Wind Band Experience

A group of our musicians took part in Oxfordshire's Big Wind Band Experience on Friday 24th May. Together with children from all over Oxfordshire, they rehearsed pieces of music, which were then performed in a concert to parents and carers that evening at the Music Centre in Oxford.

It was an amazing experience for the children to be part of a big band with such high expectations. A massive thank you to Ms Atkins for organising it and accompanying the children.

Spanish Armada Art

In art this term, year 5/6 have produced the most amazing and dramatic scenes from the Spanish Armada. They used water colours, pastels, coloured pencils and charcoal. Here are just a selection. Hope you enjoy them.

KS1 Art Club 

KS1 Art Club have been busy this term creating their very own puppets.

The children spent all three sessions making their designs come to life and they all look fantastic! 

Cycle Safety

We are really grateful to Ali Crotch-Harvey (aka Akela) for coming in to talk to us all about cycle safety.

Ali is one of the amazing volunteers, who teach and assess our Year 6 children in cycle proficiency. Many younger children are out and about on their bikes, so it was brilliant for them to find out how to put their helmets on properly and how to keep themselves safe on their bikes.

Year 3/4 have a visit from evacuee and author Tom Farrell!

Last Friday, Tom Farrell came in to read extracts from his book 'Tim Oliver Evacuee' to the children in 3/4. It was very interesting to learn what happened to Tom during his time as an evacuee. Tom Farrell was an evacuee during WW2, who was evacuated from Liverpool to a farm in the countryside. After his experience, he wrote a book about his family and time as an evacuee. 

"It was very exciting to meet someone that had experienced war."

"I thought it was very interesting to hear about what it was like to be an evacuee."

"After listening to Tom read the extracts, I am eager to read the whole book!"

"It was exciting to know that Tom escaped out of his shelter during an air raid to see the planes and to gather shrapnel."  

Jaguar Class

We would like to send our thanks to Tom and his wife for visiting the children to tell them all about life as an evacuee. He has really inspired many of our children to read his book and write their letters pretending to be evacuees themselves!

FS and KS1 Sports Morning

Many thanks to all who attended the FS and KS1 morning. The children had a fantastic time and were able to apply their skills from their athletics lessons. Thank you also to the PTA for hosting our usual Pre-Sports Coffee Morning and to our Sports Leaders for helping to run the event.

Musical Masters

We are, once again, really proud of the musical talent we nurture at Cholsey School. A group of children took their grade exams a few weeks ago and received their certificates and feedback today. The exams can be very daunting and we are always impressed at how the children take them in their stride.

Certificates ranging from Grade 1 to Grade 3 were awarded for a variety of instruments including cornets and saxophones.

A big well done to all the children and music teachers involved.

You will be able to see some of them in action at our Summer Music Concert on 4th July.

Cycling Experts

Our latest group of Cycle Proficiency graduates received their certificates today. A huge thank you to the volunteers that take on the important job of training them throughout the year and also to parents for supporting with appropriate bikes and helmets.

Eco Champions

We are really proud of Milo, Tabitha and Callum from Year 4, who have instigated a whole school campaign to support saving the environment.

The school was given a presentation in assembly this morning that our Eco Champions put together themselves, which outlined the challenges faced by nature due to global warming and rubbish.

The children (and staff) were urged to save energy by switching lights off where appropriate and to recycle crisp packets at lunchtimes, by popping them into a box placed at the front of the hall, which when full, will be taken to a specialist recycling point in Wallingford.

Year 6 Writing Club

Earlier this year some pupils in Year 6 attended my writing club. One of the pieces of writing they did was based around a short film clip entitled  Something Fishy.

You can watch the animation here and then enjoy reading their brilliant stories below. More to be added once typed up!

Watch the animation: Something Fishy

Something fishy

By Kitty

I was so bored and was about to fall asleep. I looked towards the ticking clock on the battered  wall. As I started to drift off, a beam of blue hit me; it was so bright. End of school disco bright. I was captivated with the spotlight that hit me! All I could think of doing was opening the door; it felt like a dream.

 Cautiously, I plunged my head into the machine- it was cold but not freezing- it was how I wanted it to be. All I could see was an array of fish, fish that looked strangely similar to socks. It was just like the dream that had engulfed  me that night.Soon after I heard a deep groan.

 It took me a minute to process what I had just seen. In the distance, a blue figure- that reminded me of my brand new jeans- was fast approaching. Frantically, I shot my head towards the moon-shaped door before I could even get a chance to have a proper look at it. I felt a burst of energy rushing inside of me. I could see the way out I was nearly there!

Before I had a chance to think, I had made it as I fell out I the dark figure followed me. It horrified me. Curiously, I looked at it for a while trying to calm myself down. I didn’t want to touch it. What if it hurt me? I felt brave though I was going to be fine.

I felt the dark figure (or at that point I had realised they were just jeans) but before I could properly touch them. Just then, I heard a deep voice coming from behind me.

“I think you’ll find they’re mine.”

Turning around, I saw my biggest fear. A SHARK! Scared, embarrassed, confused I turned around quickly to block the sight.

Something Fishy!  By Naomi

Lola was slouched in the launderette tapping her foot in boredom. She had waited for what felt like hours; the book was getting boring.

As she started to drift off , a beam of light projected on to her! Lola was transfixed; it was coming from the washing machine. What could it be? She thought.

She made her way towards it , feeling like it was a magnet pulling her in to her imagination. Lola felt the luminous liquid on her baby soft hands. Attempting hold her breath, she put her head in and discovered there was no need to worry.

Pushing herself off the wall, she plunged in to this fantasy world. When she pulled her head round, to her amazement she saw a glowing yellow fish (which looked like a sock.)Lola grabbed it but it wriggled free of her grip. As she swam further, schools of every colour came past her glowing eyes. When Lola took notice of where she was going, she saw a beautiful forest of trees but they weren’t any old trees they were coin trees .“They are the coins you give for your washing,” she thought to herself.

Relaxed she turned back to go to the unique launderette but instead of seeing the schools colourful fish she saw huge, gleaming, white fangs facing her. Lola took a small intake of breath and clapped her hands to her face. Luckily she was a very good swimmer because Lola swam as fast as lightning.             But the faster she swam the faster the blue beast came towards her. Lola rushed through the coin woods and through the now frightened schools of fish. The glowing light of the washing machine was as bright as the moon.

Lola leaped out on to the smooth, cold , bare  launderette floor in a heap. She held out her shaking dry has to touch whatever it was, Lola’s heart was beating so fast she felt like it was going to jump out of her chest. Fortunately the monster was just her new jeans! There was no need to worry. But that was quite an adventure and she wouldn’t do it again!

Something Fishy

Alexa was in a laundrette in the south side of the Conation City. She was so bored her dull magazine was extremely tedious. Alexa thought that she would die of boredom.As she was wishing for her cycle could finish, she looked at the washing machine and something caught her eye.

Feeling curious, Alexa decided to see what it was;she put her head into the machine and was dazzled.Alexa got into the washing machine,to her amazement there were a load of sock fishes,who were swimming round in circles in the washing machine.There were trees of coins,which had been stacked up one on top of another.

Suddenly Alexa turned around to see a shark,horrified she had no idea what to do.Luckily Alexa had done well in swimming  at school,so she swam for her life. Alexa was swimming so fast she could have won a medal.As soon as Alexa slowed down she saw a light;it was the washing machine door.It was like the moon in the sky.

Alexa swam through the door and was now safely in the laundrette.Breathing heavily she slowly turned around to close the door but to her horror the same shark was there ahhh.

By Dylan

Here is a different short story by Bethany:

The Tremendous Tree

By Bethany

Jack and Jess were walking through the woods. Suddenly, they came across a colourful tree. It almost seemed like there was a door hidden inside it. Jess crept up to the door and pushed it open. She shrieked (thinking someone was going to come out) but instead Jack ran in and shouted, “Jess come on it’s amazing out here!” Feeling confused and cautious Jess shuffled inside.

To her surprise Jess found herself on a huge beach and saw an unusual castle perched on the hill. Curious, she explored the beach desperate to find a way up. After a while, Jack found a way up to the castle. They excitedly ran up to the gleaming golden door; they couldn’t believe their eyes it was huge!

Ferociously Jack knocked on the door (so they could hear it). The door opened slowly, thump, thump, thump the earth shook. That’s when they realised they weren’t safe.

An ogre stepped into the doorway and shouted, “Who dares to disturb the king?”

Jack and Jess slowly walked away in fear, not noticing the monkey army behind them. “Arghh,” Jess screamed. They both looked at each other. ”Run!” they shouted.  The monkeys and the king were right behind them! Jack could see the entrance, “Hurry” he said cautiously. Finally they were out and Jess quickly shut the door. “Hurray!” they said.

“Let’s go home Jack,” said Jess.

“Yes let’s go home,” Jack agreed.

Disco 2019

A big thank you to the PTA for organising a fantastic school disco on Friday night. DJ Dan was superb and everyone had an amazing time. Enjoy the photos: