SPORTS AND PE
Year 4 Viking Dance
In the first half of the Summer term, several year groups have taken part in dance during their PE lessons using a cross curricular theme.
For Year 4, prior learning about the Vikings was used to create a motif representing aspects of Viking life, such as farming and weaving. The children worked in small groups to recreate the patterns depicted on Viking jewellery before combining into larger groups to become long ships carrying Viking invaders towards the British Isles. Can you see the difference between when the long ship is propelled by sail or by rowing?
The children really enjoyed linking dance with a topic they had studied in class as well as the autonomy they were given in creating aspects of the dance.
Acacia's Viking dance
Blackthorn's Viking dance
Happy Birthday to The Daily Mile!
On Thursday 28th April, Prae Wood celebrated The Daily Mile's 10th birthday. Balloons, bunting and confetti cannons helped marked this milestone for The Daily Mile as well as the birthdays of Sophie (10), Ronan (5) and Ms Cameron-Griffiths (undisclosed!). Year 4 were the first to attempt their 10 laps for the 10th birthday but not before the singing of 'Happy Birthday' and the launching of confetti cannons (courtesy of Mr Woodruff) by our birthday girls and boy and Mrs Paine. All year groups from Nursery to Year 6 took part over the course of the morning and an impressive number of laps were completed by children and staff. Unfortunately, we were not able to reward the runners on the day with a special commemorative memento (thanks to a Covid hold-up), but we hope to be able to share this with everyone soon.
Participation in The Daily Mile has been a great way to provide children with the opportunity to enjoy regular physical activity, helping bodies and minds to stay healthy. Running is a free and easy way to keep active. We have a local junior parkrun which takes place in Verulamium Park every Sunday at 9am for children aged 4-14 and is totally free of charge. In fact, Verulamium junior parkrun turns 3 this Sunday. Perhaps your child might like to join in and become a Prae Wood Runner and wish this junior parkrun a Happy Birthday too.
Year 5 Swimming
Congratulations to both Spruce and Mangrove classes who have completed two terms of swimming lessons at St Albans School. Over the course of two terms, the children have been working to achieve National Curriculum swimming standards for Key Stage 2. Well done to those children who have mastered new skills or improved their existing skills, whether this was confidently swimming 25 metres, improving their stroke technique or knowing how to perform safe self rescue.
After missing opportunities during the pandemic to participate in swimming lessons or swimming for pleasure, we have been really impressed by the progress the children have made, especially those with little prior swimming experience. As the swimming groups came together for the last lesson to participate in relay races using the foam noodles, it was great to see the children's confidence in the water and, most importantly, them all having fun.
Netball Club trip to Saracens Mavericks
On Saturday 19th March, 20 netball club members went to watch local Vitality Netball Superleague team Saracens Mavericks play Leeds Rhinos at the University of Hertfordshire Sports Village. From their courtside seats, the children were able to see up close the fast paced, physical nature of top flight netball.
Unfortunately, Mavericks put themselves in a difficult position from the start, allowing the visitors to take an early 5-0 lead. After that, it was always a game of catch up for Mavericks as they tried to bring the scores level. It took until the last 3 minutes of the game for Mavericks to bring the score level, willed on by the sell-out crowd and especially the Prae Wood supporters. However, a mistake on a Mavericks' centre pass allowed Rhinos to take and maintain the lead with the game finishing 51-53 to Rhinos.
The excitement didn't end there, as the children were able to get even closer to the players during their post-match meet and greet. The children managed to get photos and autographs with many of the Mavericks players, and Mavericks' mascot Miranda the Meerkat, as well as Leeds Rhinos' star centre court player, Jade Clarke, who is England's most capped netball player making 179 appearances for the Roses. Mrs Paine was especially thrilled with her photo opportunity, spotting Gary Burgess, VNSL and international umpire (famous for his golden whistle), as he walked through the foyer after the match.
Mrs Paine with Gary Burgess, VNSL and international umpire
Year 5 Stone Age Dance
Gymnastics and Dance have made welcome returns to the PE curriculum this academic year after the pandemic moved PE teaching, for most of the school, outdoors.
Year 5 have been the first to explore dance through a cross curricular theme, their Stone Age to Iron Age topic. Having learnt a basic motif (phrase of movement) linked to the Stone Age, the children worked to adapt the motif as part of a small group. The groups also chose an aspect of Stone Age life to represent through movement such as hunting, fishing or preparing food. The children enjoyed the creative challenge as well as the challenge of learning the routine and keeping in time with the music.
Spruce Class complete their dance
Mangrove Class complete their dance