Y5/6 has had cycling tuition for safety on the road.

4/10/11 - We had our first whole school Olympic day which the children thoroughly enjoyed.

Bridge Club was organised every Wednesday for gifted and talented mathematicians. Thanks to Mr Wright and fellow players.

Mrs Bearsley led a reading meeting with parents to show them how to read effectively with children on 6th October.

Miss Barclay got married on 8th October and became Mrs Rogers, we all enjoyed the wedding.

Heswall Library Service visited to promote reading.

The Rotary club awarded a prize to a Year 1 boy whose balloon had travelled the furthest from the whole of Wirral participants.  He won a limousine ride with friends.

4 successful new intake look arounds took place in the first half term.

Parents' evenings were very successful with 100% of parents happy!

Upper Primary had their swimming lessons for a week.

19/10/11 - We had a very successful whole school Indian Art and cultural day organised by Mrs Bearsley – many thanks for her hard work.

20/10/11 - Mrs Pearson had the whole school for the day for Barnston Has Got Talent and the children put on some very good performances showing their great communication and listening skills.

20/10/11 - The Civic awards were presented in the evening at Wallasey town hall.  Many thanks to Mr Woods for working on this with the children over the weeks and giving up his evening.

Mr Woods put on an assembly for parents for the Civic awards on the 27th October so that school and parents could celebrate together.

31/10/11 - The children all had a stranger danger talk from Mrs Pearson about Halloween and being out and about.

3/11/11 - The community police took the assembly and talked to the children about safety on bonfire night.

5/11/11 - Sue Lewis hosted an EYFS cluster meeting in our school which raised our profile.  Thanks to her.

5/11/11 - Community bonfire for people from all over Heswall.  Special thanks to Tracy and Mr Nolan for writing the risk assessment and for being so diligent in the health and safety side of this.  Also thanks to Mrs Gornall our PA chair.

7/11/11 - Y5/6 went off to Liverpool Museum for the day. Thanks to Mrs Birch for arranging this.

10/11/11 - Sue Lewis organised a F2 Family workshop for parents in reception to come along for an hour to work with their children and to gain relevant information.  Thanks to her.

11/11/11 - Year 1/2 had a dinosaur day in the hall with dinosaur experts.  Thanks to Mrs McElhinney for organising.

15/11/11 - Our second Olympic whole school day.

21/11/11 - The School had a whole school Olympic assembly and then Year 5/6 had 3 class sessions on using Olympic values in every day life. They talked to an ex soldier who lost his legs and has become an Olympian through perseverance.

23/11/11 - Gifted and talented afternoon with mathematicians from St Peters and Gayton organised by Mrs Pearson.

24/11/11 - Year 3/4 trip to Chester all day to visit Roman sites.  Thanks to Mrs Bearsley for organising.

25/11/11 - Anti-bullying morning followed by show racism the red card in the afternoon organised by Mrs Pearson with outside agencies.

25/11/11 - A PA ball was organised at Thornton Hall.  4 course meal and half a bottle of wine plus live music £40.

6/12/11 & 7/12/11 - KS1 productions.

8/12/11 - Christmas Community Carol service with our choir and musicians performing at the United Reformed Church – Thanks to Mrs Waldron for her hard work with the music.

9/12/11 - Mr Fagan’s leaving party

12/12/11 - Mr Fagan’s special assembly for parents and school. 

13/12/11 & 14/12/11 - KS 2 Christmas Productions at 1.45 and 6.30 p.m.

15/12/11 - Visit from Santa and Y6 fancy dress parade for Y6 parents and the school.

15/12/11 - Whole school Christmas parties.

Spring 2012

We started off the New Year with a travelling pantomime – Peter Pan

Lower Primary went off to work on ICT at the Learning Lighthouse and produced a dinosaur DVD with their drama and facts incorporated. Well done Mr Swindles, the parents loved watching this.

Year 5/6 went to the Panto at theatre Cllwyd - Aladdin.

Year 5/6 held a museum day where they became curators of the museum showing parents facts they had researched and put together on boards and artefacts they had made.

Bridge club has been a huge success on Monday afternoons as a club for gifted mathematicians – thanks to Mr Wright, a grandparent, for all his hard work.

Mrs Langford, a parent, created a bang with a wonderful Science assembly to promote an after school science club she is running – thanks to Mr Woods for co-ordinating.

A Year 5 Parents meeting was held to inform them of changes in 11+.

Mr Edwards took a keyboard and brass extended assembly to inspire new musicians.

Anna Morris, an art specialist worked with Y1/2 to create pirate art linked to their creative curriculum.

We have had 2 of our 6 Olympic days this half term and on one of them the children wrote to the Queen on her Diamond Jubilee, tying in the excitement of the London Olympics with this exciting event.

Y5/6 visited Tatton Hall – thanks to Mrs Birch.

Y5/6 visited the Liverpool cathedrals and went to the Philharmonic performance.

Sue Lewis went to Gayton Primary to share good practice in EYFS with local schools. She also visited Riverside Primary to pass on her expertise to their EYFS team.

Sue Bearsley and Amanda Ashworth visited our partner school in Ormsgill to set up child visits and dates.

The Parent Council met on the 30th January 2012.

The Seasons of Growth group went tenpin bowling to celebrate the end of their sessions together – thanks to Mrs Hughes and Mrs Rogers for all their hard work – 22 children have now accessed this and parents speak very highly of it.

Rosemary Mcpherson, deputy from Hoole in Chester, visited our school as part of her NPQH and set up her work placement idea.

In February, Barnston participated in Education Sunday at Christ Church Barnston, with a group of 25 children gifted in drama and dance performing.

We held Mrs Wignall’s leaving assembly and bring and share lunch on the last day before half term.  After 25 years working at the school we carried out ‘The Generation Game’ in assembly with a game to place major organs of the body in the right place, a game of Operation and then finished with the conveyor belt of 25 silver items for her to remember.  Mrs Wignall has visited us since and said she was made to feel so special and she’ll never forget the assembly!

Conservation society met twice this term in the hall.

A year 5 Manor meeting was held for parents in the evening – thanks to Mrs Birch.

Year 5/6 had a Shell Science Day in the school hall, experimenting with forces – thanks to Mr Woods for organising this.

Mrs Bradley attended Olympic training in Spanish to provide ideas for her Spanish lessons tied into the creative curriculum.

Anna Morris worked with gifted year 5 artists to produce art around our respect theme for the resource room.

We hosted a Spanish teacher meeting sharing ideas with local schools – thanks to Kerrie Bradley and Margaret Kennedy (our language consultant)

Mike Ellis brought the Titanic to life in an extended assembly – he came in role play as Captain Smith - much to the excitement of all the children.

Irby partnership has continued with a teacher from Irby Primary moderating writing with Clare McElhinney and Mrs Hill meeting and sharing good practice with the Irby SENCo on a separate occasion.

We had an extended Judo demonstration assembly to inspire the children to keep fit and healthy.

The PA sold Mother’s Day presents in the hall so that the children could surprise their mums.

The PA organised an Easter disco for all the children to mix and socialise at.

22/03/12 - The parent council met to discuss how we can work together to improve opportunities for all children.

The PA organised a Rock and Roll Bingo night for all the family to socialise at.

Middle Primary organised an Easter maths workshop for parents to demonstrate calculation methods, assessment methods and exciting mathematical opportunities for their children. This was followed by tea, coffee and hot cross buns. Many thanks to Mrs While for organising this event.

The children had a ‘Barnston Has Got Talent’ performing, speaking and listening event on the last day before half term.  A parent helper said ‘What a wonderful way to encourage children to stand up in front of others – I thoroughly enjoyed myself.’

Sue Lewis has been out moderating other schools in EYFS.

Mr Woods took the cross country club to an inter-schools event and we gained a first in the girls and a third in the boys!

One of our year 6 girls goes to the national trampolining competitions soon as she has got down to the last 9.

Another of our year 6 girls has won 7 gold swimming medals in national competitions within her age group.

We have had 2 non-uniform days this term and the children are going to use this money, plus the toast profit money, to choose new outdoor play equipment for September 2012.

High quality clubs for all to access continue – art club, recorders KS1 and KS2, music club, choir, guitar club, keyboard, brass, violin, woodwind, Spanish club, soccer club KS1 and KS2, multi skills clubs KS1 and KS2, netball Y3/4 and Y5/6, science club x 2 evenings, cross country club, civic awards club, drama club, judo club, child initiated street dance club, child initiated chess club, bridge club, computer club, languages club, homework club (Buddies) and JM sports clubs.

Summer 2012

Health week has been successfully organised by Mrs McEllhinney.

The Parent Council have met again and good ideas have come out of this.

Pat Oakes cooked for a Y3 sleepover and a successfully health promoting weekend was achieved. Thanks to Mrs Bradley, Mrs Bearsley and Mrs Pearson for sleeping over.

Irby joined with Barnston to look at each other's Creative Curriculum and shared ideas and planning.

Mrs Pearson went to Neston High School to have our Year 6 writing moderated by their Literacy team of experts.

A community Jubilee evening was held in the school grounds and organised brilliantly by Nicky and Gary Prance.

Barnston received a letter of thanks from the Queen’s Lady-in-waiting, for the lovely thoughts put in the childrens' letters to the Queen.

A community BBQ event was held and organised by the PA.

The Conservation Society has continued to meet in the school.

The school nurse has been in to chat to Y5 about hygiene and Y6 about puberty.

The school nurse held a parents meeting after school to show the materials that she uses for her Sex Education and Relationships talks.

Many of our children were encouraged to take part in the Wirral Race For Life and proudly stood up and received their certificates in an open assembly.

Year 6 had a successful trip to the Manor for a week and Mrs Pearson and Mrs Derrick visited.

The drama production was outstanding ‘Pirates of the Currybean’ – thanks again to Mrs Birch for all her hard work and to Mrs Waldron for working so hard on the singing.

Y5/6 parents were invited to a Manor meeting to have a glass of wine and see pictures and information following the year 6 trip – thanks to Mrs Birch for organising.

A musical concert took place this term – thanks to Mrs Waldron.

A healthy breakfast was cooked by Pat Oakes following Health week.

Y6 visited York.

Year 5/6 had a science morning at Wirral Grammar School For Girls.

The PA and staff organised a very successful Summer Fair.

Our partner school Ormsgill visited year 3/4 and they participated in Olympic flag making, flower arrangements, medal making, orienteering, ring making and in the afternoon an inter-schools Olympic sports competition ending in gold, silver and bronze individual medals awarded on a podium and their country's music playing!  Team awards were then given out.  Hot dogs, ice pops and drinks were enjoyed provided by some very helpful parents.  Many thanks to Mrs Bearsley for organising this mammoth event and putting hours of her own time into it.

30/5/12 - Mrs Lewis organised a parent activities event which was enjoyed by all the parents – many thanks to her for all her hard work.

We had a special anti-bullying assembly focusing on disabilities and treating all equally – the children watched a film made by disabled pupils from Doran Park Special School.

We have had our last 2 Olympic whole school days to complete the 6 throughout the year.

Heswall Library have been in delivering a special assembly to promote a reading project over the summer, encouraging children to read as much as possible over the summer – prizes for reading will be given out in the Autumn term.

We had a special assembly by Steve Cunningham who has lost his sight.  Steve encourages the children to make the most of every opportunity in life and demonstrates how perseverance can get you to your dream.  Steve then went and visited all the classes individually.

Y5 have visited Glyn Ceiriog.

Mrs Waldron has organised for a music group to come and perform high quality music to the children in a special assembly.

A group of children received their Civic Awards from the Mayor – thanks to Mr Woods for running this.

We have had 2 Science after school clubs and a DT club running – both have had high numbers and proved a huge success – thanks to Mr Woods for organising and staying to all three clubs.

5/7/12 - Y6 have had an Active Challenge day in Liverpool. This has been organised in co-operation with the local fire service.

Open assemblies continue to be well attended by parents who seem to enjoy the format of birthdays and their child’s achievement certificates.

Mrs Lewis has organised a meeting between her, Mrs McElhinney and all pre-school setting leaders of children starting in September who are not in Buddies.

Y4 residential is this term with Mr Woods, Mrs Pearson and Mrs Rogers. Thank you to Mr Woods for arranging this Conway trip for 3 days.

A gifted and talented group in Y5/6 worked with Anna Morris, professional artist for a day.

Seasons of Growth has successfully completed another cycle of bereavement/loss groups – well done to Mrs Rogers and Mrs Hughes who have worked tirelessly to make the room appealing, make interesting resources and visual stimuli to help the children.  They celebrated their hard work on 15th June at a Seasons celebration day held by the Catholic Society.  This provides them with the accreditation for running this course.

Y5/6 had ‘Bike Right’ all day in July teaching them to stay safe on the roads.

A year 2 SATs meeting was held by Mrs Bearsley to reassure parents that they did not need to worry about the tests for year 2 children – the parents really appreciated this.

A F2 to year 1 transition meeting was hosted by Mr Swindles, a year 2 to 3 hosted by Mrs Bearsley and a year 4 to 5 hosted by Mrs Birch on separate evenings this term.  Many thanks to the staff for fitting these evenings in at a time when report writing etc. makes it very busy for them.

A leaving assembly was held for year 6 parents with an Olympic theme production – thanks to Mrs Birch and the Year 5/6 team.

A final farewell picnic was planned for Mrs Cowpar but the weather let us down again.

A final retirement assembly was held for Mrs Waldron who has worked for 16 years in the school.  The assembly had a Sound of Music and Name that Tune theme and Mrs Waldron thoroughly enjoyed the send off.

Y3/4 hosted a Spanish Fiesta in the hall for parents where the children danced, shared their topic books and all ate Paella cooked by Mr Oakes.  Thank you to Mrs Bearsley and team for organising this.

Unfortunately all 3 sports days were planned but not held this year due to very bad weather!!!

Mrs Pearson took the whole school for a final anti-bullying/keep safe over the summer special assembly,  re-emphasising the importance of telling an adult they trust.

The whole school enjoyed a visit from the Olympic flame and one of the bearers – they lined up afterwards on the corridor and passed the flame up and down the corridor, imagining they were Olympians. Thanks to Mrs Hollywood for organising this.

An end of term disco was organised by the PA in the last week of term for all the children – many thanks to them.