Reporting from Launton School

Today some Year 6 children are speaking to us about their recent residential trip, the Remembrance Service, and anti-bullying week.

PGL

Before the October half term, our class went to PGL in Liddington, which is near Swindon. We stayed for three nights and four days and had an excellent time. We had activities after breakfast, then after lunch and in the evenings, we were all very glad it was the half-term two days after we got home as we were very tired! Most of the activities were outdoors. We had to learn how to safely wear a harness to do some of the activities, like rock wall climbing, zip lining and using the giant swing. The swing was a bit scary, the instructor told us to pull a rope, but he didn’t tell us that’s what started the swing moving, and moving really fast. It was great fun, and even though we were a bit scared of some of the activities we got up our courage and tried anyway. At night in the forest we played a game called ‘Ambush!’ - one team had to hide in the forest and other team had to find them. If they couldn’t find them, the team that was hiding had to run out and shout ‘ambush!’

Each team had a leader, and we had to work together to hide quietly and quickly, or look for the other team and find them as quickly as possible.

We split into three teams for one activity; we had to build a raft. We were given some barrels, some logs and some rope and had to work out how to use it all to build a raft. Then we went out onto the lake and had a race, Samuel’s team won, and we spent a lot of time splashing the other teams. This really helped us with problem solving and teamwork. The food was really nice, and we started each day with a large choice of breakfast food, such as cereal, fruit, and hot food. Lunch was either soup or chilli with rice, and dinner was either meatballs, curry or lasagne.

On the last night we had a disco with other schools that were there. We had a great time and realised that we hadn’t used, or missed, our screens. Some of us use them a bit less since getting home.

Remembrance Service

The whole year 6 class represented the school at the Remembrance Service at the war memorial in the village on 11 November. We walked to the memorial with two of our teachers. Reverend Sarahled the service, and there were lots of people there, as well as a goat and a pony, who were representing the animals that have served in war. Three of our class did readings from Ecclesiastes, and Eli laid a wreath from the school. There was a two-minute silence, and cars and lorries on the road stopped so they didn’t disturb the service. We have seen the poppy cascades and the post-box toppers, and think they are all brilliant. There are more photos on pages 24-25.

Anti-bullying week

This week is anti-bullying week and we have been talking about bullying, what it is and what to do if you see it or experience it yourself. We made a poster suggesting how to deal with bullies. Some of the suggestions were not to stand by while someone is being bullied, not to get involved in bullying and to tell a teacher or another adult what is happening. The slogan for anti-bullying week is ‘Choose Respect’, and accept that everyone is different. We have started a display for our school, using cut outsof a hand with the details of what to do about bullying written on them. Hopefully they will help anybody who isn’tsure what to do if they are being bullied, or know someone who is.

Millie, Tabitha, Samuel, and Noah - Year 6