Fundraising and Community Work

Ben Hope and Blencathra invited the community to join us for their Harvest Assembly. They sang songs and wrote poems to share with the community. As part of our celebration and commitment to supporting the wider community a collection was made for Witney and West Oxfordshire Food Bank.

Together with Finstock Primary School, we raised £119.50!

Children in Need supports children in the community across the UK. They fund amazing people in family centres, community spaces, youth clubs and refuges, homeless shelters, hospices and helplines.

This year, we fundraised for Children in Need by asking children to wear something spotty in exchange for a suggested donation.

Throughout the day we took part in Children in Need maths challenges, and the Bluey Dance Mode challenge! Every time someone yelled ‘dance mode!’ everyone had to get up and dance for 10 seconds!

Year 1 took full advantage of this and surprised Miss Dixon to a dance party in her office!

On Thursday 10th October, we celebrated World Mental Health Day by taking part in 'Hello Yellow Day', supporting YoungMinds. YoungMinds is the UK's leading charity championing the wellbeing and mental health of children and young people. Driven by their experience, YoungMinds creates change so that children and young people can cope with life's adversities, find help when needed and succeed in life.

In a combined effort with Finstock CE Primary School, we raised £50.30!

Reception:

We learnt about mindfulness as part of Hello Yellow Day. They explored different breaths to help regulate e.g ice breath and ninja breath.

They discussed how friends can support us and how we can support our friends e.g making pasta friendship bracelets, making a card and sharing an activity with a friend can help when we are sad or feel a little bit anxious.

The class looked at emotions cards and wondered how the people were feeling and why. They used emotion fans to explain how they were feeling and began to decide how a character in a story might be feeling - moving the character up or down on the narrative map depending on how they thought they may feel.

They explored resources in The Colour Monster calming corner e.g bubble timers, books about emotions and different resources to manipulate to focus and calm with.

Children talked about how their grown ups at home and school can help them and how it is nice to ask our friends how they are feeling and if they need any help.

Pupil voice:

Ava-May: I liked the blu-tac best. I can use it when I am cross and stretched it out this big!

Marc: I like the bubble timer - it looks like volcanoes

Avisha: Maxine is my friend

 

 

KS1

We discussed the meaning of mental health and how we can boost our wellbeing. We did mindful colouring and positive affirmations listening to meditative music. 

Pupil voice:

Ellie: Mental health means your mind and feelings being okay. Sometimes you're not okay and that's alright.

Mahmoud: I liked when we all put butterflies in our hair. It made me really happy. We all look really cool like the Ben Hope familes!

KS2

What we learnt on World Mental Health Day:

'There's lots of things I need to take care of for my mental health:

1. We need to calm down. If you're freaking out, don't worry and stay calm

2. If you're stressed out, chill and relax

3. If you can't concentrate, read a book, sleep, draw, paint, do some handwriting, or just and relax your mind.'

Zoe, Year 5

Today, we followed this advice and took some time for ourselves, taking part in mindful colouring and reflection time. 

Harvest Celebration 2023

On Tuesday 17^th October we held our annual Harvest celebration. Children in Olympus and Blencathra sang the songs they had been busy learning and shared artwork they made while learning about Harvest. As part of our celebration and commitment to supporting the wider community a collection was made for Witney and West Oxfordshire Food Bank.

Shoe Box Appeal 2023

One of the first jobs of the year for the School Council class reps was to speak to their classes about this year's Teams4U Christmas shoe box appeal. They explained the reasons for the collection, shared lists of items that could be included in the box and the deadline for bringing boxes into school. Participating in the appeal gives the students an oportunity to learn about other areas of the world, develop and demonstrate empathy & compassion for others, and participate in an activity for the benefit of others beyond the school community. Class boxes were made, alongside individual complete boxes that were donated. Over 20 boxes were delivered to Witney Methodist Church. We are already collecting items to go in the boxes for Christmas 2024. 

 

Brake's Kids Walk 2023

On Wednesday June 14th 2023, the enthusiastic students of Queen Emma's Primary School participated in Brake's Kids Walk, making a remarkable impact on road safety awareness.

With beaming smiles and unwavering determination, the young champions embarked on a memorable journey. Holding inspirational posters and donning stickers displaying the campaign's emblem, they fearlessly walked through their community, spreading a message of caution and responsible road behaviour.

Under the guidance of their dedicated teachers, the pupils engaged in meaningful conversations about the importance of road safety, discussing essential rules and practices to protect themselves and others. Their commitment to learning and raising awareness was evident as they engaged with community members along their route, sharing valuable insights and encouraging safer habits.

Queen Emma's Primary School displayed extraordinary teamwork and unity during the Kids Walk, forging bonds among pupils and fostering a sense of community spirit. With each step they took, the young participants not only increased their understanding of road safety but also demonstrated the power of collective action and their potential to make a difference.

The resounding success of Queen Emma's Primary School's participation in Brake's Kids Walk 2023 serves as a testament to their commitment to creating a safer environment for all. Through their active involvement and passion, they have become shining examples, inspiring others to prioritize road safety and encouraging positive change within their community.

 

Comic Relief 2023

Eager students, teachers, and staff came together in a flurry of laughter and creativity to support this charitable cause.

The day kicked off with an enchanting Bake-off, where the school's talented bakers showcased their culinary skills. Mouthwatering aromas wafted through the halls as delectable treats came into the school grounds. From whimsical cupcakes adorned with colourful noses to intricate cakes resembling beloved Red Nose Day characters, each creation was a testament to the students' imagination and baking prowess.

In the spirit of spreading joy, Queen Emma's Primary School also organised a sponsored jokeathon. Hilarity echoed through the corridors as students delighted in sharing their funniest and most clever jokes. Laughter became the currency of the day, and with every giggle, donations poured in to support Red Nose Day's mission of changing lives through the power of comedy.

The school community rallied together, embracing the importance of empathy and compassion. Students learned valuable lessons about the impact of their actions, understanding that even small gestures of kindness can make a significant difference in the lives of those less fortunate.

Queen Emma's Primary School proved that giving back is not just a one-time event but a spirit that thrives within their vibrant community. Through their Bake-off and sponsored jokeathon, they showed that laughter, creativity, and generosity can come together to create a brighter future for children around the world.