We have had the most amazing week - learning all about VE Day and why it is celebrated around the world - leading up to two days of remembrance, thanksgiving, commemoration and celebration. Yesterday, we gathered in our Spiritual Garden for a moment of reflection. As the church clock struck 3pm, we listened to Winston Churchill announcing the end of the war in Europe - at exactly the same moment that so many listened 80 years ago. We sang a song of remembrance and thanksgiving and some of the children shared their own prayers to say thank you to all of those who served and gave their lives. It was a really beautiful moment and a chance for all of us to express our gratitude.
And then today, was just so, so special as we came together as a school family to remember all of those who sacrificed so much for all of us who come after them. The Library space was transformed as Mrs Haskell (in authentic Land Army uniform) shared with the children real artefacts from WWII - including a child's gas mask and box, flying boots, evacuee name tags, a pram and bicycle and ration books - to name just a few! We were all fascinated to be transported back in time and to learn about what life would have been like - not just for those serving, but for men, women and children in Britain during the war. We've learned about the Blitz, the Women's Land Army, evacuees, air-raid sirens and shelters...and also got a sense of rations... cheese the size of a matchbox would be your portion for the week! Our WWII museum was also enhanced by contributions from the Hancock family – the children loved seeing the war helmets and other items that those in service would have used.
Throughout the day, children and staff shared their amazing stories from their families which really helped us to understand the sacrifice and courage of so many during the war. Thank you so much to Mrs James, Mrs Goodall, Mrs Charnock and the Charalambakis, Flippance and Meecham families for sharing these with us.
We also created beautiful banners – with the help of the wonderful Clare Holmes – which we hope will serve as a lasting reminder of that momentous day 80 years ago.
To end what was an incredible learning experience for all of us, we ended the day as a school family with a joyful street party outside where we shared food, listened to music from the era and welcomed Rev Angus who began and ended our celebrations with a prayer of thanksgiving.
Thank you so much to our wonderful school family for joining us today and to all of the grown ups for your generous contributions – from the photos, letters and memories to setting up the street party, lending table cloths, decorations and contributing so much to making today so special. It has been so moving to hear all of your family stories and to be able to say thank you to all of those who came before. It was such a fitting way to celebrate such a momentous and historic occasion and we are so grateful to all of you for helping making it such a success.
As we looked around today at all of our amazing children who have made us so proud with the way they have engaged with such enthusiasm and excitement with everything we have learned and discovered, it was clear just how powerful the legacy is that all of those brave people have left for all of us.
We are so thankful for all of you and for all of them. We will never forget.
#TogetherWeGrow
#TogetherWeGive
#veday80thanniversary
And so another school year comes to an endand what a truly wonderful year it has been. It has been filled with learning, laughter, growth and countless moments that have reminded us of the strength and spirit of our little school family. As I mark the end of my tenth year as Headteacher, I am filled with deep gratitude. It has been both a privilege and an honour to serve this incredible school. The values of love, hope, and joy have continued to shine through in all we doshaping our relationships, guiding our aspirations and bringing light to our everyday moments. I have been continually humbled by the dedication of our staff, and governors, the enthusiasm of our pupils, and the unwavering support of our families. Together, we have built something truly speciala place where children are nurtured, supported and celebrated. Thank you for trusting me with the leadership of this school. I have been truly overwhelmed by the kind words, messages and gestures of appreciation I've received over the past few weeks – from all of our families – past and present. Your warmth and generosity have touched me deeply and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. We ended what has been an extraordinary year with the most wonderful celebration of our Year 4 leavers at St Giles Churcha moving and joyful occasion that captured the heart of our school. This was followed by our Learning Showcase; where we had the chance to reflect on and celebrate the many ways our children have flourished over the years. It was a true testament to their creativity, resilience, and growth. And just when we thought the last few days couldn't get any better, the PTA surprised us all with an ice cream vanan unforgettable treat that brought smiles to every face! To our leavers and the families who are moving on this year: goodbye and thank you. You leave behind a wonderful legacyone of kindness, courage and community spirit. Whether you've been with us for many years or just a short while, your presence has helped shape the story of our school. You will always be part of our school family and we wish you every success and happiness in the adventures ahead. To everyone in our school familythank you for making this year so special. Thank you for your trust, your encouragement and your belief in our shared vision Here's to the next ten yearsmay they be filled with even more love, hope, and joy as we continue to grow and flourish together. With heartfelt thanks to you all. Have a wonderful Summer! #LoveHopeJoy #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeGive
Oak Class had a brilliant beekeeping session with Jen this afternoon! We learned all about bee behaviours, looked for pollen on the bees and found some bee larvae. We even managed to spot the queen in her hive and tomorrow we will get a chance to taste some of the honey made this year! We are so grateful for such a wonderful opportunity to learn so much about these amazing creatures. #TogetherWeGrow
WOW! We had the most amazing day at the British Museum in London yesterday! We were thrilled to see up close and first hand all of the statues, monuments, tombs and mummies that we have been learning about in history and apply our growing knowledge of hieroglyphics to deciphering all of the messages written on the cartouches. We also learned so much about life (and after life) in Ancient Egypt and the beliefs held by the people of that time. A HUGE thank you to all of our grown ups who came and joined us on our visit and helped to make it such a success. We are so proud of all of our Oaks who behaved so beautifully and engaged so enthusiastically throughout the day. It was a really rich learning opportunity for us all - full of awe and wonder - and it was such a joy and privilege to experience it together. #LoveHopeJoy #TogetherWeGrow
Last month, our Year 4s travelled to Salisbury Cathedral for our DSAT Leavers' Service. We had such a wonderful morning - fitting in a quick tour of the cathedral with Reverend Angus before the service itself began with the most spectacular banner procession. We then explored the theme of 'lights in the storm' through prayers, readings, an interactive story (complete with brilliant storm sound effects provided by all of the children) and rousing renditions of 'Shine Jesus Shine' and 'My Lighthouse' - two of our favourites! During the service, we lit our candles as we reflected on all the ways the children had let their lights shine so brightly at WSG and then we presented our artwork reflecting our vision and values that the children had created the day before with the wonderful Clare. Thank you so much to DSAT and Salisbury Diocese for such a wonderful celebration and well done our Mighty Oaks - you are such stars!! #LoveHopeJoy
We had such a fantastic morning on Tuesday as we all came together as a school family to celebrate our annual Sports Day. The sun shone brightly - as did our children - and our values of Love, Hope and Joy were shared in abundance making for such a lovely atmosphere. Thank you so much to our families and friends for coming to cheer everyone on (and being willing to take part in our parents' races!) and to our PTA for the delicious mid way ice lollies! Thank you too to our staff team - (especially Miss Warren our sports' lead) for ensuring the day ran so smoothly. Congratulations to Team Love (RED TEAM) who lifted the trophy at the end of the morning and well done to all of our children - you displayed such brilliant sportsmanship and teamwork (cheering each other on so enthusiastically!) and we are SO proud of you all! #LoveHopeJoy
This morning, Oak class travelled to the Lighthouse Theatre in Poole for our annual concert with Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. With the title 'The Four Elements', this thrilling and interactive concert was presented by award-winning composer, James Redwood and featured music that aimed to uncover the mysteries of the four elements that make up our natural world and inspires scientific discovery. We listened to pieces - linked to Earth, Wind, Fire and Water - by composers such as Saint Saens and Handel and even got a chance to conduct the orchestra ourselves! We then performed our body percussion piece - Space Sandwich and our Four Elements song with the BSO accompanying us. We ended the concert singing along to Katy Perry's 'Firework' specially arranged for an orchestral performance. (And, afterwards, we got to meet the composer - James Redwood!) Thank you so much to all of the grown ups who came with us, to our wonderful PTA for so generously paying for the coach that took us there and back and to James Redwood and the BSO for an incredible learning experience for us all. It truly was a morning of awe and wonder! #TogetherWeGrow
At WSG, we are incredibly lucky to have formed a relationship over the past few years with In Jolly Good Company. In Jolly Good Company exists to help alleviate the physical and mental issues caused by loneliness and isolation. They are a dementia friendly organisation and work creatively with all ages to bring friendship, joy and a sense of community to older people living in Dorset. Today, our Year 4 children headed to the village hall to join the group for a 'Jolly Afternoon'. We shared some of the songs we had learned last week at PGL then we all sang a rousing rendition of 'We'll Meet Again', 'The Hokey Cokey' and the 'In Jolly Good Company' theme song! Afterwards, we enjoyed some fun and games and talked about our recent learning about VE Day. Thank you so much for having us - it was such a joyous afternoon and so lovely to be all together again. #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeGive #InJollyGoodCompany
All too soon, our PGL adventure came to an end. As we travelled back home on Friday, we reflected on how we had been blessed with the most glorious weather and, under blue skies and sunshine, how our children showed such incredible teamwork, resilience and enthusiasm in every activity in which they took part. It was a 'non-stop' adventure as we took to the skies, sea and sand - with the Giant Swing and Raft building being particular highlights on the final day. A huge thank you to the wonderful Miss Warren for, once again, giving up her time - she is the most amazing co-lead on these visits (and hair stylist!) and these trips wouldn't be the success they are without her! A massive thanks is also owed to Mrs Cook for transporting all the luggage down to the site and to all of our Year 4 families for supporting and preparing the children for the trip. Thank you so much too to all of the staff who 'held the fort' back at WSG. We have been so incredibly lucky to have experienced the past three days with such wonderful children. What shone through was the ways they looked out for each other, cheered each other on and really lived our values of Love, Hope and Joy. It has been such a privilege to watch all of our 'mighty Oaks' flourish over the past few days and we could not be prouder of them all.
As our PGL adventures continued in to day 2, we took to the sea and then the skies - with raft building at the Olympic sailing site in Portland followed by a 'vertical challenge' putting our rope skills - and courage - to the test! We finished the afternoon with the children demonstrating some impressive archery skills! We then made the most of the beautiful sunshine and our spectacular surroundings with a quick visit to the beach before a nail biting balloon race! It's been another brilliant day....
We've arrived at PGL to beautiful blue skies and sunshine! It's been an amazing first day - we've challenged ourselves on the climbing wall, completed an Eco Trail, played games in Little Wembley, danced and sung around the campfire, toasted marshmallows and had so much fun! Our Year 4s have been incredible- encouraging each other and showing such teamwork, perseverance and resilience. We are so proud of them and we are all looking forward to more adventures tomorrow!
We have had the most amazing week - learning all about VE Day and why it is celebrated around the world - leading up to two days of remembrance, thanksgiving, commemoration and celebration. Yesterday, we gathered in our Spiritual Garden for a moment of reflection. As the church clock struck 3pm, we listened to Winston Churchill announcing the end of the war in Europe - at exactly the same moment that so many listened 80 years ago. We sang a song of remembrance and thanksgiving and some of the children shared their own prayers to say thank you to all of those who served and gave their lives. It was a really beautiful moment and a chance for all of us to express our gratitude. And then today, was just so, so special as we came together as a school family to remember all of those who sacrificed so much for all of us who come after them. The Library space was transformed as Mrs Haskell (in authentic Land Army uniform) shared with the children real artefacts from WWII - including a child's gas mask and box, flying boots, evacuee name tags, a pram and bicycle and ration books - to name just a few! We were all fascinated to be transported back in time and to learn about what life would have been like - not just for those serving, but for men, women and children in Britain during the war. We've learned about the Blitz, the Women's Land Army, evacuees, air-raid sirens and shelters...and also got a sense of rations... cheese the size of a matchbox would be your portion for the week! Our WWII museum was also enhanced by contributions from the Hancock family – the children loved seeing the war helmets and other items that those in service would have used. Throughout the day, children and staff shared their amazing stories from their families which really helped us to understand the sacrifice and courage of so many during the war. Thank you so much to Mrs James, Mrs Goodall, Mrs Charnock and the Charalambakis, Flippance and Meecham families for sharing these with us. We also created beautiful banners – with the help of the wonderful Clare Holmes – which we hope will serve as a lasting reminder of that momentous day 80 years ago. To end what was an incredible learning experience for all of us, we ended the day as a school family with a joyful street party outside where we shared food, listened to music from the era and welcomed Rev Angus who began and ended our celebrations with a prayer of thanksgiving. Thank you so much to our wonderful school family for joining us today and to all of the grown ups for your generous contributions – from the photos, letters and memories to setting up the street party, lending table cloths, decorations and contributing so much to making today so special. It has been so moving to hear all of your family stories and to be able to say thank you to all of those who came before. It was such a fitting way to celebrate such a momentous and historic occasion and we are so grateful to all of you for helping making it such a success. As we looked around today at all of our amazing children who have made us so proud with the way they have engaged with such enthusiasm and excitement with everything we have learned and discovered, it was clear just how powerful the legacy is that all of those brave people have left for all of us. We are so thankful for all of you and for all of them. We will never forget. #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeGive #veday80thanniversary
Yesterday, we gathered together as a school family in the beautiful surroundings of St Giles' Church for our Easter Service. The children led the service - sharing 'eye-witness' accounts from the events leading up to Easter Sunday and singing so beautifully and enthusiastically with wonderful organ accompaniment - as always - from John Radford. We were delighted to have Reverend Angus with us for the first time to take up the message of Easter and explore how faith played such an important part in the story then - and now. It was so lovely to share in the Love, Hope and Joy that are at the heart of the Easter message and it was such a special morning. #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeGive #LoveHopeJoy
We had the BEST day at Marwell Zoo on Monday! We saw so many different animals- giraffes, flamingos, zebras, wallabies, a tiger, a sloth, a snow leopard, a red panda... and many more! Thank you SO much to our amazing grown ups for coming along to support on the day. Here are just a few pictures from what was such an incredible experience for us all. #TogetherWeGrow
Thank you so much to everyone who came along to support the PTA Easter Egg Hunt today as the school was transformed into an Easter Extravaganza! It was lovely to enjoy some beautiful spring sunshine and all come together as a school family to fundraise for the school. A HUGE thank you to all who helped out beforehand and on the day - sprucing up the school grounds, running all of the Easter themed activities, face painting, making crafts (and brilliant crocheted animals!), baking cakes, making sandwiches, helping to serve refreshments in the Hall and cooking smores in the forest- we are SO grateful to you all. And another massive thank you to our AMAZING PTA team who have all worked so hard to make the day such a success - it was a really wonderful day out for everyone. #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeGive #LoveHopeJoy
We have had a brilliant end to the week with the most wonderful Holi celebration today! As part of our ongoing exploration of world faiths and cultures, we learned all about the significance of Holi and how it is a popular Hindu festival celebrated all over the world to mark the arrival of spring, love, and new life. Holi is a joyful occasion that involves coloured powder and lots of fun to express the pure joy of life. Well, today could not have been more joyful - or colourful! A huge thank you again to the PTA for funding the powder and the sunglasses and to the grownups who came along to help on the day. It was such a wonderful experience for all of us and a brilliant way to not just learn about this amazing festival but also to reflect on the Love, Hope and Joy that is so abundant in our school and makes it such a special place to be. #LoveHopeJoy #TogetherWeGrow