Headmistress’s Newsletter

Issue 74 10 May 2019

Oxford University – German Olympiad – Report by Frau Barwell

This week I was absolutely delighted to receive some fantastic news about our amazing Bronte linguists. Pupils
from Years 4, 5 and 6 were entered into the Oxford German Olympiad, a competition run by Oxford University
for children learning German. This is a prestigious competition with hundreds of entries from schools across
the whole of the UK. Year 4 were asked to retell in German a fairy tale of their choice whilst Year 5 and Year 6
were tasked with designing and then describing in German a monster. We had some very creative monsters
some of which apparently eat homework - I must say that, in all my years of teaching, I have never heard the
excuse, "My monster ate it" but there's a first for everything! More worryingly, some of these monsters also
apparently eat teachers - so Bronte staff, beware! Year 6 also completed a further task where they had to draw
and describe in German their house from the perspective of a creature living there.

Having submitted the entries, we all waited in anticipation to hear the results and this week the wait was
over. We received numerous awards for commended and highly commended work across all of the classes. I
am very happy to report that, for the final task, pupils from Year 6 actually won all of the top awards. Anjola
and Haadiya were joint runners-up, and Indie and Hannah celebrated as joint winners of the whole
competition. This is a huge and amazing achievement. These four girls now have the once in a lifetime
opportunity of being welcomed to Oxford University, at the end of June, to receive their prizes.

Other awards went to:

Commended: Shraddha, Melisa,Haadiya, Indie, Sebastian, Alisia.

Highly commended: Jaya, Alice, Bailey, Anjola

It is wonderful to see the pupils' hard work and enthusiasm for languages recognised in this way - huge
congratulations to all involved.

Frau Barwell
 Page 2

Swimming
Year 1 and Year 4 are enjoying their
weekly swimming lessons, as they continue to
improve technique and performance. Many
Year 1 children are now swimming without
the use of floats or arm bands and all have
shown much progress. Well done!

Reading Gurus
The Reading Gurus, who featured in the Newsletter earlier on in the year, are members of Year 6
who volunteer to work with and support some Year 4 children with their reading. It has been
interesting to see how much both year groups enjoy these reading sessions and the older children
also model good reading strategies, such as using a dictionary and thesauruses where necessary.

Badges were handed out to the Gurus in assembly and they are:
Rohan, Jay, Hannah, Anjola, Manni, Dylan, Haadiya, Indie, Ola, Aalok, Freddie and Jack.

Very well done to them for continuing to support and encourage younger members of our school
community.
 Page 3

Fire! Fire!

On Thursday children in Year 2 were transported back in time to September 1666 as they witnessed their
very own Great Fire of London. Their self-made city was complete with a Pudding Lane Bakery and a
collection of truly magnificent (and highly combustible) houses packed tightly together. Fittingly, it was
started by our very own Baker Mrs Sutherland! A very excited Year 2 experienced the sights, sounds and
smells of the fire and even Year 6 couldn’t resist a peak!

This was a fantastic opportunity to explore not only the events of the great fire but also the human side of
the disaster as children were able to empathise with those who lost their homes and possessions.

The fire took place under the watchful eye of Bronte parent and firefighter Mr Cumming who also gave a
talk on fire safety in the home - we are extremely grateful to him.
 Page 4

Gardening and Wildlife Club

Green fingers were spotted and
excited squeals could be heard
from the bottom of the garden
as gardening and wildlife club
commenced. The children have
been busy planting tomatoes,
chillis, chives and sunflowers as
well as welcoming new
residents to the Bronte Bug
Hotel and ensuring they have
everything they need.

Cookery Club
More cookery club fun this week - Miss Walters and Mrs Kybert
made scrumptious jam tarts! The children loved getting sticky
with the pastry and using their rolling pin skills. They cut out
different shapes and showed off their creative streaks by making
different shapes and patterns to decorate their tarts. A big thank
you to all the parents who remembered the bun tray (especially
after the weekend!) What will they get up to next week?
 Looking Ahead: Page 5
May
Saturday 18th Bronte’s Got Talent
(6.00pm, School Hall) *

Mon 20th Year 4: Walk into Gravesend Town, am

Tue 21st Year 1: class assembly

(9.00am, School Hall) *
Year 4: Maths briefing for parents
(4.00pm, Year 3 classroom)
Girls Football Final, Meopham School 4pm

Wed 22nd Year 6 visit: St Margaret’s Bay, Dover

(within school day)
Year 5: Maths briefing for parents
(4.00pm, Year 3 classroom)

Thurs 23rd Year 2: Forest School ends

Anjola has been awarded a Headmistress's
Commendation today for outstanding
commitment to learning in maths and a
desire to keep improving. Her behaviour
is excellent, her class work is excellent and
she is 100% on task in every lesson. Her
homework is always on time and
beautifully presented. If there is
something she wants to go over, she will
ask for help – always a sign of a confident
learner. Well done Anjola.
Year 5: Cognitive Ability Tests (CATs)
(morning)
Year 3 and 4: Sportshall Athletics
(Cobham Hall, within school day)
Fri 24th Year 5: Cognitive Ability Tests (CATs)
(morning)
Half-Term Friday 24th May (3.30pm) to
Monday 3rd June (8.45am)
Sun 2nd June French trip departs:
Château de la Baudonnière, Normandy
(assemble School at 8.15am)

In Celebration Assembly
today, we also
celebrated one of our
footballers who recently
won his runners up
medal in the South East
London & Kent Youth
Football League Shield
final. Brandon (Year 6) is
pictured holding his
Melisa was today awarded a Silver Star beautiful medal and we
in assembly. Mrs Prescott was full of congratulate him for his
praise for her fantastic and proactive part in the team's
attitude in school, her excellent work success last weekend.
ethic and the fact that she is always
happy to help with activities around the
school. Very well done, Melisa. Clearly a
well deserved award.