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• Easter Holiday Activities - Go Play Sandwell !

  Thu 30 Mar 2023

  Go Play Sandwell! are hosting FREE fun activities across the Rowley area over Easter!

   

  Full details are available at www.goplaysandwell.co.uk or by directly contacting Mo on 07983 967266.

  

• Easter Egg Raffle

  Fri 24 Mar 2023

  Raffle tickets will be on sale break times and lunchtimes on Monday and Tuesday next week to win a giant Crocodile Easter Egg.

   

  Price per ticket is 50p and there will be a draw for FS/KS1 and a separate draw for KS2. 

   

  All money raised will go into school fund and the winning ticket will be drawn at the end of each disco.

  

• VIP Visitor - Adam Whitehead -Olympic & Commonwealth Swimmer

  Fri 24 Mar 2023

  It was great to welcome Adam Whitehead into school today and share his experiences at the Commonwealth and Olympic games.

   

  He wowed the children with his medals and, just as importantly, reminded everyone of the importance of  learning to swim and staying safe around water in the local area.

   

  All of the children have been very kindly offered a trial lesson at 'Swim! Oldbury' on Birchley Island Retail Park, by using their voucher and QR code to access the booking system. 

   

  We had some fantastic questions to finish the assembly and it was great to see so many children being inspired to get swimming! 

   

   

   

  

• Downs Syndrome Awareness Day 2023

  Fri 17 Mar 2023

  We would like everyone in school to wear odd and brightly coloured socks on Tuesday 21st March to celebrate World Down's Syndrome Day 2023. 

   

  Children in school will be involved in discussions during the week in their PSHE lessons, raising awareness and promoting 'inclusive' education for all.

   

  CLICK HERE for more information about Down's Syndrome and to take you to the website

  

• Red Nose Day 2023

  Tue 14 Mar 2023

  On Friday 17^th March, we will be supporting the BBC Red Nose Day 2023 appeal. We would like all children to come into school in their own clothes, ideally wearing something red (including noses and hair, if they so wish).

   

  All year-round, the money donated to Comic Relief works hard to support some incredible projects making a change to people's lives across the UK and around the world. In fact, over the past two years, Comic Relief funding has helped to support 11.7 million people.

   

  All donations will be greatly received and will be passed onto Comic Relief to support the amazing work they do, both in the UK and internationally.

   

  Thank you for your support, please read the letter below for more information

   

  CLICK HERE

  

• 3. Plas Gwynant - It's Snow Joke!

  Thu 09 Mar 2023 Mr Kettle

  They say the best things in life are freeze...

   

  We came, we thaw, we conquered...

   

  Okay, that's enough of the weather-related puns! But, on a serious note, waking up to a white blanket covering the grounds of Plas Gwynant was yet another magical moment.

   

  After consulting with our course leaders, we adapted our pre-arranged plans to take advantage of the heaven's opening with the 'good stuff' - nothing stops us here! A walk to the famous Elephant Rock, punctuated by snowball wars, was the perfect setting to a marvellous morning. Another group decided that enough was enough and it was time to warm up with a song of ice and fire: a campfire in the snow. There's a first for everything here, even for Mrs Barnett in her ninth (!) year of Plas adventuring.

   

  After warming those fingers and toes (brrrrrrrrrr), tonight's activity, due to outstanding resilience, attitude and general 'Oakhamness', was replaced with a disco. Dressed in their glad rags, the children displayed their strictly skills on the dance floor, with Mr Heywood losing miserably to not one, but two 11-year olds - better luck next time, sir. And, to finish, a bit of Neil Diamond - so good, so good!

   

  With the Thursday dust settled, the children are looking forward to making their final memories tomorrow morning, and to finally being reunited with you guys, full of stories, carbs and handfuls of dirty clothes.

   

  Prepare yourself, parents/carers - we're not too far!

  

• 2. Plas Gwynant - Tonight's Diaries

  Wed 08 Mar 2023 Mr Kettle

  Noswaith dda! That's good evening in Welsh, I hope...

   

  What a day! To say those Plas Gwynant weather gods turned on us would be an understatement - cold temperatures, high winds and even a little bit of the white, fluffy stuff. Nevertheless, in true Oakham spirit, our kids have dug in and had an absolutely awesome day - to be honest, we expected nothing different!

   

  So, rather than have me tell you how today's events have unfolded, allow me to pass on a few diary comments - the perfect activity to end the day - from our year 6 Oakhamites:

   

  "Today was all about magical mountains - you could see for what felt like infinity. Just a beautiful sight." - Ekamjeet

   

  "Breathtaking, picturesque - that's how I'd describe those mountains." - Noah, Isabel, Georgia 

   

  "I couldn't stop laughing even though it was me who fell in the water - face first! We all laughed together, though!" - Ava

   

  "I felt proud of myself today. At the abseiling, at first, it was scary. But watching a team-mate go down first helped me to master my own fears. It felt good." - Darcie

   

  And finally...

   

  "It was all just a big Bob Ross picture." - Joa

   

   

  I couldn't agree more, Joa. We're over halfway now through our journey here at Plas, with many more memories to make.

   

  Goodnight from us all :)

• 1. Plas Gwynant - A Little Update

  Tue 07 Mar 2023 Mr Kettle

  Evening everyone from sunny Wales,

   

  With a jam-packed two days now coming to a close, the Oakham staff here at Plas Gwynant would like to share a small update on how your children have been getting on.

   

  After a wondrous journey yesterday, weaving in and out of the Snowdonia mountains, we arrived to start our new lives (for a week, anyway) in North Wales. It was then time to devour the rest of our lunches, meet a few instructors and unpack our thermals, essentials and a few snacks... Before we tucked into a delicious tea of pizza/fish fingers, we had ample time to explore the famous Plas Gwynant grounds, roll down a few hills and, as they say here, be at one with nature.

   

  But, the moment of the day was certainly the night walk: 55 children and 5 staff climbing a hill and lying down in complete and utter silence (just watch out for that venomous mountain goat, boys and girls!). Walking back down the hill, it was truly satisfying and a privilege to hear children share comments like: "That was amazing!" and "I can't believe I felt so relaxed in a place like that." It was a special start to our week of memory-making.

   

  Moving onto today, after an early get up and 'carbing up' in true Plas Gwynant style, we took in the once-in-a-lifetime morning views (see the attached image). Oh, and what about lunch prep? Thankfully, no jam and cheese sandwich combinations - phew!

   

  Following this, our morning activities were - with much anticipation - revealed: a combination of abseiling, canoeing, gorge walking, a beach exploration and a mountain adventure. And for these, the weather gods were literally shining down on us. Fingers crossed for more luck on this front!

   

  For this evening's meal, a heart-warming combination of spaghetti bolognese, finished off with a warm chocolate brownie with ice-cream. What a treat!

   

  Any energy that was remaining was put to good use with our evening activity of an A-Z scavenger hunt; this week's targets of collaboration, resilience and teamwork demonstrated aplenty. A special mention to the purple team, with a resounding win, leading to much gloating from Mr Heywood - urgh.

   

  Finally, a special mention from me regarding the feedback from Plas Gwynant staff about the week so far. They have been so impressed with the cohort's manners, engagement and general attitude to life here at Plas. For us, as a staff, it's a pleasure to hear comments such as these; long may it continue.

   

  Let's see what tomorrow brings...

  

• Great Easter Bake Off

  Fri 03 Mar 2023

  GM2LF are giving local families the opportunity to take part in a 'Great British Easter Bake Off' competition. They will supply the ingredients, all you need to do is channel your best Mary Berry or Paul Hollywood. Entry forms are available by emailing Helen on the email address below.

   

   helen.gm2lf@outlook.com

   

   

  

• Winners of Spring 1 attendance

  Wed 01 Mar 2023

  A massive well done to Class 6 and Class 12 who have won Spring 1's best attendance with a very impressive 95.4% (C6) and 96.9% (C12)

   

  It was a hard fought contest with the winners changing several times during the last week and the difference between first and second place in KS2 was only 0.2%

   

  KS2

  1st - Class 12 96.9%

  2nd - Class 10 96.7%

  3rd - Class 13 96.3%

  KS1

  1st - Class 6 95.4%

  2nd - Class 4 95%

  3rd Class 7 - 92.6%

   

  Classes 6 and 12 will have a non uniform day on Friday 10th March as their reward.

   

  The competition starts again, who will win best attendance for Spring 2?

   

  "Every day and every person counts"