Green Week
Our Curriculum Week from Monday 11 January was the very successful 'Green Week'. All children looked at ways of improving and developing a more environmentally friendly world and our motto is 'Reduce, Reuse, Recycle'.
Year 1 Wormery
Year 1 have been looking at how worms recyle. They made their own wormeries and each day have to feed and check on the worms' composting progress.
Christmas Concerts and Plays
Every child took part in either a concert, play or the Carol Service. They all performed with great confidence and gave pleasure to staff and families. Well done to all the pupils.
Year 5 and The Victorians
Year 5 have been studying the Victorians in the autumn term, and they got dressed in Victorian style clothes and posed for some photos. They managed to keep straight faces and Mrs Poulton and Mrs Booth thought they looked lovely! The girls really enjoyed the activity and are looking forward to receiving the printed copies!
Year 1 Toys Workshop
In November, Year 1 enjoyed a day of exploring old toys, being archaeologists and making different toys in their toy’s workshop which was run by History off the Page. Everyone had a fantastic day.
Diwali Assembly - Garden Room
Mr Sheth came to tell us the Diwali story. Children in ‘Hedgehog Group’ showed pictures of Diwali celebrations and we made firework pictures. Some of the children wore Indian costumes.
Speech Day 2012
On Thursday 5 July Mrs Eleanor Laing MP, Member of Parliament for Epping Forest, made time in her busy schedule to attend Oaklands School’s end of year Prize Giving. She awarded the prizes and spoke to some the pupils, parents and staff in a large marquee in the grounds of the school.
Mrs Laing enjoyed meeting the prize winners and inspired her audience with her thoughts about the endless opportunities for learning that that exist every day at school, and reinforced the importance of making the most of all opportunities in life.
Mrs Macnair, Headmistress since September 2011, took the opportunity to thank the staff and parents for their help and support over the year, commenting, “this was my first Prize Giving as Headmistress. It was a lovely afternoon with so many family and friends supporting and celebrating the children’s achievements. We are very much a community at Oaklands and work together with our pupils and staff”.
School Managing Principal Matthew Hagger said, “we were delighted to be able to attract a special guest as prominent as Eleanor Laing to give out our prizes, especially as this is such a big year for us with our 75th Anniversary of educating local children. She actually forwent attending her own son’s Prize Day to be with us, which made us feel very privileged”.
Oaktree Festival of Music & Dance
On Thursday 22 March, all the children in KS2 performed in a variety of instrumental, singing and dance items alongside Coopersale Hall and Normanhurst schools at the second Oak-Tree Group of Schools festival. It was a spectacular evening which began with all three orchestras playing the theme tune of ‘Titanic’, accompanied by the rest of the children singing. The theme of ‘space’ in the second half included a number of entertaining and atmospheric items. The festival ended with all the children singing the well-known song “Don’t Stop Believing”, with each school singing their own original verse.
Hindu Day
The whole school took part in a Hindu Day - it was a fantastic day which was led by parents and included 4 different assemblies. The children dressed in Hindu costume and tasted traditional foods. Other activities included face painting, playing the drums, colouring Rangoli patterns, and learning about Hindu Gods. Parents also helped to dress both the children and the teachers in costume.
Camping
Years 3 & 4 enjoyed two days of challenging activities and an overnight camp on the school field. The pupils said they enjoyed putting up their tents and serving dinner and the problem solving activities and games. They got slightly wet but had a great time.