Jolly Jokes for Comic Relief

Josie and Juliet came up with a brilliant concept to raise money for Comic Relief.

Jolly Joke Badges! with a hidden joke inside the badge.

The girls have worked really hard at home on this venture and the badges sold out quickly! They raised approximate £90 for Comic Relief!  Fantastic entrepreneurial skills.  Well Done!

 

Year 4’s Drama Performance: Gwendol the Giant Problem

Year 4 have been busy rehearsing with Pentabus Theatre Group and performed Gwendol: A Giant problem at The Ludlow Assembly Rooms.  The drama is inspired by the folktale of Gwendol the Wrekin Giant.  This was a brilliant opportunity to perform for an audience and learn from Pentabus Drama and Theatre specialists.

Shropshire Star Article

 

Year 4 Boreatton Park – Kit List

Your child will need to be able to carry ALL of their belongings themselves. We suggest they pack them in a cabin-sized (small) suitcase. They will also need to bring a sleeping bag and pillow in a named bag.

CLEARLY NAME ALL CLOTHING AND PROPERTY

  • Warm waterproof coat
  • Waterproof trousers are advisable
  • Walking boots
  • 2 pairs of trainers/shoes
  • Hat and gloves – NO scarves

Children will need to come in wearing appropriate outdoor clothes for their first day. In addition, they will need to bring:

  • 2 complete change of clothes (leggings/joggers – NOT jeans, vest, long sleeve top, jumper/fleece)
  • 2 sets of underwear
  • 2 pairs of socks (long enough to cover ankles)
  • Washing kit – soap, flannel, toothbrush, toothpaste, non-aerosol deodorant (if necessary) and hair ties for long hair
  • Towel
  • Nightwear
  • Slippers (if preferred) /sliders
  • 1 small teddy/cuddly toy
  • 1 book
  • Water bottle – not glass
  • Bin bag/plastic bag for wet clothes
  • Medication – if required
  • Maximum of £5 spending money – to be placed in a sealed envelope with your child’s name, class and amount enclosed written on the outside and ready to hand to the class teacher.

Please DO NOT bring any food, sweets and snacks, jewellery, electronic devices and games, cameras or mobile phones.

Year 4 Residential Trip to Boreatton Park: 27-28 March

In preparation for the impending trip to PGL Boreatton Park, we will be spending some time over the next week or so going through PGL arrangements with the children.  We thought that you also would appreciate a bit of additional information and clarification to help you prepare your child.

Packing & Preparation

  • CLEARLY NAME ALL CLOTHING AND PROPERTY!
  • If possible, choose a soft hold-all rather than a rigid case as this makes storage in the dorms easier and gives the children more space. Please DO NOT WORRY if this is not possible!
  • Please allow your children to be as involved in the packing of their bag as possible, this will help them to be more aware of what they have and where it is – it will also help them when packing for the return home.
  • Ensure your child has plenty of layers as it gets cold on site.

Please see next post for the Kit List.

Medication

We will not be taking medications from school, so please send in any meds your child needs, including inhalers, in a container with their name written clearly on the front along with clear instructions and dosage. Please let us know some time prior to our visit if your child will be bringing medication so that we can ensure we have all the necessary information on the day of departure.

Thursday morning departure arrangements

The coach will be leaving school at 8.20am prompt to ensure we arrive at the venue for 9.00am. Children will therefore need to be at school for 8.00am please.

Friday afternoon return arrangements

  • We will be leaving PGL Boreatton Park at 4.00pm and expect to arrive back at school around 4.30pm, depending on the Friday afternoon traffic. We will phone ahead if delayed for any reason.
  • PLEASE WAIT OUTSIDE THE SCHOOL GATES UNTIL ALL BAGS HAVE BEEN UNLOADED – you will be able to greet your children before collecting bags.
  • Be aware that your child’s wellies/wet clothes bag may have become separated from their main bag – please ensure you collect ALL your child’s belongings.

Finally, a reminder that any outstanding payments for this trip should be settled by Friday 14th March (unless you have already contacted the school to arrange an extension to the payment schedule).

Hopefully, this information will help avoid any last minute worries or queries.  Your cooperation in these matters will be greatly appreciated and will contribute to the smooth running of the trip.

Many thanks in anticipation,

Miss Armstrong & Miss Lewis

Year 4 Choral Day at Moreton Hall School

Year 4 enjoyed a great day at Moreton Hall School. We were invited for a special day of singing with 3 other schools and led by a professional conductor! The pupils sang beautifully and their behaviour was excellent, especially as it was a long day with some tricky music to follow. They even performed a special concert for their grow-ups. Well done, superstars! ⭐️

World Book Day Pop Up Shop

Every year World Book Day publish a series of Children’s books that can be purchased for £1 or with a World Book Day voucher.  These are available from participating stores but we’ve ordered our own to save children from missing out and are running our own World Book Day Pop Up Shop in the school library.  The children loved their visits and will be bringing a new book home.

Class Photographs – Thursday 13th March

School photographers, Active Photographic, will be in school on the morning of Thursday 13th March to take class group photographs of our pupils. If time permits, we will ask them to take individual photographs of those children who were absent when they visited in the Autumn.

If you DO NOT want your child to have their photograph taken on the day, please click on the link below and complete an OPT OUT form:

https://forms.office.com/e/nrJgK5eEyd

Please ensure your child comes to school wearing their school uniform so they look smart for the class photograph. If your child is timetabled to do PE, they will do it in their school uniform so please have them come in in their school uniform and bring in their pumps/trainers to change in to.

Note: Your child/ren will automatically be included in their class photograph if we do not hear from you otherwise by Wednesday 12th March.

Class Mixing – Year EYFS/Year 2/Year 4

Dear Parents/Carers,

At Coleham, we mix our classes at the end of EYFS, Year 2, and Year 4. Soon, our staff will begin organising the new classes for the next academic year. We want to inform you about the process and its benefits to help you support your child if they have any worries.

Mixing classes widens our children’s social horizons, allowing them to form new relationships. This experience helps them transition more smoothly to secondary school. Many children make new friendships while retaining and strengthening existing ones, which further grows our school community. Additionally, it can help break negative relationships.

It’s natural for children to feel wary about being in a ‘new’ class. However, they already know most of the children in their year group. Any children mixed into a different class will still be there at playtimes, lunch and year group events and they will remain with many of their current classmates.

Mixing classes is an incredibly thoughtful process. We know the children well and understand their relationships. We use a combination of sources to ensure the best mixes:

  • We consult the children in a child-friendly way about their preferences.
  • We work as a team, using our professional knowledge of social and working relationships. Current and previous class teachers; Pastoral Team; Leadership and our SENDCO all contribute.
  • We also consult parents for any strong feelings.

Attached is a link to an optional form where you can confidentially share any strong feelings about the makeup of the mixed classes. The form is not compulsory, but we will seriously consider any parental recommendations or feelings. We may contact you about your responses if we need any clarification or further details. If you choose to use the form, please fill out one per child.

These forms will automatically close at 11:59 pm on Friday 14th March.

EYFS Class Mixing Form

Year 2 Class Mixing Form

Year 4 Class Mixing Form

Thank you for your continued support

Tom Larkham

Headteacher

Pentabus Theatre Company

Pentabus is a rural touring theatre and Year 4 have been selected to take part in a series of story-telling and performing arts workshops.  Over the course of 4 days the children will be exploring local folk tales and Shropshire’s natural environment culminating in an evening performance at The Ludlow Assembly rooms. They will be creating their own original performance based on the Shropshire folktale of Gwendol, the Wrekin giant. Wow, what a fantastic opportunity!  Thank you Pentabus!

Year 4 Event- Pentabus Theatre Company Production of Gwendol: A Giant Problem

Our Year 4 pupils have been selected to take part in an exciting opportunity to work with a number of schools to put on a theatre production with Pentabus Theatre Company. Pentabus is a rural touring theatre.  Drawing on 50 years’ experience of producing new theatre and working creatively with schools, Pentabus is running a story-telling and performing arts project for KS2 pupils in the county that explores and celebrates local folk tales and Shropshire’s natural environment.

During February and March 2025, pupils are taking part in four drama, music or dance workshops, facilitated by professional artists, to create their own original performance based on the Shropshire folktale of Gwendol, the Wrekin giant.  Pupils will then perform their work on stage at Ludlow Assembly Rooms on Tuesday 18th March 2025. This performance will feature narration and storytelling by award-winning poet and performer Henry Maddicott and professional actor Jacoba Williams.

HOW PARENTS/CARERS CAN BOOK TICKETS

On Tuesday 18th March, children involved will perform twice at Ludlow Assembly Rooms to ensure as many parents/carers and friends can attend as possible. Performances are at 4.30pm and 6.00pm, with an approximate running time of 45 – 50 minutes. Tickets are available to book online at the cost of £6 (adults) and £4 (under 12s).

Book tickets HERE:

 

We recommend booking early to avoid disappointment as there is limited capacity at Ludlow Assembly Rooms.

PREPARING CHILDREN FOR THE REHEARSAL

On Tuesday 18th March, children will be transported by coach and will arrive at Ludlow Assembly Rooms at 10.30am. After the final performance, the children will return to school via the coach provided, arriving back around 8.00pm. To avoid any confusion at the end of the event, parents should collect their children from school and NOT from the Ludlow Assembly Rooms.

Food and drinks:

Please ensure that your child has a bottle of water, a healthy packed lunch and an afternoon snack box to sustain them throughout the day, from 10.30am – 7.00pm. It is worth packing large/hearty portions as the children will be using up a lot of energy during rehearsals and the shows, and refreshments will not be provided by Pentabus. Those pupils entitled to free school meals will be provided with a packed lunch (sandwich, packet of crisps, piece of fruit and a flapjack/shortbread) by our school meals provider before departure, but we are unable to provide any supplementary snacks. If your child would prefer a packed lunch from home, please let the teacher know so that our caterers will provide only the meals required.

ATTENDING A SHOW

The venue address is:

Ludlow Assembly Rooms,  Market Square, Ludlow, SY8 1AZ

For travel and car parking guidance, visit: www.letsgoludlow.com/parking-in-ludlow

PHOTOGRAPHS & FILMING

We politely ask that audience members do not take photographs or film during the performance, as there are children involved who have not consented to photography or filming.

Pentabus are working with a professional film-maker to capture the children’s experience during the project, and this film will be circulated to all schools after the performance.

The cost of the trip is free as the transport costs are very generously being covered by the theatre company.

Please ensure your contact details are up-to-date on Arbor in case we need to contact you during the trip. Many thanks.

Year 4 Trip to Thinktank

Year 4 had an electrifying time at Thinktank, the science museum in Birmingham! We explored the museum learning about wildlife, old forms of transport, the body, space and lots more! We also had a brilliant interactive show all about electricity!

Chinese New Year

We love to celebrate festivals from around the world.  EYFS, Year 2 and Year 4 all participated in a Chinese New Year workshop today with music, dance and story and a 12 foot dragon!

Year 4 have made a lovely video of the experience

 

International Day

We’ve all had fun for International Day learning Spanish with Senorita Jones, singing the Fiji Rugby song with Mrs Porrett, playing an international game in PE and learning about another country in class.  Thank you to the many family guests for joining us in the classroom and telling us about places you have lived or travelled-always fascinating and providing a window to our children of a life they might choose to live one day.

In Year 4 Olive’s dad, Dominic, taught us about Laternelaufen, or ‘lantern walking’, which children do on 11th November to celebrate St. Martin’s Day and his story.  See the video below.

 

 

International Food Market

We’ve been immersing ourselves in new languages and cultures throughout the day and after school it was time to try tasters from around the world at our International Food Market!

With each Year Group supporting a stall we had foods from Spain, Greece, India, Germany, USA, Italy and Poland and other countries.

Than you so much for coming along and encouraging your children to try new foods.  It was wonderful to see the cultural dishes made at home with love and little notes to go alongside.

 

Dolphins class celebrate a jam-packed International Day! 🌍🐬

Dolphins Class had an incredible International Day, learning about eight fascinating countries! A huge thank you to our wonderful parent visitors—we truly appreciated you sharing your heritage and experiences.

We were fortunate to have Juliet’s mum tell us about Maine in America, Sophia’s dad share insights on Czechia, Josie’s mum talk about South Africa, and Anna’s mum discuss Ukraine. Additionally, two of our very own children, Louis and Lourenço, created PowerPoint presentations to share knowledge about their home countries, Hong Kong and Portugal. It was heart-warming to see them proudly present to their classmates!

Our day was packed with even more fun and learning. We enjoyed a Spanish language lesson with Madame Jones, made lassi (a traditional drink) and tasted naan bread with Miss Lewis while learning about Pakistan.

We were also treated to delicious blueberry and banana muffins from Juliet’s mum, sweets from Sophia’s dad, kulu beading and keyrings from Josie’s mum, sunflower seeds from Anna’s mum, and flags, cultural souvenirs, and currency shared by Lourenço and Louis.

What an amazing day filled with culture, learning, and generosity! We’re so proud to offer such rich opportunities to our children. Thank you to everyone who made it so special! 🌏✨

 

French Subscription for all KS2 Children

REMINDER: We purchase a subscription to Language Nut so KS2 children can have fun practising their French at home.

Languagenut is a great website resource, to reinforce French vocabulary interactively.  It teaches vocabulary so that you can hear it being spoken. Then the learning is consolidated by language games. The games are brilliant, as the children are having so much fun, they don’t even realise how much language they are absorbing.

At Coleham School, every KS2 child has a subscription to this resource and it can be accessed from school or at home, on any type of device with internet.  Your child has already been given login details to Languagenut.   They should ask their Class Teacher if they need them re-issued.

Please support your child to spend at least 10 minutes on this each week as it will really improve their French.

Year 4 Trip to Thinktank Science Museum, Birmingham

As part of this term’s science curriculum work on electricity we have arranged for Year 4 to visit The Thinktank Science Museum, Birmigham on Thursday 13th February.

We will be leaving school at 8.50am prompt in order to get there at a reasonable time so ask that children arrive at 8.30am that morning. We expect to arrive back at school around 3.20pm – 3.30pm, depending on the traffic at that time of day.

Your child will need to bring a packed lunch and plenty to drink for this trip – no glass bottles or fizzy drinks please. Those pupils entitled to free school meals will be given a packed lunch – comprising a sandwich, a packet of crisps, a cake/cookie and a piece of fruit – by our school meals provider before departure. If your child would prefer to bring a packed lunch from home, please let the teacher know so we can instruct the kitchen staff not to make up a packed lunch for them.

Children should wear school uniform for this trip and bring with them a lightweight/waterproof coat. We will not be visiting the souvenir shop so no additional spending money is required.

The cost of the trip is £23.60, which includes entrance fees, an “Electrifying Science” workshop, transport and insurance.  Payment for this trip should be made via your child’s Arbor account prior to the date of the trip.

 

In case of an emergency or medical incident during the trip please can you check that your contact details are up-to-date on Arbor prior to the trip. Thank you for your assistance.

Chinese New Year Workshops for EYFS, Year 2 & Year 4

As part of our religious studies, we have arranged for our EYFS, Year 2 and Year 4 pupils to take part in a Chinese New Year Workshop at school on Wednesday 29th January. Each workshop, provided by Sounds Roadshows, will involve two 15 metre dragons, dragon and lion dancing and music-making on authentic Chinese musical instruments, immersing children in the colourful Chinese culture.

As we have no other way of funding this workshop we would be extremely grateful if parents could contribute £3.90 per child towards their cost. Payment is to be made via your child’s Arbor account prior to the date of the workshops please.

Year 4 Choral Experience Day at Moreton Hall -7th March

Our Year 4 pupils will be visiting Moreton Hall to take part in a Choral Experience Day on FRIDAY 7TH MARCH (this date has changed again from Tuesday 3rd to Friday 7th March))  It will be an amazing experience for all those taking part – an opportunity for budding choristers to develop their technique under the expert guidance of one of the UK’s renowned choral directors and Moreton Hall’s experienced Music Department.

Pupils will be leaving school at 8.45am prompt to ensure they arrive in time for the start of the event so we ask that children arrive at school for 8.30am that morning. We expect them to arrive back at school around 4.45pm. If they encounter any significant delay on our journey, we will do our best to keep you informed.

A hot lunch and refreshments will be provided by Moreton Hall. Pupils should wear their normal school uniform for this event and bring their water bottle with them.

Parents are invited to attend Moreton Hall, Weston Rhyn, Oswestry for the end of day performance if you would like too. This will start around 3pm (aim to arrive around 2.45pm). The performance will take place in the Holroyd Theatre. SAT NAV: SY10 7SZ for where we will be registering, park and doing most of the Experience Day.  If you are doing this and wish to take your child home , seek out school staff after the performance.

The cost of the trip is £4.25, payment for which should be made via your child’s Arbor account prior to the date of the trip.

Please ensure your contact details are up-to-date on Arbor in case we need to contact you during the trip.

Year 4 visit St Chad’s Christmas Tree Festival

🎄Year 4 took a trip to St Chad’s to experience the beautiful Christmas Tree Festival. It was a truly special experience, with stunningly decorated trees set in the wonderful ambience of St Chad’s – a real Christmastide treat for everyone. The children loved admiring all the festive trees and enjoyed spotting those donated by familiar local businesses.

We then visited Ebenezer Scrooge’s grave, where TJ shared the story behind it, helping to prepare us for when we watch A Christmas Carol performed by our drama club!🎄

         

Christmas Lunch

We all enjoyed our Christmas Lunch together!! Thank you to our Catering Team for all their hard work on this day and every day this year 🌟  They arrived in school this morning at 6.30am to start cooking and managed to serve a whopping 462 Christmas dinners to our staff and pupils here and also at Bowbrook Primary.  Well done, it was lovely!

KS2 Christmas Performance

What a lovely Christmas performance from ALL the KS2 Children.  It’s not easy to perform in 4 shows, to 4 different audiences across 3 days so well done to all the children for being at their best and bringing this lovely gift to their families.  It was a wonderful celebration of narrating, acting, dancing and singing.  A special mention to Year 6 as it is their last Coleham Christmas Performance.  Well done again to all the children and thank you to our families for supporting us.  It’s tiring performing in a run of sell out shows so the children deserve an extra special treat this weekend! Below is a short video of highlights!

 

Our Picture Book Wish List

Our writing and reading leads Mrs Stennett and Miss Harris have been working with a consultant and plan to introduce Picture Book Studies next year.  This will feature incredible books that help us become kind, empathetic, make us laugh, make us gasp and make us curious in the world in which we live.

We are on the look out for the following books and have set up an Amazon Wish List for these.  If you might like to purchase a Christmas gift for our classes then we would be incredibly grateful for your donations.

Books can be purchased via the link below which will be delivered direct to school.

Amazon Wish List 

But don’t forget if you are kind enough to make a purchase, please leave us an Amazon note, so we know who the parcel is from! This way we can thank you and your children!

Year 4 Sewing Project

Thank you to all the parents who came into class to help Whales and Dolphins with a tricky task. The children’s D&T project was to sew Roman applique to make Roman purses! Well done everyone!

 

Yr 4’s Christmas Performance Songs

Here are Year 4’s songs to learn this year for our Christmas performance.

The Lonely Goatherd 

High on a hill was a lonely goatherd
Lay-ee-odl-lay-ee-odl-lay-hee-hoo
Loud was the voice of the lonely goatherd
Lay-ee-odl-lay-ee-odl-ooh

Folks in a town that was quite remote heard
Lay-ee-odl-lay-ee-odl-lay-hee-hoo
Lusty and clear from the goatherd’s throat heard
Lay-ee-odl-lay-ee-odl-ooh

O-ho-lay-dee-odl-lee-o, o-ho-lay-dee-odl-ay
O-ho-lay-dee-odl-lee-o, o-ho-lay-dee-odl-ay

 

5, 6, 7, 8 

(It’s time to begin – now count it in)
5-6-7-8
My boot scootin’ baby is drivin’ me crazy
My obsession from a Western, my dance floor date
My rodeo Romeo, a cowboy god from head to toe
Wanna make you mine, better get in line
5-6-7-8

My boot scootin’ baby is drivin’ me crazy
My obsession from a Western, my dance floor date
My rodeo Romeo, a cowboy god from head to toe
Wanna make you mine, better get in line
5-6-7-8

 

The Shepherd’s Conga

Sheep to the left and sheep to the right
Everybody conga with us deep into the night
Sheep all around as far as well can see
Help us make a longer conga, 1, 2, 3

We live and breathe (sheep!)
We talk and dream (sheep!)
We count them in the daytime and we count them in our sleep
We sing and dance (sheep!)
We cry and laugh (sheep!)
We count them in the daytime and we count them in our sleep

 

While Shepherds Watch Their Flocks By Night

(30 second intro)

While shepherds watched their flocks by night,
all seated on the ground,
an angel of the Lord came down,
and glory shone around.

“Fear not,” said he for mighty dread
had seized their troubled mind
“glad tidings of great joy I bring
to you and all mankind.

“All glory be to God on high,
and to the earth be peace;
to those on whom his favour rests
goodwill shall never cease.”

 

 

 

 

Author Piers Torday visits us

Bestselling Children’s Author Piers Torday visited us today!  Piers wrote The Last Wild Collection and has won many literature awards.  Piers talked to Year 4, 5 and 6 about his new fantasy book Midnight Treasure. Set in a fantasy version of Transylvania and a kingdom of vampirs, an orphaned werwolf searches for a mysterious treasure.

Piers’ Dad left him the inspiration for Midnight Treasure.  During Lockdown Piers found a mysterious map of a fantasy land drawn by his dad —a wonderful world of knights, bears, forests, and lakes.  He had no idea what it was or when he drew it but it was the seed of a story which grew when Piers researched his family history in Transylvania (modern day Romania).

The story was also inspired by The Hobbit, the first book his Dad read to him and his brother and the book they took turns in reading to each other during his Dad’s final days.  This is such a great reminder of how special reading can be between families, stories can be timeless spanning generations and providing us with memories that we treasure!!

Thank you so much to Piers for inspiring Year 4, 5 and 6 and meeting the children for our book signing.

#readingtimeisfamilytime #readingschool #childrensbooksmatter

House Christmas Card Competition

All children are invited to take part in a Christmas Card Competition.

Help us create our very own Coleham School Christmas Cards to send to local businesses and organisations that help us during the year!

Winners…The winning design for each house will be professionally printed and delivered by pupils to local businesses from the school.  The winner from each house will also have some cards to take home and with family/friends.  House points will be awarded for all entries so we hope to see lots of designs.

How to enter….The design needs to be completed on A4 paper (landscape or portrait using any art supplies) and needs to have the child’s name, class and house on the back. Entries can be handed to any house captain who will collect these or can be put in the post box by the hall.

The deadline...Entries need to be handed in by next Friday 22nd November.