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The Voice of St leonards

Friday, 2 December 2022

Feeling Grateful

We are well and truly in the final weeks of the Autumn Term and this week one word comes to mind: 'gratitude'.

I was fortunate to watch the Year 4 Pantomime, Snow White and the Numerous Elves, not once, but twice and what a thrill it was from beginning to end. Watching alongside our PYP pupils and parents of Year 4, there was so much talent on display. A pantomime, by its nature, is packed with audience participation and Snow White did not disappoint. As a teacher, I feel so much pride in the children of our school. The cheers from those around me, and the thunderous applause that all of the performers received was overwhelming. The moment that was perhaps most special, was after Sholto's solo, when a fellow pupil turned around and said "that's my best friend!". Pride filled his face with the biggest smile and gratitude filled my heart for the ever-thoughtful children I get to share each day with. With everyone learning their lines, movements on stage, dance routines and songs, our Learner Profile Attribute of the Month: Knowledgeable was definitely demonstrated.

On the same note, the Informal Concert brought to light outstanding musicians that shone like the stars they truly are. Standing up there and playing or singing takes bravery and is the definition of a Risk Taker. I also felt extremely grateful to be part of the trip with the Year 5 pupils to the RRS Discovery in Dundee, to consolidate their learning in their Unit of Inquiry, Where we are in Place and Time: Explorers and Exploration. I was blown away with the knowledge that the children demonstrated to our amazing tour guide (and volunteer). They were wonderfully curious and asked many questions.

As we move into our final fortnight before the holiday period, I know that the pride and gratitude that I feel will grow ever stronger with events such as the PA Christmas Fair, Nativity, Christmas Mix, the Year 2 Family History Museum and our wonderful Carol Service at Holy Trinity.

Pictures taken from Kindness: The Little Thing Thing that Matters Most by Jaime Thurston

Finally, this week marked the move into a new month in which we will focus on being Caring. Kindness is essential all year round, but never more so than when we face our fears (during concerts and performances) and when we are incredibly busy (in the run-up to Christmas!). Being kind and caring towards ourselves and one another has never been so important.

Catherine Brannen, on behalf of the PYP Leadership Team

Island of the Week

This week, it was Skye that came out on top and named the Island of the Week! Skye’s Island Captain, Issy M and Vice Captain, Theo K were delighted to raise their blue flag in the Junior School grounds.

Year 1

Christmas Christingles

Year 1-6 were visited by special guest, Rev. Beebee in this week’s assembly to talk to the children about Advent and how this period prepares Christians for Christmas Day.

Rev. Beebee then visited the Year 1 children to talk about Christingles. He talked about how they were first created in Germany in 1747 by a Bishop who took a simple orange that a family had brought as their gift, the only thing they could afford to bring and he added a candle telling people that this was Jesus, the light of the world. He added a red ribbon representing the blood of Jesus Christ, giving his life for us, then he put four sticks in the orange - some say it represents the four nails with which Jesus was nailed on the cross, whilst others interpret it as the four points of the compass or the four seasons. Finally dried fruit, nuts or sweets are added to represent God's creations, the harvests and the life around us.

The children thoroughly enjoyed creating their own Christingles with candles, sweets and ribbons!

1C

Story Club

With Christmas approaching, the 1C pupils became engrossed in a storybook and enjoyed the wonderful Snowman animation from Raymond Briggs. With the help of three Sixth Form students completing their CAS (Creativity, Activity, Service) projects as part of the IB Diploma, the 1C pupils created snowflake snowmen, adorned with googly eyes, top hats, carrot noses and a fancy scarf!

One story they read in Story Club was The Repair Shop, the Christmas Doll. This was a delightful story about a doll given to a little evacuee girl during WWII. Loved for over 70 years, it needed the TLC of the Bear Ladies in the Repair Shop. A beautiful story.

St Andrews Day

In celebration of St Andrews Day this week, 1C have been learning about St Andrew and designed their own triumphant tartans. The children learned how Andrew was a friend of Jesus and that he was killed by the Romans on an X shaped cross. They also learnt about how a monk called Regulus brought his bones West and after being shipwrecked on the east coast of Scotland in a town called Kilrymont he buried the bones and built a church. The town was then renamed St Andrews and became an important pilgrimage destination.

Christmas Decorations

1C have been preparing for the Junior Carol Service at Holy Trinity by decorating baubles to put on its tree, which is donated to the church by St Leonards each year. Each child has put their Christmas wish inside their bauble, aspiring to help the world and the community around them. You can read some of their festive wishes below:

Toby - "I would buy 66 boats for the RNLI."
Rupert - "I would want all boys and girls to have a toy."
Harriet - "I would want all bugs and sickness to go away."
Johnnie - "I would want everyone to have food to eat."

1P

A Knowledgeable Note

1P have been developing the Learner Profile Attribute of Knowledge this week. They have been using their phonics knowledge to write CVC words, with some pupils starting to complete independent inquiries into their Celebrations unit. The pupils used their phonics understanding to create an engaging information poster. Well done, 1P!

A Special Visitor

1P were very fortunate to be visited by Hunter's Mama to talk to them about Canadian Thanksgiving and a Ukrainian Christmas. The children were fascinated to find out about the Ukrainian traditions and to hear about how Christmas is celebrated in a different way. They have been exceptionally knowledgeable this week!

Year 2

Family History Artefacts

The children in Year 2 have been gathering their artefacts relating to their family histories in preparation for their Family Histories Museum next Wednesday. To supplement the collection, Ms Barclay visited to share artefacts relating to her own family’s history. Ms Barclay grew up in the East Neuk of Fife, and she has wonderful stories to share about each item she showed, from family photographs and wedding china, to spectacles from different eras, wedding dresses, and a beautiful Christening gown that has been passed down through the generations. The children also loved smelling scent from a bygone era as they explored her collection of antique perfume bottles!

Back in Time

The children have continued their inquiry into Where we are in Place and Time and have been learning about the past to inform themselves of today’s cultures. As part of their inquiry, the Year 2 children were delighted to visit the St Andrews Preservation Trust Museum, now rebranded as the St Andrews Heritage Museum to find out how local people used to live. Inside the museum, they were transported back in time to the old grocery shop, Aiken & Terras on South Street. They also visited an old-fashioned chemist, full of an array of potions and concoctions in beautiful green glass bottles, visible in the window, to signify its trade, for people who were unable to read. As well as, a jeweller who also practised as a dentist, without a single qualification, brandishing some terrifying looking pliers! Some of the highlights of the day were wringing out a pair of old socks on a mangle, using a giant pair of bellows to get the embers glowing on the fire and taking a seat with a friend on the two seater privy outside.

Year 3

Stellar Supertato

This week Year 3 continued with a Sue Hendra story of Supertato in Language and Literature. The children all created their own superhero vegetable or fruit and came up with their super qualities. They then worked in groups to come up with an adventure that included their newly-created heroes. The children were incredibly creative! It didn't stop there, the children then began to write their own news report about their hero’s amazing adventures. Fantastic work, Year 3!

Triumphant Tessellations

This week in Maths, the children have been getting creative with 2D shapes, discovering which ones can tessellate and which ones can't. Working with rulers to draw straight lines was a challenge for some, but an important mathematical skill to master none the less. Shapes like parallelograms, hexagons and trapeziums were used next to the basic shapes like squares, triangles and rectangles.

Who is your Hero?

Year 3 had plenty of discussions this week, talking about the people they look up to and thinking about how their actions reflect what they believe to be important. Using their iPads, the children started their research into their personal heroes ranging from famous football players to historical figures, from family members to animals who did heroic deeds in dangerous situations. The children will continue their research and give a short presentation to their class later on in the term.

Year 4

Snow White and the Numerous Elves

Well done to all Year 4 pupils who took to the stage on Tuesday to perform this year’s Christmas Panto, Snow White and the Numerous Elves. The children have been working incredibly hard over the term to learn their lines, steps and lyrics. This determination and persistence definitely paid off as they gave an outstanding performance to an audience of parents, peers and staff members. All pupils excelled in their roles, fluently acting their dedicated parts. A special mention to Sholto for his brilliant solo performance! Three cheers to all our talented performers, the Panto was a joy to watch.

Banksy Brainstorming

Year 4 have continued to explore different ways in which we can express ourselves. This week the children have been researching the graffiti artist Banksy, discussing issues and thoughts the children felt passionately about and representing these problems using graffiti art. See below some of their expressive work!

Year 5

Visit to Discovery Point

This week, Year 5 were thrilled to take a trip to the Discovery Point in Dundee to learn about Captain Scott and his expedition on The Discovery. The children listened intently to everything that their tour guide, Stuart, had to say and were able to answer a lot of his questions, well done to our Knowledgeable students! The children were able to dress up in the clothes that explorers 100 years ago would have worn and then compare them to the modern day equivalent. I think we can all agree that Jos and Thea were wonderful models. Having explored the ship itself the children were able to look around the museum absorbing all the information on display. The students finished their visit with a video all about Antarctica and how much more there is still to explore. What a wonderful attraction to have right on our doorstep!

Year 6

Adolescence

This week, Year 6 started their new Unit of Inquiry - Who We Are - Adolescence. To begin this topic, the pupils drew life size human bodies and labelled the different parts that we know and began considering how our bodies change physically as we grow through puberty. They also explored the emotional and social changes and how they are connected, as well as looking at how they can make informed choices about maintaining good mental and physical health throughout the process.

Beach Break

The Year 6 pupils have thoroughly enjoyed exploring their surroundings, visiting the East Sands to have fun with their friends. On a ‘wet weather’ day, instead the children stayed in the classroom and made the most of it, dancing to ‘Banana, banana, meatball’, during their morning break!

Birthdays

TJ P, Patrick M, and Hunter B. We hope you all have a wonderful day!