Work has continued on our Outdoor Classroom this week with the addition of a winterising pack, which enables us to use the classroom even when it is raining. The next part will be the installation of a natural path. Once the Friends of Poverest have raised some more funds, we intend to purchase the solar panels and the rainwater harvesting kits so we can easily water our vegetables and reduce our water consumption in the school.
This week has been the start of the children's Autumn assessments. At Poverest, we have three assessment weeks every school year. We use this information to know which learning intentions the children have understood securely and then make plans to address any gaps in learning the children have. Well done to all the children for their efforts this week. Tests are never as fun as normal learning but they are an important part of checking children's long-term memory.
A huge congratulations to the SEN Bowling team this week, who won the local schools competition and will now represent our area in the National Final in Romford in May. Well done to those 6 children from The Orchard - we really do now need a larger trophy cabinet!
Assemblies this week focused on creativity and with the older children we discussed how being creative makes us feel better and can improve our own mental health. Drawing is the key driver with McDonald's changing their Happy Meal boxes in November to allow children to express how they feel by drawing on the plain boxes. Being creative is also good for building connections in our brains and improving our fine motor skills which in turn supports our ability to write. The increase in technology in homes means that children often spend their free time on activities that are not creative. Therefore, we should encourage drawing, model making, and Lego, as these activities support our children's development.
The school choir are entering their busiest time of the year! This week they sang at the Dementia Friendship Café and next Thursday at 11 am, they will be singing at the Nugent Centre. If you are planning any shopping next week, you can make it Thursday and be sent into the Christmas mood by our choir - they will love to see some familiar faces!
Next week our Friends of Poverest are setting up a Christmas Experience for all the children to enjoy - which will be wonderful.
Enjoy your weekend.
Mr Haylock
