Leehurst Swan School

Leehurst Swan Senior Pupils have been busy putting on a school production of Smithy.   Smithy is a musical about a school play – a riotous parody of a school preparing to perform Romeo and Juliet.  The youthful drama teacher, Miss Byrde is fresh out of college and Smithy is the school villain.  She has had four years of trianing, wheras he has had a least ten.  Blended with the love pains of Smithy, competition for places in the play and several accidents – the scene is set!!.

This was held at the Studio Theatre on three nights and was a tribute to the wide range of skills and talents of the Cast Leehurst Swan pupils involved. Combining humour and music it was a most enjoyable evening of entertainment. As usual some pupils shone on the stage and lively characters made the production memorable.

The seniors had their first full 15 match this season, for many of the lads it was their first full game. They played against a more experienced and well drilled team. For most of the match we were on the defensive as they were winning the scrum and rucks. We continually kept on tackling and defending very well. They just scored 2 tries in the first half.

In the second half we applied more pressure and it was their turn to defend their line. We started winning more of the ball from line-outs, loose play and rucks, however they tackled well and with a strong gusting wind making passing hard for both teams they only ran in one try. Final score 3 tries to nil.

Both teams limped off after a very physical game. However after the applause from all we asked them for a re-match which was gladly accepted and we look forward to another excellent game.

The referee applauded our team for their gamesmanship and hard play.

Pupils in the Prep took part in an Easter Activities Day to explore the Christian message of Easter.  Each year group was given part of the Easter story to explore and  different creative, artistic or dramatic ways were used to interpret the events of Holy Week and Easter.  Pupils shared their work in a sharing assembly in the afternoon.

Year 1 had fun making and cooking Hot Cross Buns.  Year 2 pupils worked hard to create a collage of the cockerel which crowed when St Peter denied  knowing Jesus.  Year 3 collected flowers, moss, twigs and stones from the school grounds with to make Easter Gardens and decorated  Easter branches. Mrs Evans and Mr Thomas interpreted the entry of Jesus on a donkey into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. Pupils in Year 4 made palm leaves, dressed up to re- enact the story, read from the Bible and also sang a song called “Ride On ” taught to them by Mr Thomas. The Bridge Project presented  the story of C.S.Lewis’s Narnia and explained the allegory between the story and the Christian message using extracts from both “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” and also  “The Miracle Maker” video to Year 5.  Pupils also learned a worship song using actions from the British Sign Language. Mrs Herlihy and Miss Bayliss praised the work of the Bridge and the pupils really enjoyed the presentation. Miss Bayliss and pupils presented the song they had learned at the sharing assembly later in the afternoon and asked everyone to try it to sing and act it out too.  Year 6 pupils created copies of the famous Faberge eggs as well as silhouette pictures of the Crucifixion. They also created some wonderful pictures, paintings and props to retell the story of “The Three Trees”. The story is a legend about trees used to make the wood for different  events in the life of Jesus; for the manger of Baby Jesus in Bethlehem, a  second tree’s wood was used by Jesus as a fishing boat and  the third was used to make the cross of Jesus.

All pupils enjoyed presenting their work through drama, singing, cookery, painting, making items, creating Easter gardens, collages, reading etc.

Year 6 pupils had a wonderful time at Mill on the Brue outdoor activity centre in Somerset.  The weather was fantastic and the children enjoyed trying out all the activities, ie, canoeing, wall climbing, assault course, high ropes and challenges.

A convincing win 10 – 0.  The girls moved the ball quickly and accurately up the court and Sophie Owen and Charlotte Rudd scored some excellent goals between them.

Well done girls!

A game of two  halves.

We started slowly and were caught out by their heavier pack who dominated the scrums all game. They scored three tries and converted 2 so at half time we were 19 down.

However the score does not reflect the great tackling and mauling that took place in the last 10 minutes of the first half.

Not to be put off we started the second half as we finished with superb hard tackling,  Lawrence Healy always not just taking his man down but pushing him back 5m at each tackle.  With faster and more accurate passing we dominated the second half and ran in 2 tries to their lucky one.  By the end we were running all over them and their coach agreed we would have scored more and won given more time as they were just walking totally exhausted by the end of the match. Our fitness levels have definitely improved.

Final score 4: 2 tries = 26 to 12. Another excellent game which we can be pleased with and it bodes well for the future.

This was the girls first experience of match play as a team and they were brilliant!

Unfortunately they lost 7 – 6 to Salisbury Cathedral School but won 6 – 0 against Sandroyd.

Well done girls!

Year 4 enjoyed a field trip to Downton as part of their geography curriculum – settlements.  The purpose of the visit was to see the places talked about in lessons and get a “feel” for the settlement village.

NETBALL:

YR 3/4 – HERBERT

YR 5/6 – CONSTABLE

YR 7/8 – CONSTABLE

YR 9/10/11 – GOLDING

FOOTBALL:

YR 3 – GOLDING

YR 4 – FAWCETT

YR 5/6 – GOLDING

YR 7/8 – GOLDING

YR 9/10/11 – CONSTABLE

BASKETBALL:

YR 3 – GOLDING

HOCKEY:

YR 3 – HERBERT

YR 5/6 BOYS – FAWCETT

YR 5/6 GIRLS – CONSTABLE

YR 7/8 MIXED – CONSTABLE

YR9/10/11 MIXED – GOLDING

YR 9/10/11 – CONSTABLE

RUGBY:

YR 4 – GOLDING

YR 5/6 – CONSTABLE

YR 7/8 – FAWCETT

YR 9/10/11 – CONSTABLE

YR 7 SWIMMING:

CONSTABLE 1^ST

HERBERT  2^ND           

FAWCETT  2^ND 

GOLDING 4^TH

Six pupils from Year 4, three boys and three girls went to the Guildhall to meet the Mayor of Salisbury ( or New Sarum as it is officially known), Mrs Iris Evans by invitation to an “At Home”.  There were many different organisations represented. Our pupils enjoyed meeting the Mayor and looking at the Mayoral regalia, including the large silver maces and giant Victorian silver spoon, which they were privileged to be allowed to hold.

They had a lovely tea in the Banqueting Hall, looked at the beautiful chandeliers and paintings, including one of the young Queen Victoria and HM the Queen, painted soon after her coronation. They were then entertained by Jonathan the Jester, who performed some magic tricks and invited two pupils to take part in his act. Second World War musical hits proved popular (including songs such as Run, Rabbit, Run, Knees up Mother Brown and Over There).

The children then had the opportunity to visit the Grand Jury Room uspstairs where they saw a seal and scroll dated from the reign of James I granting Salsibury its charter. They admired the portrait and medals of Tom Adlam VC, a local First World War hero.  The silver tea services and other ornate items also impressed the yopung visitors.

The pupils much appreciated the visit and it was a special way for Isabelle Walker to celebrate her ninth birthday!