We now have five classes and two new fab teachers - Mr Mynett, who teaches class 4 and Miss Gillespie who teaches class 3. During the summer holidays the school has also had new windows and doors in the main building which leaves the school looking really smart!

The outdoor classroom has been decorated externally and the hall block now has a brand new modern kitchen and a re-designed Community Room.

We're all really excited here at Thurlstone because we have just joined the International School Award scheme and have already been awarded the Foundation Award.

We have been in touch with two schools in Kenya and hope to forming formal partnerships with them. These links will develop our children's awareness of the global community and life beyond their immediate environment. They will be taking part in joint curriculum projects and Classes 1 and 2 have sent letters and drawings.  They were delighted to receive a response recently.

Kenyan links - Class 2  

'Re-usellery' sale raised over £100!

(Jewellery made by re-using materials.)

Class 2 are delighted to announce the success of their latest fundraising event - a jewellery sale. Linked to their latest theme work on Kenya where the children found out about life,the culture, the people, the place and the environment and incorporating some work on re-cycling, the children were keen to discover as much as possible about the country they formed a school partnership with, earlier in the year. 

In December 2010 Mrs Gibbins made contact with Charcha ACA Primary school in Sondu, Kenya - a rural school of 54 children aged between 6 and 9 years old. Earlier this year we formed a formal partnership with the school with plans for regular communication and joint projects in the future.  Through working together, one of our aims is...

to embed a global dimension throughout and within the curriculum of both schools.

Our class decided they would like to write to the children of the school and tell them a little bit about themselves and their life in England, as well as asking a few questions about life in Kenya.  They also drew pictures and sent photographs of themselves.  They were delighted to receive an email recently from Samwel Marienga (the Headmaster of Charca ACA Primary School) who said his children were very excited to hear from the class and would like to,

" spend the money on buying a laptop so that they can easily communicate with their friends in Thurlstone Primary School."

After finding out about Kenya in school and for homework (See some excellent e.g.s of, 'Kenya' homework in our class homework file, outside our classroom.) and reading information on the Internet and looking at photographs and artefacts of Kenyan jewellery, the children decided they would like to design, make and sell their own jewellery made out of re-cycled materials. 

The children loved the idea that some of the Kenyan jewellery was created by re-cycling Cowry shells. After discovering that it would not be possible for us to source these shells and that shells would be quite difficult to work with, the children decided to use beads and buttons to make their jewellery.  However they were keen to stick to the theme of re-cycling and decided to ask parents to donate used buttons, beads and ribbon for their project.  A text was promptly sent out and the response was great.  We had all sorts of wonderful materials sent in, including some very intersting pieces of leather - thank you parents and friends.

Together with their Buddy Partners, the children spent time looking at the materials, drawing designs and making jewellery of their own. The finished products were then appraised by the class.  The children used their skills of diplomacy to explain what they liked and did not like about each design.  Then, as a class they summarised what they thought made an attractive necklace or bracelet. They concluded that simple designs of two or three colours and designs that incorporated either a repeating pattern or symmetry were the most appealing .

The following session the pairs re-designed their jewellery, basing their new designs on the agreed criteria.The results were simply stunning! 

Here are just a few of their pieces of work.

After that, the class planned their own jewellery sale, shared writing a flyer to go out to their parents and a text message for the rest of the school, inviting all to attend the sale, to be held in the Community Room on Friday 6th May 2011, after school.  They decided that they would like people to make donations for their artwork, rather than pricing it, as they thought they'd make more money that way (very enterprising). However they did decide on a minimum price for each piece.

The resulting sale was an OUTSTANDING SUCCESS. The children not only raised a whopping £100+ but they learnt a lot about the environment, working together, thinking of others and the wider world, as well as being totally creative and having a fantastic time.

I am sure you will agree that the children have produced some wonderfully creative pieces of work.  Here are a few quotes from parents and staff about the jewellery/re-usellery, the sale and the children.

"The children have done extremely well.  The jewellery is wonderful." Tracy Yates (parent)

"I am very impressed and Evie said she really, really... liked it!  Well done." Mrs. Watson (parent)

" I can't wait to wear my new bracelet! The jewellery was wonderful.  Well done." Jane Whitham (parent)

"It all looks so professional - well done!" Kate Morritt (parent)

"Pretty as a picture." C. Bennett (grandparent)

"Fantastic!  How lovely for a partner school to benefit!"

"Fabulous jewellery!  I will wear my new bracelet with pride.  Thank you, children!" (staff)

"I think the children have done very well." B. Singleton

" The pieces of jewellery are beautiful and very well made.  The children must have worked really hard."

"What a wonderful array of jewellery!  Well done Class 2 and Mrs Ward and Mrs Hinchliffe. Great project that the children clearly enjoyed!" Mrs Gibbins (Headteacher)

And this is what the children thought ...

" I've enjoyed making bracelets and necklaces.  It was fun.! Bea (age 5)

"I think it's good because we've re-cycled stuff and we're helping a school in Kenya." Rosie (age 7)

"I think Kenya will like the money that we've raised for them becuase that means we're being kind to other countries." Evie (age 6)

"I like to re-cycle stuff like that because to save our world." William (age 7)

"I like recycled jewellery because I like helping the world and re-cycled jewellery." Samuel (age 7)

"It was fun but it was also helping the world to stay nice and clean." Lucia (age 6)

"It's good re-cycling so you can help the world." Helena (age 6)

"It's nice work, making jewellery." George (age 7)

And this is what Mrs Ward thought...

"I am extremely proud of what the children have achieved.  They have worked together brilliantly at every stage of the project and the end results were astonishing.  I never expected the jewellery to look so professional. I know they have enjoyed the theme and have learnt a lot from it.  What a wonderfully creative bunch.  Well done Class 2!"