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• Family Learning Morning

  Sat 28 Sep 2013
  This year the theme for our Family Learning Morning was International Activities. This was to celebrate the visit from India of Sister Rose and Santhi. We had a range of activities that included:

  • Kite Making
  • Aboriginal Art
  • Bollywood Dancing
  • Languages from different countries
  • Traditional Costumes
  • Food Tasting from around the world
  • Kollum Patterns
  • Musical Instruments from around the world
  • Traditional Games

  We also had  Santhi doing some fantastic Indian Cookery in the school kitchen. it smelt and tasted delicious and everyone who wanted to could try the food she had prepared for us.
  
  
  As you can see from the photographs the weather was fantastic and everyone  had a great time.
  
  Thank you for handing in your passports and evaluation  forms. Sister Rose will be presenting the prizes of a Family Day out on Wednesday during the Farewell Assembly. All parents/carers are welcome to join us for the assembly which will start at 2.00 p.m.   
     
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

  

• Sister Rose and Santhi visit Westfield Day 2

  Thu 26 Sep 2013

  Following a visit to Connors Bakery in Hinckley, Sister Rose and Santhi returned to school just in time for another delicious lunch - today it was a traditional roast dinner! Year 2 pupils welcomed our visitors to their classrooms this afternoon. As part of the topic work covered in Geography, Year 1 and 2 have been thinking about their own roles and responsibilities within school. This afternoon Classes 8, 9 and 10 took it in turns to share a key role that they have within the school, successfully informing our visitors about Junior Librarians, the School Council and Eco-Warriors. Both Sister Rose and Santhi were interested in what the children shared. Children then had the opportunity to ask thoughtful questions about the uniform, equipment used, facilities and school dinners at St. Mathias. It was also a fantastic opportunity for learning some Tamil - the language spoken in the Tamil Nadu region, where Ponidicherry is. Pupils learnt how to say 'Mum', 'Hello' and 'Thank you'. Pupils recorded their new knowledge in their Topic Books.

  Sister Rose and Santhi enjoyed their time in the EYFS as well, particularly as the children were busy learning about bees through Numeracy, Art, Literacy, ICT using the Bee-Bots and tasting honey on bread! Children are so inquisitive at this age and asked some interesting questions to find out more about school life in India.

  Pupils from Class 4 and 7 treated Sister Rose and Santhi to an informative Class Assembly titled 'A day in the life of a pupil at Westfield Infant School' which 'did exactly what it said on the tin!'  A super Assembly packed with examples of our daily routine, rules and procedures which emphasised how the children are given opportunities throughout the day to be responsible for hanging up their coats and putting their book bags in their drawers. Our visitors enjoyed listening to the songs and watching the children use Makaton sign language.

  

• Class 4 Assembly - 'A day in the life of...'

  Thu 26 Sep 2013

  Have you ever wondered what we do at Westfield Infant School?! Well, this afternoon Class 4 and 7 clearly modelled a day in the life of a pupil at Westfield Infant School. Pupils enthusiastically demonstrated their daily responsibilities, from morning procedures which include hanging up coats, putting book bags in drawers and filling up water bottles to Whole School Assemblies which include hearing Bible Stories, celebrating 5th, 6th and 7th Birthdays and sharing Achievements from School and from home. Class 4 loved telling us what they learn about in their 'Firework Groups' during Numeracy and Literacy each morning and made it quite clear that this is always FUN! The whole school were then reminded of what happens when the bell rings at the end of each playtime and lunchtime and were given an insight into the different subjects we learn about in the afternoons - Science, Geography, History, PE, Music, RE, PSHE.

  Thank you Class 4 and 7 for a fantastic Assembly that informed pupils, parents/carers and even our special visitors - Sister Rose and Santhi. The Assembly was filmed and will be shown to pupils in Pondicherry when staff visit in December, so that they can learn about what school is like for a pupil at Westfield Infant School.

  

• Sister Rose and Santhi visit Westfield

  Wed 25 Sep 2013

  An exciting day for staff and pupils...the wait was finally over as we got to meet Sister Rose and Santhi today. One of our Governors - Mrs Fox arrived with them just in time for playtime. Children were eager to introduce themselves and enthusiastic to show both teachers what they do during playtime. 

  After playtime they visited the Lanterns for Literacy and enjoyed a 'Big Write'. Santhi took the opportunity to show us the handwriting they teach to pupils in Pondicherry. The children loved spotting the letters that looked similar to ours and were astonished at how 'swirly' the 'f' and 'z' were. The Sparklers modelled how they learn and use their sounds using 'Fred Fingers' in a Letters and Sounds lesson. Spelling is incredibly important in Indian Schools - we impressed our visitors with the sounds we use to write words. 

  After a delicious lunch cooked by our hard-working catering team, Sister Rose and Santhi joined a Year 1 class for a Victorian afternoon - complete with traditional dress! (see photos in latest news). The children demonstrated their examplar behaviour for fear of having their name written in the 'Punishment Book' or standing in the corner wearing the 'Dunce's cap!' A thoroughly 'enjoyable' lesson that demonstrated the type of subjects that were taught in the Victorian days. 

  Sister Rose and Santhi then spent some time in the MLD Unit and enjoyed getting to know the children who were completing art work inspired from India.  Following this, they moved into the Forest School area to see for themselves how we develop childrens love for the outdoors.

  To conclude the school afternoon, Year 1 had a Question and Answer session on the back patio to find out more about our visitors and their School and home country. There were some truly thoughtful questions. We treated Sister Rose and Santhi to two songs and in return were 'wowed' by Santhi's song about the sun shining...they even taught us a quick game before home time.

  What better way to end their first day with us than to invite them to a Staff Meeting! Everyone was formally introduced and our visitors were given a 'Westfield Welcome.'

  

• Welcome to our very special visitors!

  Tue 24 Sep 2013

  This morning Andrew Childs and Phil Nevett met our two special visitors at Heathrow Airport. Sister Rose and Santhi have come from Pondicherry in India. Sister Rose is the Headteacher and Santhi is a teacher at our partner school called St. Mathias. They will be spending 10 days with us in Hinckley and look forward to meeting pupils, parents/carers, staff and governors. They are also scheduled to meet and greet pupils from other Schools in our community. Look out for more photos and news of their involvement with Westfield Infant School in the coming days...

  

• Year 1 Library Visit

  Mon 23 Sep 2013
  Year 1 staff were very proud of Year 1 pupils today! They walked very sensibly to Hinckley Library and then on arrival they thoroughly enjoyed listening to two fun stories. Pupils then had the opportunity to share books with the adults who were able to join us for the afternoon. Pupils who had a library card had the opportunity to borrow a book.
  Thank you to all the adults who attended the visit. We hope you enjoyed the afternoon as much as us. Don't forget if your child borrowed a book it needs to be returned to Hinckley Library within the next three weeks. If your child is not a member of the library yet it is very easy to join and your child would enjoy showing you around the library and having the opportunity to borrow books.
  
  
  
  

  

• Miss School Miss Out Assembly

  Tue 17 Sep 2013
  Today we had an assembly about how important it is to come to school every day so that we don't miss out on a chance of a good education!  The key messages of the show were:

  • Healthy exercise and eating
  • Staying safe
  • Bullying, discrimination
  • Enjoy making friends
  • Making a contribution to school life
  • Achieving success.

  
  The assembly was lots of fun and as well as learning we also watched some magic tricks.
  
  
  
  

  

• International School Award

  Fri 06 Sep 2013
  Mrs MacLauchlan shared some exciting news today! Westfield Infant School has been awarded the full International School Award!
  
  To achieve this award staff have had to provide information and evidence that demonstrates that the school offers a global dimension to the learning experience of all the children.
  
  Westfield Infant School has shown that the school has developed the following:

  • an international ethos throughout the school
  • international work that impacts on the majority of the pupils
  • a collaborative curriculum across a range of subjects
  • year round international activities
  • involvement with partner schools

  A big thank you and well done to Mrs Leeson for the hard work she put into helping us to achieve this award.
  
  
  Watch out for further information about our visitors from a school in India that will be taking place later this month and the visit to India by staff from this school that is planned for later this term.   
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

  

• Reception Children Enjoy Lunch

  Fri 06 Sep 2013

  The Reception Pupils are currently attending school for part-time sessions and preparing for their first full day at school on Wednesday 11 September. Part of the preparation for joining us full time is to have a lunchtime in school.

  As you can see from the photographs family members have been joining the children for a school dinner or a packed lunch in preparation for when the children will be staying at school all day on Wednesday.