Junior School - Forthcoming Events

Friends' School Biennial Charity Ball 6th October 2006

It's that time again! The Friends' School Biennial Charity Ball will be held on Friday, 6th October this year. Invitations will be going out shortly so book your table and order your tickets as soon as possible. Previous balls have been a sell-out so, to avoid disappointment, contact Alison Stanbury in the Marketing Department - email: admin@friends.org.uk or 01799 525351.

Our chosen charity this year is COPARS, a local charity which supports families with children suffering from cancer. We will be holding an Auction of Promises so any donations would be warmly welcomed. One particular item that always works our guests into a generous frenzy of bidding is the promise of a get-away-from-it-all holiday so if anyone is willing to donate a week in their holiday cottage, chateau, houseboat, penthouse, outhouse … please contact Tanya Fenwick on 08701 603337.

Junior School - News

To see 'News and Events' for the Senior School click here

Click here or on the image on the left to see the latest copy of 'The Crocus' newsletter for parents

Click here to see the latest copy of whole-school newsletter.

Latest copy of 'The Avenue' Click here or on the image on the left to download a copy of our latest newsletter, for Summer Term 2006.

'Dream On' Junior School Play for Years 5 and 6 on 28th and 29th June 2006 Click on the photo to see more of this production.

Friends' Junior Schools' Joint Choir 31st March - 2 April 2006 Click on the photo to see more.

El-Shaddai Street Child Rescue in India

If you would like to find out more about El-Shaddai following the Assembly on Tuesday 27th June click here.

El-Shaddai Street Child Rescue in India cares for the abandoned Street Children and those from economically poor or broken families, providing them with the basic necessities of life. Based in Goa, El-Shaddai has helped nurture slum children, abandoned girl children and provide them with shelter through the various shelters and houses run by El-Shaddai.

Head's Report for the Year 2005/06 If you were not able to be with us and to hear the speeches on Friends and Families Day on 20th June then click here to view the Head's report.

Grandparents Day June 6th 2006

The Junior School Band performing on the Bandstand in the Jubilee Gardens in Saffron Walden and Junior School Grandparents being entertained by the choir in the dining hall. Click on the above photos to enlarge.

Nursery and Reception Visit Boydel's Dairy Farm - Wednesday 3rd May 06

The Nursery and Reception children enjoyed a 'funtastic' day out when they visited Boydel's Farm on Wednesday. They helped feed the lambs, watched the pigs and calves being fed, and enjoyed a picnic lunch followed by a donkey cart ride. "I liked stroking the baby lambs" - Henry Foster, "I liked looking at the different coloured eggs" - Mia Saville.

Year 3 Viking Day May 2006 Click on the photo to enlarge

Price Bailey Chess Tournament at Dunmow St Mary’s School – Friday 28th April

Once again the FJS team played excellent chess. Despite being a young team they were able to beat most of their opponents and gained a combined score of 20 ½ points. This was enough to win the small schools’ competition and jointly win the big trophy. Well done.

First for Quaker Choirs

Choirs from Quaker Junior schools across the country joined forces on Saturday April 1st to perform a wide range of songs for parents, Governors and many guests. Orchard Close from Banbury and Bootham Junior School from York sent the weekend at the school rehearsing, singing and playing together, including a trip to the Audley End Miniature Railway. This culminated in a splendid concert on Saturday evening where the choirs were joined by two professional singers. This was the first time Quaker Junior schools have attempted to stage such an event and judging by its success and the reaction of the audience it will not be the last.

Click on the photo above to see more.

New Junior School Website

This is currently being constructed by our own staff. A new and easier to access layout has been produced and we are now in the process of updating the content. So please bear with us while this happens and while we discover broken links etc.

Although the Junior School website is part of the whole school website, it now has its own web address which is www.friendsjunior.org.uk Our email remains the same for the time being - adminjs@friends.org.uk

14 April 2006

The Governors are delighted to announce the appointment of Graham Wigley to Head Friends' School from 1st September 2006. Click here to find out more.

Latest copy of 'The Avenue' Click here or on the image on the left to download a copy of our latest newsletter, for Spring Term 2006.

Form 6 Pottery Class

Fairtrade Week - 20 - 24 March 2006

A huge thank you to all the Year 6 pupils and parents who made Fairtrade cakes for our stall on 20th March which brought the Year 6 work in Fairtrade Fortnight to a tasty conclusion. It was a busy hour selling coffee, tea and cakes which resulted in takings of £49.16 which will go towards WaterAid.

Spring Celebration 2006

The Infants celebrated Spring by entertaining parents with a medley of songs and a selection of poems. The highlight of the celebration was the very flamboyant hats which showed an excellent range of creative talents. Thank you to all parents for supporting this event and helping with the hats.

Playground Equipment Donation

Thanks to a generous anonymous donation, the children will enjoy their break times even more than usual with both outdoor and indoor equipment to play with, both wet and dry breaks promise to be more convivial. The staff and children wish to say a heartfelt thank you.

Langley Cross Country - Friday 17th March 06

A group of sixteen children travelled to Norwich for the Langley Prep Schools Cross Country Competition. The course was a very challenging two miles for U-9s and three miles for the U-11s. In spite of the cold weather there were some excellent performances. Well done to both Becky and Jack for their 1st places. An excellent result for the U-9 boys who were placed first. All our other teams were second.
U-9 Boys: Jack Folland (1st), Ollie Leyshon (4th), Joshua Hughes (5th), Max Harrison (19th).
U-9 Girls: Hannah Irwin (5th), Jasmine Collecott (6th), Lissy Ford (14th), Beth Gregory (19th)
U-11 Boys: James Taylor (3rd), Chris Gibbs (4th), Ben Kaye (9th), Daniel Parry
U-11 Girls: Becky Westerhuis (1st), Jessica Mazdon-Binns (9th), Emily Scott (11th), Libby Whitfield (4th)

Well done!

Friends’ Junior School Fourth Inter Schools Cross Country Event

On Friday 10th March eleven schools from around Saffron Walden and one from as far away as Norwich attended the fourth Inter Schools Cross Country Event hosted by Friends’ Junior School.

As befits cross-country, the weather was cold and blustery but this did not deter the field of over 90 runners who took part in the Under-9 and Under-11 events. This was easily the biggest field we have ever had and competition was fierce although soon forgotten as parents, runners and supporters tucked into a healthy tea afterwards.

The results:

Under 9s: Jack Folland (1st ) Joshua Hughes (3rd), Hannah Irwin (8th ) and Lissie Ford (14th )

Under 11’s: Archie Adams (1st ), James Taylor (4th), Becky Westerhuis (2nd ) and Libby Whitfield (3rd).

The overall shield was awarded to Friends’ Junior School.

Rekawa School Our twin school in Sri Lanka which we support following the Tsunami disaster. Click here to see photos from their sports day in February. (and see the upside-down man!)

Joint Junior Quaker Schools' Choirs. (Our Junior School together with those of Bootham and Sibford Schools) Perform at 7pm on Saturday 1st April in the Assembly Hall. For further information and tickets phone the Junior School Reception 01799 527235 Click on the image of the poster to enlarge.

‘Cabaret’ Thursday 23rd March 7.00 for 7.30 pm. A showcase of music performed by students and guest professional musicians. Tickets now sold out Click on the poster to enlarge.

Music from our Seasonal Words and Music 13th December 2006 at St Mary's Church SW

Joint Junior and Senior Schools' Choir

Concert band in rehearsal

Click on the following (64 kbps) mp3 tracks to play or download.

Concert Band - 'A Happy Winter Holiday' by Roland Kernan. Click here.

Junior Choir - 'The Nativity Carol' by John Rutter. Click here.

Junior Choir - 'The Mince Pie Song' arranged by Martin Wilson. Click here.

Junior School Orchestra - 'Merry Christmas Medley' arr. Turner. Click here.

Senior School Choir - 'The Christmas Bells' by David Fletcher. Click here.

Senior School Choir - 'Christmas Tide' by Bob Chilcott. Click here.

Joint Choirs - 'Away in a Manger' by Peter Hunt. Click here.

Years 5, 6, 7 ,8 - 'Christingle Rock' by Sheila Wilson.'Shine your Light', 'Circle of Love', 'Thank you for the World', Count each Blessing', 'Christingle Rock and Roll'. Click here to find out more about 'Christingle'

Many thanks to Gavin Greenaway and Martin Wilson for directing the music, and to all participating musicians and singers.

Left click on the above to play, but as these files are quite large (between 1 and 3 MB), it might be easier to right click and 'save target as' (to save to your hard disc) and then play.

Blistering Barnacles! Trip to the Barbican

One hundred members of Friends' Junior School in Saffron Walden had an exciting trip recently when they visited the Barbican Theatre in London to see a production by the Young Vic of "Tintin". Year 3 are standing proudly in front of their Tintin display which includes reviews of their theatre visit surrounded by Tintin, Captain Haddock and the Thompson Twins!

"The music was great and there were some very good effects, especially when the plane pops up on the stage! "Tintin" was great entertainment" (Veronica Golovina aged 8)

Year 6 Visit to Duxford 3rd February 06

Year 6 are pictured here just before departing for their visit to the Imperial War Museum at Duxford dressed as evacuees.

Year 5 Visit Braintree Museum Wednesday 1st February

Year 5 visited Braintree Museum this week, dressed as well behaved Victorian children and travelled back in time to a classroom in 1899. After their lesson they looked at Victorian artefacts, toured the museum and visited the shop!

This was Noor’s view of the classroom experience. “In the classroom, the teacher was very strict! We had to stand when we answered a question, and say ‘Ma’am’. We practised writing A and D on these very hard slate boards, with a slate pen, and then did sums using shillings and pence. After we had finished, the teacher stamped her foot and smiled (which surprised us a lot!) and said, “We have been Victorians for the last hour, welcome back to 2006. Thank you”. We all gave a big sigh of relief!”

Gosfield Cross Country Championship - 7 Dec 05

A group of twenty-four children attended the annual Gosfield Cross Country Championship and we took an A and B team. We were told to expect muddy conditions

The races were for U-12s and U-14s and some of our children were only Year 3 and 4. Thirteen schools were competing and yes, the course was exceptionally boggy and muddy and several lost their shoes along the way! The children all gave their best and we were delighted to win the U-11 girls' trophy, U-11 boys' and the U-11 B team girls'. With all the points combined, we brought home the Cut Hedge Shield.

General Knowledge Quiz December 2005 Victorious Team Winners from Penn House

Autumn Term 2005 Newsletter Click on the image on the left to download the latest copy of 'The Avenue'. This is being sent to all parents in the end of term mailing.

Click here to see latest photos of the Year 5 trip to Aylmerton

Year 6 Visit to Wales - September 2005

Year 6 enjoyed a wonderful week in Wales measuring rivers, team building and walking in Snowdonia. Highlights of the week included a visit to an organic farmer and walking to the top of Snowdon (in the rain!). The residential course was not just about geographical field work; the children learned how to take care of their belongings, and being considerate and tolerant of others.

For some, it was the first time they had been away from home for so long, and they all managed splendidly. It was a pleasure to take them.

Click on the photo above to see more.

U-11 Netball and Football v St Margaret's School Gosfield - Wednesday 12th October The score was 5 - 3 to us and the final quarter was quite tense because they scored all three goals in the last quarter. (Georgia Bennett).

Non-Uniform Pink Day - Wednesday 12th October An excellent effort was made by all our pupils who were 'tickled pink' last week when we raised £170 for the Breast Cancer Awareness Fund. Well done!

Halloween

Essex Police have asked us to put this link to their website for advice for young people about Halloween.

Year 5 Visit to Aylmerton 26 - 30 September 05

A great time was had by all Year 5 children on the residential trip to Norfolk. "Blakeney is the most beautiful place in the entire world, it's so peaceful and unspoiled". (Libby Whitfield) Click on the photo to see more.

King Henry Visits! Last Wednesday Year 4M were visited by King Henry VIII! He was very loud and very strict, but he did have a wicked sense of humour too! Our favourite part of the day was jousting which we did in teams of three with a hobby-horse and a HUGE lance. We were brilliant at it!!

School Photograph

A proof is on display outside Reception in both the Senior and Junior School. Order envelopes will be sent home with pupils on Friday 7th September and should be returned to Reception, with a cheque made payable to Friends' School Saffron Walden, by Monday 17th October. Prices are: Rolled and in a commemorative box = £19, Mounted = £31 and Framed = £52. Thanks to Kirstin Batcheler for the above photo. Click here to see a copy of the order envelope.

Nursery visit Continuing the Nursery's theme, 'our body', we enjoyed a visit from Nurse Rosemary Hugall last Monday. The children were very interested to hear about her work and thoroughly enjoyed looking, and touching lots of her instruments. The children particularly enjoyed June Linscott having her blood sugar read.

Friends' Junior School National Curriculum results 2005

Click here to see Senior School exam results for Summer 2005