Amanda Aspden

À bientôt chère Michèle!

15th May 201817th October 2017 by Amanda Aspden

We were all very sad to say farewell to Michèle our amazing French teacher after 16 years of fun French lessons in all classes throughout the school. Michèle managed to encourage children to speak French with confidence by participating in relaxed games, songs, plays and even a fashion show.

I liked the funny french monster book – Lylie.

At this years Harvest Festival Michèle took centre stage while everyone sang “Fraise et Fromboise” her own song about our love of fruit. The children looked forward to her lessons and she will be sorely missed.

Thank you for teaching us about colours and numbers – Imogen.

We loved the french songs – Louis.

The health and wellbeing of all our pupils is a priority at Penpol school. All infants are provided with a free healthy snack each day and given plenty of opportunities to exercise and keep fit. We start the day with “Wake up shake up” and regularly jump, climb and roll.

I can hang on to the ladder. I am brave and strong – Ethan.

I can climb up the rope – Teddy.

Baking with Michelle

8th October 2017 by Amanda Aspden

Alfie’s mum, Michelle made some delicious shortbread biscuits with Class 1. She started by talking about the ingredients with the children then got them to weigh the flour, sugar, cornflour and butter into a large bowl.

We mixed together flour and butter and sugar to make the biscuits. – Alfie

After briefly mixing the ingredients together, Michelle encouraged the children to take some of the mixture from the bowl, squeeze it together, pat it down and use one of the shape cutters to make a biscuit.

The children shaped, squashed and squeezed the dough mixture into all sorts of creative shapes.

After baking the biscuits in the oven, then letting them cool, the children loved sampling the fruits of their labour.

They are really yummy! – Will

Learning is fun in Year 1

2nd October 2017 by Amanda Aspden

We started the year with an exciting class outing to the Hall for Cornwall in Truro. We were lucky enough to see the amazing story of the ‘Gruffalo’ by Julia Donaldson on the stage and joined in with some of the narration remembered from the book.

I liked the fox when he growled and ran away. Harvey

We visited the cathedral and walked to Victoria Gardens to eat our picnic lunch.

I liked the high ceiling and the windows in the cathedral. Hazel

I liked lighting the candle in the cathedral. Myla

We finished the day having great fun in Hendra play park and travelled back to school on the double decker bus.

I liked it when we went in the park. Safi

Back at school the children have produced excellent writing and art work inspired by the Gruffalo story. Mr Jones has even taught them a Gruffalo song!

I liked it on the bus when i was at the top. Felix

Super Self Portraits

27th September 2017 by Amanda Aspden

The reception classes have been busy this week painting their own self portraits. To fit in with our topic of ourselves, the children spent time looking at their own reflections and made decisions on which colours where needed for their master pieces.

I like painting because I paint at home with Mummy. We paint pictures. Derora

The children experimented mixing the colours together and learnt about the primary colours and different colour combinations.

I liked painting all of it. I painted my eyebrows black. Chloe

The children were encouraged to pay attention to detail by observing their different eye colours, including pupils, the shape of their lips and noses and were encouraged to study all the different shades they have in their hair.

I liked painting my eyes because I like the blue colour. Ayveeahnah

The paintings have turned out beautifully and the children really enjoyed painting their own self portraits.

Violet’s Holiday Diary

20th September 2017 by Amanda Aspden

Violet had an action packed and fun filled summer holiday and brought an amazing diary in to show the class of her adventures. Violet told the class all about going on a barefoot trail, making bug houses with Mrs Goodman, dressing up in different costumes, her arts and crafts afternoons where she made some fabulous chimneys and painting a handbag money box that broke so her very kind sister Elsie gave her painted teddy money box.

She told us all about how she loved the pony rides and how on a trip to Flambards she went on the log flume and got soaking wet. We heard all about how she made her own tent next to a cup cake tree and during a trip to Heligan she enjoyed the singing. Violet told us about how she enjoyed going to the beach and having a go at rowing a boat with Grandad.

Finally, Violet showed us some great photos of when she went to Montenegro. She talked about how she went up some mountains, swam into a cave where the water was blue and it turned her skin blue but her favourite thing was when she jumped into the swimming pool with her nightie on with Mummy and Elsie.

My favourite bit was jumping in the pool with my nightie on because Mummy did it with her nightie on and so did Elsie.

Violet did some fabulous writing to accompany the pictures and drawings in her diary and sounds like she had an amazing time. Well done Violet for working so hard.

Feadon Farm

11th July 2017 by Amanda Aspden

The reception classes had a wonderful Gruffalo experience at Feadon Farm.

The children firstly heard the Gruffalo story to introduce them to the types of animals they would be likely to meet in the British countryside. They got the opportunity to meet some of the local wildlife.

My favourite bit was holding the baby mouse, it was cute – Piran

We met the friendly foxes Todd, Meadow and Copper. The children learnt some interesting fox facts, fed them some treats, were able to stroke them and some lucky children even had a kiss on the nose from Todd.

A fox kissed me on the nose. I stroked him – Maisie.

I liked the ferret, it went in James’ hat and it did the hula because its body was bendy – Sabina

The children met corn snake and learnt about how we have 3 different types of snake in the UK all with their own way of killing and eating their prey.

I had a corn snake on my head, it was good for a hat – Harvey

We also met an eagle owl called chunk, a barn owl and even some very fluffy baby barn owls. We learnt how they hunt for food and had the opportunity to see them fly up close.

I held an eagle owl and a barn owl. The barn owl was white. The eagle owl was called Chunk. I liked the baby owls best – Felix

I stroked a reindeer, his feet clicks when it walks because they can hear other reindeer – Amelia

The children were really excited to finally meet the Gruffalo, he was shy and hid in the woods. We did manage to get a friendly wave from him as he was more scared of us than we were of him.

I saw the Gruffalo, he was hiding in the trees – Jenna

We also met some hedgehogs and learnt all about how they have reduced in numbers in the last 20 years from 36 million to 1 million. We learnt how to become more hedgehog friendly and how to make homes for and feed hungry hedgehogs in our gardens.

I liked the hedgehog because he had prickles on his back – Safi.

Feadon farm is fun, fascinating and an unforgettable experience for the children. The wildlife experts, Gary and Kirsty where incredible. Their enthusiasm and knowledge made the whole experience so interesting. With its hands on approach, Feadon Farm is one of the best educational and fun school trips we go to year after year.

Under the Sea With Oshi.

10th May 2017 by Amanda Aspden

Class 1 had an inspirational experience of visiting the Falmouth Maritime museum. We learnt all about the different boats in the museum and how they are powered. We saw how the boats are made up of different parts and found out what the hull, keel, mast, and sails do. Next, we had the opportunity to make our own boats using the knowledge we had just learnt about what we would need to make our boats sail. We then had great fun racing our boats against each other on the boating pool. Amelie’s boat was the champion and she was delighted to be the overall winner of the boat races.

We saw flying boats, we made a boat we put it in some water, we did races with them – Hazel.

I saw a sail, it moves the boat along with the wind. My sail was a triangle, I had a straw as the mast to hold the sail up. The front of the boat is the bow. I liked seeing Oshi – Ada

We also met Oceana, a sea sprite from the Lost Land of Lyonesse. The children helped Oshi retell her story of how the Lost Land of Lyonesse, where Oshi used to live, was once part of Cornwall but a great storm blew up and the sea swept over Lyonesse. The city sank to the bottom of the sea and the magical Cornish sea sprites and mer people saved Oceana and many of her friends and family and they now live at the bottom of the sea. We used musical instruments to recreate this exciting story.

We made a story up with Oshi. In the story I have to do the rain. There was also thunder and wind. She showed us some treasure – Maisie

After the story we were excited to see what treasures she had in her treasure chest. She explained to the children that treasure wasn’t just sparkly jems and jewels, but anything that is special to them. She showed us some things that have been caught in fishing nets including a cannon ball, a port hole, part of an old ship, a killer whales tooth, a very old pot and part of an old leather boot.

She brought out some treasure. She showed us a rusty ball a cannon ball, we saw part of a pirate ship with nails in and we saw part of an old boot – James

We saw Oshi, she is a sea sprite. She lives in the sea water. She gave us a shell. When you hold the shell and sing the song on the beach she will come. Oshi Oshi of the sea please wake up and play with me – Alex

Through hands on discovery, imagination and role play, the experience at the museum empowered children with excitement confidence and skills to hopefully begin a life-long enjoyment of museums.

Terrific Tri-Service Station

25th April 2017 by Amanda Aspden

Class 1 visited the Tri Service Station in Hayle. Andy Hitchins the safety officer, showed the children around the station and told them how the station acts a fire station, ambulance and police station. We were lucky enough to see the fire engine, ambulance and police car during our visit. We learnt all about what to do if the smoke alarms at home goes off and how the Tri-Service Station helps us all in emergencies.

We had a look in the police car and even had the opportunity to sit in the driving seat or be locked in the back. The children loved playing with the loud police car siren and learnt all about why police cars, ambulances and fire engines have loud sirens.

I liked the police car because we heard the siren – Ethan.

Chris Wolstencroft (Lola from Class 7’s dad) showed the children the fire engine. We learnt all about the role of fire ladies and men and what they do to help us and animals in difficulty. We looked at all the different equipment on the fire engine – the different hose reels and jets for squirting water; the four ladders of different heights; the cutters for cutting vehicles; the breathing apparatus and protective clothing and the walkie talkies. The children had the opportunity to sit inside the fire engine and hear its siren.

The firemen wear masks so the smoke can’t go in your mouth – Ada

Finally, the children were given the opportunity to squirt the water from the hose and put out a pretend car and tree fire. The whole morning was great fun and really informative. We all had a great time!

I liked squirting the water from the hose – Amelie

If any parents have smoke alarms that don’t work Andy Hitchins said they will fit or replace them free of charge and to contact him at the Tri-Service Station to arrange a meeting.

I liked getting wet because I squirted the hose – Phoebe

The Mosquitoes Rock Reception

29th June 201821st November 2016 by Amanda Aspden

The Mosquitoes rocked the reception classes this week with their much anticipated concert. Taking timeout from their busy tour schedule, Paul, Neil, Geoff, Billy and front man Graeme (Sabina from Class 1’s dad) brought the classroom down with their fabulous mix of South American rock with a hint of Cornish punk.

With classics such as Seve Ballesteros and Where’s My Hat, the reception children boogied, jumped, jived and moshed to the upbeat and melodic tunes.

The Mosquitoes energy and enthusiasm was infectious. The children loved learning all about the different instruments and even got a chance to play alongside their heroes. The children strummed along on the guitars, sung into the microphones and had a go at playing the drums. The popular band who are much in demand were headlining Connor Downs after our visit.

The band featured drummer Billy (Kane from class 8’s dad) who saved the day by stepping in last minute due to the usual Mosquitoes drummer being unable to make the gig.

The children from Class 1 and Class 2 absolutely loved the fab five!

“I liked Paul, he helped me play the guitar.” – Phoebe.

“They were really good singers and really good players. I liked the drums. I liked Sabina’s Daddy.“ – Lylie.

“The band was really good. I really love Daddy so much. Daddy was singing really good.” – Sabina.

“There’re the best band I’ve ever seen,” – Felix

“I think it was really good.” – Alex.

“I liked playing the guitars and using the microphones.” – Ethan.

“I liked singing into the microphone.” – Penny.

“I liked playing on the drums and being the drummer.” – Harvey.

“I liked the guitars. I liked Geoff and Neil because they were brilliant.” – Louis.

Year 5 Find Their Way Around Orienteering

“Penpol pupils are curious, creative and courageous learners. Our school community believes in authenticity as the foundations of deep-rooted learning. Through our rich and relevant curriculum, we nurture community-minded, forward-facing international citizens of the future.”