FernSpeak - Celebrating the Performing Arts

FernSpeak is Fern Hill’s annual festival of the performing arts run with Cath Howe, a teacher, author of children’s books and Fern Hill’s own writer in residence. This year, over 150 children from years 4 through to 6 have participated in FernSpeak and on Wednesday we were excited to welcome Bloomsbury Publishing to watch and film the rehearsals. Bloomsbury Publishing are creating a short film to showcase FernSpeak to schools across the UK as an example of how to run a performing arts festival. The children have all worked incredibly hard towards the Heats which were held on Thursday and Friday this week. The standard of performance in poetry, public speaking and acting just gets higher every year and we are looking forward to seeing the children celebrate their achievements at the FernSpeak Finals which will be held next Thursday. 

Here’s what Cath Howe has to say about FernSpeak…

‘To all the children who have been involved in FernSpeak this year:

Looking back on FernSpeak, it has been an amazing year in so many ways. We all know the Finals next week are just a small percentage of the children who have taken part and volunteered in earlier rounds.

This year, I’ve had the excitement of seeing the book of drama scripts, “Let’s Perform!” published, so many of them inspired by this school. Earlier this week, the drama pieces were filmed here in school to motivate other schools to create festivals like ours.

Several things have struck me this year in FernSpeak: the quality and range of our Public Speakers, the numbers of year 6’s taking part in every area of the competition, their professional and helpful attitude and the creativity of so many of the children.

I love to see children giving others great feedback and support. The best thing about coming together as a school for a project like this is seeing pupils supporting each other.

I’ve worked with many exciting new faces. It’s also been wonderful to see pupils who have been in the competition for three years grow and develop their skills. It takes courage to perform on a public stage. Fern Hill children have lots of courage.

Your piece is your own. However you have been involved, I hope you have felt inspired to do more- that’s the idea. I’d like to thank all the children who have taken part in our festival and made it a special part of school life.’

- Cath Howe (Writer in Residence) 

PSA News & Events

PSA Christmas Fair raffle tickets

The PSA is proud to announce our 2018 Christmas Raffle is underway!

The raffle is a key element of our fundraising efforts and we are very grateful to local businesses and individuals for the prizes that have been donated. Tickets are £1 each and every child in the school has been sent home with 5 tickets which we hope you will be able to buy yourselves or sell to friends and family. Please see the information attached to this newsletter for the full selection of our wonderful prizes, vouchers and hamper donations!

Mufti day and PSA Christmas Fair tombola collection on Friday 7^th December

On Friday 7^th December we’re asking for your donations for the tombola and hampers at our Christmas Fair. In return, the children can come to school that day dressed in mufti (no uniform)!

For the adults’ tombola, we would really appreciate your donations of wine, spirits, other bottled goods, toiletries, posh candles, chocolates and other festive fare! For the children’s tombola, please donate toys, books, games, puzzles (all in good condition please). We also welcome jam jars filled with little treats (Lego, stickers, mini toys) or wrapped sweets. Please remember that all items donated must be within their use by date and that we are a nut free school. Thank you!

This year, the tombolas have been given a makeover to speed them up and keep you coming back for more – so come along to try your luck and join in the festivities!

PSA Christmas Fair on Friday 14^th December

The excitement is building and our Christmas Fair is now only two weeks away!

At the fair, you’ll find Santa in his grotto and our Elf Café will be serving hot and cold drinks including Santa’s Hot Chocolate and Mrs Claus’ Mulled Wine, with a 50p discount to those who are able to bring a reusable mug. Festive cakes and snacks will be available at the café – and we hope many of you will be able to donate Christmas themed cakes and biscuits.  Items can be dropped off outside school reception on the day or brought directly to the Elf Café.  Please remember, no nuts.

We’re pleased to announce we will be running a second hand toy and book stall at the fair this year. Please donate games, toys, books and DVDs that your children have outgrown so they can find a new home this Christmas. Donations can be brought to school between 8.15 and 9.00am on Thursday 13^th and Friday 14^th December – please drop items off with the PSA team selling raffle tickets by the KS1 gate.

During the fair there will be plenty of Christmas craft stalls, activities and games to play such as

• Pick ‘n’ Mix boxes with festive treats like Magic Sleigh Beans, Reindeer Noses and even Snowman Poop!
• Festive Selfie Booth
• Posting letters to Santa and making cracker and bookmark gifts for friends and family
• Glitter Tattoos and Glow Sticks
• Adopt an Elf
• Lob-a-Choc and guess the weight of the Christmas Cake
• Bigfoot Treasure Map and Festive Hook-a-duck
• Lucky Dip, Lucky Dice and Lucky Lolly Stick
• Guess the Teacher Challenge
• And – of course – our ever popular Kids and Adults Tombolas!

There will be plenty of options for children from Daisy Class up to Year 6 and most stalls are either 50p or £1. A map of the event will be sent out with the school newsletter on Friday 7^th December to help you plan which stalls you’ll head to first. To make sure the children have a super time, many stalls with have prizes for everyone who plays! We’re looking forward to seeing you there and celebrating the end of term and the festive season together!