About the School
Developing as Global Citizens
The whole school had a fantastic day finding about Christmas in other parts of the world. The day started with an assembly where Mr Pater, Mr Viner, Mrs Duffy and Miss Foster shared their experiences of China.
Year R looked at traditions in Germany around Christmas time. All the children made traditional advent biscuits to hang on our class Christmas tree. They talked about Christingles and what they represent before making individual ones to take home. Christina Betz came in to talk about traditional German traditions during the run up to Christmas. Heidi Aimes also came in to talk to reception about a typical Danish Christmas and she shared these traditions with all the children in the school across the course of the day.
 
 
 
 
 
Year 1 looked at traditions in China at Christmas time and the children made lanterns. Helen Lewis worked with all the children to try their hand at calligraphy and read a story in Mandarin. The children wrote words using Mandarin characters. Year 1 also learnt songs in German with Mrs Betz. They also made cookies and stars.
 
Year 2 looked at traditions in Mexico. The focus was on a ‘manger scene’ which they made. They read the story of the flower of Christmas Eve – Parisethia and saw how it is used to decorate the manger. The children looked at the tradition of ‘piñata’ and made a papier mache piñata one. Spanish singing and learning of Spanish phrases completed the day.
 
Year 3 children learnt about Sinter Klaas (Father Christmas Dutch). They made a huge picture of the gables of Amsterdam with the Zwarte Pieten dancing over them. They made traditional marzipan oranges and learned 3 Sinter Klaas songs. They left their pumps out and found them filled with Dutch biscuits – a tradition at this time of year.
 
 
 
Year 4 learnt about the African festival of Kwanza. Children decorated Kwanzaa candles with symbolic colours and their meanings. Children worked in pairs to produce Kwanzaa candles for display.
 
 
 
Year 5 made shoes to fill with presents as Spanish children don’t hang stockings out. They looked at, and tasted, some Spanish food, examined various artefacts and practised a few useful phrases.
 
 
 
Year 6 created a French advent calendar for display in the hall. Children worked in small groups to make a traditional Danish Christmas table decoration, with help from Heidi Aimes. Children also sang French Christmas carols.
 
The Emperor and the Nightingale
The children from year 3 and 4 performed a play based in China called ‘The Emperor and the Nightingale’. It was a very energetic performance with excellent singing throughout! The audience were astounded!  
 
 
 
 
 
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