Head's Introduction
‘We have so much to be thankful for’, was the resounding message to be taken away from our Harvest Festival service. The school community was at its finest, with young voices of the very highest of standards performing to and celebrated by a captivated and proud gathering of Grandparents. Tours conducted by the grandchildren followed, to which the feedback was wholeheartedly thankful for the environment and for the opportunities available to their grandchildren at Vinehall.
The joy shared between grandparents and grandchildren on the day could not have been more evident. ‘Grandchildren are the crown of the aged’ Proverbs 17:6. Our thanks to Father Mathew Phipps, a Vine, and vicar of Hastings Old Town Parish.
Letting Children be Children
As tradition dictates at this Harvest Festival time, I am delighted to announce the start of a definite highlight of the school year – the Vinehall Conker Season!
A conker fight brings the child out in all of us and I hope that all parents will join in the spirit, ready the bootlaces and get out and about this weekend with your children in search of some winners! Fighting at school during breaktimes will be allowed for a two-week period, though needs to be kept outside please …
Rules of play
Two players, each with a conker threaded on a piece of string or a shoelace, take it in turns to hit each other's conker, until there is one conker left.
The first player holds out their conker at arm's length, hanging down, ready to be hit. The string should be wrapped around his or her hand to stop it being dropped.
They must hold the conker still as the other player hits it. If it accidentally swings, the second player can steady it before they take a strike.
The second player then wraps the string of his or her conker around their hand, draws it back and takes an aim.
He or she lets go of the conker as they swing their arm in an arc and tries to hit the other person's conker.
The first player then has a go at hitting the other player's conker and they take it in turns.
There is no ‘stamping’. If a player drops the string, he/she may pick it back up.
The fight is over once one of the conkers breaks apart or falls off the string.
Joff
Pre-Prep - The Golden Harp
Nicky Whittaker - Head of Pre-Prep
Pre-Prep were enthralled by the ethereal sound of the harp on Monday afternoon. The Vinehall harp teacher, Sarah De Jey, played a variety of uplifting pieces to the children while they sat spellbound and listened to the beautiful melodies. Then came the magic; some children were chosen to have a go!
Luckily for Year 2, the whole class will begin harp lessons next week, using the set of Celtic harps Vinehall had made three years ago. Children find playing the harp rewarding and fun, and I cannot wait to see the pleasure on the faces of our current Year 2 pupils as they begin to experience the magic of this most accessible of all instruments.
Nursery - Autumn and Harvest Celebrations
Sarah Wolford - Head of Nursery & Kindergarten
Learning about the seasons is an important element to help young children piece together how our world works. The Autumn season is just so full of beautiful colours and the children have been out exploring the school grounds and collecting the leaves. They have been learning about Harvest time and how vegetables grow, as well as tasting vegetables that perhaps are new to them. Well done everyone for being like Maisie Monkey and Cassie Cat, our Pre-Prep Pals.
Kindergarten Superworm
Catherine Garlick - Kindergarten Teacher
This week we have been exploring the book 'Superworm'. On Monday, we met ‘Walter Wormington’. He told us many facts about worms and we enjoyed asking him questions and singing, ‘There’s a worm at the bottom of my garden’. Throughout the week, we have been looking after worms in our class wormery and everyone has shown great curiosity just like Cassie Cat. We have learnt about a worm’s habitat, what they like to eat and some of us even enjoyed holding the worms! Then on Thursday, there was great excitement as we took part in our Harvest Festival. We especially enjoyed singing, ‘Big Red Combine Harvester’.
Reception
Claire Sparks - Deputy Head of Pre-Prep
Reception have gone pattern-tastic this week! We have been exploring repeated patterns, learning to copy, continue and create them. We have used loose parts to make Autumn patterns, made pattern snakes, crowns and musical patterns and had lots of fun creating action patterns by clapping, jumping, patting our tummies and touching our toes. There have been patterns happening everywhere we have turned!
Year 1
Jacklyn Garwood - Year 1 Teacher
Year 1 travelled to the Bexhill Museum on Tuesday to learn about the ‘Olden Days.’ The children dressed up in black and white clothes and entered a Victorian classroom learning what it was like to go to school back then. There was no question that the children preferred learning in their Vinehall classroom! Well done to all the children for being curious like Cassie Cat and asking good questions and being very interested in their learning.
Year 2
Louise Hawtin - Year 2 Teacher
Year 2 have been looking at the features of fire engines this week and have designed their own, ready to make them next week. The children have produced some excellent labelled drawings and have planned which materials and tools they will need to make a fire engine that must be able to move. Everyone is very keen to get going now!
Year 3 - 'Treasure' from Bexhill Museum
Carina Everist - Year 3 Teacher
This week Year 3 looked at a variety of replicas and artefacts on loan from Bexhill Museum. The items from the Stone Age 'treasure box' proved to be fascinating, helping the children to further their understanding of this age.
Year 3 - Harvest at the time of Jesus
Carina Everist - Year 3 Teacher
Year 3 - Time to Investigate
Carina Everist - Year 3 Teacher
Do people who exercise a lot have a larger lung capacity than people who do not exercise as much?
Year 3 loved finding out their lung capacity in Science this week. They compared data found in an earlier lesson and came to the conclusion that in most cases this is true, but not always! Mr McKinnon popped by and emptied the tank!
Year 4 - What is a Scribe? What is a Monk?
Carina Everist - Year 3 Teacher
Year 4 were full of questions in RS this week, just like Cassie Cat. They have been learning about the Bible and were interested in the fact that in Medieval times monks would copy texts in Latin. Having seen some illuminated scripts, they set about decorating their initials. Beautiful work, Year 4. Mrs E enjoyed the peace and quiet, with only Gregorian plainsong in the background!
Year 7P - Forest School
Becky Prior - Head of Science
7P enjoyed their Forest School session in the woods, working collaboratively to build dens; create tie-dye fabrics using blackberries; making bows and arrows; trying Rosehip tea; creating woodland art work and playing a fun game of 'Hawk Eye'. Thank you to Laura and Amy for making the session so engaging for 7P to enjoy time bonding together.
House Captain Hustings
Ally Linney - Assistant Head (Pastoral)
Congratulations to our courageous Year 8s who put themselves forward for this academic year's House Captain Hustings. Feedback from the House teachers was glowing this year! They noted how well-prepared, confident and dedicated the Year 8 nominees were in giving their speeches.
With great excitement, we now wait to hear who will represent Ashton, Paxton, Rushton and Saxton in Monday morning's assembly!
Boarding
Petra Campbell - Gapper
The weekend was fantastic for Vinehall boarders! Saturday morning kicked off with our usual DT, art and carpentry activities. After break, a group ventured out to gather seeds from Horse Chestnut trees for a game of Conkers. In the afternoon, we had a great time at the Vinehall Apple Fair, where the boarders sampled a variety of apple-themed foods, including apple and parsnip soup, apple juice, baked treats, toffee apples and chocolate-covered apples. The apple-themed games, especially apple bobbing, were also a huge hit.
On Sunday, we enjoyed a leisurely start to the day. In the afternoon, we headed out to Eastbourne for some fun at Ninja Warrior, an inflatable obstacle course. Everyone had a little free time to explore and shop at the mall in Eastbourne. The boarders had a great time, which was evident with how sweaty everyone looked after bouncing around at Ninja Warrior for an hour.
Apple Day
On Saturday the whole school came together to celebrate Apple Day in the school orchard. This annual event is one of the highlights of our Michaelmas Term. Everyone enjoyed parsnip and apple soup and cider for the adults, apple bobbing, apple pressing, apple peeling competition and marshmallows over the bonfire. Thank you to everyone who worked so hard to make this day such a success!
COMING SOON ...
Learn to Ride at Vinehall
Denise Lomas, an Accredited Bikeability and Balanceability Instructor, will be offering 1:1 lessons on Thursday 31st October and Friday 1st November at Vinehall. Lessons will take place on the tennis courts below Pre-Prep.
Sessions available: 10-11, 11-12, 12.30-13.30, 13.30-14.30
£45 an hour for one child. £65 for two children learning together. Good quality bike hire £6
Denise offers a step by step course to enable children to cycle without stabilisers or progress from a balance bike to a pedal bike. Games and activities to make learning fun and develop children’s confidence. If you would like further details or to book a space, please contact Denise direct at training@cyclesafesoutheast.co.uk or 07508262768.