Ferncumbe Friday

Friday 14th February 2025

Assistant Head’s Message

As we come to the end of another productive half term, I'm filled with pride at the vibrant energy and accomplishments that have brightened our school. It's been a period brimming with learning, growth, and community spirit - truly showcasing what makes Ferncumbe special.

I'd like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to all the parents who attended our Parents' Evening this week. These meetings are invaluable opportunities to share in your children's progress, and I was genuinely touched by the incredibly complimentary feedback many of you offered. Your kind words reinforce our commitment to nurturing each pupil's potential. We are ever grateful for your support and engagement in your children's educational journey.

We've been keeping a close eye on Miss Morris's visit to Bo. Her updates have been enlightening, and we're eager to hear more about her experiences when she returns. These global connections truly enrich our school community. You will find more details below.

As always, it has been a busy couple of weeks since our last Newsletter! You will see further in the Newsletter, our Year 5 pupils recently embarked on an exciting STEM adventure to Hatton Locks. These hands-on experiences are vital in bringing learning to life, and I'm certain our pupils have returned with a newfound enthusiasm for science and engineering.

I must give a special mention to the Friends of Ferncumbe for organising a superb quiz night. Not only was it a thoroughly enjoyable evening, but it also raised valuable funds for our playground project. I have included a picture of the winning team - well done, quiz champions! Hopefully, you will recognise a few familiar faces!

As we head into the half term break, I'm filled with pride for all we've achieved and excitement for what's to come. Our school continues to thrive thanks to the collective efforts of our pupils, staff, parents, and wider community.

Wishing you all a restful and rejuvenating half term.

Mr Byrom

News from Sierra Leone

I'm thrilled to share an update on my incredible journey to Bo, Sierra Leone. It's been an eye-opening experience, to say the least! I've had the privilege of visiting several schools, and I must say, the contrast to our beloved Ferncumbe is striking.

Imagine, if you will, a Year 6 class bursting at the seams with 60 eager faces! The energy and enthusiasm in that room were tangible, despite the challenges they face. It's a testament to the resilience and thirst for knowledge these young learners possess.

But perhaps the most poignant moment came when I stepped into a Nursery class. Picture this: a room filled with bright-eyed little ones, their imaginations running wild, yet not a single toy in sight. It really puts into perspective how fortunate we are and how much we can learn from their resourcefulness and creativity.

These experiences have reinforced my belief in the power of education and the importance of global awareness. I'm excited to bring back these insights to enrich our Ferncumbe community and inspire our pupils to appreciate the diverse educational landscapes around the world.

I trust you will all have a safe and enjoyable half term.

Miss Morris

Year 3 Gymnastics

Last Wednesday, a group of 10 Year 3 gymnasts went to Leamington and Warwick Gymnastics Club to compete. The children worked so hard to learn their different routines and some of them learned so many new skills! The Ferncumbe team came 8th and we are so proud of their achievements, as well as their determination and perseverance.

Mrs Taylor

Lowsonford Class

This week, year six have had an art day. After looking at artwork by Diego Rivera, we have been looking at Mayan art and using this as inspiration for our own pieces. We have experimented with mark-making using symbols and lines from Mayan art. We have also made our own mark making tools. I am so impressed with their creativity!

Back To The Hatton Flight!

Wroxall Class visited the Hatton Locks this week, to see a once (or maybe thrice) in a lifetime event - the replacement of a lock gate! We were able to climb down six metres into a drained lock and really see how they work and how incredible the craftmanship needs to be to tailor-make such a vast piece on engineering. We were able to quiz the construction manager, build our own model locks and crawl inside a traditional, working cargo canal boat (that would have housed a family with 6 children!). We learnt such a lot and as always, the pupils were respectful, interested and game for anything!

Eco Schools and Competition Winners!

On Thursday, our next group of brave Eco-Committee volunteers held this month’s Eco Assembly. They announced the winners of the Teacher Baby Photo Competition - all 30 of them! These lucky winners will be able to attend a live online Science show, held by the Science Magician Matt Pritchard, soon after half term. Most importantly, we raised enough money to twin our toilet! We chose the Democratic Republic of Congo as the country to twin our toilet with. Well done everyone!

The Eco-Team also described all the energy saving habits we must develop, which will be helped along by electing an energy monitor for each class to keep an eye on things. There were reminders about how to use our recycling bins, and the doors we need to keep shut in school, to save energy. The pupils did a great job!