The U11 boys’ team travelled to Nairobi to play in the annual St Christopher’s football tournament on 3^rd November.The team had a tricky start but gained confidence with each game they played. Billy, Maynuel and Flynn were in midfield and demonstrated their skill at passing between themselves; Charlie made it particularly hard for defenders to mark him as he wove up and down the field to put himself in a ready position to take a shot; Theo, Hector and Luca made some good tackles and caused frustration for the opposing teams; and, in goal both Clive and Sam took their turns, playing very well and making good saves – well done boys! We were very proud of the whole team, and we look forward to next year when we return, stronger and wiser – watch out Nairobi, we’ll be back!

Results:

BNIS vs BGE 0-3
BNIS vs Oshwal 0-2
BNIS vs BGR 0-1
BNIS vs Rusinga 0-2
BNIS vs Nairobi Academy 1-0

During November, children in Braeburn Nanyuki are being asked to demonstrate their love of reading through our Extreme Reading Challenge. Throughout the month children will be providing photographic evidence of reading in ‘strange’ places (eg up a tree, in the supermarket, under their bed, on the car bonnet etc) - the more extreme the better!  We have reminded them about the need to ensure they are safe whilst taking part and for them to tell their parents where they are at all times. We are looking forward to spotting landmarks around Nanyuki in the photos as well as some weird and wonderful places they think of to read.

Here are some photos of the Year 3 children ‘extreme reading’ within school during their weekly outdoor reading session.

Our Year 5 children had the experience of becoming parents in the first half of this term. As part of their Amimal Life Cycle unit in Science, fifteen eggs moved into their classroom. They were housed in an incubator with a warming light and lots of comfort. After 21 days there was enormous excitement when the children arrived at school to find the first evidence of a hatcher!!!! Slowly, and clearly with lots of effort, the first little bedraggled chick emerged. There were tears in eyes and lots of ooooooing and ahhhhhhing! 

Over the next three days another six chicks emerged. Mrs Lettsome even had to help one of the chicks out of their egg as, after over several hours and clear discomfort, she felt that the little fluff ball would probably not make it out! The class became parents to a total of six chicks who, when old enough, will be moving into our pet pen down in Early Years.

The children did a whole range of learning activities linked to this experience including daily studying of the development happening inside the egg, seeing live pictures of what the chicks looked like throughout the development, weekly journal entries on the process, and on hatch day actually watching the chicks come out of their eggs! The children also enjoyed opening up the eggs at the end of the week that didn’t hatch as they could see partial development and make scientific guesses as to when they had stopped their development. It was also an experience enjoyed by much of the rest of the school who visited, amid a lot of shhhhhhh-ing from the Year 5 children!

Each half term the children in FS1 and FS2 help choose the activities for their Friday afternoon clubs. This term they wanted a pottery club and what a hit it was! Each child used their own creativity to produce something out of our lovely, squidgy clay. The activity was not only fun, messy and creative but it was also an excellent opportunity to strengthen those little hands leading to improved fine motor skills and ultimately writing. Well done children, we wonder what exciting activity you will choose next!

As we reach the end of the first half term of the 2018-19 school year, we also mark the end of our first round of Wednesday clubs. For 5 weeks, children have attended one of our clubs to explore interests or try out new things to see if hobbies can be developed!

In Hockey club children were honing their skills and brushing up on their match fitness ready for the hockey season which begins in January. This popular club was largely attended by children who already knew how to play hockey. This club will continue for children in years 3-8 after half term alongside a ‘football for beginners’ club which will be open to anyone.

Mtumba clubs saw children in years 4 to 8 repurposing or modifying items of clothing they brought from home or retrieved from our own mtumba selection of items. They used lace, sequins, scissors and gathers to create their unique items. Thank you to Mrs Freeman for helping out with this club and allowing the children to use her own sewing machine. After the October break, this club will run again for the children in years 1 to 3.

Brain Gym presented a chance for the puzzle hungry children in the school to get their minds working out over sudokus, tangrams, lateral thinking, logical reasoning and a bit of chess for good measure! The club had an interesting mix of children from all year groups which resulted in some new friendships. Watch out for this club to reappear later in the year.

Outdoor sculpture was for the children in years 1-3. They worked together created an archway and other natural sculptures in the area behind the year 1 and 3 classrooms. Using twigs, branches, leaves and stones they built features which give an opportunity for reflection and appreciation. This club will continue after half term for the children in years 4-8 but we do have plans for some indoor/outdoor sculpturing activities if the rain stops them being outside.

Cookery club was definitely a popular one, with over 50 children attending! Children made yoghurty oats, guacamole, smoothies, flapjacks and a no-cook dessert. This is particularly great to hear as not many items created at school seemed to actually make it home! 

Lego club will also be on offer after the October mid-term break. During this club children will be challenged each week to create something out of lego related to a theme.