Senior School Weekly News
News from Senior School this week: 18th March 2024
Mrs Séguier
Deputy Head of Senior School
This week we celebrated everything to do with Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths with all sorts of workshops, activities and trips!
Year 6, Year 7, and Year 8 students had the fantastic opportunity to go to the Harry Potter Studios on Tuesday as part of the Drama and Art curriculum. They had such a lovely time exploring the behind the scenes of the making of the famous saga.
Year 9 and 10 participated in a Young Scientist workshop at the Royal Institute on Thursday during which they became scientists for the day and tested their own ideas by designing creative experiments.
On Wednesday we had our very first Abercorn STEAM Showcase during which the shortlisted pupils from Science, Maths, Computing, Art and Performing Art competitions showcased their entries. We learned everything to do with friction in Science and how to use the number 4 in so many versatile ways in Maths. We also saw beautiful artwork inspired by the wonderful artist John O’Connor and had a few performances including a lovely comedy act. Finally, we had a few demonstrations of video games created by a few pupils using the coding software “Scratch”.
Today, in assembly 5 shortlisted students presented their project which required them to build a catapult. They worked so hard on their project and took a lot of pride in them. Well done to all of them for their effort!
I would like to thank the STEAM team led by Mr Leggett which includes Mr Hopwood, Mrs Wrottesley, Mr Haverley and Mr Murphy for putting together all these wonderful in class and out of class events for our pupils.
Next week will mark our final week of the Spring term. Please note that, as a result, the last day for clubs is today. There will be no clubs taking place next week.
In addition to this, as per usual, next Thursday will be a half day for the pupils and they will be dismissed from Senior School in a scattered manner per year group from 11.45am. Pupils who are using the bus service to Lower School will be dismissed at Lower School at 12pm. Please refer to the communication about end of term arrangements if you need to check the exact dismissal time from Senior School for your child or email the office at senior@abercornschool.com if you have any queries around these.
I would like to thank you once more for your continued support. The Spring Term has been very busy but, as always, it is wonderful to see the pupils and students grow and be so excited about their learning.
I hope you have a restful Easter break and I look forward to the Summer Term with our children.
Year 3
As another action-packed week draws to a close, we were thrilled to see the children continuing to shine as they immersed themselves in a variety of exciting STEAM-themed activities.
In mathematics, our focus on 'consolidation' has allowed students to revisit and strengthen their problem-solving skills using the four operations, fractions, 3D shapes, and time-telling. It's been wonderful to witness their growing confidence in these fundamental areas.
In English, the children were amazed to learn the story Theseus and The Minotaur. The children went on to write an extraordinary character descriptions of one of Greek Mythologies most formidable villains. Their creativity and engagement with the story have been truly inspiring.
Our botanical adventures continued with an exploration of seed growth, observing sunflower seeds growing in both light and darkness. Through hands-on investigation, the children discovered fascinating insights into how light affects plant development, culminating in a detailed analysis of the flowering plant life cycle.
Art lessons involved creating some colourful and well-structured rocket ships as 3W planned, designed and built launch-able rocket ships using paper and straws!
As we approach the end of term, we want to extend our heartfelt thanks for your ongoing support and partnership. It's been a joy to watch the children's curiosity and talents flourish, and we're excited for the adventures that lie ahead
Best wishes from Mr Ward
Year 4
At the beginning of the week, the Year 4s enjoyed sharing their pop-up rainforest information books with the Year 3 students. Each Year 3 student paired up with a Year 4 student and listened to a reading from their rainforest information book.
On Wednesday morning, the children gathered in the theatre for a showcase, special STEAM assembly. The children watched demonstrations of home-made model cars propelled by elastic bands, solutions to the Four Fours maths puzzles, and examples of computer games made on the scratch programme. From the arts, they listened to a Year 5 band, a comedy sketch show and a piano recital. Well done to all those who took part and to those who submitted entries. All the children received certificates for their super contributions.
By now you will have received an email detailing costume requirements for your child’s show, The Emerald Crown. The dress rehearsal is Tuesday 23rd April and the production for parents takes place on Thursday 25th April at 9.30am Please do contact me if you are unsure about your child’s costume and please take note of the costume deadline for our dress rehearsal. We would like you to send them to school on Friday 19th April in a secure bag labelled with your child’s name. The list may seem incomplete for your child. Don't worry, we are providing all the other items such as wings and masks for the Toucans, Hummingbirds and Macaws. Each character will be provided for-you just need to send in what is described beside your child’s name. Many thanks in advance for your support.
Kind regards, The Year 4 Team
From the PE department
Years 3 - 10
Years 3 and 4
This spring term, the children started by doing dance in PE lessons, and cross-country running in their Games lessons. The year 3 children danced to an instrumental from The Snowman, while the year 4 children danced to “We All in This Together” from the first “High School Musical” movie.
After the half term, our focus switched to basketball in the PE lessons and rugby in the Games lessons. The children practiced their dribbling, passing and catching, to better play these sports.
Years 5 and 6
A huge coincidence this year was that Year 5 and 6 children learnt a dance routine in their PE lessons, to the song “Consider Yourself” from the Oliver movie, and they just so happen to be doing Oliver in their theatre production this year. The dance routine that they learnt in their PE lessons, will be used in the production as well.
After the half term, they switched to practising skills for basketball in the PE lessons and rugby in the Games lessons. The children worked on changing direction while dribbling, as well as passing and receiving the ball from different directions.
There has been a few occasions where the weather didn’t allow us to go out for Games. Instead, we would do some indoor fitness activities, which included chair aerobics.
Years 7, 8 and 9
In their Games lessons this term, the children have been practising several sports. They did cross-country training, as well as netball and football training. This meant that they were able to participate in the inter-house cross country races, and also do an inter-house competition for netball and football, which they had missed out on, in the spring term. The focus of their sessions was to work effectively as part of a team, through improved communication and positional play.
When we couldn’t go outside, because of the weather, we stayed in and played table tennis, and seated volleyball.
Year 10
The children continued with their gym work, with the focus this term being on cardiovascular training on indoor equipment in the fitness room. This included a treadmill, stationary bicycle, stair climber and rower. This training would help develop their cardiovascular endurance, which in turn would prepare them to participate in the inter-house cross-country race.
