Noticeboard: School Visits

Frank, Ludi and Michael.

Today we went to Bradwell.  My team name is the Lapwings, and we went crabbing, then cycling.  Today I will talk about crabbing.  First, we got a life jacket on and then went on a fast inflatable boat which we all got to steer.  Then the tide was too low!  So we didn't get to go to Mersea.  So, we went crabbing in the boat moored in the channel.

by William W

Today I went to the Bradwell centre.  My team name is the Redshanks.  At the Bradwell Centre I went on the high ropes and I got to the top!  We also went crabbing in Mersea and we got 118 crabs!  When we got back to Othona we played table tennis and pool. Othona is great!

by Brandon

Today I went to the Bradwell Centre.  My team name is the Redshanks.  At the Bradwell Centre I went on the high ropes and I got to the top!  We also went crabbing in Mersea and we got 118 crabs!  When we got back to Othona we played table tennis and pool. Othona is great, and the rooms are good!

by Harry

Today we all went to Bradwell Centre.  My team name is Curlews.  The first activity Curlews did was high ropes.  It was so fun, but the best thing was biking.  We went 7 miles on the sea wall and then across a disused second world air field.  We stopped at a shop. I bought some sweets and marmalade for my dad and chocolate for my mum.

By Glen

Hi mum and dad

Hope you are well. Othona is great.  I went to the TOP of the high ropes!  I don't feel scared of heights anymore and I wanted to do it again.  Later on we got to play manhunt in the forest which is great.  Good bye for now and see you in two days.

By William A

Mrs Chamber's Wednesday Blog from Othona - Bradwell Day:

                I arrived at Bradwell Youth Centre a few minutes before the children on the coach and was horrified to see just how tall the 'High Ropes' framework was.  Surely they couldn't expect the children to go up there?

                A few minutes later, the coach arrived and the children greeted me, happy and excited and wanting to tell me all about their first afternoon and evening at Othona.  We met our instructors Dave and Andi and the 'crabbing' group set off.  We learned how to put on our harnesses and safety hats properly and Dave emphasised just how safe and secure it was.  The children took turns; working the safety ropes as a team ('heave-ho-coil') and encouraging each other up to the top. Very nearly everybody made it right to the top and there were a lot of very happy children who'd overcome their initial fear. Matthew even performed a little dance for us at the very top! I was extremely impressed with them all.

                When it was my turn, I was terrified! I hadn't realised it was so high above the ground (fantastic view across the river to Mersea) and that the wind, blowing in gusts, was so strong. After lots of encouragement, I made it to the second level, at which point my legs turned to jelly, so I came down again. It felt good to stand on solid ground. The 'crabbing' team arrived back, having had a successful morning and a turn each at steering the speed boat...

                By lunchtime, the sun was out so we were able to eat out on the grass. Another group set off for crabbing after that, and the rest of us got onto mountain bikes and headed out along the sea wall, waving to the boating group! We cycled into the wind along an old Second World War airfield, played a 'freewheeling' competition and raced up and down Bradwell's only hill. Finally, back to the centre via the village shop and Bradwell's war memorial.  I think we covered about five miles in a couple of hours, and a very lovely ride it was too.

                 I went back to Othona with the children to see their rooms (no-one is going to win an award for tidiness, I have to say!) and to play a couple of games of table tennis. I felt very sorry to leave at the end of the day, but I'm sure they're going to enjoy the rest of their stay. I think they'll all sleep well tonight - I certainly will!

Click HERE to read Mr Higgin's early Thursday morning Blog from Othona, with pictures. 

Thursday Morning Blog from Othona:

Hello, Othona has been AMAZING!! We've been playing manhunt in the woods, and captured the flag, but we're only on the second day!  We STILL haven't even done the best part! The HIGH ROPES I can't wait!

Catch you later,

by Thomas. 

Hi! I am having a great time here at Othona! Yesterday we went crabbing and I got to steer a boat and we had a beautiful bike ride through Bradwell.

I think year 5 will really enjoy this trip and I would love to do it again.

See you soon,

by Miles.

Hi, Othona is really cool we love it here.

Too excited about today, got to go!!!

See you soon

by Charlene.

Hello! Othona is amazing. Last night we played manhunt; it was really fun!

Us two had the best hiding place ever! As well as manhunt we went to Bradwell and we had a go on the high ropes and we both made it to the top!(It was 30 feet high!). After that Redshanks (our group) went crabbing and it was really cool, we caught 118 crabs! We have had a great time so far!

See you soon

by Sophie and Gracie.

Lunchtime update:

Everything is great; there is great rooms and food. I wish you are here NOT!  Today we went to the beach and chapel.

by Bradley

Everything is wonderful here apart from the messy clothes. I miss you all and hope to see you soon.

Today we went to the chapel, it was lovely. We also went to the beach, it was so fun people even got stuck in the mud.

from Serena

This morning we went to the beach and found loads of shells.

We also found loads of crabs under the rock pools.

See you soon.

From Callum D

I'm having a great time. On Wednesday we went to the Bradwell centre and did the high ropes. I got to the top and looked at the lovely views. After that we did crabbing. We got to drive the boat and ride the bumpy rides. When we got there, we started crabbing. It was hard to start with but got easier. In the end we caught 118 crabs. We also played man-hunt where the teachers have to find us in the woods. Today we did pond dipping and mini beasts. We also did a walk along the beach and in the mud. I did one of my fears which was picking up and holding a crab. We have a talent show tonight and hopefully we will win. See you all tomorrow.

from Callum L

Hi everyone, I'm having fun at Othona.  Today we did pond dipping, mini beast hunt and beach art.  On the beach me, Lois and Ellie made a starfish out of sticks and shells. It looked really good. Tonight is the Year 6 got talent!  Also Mrs. Grotier came down for the

Day.  Hope to see you all soon.

from Katie B.

Hi this is Robert doing his blog from Othona.  On Wednesday we did high ropes and cycling.  Thursday we did mini beasts, beach art, and pond dipping.  Today we are having pizza for tea. 

from Robert.  Bye and see you tomorrow.

Othona Blog Thursday 17^th 2010 dinnertime

I have had a great time at Othona. Yesterday my group Lapwings and Curlews went cycling and crabbing at Bradwell outdoor centre.

Today, we have been to the beach and done beach art then we went to a pond in Othona and we done pond dipping

Also we went minibeast hunting and now we are having free time, after we go out and play manhunt in the woods, then at about 9:00pm we have hot chocolate in the Dining room,

Then we go to our dorms and play games, then we go to sleep.

Scott B

Othona Evening blog 17.06.10 5pm

At 9.15 I arrived to a beautifully sunny and extremely windy Othona community.

The greetings from the children were warm and much appreciated.  We kicked off our morning beach combing activity. Certain children got extremely muddy! But fun was had by all.

Delicious egg mayo sandwiches, crisps, veg and fruit for lunch.

Pond dipping, beach art & mini-beasts have been the order for the afternoon, along with more wind and mud!

At present the majority of the children are busy practising for the talent show this evening.

The dorms are looking very lived in. The girls showers are well used, but the boys may not have been touched! Along with their hairbrushes!

The children are having a wonderful time. (And so am I!)

Mrs Grotier

Othona blog at 5:20pm: 

It has been very enjoyable so far on this Othona trip.

All the stuff about the boy's showers that Mrs Grotier said was 1000% a lie.  I have been in 3 times and I am pretty sure that it will become four. Today we all have done various activities. Such as pond dipping, rock pooling and also mini beast hunting. Hope to see you when that pipe at school has been fixed. good luck.

by Dan

"High Daniel!  The pipe was fixed at 17.00.  It took all afternoon.  The digger went through the main water supply pipe and then the sewer pipe - yuk!  One of the builders had to empty his wellies out.  Trench was nearly 2 metres deep before they were able to fix it.  Four vans parked outside and lots of workers in yellow hard hats."  Mr M.        

We have all had a lovely week.  The children have enjoyed all their activities, and have all got along well.

My team, the Redshanks, have been very good team players, supporting each other well when we were on the high ropes yesterday and they all really enjoyed crabbing in Mersea, especially when they took it in turns to take the helm.  Today we spent time beach combing discovering 13 different types of shells and enjoyed getting muddy on the mud flats.  Our beach art was fantastic and we found lots of bugs.  Just the talent show left tonight and cycling tomorrow.

by Mrs Beattie

I think everyone has now had a turn at adding to this - we have all enjoyed being visited by Mrs Chambers yesterday and Mrs Grotier today and are all getting ready for dinner and the Talent Show later on.  Everybody has had a good time with pond dipping, minibeast hunting, beach art, history 'imagining', crab spotting and shell searching today.

My group, the Lapwings, are on High Ropes as our last activity tomorrow - I am considering my position on this!!

I have to say the last few days have flown past and I don't think anyone has had time to be bored - least of all Mr Higgins, Mrs Beattie and me.

There are lots of photos all ready to be incorporated in work when we are back at school.

Everything here has gone very smoothly so a big 'Thank you' to everyone who has contributed.

by Mrs Downton

7th July, 2009:

Today, a group of eleven children, along with Mrs Paternoster and Mr Middleditch - plus a guide from the Woodland Trust - took the school's first walk along the private footpath to the ancient wood.  The children had been selected after entering a competition to design an outside classroom, to be constructed at the site by the Woodland Trust with sponsorship from TK MAXX.  On arrival we were met by representatives of the Woodland Trust, TK MAXX and the press.  A series of photographs and interviews were completed, whilst the children enjoyed an interactive lesson on woodland habitats.  To conclude, we entered the actual wood, which apparently offers once of the most diverse habitats of any woodland in the United Kingdom.

Full links to the project, including photographs, will be posted on this site after the Summer Holiday.  

Click on the following link to discover how TK MAXX and the Woodland Trust are joining together to help promote the care of our local environment:  http://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/en/news-media/releases/company/Pages/tkmaxx-elmstead-market.aspx

TREE PLANTING EVENT - 13th February, 2009

In February, the school has been offered the opportunity to send up to forty children to a tree planting event  - see letter to parents below.  We are holding a letter writing/drawing competition to see which children are selected to attend.  Please note that group photograph permission is essential for any child attending this event.

Find out more about the "Tree for All" campaign by visiting www.treeforall.org.uk                                         

Equal Opportunities

All trips will, wherever possible, be accessible to all children in the class, enabling them to gain confidence, acquire skills and build positive experiences.

Special Educational Needs

Educational visits should fulfil the needs of all children.  Children with IEPs may need additional supervision or support whilst on a visit and this will be provided if possible.

Implementation

Teachers must follow the Guidelines for Educational Visits which accompany this policy. They must also familiarise themselves with the relevant sections of the Essex County Council Health and Safety at Work Code of Practice No 28, 'Safe Practice on Educational, Adventurous and Recreational Visits', April 2003. 
(A copy is kept in the Adminstrator's Office).