We did it!

Hello and welcome back to the Year Five Blog!

There is only main one topic for this week's Blog and that has got to be, without a doubt, Friday's visit to The British Museum.

What an amazing day - here's what we got up to...

After the incredibly early start and the coaches finally materialising - we were on our way to That London!

Our swift stop at Winchester Services was a triumph as we managed to get to The British Museum as they were opening at 10am - a first for Dorchester Middle School! 

I think Coach One were particularly pleased to arrive in London as they had to deal with quite a few poorly children on the way. Mrs Lister looked positively green! The number of 'incidents' constituted a new Year Five record!

Once we had shoved everything in lockers and shed all of our baggage (literally!) it was time to go and explore the Museum. Please excuse the quality of some of the pictures...

What an incredible place! Just listening to the children's gasps of awe and wonder and their evident excitement was a joy to behold and well worth the 4 hour journey!

We also had the treat of a lecture from one of the Museum Staff based on Daily Life in Ancient Egypt.

Not a great picture (I am still trying to get to grips with the new camera!) but hopefully it gives you an idea of where we were and what we were doing.

On the whole, the children were fantastic. Members of the public commented on how well behaved our children were which is always lovely to hear but not a surprise!

At around 2pm you could see that the children were starting to flag and the early morning was starting to catch up with them.

I was so sad to leave this beautiful building but it had provided our children with a fantastic day out that was full of fun, fascination, awe, wonder and learning.

I must say a HUGE thank you to Mr Duffy, Mrs Cook, Mrs White, Mrs Lister, Miss Woodley, Miss Mullett and Mr Palmer for all of your hard work and making the trip such a triumph in the process. 

Thank to Mrs Daniel for holding the fort back at DMS and helping the process of children and parents being reunited!

Our Parent/Grandparent Helpers were incredible! We couldn't have run the trip without you, you were amazing!

I would also like to thank all the ladies in the office who helped to organise and help with the logistics of the trip, especially Mrs Arnott who made everything happen. Miss Wood was a superstar and saw us off in the morning although the updates on her bacon roll were not hugely appreciated! Mrs Scott was also great in her capacity as Finance Officer.

Finally, and most importantly, a huge thank you to the fabulous Year Five children who represented our school with such positivity and who continue to make us proud of them on a daily basis. 

I hope you had a super day and that you came away from this amazing building with even more knowledge about the Ancient Egyptians as well as memories that will last you a lifetime.

Blimey - that sounded like an Oscars acceptance speech didn't it?

So, now we have a new challenge - the new batch of snow that decided to appear last night/this morning! Who knows how this will pan out but if I have any news or updates then I will endeavour to inform you via this Blog. 

Well, that's it for this week.

Do you know what would be fabulous? If you could write comments for the Blog, telling me about your own individual British Museum experiences. It's all very well sharing my day but I want to hear about yours!

Go on, do it! Make my day!

See you back here next week!

Mrs Ray

(who completely lost her voice on Saturday much to her family's delight. It's back now though - sorry!)

We get there in the end!

Hello and welcome back to the Year Five Blog!

After the minor chaos of the snow, everything went back to 'normal' on Monday. Despite the post-snow smattering of slings and crutches around the school, it never felt as though we had never been away!

Having those two Snow Days did result in us having to postpone World Book Day but I think you will agree, we made up for it with bells on!

Anyway, let's see what Year Five have been up to this week...

World Book Day - Take Two

We did it!

We managed to celebrate World Book Day and although it was a week later, the children in Year Five made a fabulous effort with their costumes as think you will agree:

At 12pm, everyone had to, quite literally, drop everything and read!

There was so many wonderful costumes, I am so sorry that I didn't get to take everyone's pictures but I know that our Librarian, Miss Osbourne, took quite a few.

Mrs Daniel was most perplexed though! She was convinced that she came as Kanga (along with Roo) from Winnie the Pooh but the children disagreed and were convinced that she came as Pikachu.

She doesn't even know who Pikachu is! 

I think you may have to explain it to her.

What a brilliant day - thank you!

Far too much fun...

There was rather a lot of hilarity coming from the Year Five Quiet Room the other day so I felt obliged to investigate what was going on.

Much to my surprise, I found Mrs Pluck, our Deputy Head, along with a small group of 5AD children having a riot by trying to create various compound sentences. Some of them were very silly indeed! There was such a buzz in that room. I wonder what they're going to do next week?

Working together

We love writing in Year Five and like nothing more to contribute exciting and well written pieces into our portfolios.

One important part of the process is peer assessment. In 5MW the Response Partner tends to change depending on when drafts are completed. These two thoroughly enjoyed editing each other's work...

Worth a Mention Children

Huge Congratulations to the children who found themselves on this week's Worth a Mention Board!

As always, I am so impressed with the range of reasons why you have been selected by your teachers. Well done one and all!

British Museum here we come...

It's not long now is it?

I don't know about you but I am a bundle of excitement and nerves.

Thank you for all the payments and returned slips letting us know how your child will be getting home after the trip. If you haven't returned this slip, please do so as soon as possible as it's imperative that we know how your children are getting home.

In the letter that went home last week, it said that the school will be open from 6am! Well, as we need to be leaving promptly at 6am, this isn't quite the case. The school will be open from 5.30am so we need to have the children in their classrooms by 5.45am please.  

Such an early start but it will worth it, I promise!

If there are any questions, please do not hesitate to contact your child's Homebase Tutor.

Well, that's it for this week. 

I hope you have good week and that you were spoilt rotten on Mothering Sunday by your poppets. I am the proud owner of the most gorgeous lilies and a voucher for the Blandford Health and Beauty Centre - perfect!

Just think, this time next week I'll be sharing our British Museum experiences with you! Eeek!

Mrs Ray

(who found it rather strange wearing school uniform again on Thursday)

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

Hello and welcome back to the Year Five Blog!

Well, this is probably going to be one of the shortest Blogs I have ever written! I hope that you are all wrapped up nice and warm, enjoying the snow and not having to risk life and limb to get anywhere.

Parent Consultations

A huge 'Thank You' for two very successful Parent Consultation Evenings. It was lovely to see so many of you I hope that your meetings were informative and productive.

If you were unable to attend either of the evenings, it is worth getting in touch with your child's Maths and English teachers in case they are able to arrange alternative appointments. 

World Book Day

Typical! 

The one year that I am vaguely organised it goes and snows! 

I would imagine that a lot of you are feeling the same way?

I am have been assured that we will reschedule at some point in the not too distant future, watch this space...

British Museum Trip

Not long now until our much anticipated trip to London!

Please make sure that we receive full payment as soon as possible. It would be such a shame to cancel the trip if sufficient payment isn't received.

An itinerary of the day, along with a request for post trip collection information, will be distributed next week.

Well, that's it for this week - I did tell you that it would be a brief one!!

I hope you all have a good week and that you all manage to thaw out at some point in the near future!

Mrs Ray

(who is more of a 'sun' person but embraced the snow by making a snowman with her daughter although there were a few cross words along the way!)