FoundersDayandAnnanValuesLastFridayatGatheringwecelebratedAnnan’sbirthdayor“FoundersDay”.Aspartofourcelebrationwesanganewschoolsongandspentsometimethinkingaboutourcorevalues.Wesharedsomeofthewonderfulworkgoingonaroundtheschool.Thenchildrenwereshownlargecardswiththecorevaluesonthemandaskedwhateachonemeanttothem.WealsotalkedabouttheprinciplesbehindFroebel’sformsoflearning-Knowledge,Life,Beauty.
The key values explored were: Creativity, Well-being, Relationships andRespect,RiskandChallengeandCommunity.
The children were thoughtful and confident in sharing their thoughts and itdevelopedintoquiteamovingexperience.ItissohearteningtoknowthateventheveryyoungchildrenunderstandwhatmakesAnnansuchaspecialplacetogotoschool.Wethoughtitwouldbehelpfulforparentstoexploretheseoverthenextfewweeksstartingwith‘Creativity’.
Arecentepisodeof‘FrontRow’onRadio4hostedadebateaboutCreativityinSchoolscalled‘ArtsEducation’.IfyouwouldliketolistentoityoucanfinditasapodcastontheBBCSoundsapp(broadcaston14.11.18).TherewasalsoanarticleintheTESnewsthisweekentitled“WhatisCreativityandwhydoesitmatter?”CreativityforusatAnnanisnotaboutbeinggoodat artormaking something, it is a skillwhich is central to children’s success in life.Art,drama,music,designareimportantbutarereallytoolsthroughwhichchildrencanaccesscreativity.
AtAnnanwethinkofcreativityasmoretodowithyourthinkingskills,‘thinkingoutsidethebox’isoneofourfavouriteexpressions. It istheabilityto investigate,problemsolve,anduseyour imagination.
Throughcreativeexperienceschildrentakeaninterestintheworldaroundthemand develop critical-thinking skills. The skills to innovate or inspire others isbecomingvitalintheworkplace.Itissuggestedthatwiththegrowthofartificialintelligence up to 65% of children entering primary school today will endupworkingincompletelynewjobsthatdon’tyetexist.Weneedtobeequippingourchildrentobecreative,flexibleandresilientrisktakers.
Nowcreativesubjectsarebeingsqueezedoutofmainstreamschoolcurriculums,music is disappearing from theKS3 secondary school timetables completely insome schools. Testing in primary schools is taking over as the purpose forlearningandexpressiveartsandproblem-solvingskillsaremoredifficulttotestso can become less valued.We believe Annan is leading the way through itscutting-edgeapproach.
Critical-thinking skills are developed through project-based learningsuchaswedoatAnnan.Childrenneed to learnbymakingmistakesandtryingagaininoccupationssuchasDTandwoodworkaswellasinForest School or Science. These higher-level skillswill allow them togrow inconfidenceto takerisks inothersubjectssuchasmathsandliteracy.KateLatham,authoroftheTESarticle,(HeadoflearningandcommunityengagementattheJupiterArtlandFoundationinScotland)sumsuptheneedforcreativitywiththesewords:
“Weneedtomaketimeforcreativitybecauseitisherethatwebuildnotonlythecurators,designersand filmmakers of the future,but also themost imaginative scientists, successful entrepreneurs anddynamicpoliticians.”
Fridaynotesandreminders…... 23.11.18
.2018
Timetableforw/c26.11.18Monday:Schoollunch:Pasta+TomatoSauceTextilesWorkshop–Infants
Tuesday:Schoollunch:Curry,rice+Bhaji(OakTreechoice)Kinderplay10.00-11.30am
Wednesday:
Thursday:
Friday:LanternFestival–4pm
FoodBank…Don’tforgettobringinyourcontributiontotheFoodBankCollection.Pleaseputinthecollectingboxjustinsidethedoorstothehall.EmptiedeveryFriday.
CharityClothesSaleElder class held a charity clothes sale last Friday and raised a fantastic £120 forChildreninNeed.
WoodworkresourcesneededWeneedsomehardboardcutinfancyshapes,andlotsofbottletopsandbigbuttons–pleasesaveyourmilkbottle/juicecartonplastictopsandsendintotheoffice.
ChristmasCraftClub–Tuesdays3.30pmDon’tforgetEmmaLillyandLauraHiltonwouldlikeafewmorechildrenintheirChristmasCraftclubmakingthingstosellattheWinterFestival.
CHRISTMASJUMPERDAY-MONDAY3rdNOVEMBER.FriendshaveaskedifwecanholdaCHRISTMASJUMPERDAYonMonday3rdNovember.Onthisdaychildrenareinvitedtowearafestivejumpertoschool.ItwouldbegreatifeveryonetakingpartcouldbringinanitemfortheTombola.Thereditemcanbesomethingverysimple.Thereditemcouldbesomethingboughtorhomemade.Wethinkitisafunidea,butthereisnoexpectationorrequirementtotakepart.TheFriendshavechosenthefestivecolour‘red’fortheTombolathisyearsoyoucoulddonateapairofredsocks,biscuitsinaredtin,abraceletwithredbeads,aredbathspongeetc.
AdventLanternFestival-Friday30thNovemberat4pmDon’tforgetnextFridayisourannualAdventFestival.Childrenshouldbringasnacktoeatafterschool.Parentsareinvitedtocomeandjoinus–pleasearriveby4.00pm.(Childreninkindergartenwhodon’tstayfortheafternoonarewelcometocomebackat3.30pmtojointheparade.Alternativelytheycanbook in for the afternoon and stay on after lunch). We are hoping the Friends Committeewill beserving hot drinkswhile parentswait so bring some change. Therewill be overflowparking in theplayground.
ChristmasEventsPianoMusicRecital-Monday10thDecemberintheschoolhall.2.30pm-3.30pm.Nativity–Thiswillbe takingplaceonWednesday12that3pm.Somepeoplehaveasked if theycanbringfamily.Wewouldliketokeepthisafairlyintimateoccasionbutifyoudobringanyextrapeoplethatisokaslongasyoucanallcomeinonecar.Thereisnofacilityforparkingadditionalcars.
TeaTowelsforChristmas-FriendsSchoolTeaTowelswillbeprintedinoneofourschoolcolours-limeon100%cottonintheUKandmeasure79by51cm.Theyare£4.50eachor3for£10.Ifyouwouldliketomakeanorder,pleasecompleteyourslipsandreturnthemtoPaulaintheSchoolOfficewithyourmoniesbynextMonday26thNovember.ThiswillenableustogetyourTeaTowelstoyouintimefortheChristmasHols.
DatesforyourDiaryFriday7thDecember1.30-3.00pm InfantHouseCareHomeVisit
Sunday9thDecember 12pm-3pm WinterFestivalMonday10thDecember2.30pm ChristmasPianoRecitalWednesday12thDecember3pm ChristmasNativity
Thursday13thDecember3.30pm LastDayofTermFriday14thDecember InsetDayMonday7thJanuary InsetDayTuesday8thJanuary FirstDayofSpringTerm
WinterFestival–Sunday9thDecember12.00-3.00pmHappyFriday,timeseemstobedashingbyandweareonlyjustovertwoweeksawayfromthisyear’sWinterFestival.
Afewupdates&remindersforyou... TheFestivalwillrunfrom12-3pmonSunday9thDecember.Ifyoucancome,itwouldbegreattoseeyou.Ifyouhavefriendsandfamilywhowouldliketocomealong,pleasedobringthem-themorethemerrier!
Ticketsforthefestivalwillbe£5foradults&£2forchildrenandwillincludeacomplimentarydrink.Ticketscanbepurchasedbeforethefestivaloronthedaywhenyouarrive.
Hotfood-Therewillbehotfoodavailable,soyoucancomeforlunch.Henry&LibbyTurnerwillbeservingsomedelicioussavourydelights.Therewillalsobemulleddrinks,teas&coffeesandavarietyofyummycakes.Wemightevenhavesweettreatswarmingonthefirepit.
Wewillhavearangeofstallsincluding...-HomemadegoodiescreatedbythechildrenatCraftClubandparentstoo.Thankyoutothoseofyouwhohavealreadymadecontributionstothisstall,wereallyappreciateit.
-BricaBrac-books&toys.Thankyouforthedonationswehavereceivedsofar,ifyouwouldliketobringsomebitsin,theboxesarebytheschoolhall.
-IfyouwouldliketodosomeChristmasshopping,wewillhaveUsborneBooks,NealsYardproducts,Art,SilverJewellery,CrochetandCraftsstalls.
-Helen&AlanMarriottwillberunningthegamesandwillbesuretohaveavarietyoffunactivitiesforusallwithprizestobewon.Wewillhave‘GuesstheWeightoftheWinterCake’andaRaffleandAuction.Theremightevenbeafestivethemed‘HumanFruitMachine’!
Wehavearangeofactivitiesthatyoucantakepartinduringtheafternoon....-GingerbreadPeopleDecorating-CandleMaking-FacePainting-FestiveCraftsThroughoutthefestivalwewillbeentertainedbyaband,singersandaclarinetplayer.WehopetohavestorytellingwithAlastairandapuppetshowaswell.TheschoolchoirwillbesingingandeveryonewillbeperformingaschoolFestivesong.Wearehopingthemuch-lovedSnowQueenwillmakeanappearance.Lookoutforherinherhiddenpalace.
Reminders...Astheeventisafestivalstyle,weareappealingforgazebosandhaybales,soifyouhaveeitherofthesethatwecouldborrowpleaseletmeorPaulaknow.
Children’sWinterPhotographyCompetition-£1perentrywithaprizeofaMiniPhotoshoot.Allyourchild/childrenneedtodoistakeaWinteryphotobetweennowand9thDecember,senditintoschoolonorbeforetheWinterFestival(eitherelectronicallyorasaprintout)withtheirentryfee.AllentrieswillbejudgedbythePhotographer.WewilltrytodisplaythephotosattheWinterFestival.Itisjustforfun,thereisnopressuretotakepartandtherewillbenospecificjudgingcriteria.
Wehopeyouwilljoinuson9thDecember.Itshouldbeafun,festiveafternoonforallthefamilyandhelpustoraisemoneyforwoodworkandgymnasticsequipmenttoenrichourchildren’slearning.Lotsofpeoplehavebeenworkingveryhardandverylateintothenighttomakethisamagicalevent,sopleasedocomeifyoucan.Nadine&theFriendsCommittee
