The end of term

It was our End of Term Church Service on Wednesday.

 "One more step along the world I go...."

Year 6 sang "I've had the time of my life", with customised words.

Mr Shackleton was smiling

But some of the children were less cheerful

 In Years 3 and 4 the prospect of the school holidays added a certain amount of jollity

We are all in our final assembly - the last of 2010-11

Happy holidays everyone
and best wishes to our year 6 leavers.
PS new lighting for the hall will be installed over the summer - so you'll be able to see things more clearly in future!

Goodbye part two

Here's the cake to mark Mr Cooper's retirement.

Note the Hartlepool scarf (made of icing) tied round it

 He christens the Coop Deck ....

.... beaming fondly at the audience of around 80 staff 

Addressing the children for the very last time, ...

.....he shows them the picture he has donated to school: "Chums Forever"

 NB Hartlepool scarf

 In the staffroom, the farewell speech to staff

 Goodbye to a very special man

(from Hartlepool, surprisingly enough!)

Goodbye to a very special Deputy Head

Every class made a special card to say farewell to Mr Cooper

 They were presented to him in our final assembly. Hard to get the whole school in - some staff are peeking through the door.

 Our Year 6 leavers are holding the cards. Some of their shirts have been signed: hope their mums don't mind!

Year 6 look a little sad - but we know they'll have fantastic fun in their new schools

In the staffroom, the teachers drink limeade while laughing at one of Mr Cooper's many jokes.

More pictures to follow - if someone sends me some!

The secret revealed

At last we can reveal why staff were working so hard to finish the outdoor stage. It is because it has been named after our retiring Deputy Headteacher, Mr Cooper.
Here, he poses for the Express and Star photographer.
(Note the new balustrade - only finished on Monday!)

 A close up of the red plaque he is holding explains that this is the Coop Deck - named in his honour.

Full Attendance - the reward!

All the children who had full attendance went to Alton Towers for the day. Here are some of them on the coach. We took 60 children, from Reception to Year 6

"This is the best day ever"
"I want to come next year as well."
"It's worth it."
"All our friends are working aren't they?"
"Can we get an ice cream after this?"

This is the queue for the Runaway Mine Train

Why aren't there any action shots?
Because the Blog Lady was having too much fun (Sorry)

The roof goes on

It wa Friday lunchtime and time for the roof to go on

 It was heavier than it looked, but good teamwork helped

Bit by bit it was eased into position

Think that might be it, guys

 Now to secure it

Look out for more photos next week -
Coming tomorrow: the trip to Alton Towers for the full attenders!
And over the summer, I'll post all the pictures from this term. Sports Days, pictures of our sports teams, Drayton Manor and lots more beside.

Fairy tales exposed

Years 5 and 6 did their production tonight. Every child had a part to play in it (writing for a cast of 140 is quite tricky - well done Mrs Roden and Mr Seager!)

It was about what happens after the end of the fairy tales you heard as a child.

Was Goldilocks really guilty of breaking and entering?

 Or was it an insurance scam by Daddy Bear?

Excited faces in the dressing room

The first number " Fairytale City" bore more than a passing resemblance to Paradise City by Guns and Roses

Afterwards, a proud Head Teacher thanks the children for their fantastic performances

Thanks for the photos, Ms Walkley. Has anyone else got any to email to info@jessons.dudley.sch.uk?

A stage closer

The posts to hold the roof went up yesterday

And today most of the decking floor was finished 

 Some of the workers take a well-earned rest

This is how the balustrades will be made
Tomorrow we hope to see the roof put on

Poets' Corner (too wet for pictures of the stage today!)

Lovely poems from a Year 4 English Group,

a selection chosen by Mr Cooper

Hop and Clop

Snakes rattle

Lions battle

Mice squeak

Caterpillars seek

Rabbits hop

Horses clop

Worms wiggle

Butterflies jiggle

By Jay

Wiggle and Giggle

Snakes slide

Birds fly

Cats lick

Dogs bark

Kittens roll

Foxes hunt

My friends is talking

I am walking

Worms wiggle

People giggle

By Nagina

Stalk and Gallop

Mice crawl

Snakes hiss

Cheetahs run

Lions stalk

Birds sing

Jaguars climb

Dogs bark

Cats meow

Horses gallop

Bats fly

By Marshall

Stamp and Slide

Birds zoom

Penguins waddle

Dogs bark

Elephants stamp

Sharks slide

Lions pounce

Lizards camouflage

Cheaters sprint

Pigs snort

Cats scratch

By Daniel

Slither and Crawl

Rabbits hop

Lizards crawl

Snakes slither

Elephants trumpet

Horses race

Wolves howl

Hippos stamp

Cats meow

Fish swim

Birds tweet

By Saira

The stage/classroom gets a step closer

The sides are being filled in now

 and there's a step

 Close-up of the step

The posts may go up tomorrow

Blog back in business

After a few teething issues - including a link to other random blogs (which we definitely didn't want) the blog is re-starting. Lots of photos to upload - so keep looking through the holidays too.

We start with work in progress:

We are building an outdoor classroom/stage. I thought you'd like to see the progress so far.



The playground is on a slope, which makes it more difficult to do

This is the roof, which we have already made, but it won't be put on yet.

We hope to get it finished by the end of term. Exciting!

Australia Club again

More Australia Club pictures. Children enjoyed doing the limbo

The Club is great fun

There was a barbecue

The food was delicious

Pinning the tail on the kangaroo!

Australia Club: the barbecue night

These are some pictures from last night's Australia Club

(please bear with me as I learn how to use the new blog software!)