From 24th – 28th September, the Year 6 children from St Mary’s School went to work with the Aylmerton Field Study Centre in North Norfolk.
Once we had arrived our first challenge was to survive the torrential rain as we walked from Cromer to West Runton along the shore, looking for fossils, interesting stones, rock pools and coastal erosion. Although we got soaked it was lots of fun and we could see the cliffs eroding in front of our eyes. Trying to dry out sixty-two smelly, soggy trainers was hard work for Mrs Wells and Miss Colvile!
Teamwork is one of the most important things during the week at Aylmerton and without even being asked, the whole class worked together to successfully build a strong sea defence out of rocks on Cromer beach. We also helped each other to do some things that we had never done before, and in some cases overcame our fear of heights. We all managed to climb the one hundred and seventy-two spiral steps right to the top of Cromer church tower, the view was fantastic but it was a long way down!
One of our favourite activities was orienteering around The Monster Trail in Felbrigg Woods. If we were too noisy ugly monsters jumped out and squirted us with super soakers.
We really enjoyed our day at Blakeney, wading barefoot through the thick, slimy, black mud across the marshes. We learned about the different plants that we can eat from the sea, and about the marshland birds and animals. Later on a boat took us to see some seals and Oliver Benton was heard to say wisely, “It must be quite a nice life being a seal, lying around in the sun and posing all day long!”
That evening we celebrated by having a groovy disco. During our week away we had learned about our environment, friendship and teamwork, but most of all we had great fun!
Sophie English (age 10) and Naomi Webb (age 11)
Play a Day!
Our 10 and 11 year old pupils have been working with the Lynx Theatre Workshop for one day, each class has adapted, produced and rehearsed a play – and then performed it to the rest of the school! The issues they have covered range from Green to Folk Tales. Working together in this concentrated way has resulted in all children improving their social skills as well as their acting abilities.
Everyone in the school joined in with National Poetry Day and a raft of poems was written based around the topic of journeys. We read our own words and some of our favourites at a Poetry Day Assembly. It’s amazing how many of us can recite the ‘Owl and the Pussy Cat’ all the way through.
After school clubs have started and we can play team games, develop our athletic, computer and music skills, dance, sew and play chess and board games. As well as all this we’re working hard in lesson times too!
We’ll have to get ready to ‘post early for Christmas’ over half term as our shoe box parcels of goodies for Operation Christmas Child have to be wrapped up by the beginning of November. We hope our gifts will bring a smile to children all over the world.
The first half of our term was, as usual, packed with fun-filled activities. The culmination of all our work about farms was in a visit to Hollow Trees family Farm. The children (and helping adults) had a wonderful time looking round the farm, seeing the animals, investigating the produce growing, and even riding on a tractor! Our Harvest activities also fitted nicely into the Farm Theme. The children collected, looked at and ate a surprising range of fruit and vegetables.
In addition to the regular activities going on, the children have also been collectively creating “shoeboxes” for other children in less well off countries and circumstances. They have been encouraged to find useful and fun items suitable for a child that can fit into a shoebox – quite a challenge!
By the time the Community News will have gone to print, the Calais shopping trip should have gone ahead. We hope that it was as successful as we anticipated, and you all came back brimming with Christmas goodies.
This month we plan to launch into the Festive Season with our Christmas Bazaar on Saturday 24th November at the United Reformed Church Hall. In addition to the wealth of stalls and games organised we will also be expecting a visit from “you know who”. We look forward to welcoming lots of visitors, so please try and join us and enjoy the Bazaar.
Anyone wanting further information on Hadleigh Playgroup can contact our Supervisor Christine Mann on 822782
CHARITIES AND ASSOCIATION THAT HAVE BEEN HELPED BY THE HADLEIGH CHARITY SHOP SINCE MAY 2000.
Layham Playgroup Hadleigh Health Centre
The Playscheme, Hadleigh Hadleigh Town Council
Springers for Corks Lane
Play Area Talking Newspapers
Rise & Shine Toddler Group Hadleigh Playgroup
Kersey Playing Field Assoc Hadleigh Guildhall Archives
The McMillan Nurses Hearing Dogs for the Deaf
St Mary’s School playground
Seating WI sound system
Salvation Army Monthly rental mobile phones for 2 Hadleigh home visit nurses
Battle of Britain St John Ambulance
Busy Bees Playgroup Raydon Church floodlighting
Sargeant Cancer Fund Wheelchair for the Guildhall
Layham Playing Field Computer for Sam (SAID)
Town Hall sound system Raydon Church – new path
Wings Appeal Fire Service Benevolent Fund
Cancer Campaign in Suffolk Comet Majorettes
East Anglian Air Ambulance Kersey School
Ipswich Hospital (Physiotherapy
Department) Whatfield Historical Society
Alzheimer’s Society Hadleigh Volunteer Bureau
Riding for the Disabled Hadleigh Elderly People’s Welfare Committee
Sponsored Cycle Ride to the Sponsored Walk on the
Great Wall of Chine Great Wall of China
Hadleigh Out of School Club Scouts visit to Thailand
5th Hadleigh Guides Hadleigh Animal Rescue
Angel Court Daycare Centre New refrigerator for Salvation Army
New lockers for Hadleigh
High School Raydon & District Model Aircraft Club
Adventure Trail for handicapped
Children in Milden Village Snooker table for Monks Eleigh Youth Club
Trip to India by Charlotte
Chesworth – 4th Hadleigh
Brownie Pack Hadleigh & District Twins Club
CHAPS drama group,
Bildeston Elmsett Playgroup
Multiple Sclerosis Society Hadleigh Choral Society – Open Singing Day
During the last session before half term the children dressed up as teddy bears and parents/carers were invited to enjoy a teddy bears picnic. It was a great success with many different kinds of bears attending!
Elmsett Playgroup welcomes three new children after the half term break. We still have a few places available during our Monday, Tuesday and Thursday sessions which run from 9am – 11.30am. Government funding is available for all 4 year olds and some 3 year olds. We offer exciting and stimulating child-centred activities with experienced, qualified staff, where children can explore their world safely.
If you would like an information pack please contact our admissions administrator Christine Drake on 01473 827538
We launched our new venture in January 2001 and much fun has been had by all! We are building up a good and enthusiastic collection of regulars who liked it so much the first time, that they had to come back for more! From our point of view we have made a whole new set of friends. Everyone who comes through the door gets the Mark & Annie hospitality treatment and is made to feel totally at home. We mix people up regardless of cooking ability, and no one is made to feel better or worse than the next person. Our sessions are truly recreational, and you go away with a bunch of recipes with notes, a full stomach and samples for those left at home!
We have had several local groups here for demonstrations with wine and food samples. The atmosphere is jolly, Mark’s delivery characteristically eccentric and fast-moving with audience participation. We can seat 35 to 40. The cost is £15 per person, and we are generous with the food and wine.
Try something different. Come to us for an evening session of Mark demonstrating some Festive Fayre with cooking tips and shortcuts for Christmas. Wine and nibbles on arrival, substantial Finger Buffet with wine after the demonstration are included. Price depends on numbers, from £20 per head.
A very good evening was had in the Town Hall on 7th October when well over a hundred and thirty people rock ‘n’ rolled to the music of Alan Wade and his Band and The Blazes. We raised £388 for our division. Many thanks to all those people who bought tickets and supported us.
Another thank you – this time to the Charity Shop who have very generously donated £500 to our Funds.
If you would like to listen to music from the top shows, The Community Light Orchestra are playing at Thurleston High School, Ipswich on Saturday 1st December, commencing at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £5 and can be obtained by ringing Sue Moore on 01473 822221
The Village Hall in Lower Layham becomes a hive of activity on Tuesday mornings between 9.30am and 12 noon. Layham Playgroup offers pre-school children a stimulating and imaginative environment in which to develop and play in a superb village location.
Our theme for this term continues to encourage children to learn about numbers. In addition to this we offer various activities including puzzles, role play, story and song.
We have access to a safe area for outside play and, weather permitting, children are always encouraged to do so.
We are a forward-thinking playgroup committed to providing a quality service.
For further information or to arrange a visit please contact one of the committee members listed below.
Angie Eldred Chairperson 823274
Lester Bennett Treasurer 823218
Caron Garrity Secretary
Rachel Bennett, Layham Playgroup Village Rep.
Following the new high of audience enjoyment, and indeed participation, at The Old School, when two performances of Verdi’s La Forza del Destino were heard, as a homage to the centenary of the composer’s death, music lovers and opera buffs should put Friday 2nd and Sunday 4th November in their diaries to attend A Night at the Opera, given by Thomas McIntosh, pianist at The Old School, Bridge Street, Hadleigh.
To satisfy all the requests for more operatic music, Thomas McIntosh has created a piano programme of transcriptions and paraphrases by composers such as Mozart, Liszt, Rachmaninov and Busoni. The audiences will hear extracts from Don Giovanni, Rigoletto, Turandot, Norma, Carmen, etc. In addition there will be a contest at each concert, with a bottle of wine as a prize, for the concertgoer who knows the highest number of identifiable melodies.
An Original work on Themes from Almira
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Don Juan Fantasie after Don Giovanni
Ferruccio Busoni
Turandots Frauengemacht Carmen Fantasy
Wedding March, Scherzo & Dance of the Elves from Midsummer Night’s Dream
Reminiscences from Don Carlos, Aida, Rigoletto
Reminiscences from La Juive
Seating for the Friday concert (19.30) will be cabaret style and includes a two course supper and coffee, price £12.50 per ticket. The Sunday afternoon concert (14.30) is also cabaret seating, price £7.50 per ticket, and will include tea or coffee and pastries served immediately at the tables following the concert.
Credit card bookings and information can be obtained on Tel: 01473 822596. Fax: 01473 824175, or by e-mail: Thomas.McIntosh@minstrelmusic.demon.co.uk