A new girls’ rugby club and some other egg chasing...

Having the children back out on the sports field is amazing. Watching them being active and enjoying being so with their peers is magical to see. Right from Reception up to Year 6, we have maximised the exposure to different sports and, for the older children, we have ensured they have had many opportunities to play intra-school matches. Reception to Year 3 have enjoyed netball, hockey, football and rugby in their 4 weeks of Games as well as cricket and tennis in their PE lessons. We have been so lucky with the weather that we have been able to enjoy these sports on the astro, tennis courts and top field once again. In Years 5 and 6 netball, Mrs Hesford has commented that there have been great improvements to defence and attack with some super shoot-outs and also driving work, which resulted in excellent movement of the ball down the court. So many of the girls have made huge improvements in their own confidence and netball skills and the mini-matches we have held in training weeks have included some real nail-biters! It's brilliant to see the girls exploring new positions and unleashing their strengths. The after-school clubs list has been extensive and we have enjoyed the children trying a number of new options. I have personally loved taking our first girls’ rugby club with over 20 children, allowing them to access the basics of passing and contact. Hearing their shrieks of joy as they ran into the pads was just the medicine we all needed. Our cross-country group has really grown in size and we have enjoyed a number of runs down the meadow out towards Tallington. The children always love a quick exploration of Dead Man’s Island before we head back past the Copthill Scrapyard and then on to the track back to school. The introduction of Microscopy Club for the Year 5 children has been very well received and enjoyed by all of the children, while over 20 Year 4 children have attended Forest School as an extra-curricular activity on a Friday; they have been busy building otter holts. They have recently put in place a night vision camera where the owl nest boxes are and we hope to release some footage as and when we might see some action. During the final week of the term, we have organised house matches for Years 3 to 6 and Easter egg hunts for the whole school to enjoy. House matches always bring a lot of fun and engagement. Our Year 3 children have really taken to their spring sports of netball and hockey and relished the opportunity to join the Year 4 children to participate in the U9 house matches. The matches are a wonderful opportunity for our Year 6 House Captains to manage their teams and enthuse the younger students. Egg hunts saw our superb Year 6 Sports Assistants helping to hide the chocolate eggs, kindly donated by the CPSC, to finish a busy term of helping with lesson preparation and equipment organisation. These four Year 6 children have been super busy with roles every morning and have always been prompt and engaged with their duties. Well done and thank you for being so dedicated. I must also take the opportunity to thank all the children who sent in videos and photos of themselves undertaking the different lessons and challenges during lockdown. It was wonderful to see your happy faces staying active and healthy at home.