Ferncumbe Friday

Friday 31st January 2025

Head’s Message

Dear Ferncumbe Family,

I hope this newsletter finds you well and in good spirits. As we embrace the changing seasons, I'm thrilled to share some exciting news with our school community.

I'm looking forward to my upcoming trip to Sierra Leone with One World Link. This incredible opportunity has become even more special as we've discovered that one of our own Ferncumbe families has connections to this vibrant West African nation. It's moments like these that remind us just how small our world can be and how interconnected we truly are.

I won't be embarking on this journey alone. I'll be travelling alongside two fellow educators, a doctor, and Reverend Ann Peachy. Together, we'll be visiting 15 link schools, fostering relationships and building bridges between our communities.

The heart of our mission lies in the spirit of collaboration and mutual learning. We're not just going to teach; we're going there to learn alongside our friends in Bo. Our shared goal is to discover how we can become active citizens who genuinely care for our planet. In today's world, where environmental concerns are at the forefront of global discussions, this experience promises to be both enlightening and transformative.

I'm particularly excited about the potential impact this trip will have on our pupils here at Ferncumbe. Through our experiences, we hope to bring back a wealth of knowledge, fresh perspectives, and inspiring stories that will enrich our curriculum and broaden our pupils' horizons. We want to nurture a sense of global citizenship in our young learners, encouraging them to think beyond our local community and consider their role in the wider world.

This journey embodies the values we hold dear at Ferncumbe - learning from one another, respect, and a commitment to making a positive difference. It's a testament to the power of education in bridging cultures and fostering understanding across continents.

As I prepare for this adventure, I'm filled with gratitude for the support of our school community. Your encouragement and enthusiasm make initiatives like this possible. I look forward to sharing our experiences with you upon my return and exploring ways we can continue to grow as a school that values global awareness and environmental stewardship.

Until then, let's continue to nurture our pupils' curiosity about the world and their place in it. Together, we're sowing seeds of knowledge and compassion that will bloom into a brighter future for all.

Sally Morris
Headteacher

Honiley Class science

In our science lesson last week, we thought about the Nursery Rhyme ‘Humpty Dumpty’. He had an awful fall and cracked into pieces. We decided to think about what material might have made him a great crash mat so that he would survive his fall. The children made some brilliant predictions about what would happen if the mat was made from tissue paper, marshmallows, Lego, sugar cubes or cotton wool. They used some great scientific language to help them describe what they thought might happen. This week, we tested our crash mats. Everyone carefully wrapped their egg using the group’s material and then went outside to test them. What fun we had dropping eggs from one metre high. Some smashed on landing and some just cracked. A few survived! We concluded that tissue paper and marshmallows were the best materials for a crash mat for Humpty Dumpty. Well Done Year 2!

Wroxall Class RSPB Big Schools Birdwatch

This year’s birdwatch was a great success! With perfect, sunny weather, we explored the school grounds and looked out over the surrounding farmland to see what we could find. The pupils engaged so well with the activity and showed real enthusiasm. We saw over 13 different species, including a majestic buzzard sitting low on a branch! Mr Upton from Nature Makers joined us for the birdwatch (and did some invaluable spotting1). He then made some lovely platform bird feeders with the class, which we covered with feed and hung around the grounds. We also played a game-involving lots of running- to highlight the needs of birds and how populations can increase and decrease so easily. A busy morning and lots of fun!

HATTON CLASS

Hatton Class had a visitor this week. I wonder if you can guess which story we have been sharing?

They had lots of questions for our visitor and were keen to help him to change his ways. The children wrote lists to help Bill as he wanted to return all of the items that he had stolen.

Haseley Class

What a wonderful morning Year One had at Hatton Country World this week! On Thursday we were picked up by Tristan the tractor to have a special Farmers Breakfast. We learnt all about what a balanced diet looks like and had to sort food into different food groups. We also got to spend some time feeding and petting the animals! Miss Constable and Mrs Thompson couldn’t resist a cuddle with the lambs! The children were great representatives for our school and the staff commented on how well mannered and behaved the children were. Great job Year One, we are all very proud of you!

Rowington class- Speed Stacking

12 children in year 3 had the opportunity to attend the Speed Stacking County finals in Coventry. They were competing against lots of different schools and this was a very hard competition. The children had a brilliant afternoon competing and we are very proud of you all!

⭐ Sporting Superstar ⭐

I am thrilled to share some wonderful news with our school community. One of our talented pupils, Annabella, has achieved remarkable success in sports. She has been selected to represent Warwickshire County Cricket girls and has also been reselected for Warwickshire County Tennis. We are immensely proud of Annabella's outstanding achievements in both cricket and tennis!