We have had a very busy, short week at Cypress Lower. Reception have been preparing for Art Week next week ( see below) reading Jack and the Beanstalk, making leaf prints and bark rubbings; Year 1 have been learning about time, the days of the week, months of the year as well as writing stories about the Spider who lost her Smile. In year 2 the children have been learning about The Fox and the Star and how we understand character’s feelings through the vocabulary choices of the author. By being reflective learners our children have recognised that there isn’t just one way of solving problems and have considered other ways of successfully completing their learning.
Works on the Cypress School Woodlands
Parents have been asking about the ongoing works to the woodlands at the school and concerned that the clearance they can see on the lower site will be detrimental to wildlife All the woods on both sites have been completely overwhelmed with bramble and ivy and we are working with our contractors to open out space so that sunlight can penetrate and allow flowers and butterflies to thrive. This work will take place in stages over the coming years as budget allows. A huge patch of bramble behind the business office on the upper site has also recently been cleared. The principles of what we are attempting to do can be found in the document ‘Improving your woodland’ by the Royal Forestry Society (https://www.rfs.org.uk/media/441708/2-improving-your-woodland.pdf) – giving space for a wider variety of plants to grow, planting wildlife friendly species like Salix, Viburnum Opulus and Buddleia and opening out woodland tracks. Hopefully these will be useful to us as learning environments in the future. Where trees have needed to be felled two broadleaf replacements have filled the gap. We consider ourselves custodians of these woodlands and want to create a space to encourage birds and plants. Still to come are wild flower seeding around the field margins on upper and lower sites and many more grasses for the sparrows. We will keep you updated as the project progresses.
Art Week 2021 10th – 14th May – Nature/The Natural World/The World Around Us
Our teachers have been busy preparing for our Art Week next week where we will be learning outside as much as possible, appreciating the natural world around us. The children will be developing their observational drawing skills which they will show in an exhibition at the end of the week and online. So watch this space – we are so looking forward to next week!
The Big Ask survey for school pupils
This term the Children’s Commissioner, Dame Rachel de Souza, launched The Big Ask – the largest ever survey of children in England. It asks all children about their priorities and concerns for the future, so that we can put children at the heart of the national recovery post-COVID-19. Please support us in making sure that your child has had their say about what matters to them by completing this survey together and making their voice heard. Every single pupil’s voice is important. The deadline for completing the survey is Friday 28 May. At school we are using a range of resources including lesson plans and activity packs to support children in understanding the purpose of the survey and sharing their ideas.
*Update: Forest school dates, Forest school will now be taking place on Wednesday 19th May and Wednesday 16th June.
Wishing you a very happy weekend,
Mrs Roberts and Miss Chapman
