Latest News

Keep up to date with all the news from the school.

Come and see our virtual tour...

• Hillfield's Friary

  Sat 10 Jun 2023

  Each class is taking it in turn to go to Hillfield's Friary and learn about insects. We are then going to use this learning and Help our community build a Wildlife garden.

  The Giants and Ducklings went first:

   

  We had such a lovely time learning more about insects and minibeasts with Richard and Chantelle at Hilfield today!
  After the excitement of travelling by minibus (and coming down the big hill!) we played some games running around in the garden area and moving like different insects. We especially loved buzzing like bees and flapping our wings as dragonflies and butterflies.
  We then went to look inside the moth trap that Richard had set overnight. It was a large box, filled with empty egg cartons. On the lid was a large bulb that had been shining brightly overnight to tempt the moths inside. Richard gently lifted out each box to reveal many exciting moths! The boxes were passed around so we could have a closer look and there was an opportunity to hold some on our hands too. In the trap there was a large poplar hawk-moth, privet hawk-moth, a buff-tip moth (which cleverly disguises itself as a stick!) peppered moths and many more!
  We then had a drink and snack before splitting into groups for the next activities. Giants worked on some bee and ladybird clay crafts, using coloured pebbles to recreate patterns using identification pictures. We also created some butterfly print paintings with paint and string which was lots of fun! Meanwhile the Ducklings went off on a bug hunt in the garden. Richard had nets and sheets to collect and gather insects and bugs so we could use our 'pooters' to suck and catch the insects in pots without harming them. This was very exciting! We found caterpillars, spiders, beetles and even damselflies!
  The groups then swapped over so the Giants could go bug hunting in the wildflower meadows while the Ducklings had a go at the clay craft. Out in the meadows the Giants found all sorts of insects, which Richard was fantastic at identifying! We spotted shield bugs, cucumber spiders, weevils, aphids, ladybird larvae, dock beetle larvae and many many more! Richard explained that 'true bugs' are insects that have sucking mouths, like we were sucking using the pooters! He also told us that butterflies like stinging nettles so will be looking out carefully on our next welly walk!
  After a busy morning we tucked into our packed lunches and cooled off in the courtyard. We even got to help feed the sheep before it was time to head back on the buses to school.
  Thank you to everyone who came to help. We had a lovely time! 

   

  Abbey went next:

   

  When we were at Hillfield's Friary on Friday we learnt about bees because we are going to build bees homes in the Cerne Abbas Wildlife garden. We played a game that taught us about how dangerous hornets are to bees and then we learnt about what happens in a hive. We were allowed to dress in the protective equipment that bee keepers wear and taste the lovely honey. We also found out where other bees live, they are called solitary bees and what experts bees are as pollinators. We made a bees wax candle each and enjoyed looking at the various flowers bees get there nectar from. We have such food fun and learnt so much. We are now looking forward to making some bee homes for the Cerne Abbas Wildlife Garden in a couple of weeks time.

  

• The Grand Opening of our Bird Hide

  Sun 21 May 2023

  Robin and Pauline Mills, who live in our village have had many generations of their family come to our school. The last of these left last year and they wanted to say thank you to the school for the happy years that they have been a part of it. They have built us a bird hide in the trees so that we can sit quietly and watch the birds. The Parish Council have also bought us binoculars and a bird spotting book to be able to name different birds. The grand opening involved cutting the red ribbon around the bird hide, the children giving thank you cards and finally singing a song for Robin, Pauline and the people who helped erect the bird hide.

  We are very grateful for this gift and the extra opportunity it gives us to take our learning outside. Enjoy the pictures of this happy event.

  

• Our Human Union Jack on the Giant

  Sat 06 May 2023

  We celebrated the King's Coronation by walking up to the Cerne Giant and creating a human flag. The National Trust gave us permission to go onto the Giant to enable us to make history in a very special and unique way. The whole school walked up to the Giant and despite the rain and wind we made it with happy faces. The children and adults wore red and blue and we painted a union jack, with the help of parents and friends which gave us the white parts. We all bent down and a drone took a picture of us. We then stayed on the Giant for lunch before making our way back down again.

  We also sang our King's Coronation Song which we hope you enjoy listening too.

  Finally all of the children were given a mug kindly donated to us from the Parish Council and presented by Reverend Jonathan Still.

  What a memorable day.

  

• Jewish Lady visits our school

  Thu 04 May 2023

  Lynda, who is from the Jewish faith, visited our school today. She talked about how they celebrate Shabbat every Friday evening until Saturday night. They begin by tidying their homes and then have a meal with chollah bread, wine and light candles with a prayer. They do no work on Saturday. Lynda taught us a Jewish song and read the creation story. We also  found out about Jewish prayer and the Kippah hat that men wear. Thank you Lynda it was a very informative and engaging time for the children.

  

• Author and Playwright visits our school - Chris Connaughton

  Wed 26 Apr 2023

  We've had a fantastic session with Chris. He has helped us to become storytellers. We started the day together and Chris told us a story about a king and a storyteller. The children were absolutely mesmerised. Chris told us how to engage the listener by using different voices and expression. Chris went around to all of the classes throughout the day encouraging amazing story telling amongst the children. In Trendle he told them a story about a Cobbler who wanted to be the most important thing. He became a king, the sun, a rain cloud, a raging river, a mountain and then finally a cobbler again!
  In all of the classes he played a game called WAVE - W = WAY OF WALKING, A = ACTION, V = VOICES , E = EXPRESSION
  This game helps us to become animated storytellers.
  He also played the Spotlight game. This helps us to share our ideas.
  Chris explained how all of these techniques help us to become really successful storytellers.
  We will definitely invite him back again. Thank you to FOCAS who helped us pay for him and thank you Chris for a fabulous day.

  

• Our Easter Bonnet Parade

  Mon 03 Apr 2023

  On the last day of term we had an Easter Bonnet parade. Unfortunately, because of the rain we didn't walk very far. Jonathan, our vicar, judged the hats and the winners were announced in the village. The winners had a book token and the runners an Easter egg. However EVERBODY, had made a lovely hat and so everyone had an Easter egg to take home thank you to FOCAS (our parent teacher association).

  HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE

  

• Our Easter Service

  Sat 25 Mar 2023

  The children led our Easter Service in church on Friday. Abbey Class led the service and enacted the story of Holy Week. Trendle Class  read a class Easter prayer and Giants and Duckling Class sang a happy Easter song. Jonathan completed the service with a blessing. The children were amazing and comments made by people who attended included 'it was a joy to see and hear the school worship in the traditional story of Easter. Beautifully presented and amazing to see the impeccable behaviour of the children.' and 'We loved it. Such lucky children to have such an amazing school and such lovely teachers.'

  Thank you to everyone.

  

• Our Reflective Day

  Mon 20 Mar 2023

  Today has been a 'Reflective day' across our school. We have been learning about how the bible story of Samuel and Eli relates to our school. Samuel was the son of Hannah. Hannah wanted a baby boy very much and when God gave her Samuel she made sure that he was raised in the church. One night Samuel heard a voice calling him. At first he thought it was his teacher, Eli's voice, but then he found out that it was God speaking to him! Samuel went on to be a great leader for God who was very sensitive to hearing God’s voice and what he wanted him to say to people. Mrs Cresswell explained that Samuel was a good example of someone who had been raised by a good teacher and could listen to God (his inner voice).

  We have been learning about how this relates to our school bible verse: 'Teach a child how they should live and they will remember it all of their lives' Proverbs, Chapter 22, verse 6.
  Just like Samuel, we all have an inner voice (this is the God’s voice for Christians or your conscience) which also guides us to what to do for the best.

  During the day we visited different classrooms to complete various activities and learning linked to the story. With Mrs Cresswell we thought about our inner voice and what it says to us. We thought about how our inner voice can help us to make a difference and to 'be the best we can be'. With Miss Stephens we found out a bit more about the story of Samuel by playing listening games and making our own telephones; helping us to think about how important it is to listen to the voices around us. With Mrs Brown we learnt about what Eli taught Samuel about keeping the temple clean and how they showed our Christian values.

  We gathered together as a school at the end of the day to share all our learning and reflections. Well done, everyone. You all worked collaboratively in your colour teams exploring the story with all your teachers and friends across the school. Perhaps you could look through the pictures at home and tell your grown ups more about our learning today!

  

• Lent Lunch

  Mon 13 Mar 2023

  Abbey Class were invited to our church for the annual Lent Lunch. This year they were raising money for the Disasters Emergency Committee for the Turkish/Syrian Earthquake Appeal. We were served with soup and bread and then had a satsuma for pudding. It was delicious and everyone ate it all up.  Thank you to all of our families for your donations. They have raised nearly £1000. Abbey Class thanked everyone by singing 'You've Got a Friend in Me' from the film 'Toy Story.' A thoroughly good time was had by all.

  

• Safety Internet Day

  Sat 11 Feb 2023

  On Tuesday it was Internet safety day, we started the day with a school assembly where Mrs Brown explained what Internet safety day was.

  During a circle time the Ducklings watched a story called Hanni and the magic window, it is written for children aged 3 and up and is a rhyming story about speaking out and getting help.

  https://youtu.be/Ub8tefWs7U4 

  We then talked about what we think the Internet is? What do we/ other people use it for? What devices do we use the Internet on?

  Next we came up with some ideas how to safe safe while using the Internet and what to do if we see something that might worry use or if something happens that we aren't sure about. We decided the best thing to do would be to tell a grown up, someone at home or even our teachers.