Family Matters Easter 2020 | Frome and West Wilts edition

FROME AND WEST WILTS EDITION

ISSUE 60 • MARCH/APRIL 2020

SURVIVE EXAM SEASON

SCHOOL NEWS

www.familymatters-uk.co.uk

WHAT'S ON

WELCOME Spring is here! The flowers are starting to bloom, there are new lambs frolicking about in the countryside and it’s almost Easter! There are so many things going on at this time of year and there is plenty in this issue to keep you entertained.

We’ve got some wartime themed recipes to help you join in with V E Day celebrations plus a whole host of events for you to do over the Easter holidays! Hopefully the weather will be warm and sunny so you can enjoy your time off school and get out and about in the countryside.

All that is left for us to say is we hope you have a fabulous Easter and you don’t eat too much chocolate!

p7 world autism awareness week

p10 Ve Day 75th anniversary

p12 how big is your carbon footprint?

p15 are

your kids on social media?

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Are you celebrating this spring?

Along with Easter, there are also many other religious festivals being celebrated at this time of the year. Here is a small round up of how eggs became involved in Easter, what is eaten at Passover and how to celebrate Buddha's birthday.

Passover

8th – 16th April 2020

Easter

10th – 13th April 2020 Easter celebrations centre around Easter Sunday, also known as Resurrection Sunday, which is the day that Christians believe that Jesus returned to life after being crucified. Prior to Easter is Lent, a time of observance, it’s a traditional time for fasting or practicing abstinence. Historically, Christians would give up meat, fish, eggs and fat until Easter Sunday, but these days, it is more common to give up just one luxury, like chocolate.

The final week of Lent, the one leading up to Easter Sunday, is known as the Holy Week and churches and schools all over the country celebrate at different points during the week, particularly on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.

The story of Easter is that Jesus was resurrected on the third day after his death. This was discovered on the Sunday, when Mary Magdalene went to visit his tomb to find that he wasn’t there. He was then seen later that day by Mary and his disciples and over the next forty days by many others. In the UK and other mostly Christian societies, Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday are all bank holidays and most shops and businesses close. A Sunday lunch consisting of roast lamb is common and families exchange Easter eggs.

How do the eggs come into it? Well, eggs are symbolic of a new life, which sums up what happened to Jesus after his resurrection. Historically, eggs are forbidden to eat during Holy Week (traditionally, they were given up for Lent, remember!), instead they were saved and given to children at the end of the week, which is how the tradition of gifting eggs came about.

So this year, wish your friends and family a Happy Easter before you start eating those eggs!

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Passover aka Pesach is a major Jewish holiday and usually takes place around the same time that Christians celebrate the Easter you might be more familiar with. Unlike Easter, which celebrates the resurrection of Jesus, this celebration commemorates the liberation of the Children of Israel who were led out of Egypt by Moses.

According to the Book of Exodus in the Old Testament and the Torah, the Children of Israel had been slaves in Egypt for over 200 years. God had promised them that they would be released, but the Pharaoh refused, leading God to send down ten plagues which only affected the Egyptians.

The final plague was known as the Plague on the First Born where an angel came to Egypt to kill every Egyptian first born son. In order to keep the Israelites safe, they were given specific instructions to follow, causing the angel to pass over.

During Passover, homes must be cleaned from top to bottom, all first born males fast on the first day to celebrate their escape from the Plague, this is followed by the Seder, where friends and family gather for a ritual Seder meal. Special plates and cutlery are used and there are certain foods that are included in the menu, including unleavened bread or matzo which is eaten to remember when the Jewish people fled Egypt, bitter herbs like horseradish, to remind them of the bitterness of slavery, potatoes are dipped in salt water to recall the tears shed by the slaves and the food is eaten in a reclined position to represent freedom.

The full menu usually includes Matzo, lamb bones, greenery, four cups of wine, Charoset (a paste made of apples, nuts, cinnamon and wine) and eggs. Yes, eggs are important here too!

You can wish those celebrating Passover well by saying Chag Sameach (Happy Holidays) or Chag Pesach Sameach (Happy Passover Holiday.)

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Ramadan

23rd April – 23rd May 2020

Buddha’s Birthday 30th April 2020

Like Easter and Passover, the exact date of Ramadan changes every year, it does however, always take place during the ninth month of the Islamic Calendar.

Ramadan is an important festival for Muslim communities and is part of the remembrance celebrations of when the Qur’an was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammed.

The origin of the story surrounds the life of Muhammed, the founding prophet of Islam. It is said that the Prophet embarked on a solitary existence for a month at a time to gain inner peace.

During one of his monthly trips, he was visited by the archangel Gabriel who proclaimed him the messenger of God and thus making him a Prophet. Muhammed received further messages from Gabriel and holy scripture appeared to him during Ramadan.

As such, the holiday is all about getting closer to God. Ramadan is much like the Christian practice of abstinence during Lent and those observing Ramadan try to give up bad habits and focus on doing good deeds and helping people in need. They also fast which allows Muslims to empathise with those that are less fortunate and the community comes together to donate clothes and food and to host Iftars.

What’s an Iftar? Well, the majority of people taking part in Ramadan fast between sunrise and sunset, instead eating one meal before sunrise, known as the Suhoor, and one after sunset, the Iftar. Many Muslims like to start these meals by eating dates as it is said the Prophet Muhammed did.

The end of Ramadan is marked by Eid ul-Fitr, or the Festival of Breaking the Fast, a huge celebration which not only marks the end of fasting, but also thanks Allah for the strength he gave them. During the festival, Muslims dress in their finest clothes, give gifts to children and donate to charity, the community comes together in their local mosque for special services and to share food, the first time they will have done so in daytime for a whole month!

If you know anyone taking part in Ramadan, don’t forget to tell them Ramadan Mubarak (Happy Ramadan) or Ramadan Kareem (Have a generous Ramadan.) On the last day, this changes to Eid Mubarak.

Buddha’s Birthday or Vesak is a Buddhist festival that commemorates the birth of Prince Siddhartha Gautama, the founder of Buddhism and marks his enlightenment. It is a time for reflecting on his teachings and what it means to follow Buddhism. Much like the celebrations of Easter, Passover and Ramadan, the date of the celebration changes due to the way the Western calendar differs from the traditional Asian ones, but it usually falls in April or May. Unlike Christianity, Judaism and Islam, Buddhism does not have one single God, it does though believe in the teachings of the Buddha, a prince born into a wealthy family who realised that wealth and luxury didn’t bring him happiness leading him to travel the world as a homeless holy man where he saw much suffering and injustice. His enlightenment occurred six years after his travelling and is when he officially became the Buddha.

Depending on where in the world you are, the celebrations surrounding Buddha’s Birthday changes as each culture has its own traditions for the day. Many Buddhists will spend the day in their local temple and generally stay there throughout the day and night. As Vesak is celebrated on the first full moon of the month of Vesakha, many of them choose to sit and reflect by the light of the moon.

Across many countries, the day is a public holiday and depending on where you are you’ll find monks carrying flags, lotus flowers and candles as well as visiting temples which have been decorated for the occasion to pay their respects.

Families decorate their homes with lanterns and wear white as part of the festivities, as well as sending cards and small gifts to each other. Many people take part in meditation and charitable acts as a way to celebrate. They may also take part in a Bathing the Buddha ceremony, where water is poured over their head to remind them to get rid of negative thoughts.

Are you taking part in any celebrations this spring? You can let us know on Twitter or Facebook, @ukfamilymatters ukfamilymatters |

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AUTISM AWARENESS WEEK IS BACK! World Autism Awareness Week 30 March - 5 April According to the team at the National Autism Society, over 4,000 schools took part in awareness and fundraising activities for last year’s event – are you doing anything to raise awareness at your school?

Statistics show that one in every 100 children at UK schools is on the autism spectrum and over 40% of them have said that they have experienced bullying due to a lack of understanding about their behaviour.

Because of this, it has never been more important for schools to promote a better understanding of autism and to support pupils with autism.

Facts about Autism Autism is a hidden disability, you can’t always tell if someone is autistic and the condition affects different people in different ways.

It is much more common than many people think, it is estimated that 700,000 people are on the autism spectrum in the UK

Autism affects both boys and girls, it is a common misconception that it only affects males.

Some children are diagnosed as young as two, while others are not diagnosed until much later. Typically, children are diagnosed around the age of four.

Because autism is a spectrum condition, it affects everyone differently so there is no one way to support those on the autism spectrum. Some people with autism are non-verbal, others are not.

It is widely believed that Albert Einstein and Isaac Newton were both on the autism spectrum.

How can you get involved?

There are loads of ways you can get involved in raising awareness during World Autism Awareness Week, you can sign up for fundraising challenges, bake sales or anything else that takes your fancy!

Signing up your school to take part in World Autism Awareness Week allows you access to a range of free learning resources to help staff, parents and other children ukfamilymatters |

better understand autism and how it differs from person to person. You can even select tailored packs for your age group!

Is your school taking part in any activities for World Autism Awareness Week? We’d love to hear about it, get in touch with us on social media, we’re @ukfamilymatters on both Facebook and Twitter or email us, info@familymatters-uk.co.uk @UkFamilyMatters | familymatters-uk.co.uk | 7

How to survive exam season For those of you who have children in the final years of primary school or are older still in secondary school, you’ll know that exams will soon be here. This is a hugely stressful time for children and parents alike.

First things first, though the results will help determine what level classes they’ll have in the future, they aren’t the end of the world and kids are kids, they should have a good balance of fun and school work. If you think your children are stressing too much about upcoming exams, please do speak to a member of staff at their school.

Take a look at some of these ideas to help both them and you feel prepared when the time comes.

vise in ing environment to re lax re d an lm ca a ve ed to be able Make sure that they ha silence, but they do ne in dy stu to le ab is sic that Not everyone volume of any TV or mu the on e ey an p kee to concentrate, so ckground. might be on in the ba speak to Get flash cards revision resources, so h wit lp he to y pp ha t papers, exam Schools are always you can get hold of pas re whe t ou ab er ch tea and tested revision the class flash cards is a tried g in ak M . rds ca h vol ved wit h books and flas ! You can even get in too te ea cr to n fu re method and they’ ild using them. le quizzes for your ch litt te ea cr d an on isi the rev t ready all the right equipmen ve ha ey sure they th re su ke Ma it for an exam, make ed ne y the if s, tor la Pens, pencils, calcu good time. have it ready and in ild starts Be encouraging ght find that your ch mi you d an es tim l fu oser. While These are very stress ive as the exams get cl ss re agg or wn ra hd our, it is to become wit h this kind of behavi wit ay aw t ge m the ir moods. you shouldn’t let ke allowances for the ma so m the h wit nt d that they know important to be patie raging and posit ive an cou en e ar you at th Make sure t. ate ver results they ge that you are happy wh

Any tips on helping children (and parents!) get through the exam season?

You can get in touch with us on Facebook or Twitter, @ukfamilymatters or email your tips to us: info@familymatters-uk.co.uk ukfamilymatters |

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CELEBRATING THE

75TH ANNIVERSARY OF V E DAY

You might have noticed that the early May bank holiday has moved this year, rather than being on the first Monday of the month, it is instead on Friday, 8th May to mark to 75th anniversary of V E Day, also known as Victory in Europe Day.

things we take for granted.

Because of that, enterprising families came up with loads of ways to make food taste great.

Here are some war time recipes for you to try!

"WAR TIME CARROT CAKE"

8th May 2020 will be 75 years since the guns fell silent at the end of World War 2 in Europe.

The war then officially ended on 15th August when Japan surrendered.

As sugar was rationed (families were allowed 230g a week only), lots of people with access to carrots used those to sweeten cakes and bakes instead.

During WWII food was rationed throughout the country, so things like eggs and sugar were hard to come by, which meant a lack of cake, bread and other

INGREDIENTS 230g self raising flour 85g margarine or you could go more authentic by using cooking fat!

85g sugar 115g grated carrots 55g sultanas A little water 1 reconstituted dried egg, or if you can’t find one, 1 fresh egg.

METHOD Preheat the oven to 200 degrees. In a large bowl, sift the flour and rub in the margarine or cooking fat. Add the sugar, carrots, sultanas and egg and mix well. Add a little water to make the dough sticky and then pour into a lined baking tin.

Place in the centre of the oven and cook for 40 minutes or until it is golden in colour. To check to see if the cake is finished, poke a knife through the top, if it comes out clean, you’re good to go!

"WAR TIME BREAD AND BUTTER PUDDING" According to the information given at this was sufficient children, what do you

rationing the time, for two think?

INGREDIENTS 85g bread 45g margarine/butter 45g fruit 3/4 pints of custard METHOD Spread the margarine over the bread and cut into cubes.

Arrange the cubes and fruit in a small baking tray or casserole dish. Pour the custard over the top and bake on a medium heat until the top browns.

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

Win Prizes

Win a Learning Resources toy bundle worth more than £50!

Learning Resources UK teamed up with Butlin’s Minehead Resort to celebrate the NEW science lab and STEM workshops exclusively on Just for Tots breaks in conjunction with Learning Resources UK. You can win a Learning Resources toy bundle to spark your little one’s imagination including a Beaker Creatures® Alien Experiment Lab, STEMS® the flexible 3D maker toy (tub of 20) and a fabulous Primary Science® Lab Set so little ones can get hands-on at home with the wonders of chemistry and science using real science laboratory equipment made especially for kids.

For the full range of educational and science toys visit www.learningresources.co.uk

Win a family camping ticket to Home Farm Fest Home Farm Fest is local charity School in a Bag’s biggest annual fundraiser and has raised nearly half a million pounds!

HFF has 8 stages of different music, talks and workshops, plus a large Children’s Area, world food, a Wild Play and Wellness Area, children’s discos, cinema, and lots more! Grab your tent or pack your caravan and come and join us for a weekend of fun, whatever your age!

There are day tickets available if you can’t make all of it, but whatever ticket you buy, you will be helping SchoolBags filled with stationery and eating utensils get to children around the world who are deprived of an education.

Prize is for 2 x adults and 2 x kids OR 1 x adult and 3 x kids plus camping.

Win a family day out at Haynes International Motor Museum Win a family day out for two adults and three children to the multi-award winning Haynes International Motor Museum PLUS! A ten minute outdoor family Karting session (2 adults, 3 children) onsite with South West Karting on the brilliant 480m circuit.

Haynes International Motor Museum is the UK's largest collection of the greatest cars from around the world with over 400 exhibits, from the dawn of motoring to Formula 1.

Plus everything you need for a great family day out including outdoor play area, café and shop. Family events run throughout the year, visit www.himm.co.uk for more details.

Win a family ticket to The Royal Bath & West Show!

The Royal Bath & West Show returns on 28th – 30th May with new attractions to appeal to all the family, and with over 50 hours of scheduled entertainment every day there’s something for everyone.

In addition to the agricultural attractions and old favourites such as the Bath & West Railway, vintage machinery, Imagineering marquee, and Tractor Ted Farm Fun Zone, you’ll find a host of new interests. Foodies will love ‘The Great British Kitchen’ and the Food and Drink Marquee, and you’ll find an expanded British Cheese Awards, as well as the Paul Hannam Stunt Show in the main ring!

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: April 25th 2020

How BIG is your carbon footprint?

EASY WAYS TO SAVE ENERGY AND WATER Limit showers to less than 2 minutes and place a plastic bottle in your toilet system to save water in your flush.

Switching off the lights and using low energy lightbulbs can make more of a difference than you might think. Find out more at the Centre for Sustainable Energy, www.cse.org Understanding which appliances use the most electricity in your homes can help you to see where you might cut back a little – if you have a smart meter, they’ll be able to tell you what appliances use the most and how much you use generally.

Switch off chargers at the plug or unplug; they use electric even if nothing is charging!

If your family are fit and healthy,

turning down the heating and popping on a jumper can make a difference to your bills as well as CO2 emissions.

Hard to do with our busy lives, but you could aim to walk if your journey is under a mile. There are CO2 savings and health benefits too!

Only boil as much water as you need for a cuppa!

Make sure you use your council's recycling schemes, such as the green recycling box for plastic, glass and tin, food waste bins and cardboard recycling bags Terracycle is an international scheme which takes “hard to recycle” items such as crisp packets and pens while raising money for charity for their volunteer collectors. Many of these schemes are run locally, find out more: www.terracycle.com

The environment, climate change and global warming are all becoming more and more relevant and with parts of the curriculum now being dedicated to learning about the environment and how we affect the world around us, we’ve put together some simple ways you can make a difference at home.

REUSE, REFILL AND REPAIR Cheap, “fast-fashion” may appear to give you more for your money, but items fall apart quickly and “cost the earth” environmentally. Buying fewer, long lasting, good

quality clothing items is better value and better for the planet. Try shopping and donating with charity shops or looking out for sustainable options on the high street.

BAG FOR LIFE

Most of us remember to take our reusable bags to the supermarket but try taking them to other shops you visit, including fashion shops and even the local takeaway.

Download REFILL onto your smart phone, it’s an app that shows you where the nearest water refill tap is, that way you don’t have to buy single use plastics!

If it can be fixed, don’t throw it away. Repair cafes are free of charge with donations welcome and can usually fix, bicycles, electrical appliances, wooden and mechanical items.

Some of the cafes can even repair clothes.

Look out for them in your local area.

Use local refill stations for household products - reusing bottles by refilling saves a lot of CO2 emissions and resources put into making, transporting and disposing of single use containers. Several shops and supermarkets now offer this as an option.

Try local milk vending machines - you can bring your own bottles to refill or buy a glass bottle to refill on subsequent visits. The milk is also from local cows saving on food miles.

It seems that no one is safe from the ever expanding world of social media. New apps and trends seem to pop up every day and with the continuing discussion around online safety, here are some tips for you to help keep your kids safe.

F

Whether they’re using TikTok or Twitter, there are some very important things to talk to your child about regarding their social media use. Though they might think you’re being overprotective and that they know what they’re doing, do have regular conversations with them and where possible, monitor their social media use, either through apps of your own or by manually checking.

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Are your kids on social ACCOUNT PRIVACY Make sure your children have their accounts set to private – this will limit their exposure to online predators and will mean that only people that you (or they) have approved will be able to interact with them and view their online activity.

Similarly, make sure they are aware of how to keep themselves safe online – speak to them about uploading any photos that can easily identify them, such as their school uniforms or photos with your home or street name in the background. Scary as it sounds, there are people who can find out exactly who you are and where you live with just a few snippets of information. It’s why many schools don’t allow parents to post photos of school events on social media.

IN APP PURCHASES Many apps appear to be free at first glance but actually offer the chance to buy additional services once you’ve downloaded them.

Make sure to have your accounts password protected so that your children can’t accidentally run up debts and to speak to them about the importance of checking with you before attempting to make any purchases.

Most social media platforms require you to be at least 13 to open an account – of course if kids want to be on there, they will find a way around that so be aware.

Thirteen is still a very young age for some of the content that comes up and even older kids and some parents struggle with certain people’s behaviour when using social media.

media?

KNOWING WHERE THE BLOCK BUTTONS ARE Cyber bullying and inappropriate content are rife on social media and while we can try to shield our children from these things, it isn’t always possible. Make sure the kids know where to find and how to use the block buttons.

All social media platforms have facilities to report abuse or other inappropriate content, make sure you and your children know how to report anything and that they know the importance of doing so.

Make sure your children are able to speak to you or another adult should they feel threatened or bullied while using social media. Children should be aware that they may come across some unkind people when using social media so have a conversation about how to handle criticism and responses.

The best thing to do? Block them!

WANT TO MONITOR YOUR CHILDREN ONLINE? There are a variety of apps and services you can use to give you peace of mind and keep an eye on your children’s online activity. Many internet service providers offer this as part of your package and there are a number of apps you can install on your children’s devices which will alert you to anything concerning. You can find out more about these apps by searching your app store or heading online to internetmatters. org where there are a host of resources to help you keep your kids safe online.

Any other suggestions? You can get in touch with us on Facebook and Twitter, @ukfamilymatters. Got a story to share? Email us info@familymatters-uk.co.uk

what’s on 23rd March - 26th April: Jawsome Sharks & Friends at Weymouth SEA LIFE Adventure Park Help Professor Finn find the missing Top Trumps cards, so he can teach everybody about the incredible sharks and sea creatures that live at the aquarium.

Weymouth SEA LIFE Adventure Park, Weymouth.

1st - 20th April: Search for Shaun the Sheep Flock to Montacute House to search for Shaun the Sheep, everyone's favourite sheep is hiding around the gardens, answer simple questions (don't get the wool pulled over your eyes) and claim a small prize. Montacute.

4th April: Family Saturday Free sessions offer families a unique experience of art, design and nature. The April Family Saturday takes its inspiration from the current Don McCullin: The Stillness of Life exhibition. Throughout the session there will be chances to experiment with different techniques of documenting the landscape. Hauser Wirth, Bruton.

4th - 19th April: The Enchanted Cave Cheddar Gorge & Caves present The Enchanted Cave, where you can roam an underground and under cover, illuminated trail discovering mystical chambers where fairies glisten, flowers grow, crystals sparkle, and eggs glow. Cheddar Gorge & Caves, Cheddar.

4th - 19th April: Spring Bingo at Barrington Court Come along and take part in a nature-based bingo and find out about all the exciting things happening at Barrington Court in the spring. Barrington Court, Somerset.

4th - 19th April: Easter Trail 2020 Find your way around the Palace Gardens using the babyanimal-themed clues and if you’re successful, claim your prize from the Visitor Reception on the way out.

The Bishop's Palace, Wells.

4th - 19th April: Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt at Avebury Easter holidays at Avebury are all about the children so they've organised lots of fun activities to keep them occupied. The spring trail in Avebury Manor Garden ends with a delicious chocolate prize. Or why not check out the 50 things activities that will be taking place every day of the bank holiday weekend? Avebury Manor, Avebury, Wiltshire.

4th - 19th April: Maddy’s Farm Lacock Garden Centre welcomes Maddy’s Farm where you will be able to see a selection of Farm Animals including Lola & Maisie the miniature Donkeys, Sampson the Miniature Shetland Pony, Fern the Pig, Valais Sheep, Dexter Cows, Chickens and Turkeys.

Whitehall Garden Centre - Lacock.

4th - 19th April: Hop ‘Till You Drop Easter Bunny Trail Bowood’s Easter Bunny and all his friends will be in the grounds leaving clues hidden high and low for you to find.

Bowood, Wiltshire.

4th - 19th April: Stourhead National Trust, Stourhead The mysterious double-headed eagle of Stourhead House has been busily preparing to lay her magical egg somewhere in the garden. Stourhead House and Gardens, Wiltshire.

4th - 19th April: Easter at Hope Nature Centre Hop to the Animal Park where you can take on an Easter Trail, where you’ve got to find 6 eggs hidden throughout the park. Find them all to win an Easter treat. Hope Nature Centre, Southwick, Wiltshire.

6th - 10th April: Children’s Easter Hat Making Make your very own Easter Hat to take home. All equipment provided. Whitehall Garden Centres - Lacock and Whitchurch.

7th and 14th April: Crafty Cats Crafty Cats family sessions will take place in the Undercroft of the Palace. On both days the theme will be “baby animals” with different activities on each occasion.

The Bishop's Palace, Wells.

For further information about each event

7th April: Donkey Day Meet the visiting donkeys and have fun with a variety of donkey crafts and activities. Rural Life Museum, Glastonbury.

8th - 9th April: Model making with Aardman Be inspired by the world of Aardman. Join one of the expert model makers from Aardman and make your very own Shaun the Sheep. People are flocking to do - don't delay. Montacute House, Montacute.

11th April Peppa will be making appearances at Minehead Station at intervals throughout the day making this a day for the children to remember. Facepainting, crafts, entertainment and of course, photo opportunities with Peppa Pig. If you are based at the other end of the line, the perfect way to get to Minehead Station is by train. Why not park up at Bishops Lydeard, hop onto one of our heritage services to start your magical journey. West Somerset Railway, Minehead.

9th April: Family Fun Day – Easter Frolics Try your hand at creating peg chicks, Easter bunnies and origami tulips, as well as having a go at some seasonal colouring activities. Rural Life Museum, Glastonbury.

12th April: Easter Sunday Funday There will be a whole host of activities including; bouncy castle, giant garden games for the whole family, animal petting and more! Hope Nature Centre, Southwick, Wiltshire.

10th - 13th April: Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt Follow the tracks and trails around the grounds and identify the creatures that made them. If you are successful it will lead you to a delicious chocolate prize!

Barrington Court, Somerset.

12th April: Traditional Easter Egg Hunt Decorate your egg box then head out into the orchard to see how many eggs you can find. All participants are guaranteed to go home with at least one chocolate egg! All children must be supervised throughout the activity.

Rural Life Museum, Glastonbury.

10th - 13th April: Chocolate Train Enjoy a brake van ride behind this beautiful locomotive that volunteers from the Avon Valley Railway have spent the last decade restoring. Plus there’s our usual steamhauled passenger train services throughout the day from 11am. Avon Valley Railway, Bitton.

13th April: Shields and Swords Design and make your own cardboard shield and sword, you could even bring it along to the Medieval Fayre.

Glastonbury Abbey, Glastonbury.

10th April: Decorate an egg Dip and dye your egg with fun colours, then add some decoration, you can even create a character. Glastonbury Abbey.

15th April: Crowns and Headdresses - Family Activity Make a crown or headdress from cardboard then enjoy adding that personal touch as you decorate your design.

You could even wear them at the Medieval Fayre.

Glastonbury Abbey, Glastonbury.

10th April: Easter Escapade: A Chocolate Celebration Join an Easter Escapade for a celebration of all things chocolate. Durslade Farm will be transformed into a site of sensory exploration with family activities and workshops celebrating nature, people and buildings. Hauser Wirth, Bruton.

11th, 12th, 13th April: Fun at the Station this Easter Easter Egg Hunt and Trains running. Somerset and Dorset Railway, Midsomer Norton.

11th April: The Galleries' kids’ club Youngsters will have the opportunity to enjoy a host of interesting and fun activities with each one being themed at The Galleries' kids’ club. Plus, everything they make on the day can be taken home as a memento. The Galleries, Broadmead, Bristol.

3rd May: May Celebration Have you ever wanted to dance around the Maypole?

At Avebury they'll be celebrating the beginning of May with traditional festivities including Morris Dancing and Maypole Dancing, as well as family craft activities.

Avebury Manor, Avebury, Wiltshire.

5th - 9th May: FMTC presents ‘Barnum’ the circus musical Performed by the award winning Frome Musical Theatre Company, Barnum the circus musical tells the story of P.T. Barnum, the Greatest Showman on Earth.

Frome Memorial Theatre, Frome.

8th May: Bunting - Family Activity Make and decorate your own cloth bunting to hang inside your home or outside in your garden.

Glastonbury Abbey, Glastonbury.

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LATEST SCHOOL NEWS

EVENTS

DIARY DATES

YOUR SUCCESSES

News and Reviews PETER PAN AT WESTBURY

ELMHURST’S POETRY SESSION WITH AF HARROLD

Westbury CE Junior School enjoyed a traditional pantomime based around Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie.

The afternoon was filled with singing, dancing, a giant crocodile and a very silly Captain Hook!

Thank you to M&M theatrical productions for a very enjoyable start to the new term.

On a recent ‘Special Visit’, Elmhurst School received a more than welcome ray of sunshine in the form of the wonderful AF Harrold, aka Ashley.

Ashley is a poet and came to visit for the morning thanks to the school’s continued link with the committed members of the Well’s Festival of Literature. He brightened up everybody’s morning with a wonderful whole-school assembly, where he treated all those present to a selection of some of his poems including one where they were warned about the dangers of breakfast (remember to watch out for bears in your Cornflakes!) and about a dog having a bath.

Ashley then spent some time with both Ash and Cedar classes, where they listened to some of his animal-based riddles (and the clever bunch worked them all out!) and had a go at creating some of their own using the techniques he had shown them. The children were so excited to listen to and learn from Ashley; it was a really enjoyable and engaging morning. If you would like to find out more about Ashley’s poems or watch some of his videos, including the poems mentioned above, please visit: www.afharroldkids.com

ELMHURST RAISE OVER £1,000 FOR NSPCC! Well done to everyone who took part in the Elmhurst NSPCC Danceathon, between you all you managed to raise £1,207.47! Congratulations! A big thank you goes out to all members of the school council who took the lead in this project and to the Computing Comrades who used the theme in their recent presentations.

Everyone should know the importance of Speaking Out and Staying Safe, both in the real world and online, so well done everyone!

SELWOOD ACADEMY DECORATE THE TOWN HALL Well done to the Year 7 and 8 Art club at Selwood Academy who created the windows at Frome Town Hall as part of the Window Wanderland. The students were asked to design a window about environmental issues, as this is something that Frome Town Council are going to be promoting locally.

#WLPSWESTBURY BEDTIME STORIES IN FRONT OF THE FIRE World Book Day was an incredible page-turner at WLPS where it was ‘book o’clock’ all day. The classrooms looked incredible, decorated with texts on display and virtual fireplaces for children to read, explore and share.

Mr. Pearce led the whole school assembly with staff and children dressed in pyjamas, where they discussed the books that staff and teachers love the most. Mr. Pearce shared The Book with No Pictures

by B.J Novak, which the children loved.

Jess said: “The book was great, we all loved it because it was funny, and it made us laugh. It had no pictures, but it built pictures in your mind.”

To read or not to read was not in question!

#WLPSREACHFORTHESTARS Westbury Leigh Primary School spent a wonderful, clear-skied evening stargazing with the Wiltshire Astronomical Society. Initially, there was a presentation which took the children on a photographic journey from the school, out across the country, the world, and finally into the universe.

It really put things into perspective when they were talking about distances such as 16,000,000,000 light years!

Children, parents and carers got the opportunity to study the evening sky through enormous and expensive telescopes. They were able to see the moon in its crescent phase (including the ‘dark side of the moon’), the Seven Sisters in the Constellation of Taurus, the nebula (an interstellar cloud of dust) within Orion’s Belt, and the International Space Station, which travelled directly over the school at exactly 5.28pm! There was much excitement and fingers pointing up to the night sky, and it was wonderful to see learning come alive through direct experience. The children kept warm drinking hot chocolate and eating delicious hotdogs...

Jess in Year 5 said, “It was amazing. I loved every

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second of it, especially as in science we are learning about space including famous scientist and astronauts.”

Ivy from Year 3 said, “I loved the hot chocolate and hot dogs! I saw the Seven Sisters, the hills on the moon and I saw the International Space Station, it was travelling really fast and looked like a shooting star!”

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ELMHURST’S FLAG REACHES ANTARCTICA!

GARDENING CLUB

Elmhurst’s school flag has been on a Polar Expedition and recently, the school were told that it had reached Antarctica! Antony Jinman, one of the explorers with Expedition Penguin, sent over a photo of himself with the flag! Equally exciting is that Antony will be personally returning the flag to the school when he’s back, so everyone can learn more about the journey!

BERTIE WINS A BLUE PETER BADGE! Congratulations to Bertie from Elmhurst School, who is now the proud owner of Blue Peter Music Badge!

Bertie wrote to Blue Peter to explain how he plays a range of different instrument and they were very impressed! The badge now enables Bertie and his family to gain free access to over 200 Blue Peter Badge Attractions in the UK! Hopefully Bertie’s achievement will be an inspiration for other Elmhurst children to try and earn their own BP badge. Well done, Bertie!

WELCOME TO THE SIXTIES!

Thank you to Selwood Academy Gardening Club who have brought colour and spring to the learning support base with these beautiful plant pots.

WELL DONE TO SELWOOD’S GYMNASTS! Selwood Academy pupils Amelia, Maya, Daisy and Stan had a fabulous day out at the North Devon School Invitational on 29th February with Gymfinity gymnastics group.

They achieved Gold in the Under 11 mixed with Stan winning the boys' section and Maya came 4th missing out on a medal by 0.05. Well done to all who took part.

Congratulations to Selwood Academy’s students who took part in a wonderful production of Hairspray Jnr which took place from 26th-28th March at the Merlin Theatre in Frome. The performances were fun but also thought provoking as the children had to come to terms with the story’s social and historical context.

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TRINITY STUDENTS ATTEND AUTHOR EVENT

RAISING AWARENESS FOR MENTAL HEALTH AT WESTBURY JUNIOR SCHOOL

Trinity First School recently attended the 2nd Annual Children's Author Event at The Cheese & Grain, Frome, on 14th February. The children of Year 4 were all delighted to find out more about the following three authors; James Nicol - author of the Apprentice Witch series, Holly Rivers author of Demelza & the Spectre Detectors and Emma Read - author of Milton the Mighty and Milton the Megastar.

The morning was a great success and the children were thrilled to meet these authors face to face and have their books signed. Another wonderful way of bringing reading to life.

Pupils at Westbury CE Junior School took part in this year's Children's Mental Health Week. This year’s theme was 'Find Your Brave' and pupils shared their stories of bravery with their classes all week. In addition to this, pupils and staff wore green each day to show awareness and support for this important event.

Welcome to Baloo’s SoftPlay

17 Silver Street,Trowbridge Wiltshire BA14 8AE 01225 764753

Trowbridge’s BIGGEST and BEST indoor play and party venue!

PLUS Private Party Hire available!

Baloo’s is Trowbridge’s BIGGEST and BEST indoor play and party venue! Filled to the brim with amazing spaces for the children to explore, whether you come with family or friends or part of our fantastic parties, a warm friendly welcome and amazing fun is always guaranteed at Baloo’s softplay.

The Children A multi-levelled soft play centre providing a safe, secure & stimulating play environment for children from 0-12 years, with dedicated playzones for babies, toddlers & juniors.

The Cafe Parents, while your mini explorers burn up all their energy, why not treat yourselves in our cosy cafe which has a comfortable & inviting atmosphere with a fantastic range of food & drink. There is free wifi for those who like to stay connected to the outside world.

www.baloossoftplay.co.uk General opening times MONDAY – SATURDAY 09:30am – 6:00pm SUNDAY 10:00am – 3:00pm

Children’s Parties We cater for children’s parties, making sure that your child’s birthday is celebrated in style. For more information please see our party packages page online.

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WORLD BOOK DAY FUN AT ELMHURST

WHAT IS ‘SOUL FOOD?’

At Elmhurst School, World Book Day was celebrated on Thursday, 5th March where pupils dressed up and even decorated potatoes into some of their favourite book characters! Mrs Murray also arranged and wrapped lots of lovely prizes for the children made up of pre-loved books!

This is the question Westbury Leigh Primary School were trying to answer during multi faith week. As part of a week of celebrating other faiths, each year group baked a food item from a religion that they have been studying in order to understand the importance and difference in food among religions.

Each year group baked a multitude of tasty eats from Hot Cross Buns to Samosas.

For instance, Year 2 baked Matzah whilst learning about Passover, a Jewish religious holiday. Year 2 felt that this really helped them to understand the importance of this food for Jewish people and to taste and understand a little more of their culture.

RE lead, Becky Pearce, said: “It was an amazing week with all the children getting hands on in a great flourfilled bake!” The food was then sold after school with profits going to support the building of a girls' school in Kasunga District in the country of Malawi, Africa. The focus on exploring multi faith through food has helped to give a meaningful context to learning and has raised awareness of other faiths and cultures amongst the wider community.

Amelia in Year 2 said: “I really liked the Matzah bread it was yummy! And I am glad the Jewish people were freed in the end.”

Everyone at the school would like to say a big thank you to all the parents who came in to support them during the week as well as the Warminster Neighbourhood Policing Team who visited the school: PCSOs Wright, Katsande, Revers and Jackson, Sergeant Harmsworth and Inspector Hughes.

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WESTWOOD WITH IFORD SCHOOL AT WILTSHIRE STEAM FAIR Recently the broadcasters of Westwood Radio were invited to attend the Wiltshire STEAM Fair to showcase and demonstrate how technology can have such an important impact on learning. Held at County Hall in Trowbridge, the young professionals spent the day talking to children, teachers and even Council Cabinet members about how they use the technology of education radio to develop confidence and resilience in their children and young people.

Preparing and hosting two live shows throughout the day, the children wrote their own scripts and broadcast to the world via the school's online radio station and into the STEAM fair as well! With plenty of interest and even a photo opportunity or two with prominent cabinet members, the children excelled once again in a live outside broadcast environment, presenting with professionalism, personality and fun.

You can listen to more of what they do by visiting radio.westwoodwithiford.org or follow them on Twitter @wwipradio.

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MATHS FUN DAY AT WESTBURY Westbury CE Junior School enjoyed a whole day of Maths fun recently. The day started with everyone arriving at school wearing a number. All the children took part in challenges and activities around a mathematical theme. This included pirate games using coordinates, card games, PE number games and even exploring the mathematical links in Mondrian's artwork!

Representatives from each year group then went head to head in an exciting Times Tables Assembly cheered on by the whole school. An energetic and very creative exploration of everything mathematical.

WORLD BOOK DAY Westbury CE Junior School celebrating World Book Day. Staff and pupils arrived in a whole host of costumes for a fantastic day focusing on the wonder of all things book and reading related.

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WOW

UPLOAD YOUR WOW! PHOTOS AND DETAILS TO OUR ONLINE WOW! FORM VISIT WWW.FAMILYMATTERS-UK.CO.UK

WHAT AN ACHIEVEMENT Name: Tabitha Age: 6 Achievement: Tabitha was named the Wildcats’ football team player of the week! Well done Tabitha!

Name: Maddie Achievement: She has recently been accepted for the Regional Talent Academy in London, she started canoeing with Frome Canoe club and has progressed through the four divisions to division one! Well done.

Name: Molly Age: 6 Achievement: Molly took part a gymnastics competition and won 1st on vault, 2nd on floor, and 1st overall!

She came away with 2 golds, 1 silver and a trophy.

Name: David Achievement: David has gained his yellow belt in Tae Kwan-do!

Congratulations David!

Name: Maya Achievement: Won the Swim England Stage 10 Swimming Award.

Congratulations Maya!

Name: Milo Age: 11 Achievement: Passed his Grade 2 ABRSM Piano exam with a Distinction!

Well done Milo!

Name: Finlay Achievement: Finlay who races BMX at National Level has just started the British Cycling Olympic Development Programme a year early for his age group – well done Finlay!

Would you like to be a CHARITY WORK!

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THIS COULD BE YOU!

in WOW ?

Sports awards!

MUSICAL TALENT!

CERTIFICATES OF ACHIEVEMENT!

www.familymatters-uk.co.uk to find out how! ukfamilymatters |

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Easter Intensive lessons Places Leisure children’s swimming lessons not only encourage physical activity but supports them with the development of water confidence. The weekly Learn to Swim programme, which runs 50 weeks of the year, follows the Swim England Learn to Swim framework.

Holiday Intensive lessons are a great way to introduce children to swimming and for those already in weekly lessons a chance to embed skills. The same principle applies to our intensive gymnastics and trampolining courses which some of our sites run.

These sports help to improve strength, balance, co-ordination and mobility. The daily repetition of techniques during holiday courses really helps children to grasp and practice new skills.

See Wiltshire.placesleisure.org to find your nearest site and see what they are offering this Easter.