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Chris Coyle-Chislett

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“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.”
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Jacob Woolcock

Celebrating European Day of Languages at Penpol

Today marks the European Day of Languages, a day to celebrate the 6000+ languages spoken around the world.  To mark the occasion at Penpol we’ve arranged a special non-uniform day where the children came to school dressed in the colours of their favourite flag.

Even more excitingly, Mr Emery and Mr Woolcock have arranged an entire day of language-learning challenges in the Junior Mac Suite for the entire school to participate in.

Throughout the day each class has had a twenty minute session using a fantastic website called Linguascope, where the children can take on their challenge in any one of nine different languages.  While most children chose French, Spanish or Italian we did have lots who were really brave and decided to take on languages including Chinese, Russian and Arabic.

The challenge itself was a multiple choice quiz where the time for each question decreases as the rounds go by.  A score of 30 or more is considered exceptional, yet Penpol pupils were often reaching the high thirties with several children achieving a nearly impossible 38 points!

With perseverance, accuracy and linguistic knowledge a mighty 38 or 39 points is achievable.  It’s incredibly difficult, but today we’ve seen it happen several times! – Mr Emery

The highest score in each year group will win a special prize, with more details to be given to the children in their next assembly.

Reception: To be announced later this week!

Year 1: To be announced later this week!

Year 2: To be announced later this week!

Year 3: Freddie (38 points)

Year 4: Jake (39 points)

Year 5: Emma (40 points)

Year 6: Aidan (38 points)

I’m really happy that I’ve won, Morgan did really well too but I just managed to beat him in the end by one point!! – Connor, Year 2

 

 

 

 

Thanks to the PFA for our Brand New MakerBot!

At the end of last term Mrs Turner and the Penpol Friends Association very kindly agreed to pay for half of a brand new 3D printer for the Mac Suite.

Over the last year our 3D printing work has become more and more exciting and whilst our original MakerBot Mini has helped us create some stunning 3D models in the past, it seemed the right time to push the boundaries even further and invest in a proper full-size 3D printer.

Introducing, the MakerBot Replicator+ 3D Printer!

This new printer can produce models at nearly TWICE the speed of our old printer.  It can also build objects that are up to SIXTEEN times bigger in volume!!  And to top it all off, it’s MUCH quieter when it’s being used.  It really is a fantastic upgrade for the Mac Suite and we are hugely grateful to the PFA for helping us to buy it. – Mr Woolcock

This term we’re hoping that every child in Key Stage 2 will have the chance to design and print their own creation in 3D.

I can’t wait to use the new 3D printer, I can build anything in my imagination! – Will, Y6

 

Here’s a photo of the very first object built by the MakerBot Replicator+ – the beautiful Egyptian Sphinx!

Harry has Designed and Coded the ‘Horror Maze’ iOS App!

Since Christmas, Harry has been working on code for his first full iOS app, the Horror Maze game.  He has spent countless lunchtimes, evenings and weekends working on his idea and today (on the last day of term) has got it fully working on a real iPhone!  He has worked incredibly hard, learnt countless new skills and should be very, very proud of what he has achieved.

Here is a short video of Harry talking you through his creation.

Penpol’s Got Talent 2017

Last Thursday there was great excitement in the school marquee as the children awaited the arrival of our three very special judges for this years ‘Penpol’s Got Talent. This year the auditions were amazing with children from reception through to year 6 demonstrating that they had the ability and confidence to dance, sing and play a musical instrument in front of a live audience.

Eventually, following four days of auditions, fourteen acts went through to the final. Judging the acts was a very difficult challenge for the three judges but eventually a decision was made.

This year’s winner was Leah who sang so beautifully that it gave the compere, Mrs Ruffell, goose bumps and left the three judges with tears in their eyes.

 

I liked all the singing and dancing, it was beautiful. – Isabella

 

I enjoyed watching all of the acts, especially my sisters singing group. – Patrick

 

I really enjoyed watching and listening to the drummer. He even had light up drum sticks. – Jonash

Speech Day: Computing and ICT Awards 2017

At the end of every academic year Penpol School celebrates the efforts and achievements of our Year 6 pupils with our annual Speech Day awards.  These children have won awards relating to Computing this year and it only seems right to say a word or two about why myself and Paul have chosen each winner for these prestigious awards – Mr Woolcock.

 

—

 

The winner of the
Jacob Woolcock Award for Excellence in Computing
for 2017 is
Harry B

I don’t think I have met a pupil who has as much enthusiasm, imagination, dedication and passion for Computing as Harry does.  Since walking up to my desk in Year 5 to show me his idea for an iPhone app that he had made over half term, he has spent a huge amount of his free time learning an entirely new language (Swift) and a professional development program (Xcode) in order to turn his ideas into reality.  He has already worked on several different iPhone apps including quiz games and currently his fun ‘Horror Maze’ game.

His complex and detailed ideas for how every aspect of the App should work are simply staggering, as is his ability to create prototypes and fully coded versions of his work to run on his own devices.  He has a real talent for coding and I sincerely hope he continues to push himself by learning more and more about software development as the years go on.  The world of the future is becoming more and more digital and Harry is going to be at the forefront of it all.  He truly is a worthy recipient of this brand new shield.  I only hope that when he launches his first big App and the money starts rolling in that he remembers us here at Penpol!

 

 

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The winner of the
Penpol School ICT Award
for 2017 is
Morgan P

Morgan has had an exemplary year in Computing and is thoroughly deserving of this Award for ICT.  Since September he has truly developed in both skills and confidence on the computers and has become a source of knowledge and support for others in his class and in the clubs he helps run.  He is always first to help when somebody is stuck, always first to offer ideas and suggestions and always first to encourage others when they need it.  Morgan is a superb role model for all the younger children in Code Club and 3D Printing Club, which he has helped us run all year.

As well as being able to help others, Morgan has an incredible talent for ICT in his own right.  His 3D design work has been fantastic this year and he has a great eye for compelling and exciting designs.  He particularly enjoys using SketchUp to create his own worlds in 3D.  Morgan will be hugely missed here at Penpol next year, but I am confident that his journey with ICT is only just beginning.

 

 

—

 

The winner of the
Penpol School ICT Improver Award
for 2017 is
Chloe V

Chloe has had an exceptional year in Computing.  She has discovered an ability to think through problems logically, design and develop solutions when issues arise and understands the cause and effect that a particular piece of code can have on her programs.  Beyond that, Chloe is incredibly confident using a wide variety of technology to achieve any given purpose.  She is happy and capable using MicroBits, Lego WeDo robots, iPads, 3D Printers – just about anything we can throw at her!  Chloe has also given a huge amount of her free time this year to help us run our weekly Code Clubs and 3D Printing Clubs (along with Morgan, Harry and others) and is never afraid to help her friends who might be stuck.

Her improvement in ICT over the course of the last year has been fantastic to watch and I am sure she’ll keep it up for years to come.  Chloe has a great future ahead of her and her kindness and perseverance will help her achieve great things in ICT.

 

 

 

Music in the Marquee 2017

Music in the Marquee has fast become one of the most popular nights of the year at Penpol, with this year proving no exception.  Following in the footsteps of Bradley Johnson (2015) and Little Chix (2016), for our 2017 event we were delighted to welcome Yellow, one of the countries top Coldplay tribute acts, into the marquee.

 

The night itself started off with a superb warm up set from local singer Tom Briggs, who played a selection of enjoyable covers including plenty to get the children dancing.  Tom played an upbeat acoustic set and warmed the marquee up with his infectious tunes and personality.

Following Tom was a big surprise, the incredible DJ Flo-Selecta.  Flo played some cracking tunes throughout the evening, in between each act.  With a huge array of dance and pop classics everyone was on their feet and dancing – children, adults and even teachers!  It’s hard not to enjoy yourself when you’re surrounded by hundreds of people all singing along to every word!

Finally, the main act took the stage, much to the delight of the audience.  Yellow played two hit-filled sets covering Coldplay classics new and old.  A lively and energetic performance ensued, with the audience singing along and waving glow sticks in the air for the classics and jumping around dancing for the newer hits.  It really was a fantastic atmosphere!  Not only did Yellow play two sets on our stage, they also spent nearly 40 minutes outside the marquee signing posters for their fans!  A queue snaked halfway around the netball court with children wanting autographs and photos with their new found musical heroes!  Yellow kindly signed everything passed their way, posed for countless photos and didn’t stop smiling and laughing with the children throughout.  A true joy to witness.

Music in the Marquee will be back next July, but for now you can enjoy the highlights video above which was filmed and edited by Miss Clarey as well as a selection of photos in the gallery below taken by Martin Thomas from Gigsnapper.  And if you’d like to find out any more about Yellow you can find their website here.

Here’s a gallery of photos from the evening, kindly taken for us by Martin Thomas.  Click on a picture to see it bigger and try to spot yourself!

Class 7 Build and Code Lego Pulling Robots

This week Class 7 have been using the Lego WeDo 2.0 robotics kits to build and code robots that are designed to pull heavy weights.  The class were given a short time (only 40 minutes!) and the basic instructions and were then left to create their own robot.  Coding the robot also proved interesting, where they were able to adjust the speed of the motor to create more or less traction and increase the weights that could be moved.

Below is a video of Vinnie and Isaac getting their robot working…

 

Here is some of the code the class had to write in order to make their robots move.  The green block that says ’10’ underneath controls the speed and the end block controls how long the robot moves for!

 

Let’s have a look at a few finished robots…

Our robot goes for 18 seconds at a time and goes ‘boing boing boing’ while it pulls heavy weights! – Harry and Clarissa

 

When you put the code in the robot moves backwards and also if you put weight in the trailer bit it’ll carry it along behind when it moves.  We made the code on the computer and then made it run on the Lego. – Amber and Lola

 

Our robot pulls wheels in its basket so if you need to travel with your wheels then it’s the thing to use!  It’s better to put them standing up than lying down because if they’re lying down they’ll grip too much and the robot won’t move as well. – Vinnie and Isaac

 

A few photos from the building:

Class 9 are Making Music with GarageBand

Recently we’ve been looking at how we can use the computers to make music by using a program called GarageBand.  The children have only had one lesson on this fantastic program so far, but already they’re starting to make some great songs.  Class 9 had an exceptionally productive lesson in GarageBand and we’ve chosen a few of their songs for you to listen to below.  We’ve definitely got some young DJ’s in the making!

Have a listen to some of their tracks:

 

“I really enjoyed GarageBand and I really liked how you could search for loads of different instruments and get loads of different beats!” – Autumn, Class 9

 

 

“I like my song because it’s got a good beat and I especially like the guitar” – Zara, Class 9

 

 

“I really like GarageBand because you can make lots of different songs from lots of different sounds.  My song makes me want to dance!” – Max, Class 9

 

 

“My song is based on a summery pop jazz vibe which will chill you out, no matter how hot it is outside!” – Ethan, Class 9

Announcing Music in the Marquee 2017

The last two years have seen sell out performances at our annual Music In The Marquee concerts from the brilliant Bradley Johnson and the fantastic Little Chix. I’m delighted to say that this July we’re going bigger and better than ever before, with an incredible four-piece band.

For our 2017 event I’d like to introduce you to the countries top Coldplay tribute band, YELLOW! Yellow are a four piece band from Portsmouth who formed ten years ago to celebrate and perform the music of Coldplay. The group all play their own intruments and manage to recreate the energetic and dynamic Coldplay sound whilst engaging audiences across the country. This July they’re making the trip down to Hayle especially for us. The band are a close group of friends and their friendship and passion for live music shines through on stage.

On Saturday 8th July the band will treat us to two sets of live music with the first offering a look at Coldplay’s recent dance-pop sound including hits such as ‘Adventure of a Lifetime’, ‘Something Just LIke This’ and of course, ‘Paradise’. Later on in the evening the band will return to the stage for a second time to treat us to a set of more classic coldplay songs including ‘Yellow’, ‘Sky Full of Stars’ and ‘Viva La Vida’. We’ll also have more music on the night with talented local support and plenty of chances to get the children dancing!

Just like in previous years the event will raise money for the Penpol Friends Association and will also feature a fully licensed bar, soft drinks, and food for everyone to enjoy. I hope you’ll agree that Music in the Marquee 2017 is already shaping up to be a phenomenal night of entertainment.

Tickets are on sale now from reception: £8 for adults and £5 for children.

See you there!

Penpol Pupils go on a Virtual Reality Expedition with Google!

On Tuesday Penpol School had a very special visit from Google who had some exciting new technology to show off to the children.

Google Expeditions is a new project designed to introduce primary school children to Virtual Reality in the classroom.  Mark from Google bought 60 Google Cardboard headsets to Penpol along with 60 smart phones and tablets to get the system set up and running.  Throughout the day every class, from Year 1 to Year 6, had the chance to get some hands on time with the technology by going on a virtual school trip!

Led by their class teacher, the children were transported virtually around the world to unusual and exciting destinations including the Amazon Rainforest, underwater deep sea diving, onto the vast icy planes of Antartica and even into outer space to see the Moon and Earth from a whole new perspective.  The excitement amongst the children was electric, with loud gasps every time the teacher took them to a new location to explore.

Virtual Reality works by taking a 360 degree photo of a location and then using special software to make the viewer feel like they are in the middle of the action.  With the Google Cardboard and attached smartphone the children can then explore their surroundings simply by moving their head.  The classroom disappears and they are taken on an incredible school trip.

You can learn more about Google Expeditions here: https://edu.google.com/expeditions/

 

Throughout the day we took as many photos as possible to remember this amazing event, so please enjoy a selection of them below…

 

Our Penpol School Vision: “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.”

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secretary@penpol.cornwall.sch.uk

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2 St George's Road, Hayle, Cornwall, TR27 4AH

01736 753472