Today our lovely children in Year Two left school for the day to take part in a fantastic trip to Barleylands. At the farm the children learnt where wheat, flour, cheese and tomatoes came from and then used these ingredients to make their very own individual pizzas! The children took turn to grind grains of wheat into flour before they went ansd studied the animals and learned all about the food farmers get from them including milk, eggs and cheese. The children fed the animals and then searched for more throughout a fun tractor ride! Thanks to all of the parents who came along and helped for the day.

Meanwhile, back in school, the morning started with a host of parents from the Foundation Stage joining Mr B and teachers in the hall for a transition meeting about the move into Year One. Mr B introduced the teachers for the year group; Mrs Geach, Mrs Stanford and Miss O’Rourke. Mrs Geach then talked the parents through some of the main facts about the year ahead before the parents had the opportunity to introduce themselves to the staff over a cup of tea. Mrs Stanford, who is joining us in September, then spent the whole day in school playing with and getting to know the children who she will be working with next year.

Later in the day there were two ‘AOK Club’ missions taking place! Children from Year Four joined Mr B and Mrs Critoph to undertake a litter picking session along Carlton Avenue where they worked in pairs to rid the street of rubbish, even rescuing paper and litter from neighbours bushes. Meanwhile Mr Gheorge worked with another group of children from Year Five to sand an elderly neighbours fence which needs painting. The children worked as a team to sand the poles of the fence in preparation for a lick of paint later in the week. Mr B was proud of the way all of the children threw themselves into their missions and was delighted to present them with their badges back in school.

At the end of the afternoon there was another transition meeting in the downstairs hall as Miss Brooker welcomed parents of children moving into Year Five in September, all keen to find out about the year ahead. Mr B introduced the teachers for the year ahead; Miss Brooker, Miss Neal and Mrs Robinson. The parents then heard all about expectations for the year before getting to know the staff over a cuppa!

There was more excitement in school as the staff received news that the latest Earls Hall baby had been safely delivered! The lovely Mrs Heard became Mummy to a beautiful baby boy. Harry Charles Heard was born just after 9.30am weighing a healthy 7lbs 5oz. Congratulations to Mrs Heard, we can’t wait to meet the little man!

As if that wasn’t enough excitement for one day the celebrations continued after school as a group of children from school represented Earls Hall at the Southend ‘Super Sports’ event at Garons. The event sees winners from the borough sports compete against each other and, with the competitors being the true elite of the town, the competition was fierce. The Year Six boys relay team took gold, as did the Year Five girls relay team. The Year six girls relay team gained a bronze whilst the team took silver in the Year Three boys 400m and gold in both the Year Three girls 400m and Year Six boys 600m! A truly fantastic result! Well done to all the team, we are so proud of you!