Dear OFS Community,
Welcome to Autumn 2022 and all the excitement and promise that a new school holds! We kicked off the year by welcoming our newest Orleyans to Reception whilst inviting our senior pupils to consider their legacy. What will they be remembered for this time next year? How were they inspired by pupils in former years and what impact will they leave on our community?
History can be kind, honest or harsh but we all have our part to play through our words and actions in shaping things and I know that our Year 6 Girls and Year 8 Boys will rise to the challenges of the coming year. I closed assembly by praying for our school, especially those who recently left as they start their next chapters, as well as our current senior pupils to guide and help them in the coming year.
Day One...
A huge welcome to our new Reception families, it was lovely meeting you and here's to a new adventure. How apt that the playground is full of acorns as I watched a number of Reception pupils gathering them and putting them in their pockets...I suspect that a few laundry loads might be noisy this weekend.
First Lunch...
Today, Reception stayed for their first lunch in school - having caught up with a number of tables, it turns out that this was the highlight of the week! When I said that next week they get lunch every day, this was almost too much to handle and I had requests for noodles, rice, curry, pasta - the list was impressive! However, I would like to say that there were some ninja knife & fork users...I'm looking forward to seeing their artwork as fine motor skills were looking pretty advanced!
Genesis Week
Genesis Week is a unique programme that we have developed over the years that has two simple objectives. The first is to create the ‘tribes’ where everyone can belong, through activities, trips, ‘camp-outs’ and challenges. The second is to pave the way for Monday when we kickstart 12 weeks of creative and challenging learning without distractions or interruptions!
Year 5 Go Ape
Thank you Mrs Thornton and the Yr5 Team for pushing boundaries and facing fears!
Yr6 Climb the Wall!
General Pupil Feedback
I've run around school over the past 3 days and the following moments stayed with me, here are just a few highlights shared on the fly...
We had lunch today! The best thing is having fish fingers and chips...and cake!
Reception feedback
We built the biggest marble run today...
Yr1 feedback
In Maths today, we drew on the desks to solve the problems...we're not sure what Mr Calvey would say but then he walked in with his camera!
Yr2 feedback
We get to use the salad bar at lunchtime and we can have as much as we like!
Yr3 feedback
Playing table football with friends in the Quad at breaktimes…
Yr4 feedback
The camp out was amazing, I'm not sure that we slept a lot...
Yr6 feedback
Great to be back with friends again, but realising that this is our last year…a little scary!
Yr8 feedback
Schools should be a cornerstone in a community; a place of warmth, security and family; a place of learning, debate and discussion; and a place of opportunity for all. Orley Farm is all of these things and so much more…here’s to a year of new adventures!
Tim Calvey