We were delighted to receive a correspondence from our esteemed author friend David Hill last Friday.  As ever, his humour and wit shone through, putting smiles on the children’s faces, as I read an extract from his book (the Farm house Tree) during our World Book Day assembly.  He has once again kindly donated his earnings,from a recent newspaper piece he had written, to our school.

It is great to hear that David and his family are well.  We would like to express our thanks for his continued unrivalled generosity.  All here at Bishops Nympton school respect and admire such an amazing human being in David Hill.  He is a shinning example to all human kind.

Mr Scandrett

I have been overwhelmed by the response from the big battery hunt initiative set up earlier this year.  We are well over a thousand batteries recycled which is a fantastic effort.  We now ask that any remaining batteries are to be brought into school so we can finalise our number and get them sent off to be recycled.

Soon we will be announcing our battery hunt heroes.  Those of us who have gone that extra mile to collect used batteries and helped spread the word of our cause.

There is still time to save our precious planet.

Become a battery recycling hero!

Mr Scandrett

Our 2018 sporting calendar kicked off with our year 5 / 6 Intra house football competition.  With the snow cleared, a very soggy Bish Nym football pitch welcomed our 4 house teams back into the competitive spirit.

The games were played with a focus on fair play and it was great to see that despite the obvious desire to win, the players were still able to play with honesty and integrity.  Amber were clear winners, winning all of their games. Well done to them.  Final standings were as follows:  Amber 9 points; Sapphire 4 points; Emerald 2 points; Ruby 1 point

Sports Shields standings:

Amber – 60points

         Emerald – 40 points            Sapphire – 40 points

Ruby 35 points

Sports completed: Cross Country, Netball, Indoor athletics, Football.

Mr Scandrett

The annual football league cup celebrates the talents of our Devonshire footballers.  This nationwide competition aims to find a school team to represent their local team involved in each of the 4 football league division.  For the third year in a row we attended the University to enter the Exeter City F.C branch of this esteemed competition.  Winning teams go on to Wembley to compete against all of the other nationwide winners!

From previous experience, we knew that was way out of our grasp due to the vast number of schools who enter who are considerably larger than ourselves.  In the 3 years we have attended, we have never scored a goal and our best result was a 0-0 draw!

Incredibly, we re-wrote the records this year with performances of epic magnitude.  I am so proud of our 7 representatives from the Exmoor Link Federation who played the games of their lives.  We knew instantly it was going to be a good day with an opening 1 – 0 victory against Montgomery.

Our first goal ever, our first win ever in the tournament.  It was already our best performance in the EFL Cup and there was more to follow.  We ground out a 0-0 draw vs Stoke Cannon before tasting victory again, 1 – 0 against St Leonards.  The confidence was spilling out of us and the euphoria on the side lines from our travelling supporters (there were 2 of them) was a joy to behold.

The icy hail and strong winds could not dampen our day.  The results were fantastic but more importantly the commitment and attitude from our players was unfaultable.  With one game to go we had a chance of topping our group and making the quarterfinals.

Uppottery, whom had already knocked in several goals past many of their opponents stood between us and the quarters.  It was a bright start with both teams looking comfortable on the ball.  A very near miss from our corner, gave us that belief that we could do this, however a break away attack from the following corner put us a goal behind.

Despite an enormous effort we were unable to draw level, loosing the game 1 – 0 but winning the admiration from ourselves for their amazing achievement at such a high level competition.  We are so very very proud of this sporting achievement.  Well done to our super seven.

Mr Scandrett

Our year 3/ 4’s, across the Exmoor Link Federation, spread their wings this evening during an outing at Dulverton All Saints CE School.  Dulverton school has excellent sporting facilities including a floodlight all weather sports pitch.  The link that we now have with Dulverton provides an excellent opportunity to extend the sporting opportunities throughout the federation during the winter months.

Our first sporting venture was tonight’s year 3 / 4 football match.  A great way to re – invigorate our players in preparation for the continued year 3/ 4 football league.  Our players performed brilliantly in a closely fought contest which could have gone either way.

Although finishing on the loosing end of a 3 – 2 result, we are gaining in confidence as we familiarise ourselves with our team mates from either side of the federation.  Dulverton hosted us brilliantly and we look forward to many more future sporting occasions with them.

Mr Scandrett

Are you up for a challenge!  Can you become a battery recycling champion?

Did you Know!

Each year we throw away around 6 million batteries!  That’s over 20 000 tons (equivalent of  4000 elephants)  into landfill each year.  These batteries then take over 100 years to decompose, whilst leaking dangerous chemicals and polluting the surrounding  soil and water.

STOP!

There’s another choice.  Instead of throwing your batteries away, why not do something amazing?

If we recycle our batteries we can prevent this terrible pollution and create useful materials such as zinc, steel and manganese.

We ask that all used batteries are collected and returned to school in the box provided.  The children are encouraged to involve as many people as they can with this challenge.  Involve the family, friends, your street, local library, work place etc.

We have the opportunity to win some fantastic prizes for those who go that extra mile to collect as many used batteries as possible.

Good luck!

Mr Scandrett

Mr David Hill, our established and esteemed author friend of the school, has once again kindly donated to the school funds.  Our modern day Santa has been busy writing for the newspaper and has donated his earnings to our school.

The legendary figure of Santa clause depicts a jolly man who brings gifts to well behaved children.  In my opinion, David Hill must be Santa!

A huge thank you to Mr Hill for his continued contributions.  The children love hearing from him through his letters and cards and would love to see him again some time soon.

Merry Christmas Mr Hill from all at Bishops Nympton Primary School.

Mr Scandrett

To conclude the sporting year we held our Intra house athletics competition.  Various indoor athletic challenges were completed to test the skills learnt in P.E in regards to running, jumping and throwing.

It was a closely fought contest with 3 house teams level on points going into the final sprint round.  Emerald proved to be too strong with a well earned victory over joint second place, Amber and Sapphire.  Ruby finishing a close 3rd.

We look forward to many more rounds of sporting competition as we charge into 2018!

Intra house Sports Shields standings:

Amber – 40points

Ruby – 35 points           Emerald – 35 points

Sapphire – 30 points

Sports completed: Cross Country, Netball, Indoor athletics.

Mr Scandrett

We have been celebrating national tree week in our classes this week.  We have been discussing the importance of and the huge positive impacts that trees give us.  Many of you may have noticed a potted oak tree near the school gates.  This tree has been rescued from being chopped down and built upon from an ex pupils garden.

We will be planting this tree in the new year and it will have a poignant purpose which I will reveal at a later date.  To celebrate it’s rescue and national tree week the children have been creating tree decorations to dress up the old oak tree.

Tree dressing is based on many old customs from all over the world. The idea behind it is to bring us all closer to the trees that play such an important role in our lives as well as to each other.

Mr Scandrett

On a rain drenching Tuesday afternoon, we played our first Girls football match against Chittlehampton.  Usually it’s predominantly boys with the addition of girls on the team but today we reversed that trend and let the girls flex their footballing might.

And flex that might they did!  A resounding 11 – 1 victory showed the confidence and footballing skills our year 3 / 4 girls have.  We played most of the game with just a single boy on the pitch.  Madelyn especially enjoyed the afternoon netting four times.

Other players, playing a competitive match for the first time did exceptionally well.  They listened to instruction and demonstrated the skills learnt in P.E sessions to over whelm the opposition.  The boys were also fantastic.  Using their skill and supporting their team mates brilliantly.

A comprehensive victory.  Well done!

Mr Scandrett