On Wednesday our U10 rounders team played Daneshill. It was a mixed team of Year 5 and Year 4. It was a great game, although because the pitch was wet and slippery, it was a bit different... We weren't allowed to run and so had to do star jumps instead, with 10 jumps for half a rounder and 20 for a full rounder! In the end, we won 5½  to 3. Everyone played well, with Millie as player of the match.

Flora, 5M

The Isle of Wight has been the best residential trip we have ever had with the school! We stayed at the Rooftree Hotel, owned by Ann and Futoshi. Here are a few of the many highlights of our trip. The boat tour around the Needles was one of the best highlights, we got great pictures and fabulous views. Glory Art Glass was great as well, especially when they blew the glass bubble and popped it, which made everyone jump! We also had a fabulous dance class with Ann, the hotel owner, and a disco.
We brought sweets, money and our teddy bears for the competition, where you had to make a scene with your teddy bears: some examples were, a hot air balloon ride and a barbecue on the beach. We also had the tidiest room competition, and the boys never won!
Friday came too soon and before long we were heading back to Portsmouth and then back to school.

In the ISA regionals Francesca, India Abi and I, and our mums all went up to Eton, for one or two races. When we arrived there it was extraordinarally big. We all waited for 2,3 or possibly 4 hours! Abi ran 600 meters and came first! All of our Mums packed a huge lunch, we barely ate any. We borrowed some money to go and buy some chips, they were delicious!!!

Then I did my ball throw, I came 8th out of 11, but two got disqualified. Year 5 also took part in the Regionals. Then an hour after the ball throw Abi, India, Francesca and I all did a relay it was fantastic but scary. When the man shot the pistol that looked like a gun, I sprinted as fast as I could. When I passed the baton to India I got nervous that I would drop it but I didn't. India also sprinted as fast as she could until Francesca overtook people like India and I did. When Francesca passed to Abi she was phenomenal. At the end we won all of our races. We were all proud of ourselves and so were our Mums. A couple of days later we received our medals in assembly and Abi received two. We enjoyed it very much and we hope we can have another experience like that again.

On 5th June Annabelle, Grace, Josh and Matthew (Y5) went to Portsmouth Cathedral for the Good Shepherd Appeal Mass. We left at half past nine with Mrs Bird. When we got there we went into the Cathedral and sat down, then Josh and Matthew got up and joined the procession of banners. Near the end of the mass, Annabelle and Grace went up to give the Bishop the check for over £2000.
At the end of the mass, we looked around the Cathedral and we had our own little organ recital by Paul Inwood. There were so many buttons on the organ! We went to the park across the street. We had a picnic and then Mrs Bird treated us to an ice-cream. We all had a great time and we cope we can go next year!

As part of the school's Shakespeare Day celebrations, we were delighted to welcome five-time Foyle Young Poet Award winner Helen Mort to the school to run a couple of poetry workshops. Year 6 were joined by a number of pupils from neighbouring Bentley Primary School for a workshop which explored the ways that poetry, in contrast to Auden's view, can change the world. The children explored techniques for writing poetry of their own, such as thinking from the perspective of other senses or exploring the impossible. The workshop concluded with Helen reading some of her own poems, and answering pupils' questions on her life and work as a poet. The Year 5 workshop followed a similar format, although with this group Helen also had chance to hear some of the pupils perform their ESB poems. We've purchased a copy of Helen's collection of poems, The Shape of Every Box, for the prep school library.

My sister and I decided to make cakes for people around our village to raise money for the Good Shepherd Appeal. I thought this was a good idea because I love licking the bowl! Serena and I went round the village saying the cakes on offer were victoria sponge (with lots of jam) and chocolate biscuit cake (my favourite). We collected our orders and squeezed our four hens (Fave, Faberge, Feathers Magraw and Poudge) because we needed loads of eggs! Then we got cake making! One of my jobs was to be the human dishwasher! I licked the plates clean!

Today I went to INTECH with Years 4 and 5. We were put into groups of 7; I was in Mrs Matthew's group. First we went to an activity that had a chair camera and a dark room. When Hannah went and sat on the chair, I went into the dark room: I saw a screen where there was a picture of Hannah upsidedown. We also went to a big machine that blew out air. We put the ball on top so it stayed in the air. Another activity we went to was a grey platform with lots of wooden blocks. Using the blocks we built a bridge. After we had put the pieces together we pulled a leaver which made the platform go down, leaving the bridge standing with no support. After that we went to a big wheely bin, to test how much we recycled: I got a scanner and went into the 'shop', scanning the objects I wanted before going back to the screen - I got full marks!

On 29th January, the U11B team played Andrew's Endowed. It was a tough match but we played well. In the first quarter, Harriet scored two great goals. In the second, they scored one, and just before the whistle I managed to score a goal. The final score was 3-1 to us, and we were all really pleased with ourselves!

English

We will continue to study a variety of genres including narrative poems and myths and legends. Our language work will focus on parts of speech and descriptive writing, and the children will have the chance to apply their knowledge in their creative writing. We will also be preparing for ESB exams at the end of the term.

Mathematics

During this term we will revisit some topics such as fractions and division and look at areas, perimeters, data handling and shape. Homework will usually be on-line, but we will also use textbooks for consolidation work at times. The children will be encouraged to apply their knowledge in practical problem solving.

Science

Our topics this term are 'gases around us' and 'changing state'. We will be discovering the properties of solids, liquids and gases, investigating some uses for gases and researching the water cycle with emphasis on evaporation and condensation.

History

We begin our new topic on the Victorians this term. Starting with some general history skills on timelines and ordering events, we then look at Queen Victoria and her family. The children will have the opportunity to refine their research skills when studying what life was like for children and investigating the impact of the railways.

Geography

Our work this term begins with investigating volcanoes and earthquakes. The children will have the opportunity to improve their map reading skills before looking at 'passports to the world'. They will conduct a holiday survey as well as discussing places in the news.

Religious and Moral Education

Work will focus on celebrations at home and within the Christian church. We will discuss the giving and receiving of thanks and gifts and learn about Lent as the church's season for giving. We will also be learning about the events of Holy Week.

French

In the spring term, the children will be further developing their conversation work. They will learn the names of a variety of different sports, expressing their likes and dislikes. The children will be learning to describe the weather and will begin to show an understanding of the negative form in grammar.

On Wednesday 5th March, our U10 netball team went to St Margaret's School in Midhurst. After we'd warmed up, we began our first match against St Margaret's B team. It was a great match because we shot a goal straight away and won 6-0. Then we played Kingscourt. We won with 5-0 We also won against St John's with a score of 3-2. Unfortunately we lost to Ditcham Park, with 8-1 to them. We played St Margaret's A team and lost 5-2.

We came third overall out of six schools. The team played very well, but Rachel and Eleanor were players of the match. Despite having a sore finger, Eleanore shot nearly all of the goals.