Archive October 2023

As the first half term of the school year draws to a close, it is time for us to take a moment to think just how far the children have come in such a short amount of time. Children new to the school are already coming in through the gate with confidence and know the routines of school life. Hopefully, all of our new families now feel part of the Queen Anne school family too. Our long-standing pupils are now familiar with their new classrooms and have formed good relationships with their class teaching team. All of which is a great achievement for young children.

HARVEST SERVICE:

Our Harvest Service provided an opportunity for the whole school to show gratitude for what we have and to think of others who may not be so fortunate. For some children, it was their first Queen Anne Harvest Festival and for others their final opportunity to give Harvest thanks as a Queen Anne pupil. The children thoroughly enjoyed sharing their Harvest thanks in church with everyone.

The generous donations to Windsor Foodshare will make a positive difference to other people’s lives.

TAG RUGBY

Our Year 3 and 4 class participated in a Tag Rugby tournament. They played with enthusiasm and showed good team spirit. There were several children who were noted for their outstanding attitude to sport. Congratulations to Year 3 and Year 4!

POND EXPLORATIONS

 Thanks to Sam Gesell, Debby Batchelor and QAPAFA, we’ve been able to make the most of the lovely weather and explore life in and around the school pond. Through a variety of activities, each class has developed their scientific observational and classification skills. Without the hard work and support of Sam, Debby and QAPAFA, this wonderful learning would not have been possible. We even have our own resident heron courtesy of Mrs McDougall. Thank you all!

Last week The Queen Anne welcomed tree surgeons to ensure our trees are in tip-top condition for the coming winter.  With the hustle and bustle of the new term, it is a moment to stop, pause and reflect on everything these ancient trees will have witnessed, long before the woods became the school’s home.  We are incredibly lucky to have an outstanding and unusual collection of trees on site.  Read on to learn more!

The most striking tree at the Queen Anne is undoubtedly the Giant Redwood.  Not only is the Redwood magnificent to look at, but it is a fantastic tool for learning.  Seed dispersal is far more memorable when fire is essential for the cones to give up the seeds to the wind!

The Giant Redwood can live for 3000 years, but due to logging and fire management practices it is now endangered, which makes our very own all the more important.  Just the mention of an endangered tree sparks curiosity in our children:  “Why is it endangered?”, “How can we change that?”, “What happens to the animals that rely on the tree?”.  We are extremely proud of their inquisitive and eco-conscious minds!

Native to South America, and named after the native American Catawba tribe, the Indian Bean tree is a firm favourite with the children.  With enormous heart-shaped leaves, beautifully scented flowers, and runner bean-like seed pods, it is the focus of much imaginative play! 

When the seed pods are this cool, who wouldn’t be engaged in learning their parts of a plant?!  Do look out for the Indian Bean Tree situated outside the Hall.

A final tree of note for now, is the native Wild Service Tree.  We have walked by these trees so many times, possibly without realising just how rare and special they are.  A little research changed that, when we learnt that they are an indicator species for Ancient Woodland. The Wild Service Tree bears fruit, which until 100 years ago, was sold in markets as a cure for colic and an ingredient of jams and drinks!

We are extremely proud of our little patch of ancient woodland and the habitat it provides,  as well as the Queen Anne children, who respect and look after it.  We hope they will have many fond memories of playing and learning surrounded by nature.

The Autumn term brings lots of new things: new classrooms, teachers, friends, uniform and new, shiny school schools.

Over the past few  weeks, the children have settled well into their new classrooms  and I am sure that they are already wearing out their new school shoes. I hope that all of our new families are beginning to feel part of The Queen Anne community too. There’s a wonderful feeling of learning across the school and we are all looking forward to a great year ahead.

We are fortunate to have support in our pond area this year from Sam Gesell and  & Debby Batchelor, who have already worked hard to transform the pond area. Our school grounds provide habitats for a wide variety of trees, plants and animals. The children will have an opportunity to explore  the pond area over the coming year. So far, newts, larvae and pond slaters ( not skaters) have been spotted in our pond.