Cross Country

Children chattering excitedly.
Ready and warming up with Mr Williams.
Off with a sprint when the hooter sounds.
Stadium full of spectators cheering and clapping.
Squeezing past other runners.

Carefully pacing yourself now.
Out the gate, and around the field
Under the trees and back to English Park.
Nearing the finish now.
Trying your best.
Really proud children, families and teachers.
You did it!

What a great effort by everyone today. You can all be proud of the way you did your best and special congratulations to Millie, Aoife and Emily who got 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the Year 3 girl's race.


Here are a few photos - I will put up a slide show of more tomorrow morning.

Torty the Tortise

Today we read an article about a survivor from World War One - Torty the tortise. We had a great discussion about the vocabulary in the text.



Click on the image below to watch the article from Campbell Live about this very special animal.

Anzac Service at St Albans School

On Friday morning the whole school and visitors from our community attended a service for Anzac Day at our school. Our choir sang beautifully, Mr Williams shared an inspiring story and a student from St Andrews play The Last Post. Erin carried our cross up to add to the memorial. It was very moving and there were more than a few moist eyes around.

Anzac Biscuits

Today we read some interesting facts about the history behind the anzac biscuits.

Michelle and Jules helped us to make some - and then, best of all - we got to eat some.

I was excited when I got to pour the coconut into the bowl and I can't wait to eat them. (Millie)
I got to stir the butter then roll the balls. When I have eaten it I will get to go home.  (HenryC)
I was pleased with our work. (Sam)
I thought it looked like mashed up cereal. (Charlotte)
I was funner than fun when I got to stir the dry ingredients. (Cooper)
I was excited when the creamy mixture came around to me and I licked my hands afterwards. (Jarod)
My hands smelt really yummy when they were covered in creamy butter. (Asher)
I was pleased that we made the Anzac biscuits. (Lachie)
I felt funny when I saw the melted butter. It looked like egg yolks. (Kacey)
I was happy because we all got to do it and we worked as a team. (Aoife)
I was excited when we made the Anzac biscuits because are for Anzac day and we get to eat them. (Amy)
When we were working I was thinking about the Anzac soldiers who died. (Finn)
At the end my hands smelt like Anzac biscuits. (Tayla)
I found out that baking without eggs and milk makes the biscuits last longer. (Erin)
The Anzac biscuit dough looked sort of like porridge and my hands felt greasy afterwards, (HenryT)
I liked doing the baking because everyone got to have a turn doing something. (Emily)
It was hard to stir. (Jesse)
I loved baking the biscuits. (Jonty)
 It was so hard to stir when we tipped the butter in. (Bas)
I liked it when I got to pour the golden syrup. (Evie)
I found out that it was pretty hard to stir and I'm excited that we get to eat the biscuits. (Ollie)
I like them and all I want to do now is EAT THEM! (Charles)
I liked making the biscuits and rolling it. (Angel)

Here is our recipe if you want to try some yourself at home.

Sgt Samuel Forsyth VC

As part of our Remembering the Anzacs inquiry, we are researching Sgt S Forsyth VC. On Friday morning we will be erecting a cross in his honour. Every class has a cross representing a different soldier who died during the World War One between 1914 and 1918.

This is a painting of Sgt Forsyth. Click on the image to find out more about him.

ANZAC Day

We are kicking off our learning this term with a focus on Anzac Day.

On Monday we read a text called Dawn Parade. After we had discussed the story we came up with some wonderings that we will work on answering over the next couple of weeks.

What does ANZAC stand for?
Why did the war start?
Why do we have Anzac biscuits?
Why do they carves names in the stones?
Why do we have poppies?
How did the soldiers die?
Why are the poppies red?
Why do countries get mad at each other?
How many wars have there been?
Where do poppies grow?
Why do we have parades?
Why is the parade at dawn?

The idea of war is very scary. I think one of our students was spot on when they commented "They have World wars, why can't they have World loves instead?"

On Friday we will be having a ceremony at school and singing an old song "Pack up your troubles". Below is a clip from Ms Ashby that you can use to practise the words we learnt today that are now in your Home Learning books. The poppies look great Room 17! We will have to try some ourselves tomorrow I think.





Click on the images below to learn more about Anzac Day.