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• Wildlife at the Vine

  Thu 22 Jul 2021 M Brunsting

  In January 2021 we launched an exciting new Learning Outside the Classroom project, called ‘Wildlife at the Vine’. We wanted to find out who our Wildlife neighbours are? We had a hunch that there might be wildlife visiting our school grounds, the only way to confirm this was to put up some camera traps to see what would appear. Well, we have not been disappointed it is a wildlife bonanza!

  It appears we have lots of wildlife neighbours, the whole food chain is represented, from worms, insects, mice, birds, raptors, hedgehogs, squirrels, foxes, badgers and muntjacs.  At least 20 different species of birds have also been visiting.

  We share updates regularly with the Vine School community, with a weekly post on our website at https://www.thevine.cambs.sch.uk/wildlife-at-the-vine/  so everyone can see which animals have visited. Getting the pupils involved is of great importance, they can now see that wildlife is not just something you see on the TV, but it is happening right in our schoolgrounds, it could even be right on their doorstep. In our community posts we publish wildlife that has been spotted in our local Cambourne community or further afield that has been sent in by our pupils and parents. Hopefully, by encouraging an interest in nature, our children will want to look after the wildlife both here and in the wider world.

  

• Garden Club News

  Tue 13 Jul 2021

  Garden Club have been hard at work in Maria's Meadow this term looking after our native wildflowers, and planting Scabious and Campion plants which we have grown from seed over the winter. The meadow was created a number of years ago in memory of a past pupil Maria Wray and is now a haven for wildlife.

  We were lucky enough to receive some funding which is set aside each year for projects around the school and a new sign has been made for the meadow to help identify the wildflowers and bees.  We were also able to create a wildlife treasure hunt comprising of a number of brass rubbings with insect images mounted on tree stumps.  We are very grateful to Burch Tree Work in Cambridge for donating the wood for this. Hopefully everyone will continue to enjoy this peaceful space for many years to come.

  

• Year 6 Campover

  Fri 09 Jul 2021 Year 6

  In Year 6, we were privileged to have the first ever Campover in Vine history. The event took place on the 2^nd and 3^rd of July, when we slept under the stars on our school field.

  The action-packed evening consisted of a carousel of games organised by a range of different activity leaders. These included a campfire, in which we ate s’mores, orienteering (a wild hunt to find the most symbols around our school), and team games – a test of control and communication. After this, the students played ‘Owls and Mice’, arguably the best part, while the sun set. Before we went home, we participated in an old Vine tradition: ‘Soak a Year 6’.

  Here’s what some of our pupils and teachers thought of the occasion.

  “Delightful, relaxing and entertaining. Unique experience.” - A Year 6 Student

  “It was fantastic experience, the children and adults loved it. The Year 6 Campover was a great way to celebrate the end to a tough year.” - A Year 6 Teacher

  “I thought it was a great celebration and I really enjoyed it!” -A Year 6 Pupil

  We would like to thank the teachers and volunteers who participated in the event and ensured the children had an amazing time.

  

• Smart Learning Day 8 July 2021 - Hopes and Dreams for the future inspired the Bishop’s Challenge earlier this year.

  Fri 09 Jul 2021 N Kenny

  Wednesday’s Smart learning day was all about our Hopes and Dreams for the future. Across the school, we shared our different hopes and dreams for ourselves, for others and for the world we live in. We also incorporated our international links and Vine Values throughout the day.

  We hoped that the day would provide a sense of hope to help us to build our resilience and hold on to the possibility of change, and the anticipation and wish that, tomorrow can be better.

  The day was split into 4 sessions, as well as Worship where we thought about what we would like to be when we grow up and listened to a story called, ‘The Tale of the Three Trees.’ The 4 sessions included:-

  • RE reflection and mind mapping  
  • Transition – what are our hopes and dreams for our next academic year?
  • Sensory Garden planning and decorating our very own pebble of hope
  • International & wider school links-Writing a postcard of Hope.

   

  Thank you to all involved in the planning and delivering of this special day. Please look out for our rainbow of special stones which will be placed in and around school for everyone to see for years to come!