PRIMARY SCHOOL - Garway School had an open morning on Wednesday, from 9am to noon. All are welcome. During Grounds Week the whole learning experience at Garway school focused on the school grounds. The theme of “celebrating trees” tied in nicely with the Diamond Jubilee and the custom of planting trees to celebrate special events.

The children made their own leaf dials and carried out tree surveys. They made posters about native British trees including the myths that surround them. In science they studied habitats in the school grounds and made top trump minibeast cards. Key stage two pupils looked at food chains and made up their own food chain board games. In athletics, they took part in a habitat orienteering course.

They also enjoyed making their own giant fantasy insects out of recycled materials and modroc. These were then displayed in their appropriate habitats in the school grounds to make a sculpture trail. One afternoon the children were challenged to build a nest that would hold a clutch of eggs and withstand the wind: they could only use materials found in the school grounds. Not to be left out, key stage one enjoyed writing sensory tree poems including what it felt like to “hug” a tree. They made musical instruments using natural materials to mimic the sound of the trees rustling in the wind. The highlight of the week was the planting of nine silver birch saplings which pupils had grown from seed to create a copse in the corner of the school playing fields. A time capsule was buried at the same time. In between these activities pupils planted crops in the poly-tunnel and flowers into tubs to brighten up the school grounds.

On Friday afternoon, parents, friends and relatives joined pupils and staff in a celebration of the Diamond Jubilee. After enjoying a fish and chip lunchtime picnic, and jam tarts made by pupils, they watched a re-enactment of the coronation.