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Reflections from our Head

With December nearly upon us it has been a busier week than ever in the classrooms, school halls and grounds of Oakfield. Preparations are well underway for our Nativity, Pantomime and Carol Service and we hope many of you will be able to join us at these special occasions which are truly a celebration of the hard work, creativity and collaboration shown by both children and staff.

However, this week was not just about looking at the exciting events around the corner, but also a chance to reflect on the profound events of our past. On Monday we were delighted to welcome Lotte Moore to Oakfield who was a small child when she was evacuated from London in WWII. She led a truly memorable Assembly, telling the children about her dramatic experiences of the war and inspiring everyone with her emotional honesty about how war changed where you lived, what you ate, who you saw and what you did. Though we live in politically volatile times, let us all be grateful we live in relatively peaceful times.

I hope to see many of you over the next couple of weeks, starting with the OAFs Santa Fun Run in Dulwich Park on Sunday morning which promises to be lots of fitness festive fun.

Wishing you all lovely weekends.

Moyra Thompson

SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR

The book fair is now open in the Library after school from today until Wednesday from 3.45 - 4.30pm (please don't come at weekends!). You can purchase some incredible books for all ages from the Scholastic collection across lots of different genres. Please note we can only accept cash.

UPPER FOUNDATION

Week in News

This week we have been learning about Christmas around the world and how some countries and people do not celebrate Christmas but have their own special celebrations.

We looked at the similarities and differences between Father Christmas, Le Pere Noel in France, and Sinterklaas in Holland. The children were very envious of the people who spend Christmas day on the beach in Australia!

In Maths, we have introduced the idea of combining two groups to make a total. We have been using different concrete objects to make different amounts and then showing the children how to combine them. We have been carefully counting larger amounts and even had a go at writing down simple addition sums.

Thank you for all the gorgeous costumes. As you can see, we have sent them home with your child. This is because we are having a dress rehearsal at 9 o’clock sharp on Monday morning. Please could you send your child in in their costume with their school uniform in their bag. They will also need to come in on Tuesday and Wednesday in their costumes, as this is when we are having the performances.

Writing Corner

The Four Ghosts/spirits in ‘A Christmas Carol’ are equally important in affecting the change in Scrooge

By Samuel Cowell

In this essay, I will discuss the statement “ The four ghosts/spirits in ‘A Christmas Carol’ are equally important in affecting the change in Scrooge”. In ‘ A Christmas Carol’, Ebenezer Scrooge, who is mean, grumpy and hates Christmas, must change his ways, he learns from the ghost of his old colleague, Jacob Marley. Three other spirits visit him and try to change his ways and succeed in making him into a kind, caring man. Although all four ghosts/spirits are equally important, I will try to persuade you that one is more important than the others due to its actions and its role. In this essay I will examine them and decide which one is more important.

Marley

The first and only ghost, Scrooge’s dead colleague Marley, gives Scrooge such a shock that he starts to reconsider his behaviour. Marley first appears to be trapped in a doorknob, then appears in Scrooge’s bedroom as a full ghost. Scrooge is very scared when Marley first appears, as it says in the book, “his colour changed though, when without a pause it came on through the heavy door”. We start to see change in Scrooge when Marley explains to him what he has done: “I am sorry spirit,” although this might be a pretence. I do not think Scrooge takes him too seriously, due to the strangeness of the meeting and also that (in the book) he is not too terrified of this kind of supernatural event. He starts to pay more attention when the phantom informs him about his fate, “or would you know the weight and the lengths of the strong coil you bear yourself?”. He then begins to see the seriousness once he witnesses hundreds of other ghosts outside his window, and then we start to see the real change in Scrooge when he refrains from saying ‘humbug’ at the end of this chapter.

Christmas Past

The second spirit changes Scrooge by getting at his emotions. We even see him shed a tear, when he loses his love. He is probably the kindest of the four visitors that Scrooge receives and probably the most gentle. Scrooge even says, ‘thank you’ when the spirit fulfils its task. As we realise, Scrooge is overjoyed at the sight of his home town: “why was he rejoiced beyond all bounds to see it?” but that is only the first part of their journey. They then go to see the lonely young Scrooge, seated on a desk and reading a prayer book. At this moment, Scrooge blinks back a tear of sadness, “Scrooge sat down upon a form and wept to see his forgotten self.” The young Scrooge then gradually gets older and his little sister Fan comes to find him. When they start talking, young Scrooge learns that he is welcomed home and they venture home together. The spirit then talks about her death, “she died a woman” and Scrooge begins to show love to his family. He says, “so she had. You’re right. I’ll not gainsay it, spirit. God forbid.” Now in the city of London, Scrooge recognises his jolly old boss, his dearest friend, and himself partying. He rejoices, seeing his wife, and he starts to feel sorry for himself for missing out on the past festivities. The love scene is the one scene where you feel his sadness during the split with his wife. He then turns against the spirit as though he couldn’t bear to see any more scenes of his past life.

Christmas Present

The spirit of Christmas present could be considered the one which changes Scrooge by showing him what other people’s feelings towards him are. He first appears on top of a Christmas tree and laughs so much that Scrooge is almost scared, “Scrooge entered timidly, and hung his head before this spirit”. He then introduces himself and takes him to the streets of London where Scrooge’s employee, Bob Cratchit, a poor but festive man, is preparing for a Christmas feast. We then see a definite upturn in Scrooge, who is full of sadness when he sees their fragile but jolly son Tiny Tim and asks if Tiny Tim will make it. “Spirit, tell me if Tiny Tim will live?”. Christmas present then uses Scrooge’s own words against him, “that he should die and decrease the surplus population!”, which deeply affects Scrooge and he starts to regret his words. When Bob Cratchit then tries to toast Scrooge – “the founder of our feast” – his wife refuses to toast Scrooge, and Scrooge forgives her and blames himself. They then journey to his nephew where they are making fun of him and Scrooge, once again, understands why they are doing it. The spirit’s time then runs out but before he dies, two children, Want and Ignorance, affect him deeply by again using his own words against him, “are there no prisons? Are there no workhouses?”. And, by showing him how the destitute live, Scrooge is now showing change.

Christmas Yet to Come

People often classify the last spirit as the scariest of the four ghosts. Part of this has a moral meaning, Scrooge escaping death. The first scene the spirit shows is one where his fellow businessmen are being humorous in a rude voice, but Scrooge, instead of taking umbrage, for the third time, realises what he has done. The businessmen are not so kind and are laughing all the while, “I don’t mind going if lunch is provided!”. Journeying to Scrooge’s office, though Scrooge doesn’t know it yet, they see people selling and taking his possessions. Scrooge then realises what is happening and is willing to show change and says, “I never really deserved that”. The scene then changed and they are shown Scrooge’s dead body, which really sets Scrooge off. “Oh cold, rigid, dreadful death, why do you have to punish me this way?”. Scrooge then, even though he has changed, broke down about his own death but calms down and asked if anyone was feeling any emotion towards his death. In the room, the spirit shows him that there is a family rejoicing that they do not have to pay Scrooge any money because he has died. Scrooge then silently cries because the family doesn’t even care about him. “Very true, the world is a happier place without him!”. Their next port of call is Bob Cratchit’s house, but unlike the scene before, this is a sad, dismal, scene caused by Tiny Tim’s death. Scrooge is filled with misery when he sees this, “why does death seek another victim?”, and you can really see how the four visitors have changed him. Last of all, they visit Scrooge’s grave and, once again, he pleads for the spirit to change this, “assure me that I yet may change these shadows you have shown me, by an altered life!”. Scrooge is now transformed.

In my opinion, the spirit of Christmas present is the most important because Scrooge sees other people’s views on him and Christmas. However, all the others are very important in changing him as well. Marley warns him, Past emotionally changes him and Yet to Come scares him. However, all of them together must help change Scrooge.

MATHS

PRIMARY MATHS CHALLENGE

The Primary Mathematics Challenge is set by the Mathematics Association and taken by school children all over Britain and in English-speaking schools around the world. It is a fun, yet demanding, mathematical Challenge aimed mainly at pupils in Years 5 and 6 (although at Oakfield, some Year 4 children also tried their luck!)

This year, 87 children across 3 year groups took 25 questions and were awarded 8 GOLD certificates, 13 SILVER certificates, 32 BRONZE certificates and 34 “I took part” certificates

Answering PMC questions does not just depend on mathematical knowledge, but on the ability to think logically and find ways to solve problems. Pupils also need to read the questions carefully! The PMC is designed to make pupils think ‘outside the box’.

A record number of Year 6 children have a chance of qualifying for the BONUS round next February (14 children scored more than 19 out of 25!) and we are now waiting to see how many of our highest scorers get through. Watch this space – results should be available before the end of term!

The highest scorers in Y6 were:

William Johnson - 23

Niah Nartey Clinkett - 23

Laura Chantry - 22

Maggie Edwards - 22

Louis Wetherall - 22

The highest scorers in Y5 were:

Hal Uppington - 17

Charles Allen - 16

Edward Standing - 16

The highest scorers in Y4 were:

Edith Johnson - 15

Eliza Frankle - 14

Freddie Wagner - 14

FRIDAY MATHS CHALLENGE

Maths Chase

Maths Chase is a completely free site where you (and your children) can quickly test your times tables at home. The site is a very simple game but we think it's a really fun way to learn times tables. Give it a go at home!

Composer of the Week

Yann Tiersen

Yann Tiersen is a French composer best known in the English-speaking world for composing the score for the smash-hit film Amélie which incorporates music from his first 3 studio albums. He specialises in composing for films and plays using primarily the guitar, piano, synthesizer or violin together with instruments like the melodica, xylophone, toy piano, harpsichord, accordion and even a trusty, old typewriter.

Monday 2nd December:

Scholastic Book Fair

Assembly: Code Club

Flu Vaccinations

Tuesday 3rd December:

LF and UF Nativity (for UF parents): 9.30am

Years 5 and 6 Swim Gala: 4 - 5.30pm

Wednesday 4th December:

LF and UF Nativity (for LF parents): 9.30am

Flu Vaccination Revisit

Thursday 5th December:

Xmas music video

Friday 6th December:

4+ Observations

Gardening Club Ice Skating Trip: 11.30 - 4pm

Wild Norwood 2019

Norwood Forum are welcoming everyone who lives in Norwood (from Brockwell Park to Crystal Palace!) to decorate their windows with 'wild nature' designs and patterns for 29 November - 8 December.

Make your own window silhouette designs and patterns and find out more information on their site here: https://www.windowwanderland.com/event/norwood-2019/ where you can mark yourself on the festival map.

If that wasn't enough there is a launch party outside West Norwood Picturehouse at 6pm on Friday 29 November to see the unveiling of the Wanderland Community Windows!

Little Box of Books

We are pleased to publicise Brixton business Little Box of Books which supplies inclusive and representative children's books in the form of one-off gifts and subscription boxes.

Books can be purchased from their site here and you can currently use the code BOB10 to get 10% off. Get your Xmas shopping down early and buy books for all the important children (of all ages) in your life.

ROLL OF HONOUR

Science - Sophie Collier