Message from the Head of School
Dear Parents and Carers
Those of you who know me well, may know that I love ART. I can appreciate different forms of Art and I love observing art in a gallery. However, actually creating pieces of Art as an adult, that anyone other than a mother could love, is probably something I’m not ready to put on my CV just yet, or so I thought… As we instil in the children, “if you don’t practise a skill you will never get better at it” and part of our vision at Rye Primary is ‘life long learning’– where we all, no matter what age, continue to “grow our brains”!
So with this ethos and the words that a very wise six year old once told me- “everyone can draw and everyone is good at art”. I began to think “this girl can actually”. I dug up a great old quote from the depths of my memory that “beauty is in the eye of the beholder” and if one’s art work makes another happy, then it really is a gift of beauty (even if unintentionally it causes laughter; that is, after all, indeed an expression of happiness, I later had to remind myself).
So I decided that I really did have to have a go at releasing my artistic expression ( I thought about using the word talent, but I saw the end product)!
I love the sea and seascapes in particular are one of my favourite types of art. So I thought I would use my love of the sea and my appreciation for Art and put the two together…
Well, let’s say it was an enjoyable experience but one I’m probably not going to win any awards for. I had a go at drawing shells, boats, buckets and spades and an anchor, out of all of them, the anchor probably most closely represented my original intention and looked vaguely like an anchor.
This got me thinking…What is the purpose of an anchor? Literally and metaphorically? I came to the conclusion that they can be described in the same terms, both in a literal and in a metaphorical sense.
An anchor holds something steadfast, it prevents a vessel being swept about in the waves. It is something that is entirely secure, can be relied upon, trusted, it holds. We all need an anchor in our lives, but especially at a time like this.
I thought about my anchor and realised that it is personally for me, my Christian faith firstly and the trust and hope I put in my friends and family around me. I felt fortunate that I could easily recognise this anchor in my own life.
As I was thinking about what to write for this entry it became acutely important to me for our school and wider community to know that we, here at Rye Primary, are and want to continue to be, an anchor for you. We will continue to be here, constant, steadfast and trustworthy during these uncertain times and we are as true to that today as we were yesterday and will be tomorrow. We really are here for you.
Our parents and families have been overwhelming supportive and appreciative of our regular phone calls to them during lockdown and all of our online interactions. We know nothing beats face to face interaction, but please be assured, we are still here, like an anchor we might not be visible, but rest assured we have got you and there will be a time we can support you once again face to face.
In the meantime, find your own personal anchor, in addition to us, let them know that they are your anchor and remember to be someone else’s anchor. However, continue to do this from home, protect the NHS and save lives!
With very best wishes,
Kelly Martin
Head of school.
P.s I am still practising and refining my own artwork so instead I am going to share another art form with you in the following publication of two poems about “Lockdown” that I have been sent by the children.
The first one is entitled “Painting The Fence Panel” by James aged 11
The second is “Life In Lockdown” by Lola, year 3.
Shaken awake,
Got a leg ache
Have a wash,
Get it done, bish bash bosh
Bacon butties,
Isaac talking the funnies
Eat a chocolate bar,
Do not go in the car
Stay at home,
Lessons on my phone
We’re in lockdown,
Better stay out of town
Start work,
It’s berserk!
Sit at the table,
(peel off the label!)
Pick up a pen,
Which one- there’s ten?
I think its not long till lunch,
Just a hunch
PE time,
Avoid the snail slime
Build an assault course,
My voice is slightly hoarse
Done all my lessons,
No more sessions!
Time to relax,
I’ll have some snacks
Paint the fence panel,
Wipe my brow with a flannel
I’m tired,
Henry’s wired
The stairs are too steep,
Time to sleep
Night night,
Sleep tight
Early Years Home Learning
We hope that you are all keeping safe and well whilst at home. We are all missing the normality of our nursery life but we have been hearing of some fabulous home learning that has been taking place, including: baking, gardening, building camps, dressing up, nursery rhymes, counting, phonics activities, learning to write names and PE with Joe Wicks!
The theme for our learning this term would have been ‘Splish, Splash, Splosh’. We have shared an overview of this in more detail with our parents and we can’t wait to hear about and see the home learning that takes place.
For those children who are starting school in September we know that transition will be very different this year.
Here is a link for some ideas of how you can help prepare your child at home for starting school in September:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/collections/starting-primary-school/1
Reception Home Learning
Minnows and Sardines have been super busy. Our home learning has included celebrating the birthdays of our Queen and Captain (now Colonel) Tom. We enjoyed making yummy treats, cards and party hats. We have learnt about ways to look after our earth for Earth Day. Learning about St. George’s Day allowed some of us to learn new skills, with grown up help we were even using real tools.
Our new learning this term is ‘Into the Woods’ and we even went on a virtual school trip on our Dojo page. We have been busy learning about patterns, creating and continuing patterns as well as looking for patterned language and repeated words in our favourite books.
Year 1 Home Learning
Our children have been very busy producing some brilliant home learning. They have been painting their own interpretation of Van Gogh’s Sunflowers, building birds nest and bug hotels.
They are accumulating a huge amount of Dojos for their classes! Keep up the good work Year 1!
Year 2 Home Learning
Year 2 have been getting on really well with home learning.
The children have been gathering data to make tally charts. It has been great fun using Purple Mash to make pictograms.
Lots of children have been getting involved in our Rye Writer activities. They’ve written about a mysterious sink hole that looks like it appeared at the school and a walk into the deep, dark wood
Each week, the teachers have been setting STEM challenges (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). They have ranged from designing and making plant pots and watering cans using recycled materials, to showing our support for the NHS and other key workers by making rainbows in different ways.
Sea Turtles and Lobsters are taking part in the VE Day commemorations by finding out about Colonel Tom, what it was like to be an evacuee. Hopefully you’ll have seen their bunting displayed in their windows when you are around and about on your daily exercise!
Year 3 Home Learning
Children in Year 3 have been busy enthusiastically working on the termly topic, ‘Predator’!
Home learning has included : Kiril, who became an artist and created an incredible 3D ocean. Betsy, who followed her interests and created a project about a little cocoon she found in her garden. Elizabeth became a scientist and investigated changing states in the kitchen. Ella became a keen mathematician and completed lots of work! Louis showed off his gardening skills with the sunflower that he grew and placed it in his garden, following on from the Science experiment that he completed last term. Joey worked practically in maths and was counting money. Tilly created an amazing fact file about predators and Tiyler has been learning about fractions and working super hard!
Just amazing! Keep up the good work!
Year 4 Home Learning
Orcas class have completed a series of science challenges this term on top of their regular learning activities. Their favourite challenge was growing a rainbow……..
Super Stingrays have been sending in their super photos showing a wide range of activities, as well as lots of amazing school work. Their art this term has been ‘weaving’ and we have seen the most beautiful work. James has coloured his hair with hair chalk in support of the NHS and Keyworkers and is busy doing all of his school work whilst his mum is working in A&E. We’ve had salt dough handprints, P.E with Joe Wicks, homemade model volcanoes that erupt, baking and beautifully written persuasive letters and stories.
Fabulous!
Year 5 Home Learning
Year 5 have been working as hard as ever! Their topic this term would have been ‘Allotments’, so the children have been busy gardening, perfecting their practical skills and looking after the environment from home!
Orin has been busy with his bees and keeping the hive clean, Dinah is keeping us up-to-date with her diary of their newborn pigeon and Harper has been one of the many Marlin pupils to get baking. Haiden created an amazing ‘gaming’ bench from old wood and we have had lots of photos of the children creating their own (safe) fires. We’ve loved seeing them enjoy taking part in creative activities too, such as Phoebe’s beautiful nature collage and Ruby’s ‘Gardenopoly’ boardgame.
Year 6 Home Learning
Children in Year 6 have made a great start to their ‘Hola Mexico’ topic, producing a variety of craft, cooking and comics. There has also been a lot of art, supporting the NHS and keyworkers, as well as many memorable entries to our ‘reading challenge’ and some children have been making up their own tasks and projects!
Source: Rye Primary School
Image Credits: Rye Primary School .