A giant snail, sporting success and other school news

Katherine Semar Schools

Katherine Semar Year 4 children had three days of activities during a residential trip to Kingswood Activity Centre in West Runton, Norfolk.

The fun included archery, rock climbing, zip wires and high rope activities.

A Katherine Semar Schools student has a go at archery (Image: Katherine Semar Schools)

Two students from Katherine Semar Schools have a go at rock climbing (Image: Katherine Semar Schools)

Felsted School

Latin, Reggae and Jazz numbers were in Felsted School's annual 'Swing into Spring’ concert.

Pupils from Prep and Senior school were involved in the Orchestras, Choirs and Bands.

Students performing at Felsted School's Swing into Spring concert (Image: Felsted School)

Students performing at Felsted School's Swing into Spring concert (Image: Felsted School)

The Global Jukebox started with European folk tunes from England and Italy, and then took the audience on a journey including African rhythms and melodies, Caribbean Calypso and South American Samba.

Prep Director of Music Owen Rees said it was "brilliant" to have live music again.

Howe Green House School

Reception class at Howe Green House School handled a giant African land snail during a day at The Suntrap Forest Centre in Epping Forest.

A Reception student handles a giant African land snail during a day at The Suntrap Forest Centre in Epping Forest. (Image: Howe Green House School)

They also got hands-on with a millipede, a stick insect, a salamander and Cynthia, a 10-year-old corn snake.

The children enjoyed exploring and learning about the ancient woodland, identifying different trees and using mirrors to look up into the treetops to describe what they could see.

Reception students at The Suntrap Forest Centre in Epping Forest. (Image: Howe Green House School)

St Thomas More School, Saffron Walden

Students having fun at a charity day at St Thomas More School, Saffron Walden (Image: St Thomas More School)

A Summer Festival organised by pupils in Year 3 and 4 at St Thomas More School has raised £607 for local charity Café Cornell.

Students danced to the music and bounced around on the space hoppers.

Each class filled a welly with loose change and Year 4 won the prize for the heaviest welly!

Sporting success

Children at St Thomas More School have been having a run of sporting success.

Year 3/4 and Year 5/6 swimming squads finished in first place at the District Swimming Galas at Dunmow Leisure Centre.

St Thomas More School students in Year 3/4 and Year 5/6 swimming squads finished in first place at the District Swimming Galas at Dunmow Leisure Centre. (Image: St Thomas More School)

The Year 3 Cross Country Team took gold at the County Competition in Southend.

Gold medals for Year 3 Cross Country Team at St Thomas More School, Saffron Walden (Image: St Thomas More School)

And the week finished with the school Archery Team winning the cup at the District Finals.

St Thomas More School, Saffron Walden: The school's Archery Team has won the cup at the District Finals. (Image: St Thomas More School)

R A Butler Academy, Saffron Walden

Year 5 student Rayan's impassioned speech about poverty in the modern world resulted in winning the finals of the Moktar Cup for public speaking.

Rayan of Year 5 at RA Butler Academy, Saffron Walden has won the Moktar Cup for public speaking (Image: RA Butler Academy)

All the junior children at RA Butler Academy had the opportunity to prepare and deliver a speech on a topic of their choosing to their class.

The finalists spoke in front of a guest judging panel including the Mayor and drama teacher Rachel Harvey.

Students at RA Butler Academy, Saffron Walden, with their certificates. The judging panel included Saffron Walden mayor Richard Porch and drama teacher Rachel Harvey (Image: RA Butler Academy)

Headteacher Emma Vincent said: “It was wonderful to see how passionately the children delivered their speeches.

"It takes a lot of skill and confidence to speak in front of 360 of your peers.”

Cross Country finals

R A Butler Academy took teams from Y3 to Y6 to the Essex County Cross Country Finals in Southend.

The children put great effort and enthusiasm into their running.

Sports lead James Smith said: “The children did absolutely brilliantly.

“Their commitment and training really paid off with our Y5 girls coming second in the county claiming silver and the Y4 boys taking home bronze. A huge well done to everyone involved."

The whole Cross Country team from R A Butler Academy, Saffron Walden (Image: RA Butler Academy)

The Cross Country girls team from RA Butler Academy, Saffron Walden (Image: RA Butler Academy)

The Cross Country boys team from RA Butler Academy, Saffron Walden (Image: RA Butler Academy)

Dunmow St Mary's Primary School

Dunmow St Mary's Primary School had a special assembly with a visit from Olympian and Commonwealth fencer, Linda Strachan.

Dunmow St Mary's Primary School students with Linda Strachan, who competed in two Olympic Games and has won nine Commonwealth Games (Image: Dunmow St Mary's Primary School)

Linda competed in two Olympic Games and won nine Commonwealth medals.

In 2012 she was selected to be a Torchbearer and brought this with her.

The school Sports Ambassadors got to see this close up.

She spoke about the Commonwealth Games, showing her numerous medals and sharing her journey and experiences.

The school hopes the visit inspires more children to take up fencing and encourages students to keep up their already fantastic sports results.

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