Taking the Bolder Option
"It was raining steadily, straight down, as only then West Coast knows how." John Ridgway
This is to be my final newsletter introduction at St Leonards. I joined the School just over four years ago and, since then, it has been fantastic to see our outdoor learning programme, with its dual emphasis on nature connection and character education, grow and develop.
As I write this, I am lying in my tent at Lone beneath the long rising slope of Arkle on my fourth Ridgway Adventure. With each gust of wind the tent fabric snaps sharply, short showers of rain splatter against the flysheet. The yellow glow of Miss Dawson's tent is just to my left and the rest of the Year 6 campers are spread out along the banks of a winding burn that empties into the loch. I can hear snatches of laughter and the odd snippet of conversation that is carried by the wind to my tent. Tomorrow morning, after a bowl of cereal and a mug of hot tea, we will follow the burn up towards Arkle and then trace its flank up towards the summit. This should take us around seven hours and the weather forecast of wind, showers and cloudy conditions is set to add to the challenge. In spite of this, the mood at our campsite is very positive and the pupils are looking forward to it. There are a few children who are a little nervous, but I know that, with the help of their teammates, they will cope with the challenge and take it in their stride.
This is by far the most positive and eager of our groups ever to be at Ridgway - a view shared by the centre's owners, Rebecca Ridgway and Mark Williamson. I believe that all of the shared experiences from beach school, camping events, long walks and other activities and events in our ever-expanding outdoor learning programme have contributed to the strength of this group. The pupils have faced the toughest weather to date, but have taken everything in their stride; indeed, they have revelled in it. The days at Ridgway always start with a 7.00am sea loch swim or a run along the shoreline. The bolder option of entering the chilly waters is always encouraged, and it has been wonderful to watch this group children cheerfully embrace the morning dip - I am immensely impressed and proud of each and every one of them.
It is perhaps the last time that I will lie in my tent at Lone, musing how our children will respond to the challenge of a long mountain day ahead of them, or how well they might work as a team for Survival Island. The children are taught many things over the week: they discover things about themselves that often will only be appreciated in the years to come. I know I will miss it enormously, as with everything that makes up life at St Leonards. Perhaps what I like most about the Ridgway Adventures is the underlying principle that we should always strive to leave people (and places) better than we found them. This sums up neatly what is important in life - it is a mission statement that we can all live by and it is what we strive to do at St Leonards. Having spent a week away with our Year 6 pupils, I can confidently say that these values are deeply instilled in the children - they don't shy away from the bolder option, and have left me better for having found them.
Duncan Barrable, Head of Years 4-6
Year 1
Families in French
FAMILIES IN FRENCH | The Year 1 pupils have been learning how to say the names of different family members, as well as parts of the home, in French. To consolidate their learning, the children drew some lovely pictures and annotated them.
Summary Sentences
SUMMARY SENTENCES | The Year 1 pupils wrote a few lines about their trip to Cambo Country House and Gardens this week, showing themselves to be truly reflective learners!
Year 2
Minibeast Masterpieces
MINIBEAST MASTERPIECES | A few weeks ago, the Year 2 pupils enjoyed a tile making workshop with Leonie from Siri Ceramics. The children fashioned a minibeast of their choice out of clay and used the vein prints of leaves to decorate their tiles. They then set to work painting the tiles, being careful not to mix the colours. Having been baked in a kiln, the children were thrilled to receive their minibeast masterpieces this week. The colourful tiles look truly wonderful - congratulations to our Year 2 artists!
Year 3
Investigating Weight
INVESTIGATING WEIGHT | The Year 3 pupils had a wonderful time investigating weight in the outdoor classroom. The children were tasked with finding natural materials which together weighed half a kilogram and, in doing so, honed their weighing skills using balance scales. The showed themselves to be excellent thinkers and inquirers - well done, Year 3!
Building Homes
BUILDING HOMES | Whilst in the outdoor classroom, the children also set to work creating suitable shelters or homes for their chosen animal. Since it was showery and blustery, the children thought hard about what materials would keep their animals warm and dry, taking into account the waterproof qualities of the natural materials at their disposal as well as the wind direction. The finished results were both imaginative and impressive!
Written Reflections
WRITTEN REFLECTIONS | The Year 3 pupils wrote some wonderful written reflections on their trip to Cambo Estate. We hope that you enjoy reading about their adventures below.
Year 4
A Sustainable Future
A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE | This week, the Year 4 children have been busy creating posters, slide shows and short films on an issue of their choice. They will now present these to various audiences across the school, urging those within our community to take action as we work together to create a sustainable future.
Year 5
Studying Shapes
STUDYING SHAPES | The Year 5 pupils have been learning about the properties and angles of different shapes this week. They used the lines on Lower Field to find acute, right and obtuse angles and are now experts in equilateral, isosceles and scalene triangles! The classes then inquired into lines of symmetry, and the children produced some wonderful symmetrical drawings.
Player of the Month
PLAYER OF THE MONTH | Congratulations to Mila M who was named player of the month at Judo Club!
Year 6
Ridgway Adventure
RIDGWAY ADVENTURE | This week, the Year 6 pupils have had a blast at the Ridgway Activity Centre developing their outdoor adventure skills. From foraging for food to lobster creeling, wild camping, body boarding and abseiling, the pupils have made memories that will last a lifetime! Thanks to all those who made the trip possible.
Please click the link below to view a photo gallery of the trip. More photos will be uploaded after the weekend.
Salut, St Leonards!
SALUT, ST LEONARDS! | Ishbel R is currently enjoying an immersion term at a French school. Whilst it is sometimes challenging learning in a different language, she is having a wonderful time and has particularly enjoyed taking classes in ballet, tap and jazz and performing in a show at the local Theatre de Chanzy in Angers. The picture below shows her with her tap class who closed the show with a super performance of Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious! Ishbel is looking forward to returning to St Leonards next term.
Year 6 Superstars
YEAR 6 SUPERSTARS | Special thanks to Emma, Ruben, Molly, Harry, Hayfaa, Sufyan and Alma who have been a huge help to the teachers this week. They have assisted with classroom moves ahead of next academic year, organised the new library, and generally been enthusiastic helpers around the school.
Other News
Mindful Moments
MINDFUL MOMENTS | The Junior Mindfulness Clubs have had a wonderful few weeks. The Bobo the Bunny group practised patience and concentration by playing quoits, and also used their sensory awareness and proprioceptive skills to pass a balloon around the circle using only their feet. Meanwhile, the Momo the Monkey group enjoyed a surprise visit from Mrs Fynn and her baby. They used their quietest voices and gentlest movements to ensure that they didn't startle baby Cassie. Arts and Crafts time has been another highlight of the sessions. This week, the children did some magic water colouring and were delighted to see the different colours appearing on the page!
Forest School Fun
FOREST SCHOOL FUN | Years 1-3 loved their forest school trip to Cambo Estate earlier this week! Having set up camp in Crow Wood, they evaluated the potential dangers in the wood and decided on rules that would reduce these risks. In doing so, they showed themselves to be reflective, responsible and knowledgeable thinkers. The children then enjoyed spending time identifying flora and fauna, climbing trees, making dens, and exploring the many pathways through the undergrowth with their friends.
"We had a call. Everyone had different ideas and then we put them together. It was Ca-caw, ca-caw! Woof woof! Whoo-ooo-ooo-ooo! It meant that you had to come back to base camp." Alberto
"I liked looking at the flowers and smelling them." David
A particular highlight of the day was visiting the walled gardens to learn more about pollinators in a special workshop led by Judy, one of the education officers at Cambo. The children had great fun pretending to be bees covered in 'popcorn pollen', and also looking for pollinating insects among the flowers.
"As we buzzed around, the popcorn fell off and spread all over the playground!" Isobel
After stopping off at the Lost Elf Village playground, the groups then returned to Base Camp for fresh mint tea and toasted marshmallows. All in all, as you will see from the children's reflections, it was a magical day!
"The marshmallows were delicious! They were really good - sticky and yummy!" Zachary, Noah and Ellie
"I liked EVERYTHING!" Flossy
Cracking Cricket
CRACKING CRICKET | Congratulations to the U10 cricket team who won their fixture against Lathallan this week, with a final score of 172-154 to St Leonards.
Looking ahead, we are delighted to be welcoming Heartbreak Productions to St Leonards on Sunday, 3 July to perform an outdoor theatre adaptation of David Walliams’ novel Awful Auntie. The performance will take place on Big Field, and attendees are invited to bring a blanket or a chair and a picnic to enjoy as they watch the tale unfold. Gates open at 4.00pm and the show will start at 5.00pm. Please click the link below to book tickets, and do spread the word - this event is open to the public.