Transcript Document

Dear Readers
This is the first-ever edition of the West Ashtead School
Newspaper! A special thank you all of those who sent in
an article, it was very helpful to take the time to write
and we all appreciate it! With help from the WASP Team
of: Lucy Fitzgerald (photo and layout), Alice Marjot
(sport), Emily De Souza (education), Amy Tubb
(entertainment) and the Editors in Chief, Alia Mirza and
Amy Doherty we are finally ready. This is an amazing mix
of all the things that go on in school, so I present to you
the school newspaper we like to call W.A.S.P (West
Ashtead School Paper).
From the WASP Team
In 2012, The West Ashtead Qube was built. The Qube is a more modern library for children
to use and read interesting and exiting books.
Mrs Douglass and some other teachers thought that another library would be good, as all
we had was the Infant library and a few shelves of books. Then Surrey County Council
came to this school and said to us that they would contribute some money towards the
building of the library, if we built another reception class. It was then the problem of
where we could build it. The teachers thought about having it in a small space on the field,
but then it was decided that the library would replace the Music Hut.
Inside the Qube is a wide range of books for infants and primary school years, also bright
and comfortable coloured chairs, which were chosen by the school council. The teachers,
staff and parent-helpers bring their classes in to choose books of interest, on a weekly
basis.
A Year 3 child told us, “I love the Qube! It is a pleasant, quiet place to relax and read.”
All the children are proud of the Qube, and enjoy their new reading experience!
By Emily De Souza.
In early December, we were lucky enough to have an upgrade on our I.C.T Suite. Before we
had got to see the new and improved I.C.T Suite, it was covered up, so there was a lot of
excitement throughout the whole school.
When we finally got to see them, it definitely looked more modern, with a faster computer
system- meaning each class is getting a lot more done during their weekly time slot. The
computers have been updated and every child can now use their own computer during
lessons.
Year 4 have been learning how to touch type, using Dance Mat Typing. One boy stated that
he loved the music and the animated characters. Another said ,“It’s great having your own
computer!”
Year 6 are going to be creating their own music using soundation.com. The money spent on
the I.C.T. Suite has opened a new world of opportunities to all the pupils in the school.
By Alia Mirza and Amy Doherty
Congratulations to everyone who took part in the indoor athletics at the Howard of
Effingham School. Even though we didn’t win, we did really well and tried our hardest. We
won most of our races and Miss Pooley said, ‘We did brilliantly and it doesn’t matter that
we didn’t win because we already are winners.’
The boys did amazingly in their races; they sprinted as fast as they possibly could, but
unfortunately Raleigh were stronger. The girls also did great; they won almost all of their
races and never gave up. The boys’ and girls’ obstacle course was really fun; they had to
jump over hurdles, do ten speed bounces and sprint to the finish. The boys came 2nd and
the girls came 1st.
If you are interested in athletics, why not join Athletics Club for Years 3 to 6. There are lots
of relay races, standing long jumps, triple jumps, vertical jumps and obstacle courses. If you
are successful at Athletics Club, you might have a chance to compete in the school team.
By Alice Marjot
Do you ever wonder what’s going on inside the clubs at West Ashtead? Of course you do,
that’s why I’m about to tell you all about the clubs at West Ashtead.
There is mini tennis on Thursdays, 3:30-4:30pm for Years 3 to 6. You can go there and learn
all about how to play tennis, can play games and have a real match against other members.
It’s great!
We also have outdoor athletics on Tuesdays, 3:00-4:30pm for Years 3 to 6. You can go there
and have a great time, jumping over hurdles, practicing long jump, throwing javelins and
doing plenty of running all around the field. You’ll love it!
We even have gymnastics on a Tuesday, 3:30 to 4:30pm for years 3 to 6 in the hall. It’s
great fun to go to, as you can get the ropes and bars out and create climbing routines;
swing on the ropes and do different acrobats and find out different tricks.
There’s Surrey Football for girls and boys, Reception to Year 6. Girl’s football is on Friday
lunchtime at 12:20-12:50pm and boys is on Thursday at 12:20-12:50pm. Football is a great
chance to run about. Someone said, ‘Football is so fun and I love to score goals.’ So if
you’re looking for something fun, fast and exciting, then football is the perfect opportunity
for you to have a good time.
We have netball on a Tuesday 12:25-1:00 for Year 5. Netball is a fast fun ball game that’s
extremely good for you. It improves your aim and balance but the greatest thing about
netball is that its just good fun for everyone who does it. As soon as you join it, you’ll
absolutely love it. You get better and better each time you go and you’ll learn much
more. Trust me, netball is simply the best!
We also have multi sports for Reception to Year 6, 12:20-12:50 Monday. Multi sports is
great fun as you can try all kinds of sports it’s a mad mixture of different sports. There’s
rounders, running, long jump and different ball games. There are all sorts of things you
can do at this club. You’ll love it.
So those are all the amazing, sporty clubs. What are you waiting for? Go and join them!
By Alice Marjot
Q: What do runners do when they forget something?
A: They jog their memory.
Q: What animal is good at cricket?
Q: Why was Cinderella kicked of the team?
A: Because she ran away from the ball.
Q: Why was Cinderella such a bad player?
A: Her coach was a pumpkin.
A: A bat.
Q: Two waves had a race, who won?
A: They tide.
Q: Why did the golfer wear an extra pair of pants?
A: Incase he got a hole in one.
Q: When’s a baby good at basketball?
A: When it’s dribbling.
Q: Why can’t you play sports in the jungle?
A: Because of all the Cheetahs.
Q: What’s a sheep’s favorite sport?
A: Baaaa-dminton.
By Charlotte Bruce
Class: 4D
The Pied Piper Theatre Company, yet again, performed a terrific show.
It was funny, interesting and enjoyable. Best of all for me, I liked it
because it felt like a dream; although it was so real!
Charlotte Oliver (from 4D) said it was the best play she’d ever seen,
however Olivia Marks (from 4D) said that The Wind in the Willows was
better. I couldn’t decide but eventually I chose My Little Big Sister. The
music was amazing; in fact it was the music that gave me lots of good
feelings, I felt astonished and amazed afterwards!
The teachers were smiling the whole way through. Everyone enjoyed it
even if they liked The Wind in the Willows better. Overall it was a
really fantastic performance.
They sang, they danced, was there anything this Year 3 missed out?
We were greeted by the young archaeologists’ club, who were in Egypt to find out about the
Egyptians. They were given a clue and, before we knew it, their spades were flashing in the sun
as they hastily dug for ancient Egyptian remains. After a while of hard digging, fascinating
remains were dangling from the ultra quick archaeologist’s hands. Then the mummy makers
came on stage and sang to us, in possibly the most gruesome way, about how to make a
mummy. I could even see some of the teacher’s faces twitching with disgust at the ‘we’ll mash
your brains up’ part! They were then given another clue, and gave us another spectacular song,
then, before we knew it, we were inside the pharaohs temple! As the young children had to give
a gift to the mighty pharaoh, they all donated an English copper coin. The gift was presented as
‘copper from a far off land’, what clever speaking! The out-standing assembly ended with the
pharaoh announcing that everyone was invited to a grand party.
After the clapping had finally ended, the flushed mummy- makers sang us out with that
gruesome song about ripping out body parts and smashing up brains. The delighted audience of
parents sat down to enjoy a nice cup of coffee when... BAM!!! They were bombarded with their
kids, all very eager to hear how amazing they were. Once they were taken back to their
classroom, work began, but the last word is that this stupendous assembly is sure to go down in
west Ashtead history. As for the true Egyptians? Well they couldn’t have been prouder!
In February, Caterpillars and Ladybirds had a Chinese workshop.
They did a variety of activities, such as; dressing up as the
animals of the Chinese calendar; decorating their houses for
Chinese new year; dressing up as the Chinese dragon and much
more.Three girls who took part said, ‘‘It was fantastic!’’
Another said, ‘‘I loved it!’’ They told us that their favorite part,
was dressing up as the Chinese dragon. Not only did they do fun
activities, they also learnt the story of how the animals got
chosen to be in the Chinese calendar. They also learnt how to say
some words in Chinese!
Everyone enjoyed it, and said they would rate it 10/10!
Emily De Souza
West Ashtead’s school discos are truly amazing, and on the 8th March it proved just how
great they are.
At 5.15 the fun started for the infants, the DJ blasting them a welcome song of ‘Mr Saxo
Beat’. The usual hall was transformed into a dance floor with colourful lights splashing all
over it. The purchase of flashing toys and jewellery was made by the many eager
students.
A few students, however, were a bit nervous, mostly all the receptions, as the noise and
appearance of their usual assembly/ P.E hall was most confusing, if not a little
frightening. Once everyone was inside, the party got in full swing. A highlight of the
session was the DJ’s dancing lesson on ‘how to do the cha cha slide’. After the fabulous
lesson everyone was top cha cha-ers! There were ear – piercing screams for the 2013
pop sensations One Direction. After a lot of spaceships flying in ‘Star- Ships’, and a lot of
phone bills in ‘Call Me Maybe’, it was time for the pair dance to ‘Cotton Eye Joe’. This
was met by the screams of the western- ready infants. All though every western couple
was amazing, the winners, Katie Macfarlane and Dominic Parkinson, truly out-did the
rest.
After this was a well deserved break, full of yummy biscuits and refreshing blackcurrant and
orange juice. After everyone’s tummy was full, the lights went out and the party was
resumed. After many action packed songs the Infant Disco was drawing to a close. Parents
started arriving, to see their kids using up the last of their energy in a very long conga! After
the West Ashtead snake had stopped whizzing around, it was time for the tired infants to go
home, and the juniors to start pouring in!
The juniors started to squeeze into the busy hall, out- doing the music with the news
and gossip of the day. Again, the glowing toys were quickly snapped up by the eager
party- goers. Unfortunately the disco got off to a bad start for many, if not all, juniors.
This was because the DJ began by saying that there would be no slow dances. There
was a humongous groan and a lot of protests, as we all know how the juniors treasure
their slow dances. The music started and a few people began grumpily dancing.
Others just stood still in groups discussing how unfair and stupid this action was.
However, no one can withstand the joy of music for so long, and, on about the third
song, people began to strut their stuff. After a perfect synchronised Macarena came
the pair dance again. It was met by less enthusiastic cheer, but everyone enjoyed it all
the same. Then it was a well earned break with cups refilled about a million times and
a more than fair share of yummy biscuits! After a few groovy songs and energetic
dancing it was time for the big finale of... The Conga! The West Ashtead conga
slithered round the room, full of exhausted but happy students. The disco ended and
the fight for coats and bags was avoided by most parents, who did not at all want to
enter the rushing, screaming and chaotic world kids. Everyone went home, tired but
joyful, and the parents? Well with their kids being this tired, it would mean a relaxing
lie- in on Saturday. Yep, kids and grown-ups love it so; it’s the happy world of the West
Ashtead disco!!!!
Mr. Evenden and the curriculum team thought it would be nice to
have some orchards in our school. Also it would be a good
opportunity for pupils to take responsibility. We got £500 from Exon
Mobile to plant them, and each class will have their own tree to take
care of. There are 14 trees, so as each class moves up, they will take
care of different trees.
The holes for them were dug in February, and will be planted next
term. They will be planted on the green area by the picnic tables. The
fruit that grows, is going to be used for school dinners.
There is going to be a West Ashtead day in Easter, when all the pupils
will get a chance to decorate their trees, just like you do at Christmas.
Emily De Souza
The year 5’s have been complaining about the taps in
their toilets. These particular taps are the ones that
we have to push down to make the water run. The
problem is that the water only runs for about 5
seconds; we have to wash each hand in turn which is
frustrating to do with soapy hands.
One Year 5 said, “It’s very annoying!”
“There’s only about one tap that actually works in
each sink,” someone else told us.
However, Mrs Bracher explains that fixing the taps is
expensive so they can’t do it. This problem has been
going on for some time now and it’s a shame that it
can’t be solved. Until further notice the taps will have
to remain in the same condition.
By Holly Coulson-5E
BEFORE:
15 years ago, the Life Education Bus started to come to West Ashtead Primary. The
teachers thought that it would be a good resource for children. Now, once again, we
get to go inside the amazing bus to learn new things on different subjects and see
our favourite giraffe, HAROLD! I asked a few children what they were looking
forward to:
“Seeing the giraffe, of course,” one girl answered, “Also learning lots of new things
and watching different videos!
“The lighted up body freaks me out even though I love it!” exclaimed a Year 4 child.
AFTER:
The Life bus has now come and gone; we have all enjoyed the excitement of it being
our turn to go in and eventually coming out, thoughts and facts buzzing around our
heads.
“We learnt about being unique,” explained two friends. “We watched aliens on the
screen that were living on a different planet! They were all the same; they wore the
same clothes, ate the same food and weren’t allowed to think their own thoughts. I
wouldn’t like to live on that planet because here we are lucky to be able to do all
these things. I learnt we are all different and that’s good!”
Puzzle Page
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Jokes:
Q. Why did the student throw his
watch out of the window?
A. He wanted to see time fly!
Q. Why did the student take a
ladder to school?
A. He/she was going to high school!
Find the 5 differences
ASHTEAD
HEAD
LITERACY
LUNCHES
MATHS
PLAYTIME
SCIENCE
TEACHER
TESTS
WEST
Quiz: Test your knowledge about our school.
A: What day is star of the week celebrated?
B: What is 5b’s teacher called?
C. How many houses’ are there and what are they