Therfield Summer Fete

Our wonderful Friends committee planned a wonderful summer fete for our small school.  Families were invited to spend a couple of hours together in the glorious sunshine enjoying a range of stalls, games, refreshments and entertainment.  You cannot beat Therfield in the sunshine!

Fairy Garden Re-opening

There was huge excitement across the school when the children found a mysterious key in each classroom with the message ‘Bring me to the forest school circle at 10:30am.’  When the school gathered around, we found a letter written by the fairies.  They thanked the school for the newly refurbished fairy garden and said that they have already moved back in.  They left a tray of rainbow fluffs for the children (and staff) to enjoy - yummy scrummy!  Our new fairy garden is absolutely stunning – seeing really is believing.  Awe and wonder at its Therfield finest!

Monthly GAP Sessions (Generations at Play)

On Monday 3^rd July, 14 very excited Year 1 pupils joined me for our monthly GAP (Generations at Play) session in the chapel.  Across the year, each year group gets to lead these sessions twice.  During the session, children played traditional board games with members of the village older generation.  For many of the people joining us, this is one of the highlights of their month.  It is always a joy to see everyone chatting away, with big smiles on their faces, or laughing at a shared tale.  Part-way through, conversations continued over cups of tea, hot chocolate and a homemade cake/biscuit.  To round off the session, the children buddied up with their ‘new friends’ for a game of bingo.  The children are always excited to take part in GAP sessions and the personal development I see from them is huge.

Whole School Afternoon at Greys Farm 

What does Therfield First School do when they have two special visitors in on one day? … Paula ready to lead her half termly Mindfulness workshops with the children and Rachel Lawston, author of Mia Makes a Meadow ... they do what they do best … they walk the whole school down to Greys so that the mindfulness sessions can take place set within the idyllic countryside grounds and Rachel can read her book, actually surrounded by glorious real wild meadows!  Throw a still life water colour painting session into the mix and we have an afternoon that dreams are made of.  What a magical way to spend our days. 

STEM Week

There was a huge buzz across the week for our awe-and-wonder STEM week.  Each day, focused on a different STEM subject and our school motto of Bringing Learning to Life permeated through all activities. 

Tuesday – Engineering

Jenifer from KAPLA Clubs led very exciting workshops for all of our classes, taking over the entire school hall!  Children worked together, using thousands of identical planks, without glue or clips, to create large-scale grand structures.  Parents were invited in to look at the masterpieces before the big demolition!

Wednesday - Maths

We were delighted to welcome the Happy Puzzle Company to Therfield to lead workshops with each of our year groups.  Working in small groups, children undertook a range of puzzles and challenges, demonstrating team work, logical thinking, resilience and growth mindset. 

Thursday – Technology

Children used the drawing programme on Purple Mash to create an ‘All About Me’ design.  This was printed onto Iron On Transfer Paper and ironed onto a fabric tote bag.  The bags looked fantastic and the children were very proud to take these home to use as a sustainable product. 

Friday - Science 

Across the afternoon, children took part in a rotation of three awe-and-wonder practical science investigations; Magic Ink, Magnetic Mazes and Balloon Blow Up!  

The King’s Coronation – Friday 5^th May

In true Therfield style, we were all very excited to celebrate the Coronation of King Charles III.  On Friday 5^th May, the whole school came together, dressed in red, white and blue, to undertake a range of Coronation-themed activities.  The day started with a whole school assembly, outlining what the day ahead had in store for us.  Activities included:

• Making a sceptre, orb and crown in Forest School
• Creating a Coronation medal
• Designing a Coronation mug
• Making a Coronation coin, based on King Charles’ side profile
• Creating a Union Jack Flag

At lunchtime, the whole school ate a buffet lunch together, followed by a Coronation playground party.  Children were able to take home all of their keepsakes to mark this very special moment in living history.  After school, our Friends committee led the May Ball disco in the school hall. 

The Day we all went to Waterstones!

At Therfield First School, we LOVE all things books and every day feels like a celebration of reading.  So what better way to spend a World Book Day than uprooting the whole school for a book-based morning in Waterstones in Cambridge.  Throughout the fun-packed morning in the store, children took part in a rotation of three activities; listening to a read-aloud story, undertaking a book scavenger hunt and choosing a book from the children's section to take home to keep.  The books were gifted to the children from the school, and The Rotary Club, Royston contributed £300 towards this.  Our children had the most amazing day and they couldn't wait to start reading their new books.  How exciting!

The Day the Author Came to Therfield!

We were very excited to have Rachel Lawston come to spend the day at our school.  Rachel read her book, Mia Makes a Meadow, to the whole school and answered a range of questions from the children.  At breaktime, Rachel signed copies of both of her books for the children.  Throughout the rest of the day, children wrote poems based on the hedgehog and fox characters, made bird feeders and created collage foxes and hedgehogs made from clay and pinecones.  Rachel also led a creative writing master class with a group of children from Years 1-4.  We collated everything together from the day to make a stunning entrance hall display.  We had the most amazing day, as did Rachel, and we are already looking forward to her return in May.  

Marking the Passing of the Queen

To honour the very sad passing of Queen Elizabeth II, we decided that we would celebrate her long life and all of the amazing work she has done in our country and across the world.  We hand-painted pebbles with pictures linked to the Queen, wrote messages in our Book of Condolences and created craft flowers using egg cartons, which we joined together to make a special wreath.  We had a tree planting ceremony on the school field, arranged our pebbles next to the tree and sang a special song.  At the end of the day, children took their parents onto the field to look at our new tree and pebbles.  We then took our flower wreath to the village church, ready for their special weekend service.  

The Queen's Platinum Jubilee Celebrations

What didn't we do to celebrate the Queen's very special Jubilee?  Throughout the week we ... had a special museum workshop taking us back in time to the Queen's Coronation, had an art masterclass where the whole school drew a portrait of the Queen, were visited by a famous author and her Corgi, Ditto!, played old-fashioned games at playtime, made willow crowns in forest school, re-enacted the Coronation in the local church and finished the week off with a special lunchtime street (playground) party!  Another example of how we bring learning to life at Therfield.  

The Big Burn!

As part of their Great Fire of London topic, Duckpuddle Class worked together to recreate a  cardboard version of Pudding Lane.  With the help of Royston Fire Service, Pudding Lane was set on fire!  

The Fairy Garden - Ssssssssh - you might wake them!

We are very proud of our magical and unique Fairy Garden.  What a wonderful place to spend your break and lunch play times.