April showers…in June…at least it’s warm!

A lovely week of mapping skills in both Upper and Lower School. 

Lower School undertook a French Animal Hunt (learning the names of 8 domestic animals in French) before exploring maps, with a focus on orienteering maps; we looked at sample maps and keys and then looked round our school site to see which features of a key we would need if making a map of KJS. 

Following this, we played a key-matching relay game and then drew map symbols for a partner to identify. 

Upper School have discussed Derbyshire and shared places in Derbyshire that are special to us. 

We then made a map of Derbyshire and models of 9 of its wonderful attractions!  During the task, we focussed heavily on YOU22 attributes and, post constructions, we reflected on the ones we had shown and the ones we had seen in others. 

Yesterday, Y6 had a visit from the Derbyshire Fire and rescue Service. They learned about the fire triangle and the science of fire; the main causes of fire in the home and how they can be prevented; the importance of smoke alarms and making a fire plan; and understand the consequences of hoax calls, arson and playing with fire. The children were very inquisitive and asked lots of relevant questions to consolidate their learning. Well done, Y6!

In today's Special Achievement Assembly, Holly received her Silver EMBARK Award after completing over 60 of the EMBARK challenges, whilst Ben and Jasmine received their Gold EMBARK Awards after completing over 90 challenges with Jasmine, for the first time ever, completing all 100 of the challenges.

Well done children on receiving these very special accolades.

Our resident brood of blue tits are almost ready to embark on their first flight and fledge the nest. Both parents have been tirelessly feeding their family of four and have not only done an incredble job as committed parents, but have also provided a wonderful spectacle for the boys and girls. 

The challenge for this year's Cycle/Scootathon was for the children to collectively cycle or scoot 107 miles, the distance from Derby to the Derbyshire Children's Holiday Centre in Skegness.

The event was organised in conjunction with the Cosy Bike and Hike in support of the DCHC and Derby Kids Camp and on the very first day, our upper school led the charge, completing 839 laps of the school.

On the hottest day of the year so far, the lower school took the reigns and toiled in the heat to complete a further 852 laps which gave us a final total of 1691 laps.

Overall, this meant that altogether the children cycled or scooted a staggering 281 miles- the distance from Derby to Edinburgh!

What an incredible achievement and terrific example of the EMBARK Core Value of Teamwork.

Please click here to see photogrphs of the event.