“If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”
STRAIGHTTOTHEHEARTOFCLAREMONTSCHOOL
By Lyla S, 7W Claremont’s passion for theatre shone through with fantastic Year 7 play, Ernie’s Incredible Illucinations this term!
Three Ernie's, a cast of fantastic actors, hard work and creativity left the audience inspired and entertained.
Head of Drama Mrs West said:
“It was an absolute pleasure to work with such an amazing bunch of children who were both dedicated and committed to presenting a fantastic production of the play by Alan Aykebourn. My job was easy because, with their help, we were able to produce a play that was both funny and poignant at the same time. Every Year 7 took part in the play and each one performed to the highest level. I am looking forward to what they can present to an audience in the next production that we do.”
Claremont is an official BBC Young Reporter School!
The BIG Interview: Vice Principal Mr Moir joins Claremont!
By Billie, 6P - Additional reporting by Jasper 3D, Joe M 5S, Faraz & Oliver, 5W, Dolly & Paloma 3D, Indigo 4AK, Ansiga 7W & Raya, 7BR
The Arrow’s reporters were happy to interview our new Vice Principal, Mr Moir, this term. This is what we discovered:
Indigo: Did you come to Claremont because of the lush green forests and amazing grounds?
Mr Moir: It was definitely something to do with the 135 acres, the pitches, ponds and the fabulous outdoors, which are all beautiful! At my old school, we had 12 acres, so yes, that was part of my decision to come to Claremont.
Dolly: Why did you choose to come to Claremont as our Vice Principal?
Mr Moir: There were two main reasons, both personal and professional. Number one was that it’s a fabulous school, especially for my two girls, with lots of wonderful outside space. Number two was the fact that children can go all the way through up to senior school, without having to change schools at the end of Year 6 or sit exams then. This means, children can be children for longer, which I think is a good thing.
Joe M: How environmentally friendly do you want Claremont to be?
Mr Moir: We should be as eco-friendly as we possibly can! We are thinking of having a food waste competition for each house. If you have an empty plate, you earn a token for your house, and after a week, we see which house wasted the least. From turning lights off to making sure windows are shut, we can all make a difference. And we have our fantastic Eco Council working hard to help us get better at sustainability all the time.
Billie: Is it hard being the Vice Principal?
Mr Moir: It's hard being new, because students and teachers come with questions, and I don’t yet know the answers. The first few weeks for me are all about finding out about everything I can.
Mr Moir: When we had the covid pandemic, I was working at a school where the nursery was still running. I remember looking through my window and wishing I could go and see the children, but of course, I couldn’t. Online learning was a challenge, both for staff, parents and children.
Oliver: Will you be a strict Vice Principal?
Mr Moir: I don't think I’m too strict, but I’ve got very high standards. I expect children to be kind, be polite and have your shirt tucked in! I like to think most of the time, you’ll see happy Mr Moir (not grumpy Mr Moir!).
Raya: What is your vision for the future of Claremont?
Mr Moir: Each and every child is an individual. I’d like to see you embrace your childhood. What’s so special about Claremont is how every child is treated as different with your own unique talents and
interests.
Paloma: Do you have children?
Mr Moir: I do, but you know this already! I have two girls, in Year 3 and Reception. I’m so glad my children are at the school that I work in. I’m lucky because I see them walking around, and today I jumped in the pool with them! They’ve settled in really well as the whole community has welcomed us. That’s one of the reasons I love this school so much.
Jasper: What are your hobbies? What do you like doing after school is finished?
Mr Moir: I really love being outdoors, my girls will tell you! I once was making pizza in the snow outdoors! In the summer holidays, we made the most of the sun, and we were on the beach at nine in the morning. I also love playing cricket.
Thank you Mr Moir for speaking with us!
Letter from Vice Principal, Mr Moir: Our Claremont Community
“The importance of community cannot be underestimated, now more than ever. In my first letter to parents at the beginning of term, I spoke about how grateful we are as a family for the welcome we have received. As strangers and new to the area, we are extremely grateful for this, and it certainly helped make us feel at home very quickly. I have been fortunate enough to tour a number of prospective families this term.
On a number of occasions, I have challenged them to work out which children are new to the school (in some cases, just a matter of days) and which have been here for years. It is simply impossible to tell. This alone is a real ‘pat on the back’ to the way Claremont as a community helps to settle new members in. Not only is there always someone to look out for you, but someone to ask a question and take you by the hand when looking lost. This culture is wonderful to see and is part of what makes Claremont incredibly special. Everybody is welcomed with open arms, allowed to be whomever they wish to be and made to feel at home and at ease from the outset. There is no timetabled lesson to teach this, it is simply part of what we believe at Claremont and how we look to treat others. Never underestimate the power, strength, and importance of community. This also extends beyond our walls. This term, we supported the Seaview Project in Hastings at Harvest Festival, as well as the Just One Tree charity, recognising we are part of a wider, global community.”
Supporting the Seaview Project for Harvest Festival this term
Celebrating our new Vice Principal Mr Moir!
Vice Principal Mr Moir is the BFG!
Claremont’s Incredible Illucinations!
By Lyla S, 7W
Ernie's Incredible Illucinations is a play about a boy called Ernie Frazer, whose daydreams have a nasty habit of coming to life - for better or worse! Mrs. West’s undying dedication made the experience unforgettable for everyone involved.
Claremont Principal, Mr Dickie, said: "I absolutely loved Ernie's Incredible Illucinations. As well as being very funny and brilliantly acted, I loved the interchange of actors into the main roles and the fact that everyone was involved in one way or another. To think this has been brought together in such a short time is stunning and shows what is possible when a community comes together with a common goal. Well done to Year 7 and, of course, the magnificent Mrs. West!"
Claremont Vice Principal, Mr Moir, said: "When I was told the Year 7s were going to put on a 45-minute performance only four weeks into term, I was a little sceptical, to say the least! Just shows what little I know! To a person, they blew me away with the performances, composure, learning of lines, and acting skills on display. It is another fantastic example of what children are capable of when they are provided with the opportunity to be creative and motivated to become the best version of themselves through amazing teaching. Well done to all, and Mrs. West for giving them all the chance to perform."
Claremont Head of English, Mrs. Brooks, said: "I loved it! My favourite part was how the parts transitioned, like when the Ernie’s and the other cast members swapped on stage. It was funny, a little bit barmy, but clever."
Marvellous Fireworks!
By Paloma, Dolly & Jasper, 3D
From lighting up the stage, to lighting up the school, the Bonfire Night fireworks were amazing!
They were glowing and exploding above our heads! We saw Catherine Wheels, sparklers and lots of colourful, swirly shapes in the sky. Every year, we have Bonfire Night at our school to raise money for our charity, Friends of Claremont School (FOCS) (previously, Claremont Family & Friends). There were lots of children running around with sparklers and hot dogs having a brilliant time!
Chair of FOCS, Tricia Edwards, said: "I was so pleased to see so many people at this year’s Bonfire Night, I hope you all enjoyed it. The night was a success and I want to thank the committee members and volunteers for working so hard to make this an enjoyable event for everyone. I have to say a big thank you to our maintenance team for all their support behind the scenes. I look forward to seeing you all next year." We have Bonfire Night to remember when parliament was almost blown up by Guy Fawkes in 1605.
Remember, remember, the fifth of November, Gunpowder, treason and plot! I see no reason, Why gunpowder treason, Should ever be forgot!
Putting up a fight in the Year 7 production! Ernie's Incredible Illucinations!
Aunty May gets in the boxing ring! There might be a spy in the library! An incredible Claremont production!
Ernie's Incredible Illucinations!
A truly fantastic eventthe FOCS Bonfire &
Making a Difference on Brazil Day!
By The Arrow news team
The formidable Eco Council gave an assembly this term about Brazil and the Amazon rainforest. We were allowed to wear Brazil colours for the day and ate Brazilian food at lunchtime. Samba music was played on the drums as we came into the O’Byrne, and the Eco Council led the Just One Tree Game Show, which was a quiz about planting trees in the most deforested areas of the world. Head of Geography and Eco Lead, Mrs Akrasi, said: “Each one of us can make a difference. Just One Tree is an amazing charity, which is working to restore vast areas of rainforest that been destroyed.”
The audience answered questions and Sparta was the winning team! Let’s make the world a greener place together. Every £1 donated on the day will plant a tree and make a difference to the world.
Vice Principal Mr Moir said: “This is a really important message – remember the road in the video shown that went through the rainforest that showed the devastation, all the land around it bare of trees that have been chopped down.”
1. Which country in the world is the worst for deforestation (cutting down trees)?
a) America
b) Brazil
c) India
2. In 2023, the deforested area of Brazil was equivalent to:
a) The size of New York City
b) Twice the size of Paris
c) Six times the size of New York City
3. The Amazon rainforest is home to how many species of plants and animals?
a) 1 million
b) 3 million
c) 10,000
4. How much of the Amazon rainforest is situated in Brazil?
a) 60%
b) 20%
c) 5%
Just One Tree is a charity that removes CO2 from the planet through global reforestation. Get involved here www.justonetree.life
Behind the Scenes of Eco Council!
By Billie, 6P
This year, Claremont’s Eco Council has representatives from every form in Years 3 to 8. This means that we will have lots of interesting contributions from a variety of people. Some ideas from recent meetings have included rainwater harvesting, a water butt system to pump water into the pond, which could also be used to flush the toilets in pre-prep and the prep school, electric vehicle charging points and bat boxes in the forest!
We have one very big idea (an idea that, we have heard, Mr Moir is keen on!) of introducing chickens, and maybe even a farm! We are also going to launch new Eco Council badges. Our plan for these badges is to use wood from our trees in the forest and design our own stamps to personalise them. This is more eco-friendly than buying them online. As they are our own wood, they will be even more personal. A new addition to the school is our new mural! This is a beautiful, whole-school contributed mural featuring our climate pledge. Mr Moir printed, in glorious yellow, a bee in pride of place on the tree. Years 7 and 8 did the wonderful art, transforming thumbprints into bugs, bees, ladybirds and beetles, and the mural is now looking fabulous and colourful!
Head of Geography and Eco Lead, Mrs Akrasi, said: “Last year, some staff spoke to me. They didn’t like that we were called Eco Warriors. They argued that we should all be fighting for the environment, so they asked we find a new name, and we have decided to become the Eco Council.”
Fantastic Fairtrade!
By Faraz & Oliver, 5W
Claremont celebrated 30 years of Fairtrade this term with a chocolate sale! Our Eco Council has sold lots of chocolate, washing and cleaning products, toothbrushes and pencils as well this term to help save our planet and support Fairtrade farmers across the world. Fairtrade is a great way for farmers to sell their produce at fair prices and have better working conditions. The Fairtrade stamp was introduced in 1994 and is given to products that have been sold using fair-trading conditions. It means that no-one loses!
Before this, farmers would often receive little money and have poor working conditions while the big companies buying their produce would go on to make lots of money. Fairtrade can help put a stop to this inequality. Next time you go to the supermarket or greengrocers, keep an eye out for the little Fairtrade sticker on produce. This means that the produce was grown and sold following Fairtrade guidelines!
Head of Geography and Eco Lead, Mrs Akrasi said: “All I can say is that it is true that Claremont has a sweet tooth! We sold a wide variety of chocolate flavours, all produced by the Fairtrade company Divine, which sources its cocoa beans from Ghana. Thirty years on from Fairtrade and 10 million people around the world benefit from better lives because you bought Fairtrade. This helps pay farmers better wages and funds community projects like doctor surgeries, schools, clean water pumps and many more. The first Fairtrade product in the UK was Green and Black’s, so it was fitting we celebrated with chocolate!”
Can you think of any Fairtrade products you have at home?
Brazil Day with the Eco Council! & Colourful celebrations for Brazil Day! & Celebrating Brazil Day with Claremont's Eco Council
Bats in Danger!
By Indigo, 4AK, Oscar, 3D, Joe M, 5S & Billie, 6P
Claremont’s Eco Council has decided to apply to the ISP Change Makers Programme for funding to build bat boxes in our forest!
The site team will provide wood from our forest, so we will apply for funding for hammers and gloves to build our own boxes!
We researched bat species in Sussex and discovered some brilliant facts. Bats are the only species of flying mammals. This makes them incredibly unique and different. There are 18 species of bats in the UK, and all of them have been sighted in Sussex. Those found in the UK feed exclusively on insects and use sonar to navigate and catch their prey at night. This means they use sound waves to navigate or detect other animals and objects. They can sleep for up to 20 hours a day. (Fun fact: the top three longest sleeping mammals are koalas, which sleep up to 22 hours a day, the sloth, which sleeps up to 20 hours, and the brown bat, which sleeps up to 19 hours a day!).
Our school will help them by building bat boxes. These are man-made roosts made to encourage bats into areas where there are few places for them to sleep. But first, let’s talk about why we need to make homes for bats.
Which bats are endangered and where do they live?
Seven species of bats are priority species under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan and have also been adopted as Species of Principal Importance in England under Section 41 of the NERC Act (2006). The species are: Barbarastelle, Bechstein’s, Noctule, Soprano Pipistrelle, Brown long-eared, Greater horseshoe and Lesser horseshoe bat.
Lyla & Ansiga, 7W, Raya, 7BR, Faraz & Oliver, X
Bats are a unique species as they are the only species of flying mammal! However, there are many other things that are amazing about them, such as the fact there are over 1,400 species of bats in the world! Did you know that without bats, we wouldn't have bananas, avocado or mangoes! Not all bats hibernate in the winter. Night insects have the most fear of bats! Bats can fly up to 200 miles. Most small mammals live up to a
by Raya, 7BR
All the bats have been spotted in Sussex, including the very rare Greater mouse-eared bat!
What are the threats to bats in the UK?
In the UK, bat populations have declined considerably over the last century. Bats are still under threat from building and development work that affects roosts, loss of habitat, the severing of commuting routes by roads and threats in the home including cat attacks, flypaper and some chemical treatments of building materials. Other potential threats can include wind turbines and lighting if they are sited on key bat habitats. The Red List for British Mammals shows that four of the 11 British mammal species that are red-listed as being at imminent risk of national extinction are bats. Bats represent more than a quarter of British mammal species and around 1/5 of global mammal species.
Some Batty Facts!
year, but bats have a lifespan of four years, but the maximum lifespan of a wild bat is 30 years! Bats are largely nocturnal animals (they do not sleep during the night). A bat can give birth to one baby (pup) per year! Did you know bats aren't blindthey can see, but at night, their hearing is more important than their sight. Bats are a threatened species because there are fewer wooded areas, ponds and open grass spaces for bats to feed and roost.
The wonder of wildflowers
The Eco Council, School Council and The Arrow worked hard to produce our wonderful flower meadow. The meadow has been emerging through the school grounds since the summer. Over time, our meadow started to grow within weeks of hard work and progress. We planted lots of different wildflower seeds such as: sunflowers, wild orchids, poppies, daisies, dandelions and cornflowers. This term, we went back to the meadows that sit by the O’Byrne and car park, and collected seeds so that we can sow them again in the spring!
Fun facts about wildflowers:
1. Did you know that sunflowers can live up to two weeks?
2. Did you know orchids are the largest family of flowering plants?
3. Did you know that poppies are a symbol of remembrance and hope?
4. Did you know that daisies close at night because they protect themselves from herbivores?
5. Did you know that dried cornflowers are sometimes used as medicine for people with a fever?
There are many bugs and creatures in our flower meadow that have been feeding on our beautiful flowers. I have seen many have seen: butterflies, ants, grasshoppers, beetles and last but definitely not least bees.
Head of geography Mrs Akrasi said: “Our wildflower meadow was beautiful this summer- bees swarmed, with dragonflies around, stand still long enough and all sorts of bugs will crawl on you! It has been a heaven of local wildlife. In autumn the flowers are beginning to go to seed, flowers do this when they die and they stop producing nectar. The seeds are then loosely stored and then ready to be blown or dropped to the soil, to bury into the ground for the winter before germinating and beginning to grow in the spring. This year, we will give the meadow a helping hand and harvest some of those seeds. They will be dried in the junior science lab - have a look at how different they all are! This stops Them going mouldy. Then they will be ready to plant out in the spring. We will drizzle them all over The meadow late march, before gently trampling them in, before waiting for the glorious meadow to return.”
Woodland Walk!
The theme of Project Based Learning (PBL) this term was Harmony. Years 7 and 8 explored our amazing woods and discovered which trees grow here by using an identifier (a sheet showing different tree and plant species).
We discovered them by looking at their leaves, branches and their trunk! We are finding out “Can humans exist in harmony with nature?” After going on the woodland walk, we went to the O’Byrne to write about our discoveries. Among the species we found, there were ash trees, silver birch, elder, oak, beech, hazel, pine and many more varieties!
During the woodland walk, we may have found some deadly mushrooms! Some were poisonous and some were not but there were warnings they might be poisonous, but they looked
Jasper’s Amazing, Unusual Facts!
By Jasper B, 3D
As we are learning about harmony with nature this term, here are lots of brilliant animal facts and some amazing animal drawings made by Year 7 and 8 artists…
pretty! Even though it was a bit slippery, we hope everyone had fun!
Ed Tech Coordinator, Mr Slattery, said: "The theme of this term's PBL is "Harmony" (for all year groups). As a team of teachers delivering the session for Year 7 and 8, we have extended the theme to the question of "Can humans exist in harmony with nature?" This led to our first sessions being a kick-off debate on the subject, followed by an investigation into local wildlife species such as kestrels and Pipistrelle bats. On Wednesday, the walk of the grounds was to identify the different species of tree such as oak, hazel, birch and pine, which are plentiful on our site. On return to the O'Byrne, the pupils researched how these trees support local wildlife."
Did you know?
1. Wolves can get the hiccups!
2. Polar bears can eat eggs!
3. Tomatoes can be purple!
4. The USA can fit in the Sahara Desert!
5. Our body’s smell is as unique as our fingerprints!
6. One type of bird tap dances to attract mates!
7. When polar bears are hungry, the adult males can catch walruses!
8. Baby giraffes can be around 2m tall!
9. Komodo dragons are the largest lizards in the world (and they are venomous!)
10. Orangutans are only found on two islands in the world (Borneo and Sumatra!)!
11. An Asian Giant Hornet can kill a bee!
12. Basilisk lizards can walk on water!
13. Servals (wild cats) can jump 3m high and 4m long!
14. Fruit flies have travelled in space!
15. Modern phones are millions of times more advanced than the Apollo 11 rocket!
16. There are no rivers in the country, Saudi Arabia!
17. Most female spiders eat the males!
18. The fastest animal in the world is a black mountain peregrine falcon!
19. Mosquitos are responsible for 700,000 human deaths a year (according to the US centres for Disease Control and Prevention)!
20. Wrens are tiny, but their song can be heard from hundreds of metres away!
21. Any whale caught in the UK belongs to the king or queen!
22. 90% of the planet’s ice is in Antarctica!
23. According to Swiss law, you are not allowed to own a single guinea pig, they have to have a companion!
24. One species of moths drinks the tears of elephants!
25. Some bees sip the water from crocodiles’ eyes!
Incredible animal artworks this term The eye of the tiger artworks this term
Animal artworks Roaringly good animal artworks
Checking tree species in our amazing grounds! & Humans and nature in harmony in PBL!
Looking for harmony in nature with PBL & Excited for PBL - collecting flora and fauna in the grounds!
Recording tree species at Claremont for PBL & Searching for flora and fauna in the school grounds
Raya, 7BR & Ansiga, 7W
HOT TOPIC SHOULD YEARS 7 & 8
DO FOREST SCHOOL?
Whatdoyouthink?
Yes! Research has repeatedly proven that time outdoors reduces levels of stress, depression and helps us become more physically healthy. As children go into Years 7 and 8, they might struggle with harder work, growing relationships and getting older. Going into the woods for even just an hour and a half a week could help their mental health. We have amazing surroundings, so these should come into play as much as possible in the school week.
Research shows that positive relationships with friends and others in the woods build teens' self-esteem, increases their resilience, lowers the risk of anxiety and depression, and improves health. We should be able to take a break from our learning! Evidence suggests learning outside the classroom can help raise achievement, improve classroom behaviour and improves the engagement of students.
No! Teenagers should have time to prepare properly for their examinations. They might not even enjoy it, as they might have lost their child-like motivation for simply playing in the woods. As children spend time outdoors, they move around more, climbing trees and jumping in puddles (which we totally support by the way!), and there is a slightly bigger chance that they will get injured. They are also more exposed to potential germs, however both of these risks are closely
managed by forest schools. They also might think it is childish, stupid or uncool. That means that they might not fully engage or enjoy it, meaning it would be a waste of time that could be spent learning. Claremont Principal, Mr Dickie, said: “I think Forest School is amazing - a really important part of the school. Should it be part of school in Years 7 and 8? Possibly… The problem is all the other things that need to be fitted in to the school week! Maybe there might be a way of squeezing it in next year.”
Well, you heard it here first! We were all happy to hear there will be forest school offered during the school day as part of the new clubs and activities programme next term!
Fantastic Roald Dahl Day!
By Faraz Z & Oliver R, 5W
This term, Claremont celebrated another fantastic Roald Dahl Day, which is a fun event dedicated to the great author!
Children and staff dressed up as characters from their favourite books, such as Matilda, Fantastic Mr Fox, James and the Giant Peach, Danny Champion of the World, the BFG and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory!
Roald Dahl became one of the most famous authors intheworld,andhasbeenreadbymillionsofchildren. Head of English, Mrs Brooks, said: “The theme of Dahlicious Day this year was Dream Big! The students created Dream Jars for a display in the library. We were inspired by the BFG’s collection of dreams and wanted to see our own on display. Head of Art, Mrs Darlington, has led the way with some beautiful creations blending Art and English together!"
The BFG : “Human beans is not really believing in GIANTS, is they?
Human beans is not thinking we exist.”
George’s Marvellous Medicine: “The rule would be this: whatever he saw, if it was runny, or powdery or gooey, it went in.”
The Witches: “The witches have a motto: One child a week is fifty-two a year. Squish them and squiggle them and make them disappear.”
Matilda: “We saw Miss Trunchball grab a girl by the pigtails and throw her over the playground fence!”
The Twits: “To pay Mrs Twit back for the worms in his spaghetti, Mr Twit thought up a really clever nasty trick.”
James and the Giant Peach: “Bigger and bigger grew the peach, bigger and bigger and bigger.”
Danny the Champion of the World: “A stodgy parent is no fun at all. What a child wants and deserves is a parent who is sparky.”
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: “I, Willy Wonka, have decided to allow five children to visit my factory this year. These lucky five will be allowed to see all the secrets and magic.”
Roald Dahl Day Celebrations!
Dahlicious Day Fun in the prep school!
Dream Jars for Dahlicious Day
Should Forest School be back on the curriculum for Years 7 & 8?
The Spirit of Claremont at the Dobson!
The Dobson Race took place at Claremont this term!
By Faraz, 5W
Runners participated against different schools around the county in U9, U11 and U13 races. This year, runners competed against 14 other school and approximately 300 athletes.
We hoped the rain wouldn’t take over the day so that everyone would be able to run, but we all got muddy anyway!
The competition involves running cross country through the grounds and woods of our school, past the lake and round to the bottom sports field. Lots of parents were there to cheer competitors on.
The Dobson, which is a loved annual event, did not take place last year because of the rain.
A big shout out to all the teachers and staff who helped organise such a great event.
Head of Prep Sport, Mr Catt said: “We were excited to host another Dobson. The conditions were fresh, good for cross country. A big shout out to the site team who helped make this such a great community event. This is another event that shows the strength of our Claremont community and spirit.”
Vice Principal Mr Moir said: “The Dobson is a fantastic opportunity to compete with other local schools in our amazing grounds. We celebrate the winners, but also congratulate the effort of everyone who takes part. Raya, 7BR, said: “It was really tough!” Max, 6P, added: “It’s a hard race but a good challenge.”
Hot off the Press!
Claremont's cricketers went on tour last term to La Rochelle, France, to play matches against teams such as Nantes, Aunis and Bois de Boulogne. Erin kept a fantastic diary of the trip. Read more in our newsletter via our Claremont QR code!
Teamwork at the Dobson Race Let's go! Team Claremont is ready for the Dobson!
These girls can! Ready for the Dobson!
These girls can!
Cheering for the Dobson! Plenty of mud and teamwork at the Dobson!
Three Cheers for Mr Catt at the Dobson!
Mrs Edmunds returned to Claremont for the Dobson!
Berties 7W, wins gold in the ISA National Swimming Championship at the London Aquatic Centre!
