Family Matters Easter 2020 | Mid-Somerset edition

MID SOMERSET EDITION

ISSUE 70 • MARCH/APRIL 2020

SURVIVE EXAM SEASON

SCHOOL NEWS

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SIMPLE, HEALTHY PACKED LUNCHES

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

p11 Ve Day 75th anniversary

p14 how big is your carbon footprint?

p17 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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Easter Holiday Fun for Families at The Bishop’s Palace 6th-22nd April If you’re looking to keep little ones busy this Easter Holiday, why not head over to The Bishop’s Palace & Gardens in Wells to join in with a whole range of familyfriendly activities with a variety of Easter themes.

The holiday fun kicks off on Saturday 6th April when the new Easter Egg Trail will be in place. Challenge the kids to follow the clues around the Palace & Gardens and find coloured eggs hidden in unexpected places – and if they find them all, they can claim a chocolate prize from the Visitor Reception on the way out!

On Tuesday 9th and 16th April (10:30am-3pm), our Crafty Cats sessions will take place in the Undercroft of the Palace.

On 9th the theme will be ‘Bugs and Buds’ and the children will have the chance to create Bug Hand Puppets, Coffee Filter Butterflies and Tree Blossom Pictures, and on 16th the Easterthemed activities will include making Bunny Masks, weaving Easter baskets and creating Easter Egg Mosaics!

On Thursday 11th and 18th April (11am-3pm), the Palace Garden team will be holding “Nature Ninjas” activity sessions in the Community Garden, aimed at getting little ones engaged with nature and gardening. The team will have lots of horticulturally-based fun activities for all ages.

For something a little different, join Raptorcare on Saturday 13th April for the Palace’s Medieval Falconry Day. Taking place from 10am-4pm, Tony, the master falconer, will be hosting flying displays, suitable for all ages, on the South Lawn. The displays will illustrate how these birds would have been used in Medieval times and why. Marvel at their skill and training as they show off their well-honed moves in front of the audience and in between displays, visitors will also have the chance to handle some of the birds.

The 14 acres of Gardens will be open daily throughout the Easter Holidays and the Dragon’s Lair Play Area is the perfect place to exercise little legs – climb the Dragon’s Wings, explore the Tree Pods, crawl through the Dragon’s belly or pump the water to spill the bucket and send the Dragon to sleep – the choice is yours!

There’s also a choice of The Hungry Dragon Snack Bar (adjacent to The Dragon’s Lair), serving drinks and snacks, or The Bishop’s Table Café, which is open daily, serving childfriendly menus alongside lunches, cakes and hot drinks to refresh the grown ups too!

All activities are included in standard admission.

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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St Geo

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23rd A

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The months of March and April are full of Saint Days, St David, the patron saint of Wales, is celebrated on 1st March, St Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, is celebrated on 17th March and St George, England’s saint is celebrated on 23rd April.

Here are some fun facts about St George and his importance in Britain’s history.

It isn’t just England that St George is the patron of, he’s also the patron of soldiers, farmers and people suffering from the plague among other things, including being the patron saint of the Scouts. At one time he was also known as being one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers who was there to lend a hand when people were in times of need. Did you know there are a number of other countries who have St George as their patron saint too? Venice, Genoa, Portugal and Catalonia are among those who name him as their saint.

He might be England’s patron saint, but St George wasn’t English. It is thought that he was actually born in what is now Turkey and was likely to have died in land that is now considered part of Israel. Many historians argue about whether he even made it to Britain. Though, he would have been known of and his reputation was the reason why Richard 1st adopted his emblem, the red cross on the white background, as part of his army’s uniform. That’s how the English flag came to be.

We often see imagery of St George dressed in armour but according to historians, he wasn’t a knight, though it is likely that he was a soldier in the Roman army. It is true that he was a martyr though, the story is that he refused to acknowledge paganism which is what led to his assassination.

While the story we know includes St George fearlessly taking on a dragon, sadly this is completely fictional and came from a set of tales which was translated into English and published sometime in the 15th century.

The earliest mention of St George in the UK is thought to have been in the 10th century.

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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.

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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.

M

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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C O M LO E U IN R !

Simple ways to make healthy packed lunches Gone are the days when you could rock up to school with a bag of crisps, a sandwich, an apple and a bar of chocolate, with more awareness about allergies and encouragement to be healthy, packing a lunchbox can seem a bit daunting. There is the fear of getting it wrong or your child just being bored with having the same thing every day. Don’t worry though, here are some easy ways to make lunchboxes healthy without being boring or complicated.

Consider your child’s lunch as an extension of yours.

If you’re someone who takes lunch to work with you and enjoys pasta pots, salads and interesting sandwich fillings, make a little extra and give a small portion to your child to take with them. It makes lunch times a bit more varied for them and you can be sure that they are getting something nutritious and healthy.

Speaking of healthy.

We don’t have to stick with the usual two slices of bread and a filling, why not use pittas or wraps? You could also give the kids crackers or vegetables/ salad items that they can dip into different things like soft cheese or hummus.

These all offer a healthy alternative and are low cost, easily found and definitely aren’t boring!

Use up leftovers to create a nutritious, filling lunchbox alternative.

If you have left overs from meal times such as pasta, cold chicken, sausages or anything else that can be eaten cold and still taste delicious, use them to create a salad or as sandwich fillings. It’s something a little different and will likely be more filling allowing them to feel full all the way until home time.

What sort of thing do you like to include in your packed lunches?

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LATEST SCHOOL NEWS

EVENTS

DIARY DATES

YOUR SUCCESSES

News and Reviews ASHCOTT PUPILS MEET THE PRIME MINISTER From Churchill to Thatcher and Blair to Johnson, pupils from Ashcott Primary School have followed in the footsteps of political giants to cross the threshold of Number 10.

Four pupils – all young journalists from the school’s award-winning Ashcott Compass newspaper – were invited to Downing Street to seek answers from the PM about the hottest question in British politics: Brexit. On the day before Britain was due to leave the European Union, the Ashcott pupils attended a junior press conference to put the Prime Minister on the spot, and they were given a personal tour of Number 10. The children even got to sit at the Cabinet Room table and try out Boris Johnson’s own chair, used by every Prime Minister since Victorian times!

The tour was made possible by national children’s newspaper First News, which last year named Ashcott Primary School as having the best primary school newspaper in the country. While a dozen schools from across the UK took part in the press conference, it is the question posed by an Ashcott pupil that has since featured so prominently on Downing Street’s own social networks, being viewed by many thousands of people across the world.

“One of our journalists, Phillippa, wrote a question asking what the Prime Minister thought would be the opportunities and challenges for young people after we have left the European Union. The Prime Minister talked about what he thought the opportunities would be but told us not to worry about the challenges, he said they had been over-stated!”

After the visit, one of the pupils described the day as a “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunity.

"It was very exciting how we had the chance to experience meeting Boris Johnson, ask him questions and tour Number 10. Normally you only get to see him on the television, but to meet him was something else!”

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Another of the pupils sat in the front row of the press conference and was also able to put questions to the Prime Minister’s official spokesperson James Slack, even asking him if the PM was bossy!

“It was really cool sitting in the front row, with no-one between the Prime Minister and me,” she said. “It was awesome that Boris Johnson was right in front of me and looked at me when he answered the questions.”

One of the young Ashcott journalists gave Mr Johnson copies of the Ashcott Compass newspaper, so that he could see the efforts of the 25 pupils who contribute to the school newspaper every half-term.

"It was a really exciting day: you see Downing Street on the television and it's hard to believe that you are actually there, that it's not a dream!” she said.

The fourth member of the Ashcott team said: "Words can't describe how it felt to be standing outside the door to Number 10.”

The four junior reporters were accompanied by Ashcott Primary School headteacher, Richard Briar and teaching assistant, Emma Frampton, an ex-journalist who organises the Ashcott Compass. All of the group felt extremely proud to be given such a fantastic opportunity!

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BOOK WEEK 2020 AT ASHCOTT SCHOOL Ashcott Primary School had an exciting book week with a wide range of book-related activities happening throughout the week.

At the start of the week, the children were visited by well-known children’s author and illustrator Mike Brownlow (author of ‘Little Robots’ which was made into a BBC Series) and each class took part in workshops creating their own robot characters.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, the children had the chance to visit the ‘Book Café’ and select what they would like to read from the reading menu, including a starter, main-course and dessert. Children from Year 6, known as ‘Reading Stars’, organised a book swap and managed to accumulate over 500 books for children across the school to choose from.

On Thursday, 5th March, children came to school dressed as a WORD for the World Book Day Vocabulary Parade.

At the end of the week, children read their own stories with their ‘buddies’ in their GEMS groups (houses/ teams). The children and staff would like to thank Miss Stevens (English Subject Leader) for all her hard work in organising another exciting book week!

CHILDREN LEARN ABOUT CONSTRUCTION AT ST JOHN’S The Key Stage 1 children at St John’s C of E Infants’ School in Glastonbury have been ‘Construction Engineers’ this term! As part of their Learning Quest on ‘Houses and Homes’ they have designed and constructed miniature houses, using various materials and resources including LEGO®, paper, lolly sticks, tape, straws and unifix cubes. In building their own houses a lot of mathematics has been involved and woodwork. The children have been measuring, sawing and joining wood to make the structure for their house.

The children have also been very excited to work with a real Estate Agents, ‘Holland and Odam’ in Glastonbury, who have made it possible for the children to view a property in town. As a result of viewing an actual house for sale, the children were motivated to write a piece of non-fiction writing, in the form of particulars for a house on the market.

Staff were very proud of the children – everyone has showed an element of perseverance regardless of the end result!

CONGRATULATIONS BOYS! Oakfield Academy students Dominic Evans, Jake Stickley and Bryn Lewis have each been selected to be part of the Bath DPP - Bath Rugby’s Developing Player Programme for 13-16 year olds. Following trials for selection the boys now attend training each week in Bath.

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DITCHEAT PUPILS VISIT BRISTOL Recently, all of Ditcheat’s Key Stage 2 visited Bristol as part of topics they are covering. The children from Holly and Willow classes went to Clifton Suspension Bridge and found out all about the work of Isambard Kingdom Brunel and then visited a local Mosque where they found out more about Islamic beliefs and festivals.

Willow class stayed overnight in Bristol and went on to visit the university, Bristol docks and M Shed before getting the train home.

Hannah Mascall, the school’s teaching assistant, said: “It was such an interesting and diverse visit for the children which they all gained so much from.”

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ZOO TRIP FOR EVERCREECH SCHOOL Children from Cherry Class at Evercreech Church of England Primary School visited Bristol Zoo as part of their topic ‘Wonderful Weather’ before half term.

To make the subject come to life, the children took part in an interactive ‘Weather Around the World’ workshop and visited the animals from different areas around the world.

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EVERCREECH PUPILS READ TO THE ELDERLY Children from Mulberry Class at Evercreech Primary School visited The Glen Nursing Home to read the stories that they had written, illustrated and published into books about the adventures of Paddington Bear.

EVERCREECH LEARN ABOUT THE VICTORIAN ERA Children from Oak Class at Evercreech Church of England Primary School visited Radstock Museum recently to coincide with their topic of ‘Vicious Victorians’. To add to the experience, the children came to school dressed up in clothes that resembled those that lived and worked in the Victorian Era.

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OAKFIELD ACADEMY COLLECTING FOR HOPE AND AID DIRECT

WELL-BEING AT OAKFIELD SCHOOL

Has your child outgrown their shoes before they are worn out? Clean, pre loved and waterproof shoes of all sizes are needed for thousands of refugee children in camps across Europe. Oakfield Academy are now a collection point for registered charity ‘Hope & Aid Direct’.

Good quality shoes and trainers can be brought to Reception and will be passed to the charity for distribution.

Pictured dropping off a collection bin is Lorna Thomas, on behalf of RAISE - Refugee Action in Somerset East.

During half term, Generation Be teamed up with local wellness professionals to host well-being and mindfulness sessions at Oakhill School.

Min Robertson, the Founder of Generation Be, is passionate about mental health in young people and works with schools in the local area to support the well-being of their pupils.

She said: “Half term can be a very stressful time for parents and carers. Finding something to do in the wet weather, within budget for all ages of children can be challenging. We wanted to organise an afternoon focusing on well-being for the whole family unit.”

The afternoon covered various aspects of well-being including a healthy cooking workshop, mindful movement techniques and yoga and story massage.

The afternoon ended with mindful crafts.

The feedback was positive and it is hoped more sessions can take place in the future.

TEA WITH MRS TURNER At St John’s Infants School in Glastonbury, they have been celebrating good behaviour at school by getting the children to collect raffle tickets, for the prize of having Tea with Mrs Turner. The children invited to the first of these teas were rather excited!

BROWNES GARDEN CENTRE COME AND RELAX IN OUR COFFEE SHOP AND THEN SELECT FROM OUR LARGE SELECTION OF CONTAINER GROWN SHRUBS, CONIFERS &PERRENIALS NEW SEASON ROSES, FRUIT &ORNAMENTAL TREES HUGE SELECTION OF TERRACOTTA & GLAZED POTS PLUS ALL YOUR GARDEN SUNDRY REQUIRMENTS OPEN 9-5.30PM MON-SAT 10-5PM SUN COFFEE SHOP 10.30-4PM MON-SUN

GLASTONBURY ROAD WELLS

TEL 01749 673050

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WORLD BOOK DAY AT OAKFIELD ACADEMY! Oakfield Academy staff and pupils entered into the spirit of World Book Day, dressing up as a wide range of book characters. Competitions were held throughout the day, including diorama and photography competitions, a writing competition (sponsored by a published author) and all pupils also had the opportunity to listen to "Oakfield Celebrity - Mrs F" read a novel. It was a fantastic day enjoyed by everybody.

CARYMOOR VISIT PRIDDY Everyone at the Priddy and St Lawrence Federation had a great morning talking about recycling and climate change with the team from Carymoor who came to visit them recently. Thank you Carymoor for the interesting and informative workshops.

Cheddar Crazy Golf Family Fun for all ages

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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!

Visit

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in WOW ?

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