Waterfall delight for Castlefields
Year 6 children from Bridgnorth’s Castlefields School enjoyed action-packed outdoor activities during their week long residential at Plas Caerdeon, Wales. “One of the highlights was a waterfall walk, we all got thoroughly wet – but it was worth it!” said teacher Louise Slarke.
Green fingers at St Leonard’s
St Leonard’s Primary School in Bridgnorth has thriving gardening and eco clubs, where children, governors and parents give up their time to create outdoor spaces for the enjoyment of all.
Geography field trip for St Leonard’s
Children from KS2 at St Leonard’s School in Bridgnorth have been on a trip to Carding Mill Valley near Church Stretton to enhance their learning of science and geography topics including rocks, soils and rivers.
Tettenhall redevelopment takes shape
Tettenhall College is redeveloping and updating its facilities, constructing a new floodlit Astroturf pitch, tennis and netball area and a high ropes facility, as well as a mountain bike trail. Inside, a new coffee shop, housed in the old stable block that originally formed part of the Thorneycroft estate, will open in autumn. The boys’ boarding house is also having a major facelift to incorporate modern en-suite facilities. Head David Williams said, “Tettenhall College is expanding as a school and investing in the future, with lots of development within both the physical environment and the educational offering.”
Worfield’s winning ways
Worfield Primary School pupils were out in force at the Shropshire School Sports Festival. The event at the Shrewsbury Sports Village saw four Worfield teams represent East Shropshire in hockey, girls’ and boys’ sports hall athletics and cross-country and the children were thrilled that the East Shropshire team were winners of the whole event. Mr Kendal Jones, the school’s PE coordinator, said, “We’re pleased so many children from Worfield took part.” Demi Wilson, a Y4 pupil at the school, was also selected to perform in the opening ceremony. Worfield recently achieved the Silver Sainsbury’s School Games Award.
Traditional fun at Morville
Pupils at Morville Primary School enjoyed a traditional May Day Fair at Morville’s village fete, part of the annual Morville Festival. Morville head Sue Blackburn said, “We’re very proud to be part of this wonderful community event. A big thanks to the local and wider community for making the Morville May Fair such a special and memorable time for all.” Y3 pupil Apple Labescat said, “The best part for me was seeing the beautiful maypole ribbons in lots of different patterns.”
Pupils plight for Nepal
Shrewsbury High Prep School pupils Abella Reiling and Harriet Underhill were so moved by reports of the Nepal earthquake, they decided to organise a raffle to raise as much money as they could. The Y4 girls asked friends and local businesses to donate prizes and sold tickets to parents and staff, raising a total of £174.
Brockton’s aquathlon success
Two teams from Brockton CE School near Much Wenlock enjoyed recent success at the Schools Aquathlon Relay held at Wrekin College. A total of eight children competed in the swim and run relay competition. Edward Bent, Isla Bowman, Isabelle Price and Henry Williams formed the Y3/4 team. The winning team were presented with medals and a shield by the head of Wrekin College Dr Haydn Griffiths.
Phoebe Barker, Tom Benbow, Will Ross and Autumn Yates formed the Year 5/6 team, swimming and running longer distances, finishing a creditable mid-table out of 30 primary teams.
Amy’s commitment recognised
Bridgnorth Endowed sixth former Amy Ruffell Hazel was nominated for the High Sheriff’s Young Citizenship Award for her outstanding commitment to sport and the wider community. Amy plays a variety of sports and captained the U16 and U19 county netball teams. As a qualified Level 1 coach she helps local primary schools with sports and was awarded the Step into Sport Double Gold Award and the Alan Golden Youth Community award. Within school she is a peer mentor, working with students who face a variety of challenges.
Moffats carwash for Nepal
Boarding children at Moffats School near Kinlet have been washing cars to raise funds for survivors of the Nepalese earthquakes. “We like to take the lead from the children when it comes to helping others,” explained head Mrs Robin McCarthy. “Pupils wanted to do something and the idea of washing cars – those belonging to staff or collecting day parents – was born.” For a group of only 25, an impressive amount of £210.50 was raised, doubled by an anonymous donor to £421.
Athletes smash records
Local pupils who complete with Bridgnorth Athletic Club set new club records and returned with a cache of medals from the Shropshire County Athletics Championships. In total 37 competitors won a total of 63 medals: 25 gold, 21 silver and 15 bronze. Winners were: Pippa Goulden , Sophie Kinnersley, Louise Jones ,Keely Sheppard, Tom Cowell, Dan Galloway, Cameron Smith and Archie Wickens in the junior section; whilst Leonie Bottomley, Evie Cashmore, Ava Forrest, Holly Lewis, Abbie Nolan, Hannah Sargant, Charlie Carvell, Joe Cotham, Niall McAdam, Andy Jones, Ben Shotton brought home medals in the U13 section.
Senior athletes winning medals were Hannah Cashmore, Lucy Elcock, Jess Hibbert, Ellie McAdam, Ellie Shotton, Oliver Carvell, Kieran Clarke, Adam Jarvstrom, Andrew Sutcliffe, Molly Andrews, Beth Loveday, Phoebe Smith, Alex Carvell, Adrian Lloyd Davies, Robin Lewis, Liam Sutcliffe, Matt Yates and Sam Owen.
Red, white and blue for Nepal
Oldbury Wells School held a red, white and blue non-uniform day to raise money for Nepalese earthquake survivors. Geography teacher Mr Thursfield led the initiative, with pupils and staff dressing in the colours of the Nepalese flag. “Oldbury Wells has links with the Asmita English Secondary School in the Lalitpur District of Kathmandu Valley,” said Mr Thursfield. “We know communities there and throughout the country have been profoundly affected by the earthquake and our contribution will go towards providing relief for these people.” The school raised £1,432, which will go directly towards charities responding to the appeal.
High Sheriff’s award for Logan
Logan Pope, a pupil at St Leonard’s School Bridgnorth, has been honoured with two awards in recognition of his care of his autistic sister, as well as efforts fundraising for the Red Cross Young Carers. Logan, 7, was awarded the Young Citizen Award by High Sheriff of Shropshire David Stacey, having been put forward by head Kay Ferriday. “I nominated Logan in light of his role as a young carer, supporting his autistic sister emotionally,” said Kay. “He really understands her and is often the only one who can calm her and make her feel safe. He’s also come up with some super fundraising ideas.” Logan was also awarded the Davies Shield at the Mayor Making ceremony at Bridgnorth Town Hall by outgoing Mayor Edward Marshall.
Joining the ‘Big Read’
Children from primary schools in the Bridgnorth area are taking part in an exciting literacy project this summer term with Oldbury Wells School. Year 5 pupils from Alveley, Beckbury, Brown Clee, Castlefields, Claverley, Highley, Morville, St John’s RC, St Leonard’s, St Mary’s Bluecoat and Worfield Endowed have been challenged to read a selection of books as part of the Oldbury Wells Big Read. Pupils review their favourites and progress is recognised in personal logbooks. The project was launched by head Mrs Sarah Godden who visited each primary school with a box of books.
“The reading list was selected carefully to include a broad range of classic and modern titles in a variety of genres,” said Mrs Godden. “We hope the children enjoy taking part and discover new favourite personal reads.”
Poetry from afar
Staff in the English department at Oldbury Wells were delighted to hear Henry Roberts and Mia McLeod had been shortlisted in their age group. Year 7 pupils Mia and Henry were awarded first and third prize respectively at the awards ceremony of the Children and Young People’s Poetry competition run by Wenlock Poetry Festival. Organisers invited pupils to write a poem on the theme ‘A Postcard From Afar.’ Henry wrote a piece called ‘A Construction Site Afar’ and Mia wrote ‘Postcard From Afar’. They attended a ceremony at The Edge in Much Wenlock where they were awarded their prizes by head judge children’s poet Craig Bradley.
Budding engineers at Bridgnorth Aluminium
Sixth form students Dom Wills, Dan Finnegan, George Borns and Oli Raybould from Bridgnorth Endowed School have been putting their problem-solving skills into practice for local company Bridgnorth Aluminium. The Engineering Education Scheme has enabled the students to work on a waste-handling solution and their final project, presentation and display have been assessed at a Project Celebration Day at the University of Birmingham and Birmingham City University.
Gardening time for Puddleducks!
Puddleducks Pre-School in Broseley has been very busy in the garden. With the help of a grant from Shropshire Town and Rural Housing (STAR), staff purchased planters, seats and a wooden store from Chetton Timber Products in Bridgnorth. The grant also helped in the purchase of new waterproofs – so the youngsters are now already to explore their very own Forest School. “The children will be planting herbs donated from Edwin Davis of Broseley and when grown, the herbs will be used in tasty recipes in the classroom,” explained spokesperson Clare Phillips.
Lego time at Much Wenlock
Much Wenlock Primary School is the latest Shropshire school to take advantage of an innovative computer programming outreach programme hosted by Shrewsbury High School. Year 5 pupils from Much Wenlock are being given an introduction to computer programming as part of a LEGO robotics course at the High School site. Teacher Mrs Emily Brick who leads the courses said, “It’s been wonderful seeing how quickly Year 5 and 6 pupils are picking up key programming skills.”
The course has been established following a grant from the HSBC and Girls Day School Trust Partnership Fund and has received further investment from the Department of Education.
Calling footie girls!
Albrighton Girls U10’s Football Club is currently looking for new players to join for the upcoming season. Girls who are interested must be in Year 4 or 5 as of September 2015, and must live within a 15-mile radius of Albrighton. Contact Lee Evans for more information on 07473 798950.
Enterprising Endowed students
Students at Bridgnorth Endowed chool got their business heads on to complete the Young Enterprise Tenner Challenge this year. Starting with just a £10 note, students set up their own businesses and were challenged to make as much money as they could. Ideas ranged from selling cakes on the town market to making and selling bookmarks. One student, who sold eggs from the chickens he keeps, continues to have customers at school who buy from him each week. Despite the Challenge stating students are able to keep the money they make, the class have decided to donate more than half of their profits to two charities: Cancer Research and the AT society.
