Junior School Chronicle - Summer 2019

Junior School

Chronicle Summer, 2019

The cast of What a Knight!

Rounding Off The Spring Term House Music & Poetry Evening Another great evening of talent took place at the end of the spring term. The results were: Year 3 & 4 Poetry: George - I Made a Noise This Morning (Jack Prelutsky) Year 5 & 6 Poetry: Sam - Chocolate Cake (Michael Rosen) Year 3 & 4 Music: Adam - Born To Be Wild (Electric guitar) Year 5 & 6 Music: Krishan - Rock Medley (Electric guitar) Overall House Winner for Music - Blackton. House Poetry winner was Derby.

Easter Egg Competition The theme of ‘Under the Sea’ was thought of by our Art Prefects and we again had lots of inspirational structures.

The winners were: Year 3 & 4: 1st - George, 2nd - Abhi, 3rd - James Year 5 & 6: 1st - Harvyn, 2nd - Eisah, 3rd - James

House Events

A Review Of The Year This year has been outstanding! What made it even better was being given the responsibility of Head and Deputy Head Boy. Some of our jobs were doing tours on Open Days which made us really proud because we have to represent the School. We also feel extremely happy and privileged to have received our roles. From helping School Council to arranging a talent show, we have had a great year.

Bemrose win House Swimming

Danny, Sam and Teo

Derby win House Athletics

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Junior School Chronicle | Summer 2019

Y3 - Green Fingers!

Y4 - Picasso

Year 3 have been studying Plants as part of the summer term’s science curriculum. We have learned all about the theory of growing plants but thought we’d test it out by planting some courgette and tomato plants in Discovery Garden.

We’ve learnt about Picasso. When he first moved to Paris he felt sad so he painted in shades of blue. When we did this our portraits looked sad and angry.

Mrs Cheetham, our student teacher from Derby University, carefully drew up a watering rota but we’ve hardly had to use it due to all the wet weather! We’re hoping to have some produce to taste before we break up for the summer holidays.

A few years later he cheered up and his painting style changed to use pinks and oranges - his Rose period.

When we did this our paintings looked much happier.

Later in life Picasso drew faces with their features mixed up. We enjoyed doing this, it was great fun!

Oliver & Christopher

The Curriculum Y5 - Living Things & Their Habitats Y6 - PopArt In science we investigated what a seed needs to germinate successfully. We found out that it needs water, sunlight, soil and warmth.

We planted a runner bean seed in a pot. We watered it and put it on the windowsill. It took about ten days to fully germinate. So far most of our runner bean plants have grown to approximately half a metre. Reehan

Junior School Chronicle | Summer 2019

We have been learning about Andy Warhol’s style of art and mass production of art by printing.

We had black and white photograph sources of celebrities and ourselves. We outlined all the tonal values. We were really pleased with the results since we used 4b pencils to stencil it onto MDF. We used a palette of 4 colours. Once we added colour, it was very effective. Elliott, Tom and Krishan

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Y3 - Our Romans Trip

Y4 - Sikh Gurdwara

Year 3 went on a trip to Cannock Chase Museum and Wall (Letocetum) historic site.

On Monday 29 April we went to the Sikh Gurdwara as we were just about to start a topic on Sikhism in RS.

First we went to the museum and met our guide Diane. I made a mosaic using little tiles called tesserae. Next I put on Roman armour with help from Ben and Ryan because it was so heavy.

When we arrived there we met our guide, Jasvir, who took us around. After the tour Jasvir took us to a dinner hall called the langar. Sikhs provide food every day and anybody can have some. We had chapati, dahl and rice.

After that I went to the artefact table where there was a sponge on a stick which was used for cleaning after going to the toilet! Lukesh

When we finished we took a photo outside the Gurdwara with Jasvir.

Saadi & Shamoil

Trips & Visits Y5 - The Black Country Museum

Y6 - Tissington Trail

On Friday 10 May we went to the Black Country Museum as part of our history topic on the Victorians.

On Friday 17 May, Year 6 headed off for a day’s cycling on the Tissington Trail in Derbyshire.

My favourite moment on the trip was watching a nail being made at the blacksmith’s forge.

“On the way I found it quite difficult. It was 10 miles to Parsley Hay and I was proud that I got there. At one point everyone else went ahead and Eisah, Dhruv, Tharusan and I had to cycle to try to keep up. By the time we got to Parsley Hay, everybody else was having their lunch! On the way back it was really easy because it was mostly downhill. I really enjoyed the day.” Shivam

In Victorian times, blacksmiths were expected to make one thousand nails a day!

I really enjoyed the trip and would consider going there again. Anish

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Junior School Chronicle | Summer 2019

Charity Overall House Winner for Poetry - Derby with There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly Well done to everybody for taking part!

Team shirt day and cake sale for 30DaysOfGiving raised £214

Bag 2 School collection raised £216

Our SleepEasy team raised over £2000 for YMCA Derbyshire

Bikeability “I learnt that we have to look behind for cars a lot when cycling on the road.” Joshua “I now know how to ride a bike safely on the road.”

Ahmad “Bikeability helped me to become a lot more confident on my bike.” Shivam “Bikeability helped me because we managed to learn how to ride safely on the roads.” Tharusan

Meet The Author On Thursday 6 June, two groups went out to the Meet the Author event as part of Derby Book Festival.

“I went to see Joseph Coelho. He talked about living in a concrete flat when he was growing up, finding frogspawn in a local pond and taking it home. One of his books was poems for every month of the year and he read some out. It was great when he signed our book.”

George B Denny and Charlie saw Jeanne Willis. “I liked the animals that she talked about - my favourite story was when she dressed her bunny up in a hat and dress on its birthday.” Charlie

School Council Thank you to this year’s School Councillors - Ben, Saadi and Ted, Sam and Dhruv. Some of the actions this year have been: continuing to run the stationery shop; organising a disco and encouraging their peers to attend; the introduction of more clubs suggested by the boys of the Junior School. They have chosen the design for the front of next year’s homework diary and decided what to spend the money raised by the Christmas Card Art Project and Disco on. We will have a good stock of new play equipment for the field and quad in September. The PTA were so impressed by the boys’ efforts that they matched the £200 raised.

“I mostly liked the animals as well. My favourite was seeing the boa constrictor skin - I learnt that a boa constrictor is really long!”

Denny

Junior School Chronicle | Summer 2019

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Sports Round Up This term the boys have been developing their wet weather cricket skills, battling the wind and rain on several occasions! Despite the poor weather, we have managed to squeeze in a few fixtures with the U10’s playing superbly in a triangular match against two Foremarke Hall sides and backing this up with another excellent performance against The Elms. Our U11’s were not so lucky and only managed one fixture this term due to the weather. However, what a fixture it was, going down to the last over bowled by the nerveless Ahmad. Fantastic team display and skills from all involved.

Sports Day this year highlighted the best of what the boys had to offer athletically this year. The eventual winners were Derby house; however, I must reiterate how impressed I was with the effort, commitment and determination shown from everyone involved.

I would also like to thank all of the parents who were able to attend the event, as this really makes it an extra special day for the boys!

Mr Smyth House Hockey

House Cricket

1

Bemrose

1

Bemrose

2

Derby

2

Derby

3

Atkinson

3

Blackton

4

Blackton

4

Atkinson

Bemrose win House Cricket

Clubs for Art and Craft ClubCollectingthe Copper Trail

“I set up Art & Craft Club because I wanted people to enjoy art.” Tharusan “I want people to enjoy and improve at art. I like to see people doing art. Art makes me happy.” Eisah “We created Art & Craft Club because we all love art and we want other people to share our passion.” Elliott Wet sponging

Minecraft I’ve enjoyed trying to improve the creative and fine motor skills of the club members. We’re currently building a castle and have done mazes, survivals and speed challenges. I’ve been working on VR and have enjoyed showing this to them. I enjoy leading the sessions and watching the boys develop their skills. Alex H

Coding Club When I first started Coding Club I was in a state of nervous excitement as I wasn't sure how other people who signed up would react….but EVERYONE who’s come has been very supportive and well behaved.

I started it because I had developed a passion for Aladdin Scratch, a type of coding language. I also knew many who would like to do, learn and create more on Scratch.

I’d like to thank everyone who has come to the club, it has been a brilliant experience. Krishan Group pic of Tharusan, Eisah, Elliott, Krishan, Alex Hill & Alex Kirke Aladdin

Warhammer There is no better way to end the week than the Warhammer Club. It’s an exciting and sociable hour spent playing your friends with models that take you into a world of war, fantasy andConnect4 imagination.

Final Alex K Page 6

Sponsored Swim

Sponsored Swim

Junior School Chronicle | Summer 2019

Achievements We love our Achievement Assemblies which celebrate our talented boys and recognise and reward their hard work and effort. Here are just a few examples of our celebrations this term: 

Musa, Srujan and George were busy selling raffle tickets to anyone who passed them in March for the Easter Egg raffle.



Iósaif is a member of the Belper Nailers U10 hockey team.

They recently won the county championship.



James is an excellent swimmer and showed us his trophy for being the best swimmer in his session and for showing the most improvement in his butterfly stroke.



Sam produced some intricate temperature graphs in his geography topic which Mrs Genders was very impressed by.

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Tharusan completed a reading record task on Greek Myths and came up with a true and false quiz, complete with impressive hand drawn pictures

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Kian was praised for his written work, Breck The Space Cadet. Mrs Jackson could see all of the extra effort he had put in to his reading as it showed in his story writing.

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Year 5 received their Bikeability Level 1 certificates and Year 6 received their Level 2 certificates.

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Ben showed us his award for being the Players’ Player of the Year for his U8 team at Burton RFC.

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Shivam impressed Miss Devine so much with his determination and perseverance on the Tissington Trail that he was awarded a special certificate for his extra effort.

Read more at derbygrammar.org/news May

Golden Table April

March

Honour Points Honour Point race for this term: 1st 2nd 3rd 4th

Bemrose Derby Atkinson Blackton

Congratulations to our class high scorers:

3447 3406 3086 2800

Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 Year 6

Abhi Daniel Iósaif Krishan

369 201 175 195

(Results as at 24.06.19)

Junior School Chronicle | Summer 2019

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A Final Word From Mrs Sly It has been an extremely busy, but very exciting year. From the outset, Dr Norris put her mark on the School, making a decision early on that we were going to open the infant provision that we have wanted for so long.

Our Open Days and Mornings have taken on a change with visits from pre-schoolers and our boys have been fantastic in keeping them entertained whilst the teachers discussed the new provision with their parents. This has also been true of taster days. I am always so proud when we get feedback from prospective parents that their ‘tour guide’ was incredibly polite and articulate. Parents regularly make the decision to send their son to us based on their Open Day experience, so thank you, boys. I am very much looking forward to offering our new infant starters a bespoke education, where learning through hands-on experience takes precedence.

I am also incredibly proud of the fact that many of our co-curricular clubs are now run by the pupils themselves. This started a few years ago with the introduction of Minecraft, run initially by Chris and now by Alex in Year 10.

Warhammer was started last year by Chester and has continued into Year 7. This year, Krishan has run a Coding Club, Atri and Joshua began a Beyblade Club and Tharusan, Elliott and Eisah have started Art & Craft Club. It is the best example of ‘pupil voice’ and encourages understanding of planning and preparation so important in the big wide world!

We’ve also introduced Forest School this year. We are blessed with some fantastic grounds and I really feel we should be using them to educate our boys in the ‘great outdoors’. Rebecca Hill, who is a fully qualified Forest School instructor, will be running it as part of the curriculum next year, which is another dream that has come to fruition this year.

Thank you to the staff, pupils and parents of Derby Grammar Junior School at the end of another busy but incredibly productive year. I wish every one of you a relaxing summer break.

My aim in Y6 is to help you become the best version of yourself that I can. School is about so much more than academic achievements - although working hard in lessons is important. Y6 is about taking on responsibility, being a good friend, developing your interests, being creative and learning from mistakes. I truly believe that you can all end the year knowing that you have progressed in all these areas. I am so proud of you all.

I look forward to hearing about your adventures in Senior School and need to say a final goodbye to Ahmad. You have been a huge help as Charities prefect and your manners and kindness will serve you well. Good luck from us all in Y6. We will miss you!

Boys, have confidence in yourself. Keep positive. Ask for help if you need it. Dream big. And read, read, read!

Goodbye to Y6 from Mrs Genders

“The biggest adventure you can take is to live the life of your dreams.” Oprah Winfrey

Reminders for autumn term 

Whole-School House Cross Country and Tug of War. All pupils are expected to attend - Saturday 7 September at Rykneld Sports Centre.

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Speech Night is Thursday 5 September at The Riverside, pupils to arrive by 6.45pm

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The autumn games lesson is rugby. All boys need rugby shirt, navy shorts, navy rugby socks, school tracksuit, rugby boots, towel and gum shield.