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The Leavers’ Ball for the Class of 2008

Our annual Leavers’ Ball has become the event of the year and this year promises to be just as exciting, and yes, Andy’s back!

Head'slines

We have come to the end of a long and very busy half term. The children have worked extremely hard and we are thrilled with the progress they have made. Once again, looking back, we have accomplished so much. Our Year 3s have experienced their first visit away from home whilst our Y5s and 6s are preparing for our forthcoming visit to Spain, which will be the sixth residential visit for some of our Year 6 pupils.

Mr. Lengden has taken all the Junior children to the Lowry to experience Art workshops. We are looking forward to our annual Art Exhibition when some of the work completed in these workshops will be on display.

One of the highlights of the term for me is the launch of our new website which is a wonderful showcase for our vibrant school and fantastic pupils and staff. Once again I would like to thank Mr. Goldstone for his enthusiasm and constant support and flow of ideas. Thank you to those of you who have made suggestions for further development.

Another initiative which has come to fruition this term is the purchase of our picnic tables complete with parasols which have been sited at the back of school overlooking the field. During recent warmer days we have been able to eat our lunch outside and I foresee that parents will be arriving very early on Sports Day to get a ringside seat. These tables have been purchased with the money raised through “New to You”. I would like to thank Mr. Stafford (All in One Garden Centre) for his help in choosing and siting the tables and for enabling us to buy them at a discounted rate.

All that remains is to wish you a very restful half term week.

Thought for the week

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” - Mark Twain

Value and Habit of Mind for next half term

Our Value for next half term is Responsibility.
Our Habit of Mind is Taking Responsible Risks.

Being adventuresome.
Living on the edge of one's competence.
Venture Out!

Thinking Skills will focus on Thinking Outside the Box.

Junior Greater Manchester Run

A Year 5 pupil took part in the Junior Greater Manchester Run last weekend. Read about it in FMfm.

Year 5 Visit to Rishworth

On Tuesday, our Year 5 children were invited to a Science and Maths Day at Rishworth School. This gave the children an insight into what awaits them at secondary school.

On Saturday, 17th May, I took part in the Junior Greater Manchester Run held at the Manchester City Stadium.

When I arrived I walked around the stadium to get my bearings. I needed to find the start line, finish line and the meeting place for families.

Ten minutes before the race I joined 699 other boys in the pre-race warm up. Somehow I managed to find my friend amongst all those people.

At 12.00 precisely, the start gun sounded and we were off. It was a struggle to get into a rhythm at the beginning because we were all together in a pack.

We jogged along Joe Mercer Way towards the B of the Bang, then picked up speed round the athletics track, headed back towards the Manchester City superstore, then sprinted to the finish line, a total of 2.4 kilometres. Here everyone was given a “goody bag” which included a medal.

I was sponsored by family and friends, raising £42 for my chosen charity the “British Heart Foundation”. This charity helped my grandma a lot after she had a heart attack at the beginning of this year.

By A Year 5 pupil

Every Thursday evening after school, two of our Year 1 pupils attend Rainbows. Rainbows are aged between five and seven and are the youngest members in the Girl Guide movement.

The girls have lots of fun at Rainbows, making thing, learning new songs and playing games with the many friends they have made. They are both very excited about the first ever Rainbows’ Sleep Over next weekend.

On Wednesday, 7th May Rainbows celebrated their 21st birthday. To mark this special occasion, Rainbows across the country wore their uniforms to school. Our two girls wore their uniform at Firwood Manor for the day. They also went to a Princess Tea Party the following evening at the Church Hall where the Rainbows meet.

I am writing to tell you about some of the things we did last term.

We have had a Unicef Day for Change in which it was own clothes day. We abandoned normal lessons for the day and did lessons based on the work Unicef do. We learned about child solders and what horrible things they go through.

We had a discussion with Mrs Shaw who told us about Russia. She also showed us some pictures and some Russian items. They included some Russian Dolls that were passed round the class for us all to see. I think we all learnt a lot about Russia on that day.

Our Headteacher, Mrs Wild, brought her mum, to school to give us a talk about WW2 because she was an ARP Warden during the war. She also brought some items in to show us e.g.: medals and some photos showing people and their activities during the war. It was a very interesting afternoon and I really felt like I benefited from it.

In addition to all this there was a Mad Science Day. The day started with an assembly in the school hall on molecules and vortexes, we also learnt some rules from Generator John. Then we had fun making some slime with different chemicals like sodium borate. Afterwards, we set off a rocket in the school playground. Everybody learnt a lot about science. It was really mad.

At Firwood Manor we really care a about Fairtrade, helping third world countries to get better deals for their products. So the decision to join in on the Fairtrade Fortnight was taken by the School Council. Parents and children joined in making the fortnight something to remember. A Fairtrade stall was set up in the school hall by children bringing Fairtrade items to sell. We sold a wide range of Fairtrade stuff. In addition, we had a Fairtrade breakfast morning where we had Fairtrade hot chocolate and toast. We have also started a Fairtrade tuck day. Every Tuesday we are allowed to bring in an item of Fairtrade tuck.

We joined World Book Day, where we had to dress up as someone from one of Michael Morpugo’s books. It was harder this year to design our costumes; it was fun and interesting to see what costumes people came in. Making a Michael Morpurgo crossword or word search was great fun.

We looked at the brain in our Brain Awareness Week (BAW) and how clever it is. It has three different parts: the Reptilian brain, Limbic system and Neo cortex. We also learned how many brain cells we’re born with. Can you guess? One hundred billion brain cells and they are very eager to learn. At first it was more of a revisit of what we did last year but we learnt new things further on.

Chairperson of the School Council

My body is round,

I can be every colour.

I am cold as snow because I am bald.

I am armless but not harmless -

I will smash your windows!

I am legless but can fly like the wind.

Humans hate me -

They boot me down the street;

Like a fish, they seize me in a net.

If a man does a trick with his hat

While a crowd watches,

He writes famous names on my skin:

Don't pressure me too much!

What am I?

By two Year 4 Pupils