Woodpeckers Stone Age Day

On Wednesday we had an amazing day learning all about the Stone Age. We came to school dressed up as Stone Age cave people, with lots of animal prints, mud and back-combed hair! In the morning we stuck paper under our tables and turned all the lights off to pretend we were in caves to complete our cave paintings. We also created Stone Age survival guides to give to our parents about how to live in the Stone Age.

In the afternoon our parents came in and we could do lots of different activities with them. One parent, Lily D’s mum also joined us with dressing up! We made Stone Age houses and pots out of clay, painted using sticks and leaves and created hand stencils. We made 3D woolly mammoths and Stonehenge from paper and Stone Age cone people from paper.

Thank you parents for coming in for the afternoon and for supporting your children with this project.

We hope you all enjoyed the day!

Whole Class Success for our Budding Young Writers!

Just before Christmas, all the children in Skylarks entered a creative writing competition run by Young Writers. Our task was to write a short story about Time Travel. Our tales could be no longer than 100 words, which was actually much trickier than we first thought as we needed to include a beginning, middle and end.

Excitedly, we spent a few weeks planning, writing and improving our Time Travelling Tales. Our ideas included abandoned theme parks, dinosaurs, ancient Egyptians and zombies!

We had a brilliant surprise when a parcel arrived containing letters and certificates saying that we had all been accepted to have our stories published in a book. The book will be sent to the London library as well as lots of other libraries around the country. The school will receive a copy and our parents can purchase a copy to keep forever.

The book will be published on 30^th April 2016.

Everyone is feeling full of exhilaration and we are looking forward to seeing the outcome. Watch this space!

By Febie Byott (Year 4)

Year 4 Trip to Fishbourne

Skylarks Trip to Fishbourne Roman Palace

When we climbed out of the coach, on 10^th February 2016, I found myself staring at the amazing hills and fields surrounding Fishbourne Roman Palace. On the first part of our visit, we went into a room all about house-life in the Roman times. I investigated how to cook in the Roman kitchen. We were even able to make flour, by placing real grain into a tool made out of stone with a metal handle, and grinding the grains of wheat into flour. We also learnt how to spin wool into string.

After that, we went to look at a very exciting clip about when the museum was a beautiful palace, and when it became a burnt wreckage in the fatal fire, that made the emperor and his family run for their lives.

Finally, we were given worksheets and we had to answer the puzzling question on them. First, we went into the delicate mosaic gallery, where the famous ‘Cupid riding on a Dolphin’ mosaic was laid. My favourite mosaic was the Medusa one. Then, we went into the museum to learn how to weave, and we learnt about the Roman baths.

In the Roman baths, there are three stages – hot, warm and cold, and maybe even four if you count the massage in between. The member of staff was a lady who showed us all the different tools used for the massage.

Lucy B (Year 4)

Portchester Castle Trip – Years 1 & 2

On Wednesday 7th October we went to Portchester Castle.  We are studying dungeons and dragons and we wanted to see a real castle with real dungeons. We got on the coach and it took us 40 minutes to get there. It was hot on the coach and we had to turn on the fans. My partner was Micah, and my partner was Poppy.  We went to the entrance of the castle which was a ginormous gate and there was a guard standing in front of the gate. He had a sword and some armour and he looked quite scary. We had to ask him if we could enter he said ‘Only if you are quiet.’ When we got into the castle we dressed up as the King and Queen and servants, this was fun.  We then explored the castle going on a hunt to find flags. On the hunt we saw the toilets. The toilets were just a hole in the wall, it was disgusting!  We had a great time, thank you. Miss Wood said that we were very good ambassadors for the school and thanked us for our enthusiasm and behaviour.

Year 2 - Mason P and Grace C

We were met by Brother John who took us to the castle entrance

Autumn Term 2

As part of our “explorers and adventurers” topic, Year 5 looked at the art styles and techniques of the Aztec Indians. They used lots of geometric patterns in their art and also used representations and pictures from nature but they often drew them in a slightly square fashion. We looked at some examples and we recreated similar designs using pastels. What symbols from nature can you see in our designs?

CALSHOT

On the 12^th of October year 6 (Kestrels) went to Calshot for a residential trip, we stayed there from the 12^th - 14^th. First we met our instructors and then we had a tour of the activity centre, the instructors names were Bryn, Carl and Harry.

The activities were:

Sailing- sailing is fun and challenging,  you will need concentration and focus to exceed in this activity.

Kayaking-kayaking is also another water sport just like sailing. The equipment you will need is: a swimming costume, towel, wet suit, buoyancy aid, kayak and a paddle, be warned don’t capsize the water is freeeeezing!

Low ropes-Low ropes is an activity that tests your team work and co-operation with other team mates. It also tests your brain and challenges you as an individual.

Skiing-Skiing is one of the most fun activities at Calshot even though getting ready takes quite a long time because you have  to be weighed and get your height measured. However when you get on the slopes it’s very enjoyable.

Archery-When doing archery you have to have a good aim but don’t worry you have nice instructors that will tell you how to do everything.

Rock climbing-In this activity you will be needing strength and trust in your other team mates.

It’s not just the activities through the day that are fun, the evening activities are great as well.You can take part in evening activities like: races, stealing each others points, movies and egg drop.

The food at Calshot is also amazing. you can get several different meals such as: jacket potato, burger, pasta, chicken wraps and a variety of salads and puddings. You will not be getting hungry!

The dorms at Calshot provide you with comfy beds, a sink and floor space to put all your stuff.

Calshot is an amazing place with lots of fun things to do, you will have the time of your life!

By Abigail & Mimi

Calshot learning………but not at school

We went to Calshot on the 12^th of October till the 14^th of October. First we met our instructor and then we had a tour around the activity centre. After the tour, group one and two did sailing and group three went kayaking. In sailing you get in a pair, get your boat, put it together then your instructor will push you into the water with your boat. Then you sail. In kayaking you learn to hold the paddle and go up and down holding the paddle. We kayaked for about 45 minutes and went to the cafeteria to have our morning break. It included a biscuit and some juice. After that we went to our rooms and the first thing we tried was the clicky lights and we saw the awesome security lock on the door.

Food

You will have 3 meals a day, morning at 8.30am, lunch at 1.00 pm and dinner at 6.30pm. For food in the morning there is sausage , bacon , beans or Weetabix and a drink. Lunch there is pizza, burger a drink and pudding and more lunches . Dinner there is jacket potato, chips, pudding and a drink.

Skiing

First in skiing you go to the skiing department and way yourself get your height measured then go to the desk and tell your instructor your weight and height and shoe size then he’ll tell you what boot to get then get it give it to the desk and he’ll give you your ski and boot. When you are on the track you will put 1 ski on and go on a stride. Then you will swap your ski onto the other Foot and go. When you’re going up the slope with both the skis on You stand like a banana with your feet at the side.  When you get to the top you put your feet wide like pizza then thin like fries then go down the ramp as fast as you can.

Rock Climbing

First in rock climbing you go and get a helmet, harness and a carabiner. You will be In pairs of 3, one person will be climbing,  one person will be pulling the rope and loosening it and the over person will be helping the person with the rope by doing the same thing. When you want to come down you say to your partner and instructor that you want to come down then with the harness they’ll bring you down.

Archery

First in archery you will need a wrist guard to keep your arm safe,  a quiver to put your arrows in,  and of course the bow. In archery there are a few things to 1 is hold the arrow down. 2 is to grab the arrow from the end and put it in the bow. 3 is to hold the arrow up. 4 is to put 3 fingers on the bow pull it back and shoot.

By Harry

Paragraph Writing

Year 5 have been learning about writing paragraphs and we would like to share some with you:

Olivers Battery is a school in Winchester, the teachers here are very kind.  All of the pupils enjoy the lessons and it goes from Year R to Year 6 just like most primary schools ! Children at Olivers Battery will get a good education and they will take life a step at a time. At Olivers Battery we like to celebrate, for example Christmas, Red Nose day and Easter !  Now I am going to tell you about the library.

 

At Oliver’s Battery we have an amazing library.  We have a librarian and also if you want to get a book out of your class we have pupil librarians who can help you get a book at break or lunch time.  Our library system is just like a real library we have names with barcodes then you scan the barcodes and you can take the book.

Tegan

 

Oliver’s Battery is a caring environment with a school library, computer room and music room.  We have lots of classes and are happy to welcome children who want to become one of us.  Our school charter is most brilliant, it explains who we are.  I would like to mention the top one as it is who we are, it is “be proud”.  If you are looking to send your child here read on to find out more.

 

The grounds at Oliver’s Battery are huge.  We have 2 large fields that link together and into the woods.  We have 2 wonderful ponds which we sometimes do pond dipping in.  We love our wildlife – once Spring Watch came here for foxes and deer.

Vivien S

 

Oliver’s Battery is a big school with a library, two Key Stage areas and a central hall which backs onto the kitchen where we get our food.  We are very lucky to have a toy shed for lunchtimes and a full P.E. cupboard.  We are located in Winchester in a village called Oliver’s Battery so called because Oliver’s Battery is where Oliver Cromwell kept his guns and other weapons.  Also we have huge school grounds with two fields.

 

At Oliver’s Battery we do lots of sport that includes netball, a wide range of football.  In the summer there is basketball, cricket and tennis.  All this wonderful sport and P.E are organised by our P.E. teacher, Mrs Marshall who does one day a week for each class.  Also we are lucky enough to have Kings’ P.E teacher Mr Birch who teaches Year 5 and 6 on a Monday afternoon.

Rosie T-A