14th October 2011

CREWKERNE: Schools open doors to young students

CHILDREN and teachers at Ashlands First School in Crewkerne enjoyed inviting people for their open day in to see what happens in class.

The new student councillors greeted the visitors with biscuits and cheese straws.

In reception class there was a lot of fun with jelly squishing and also some crafts relating to their upcoming harvest festival service. Other classes were continuing with normal lessons to show a real flavour of the classroom, including using coloured sweets for numeracy exercises in Beech class.

Other youngsters were putting their elders to shame by competently making video trailers on their laptops relating to Change 4 Life, healthy eating and exercise, which will be shown in assemblies.

Other children were learning about self esteem, being kind to others and were making slogans to wear.

Chairman of Governors, Richard Jeffery, said the school had come on a great deal under the wing of headteacher Carol Wills. He added: “This is all because of Carol’s drive, she has really turned the school around.”

In the hallway there was a table with a Wellington boot on it, which had the slogan Give Poverty the Boot written on it. Mrs Wills explained that the children were trying to fill the boot with money to give to farmers in Africa.

The children were raising the money by being helpful at home, laying the dinner table, putting toys away, recycling, saying please and thank you, being tidy and helping with dish washing. They had a list which they could tick off when a task was achieved and a donation made to the boot.

There was also a large pumpkin up for raffle.

PICTURE 1: SQUIDGY FUN - Reception children at Ashlands First school playing with jelly

PICTURE 2: GIVING POVERTY THE BOOT - Ashlands School councillors showing they care