15/06/2021
On Tuesday 15th June our children have enjoyed a visit from the smoothie bike. The bike mixes smoothie ingredients, by being powered by our children cycling. The children chose their ingredients and then took turns to mix the smoothie, by pedalling to power the mixer. When the smoothies was ready our children enjoyed a healthy, tasty drink as a reward for all their hard work! There were a lot of happy, if sticky, smiling faces. Of course, all covid restrictions were adhered to during this activity.
08/06/2021
Great Wood receives a canine visitor. Last week, we had a special visitor at Great Wood, to celebrate Dogs Trust Day. Herbie (Mrs York’s gorgeous Golden Retriever) came to school to see our children. Each class watched an online presentation, containing important information to keep dogs happy. The children learned to leave dogs alone when they are resting, not to hug but to stroke our canine friends, not to disturb a dog when it is eating and not to take a toy off a dog, but to get an adult. After the presentation, Herbie arrived in each classroom, where the children were given the opportunity to talk to and stoke our fabulous canine friend.
The children (and Herbie) thoroughly enjoyed the activity and asked if Herbie could visit school every day!
28/05/2021
On Friday 28th May, Great Wood pupils celebrated April and May birthdays with our fabulous class birthday parties. Children have danced, played games, enjoyed a chocolate treat and even had their very own birthday cake, baked by our amazing Lesley. Everyone celebrating birthdays today, has really enjoyed partying with their friends at school.
12/05/2021
Children in Year 1 and 2 have had a fantastic time learning about Eid. Eid is celebrated after Muslims all over the world spend a whole month fasting – the month of fasting is known as Ramadan. Mrs Nisa bought in delicious Eid food and traditional clothes worn on Eid. The pupils dressed up in the glamourous Eid outfits and tasted the traditional food. It was a fun day and we would like to wish celebrating Eid – Eid Mubarak
07/05/2021
On Friday 7th May, our Great Wood children dressed in green, or in clothing with numbers to support the NSPPC. During the day the children enjoyed taking part in number based activities. They ran number relays in colour teams, having to solve number problems as they went. They also took part in a number scavenger hunt, where they had to find and solve number clues and then be the first back to the classroom as a team. There were lots of prizes to be won and the children had a fantastic time. We would like to send a special thank you to Mrs Furnival, who expertly arranged the event. As a school we raised an amazing £109.46 for the NSPPC. Well done Great Wood.
29/03/2021
‘And The World Changed’ is an Arts Council funded, long-term, outdoor installation by Tean-based Emma Dawson Varughese. It is set across a 1/4 mile riverside, walking route in Tean, taking in Well Meadow Gardens, the recreation ground and around the back of Tean Hall Mills, known locally as 'Birdcage'. Taking direct inspiration from the natural world, the installation uses 6 large logs to imagine what the last 12 months of Covid and its related 'stilling' of life has been like for the animals known to be in this area. The large logs reach around knee-level and the top is the size of a small patio table. The logs are worked on the cross section and each one includes a brass plaque, engraved with poetic/lyrical text and this is accompanied by visual artwork rendered through pyrography and decorative hardware. Two rural foxes run across one of the logs whilst a colourful Goldfinch meets a Sunflower on another. Emma has been working on the project since November last year and in addition to the making, each log carries a QR code which takes you through to a range of articles, materials, 'conversation points' and recommended 'reads', all on the subject of our interactions with the natural world and how 'the world changed' suddenly, early last year. See more at storylogs.co.uk, 'And The World Changed'.
Our year 6 pupils were lucky enough to spend a morning with the local artist, Emma, to discover how the concept came about and ask many questions about her creation. The pupils had learnt the poems engraved on the individual installations and they were recorded performing the poems, these audio recordings will be added to the artist’s website. The children loved the experience and were happy to share their thoughts on this exciting art project:
“Thank you to Emma for this inspiring artwork that has helped me understand about the animals coping during lockdown:
“It is a kind gesture for the local community to enjoy and appreciate this amazing art”
“It was wonderful to see all the intricate artwork and I can’t imagine all the hard work that went in to creating them”
26/03/2021
The Tean local community were thrilled to receive a generous gift that had been wonderfully crafted by Tean Methodist Church. The lucky beneficiaries of these adorable knitted chicks, with a chocolate egg treat, were the residents of The Old Vicarage, Tean, the mums and children of a local women’s refuge and the pupils at Great Wood Primary, Tean.
These kind donations were a reflection of the local community supporting each other through these troubled times. The eggs, an incredible 171 in total, were thoughtfully created by members of the Tean Methodist Church congregation and presented to the recipients by Rev. Julie Hassall, Mrs. Davies and Mark Hatcher. Alongside the colourful, chocolatey treat the pupils also received a cross in preparation for Easter.
Pupils were so excited to receive these lovable chicks:
“Thank you Tean Methodist Church, it symbolises Easter very nicely”, Sydney, aged 11.
“Thank you for this lovely, kind act, it has warmed my heart to see all this hard effort”, Charlie, aged 10.
Mr. Adamson, the School Leader commented, “The faces of the children receiving these adorable chicks lit up and there was a genuine excitement as they selected their chick to take home. The generosity and thought taken to prepare these beautifully crafted chicks is amazing and we would love to thank all those involved in knitting them. A donation that reflects the thought and love that is prevalent in the local community here in Tean”
23/03/2021
Today 23rd March 2021 marks a full year since the UK’s first National Lockdown. Marie-Curie, the end of life charity, wish to reflect upon those that we have lost during the pandemic. Today will be a National Day of Reflection in respect of those who have lost their lives during the Covid-19 Pandemic. We will be observing a minutes silence at 12pm, as a mark of respect and reflection.
19/03/2021
On Friday 19th March our Great Wood family supported Comic Relief and raised a massive £356.00!
Our children wore red and comic relief shirts and gave a donation to the very deserving charity. They also bough biscuits, baked by our amazing Lesley for 50p each.
To celebrate Red Nose Day our pupils took part in Great Wood’s Got Talent, to entertain their peers and our staff, virtually via Teams. Our winners and runners up all received a chocolate treat.
Thank you to everyone who took part, you were all amazing!
16/03/2021
We have had some feathered friends visiting us this week. Heidi has bought some of her chicks from home to see us in school. The classes have all been able to handle and learn about the chicks. They have been singing in the hall and joining in by watching all the children's activities.
We would like to thank Heidi and her family for allowing us to enjoy their cute feathered friends.
