National Summer School – 2007
Anxious looking faces with huge eyes, plenty of scurrying about, some noisy whooping and giggling … that’s how summer school started as we walked in the door. Of course those who had been before knew what to expect but it’s always more difficult for the younger ones. It’s a good job the more senior girls were so helpful, putting all newcomers at ease and settling them in to a week of national summer school activities.
We had a really ‘fab’ week. Summer school offers plenty of activities for all ages from 4-18 with everyone being involved. Each day every ‘class’ does some art and craft, singing, dancing and works on a project which is relevant to the country they are studying. The time flew by and by the end of the week all were ready for their exam and the culmination of the week – showing mums, dads, brothers, sisters and grandparents what they had achieved.
Our youngest participants were learning much of the culture and customs of England aided by Mrs B! I still can’t believe how much writing and beautiful colouring these girls managed, whilst still memorizing 10 verses of their song (yes … with actions!) and some lovely dances too. All this whilst still smiling, giggling and constantly asking questions!! It was lovely to go into their room and help out with sticking or weaving – I was probably more of a hindrance but they were so entertaining! Mind you, they knew how to get through biscuits and juice at break time and somehow kept forgetting to save me the goodies out of their lunchboxes!
Meanwhile, upstairs there was a group studying Norway. Surrounded by trolls and stories of talking animals, Jenna had her work cut out with this lot! Actually, they worked really hard – and played hard too! They achieved some fantastic artwork as well as producing some great workbooks. Isabella even brought in her Norwegian costume to wear and show everyone … cute! Steve, our pianist, managed to get them to learn a couple of songs in Norwegian too! He’s a dedicated man!
Wales was the country studied by the 11-13 year olds and they created some tremendous Welsh hats and sandbags with which they danced (no easy feat) as well as artwork and plenty of facts for their workbooks. They also re-enacted the story of ‘Beddgelert’, where all were involved in creating the scenery as well as the characters! All this under the watchful eye of Judith who had her work cut out helping all of them plus guiding the senior girls too who were studying England.
The senior girls in ‘England’ were transported back into the times of Jane Austen as they re-created dances used in ‘Pride and Prejudice’ – they also made silhouettes of each other which seemed to cause much hilarity and then these were transferred into gilt-egded frames – it’s amazing what dried pasta and a tin of gold spray paint can achieve! Again, the girls all had plenty to fill their time as the workbooks had to be completed also. The older girls had a special dance teacher in the afternoons, as Natalie came over from Lancaster on the train each day to choreograph an amazing flamenco dance. Gillian Hurst, her mum, who specialises in Spanish dance and is a highly respected teacher and performer, also kindly lent them some spectacular multicoloured flamenco skirts to dance in for the performance, they looked amazing!
Mid-week we were joined by Helen Broadhurst who did some cooking with all the groups, courtesy of Sainsbury’s. They made scones in England, Welsh rarebit in Wales, traditional Hardangerlefse in Norway, baked cheesecake and a Madeira cake in ‘older’ England. We even had to entertain the local press photographer so Helen really had her work cut out. It was great fun for all – very messy but hey-ho …!!!
The final day was a hectic one – all the children had to show their work to the examiner, whether it was their workbooks, dances, songs or plays etc, and answer questions about the countries they had studied. It was quite daunting for them all, and nerves had to be settled. Of course they all passed with flying colours and the examiner was delighted with everyone and the high standards achieved. Well done to you all!!! The afternoon was the performance to friends and family and all the children got to see what the other classes had learned too. We all thoroughly enjoyed the whole spectacle, I think the audience appreciated just how hard all the ‘little darlings’ had been working all week! Each and every one of them seemed to thoroughly enjoy it.
Summer school is not just about hard work, dancing and activities but also about promoting good manners, helpfulness, consideration and tolerance. Mrs Gray awards a scholarship for the following year’s summer school and this year that accolade went to Eleanor Bamford with runners up Thomas Matthews and Kirsten Marmion. I can say in all honesty that when picking a winner there were so many to choose from – all the children were great throughout the week. I sincerely hope they’ll all be back next year ready to fill out their special ‘yellow books’ with their certificates in order to attain their bronze, silver or gold awards.
SEE YOU THEN!!!!!!
Sue