School Marks Remembrance Day Despite Lockdown
Richmondshire Today
Pupils at Colburn Primary School managed to mark Remembrance Day despite the current restrictions.
The school held a virtual Remembrance assembly as they were unable to meet all together in their school hall.
The assembly was led by the year 6 school council representatives, Elizabeth and Emily.
The school remembered the sacrifices that have been made by the Armed Forces in all conflicts since World War One.
This year, the assembly also recognised the work the Armed Forces did in building the Nightingale Hospitals and working with the NHS on testing programmes across Britain.
After the assembly, pupils in their year group bubbles or family bubbles visited the school garden of remembrance to plant their crosses to show respect for family members who have lost their lives in military conflict.
Headteacher Jane Knowlson said: “Even during this national lockdown, it is very important that staff and pupils recognise the work and sacrifices of our Armed Forces.
“It was a privilege to attend the outdoor Remembrance Service at Hipswell Church on Sunday with a Colburn School staff and pupil bubble group and to watch our pupils laying the school wreath.
“It is so important that these services continue in a safe and sensible manner.”
Colburn Primary School leavers celebrate with afternoon tea
Year 6 pupils at Colburn Community Primary School celebrated the end of their primary education with a socially distanced afternoon tea.
The children were able to invite a guest to the event that was held in the school hall on the last afternoon of term. The afternoon included an awards ceremony, where children had nominated their classmates for roles that they may fulfil in the future. The year group included a future Prime Minister, fashion designer, best-selling author, astronaut and millionaire.
The children shared their special memories of being a pupil at Colburn School, and the guests and staff enjoyed the video that the children had made. As a surprise for the pupils, all school staff had made a humorous video for the children, demonstrating a sillier side which the pupils don’t normally see.
Angie Dale, chair of governors, provided the afternoon tea. She said: “The children have coped well with the huge disruption to their learning. I wish them luck for the new chapter in their lives, beginning secondary school.”
Headteacher Jane Knowlson added: “Our afternoon tea event was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the perseverance and courage our year six pupils have shown through this challenging time. We are all very proud of them and know they will grow into thoughtful, caring, resilient members of our community.”
Colburn Primary School holds street party to celebrate VE Day anniversary
Pupils at Colburn Community Primary School ended a fun-filled week of 1945 activities with a street party to celebrate the 75th anniversary of VE Day.
The children, who are in school as their parents and carers are key workers, learnt about life in 1945 through a variety of activities delivered by their teachers and teaching assistants throughout the week.
Activities included dressing up as evacuees and writing letters home, listening to speeches made by Winston Churchill, making and flying Spitfire planes, designing and making their own patriotic bunting, learning the song ‘We’ll Meet Again’, making their own butter, playing traditional games from the era and decorating army boots with flags and poppies.
The children made ration books and competed in their very own 1945 Bake Off. Without adult support, they used 1945 ingredients to make orange and honey drop biscuits.
Year 6 pupil Josh said: “It is important that we remember all the people who fought in World War Two so that we can live in a free country.”
Headteacher Jane Knowlson said: “Our key worker children in school have enjoyed finding out about World War 2, the importance of VE Day, and the community spirit across the country during and after the war. “This is very significant in the current climate as during lockdown our children are aware of the sacrifices made by front-line workers today, including their parents and carers and are experiencing the same community spirit.”
Our Message of Hope
Pupils at Colburn Community Primary School decided that they wanted to cheer up their community by painting a rainbow and filling it with messages that people could see as they passed the school gates.
All the pupils involved in the activity are the children of key workers and are attending Colburn School every day while their parents and carers provide care and support for others.
Many of the children were already aware of how the rainbow has become a symbol of hope for countries suffering with coronavirus.
Italy was the first country to use the rainbow and the USA, Canada and Spain have all adopted this significant emblem which represents better things to come after hard times.
Year 6 pupil Finlay said: “We made the poster to remind people to stay inside and stay safe.”
William, year 5, said: “The poster is to raise awareness and to help the community feel safe.”
Five-year-old Daisy added: “It is to say thank you to the people for killing the bad bugs.”
Headteacher Jane Knowlson said: “I am very proud of the children and staff at Colburn Community Primary School for creating a rainbow banner for our school gates to cheer up the local community and send out a message of hope during this very worrying time.
“Rainbows serve to remind us all that there is hope and light to follow, even after dark times.”
Colburn Primary School pupils show off music and drama skills
Pupils of all ages at Colburn Community Primary School showed off their music and drama skills during their end of term celebrations. The nursery and reception children captivated their audience with the retelling of the very first Christmas. The pupils worked hard to learn all the words of their five songs and the reception pupils proudly acted out the parts of the main characters.
Key stage 1 children entertained family and friends with a musical of songs covering their busy term and the year 1 class performed nativity musical Whoops-a-Daisy.
The week ended with the key stage 2 performance of Shakespeare Rocks, a modern-take on the life of the famous Bard. Both evening shows were a complete sell-out and the school hall was full of proud family members.
Headteacher Jane Knowlson said: “It was a production worthy of a place in the West End of London. All children in key stage two were given the opportunity to take part in the production; the on-stage cast of singers, dancers and actors were supported by the enthusiastic school orchestra and a very capable stage crew.”
Acclaimed author visits Colburn Primary School
Children at Colburn Community Primary School received a visit from well-known author Anne Fine last week. The visit was organised by assistant head Charlotte Brown to promote the love of reading and writing across Key Stage 2.
The author, who was the Children’s Laureate from 2001 to 2003, shared her draft work and demonstrated how it is handwritten in rough form first, then typed and edited again and again until she is happy with it.
She told children the process of writing a new book can take over a year.
Children were given time to ask her questions about her books and what her interests are. She shared a variety of stories with them about how she got her ideas for the plot to a story, which she were generally from her everyday experiences.
“Anne’s visit was very inspiring and engaging; for the children to actually meet an author of the stories they have read in class is amazing,” said Charlotte.
“We can’t thank her enough for giving up her time to come and promote reading and writing in our school.
“There was a real buzz prior to her visit, but even more so since.”
Celebrating the end of the school year
Reception pupils at Colburn Primary School took part in a special graduation ceremony to celebrate all their success in Foundation Stage before they move up to Key Stage 1. The children invited family and friends to attend the ceremony in the hall and all pupils wore mortar board hats. The graduation included songs and a slide show of photographs of the children’s activities, achievements and visits over the last year. Every child was presented with a graduation certificate unique to them for their individual achievements.
Interim Head Teacher Debbie Nicholas said ‘The transition from Foundation Stage to Key Stage 1 is a very significant stage in a child’s life as it prepares them for the rest of their educational journey. We wanted to mark this important development with a special event that will be a lasting memory for the children and their parents.’
End of year celebratory trip to London
Year 6 children from Colburn Primary School celebrated an excellent year with a trip to London. Staying at the Youth hostel at St Pauls, they used this as a base to experience the sights and sounds that London has to offer; they climbed to the top of St Paul’s cathedral, watched the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace, and learned how government makes decisions during a 90 minute visit to the Houses of Parliament. They fed the parakeets and squirrels at St James’ Park, met Pikachu in Trafalgar Square, found out amazing facts at the Natural History Museum and watched a performance of Matilda at the Cambridge Theatre. They ended the two day visit with a 30 minute ride on the London Eye, giving them a birds’ eye view over London and they had fun spotting all the places they had visited.
One child said” it helped me to become more independent and I realised I didn’t need my mum for everything”
Another said “I overcame my fear of heights by going up St Paul’s cathedral and on the London Eye”
Interim Head Teacher said “The visit was able to take place due to generous donations from a variety of sources. The children’s behaviour was excellent and a member of the public commented on the children’s politeness and good behaviour whilst we were on the train. “
Bagel-Mania
Our pupils are enjoying free bagels for a year from the government scheme run by Magic Breakfast.
Hot toasted bagels are served by ‘bagel monitors’ on the playground every morning, and are available to all children and their families. Bagels are also available from the school office for children arriving late to ensure no child goes hungry. The children have been so excited, they have named it ‘Bagel-mania’!
“I like that the bagels are free and they give me lots of energy.”
“It’s good they’re offered to everyone for free.”
“They’re crispy and really tasty!”
Our FS2 pupils have been reading ‘Naughty Bus’ by Jan and Jerry Oke. The story and activities, including the bus visiting the classroom during the night and playing pranks, has brought the children’s learning to life.
‘This is a disaster,’ said Emilie, after the children found the bus had managed to get itself frozen in ice overnight.
As a surprise for the children, we organised a visit from a London Routemaster bus. The children were very excited to get their tickets from the conductor, boarding the bus, ringing the bell, beeping the horn and reading a story on the upper deck.
We have had a fun-filled week of Christmas activities. As well as a traditional nativity performed by Year 1 pupils, a Foundation Stage Christmas singalong and a Year 2 ‘Christmas Around the World’ assembly, we have also put on a Year 3 - 6 musical called ‘Poptastic’.
Miss Nicholas commented, “All children in Key Stage 2 were given the opportunity to take part in our disco-themed production; the on-stage cast of singers, dancers and actors were supported by the enthusiastic school orchestra and a very capable stage crew. I was delighted that our whole school community was involved in so many lovely Christmas activities.”
Chloe said, “I loved being in the Poptastic production because it was fun and educational. I was able to include some of my own ideas into the script.”
Jasmine added, “I enjoyed learning all the different dances and performing for my friends and family.”
Abbey said, “I will miss being in our productions when I move to secondary school next year; I have been in every play since Year 1. My Great Nanna travelled all the way from Dover to watch me and my sister in Poptastic.”
Our current Year 6 pupils recently took part in an art project - their work was displayed at County Hall in Northallerton. For further details, click the link below to visit Richmondhsire Today: