Queens speech may10 - The Queen's School

Becta awardThe Lower School has been awarded the prestigious ICT Mark by Becta, the governmentbody responsible for promoting the use of ICT in schools and colleges. The awardrecognises the school’s success in developing the strategic use of ICT in both academicand administrative areas. Director of ICT Paul Foster commented,“Pupils and staff haveworked with great determination and dedication in order to achieve this importantaward. I am proud to learn that the Lower School is currently the only independentprimary school in the NorthWest to hold the ICT Mark.”(Front left to right) Sofia Torchiaro-Masagué, Imani Noor and SelenaPersad. (Back left to right) MrsFelicity Taylor, Headmistress,Queen’s Lower School, Mr PaulFoster, Director of ICT andMrs Darlah Thomas, year 2 teacherTales timeLiteracy and numeracy joined forces when reception pupilsused a favourite character from their topic on traditional talesto help them to tell the time. As part of their problemsolving, reasoning and numeracy work the girls delighted intaking it in turns to play the part of the fearsome creature astheir classmates happily chorused:‘What’s the time, Mr Wolf?’(Left to right)Annabel Williams,Verity Cummins andLaura Harrop-Wale(year 2)Safari so goodYears one and two had an exciting visit fromBecca, the Safari Ranger from Chester Zoo,who brought some rather exotic friends tothe school - some crawling and somejumping! Having compared animals foundin Britain with those in the rainforest, girls inyear one considered the issues involved inconservation with particular focus on how itcan help the wildlife living in the rainforests.Year two pupils discussed the many differentkinds of animals found at the zoo, particularlythose facing problems such as poaching,illegal wildlife trading and habitat loss.Poppy Oakden (reception)Charge!Lower School6Queen’s girls are about to help create quite a spectacle in the streets of Chester:seventy model rhinos, each five feet high, will be displayed in the city from thebeginning of July for ten weeks.The Lower School’s mighty beast, sporting a Roadwork safety theme and designed byIsabel Gelder (year 4), will be sponsored by Balfour Beatty. Along with the rest of theherd, it will eventually be auctioned off to raise funds for Chester Zoo’s Black RhinoField Project in Africa and the Hospice of The Good Shepherd in Ellesmere Port.Sikhing wisdomPupils at the Lower School have enjoyed exploring a rich variety of faiths over the pastfew weeks. As well as participating in the annual Daffodil Service held in ChesterCathedral at Easter, the colourful Hindu festival of Holi proved a delightful way towelcome in the spring. A trip to the Gita Bhavan Temple in Whalley Rangeprovided an excellent opportunity to reinforce the experience.Meanwhile year 6 enjoyed a fascinating tour of theCentral Gurdwara in Manchester, followed by a typicalSikh meal. A few weeks later, the fun and learningcontinued when Dr Singh, Amrita’s father, led thecelebrations for the Indian festival of Baisakh, includinga lively Bangra dance accompanied by drums.