This term at the Latham School saw some exciting changes and events!

We said hello to two new teachers – Mrs. Staal and Ms. Spellman. We also held our school play, Aesop’s Fables, thankfully under a blue sky. Our much anticipated summer fête occurred where adults and children alike participated in several games and activities as well as sampled food from our local area. Lastly, we saw the opening of our school library. While still in the beginning stages, Year 6/7 pupils have been hard at work during their breaks and lunches organizing the books on the new shelves and managing visitors.

As the school year draws to a close, I wish everyone a safe and happy summer and best of luck for the year ahead!

All the best,

Ms. Huvers

Contributors to this issue of the newsletter include: Chaulere Banda, Annabellah Magege, Madeleine Cosmos, Raghad Farea, Faith Mselle, and Adrian Mathisen.

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What’s Happening at The Latham School?

Issue 9 July 2015

Inside

End of Year Excitement

Faces at The Latham School Interviews with pupils and staff

News from the Classroom Learning highlights from each class from Year 1 to Year 6/7

Special Events

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Friday Certificate Recipients

In Our Time, Let Us Do Good Pupils who are “doing good”

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What’s Happening at The Latham School? Issue 9 :: July 2015

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byline [Name] Adrian: Where did you go during the

holidays?

Daniel: America and Zanzibar.

Adrian: What did you like the most about the holidays?

Daniel: Playing.

Raghad: What is your favorite color?

Daniel: Blue

Adrian: What year were you born?

Daniel: 2006

Raghad: What is the lesson you like the most?

Daniel: Science because we get to use circuits.

Adrian: When is your birthday?

Daniel: 18 of May.

Raghad: Who is your favorite teacher?

Daniel: Mrs. Spellman.

Faith: How long have you been teaching?

Mr. Natai: 12 years.

Chau: What is your favourite number?

Mr. Natai: 8

Faith: What subject do you like to teach most?

Mr. Natai: Swahili

Chau: When is your birthday?

Mr. Natai: August

Faith: What is your favourite colour?

Mr. Natai: Blue

Chau: Where did you go for Easter holiday?

Mr. Natai: Kenya.

Faith: What activity do you enjoy running the most?

Mr. Natai: Blogging in Swahili

Faces at The Latham School

Daniel Mr. Natai

What’s Happening at The Latham School? Issue 9 :: July 2015

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News from Year 6/7

by Adrian Mathisen

In year 6/7, we are learning about Nelson Mandela in literacy. He is a man who fought against apartheid (what used to be in South Africa that separated white people and black people) and how he was sent to prison but was freed, never gave up, and soon became the president of South Africa. In topic, we were learning how to read OS maps and we even made our own “cereal islands” to show contours. We are now focusing on the history of schools. We learned about schools during the Tudor times and compared them with schools nowadays. Wealthy students had a “whipping boy” with them at school; if the pupil got into trouble for misbehaving, it was the whipping boy that got the lashes instead! In Science we learned about types of energy. Everything has energy – even what you’re using to read right now!

Year 1

Year 2

News from the Classroom In Year 1, pupils have been learning about Captain Scott’s South Pole mission of 1912 where him and his team raced against a Norwegian expedition to reach their destination first. Sadly, five members of Scott’s team, including Scott himself, failed to make it out of Antarctica alive. “It was very sad,” said Nehemiah. “Even their horses died!” added Nanyori. Pupils also learned about the voyage of Christopher Columbus and his discovery of the Americas.

In Year 2, pupils have been learning about inventions. Some of these include bandages, velcro, and everyone’s favourite – crisps! How does an invention come about? “There were problems,” said Bob. “Then they make an invention to fix the problem.” They studied the problems which inspired each invention, who invented it, the year, and the results of the invention. “These inventions made things better,” Year 2 exclaimed. For example, in the 1920s, the airtight bag was invented by ironing two pieces of waxed paper together. This solved the problem of stale crisps!

Year 3 In Year 3, pupils have been learning about the weather. They created a weather report on the iPads by using information they collected from the internet. They found the minimum and maximum temperatures, the wind speed, and the type of weather (sunny, rainy, etc.). They also studied shadows in Science. “If the sun is really big and further – way up in the sky, the shadow will be quite small. When the sun is coming down, the shadow will be taller,” explained Madeleine.

Year 4/5

In 4/5, pupils have been creating haiku poems about Tanzanian animals. “A haiku poem has five syllables on the first line, seven syllables on the second line, and then five syllables on the last line,” said Jahan. She did her poem about the lion, Martin’s was about the leopard, Manzi’s about the Pemba flying fox, and Daniel’s is about the lioness. After they wrote their poems, they decorated them using a variety of colours and pictures. “I chose the lioness because I wanted to learn more about it. Did you know gazelles are a part of their diet?” Daniel asked.

What’s Happening at The Latham School? Issue 9 :: July 2015

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Aesop’s Fables by Adrian Mathisen

The school play was something I am sure everyone couldn't wait for! We had four plays, five songs, seven times that music was played, five signs that either showed the title of the entire play or the moral of the story, and three solos.

The show started as Daniel went on stage, read "Aesops's Fables" and the soloist, Miriam, for "Aesop’s Fables" started singing. Then "Belling the Cat" started with Miriam, Martin, Ryan, Madeleine, and Abigail as mice. Then the song started after Daniel, as a cat, came and chased off the mice. Then the "Lion in Love" started as dancers appeared on the stage until Poppy, as a lion, chased them off except for Nicole who played the girl. Other characters in this play were Nehemiah as the father and Annabellah as the mother, and Bob as the surgeon. Then Bob and Eloisa came on as the mother and aunt for "The Boy Who Cried Wolf". Max played the naughty Shepard Boy and Brilliant the wolf. Other students included Nanyori, Michelle, Maria, Levix, and Chau. Then foxes came on, Adrian as the oldest fox, Jahan, Manzi as the sneakiest fox, and Faith. The play ended when Sly (AKA Manzi) was chased off. Everyone took a bow. Ms. Spellmen and Ms. Simon were given flowers for their hard work. The children were highly congratulated.

Summer Fête assisted by Chaulere Banda and Raghad Farea

On 20th June, The Latham School held their Summer Fête – a fun filled day where pupils and parents alike played a wide variety of games. They could also win tokens to cash in for prizes! It seems the most popular game this year was Soak the Teacher where pupils were allowed to throw a wet sponge at Mr. Haskins. “It was so much fun!” exclaimed Faith. Some other favourites were the Queen’s Nose, Hook a Duck, Pin the Tail on the Giraffe and Bean Bag Toss. “Hook a Duck was tricky for me but I liked that,” shared Madeleine. Upon winning enough tokens, Bob went and exchanged them for crazy slime and Ryan for some swirly marbles. Another favourite prize among the girls was the nail polish. “It’s so pretty!” said Nicole about her bottle of red nail polish. It’s certainly unanimous that pupils are already excited for next year’s summer fête!

The Library by Adrian Mathisen

When a KS2/3 pupil wants a book for home: The librarian must check the book off on the card for the pupil. When a KS1 pupil wants a book for home: The librarian doesn’t have a card for that Key Stage so their classroom teacher does it. If a pupil wants to read: The pupils are allowed to read but must keep their voices down, not play or have a conversation. When is the library is open: Besides Friday’s lunch, every break and all lunches. Yet, teachers may come in during anytime but must sign their card.

What’s Happening at The Latham School? Issue 9 :: July 2015

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In Our Time, Let Us Do Good

Nanyori (Year 1) – Good improvement throughout her first term at The Latham School

Nicole (Year 2) – Wonderful rhythm and dancing skills during music

Levix (Year 2) – A wonderful performance during the school play

Chau (Year 2) – Excellence in punctuality

Ryan (Year 3) – Speaking loudly during play rehearsal

Daniel (Year 5) – Enthusiasm for learning

Adrian (Year 7) – Being a mentor on the iPad

Daniel helped Faith up when she fell on the bricks.

Miriam and Jahan always help clean up after PE

Maria helped Nanyori remember what to say during Year 1’s sharing assembly.

KS1 Baking Group always takes the initiative to clean up after baking and do an excellent job of it!

Year 1 helped Ms. Simon tidy up the classroom.

Raghad helped Abigail understand shadows during Science class.

Friday Certificate Winners

Madeleine reminded her friends of their lines in the school play when they forget them.

Colman helped Ms. Staal clean the dishes after baking one day.

Adrian was helping his peers remember their lines during the school play