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We Go Moon CrazySt. Andrew's Primary School is lucky enough to have had the opportunity to study and handle some real pieces of moon rock and lunar dust this week. These amazing pieces were collected during NASA's manned space missions to the Moon in the 1960's and 1970's. The samples were delivered to the school by a special NASA envoy and are kept under tight security at all times.The UK's Science and Technology Facilities Council provide schools around the country with these materials together with a display of information on meteorites and other space rock as part of a science educational package. Katrina Halford, the Science & Technology teacher at St. Andrew's School, commented "We are absolutely delighted to be able to offer our students such a unique and exciting opportunity to actually handle something which provides an insight into the bigger environment surrounding us. We have recently taken a trip to the Science Museum in London and our students are excited to build on that knowledge in more depth. Most children view the Moon as something that is at the edge of their understanding and now we can truly give it to them to hold, they are so excited". For more information, please contact St. Andrew's Primary School on 01935 872430 or visit our website www.standrewsyetminster.org.uk to view more pictures. Rosie Cunningham, Governor
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RUGBY HOPEFULS TARGET STARDOMSPORTING youngsters took each other on in the culmination of five tag rugby festivals between Dorset primary schools.The North Dorset School Sport Partnership Tag Rugby Finals included schools from the Blandford, Sturminster Newton, Shaftesbury, Gillingham and Sherborne areas. Tag rugby in north Dorset is a lottery-funded activity that, in the past four years, has allowed schools to have access to training and equipment through the partnership. Around 600 pupils took part in the preliminary rounds of the competition and the top two teams from each school family were invited to represent their respective areas in the finals at North Dorset Rugby Club in Gillingham. The teams took to the first team pitch for what was to be a well-contested competition. The semi final line-up was Sherborne Primary against Hazelbury Bryan and St Andrews in Yetminster against the eventual winners, St Nicholas Primary of Child Okeford. St Nicholas edged through its semi final in extra time but was crowned North Dorset TAG Champions after a 5-1 win against Hazelbury Bryan. Event organiser Tom Symons, who is Dorset competition manager, said: "It was great to see some fantastic rugby being played by all teams. "The players were great ambassadors for their schools and for the game of rugby. The work of all teachers, coaches and parents needs to be commended as this plays a vital part in young people continuing to play rugby and hopefully moving on to join a club." The final positions were: 1 St Nicholas Primary, Child Okeford; 2 Hazelbury Bryan; 3 Sherborne Primary; 4 St Andrew's, Yetminster; 5 Spetisbury Primary; 6 St Mary's, Marnhull; 7 Wardour Primary; 8 Wyke Primary; 9 Motcombe Primary; and 10 Durweston Primary. | ) | ||||
NewsStAnd March 2009 OUTSTANDINGAt St Andrew's we excel in many things. One area in which we are justly proud is ICT (Information and Communication Technology). ICT is part of the National Curriculum. It is taught as a separate subject in its own right and also used as a tool for carrying out projects across many other areas of the curriculum. Because of its importance for today's young people, it has, therefore, become a core feature of a school's curriculum standing side by side with numeracy and literacy.We feel we are well positioned to develop this work further and encourage the very highest standards of pupil achievement by way of our existing very good practice, super resources and a well planned programme of activities. Indeed, our recent subject inspection (Jan 2009) praised as 'OUTSTANDING' the manner in which ICT helps to underpin the personal development of all our pupils. All our lessons incorporate at least one aspect of ICT; each classroom has a built in interactive whiteboard and access to the computer suite and laptops which possess a plethora of stimulating software for all ages and skill levels. All equipment is linked to the internet by way of a wireless 'broadband' connection. This provides a wonderful learning and teaching resource for pupils of all abilities but we are also highly vigilant of the need to use this astonishing facility in a safe and secure manner. These are not the only pieces of ICT hardware available to the pupils. In class we also use regularly EASi Speak recording microphones for the children to document their work, whether that is poetry reading, French conversation or a Materials quiz in science. In addition to this we use digital microscopes to get a closer look on life. Digital cameras and camcorders are used in many subjects such as in history when, for example, we are recreating interviews with patients in the time of Florence Nightingale or filming around the school for different sources of water in science. We also have listening centres in the 'Early Years' so that children can enjoy stories together. We are soon to be adding film making to our curriculum as part of our commitment to our 'Gifted and Talented' children so that they get the chance to record film, edit and produce their own podcasts/vodcasts to stretch their imagination and creative juices. This should produce some interesting pieces of work. We are justly proud of our ICT capabilities in St Andrew's and the children really enjoy using all the equipment. Check up on this and other stories by looking at our website http://www.standrewsyetminster.org.uk/ . Use the contact us link to let us know what you think of the site! | ) | ||||
NewStAnd January 2009Welcome back to another year in the life of St Andrew's. We hope you all had a splendid Christmas and look forward to a peaceful and enriching New Year. The immediate excitement of our year is the construction of our long awaited Agility Trail. All the funds raised by the PTA in the various activities they stoically organise , fairs, quizzes etc, over the last few years have been put into this project. This, together with a very generous donation from Westland in Yeovil, has been matched by school funds.All along the journey, the children via the School Council, have been consulted as to the specific elements they would actually like to see in their Agility Trail. Their ideas were transferred into a plan from which, using Peter Hunt from the Toy Barn in Sherborne, as our consultant, we were able to commission exactly what we wanted. The supplier Home Front from Salisbury then constructed the play trail in mid-January. The Trail will include an imaginative play element - "the ship" designed with KS1 children in mind with bridges, cargo nets, slides, climbing wall and sails to give shade on those hot summers' days (do you remember those from your youth?). What will be lovely about this is that this area can also be used as an outdoor classroom in the warmer months. In addition, the rest of the trail, which will keep the older children entertained for hours, will comprise: climbing and monkey bars, wobble and spring beams, traverse and rock walls, rope walk, climbing trees and stepping stones. What is also fantastic is that the whole trail is constructed onto all weather safety matting which means that the children will be able to access the trail from the playground without traipsing through the muddy field. Just another item to add to our list of ensuring we are a Healthy School. To check up on this and other stories have a look at our website http://www.standrewsyetminster.org.uk/ | ) | ||||
NOVEMBERS article ine the Wriggle Valley MagazineNewsStAnd November 2008"When we got to Arne, binoculars were handed out and we set off. As we were moving Carol told us about sweet chestnuts and how good they are for squirrels and other rodents. Then we saw a stag in the bushes and we stopped to take a look. As we went on we saw a whole herd with two stags sizing each other up. Suddenly a man ran up and told us about a peregrine falcon that he could see and we spent ages staring through the binoculars at it…" This is part of Freddie's recount of when Class 5 stayed at Leeson House, Langton Matravers, a few weeks ago. What a fantastic experience for him and all his class mates; it reminds us of when we were children and used to go on wonderful nature rambles at school. A time to reinforce friendship bonds and for some it was the first time they had been away from home. Their week comprised a night walk, sand dune investigation, orienteering, natural art, steam train trip, delicious food and a visit to a stone quarry. Andrew Priest was presented with the Leeson House Cup for being Child of the Week. We also have just had the official unveiling of our AFRICAN ARTS WEEK 2008 mosaic, sponsored by Porter Dodson, which was the culmination of a wonderful AFRICAN extravaganza of creative art, music dance and storytelling. Every child in the school helped make the mosaic and it will be a superb permanent reminder of our enjoyable and enriching time. Last month we forgot to congratulate our ex-St Andrew's students who performed so well in their GCSE's and "A" levels this summer - we had 8 children in the top 30 students achieving at least 8 A*s and As at GCSE. Well done to everyone. A date for your diary - our CHRISTMAS FAIR will be held on Friday 28th November - all are well to this fun fundraising event. More info to follow. A check up on this and other stories have a look at our website | ) | ||||
GOOD KING HALWe spent the day with King Henry himself who told us all about the life and time of himself and his family. The best bits were learning about crime and punsihment.This is what he says about us on his blog! Monday, September 15, 2008 | ) | ||||
CROSS-COUNTRY RUNNERS BATTLE THE BAD WEATHERMay 2008More than 100 primary school pupils from the Sherborne area braved the elements as they held their annual cross country festival. Despite rain and strong winds, all the youngsters completed the course at The Gryphon School, on 29 February, with a group of young leaders from the secondary school providing support to ensure the event ran smoothly. In the girls' team event, St Andrew's School, Yetminster, took the first place, with Sherborne Primary in second and Thornford third. In the boys' race first place was taken by St Mary's Primary School, Bradford Abbas, second by Sherborne Abbey Primary School and third by Bishop's Caundle. In the individual sections, Izzy Brooks of Sherborne Primary came in first for the girls, followed by Maddie Pollard of Yetminster, and Kelly Coombs of Sherborne Primary. Winner of the boys' race was Rhodri Hopkins of Bradford Abbas, followed by Tom Mead of Sherborne Abbey in second place and Edward Rich of Buckland Newton third. | ) | ||||
SCIENCE DAY JULY 2008St Andrew's held a fantastic science enrichment day all about flight. The children from 7 local schools including ours were challenged to make a flying machine powered only with elastic bands."TOP-FLIGHT PUPILS WIN THEIR WINGS BY BUILDING PLANES Dorset children flew solo at a science day which brought together budding aviators from across the county. Around 40 year-four pupils from primary schools in Trent, Thornford, Sherborne, Buckland Newton and Bishops Caundle travelled to St Andrew's Primary School in Yetminster to reach for the skies in a day looking at the dynamics of flight.Groups of six worked together to design and build their own aircraft powered by elastic and constructed of plastic, cellophane and paper, then tested them to see which would fly furthest. Members of the winning team whose plane soared for more than six metres, powered by propeller and catapult, were awarded a balsa-wood toy plane from Yeovil firm the Hobby Hangar. Yetminster teacher Katrina Halford, who co-ordinated the day, said: "Because they were working in groups of six, everybody was able to be involved. "They developed their communication skills and team work, and learned about how to make something aerodynamic and about stored energy. "For our school, a day like this enhances the community links and makes our children feel part of the wider community." Mrs Halford hoped the event would also boost the image of science and inspire more Amelia Earharts and Wright brothers. "We showed them films of early flight, and about how they could go on to be future aviators. Hopefully, we will be inspiring young scientists of the future," she said. The day was funded by Boyle's Education Foundation and the Institute of Physics" For more photos click on the link below; SCIENCE ENRICHMENT DAY |  |
