2014-16
Ulrike Draesner visits Europa School June 2016
Pupils in 4DE and 5DE were exceptionally lucky last week to meet Ulrike Draesner, one of Germany’s well known authors, a Visiting Fellow at New College and writer in residence at the Faculty for Medieval and Modern Languages, Oxford, face to face. Frau Draesner’s work spans poetry, novels and essay writing winning many prizes such as the Joachim-Ringelnatz-Preis für Lyrik in 2014 and the Usedomer Literaturpreis 2015. She gave lively accounts of how she became a writer (disliking poetry as child until a gifted teacher opened up this world for her), of the processes of writing itself and of what it means to be a writer. The pupils learned about the importance of the ‘Kino im Kopf’ for writing and had an excellent answer and question session which spanned everything from Frau Draesner’s favourite football team (she comes from Bavaria so there may be a clue here) to how many interviews she has given in her life (this involved quite difficult calculations!). We are very grateful indeed to Frau Draesner for being such an inspiration to our pupils and hope some will emulate her example!
Frau Havenstein (with many thanks to Jutta Weber for suggesting and supporting the event)
Summer fete 11 June 2016
THANK YOU
On behalf of the Europa PTA and CESPA we would like to thank to all the people who helped make Saturday the success it was, especially the legion of willing volunteers.
We would especially like to thank M. Marechau for being a great sport and can you all work on Mr Peter Ashbourne for next year.
Early indications are that we have raised over £2500 which will go towards improving the mud situation in the school playgrounds.
Enrichment Concert 18 May 2016
Europa’s schools young musicians stunned their audience by their extremely confident and musically expressive performances on Wednesday afternoon against the beautiful back-drop of the Chapel. We were extremely pleased to see such a variety of repertoire and instruments – from classic to modern to their own compositions and from piano, violin, cello, voice, bassoon to drums and electric guitar! Personally, I have been stunned by watching the progress these young musicians have made over the last three years and I am hoping that we will be able to establish our own orchestra soon. If any flautists were forthcoming, we would be delighted. We are also very grateful to the fantastic violin tuition from the County Council. A very warm round of applause goes to all the young musicians!
Art week 2016 03/05-06/05
Lovely art work from all our classes in the Chapel.
Maths week 2016 22/02-25/02
This week has seen the third year of Europa School running Maths Day events. This time all year groups did maths work over two days; either Tuesday and Wednesday or Wednesday and Thursday. This was so everyone could participate in a problem Solving Workshop run by an outside group who visited on Tuesday and Thursday. These sessions particularly concentrated on shapes, tangrams, tessellation, patterns and co-ordinates. The feedback from everyone was very positive and that the collaborative discussion based approach was really good for children at all levels.
Alongside this different year groups have carried out in class problems, challenges and maths in art. Year 5 have had a challenging project based around probability, chance and code breaking. Whereas, Reception classes have done lots of “bean counting” through solving problems around the theme of Jack and the Beanstalk.
One of the highlights has been cross year group work, where older children have helped younger classes solve maths challenges, using resources and leading maths talk on possible ways to find solutions. Year 5 even made resources to take with them for the Reception children.
Thank-you to all the staff for their commitment to these maths days and the children for embracing the challenges.
Befana January 2016
The school always celebrates a number of cultural happenings, like Sinterklaas, Sankt Martin, and Befana. Please read the story of Befana on Wikipedia.
Christmas Fair 2015
Our Christmas fair is becoming quite the event. Plenty of lovely hampers to be won (each class provides one), delicious food provided by parents, a magical grotto and plenty of activities. Children, parents and staff had a lovely time, thanks to all the input of the PTA and other volunteers!
Maths week 2016 22/02-25/02
This week has seen the third year of Europa School running Maths Day events. This time all year groups did maths work over two days; either Tuesday and Wednesday or Wednesday and Thursday. This was so everyone could participate in a problem Solving Workshop run by an outside group who visited on Tuesday and Thursday. These sessions particularly concentrated on shapes, tangrams, tessellation, patterns and co-ordinates. The feedback from everyone was very positive and that the collaborative discussion based approach was really good for children at all levels.
Alongside this different year groups have carried out in class problems, challenges and maths in art. Year 5 have had a challenging project based around probability, chance and code breaking. Whereas, Reception classes have done lots of “bean counting” through solving problems around the theme of Jack and the Beanstalk.
One of the highlights has been cross year group work, where older children have helped younger classes solve maths challenges, using resources and leading maths talk on possible ways to find solutions. Year 5 even made resources to take with them for the Reception children.
Thank-you to all the staff for their commitment to these maths days and the children for embracing the challenges.
Befana January 2016
The school always celebrates a number of cultural happenings, like Sinterklaas, Sankt Martin, and Befana. Please read the story of Befana on Wikipedia.
Christmas Fair 2015
Our Christmas fair is becoming quite the event. Plenty of lovely hampers to be won (each class provides one), delicious food provided by parents, a magical grotto and plenty of activities. Children, parents and staff had a lovely time, thanks to all the input of the PTA and other volunteers!
Europa School believes in learning outside of the premises, and we aim to take our pupils out on a regular basis to discover art, science and nature from up close and personal. A picture in the Ashmolean can speak volumes!
Year 5 School trip to Hill End November 2015
The children in Year 5 have visited Hill End Outdoor Learning Centre as part of their learning on animal habitats and ecosystems. We began the day by exploring some habitats for moles and slow worms and learning how the animals had adapted to their environment. Class 5FE were lucky enough to snatch a glimpse of two field mice sleeping in their nest! We then investigated an ancient wood (more than 500 years old!) and discovered how ivy is a parasite for some of the trees. Later in the day, we learnt how to construct some water-proof shelters to keep us warm and dry. When Jan tested the shelters with water, some of us got a bit of a sprinkle! We finished the day by exploring a stream habitat –getting a bit wet and muddy in the process! All in all, Year 5 were a credit to the school with their impeccable behaviour and their enthusiasm for learning!
Maths Day 23rd June 2015
Run against Hunger 15 May 2015
Get, set, ready, GO! A first in the sunshine, our children ran to support other children in the Action against Hunger. Their motivation was inspirational and their stamina impressive! Well done everyone! If you want to support the charity, you can do so on our justgiving page: https://www.justgiving.com/europaschool
A visit from Perform
Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 were very pleased to receive a visit from Perform on Thursday 7th May. The children had a wonderfully energetic time exploring the theme of Circus Adventure and using drama, dance and singing to help develop their confidence, concentration and social skills.
To complement the workshop, there is a free educational app for iPhones and iPads based around the theme of Circus Adventure. It contains fun games, creative tasks and videos of the themed songs and dances. Click here to download it free or here to find out more about the Circus Adventure theme.
Perform run regular weekly classes in the local area and they are offering a special introductory discount to all parents of Europa School Uk if they come along for a free trial session before Thursday 28th May. Click here for the nearest locations. To claim your discount, just call Perform on 020 7255 9120 quoting EURO280515 or visit perform.org.uk to find out more.
Enrichment concert 2015
Europa School held its second Enrichment Concert on 23 March 2015 with participants from all the years of the school. They included two girls from Reception who showed no trepidation whatsoever in performing in front of an audience. There was a fantastic variety of pieces on the piano, the violin and voice. The audience was very impressed by our young artists who bowed professionally at the end of their performances with lovely smiles, which complimented their musical achievements in the most perfect manner. It was a great pleasure, too, to see so many enthusiastic (and capable) parents performing alongside their children. Europa School is very lucky indeed to have so much talent.
Frau Havenstein
Eclipse
It was a big event within the school, with all the classes from Reception to Yr4 getting involved during the whole week, culminating in watching the actual eclipse on Friday. It was great to see all the children in the morning, truly enthusiastic and focused, observing the phenomenon; everyone was safely wearing the special glasses. We have been lucky enough to see the clouds slightly dispersing in the sky, showing the moon hiding the sun. We heard that many schools in UK and on the continent had banned children to see the eclipse, confining them to the classrooms. It is such a pity, an anti-educative and anti-scientist attitude. Europa is keen about science, determined not to deprive our pupils of this exceptional spectacle.
World book day
An account of a number of Year 1 pupils:
Les Trois Chardons - Theatre
On 23/02 the French Theatre company Les Trois Chardons performed for our French speaking pupils. They really enjoyed it of course.
Korky Paul visit
Thursday 22nd January the school received a special guest, Korky Paul, the multi-awarded author who illustrated very famous children’s books, including Winnie the Witch. All the classes have got workshops with him, and the children were totally captivated. Korky has drawn a nice poster for each class, and at the end of the day, there has been a very successful Book Signing time. Parents and children were queuing until outside the Drama-Studio…
That evening, a year4 pupil sent him a drawing inspired by him by email, here is his answer: “Thanks for taking the time to send me those pictures you did. Excellent drawing skills, well done. I had a great day at your school. You are very lucky to be at such a wonderful place. Keep up the drawing!”
Thank so much Korky for having been so inspiring for our pupils!
Los Reyes Magos and La Befana
Friday 9th January Los Reyes Magos (the three kings) and La Befana visited the school.
Sinterklaas
On the 5th of December, Sinterklaas visited the school. The children of 4DE, 4FE and 2FE made him especially proud singing a Dutch song beautifully. Also, the Dutch and Belgian children did a great performance for Sinterklaas teaching the whole school some easy Dutch words like bal, pop, schatkist and vliegtuig. Sinterklaas was very impressed one of his Pieten told me.
Sankt Martin
Sankt Martin, the German lantern festival, to honour the saint of the same name, is one of the highlights of the Europa School calendar. Each year all of keystage 1 make lanterns in class and go on a festive procession around the school on the evening of November 11 2014.
Drama Workshop 22/10/14
All Europa School children in keystage 1 today enjoyed a fantastic workshop by Perform today. They had an amazing time making freeze frames, being from different planets and sprinkling friendship dust. What a fantastic morning!
Year 2 trip to the Environmental Education Centre
Their final school trip has led 2DE and 2FE to the Sutton Courtenay Environmental Education Centre. Both classes had time to explore some of the gorgeous 19-acre nature reserve before embarking on a Habitat safari, exploring the woodland and going mini-beast hunting discovering millepedes, centipedes, beetle larvae, hog lice and various other creatures.
After lunch, the children had some time in the musical garden and the sensory experience area and were able to discover dens and hide-outs in the woodland. Then it was off to pond dipping much to the delight of all participants. Each child fished for tadpoles, pond snails or lesser known creatures! These were carefully put into containers carried back and examined in the classroom where the lovely education officers offered unique views of the mini-beasts under the microscope enlarging them on the whiteboards (the creatures were released into their natural habitat after having been in the spotlight). All children 'passed' their pond passport identifying and drawing their catch.
Frau Havenstein
Year 2 Earth Trust trip
2DE and 2FE went to the Earth Trust in glorious sunshine on 10 March. On arrival they had a short presentation about the yearly cycle of farming. All were astonished to learn that we only have long summer holidays because children were needed to help in the summer with the harvest! Both classes took turns to make creamy butter, have a go at milking a cow (albeit a fake one), produce delicious muesli and plant some seeds. Lunch was enjoyed outside in the garden, with both classes having time to explore the greenery around them and to have a look at the chickens. Running up a steep hill (and down!) proved that all children were fantastic athletes. Finally, we learnt how to be animal detectives and found some very interesting paw prints in a little wood alongside the plentiful signs of early spring. Aurelia from 2DE said that this was her best school trip ever. Nobody would disagree with her!
Frau Havenstein
Sutton Courtenay Nature Reserve
The 5th of June 2014 the 2 year 2 classes went to another trip in our nature-rich area. The Nature Reserve is actually quite close to the industrial Didcot power station, but you wouldn't believe it when you are there. The friendly staff helped the children determine what exactly a habitat is. It needs shelter, food, water and air, and the children came up with plenty of examples, just by looking around and linking what they had been taught in class to the great (and dry!) outdoors.
Earth Trust
On the 25th of March our year 2 went to the Earth Trust in Little Wittenham to learn more about spring time. They watched how little lambs are born and were told everything about the bonding between mothers and lambs.
There was also a long walk up the Wittenham Clumps. A long walk for the teachers anyway, the children seemed to fly up there! There they explored and looked for signs of spring, which they could then reproduce with clay in the outdoors.
The weather was nice and the children had a great time. We can recommend all parents to go and explore this amazing venue on our doorstep!
Farmer Gow's Farm
As part of this terms topic on ‘Animals’ The Reception classes visited Farmer Gow’s Farm 6th of May and had a wonderful day!
Feeding Pollyanna the Sow
Time to feed the baby lambs
Trip to the Ashmolean
The 4th of March 2014 our reception classes visited the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford. The photos were too dark to publish, so we encourage you to go to this great museum on our doorstep and enjoy their artwork for yourselves!