Author Archives: KW
World Cup Football Day – Iceland
Iceland are playing in their first World Cup Finals and today we learned something about the history, geography, language and culture of Iceland and held a mini football tournament.
We discovered that the population of the whole country is about the same size as Coventry! This helps to see what an achievement qualifying for the World Cup has been.
During the day we tried some Icelandic food (including rye bread, Skyr, pickled herrings and pickled cucumbers, followed up by Kleinur (little donuts)).
If you want to try cooking these for yourselves, click on the images below to find the recipes we use
d.
Kleinur Donuts are quite simple to make and they went down well! They are even better slightly warm, fresh from the pan!
The rye bread is easy to mix, but takes a long time (about 8 hours) to cook on a low temperature. Some other recipes use molasses or treacle instead of syrup which would make the bread darker and maybe taste a little less sweet.
Probability Posters
Year 6 have been investigating probability. They tried to discover the probability of scoring
different totals using two (or more) dice with the same number of faces and with different numbers of faces. Some people investigated the distribution of scores by experimenting with dice and some tried to calculate the probabilities. We presented our findings and our understanding of probability as posters. Here are some of the imaginative posters that were produced. Some even included interactive elements and 3D features. Well done Year 6!
Letter from Lindisfarne by Marmoset29
My Lord Alcuin,
Please excuse this blackened paper and pen for they are all I could salvage. You see devastation struck St. Cuthbert’s this past hour: now, its nothing but ash. Most brothers were slaughtered and those who weren’t, I fear, have been taken as slaves. The few of us who remain seek your counsel and I implore you to send it as soon as possible as we fear they may return.
I am now certain that the pink and green dragons last night were omens. They had danced in fire as we watched in perplexity. That night, I fell asleep, after praying for deliverance, and awoke to see a real dragon coming toward God’s land.
Apparently, I wasn’t the only brother to see this for Brother Michael rain in from the fields claiming that he too saw a dragon. I finished my prayer and ran to the shore, believing God would protect me.
However, it was clear that God had too many people to protect. The dragon had landed and its people rushed forward in attack. Most ignored me and headed straight for the monastery, but one stayed back and cut off my finger, taking the ring with it. I then heard cries of terror and metal clashing but was too cowardly to help.
Several minutes later, Lindisfarne was aflame and the men, who I had mistakenly taken as pilgrims, rushed back to their beast with our younger brothers and treasures. Even the Gospels are gone.
Your advice would be much appreciated at this worrying time.
Brother Simon.
Grendel’s battle with Beowulf retold by Goldfish14
Out of the darkness, Grendel came. He was filled with anticipation knowing his next meal was behind the old iron door. With his mouth watering, he crept up to the silver iron door and gashed it open. Standing on the other side was Handscio the guard; he was tall and he was wearing armour but this would not save him. Handscio gripped his diamond sword; he swiped it in the air chasing Grendel around. He tripped Handscio over and grabbed his sword, stabbing him in the chest. He didn’t want to leave him there so he gobbled him up. With blood dripping down his chin, he crawled across the floor wiping his claws across his face waiting for his next meal.
Stumbling across the floor, Grendel viciously sniffed the air searching for his next victim. Little did he know what awaited him. Standing around the corner was Beowulf. He was ‘bare-handed’ and had neither sword nor armour. Suddenly, he sprang into action. After many hours had passed, he had ripped off Grendel’s scaly arm. At last, the horrific beast was defeated.
Beowulf defeats Grendel retold by Lion27
Silently, Grendel emerged drooling from the deep, dark forest. He was ready to engage in a fatal brawl. His hideous smile crept across his scaly face. As the poisonous scent of bludgeoned victim’s flesh slid off his merciless claws, he licked his devilish lips. Without hesitation, he demolished the iron-studded hatch only to unleash a merciless slaughter. Soon he was holding Beowulf’s best Geat’s skull as the voice box hung. With only one stamp, his skull was no more… With a hellish scream, he continued his terror reign.
Out of the shadows of the night, Beowulf ran heroically towards Grendel’s path of destruction. The Demon was thinking of adding to his killing spree. The two giants charged at each other. The wrestle began. Beowulf clutched the wretched scaly arm. Within a couple of hours, Grendel’s arm was detached! As he fled into the dark forest, Beowulf hung his bloody arm as a trophy!
Beowulf’s battle with Grendel retold by Jellyfish6
Out of the gloom, Grendel appeared. He could smell dinner. He was grinding his vile blood-thirsty teeth knowing his feast was nearby. As he crept up to the mead hall, he could smell a sweet tinge of Viking flesh.
Grendel ripped open the oak door. He had smelt the flesh now in toasted smoke. He now thought there had been a party. He could smell the fresh cooked meat from the party. Grendel smelt the fresh meat and treats.
Grendel licked his blood-thirsty teeth as he ground them. He saw his first victim on the floor. Grendel had killed a guard already. The colossal savage ate one of the Geats in one. Nothing was left of him. Not even a nail.
The colossal beast was then grabbed. They had been wrestling for hours when Beowulf had ripped off his arm. There was a scream of horror from the beast. He had both of his arms pulled off.
Then Beowulf tried to pierce his skin but it was no use. He said to his guard it is no use trying to pierce his skin.
Game to practise Roman numerals
This is a game that will test your speed of translating Roman to Arabic numerals. You have to dodge the wrong numbers and hit the correct one by dragging the black square onto the moving red numbers. It starts off reasonably slowly but speeds up pretty quickly!
News report: Archbishop visits St. James by Ibis15
Southam ‘Homecoming’ for Archbishop
On Thursday 3rd May, Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, visited Southam St. James as part of celebrations for the centenary of Coventry Diocese and also because his children came to the school.
Before he walked through the guard of honour made by Reception, the children thought he was going to be boring but, when they met him properly, they found him very amusing especially from the reactions to his questions. Edward in Year 6 said, “I was very surprised by Archbishop Justin because I expected him to be formal but he was very inspiring and humorous.” Ronnie in Reception asked him, “Are you looking forward to the Royal Wedding?” He replied, “I am excited and nervous because last time I blessed the rings I tilted the Bible and they rolled off and when I looked down at them they were gone!”
Next, the children sang hymns and they read out their own prayers. Having been the old vicar of St. James church and a school Governor, he was glad to see the children’s progress at school and he was astounded by the display of their cross of nails artwork that was in the school hall.
Close to the end, Daniel, age 10, presented the Archbishop with a hand-made Crozier made by Mr. King (the Executive Headteacher’s husband) crafted from the finest wood and buffalo skin. He was delighted by it and said he was going to keep it so he could use it at Lambeth Palace for the Royal wedding. His wife, Caroline, was also given a beautiful bouquet of flowers.
In the end, Year 6 made a guard of honour for Caroline and Justin. In a few weeks, Justin is going to the wedding for Prince Harry and Megan and he is going to use the Crozier from Southam St. James. Hopefully the rings don’t disappear again!
News Report of Archbishop Justin Welby’s visit by Penguin23
Local school gets a visit from a celebrity
On the 3rd
May, The Archbishop of Canterbury arrived in Southam to visit St. James C.E. Primary School where he had sent his children and was once a governor. When he arrived, he had a warm welcome from the Worship Team (Freya, Thomas, Dan and Ioney) and from Reception before he met many members of the local community.
After a warm welcome from a selected few children, The Archbishop of Canterbury proceeded through to a thoughtfully planned service. To open the assembly, Freya (part of the Worship Team) lit the candle before one of the headteachers, Mrs King, took over. As a special gift for Justin Welby, Mr King made him a crozier from local resources which he is keen to use at Lambeth Palace.
Next came a challenge: several children had prepared taxing questions for the Archbishop of Canterbury to answer. Mrs Welby took all of the lime-light answering one question from Jasmine in Year 5, ‘How did you feel when you got the job?’ Making all of the guests laugh, she explained the ‘phone call which went on forever saying “hello” and “I’ve got it!” At first, she did not know what he had got but then she realised.
Four children from Year 6 were also chosen to say prayers or readings. The two prayers were thoughtfully written by Jack and Minnie and clearly read by Ioney and Thomas. Finally, Rebecca and Chloe read a complex reading from The Bible.
When The Archbishop of Canterbury left, he said, “It has been a pleasure to return and I wish to come back again.” As he left, the path was lined with Year 6 forming a guard of honour. Many of the children will remember this visit for life.
News report: Archbishop of Canterbury visit by Panda17
Southam gets a special visitor, The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby
Thursday (3rdMay), The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, visited St. James C.E. Primary School in Southam to celebrate the Centenary of Coventry Diocese with them. He had previously been a governor at St. James and at the college. He was also their local vicar.
Reception and Year 6 children welcomed him and his wife, Caroline Welby, as they entered the hall. “It was amazing to see him wearing the cross of nails,” said one Year 6 pupil.
During the service, some children asked him questions. Ellie in Year 2 asked, “Do you ever get nervous before going on the radio or TV?” He replied, “Yes. I also get a bit ‘shouty’ and moan at people a lot. However, I don’t always realise I’m doing it!”
After all the children had asked their questions, they sang some hymns including ‘Chain of Love’ and ‘Jubilate’.
Sadly, the service did not last very long. “It only felt like five minutes,” said a boy from Year 5. After some children had given Justin Welby his crozier, Year 6 pupils formed a guard of honour. “It was the best day ever!” exclaimed Bella from Year 3.