Welcome to the Headteacher's blog. It is used to share information and showcase the variety of learning that takes place here at Brunel.  Along with Facebook, Twitter and our newsletters, this blog will also be used for posting information on events happening in school.  I hope that you find it useful and will check back regularly.

Suzanne Cooper - Headteacher

The penultimate week to the Spring term has been a busy and varied one.
Today, we were delighted to welcome the Minack Theatre back to Brunel to celebrate Shakespeare Week. A group of children (chosen from each class across KS2) enjoyed taking part in a workshop based on 'A Midsummer's Night's Dream'. Which was both great fun and thoroughly inspiring. Miss Pentreath, our English Lead, reported that: 'The children came back 'buzzing' with positivity and excitement and said how 'amazing, fun and, in parts, hilarious' it was. They thought that it had helped to build their confidence and they enjoyed being able to act as different characters and learn Shakespearean language!' The children of Y6 agreed and said that the team were brilliant, really made them laugh and that they'd had the best morning. Many thanks to the Minack team for coming such a long way to visit, educate and entertain us.
Yesterday a group of pupils from Y5 enjoyed taking part in the Bridge Schools Trust Alternative Sports Day. They took part in a variety of new activities, including Street Surfing, Fencing, Mini Segways and Ultimate Frisbee. Please see our Facebook page for photos. We hope to bring some of these events to Brunel in the near future.
Every fortnight we have special 'Reading' assemblies in for EYFS/KS1 and KS2, where we share carefully chosen stories that act as 'mirrors' or 'widows' for the pupils. Books are mirrors when readers see their own lives reflected in the pages. Books are windows when they allow readers a view of lives and stories that are different from their own. The stories up until now have been read by teachers but this week, one of our pupil reading pioneers read the KS2 book. She did an amazing job and we look forward to being treated to stories from other reading pioneers next term. Below are this week’s Achievers and Always Club. Congratulations and well done to all who were chosen.
Please remember that the last day of this term is next Thursday 28th March.

Houses of Parliament

70 students in Years 5 and 6 recently had the most incredible opportunity to journey to London to visit the Houses of Parliament.

Despite an early start, spirits were high and the children were extremely eager to explore the sights of Westminster; they visited iconic landmarks such as Big Ben (which is housed in Elizabeth Tower as the children found out), Westminster Abbey, Downing Street, the Cenotaph and crossed Westminster Bridge.

The children were then given a tour of Parliament by the Education guides. Being a Friday, we were able to enter the House of Lords chamber and find out what it’s like to sit on the red seats. We were then lucky enough to sit in the public gallery for part of an adjournment debate being held in the House of Commons. Other notable sights included the Robing Room, where the King would prepare for the ‘Opening of Parliament’ and the Prince’s Chamber (under which Guy Fawkes was found). This was then followed by a workshop entitled ‘Laws and Debating’ where children were taught how a Bill is turned into a law. They particularly enjoyed dressing up and getting in to role!

The latest writing task in our English lessons was to research and produce a persuasive letter, addressed to the Environment Secretary, regarding the state of water quality across the UK and Cornwall in particular. Armed with a bulging envelope full of our finished letters we were able to post them at the House of Commons Post Office, situated within the central lobby: very few people can say they managed to have their post franked by the House of Commons! It really did was the icing on the cake of a truly memorable day. We wait with anticipation for our replies from the Environment Secretary. Many thanks to Mrs Swabey for organising this inspiring trip.

Teaching the teachers!

Brunel teachers had a very enjoyable time at yesterday's staff meeting being taught how to code BBC Micro:bits. A Micro:bit is an award-winning programmable device (mini computer) that allows pupils to become familiar with coding and digital making. These have been provided free of charge to schools (who registered an  interest) with 'the ambition that they inspire digital creativity and develop a new generation of tech pioneers.'  In a change to the usual classroom dynamics, Y4 Brunel pupils were the ones with the expertise, and they did a brilliant job of teaching the teachers!

Happy New Year!

Christmas

Christmas has well and truly started at Brunel!

We really hope you enjoyed our Hunt the Issy evening; the school looked very festive and we always look forward to this traditional Christmas event. I am so very pleased to let you know that through the course of the evening and the selling of the raffle tickets, the BFA, through your generous contributions, raised an amazing £1206! Thank you so much to all who helped by organising, donating, running stalls, providing refreshments or attending, it is so very much appreciated by all the staff and pupils of Brunel. 

The children also visited the Brunel Christmas tree at the Christmas tree festival at St Nicholas and St Faith. There are over 70 tree to admire and as you can imagine the church looks very sparkly and Christmassy. It's well worth a visit if you have time.

I hope you were able to make it to at least one of our Christmas performances this week. As always, the children were delighted to see you and it was lovely to welcome so many of you into school and to St Stephen’s Church. Our very final performances of the season, the Issy’s Nursery Nativity, take place on Monday and Tuesday at 10 am. Thank you for finding the time in your busy Christmas schedules to join us.

Wednesday's Christmas dinner and jumper day was enjoyed by everyone. As usual Jane and the kitchen staff cooked a delicious Christmas lunch and the Christmas crackers were a welcome addition to the festivities.

This evening, the Brunel Choir are joining St Nicholas and St Faith Church Choir for a carol concert amongst the trees of the Christmas tree festival. There is no charge for entry and everyone is welcome to attend.

Have a lovely weekend.

Saltash Christmas Festival

Thank you to everyone who joined us for carol singing and the lantern parade at the weekend.
Brunel was very well represented as usual.

Christmas at Brunel

Dear Parents and Carers,

I'm aware that you have received multiple emails this week as we build up to Christmas so thought it would be useful to list all the dates and events that we're looking forward to until the end of term.

Christmas at Brunel 

5th December - First Tuesday Tour 

5th December - Hunt the Issy - 4 - 6pm - your chance to admire the Christmas decorations throughout the school and do some last minute Christmas shopping at the BFA stalls in the KS2 hall. In order to make it even more exciting there is a special competition for the children. Hidden amongst the decorations in the various classrooms and corridors are 20 Issy Brunels. Can you find them? All correct entries are put into a draw to win a special Christmas prize. Refreshments(including cips, cheesy chips and sausage rolls) are available in the canteen and the choir will be singing at 5.00 pm. 

7th December - Christmas Tree festival visit. Y3,Y5,Y6 will be walking to StNicholas and St Faith to admire the Brunel Christmas tree along with all the others. 

8th December - Christmas Tree festival visit R/Y1,Y2,Y4

11th December - It's A Baby! Reception/KS1 Christmas performance 2.00 pm - this performance will be in the KS2 hall

12th December - It's A Baby!  Reception/KS1 Christmas performance 9.30 am - this performance will be in the KS2 hall

13th December - Christmas dinner - children may wear Christmas jumpers if they wish. IMPORTANT - please book by Monday 5th at the latest

13th December - KS2 Christingle at St Stephen's Church 6.00pm 

18th December -The Nativity  Nursery Christmas performance 10.00 am (times may vary slightly)

19th December - The Nativity  Nursery Christmas performance 10.00 am (times may vary slightly)

19th December - Last day of term

20th December - 3rd January - Christmas holiday

4th January -   Back to school

Sports Bulletin

It's been another busy week of sport at Brunel. All children have now learnt the games Cat and Mouse and Rock, Paper, Scissors Tag. From next week we will start playing them in the playground. The aim is to add more variety to what the children play during their break and lunchtimes and of course, to encourage them to be as active as possible.

Remembrance

All classes gathered together in the hall this morning for a special assembly.
Led by David Newman, chair of the Saltash and District Royal British Legion,  Paul Newman and Richard Hall lowered the standards for  a two minute silence.
Mr Parry piped a lament as the whole school stood still in reflection.
Our service concluded as the Y6 children read the famous lines from Robert Binyon's poem 'For the Fallen'
They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them. 

Dear Parents and Carers,