Author Visit: James Campbell
We have already had a visit from children’s author, James Campbell. He spent the day in school working with every class. There were roars of laughter throughout the day and the children thoroughly enjoyed working with him. The book signing was also a huge success! On the same day, James, alongside our School Councillors and Mrs Corker, our School Governor, officially opened our School Library. Please feel free to pop into the library with your children after school on Thursdays to share a book together during our Family Open Session.
Book Fair
Thank you for your support at our most recent book fair. It was lovely to see the children so excited about the range of books on offer and develop their love of reading.
Dictionaries
Year 3 all received dictionaries from the Lowestoft Rotary Club on the 25th September 2019 to use at home to support their learning. Thank you to the Rotary Club for presenting these to the students for the 8th year running!
Andy Cope
Our Year 4 children and Year 5 children had an excellent day at Red Oak Primary School working with the author Andy Cope. The workshops focussed on positive mental health, emotions and feelings.
Christmas Tree Farm Visit
Children in Year 2 visited a Christmas Tree farm (it also had farm animals there.)
They thoroughly enjoyed meeting the animals as well as exploring the Christmas Tree fields. They learnt about how Christmas Trees are commercially grown for Christmas and even met Father Christmas in the grotto!
Dental Workshops
Children across the school took part in Dental Hygiene workshops. Children learnt about how many teeth they have now and how many they will have as adults. They also learnt the best way to keep teeth clean and healthy and about the benefits of a good diet. The favourite bit was using the dye to see how clean their teeth were!
PC Drew Internet Safety Assembly
PC Drew has led an Internet Safety Assembly for all children in KS1 and KS2. The children learnt how to keep their personal details safe on line and were reminded of age limits for popular apps.
Benacre Estate
The day involved a range of activities including; sheep shearing, birds of prey, farm machinery, pond dipping and dog handling.
Friends Forever (Antibullying and Well Being) Theatre Production
Faith Visitors
Linked to RE topics a range of faith visitors have supported out learning in class. These have included a visit from the Jewish, Sikh and Christianity.
Dell Care Home
Reception Children have made regular visits to Dell Care Home engaging with educational and social interaction activities with the residents.
KS1 Visit to the Fire Station
As part of their Great Fire of London topic, the children in KS1 have visited the Lowestoft Fire Station. They got to use the hose as well as explore the different training areas of the Fire Station. They compared modern Fire Fighting to the events of 1666.
Snape Maltings Music Workshop
Our Year 5 children took part in a music workshop organised by Snape Maltings.
Essex and Suffolk Water
Children learnt about looking after our water and not wasting it. The Supersplash Pantomime was very well received and children have been busy ensuring school taps are always turned off!
Railway Children Theatre Company
This was an excellent show and the children were all amazed by the singing, dancing and acting. The year 6 children took part in a lightening and sound workshop which was thoroughly enjoyed. An inspirational opportunity for our children who rarely have the opportunities to visit the theatre.
RSPCA Assembly and Workshop
A representative from the RSPCA came to assembly to talk to the children about the importance of caring for animals. She also talked about plastic polution and the problems this is causing form animals across the world and in our local community. She talked to the children about how to care for animals and what to do if they thought an animal was being badly treated. This continued further where she worked with classes. The chlidren thoroughly enjoyed meeting a swan.
My Choir Rocks
After an assembly launch by Rock Choir leader Mr Syed, children from Westwood and Grove Primary as well as some other local schools travelled to London to audition for Britains Got Talent. They will find out if they are heading to the live shows in February 2020. The Rock Choir meet every week and perfrom to the school regularly.
Healthy Eating
The school's catering company, CaterLink, delivered an assembly about healthy eating. This fitted in well with our CHIMP project where one of the themes explored is eating health food. The children then particpated in bread making workshops.
Crucial Crew
The Year 6 children have attended a workshop on manging an emergency situation. They listened and participated in presentations by the ambulance service, the coastguard, police service, fire service and other important organisations within our community.
UEA Physical Education Trip
Our Year 1 and Year 2 children travelled to the UEA Sports Park in Norwich to participate in a multi sports event oraginsed by UEA Undergraduate PE students, For most chlidren, this was their first trip to a univeristy and for some, it was their first trip to Norwich. Children took part in a range of physical activties as well as learning about the reasons for a healthy, active lifestyle.
Art Work and Opening for the local CO-OP Food Store
Children from Westwood were asked to produce artwork to be displayed on the outside of the new CO-OP Food Store on Westwood Avenue. The School Council then attended the opening ceremony and received a tour of the whole store including the freezer! We are all very proud ofthe art work on display and look forward to working with the CO-OP on further projects.
Writing Enrichment day
A number of our Year 5/6 children attended a writing enrichment day at Carlton Colville. They day was a great success!
Maths Enrichment day
A group of children in Years 5 and 6 attended a Maths able writers day at Carlton Colville where they used their reasoning and problem solving skills to develop their understanding of Maths
KS1 Walk
KS1 walked to Grove Primary School this month to observe the local area and identify similarities and differences between the two. The children thoroughly enjoyed their walk to Grove.
'Outreach on the Streets'
The children at Westwood school have been busy collecting items to donate for Christmas boxes. These boxes will be given to the homeless in our local area as a gift this Christmas.
Dogs Trust Visit
The Dogs Trust visited us and did a lovely assembly about being safe around dogs. The Key Stage 2 classes also had workshops throughout the day where they learnt how to look after and care for dogs properly. The children really enjoyed the day!
Carlton Marshes Twinned School project
We are really excited to now be part of the Carlton Marshes Twinned Schools Project. As a twinned school we will be visiting the marshes to explore nature and to further support our learning. The staff from Carlton marshes will also be coming into school to do assemblies and work with the children to raise awareness of the importance of looking after our environment and further encourage the children to explore our beautiful locality.
Wild Poems project
As a Carlton Marshes twinned school, we will be taking part in the Wild Poems project. Two poets will be coming into Westwood to work with some children in Key Stage 2 to write wildlife poems. These poems will be recorded and played at the opening of their new visitors centre.
Scratby Donkeys
EYFS had a lovely day when the Scratby Donkeys came to visit as a reward for Reception filling their reading tube. The children had the opportunity to stroke and ride the donkeys. It was fantastic day for all the children.
St Marks Church
Every month the staff at St Marks church come to Westwood and do a religious assembly for the whole school. these are always really exciting and engaging and Liz often has the children helping her run the assembly. The church have also visited the school and worked with the children in their classes. Year 4 had a lovely lesson exploring the importance of Christian symbols and made Christingles. In Year 6, Liz did a workshop about what Christmas means to Christians and the importance of Christian traditions as part of their R.E.