjoyed a ‘Little Lunch Music’ at All Saints Church as part of the 2019 Westbury Music and Arts Festival. They listened to ‘Sounding It Out’, a very entertaining choir based in Trowbridge, who sang an eclectic mix of songs in a variety of styles and languages.

Christ Church C of E First School and Nursery on Feltham Lane in Frome has been awarded a Gold certificate as a winner in the Schools and Colleges category of the 2019 Frome in Bloom competition.

Mr Kaye, Christ Church Headteacher, said: “This is amazing! We feel so proud of the children’s fabulous achievement! Special credit goes to Miss Wendy Rollason and Mrs Donna Hill and all of the children who attended Gardening Club before the summer holiday. Their superb vegetable garden really impressed the judges.”

Mr Kaye added: “We are also grateful for the seeds, soil, plants and two raised wooden vegetable troughs donated to our school. Gardening Club couldn’t have succeeded without the wonderful generosity of so many parents and supporters of our school.”

In addition to the Gardening Club’s stunning vegetable garden, Frome in Bloom judges were wowed by the bug hotels, sunflowers, herbs and flowers tended by the 4 and 5-year-olds in Diamond and Pearl classes. Judges also praised the Nursery’s delicious strawberries and beautiful flowers, which had clearly been given lots of love and plenty of water by Christ Church’s 2 and 3-year-olds!

Mr Kaye said, “All round, it’s been a great year for fruit and veg here at Christ Church. Even our school fruit trees have yielded a bumper crop. In fact our youngest pupils have been picking, sorting and weighing the apples, pears and plums grown in the school orchard. And, even better, some of this juicy fruit will soon be turned into fruit crumble by our school Cooking Club!”

FIRST PRIZE IN SHOW FOR ELMHURST! Elmhurst School have once again won first prize in both school categories at the annual Street and Glastonbury Chrysanthemum and Dahlia Show. A huge thank you goes to all the staff who gave their time to help and of course, to the children, who created this year’s entries.

SELWOOD SENIOR POSITIONS Selwood Academy are delighted to announce that the following pupils have been chosen for the senior positions for 2019/20 Academic year.

Head Girl: Isla G, Deputy Head Girl: Cecily H, Head Boy: Titus B, Deputy Head Boy: Jacob H. 24 |

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A WARM WELCOME FROM WALWAYNE Walwayne Court School warmly welcomed their new families and children who are settling in very well to school life. They held different settling in sessions to ensure the children were familiar with their surroundings, to ease this process.

The most fun was the Teddy Bear’s picnic which was organised by Teaching Assistant, Mrs Oates, who also runs the school's cooking clubs during and after school.

The school used vegetables grown in their own allotment and set up stations so the children could make their own lunch (assisted by parents and staff!) and the children

learnt about the origins of their food.

Mrs Oates and a team of children will be baking again to welcome families visiting open day sessions on: 16th October 9 - 10.30am, 18th November 9 - 10.30am and the 21st November 6 - 7.30pm.

REFURB TO WELCOME PUPILS BACK TO OAKFIELD Pupils and staff at Oakfield Academy enjoyed a wonderful surprise when they returned after their summer break as the tired quad area had been transformed into a wonderful new space where pupils will be able to read quietly or sit and relax during break times.

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WHAT AN ACHIEVEMENT Name: Teddy Age: 5 Achievement: Level 1 award in swimming, good work Teddy!

Name: Lydia In Year 5 Achievement: Won the U12’s Greenhill Gardening Gold certificate, in this year’s Frome in Bloom competition.

Well done Lydia!

Name: Casey Achievement: Success in the Cool Fab British Championships, which took place this summer. He achieved an overall first place.

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