More photos of our World War II Theme Day - Yarm School

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The newsletter of Yarm at Raventhorpe Number 74
World War II Theme Day
The children had a wonderful day taking part in a World War II theme day
to commemorate the 70 th anniversary of the beginning of the war. With
true wartime spirit, everyone rallied around to come to school dressed
appropriately. Many of the children had made gas mask cases and had
labels tied to their clothes, whilst others brought props such as hurricane
lamps and battered suitcases. Staff were dressed as members of the
armed forces, land girls or in costumes from the period. The rear entrance
to the school was draped in camouflage netting, windows were taped
against the possibility of bomb blasts and overnight, new door signs had
appeared throughout the building. Mrs Young’s office was transformed
into GCHQ Bomber Command and she was restyled as Squadron Leader
Young! Lunch time brought a menu of vegetable soup, toad­in­the­hole,
Lord Wooton pie and cabbage, followed by summer pudding.
Years 5 and 6 took the lead in organising the day with Mrs McGee as part
of their World War II topic and had prepared an informative assembly for
the rest of the School. It was great fun bringing history to life!

More photos of our World War II Theme Day ...
We had a visit
from the
Northern Echo
photographer,
so please have
a look at the
feature in today’s
issue (page 3).
We would like to say a big thank you to all the parents who helped their children to look so
authentic and to those who took the time to dig out items of interest to show us in school.
NETBALL v RGS NEWCASTLE
Friday 2nd October
Last Friday, Emma and I went to Yarm School to play a netball match.
We were both selected to play in the B Team against RGS Newcastle.
I was a bit nervous and excited because I didn’t know if RGS were going to be
good or not! In the first quarter, Yarm scored one goal. We scored three in the
second quarter and another three in the third. In the last quarter of the game,
with just nine seconds to spare, RGS scored, so the final score was 7 ­ 1 to Yarm.
Emma and I scored lots of goals ­ Emma scored one and I scored three! It’s not
all about winning though and we did three cheers for RGS at the end of the match.
They were good competitors but we were the better team on the day.
Mary Goodchild

YEAR 3 VISIT TO BEDE’S WORLD
What a wonderful day Year 3 had last week at Bede’s World! There was so much to see and experience that at
the end of the day we were all exhausted! We spent the morning finding out about Anglo­Saxon monks. First we
went into the museum and discovered the numerous jobs worked by the monks. Some were fishermen, others were
builders and many were writers. Later we walked a short distance to St Paul’s Church where we imagined what it
would be like to be told that at aged seven we would have to leave home and go to live in a monastery. I don’t
think anyone liked that idea at all!! We put on monks’ habits and processed up the church. Everyone played their
part really well and kept silent! Lunch was delicious (Thank you, Carol!) and following that we began to learn
about the lives of Anglo­Saxon farmers. Melissa and Jonathan were dressed in tunics made from wool and both of
them had to wear unusual headgear. Out on the farm we saw bulls, horses, pigs and chickens. We went into three
buildings, one was thought to be where the Anglo­Saxons kept their food to keep it fresh. It was dark and a bit
scary as we descended some steps. Then with the door closed, we noticed how much cooler it was underground.
We hope you enjoy looking at our photographs taken by Mr Gormley and also reading about some of the things we
found out about Anglo­Saxon monks. We wrote about them for our homework over the weekend.
‘Their haircut was called a tonsure
and it represented the crown of
thorns that Jesus wore when he was
crucified.’ Rebecca Williamson
‘The monks looked a bit like Jesus.
They prayed a lot.’ Jack Watson
‘Monks went to church seven
times a day! They slept on the
floor.’ Oliver Marriott
‘The monks kept bee hives. They
made candles from bees wax.
The monks killed calves, using
their skin to write on. Their pens
were made from a goose feather.’
Ben Hunter
‘The monks had a funny
hairstyle because they had a
bald bit in the middle. The
monks wore very long
cloaks with hoods on. They
went to church with bare
feet.’ Thomas Nelson
YSA
‘Pretty Woman’ Evening
Thursday 19 th November, 7.00 – 9.00 pm
Come and join the YSA for an evening of shopping,
demonstrations and pampering in the Senior School
Dining Hall.
Enjoy short talks, demonstrations and stalls including
flower arranging, make up, mini-manicures, jewellery,
accessories and speciality home furnishing items. Great
for treating yourself and picking up a few Christmas
gifts and extras.
Tickets cost £5, including a welcome drink and nibbles,
and can be ordered via Mrs Brown in the School Office.
A word from ‘Miles away’
HELLO! Miles here.
Just thought you
might be interested in
hearing about life at
Yarm Senior School. I
have settled in very
quickly with all my
new teachers and
classmates, and I am enjoying my
lessons. My favourite lessons are DT,
science, Games, art and textiles.
In DT, we are carving our names in
plastic. In science, we have been
boiling liquids using Bunsen burners.
Well, obviously I enjoy Games - at the
moment we are playing hockey, tennis
and rugby. I am in the rugby team
and have been selected to play for the
School in a tournament on Sunday.
In textiles we are making juggling
balls, and in art we are working on hot
and cold colours. These are the best
lessons in the week, but the best thing
each day is lunchtime - there is so
much to choose from and the pizzas
are huge with pepperoni on them!!

Friends’ Corner
Please remember that Christmas Card orders
must be returned to school by Tuesday 13th
October.
Please make cheques payable to
‘Friends of Yarm at Raventhorpe’. Thank you.
Next Meeting - Tuesday 13th October, 9.10am
New members always welcome!
NUMBER ONE SWIMMER
OF THE WEEK
HANA - for a huge improvement in
her swimming this week.
Uniform Shop
The Shop will be open Tuesdays
and Thursdays, 1.00 ­ 4.00pm,
during the half term break.
Please note that boys’ rugby tops
are now available to order.
Early Years’ Prize
Giving DVDs…
...are now available
from the School
Office. Donations to
the Friends would be
appreciated. Thank
you to our
cameraman /
film producer /
editor, Mr Pattison!
JEANS FOR GENES
UPDATE
Our cake sale and
non‐uniform day
last week was great
fun and we raised
£131.72
for Jeans for Genes.
Well done, everybody!
Players of the Game
Years 1 and 2:
Oscar & Sruti
Years 3 and 4:
Thomas & Maryam
SNACK REMINDER
I would like to remind parents
of the rules on snacks. Children
may bring plain biscuits or fruit
(fresh or dried) to eat at breaktime.
Chocolate or creamy biscuits, crisps
and other processed snacks are not
permitted.
Wendy Young
Family pumpkin competition -
get Mum and Dad busy.
Carved pumpkins (clearly named)
to be brought to the Dining Room
on the morning of the disco.
YARM AT RAVENTHORPE
HALLOWEEN DISCO
Wednesday 14th October
6:00 - 7:30pm
Tickets £2.50
Available from Mrs Storey
Dress to scare!!!
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thurs
Fri
Happy Birthday!
Celebrating birthdays this week:
Olivia will be 9 on 10th October
Jack W will be 8 on 10th October
& Oscar will be 6 on 15th October
THE WEEK AHEAD
Raventhorpe Ramble, 11.00am
‘Seeds for Africa‛ Harvest Celebration
Friends‛ Meeting, 9.10am
Staff Meeting, 4.00pm
Halloween Disco, 6.00pm
Foundation Stage ‘Walk in South Park‛, am
Diwali Celebrations: Theme Day & Lunch
Tag Rugby Event, 9.00am - 12.00 noon
Foundation Stage Diwali Tea Party, 2.15pm
HALF TERM BEGINS
We had a marvellous day yesterday! Thanks are due to you all
for making such superb efforts with your children’s 1940s
costumes ­ many of them looked just as though they had
stepped out of an old photograph. Mrs McGee and Years 5/6
are also to be sincerely thanked for masterminding the day and
planning it all with such appropriate military precision!
This type of event gives children a ‘real’ learning experience
and is more valuable than any number of lessons on the same
subject. Next week we will be turning our attention to Diwali.
Planning is also underway for ‘Big Colour Week’ after half term
­ I wonder what the staff are organising for that?
I am pleased to be able to tell parents that sufficient tickets
have been sold for the Prep School Fireworks Night at Tall
Trees for it to go ahead. Thanks to those of you who supported
the School by buying tickets and helping the event to take
place. You will be rewarded with an absolutely stunning
firework display, I know.
I hope that we will have a good turnout for the Halloween
Disco, which was such a success last year. We will be having
a Pumpkin Competition on the day too, so remember to buy a
pumpkin this weekend when you are out shopping!
Many of you know that I have had no voice this week , which
made Parents’ Evening a bit of a challenge! I hope to be much
improved after a quiet weekend. I hope that those of you who
‘Ramble’ with Mrs Record on Sunday will have a pleasant walk
­ please forgive me for not being there on this occasion.
Wendy Young 9th October 2009