Year 5 at Alton Convent School welcomed pupils from Bentley School when they came to an Art Workshop recently. The Workshop was given by Artist-in-Residence Mrs Jane Ashley-Brian and was based on the story of Hansel and Gretel. Using only scissors and newpaper the pupils were set the task of producing a short animated version of the story. Working quickly they cut out letters, trees, woodland animals, eyes and furniture. Each group, in turn, placed their work on black paper and moved them minutely to create the frames for the film.

The children of Year 3 visited the Weald & Downland Open Air Museum this week.  The day started with a hands-on workshop ‘Getting to Grips' where they were challenged to understand how buildings were constructed in history.  They learnt to tile a roof, how to sift stones and how joists and rafters are put together to safe and solid structures. 

They then had the opportunity to visit the blacksmiths where they were intrigued to watch while a small piece of metal was heated and beaten into a hook. The blacksmith also told them how chains, scythes and horseshoes are crafted.  At the watermill they saw a demonstration of how grain is ground to produce flour, and the simple mechanics of a watermill, and watched a family of ducklings on the mill pond.

On 11^th May Year 4 went on amazing trip to Hampton Court Palace. Firstly we headed to the Tudor Kitchens with our Tudor guides Mark and Robert. I learned that Henry VIII paid for about six hundred people to have two roast dinners every day! To make it happen the kitchens worked like a car factory. They had a bakery, a butchery (which was horrible) and a fridge. The fridge was very different from the ones we have today. It was a long, long cold dark passage with small rooms on either side. The walls were one metre thick to keep the cold air in. There was a boiling room, with a giant pot which boiled the meal and this sat on a big fire to heat it. The last room in the kitchens was a great roasting hall. There were massive chimneys and giant fire places they were amazing and the heavy old pots weighed a ton!

Next we walked to the fabulous Great Hall. The second I walked in I was astounded at how beautiful it was. We looked for the heraldry on the walls and tried to find the badges on our worksheet - it was quite hard. In the hall we met Katherine Parr on her own, she told us she was getting married to Henry in private later that day! We also had a peek in the Chapel, which was magnificent and the gold stars on the ceiling were jaw dropping.

On Tuesday, 16th March, the sun shone and Year 3 were delighted to be among the spring flowers at RHS Wisley. The day started with a brisk walk to the Clore Education Centre, where the children were shown how to collect weather data. We then visited four sites and tested different weather conditions and soil temperature using data loggers.

A picnic lunch in the sunshine was followed by a visit to the Bicentennial Glasshouse. The children were thrilled by banana plants, wonderful displays of orchids, pitcher plants and strange acrid Devil’s Tongue.

After arriving very early at school the children in Year 6 were delighted to be on the coach and heading for a day in London.  Our first stop was the Winston Churchill Britain at War Experience.  Everyone piled into an old lift which trundled down to a replica of an underground station where people would shelter from air raids during London's Blitz.  The whole museum was full of interesting artefacts and displays as well as hands on experiences such an Anderson Shelter to sit in and plenty of wartime clothing to dress up in. 

The children in the Preparatory school gave their parents and grandparents a most enjoyable concert which included a great variety of music played on many different instruments. Year 3 gave their first recorder performance as did the newly formed Prep School Brass Ensemble. There were duets on the piano, clarinet and flute and, some very impressive solos from many other instruments including the harp and guitar. At the end of the concert Mrs Ongley thanked all the children and their teachers for all their hard work and wonderful playing; parents and performers then enjoyed chatting over coffee. Thanks must be given to the peripatetic teachers who prepared the children so well for their performances.

The children in Year 4 enjoyed attending a concert given by the Southern Pro Music Orchestra at the Petersfield Festival Hall on Wednesday morning. This was a good introduction to the instruments of the orchestra which the children had been learning about in their music lessons this term.

The concert began with a performance of the "Thieving Magpie Overture" by Rossini followed by a clever composition by our conductor Jonathan Willcocks called "Meet the Orchestra". These favourites were thoroughly enjoyed by the children who were then given a lively performance of "The Parade of the Tin Soldiers", "Winter" from Vivaldi`s Seasons and a musical story of "The Theatre Ghost" narrated by our compere William Godfree .