All are happy and healthy with no reports of homesickness.

Check out the weather for the week ahead http://bbc.in/u0vSmR 

Tuesday
Yesterday was ‘full steam ahead’ and they all had great fun visiting the aquarium, where amongst other things, they enjoyed handling the cockroaches and giant land snails. An early evening walk around Tarn How http://bit.ly/Kcn6rz  was followed by an evening of problem solving tasks, where they worked together as a team.

Today they will put those skills to good use, when they built rafts and paddle them down stream. Also on the agenda is low sea wall traversing and an evening of low rope traversing.

Still no signs of homesickness, they are all behaving and having fun, albeit that they have been rained upon from time to time.

Wednesday
This morning the sun is shining, hurray! Yesterday was wet and cold but it certainly didn’t damped their spirits. They managed to build some amazing rafts and even paddle them up river. Just in case they weren’t wet enough, they finished their adventure by jumping into the river. All were retrieved and really appreciated the warmth and comfort of Castle Head on their return. 

Today they will be kayaking and ghyll scrambling at Coniston Water.

Thursday
“On holiday with their mother in the Lake District in 1929 four children are allowed to sail over to the nearby island in their boat Swallow and set up camp for a few days”

On a field study trip with their school in 2012, 19 UV children were allowed to kayak over to the very same, nearby island, on Lake Coniston, without fear of rivalry from the children who sail the Amazon. They finished their adventure with a swim in the lake, all safely afloat in life jackets.

Today the rain has returned, but undeterred, they are off to visit Hill Top Farm, the house where Beatrix Potter lived for many years gaining inspiration for her stories. Later on today they will take part in a blind forest trail.

Not long to go now, but they are all having a wonderful time and will be sad to leave the Lakes behind.

Monday 30 April
Arrived safely and settled well into their new home for the week.  Raining 'cats and dogs' but decked in waterproof everythings they've already visited Barbara Hepworth's house http://www.barbarahepworth.org.uk/ and the Geevor Tin Mine http://www.geevor.com/ .  With slightly brighter skies today, they're looking forward to a bike ride and afternoon of kayaking.

Tuesday 1 May

Fingers crossed for better weather to come! 

Yesterday, undeterred by the inclement weather, half went kayaking and the other half cycled the Camel trail. Sadly the kayaking had to be abandoned early and the cyclists weren't able to cycle back down the trail to Wadebridge. Nonetheless, spirits remained high and all the children thoroughly enjoyed their activities!

Plans to swap over in the afternoon had to be abandoned and instead, they all went to a lovely dry, warm aquarium in Newquay http://www.bluereefaquarium.co.uk/newquay.htm and had a great time being led around by their very knowledgeable instructor, Amy. Last night they played games and did some team challenges in the village hall. Despite the rain they are all having a great time and there are no reports of homesickness!

Wednesday 2 May
Yesterday, they all enjoyed glorious sunshine! First activity of the day was a 5 mile coastal walk to Harlyn Bay, followed by some bodyboarding in the surf.  The children were great at catching the waves and some were even able to stand up on their boards. It was quite chilly by the end of the day, so they all enjoyed warming up by toasting marshmallows on the beach.

Thursday 3 May
Yesterday morning was spent rockpooling at Polzeath Bay. They found crabs, starfish, anemones, tiny fish and lots of seaweed!  In the afternoon, they all went for a lovely walk on Bodmin Moor where they saw Celtic ruins, china clay quarries and learnt all about the legend of the Bodmin Beast, as well as Chatlotte Dymond, who was gruesomely murdered on the moor.

After dinner they all went crabbing in Padstow. The first group didn't catch anything while the second caught 11! Could it have been the same crab going back for more food each time?

Friday 4 May
Thursday morning was spent rock climbing in St Ives; the rock face was in a cove and right on the sea, so it was a beautiful location. The children were all excellent climbers and managed 3 climbs.

After lunch, the children produced forts, boats, mermaids, lighthouses and a great sea monster on the beach in St Ives.  Mr Matthias kindly funded the ice creams that had to be eaten at speed, huddled around each other, after seeing an enormous seagull swoop down and eat instructor Ben's lunch from out of his hand!

After dinner the children updated their diaries, chilled out in front of a film [Back to the Future] and reflected on a week well spent.

All the children have behaved impeccably and on behalf of us all, a massive thank you to Mrs Warner and Miss Shaw for accompanying the children on their Cornish adventure!

Please click here to see the photographs

The forms need to be completed and returned with a cheque to the school office by Friday 20 April 2012. 

Click here for more photographs

Click here for more photographs [updated daily]

Wednesday
Arrived safely, unpacked and made up their beds.  Pizza was on the menu for lunch and this afternoon Indigo Class has been orienteering in the woods and Blue Class has been mammal trapping. 

All the children are in good spirits and enjoying getting to know, or re-acquaint themselves, with Sayers Croft.

Thursday
Yesterday ended with a night walk for both Blue and Indigo Classes.  They visited a Celtic Round House and learned how to use their night vision on the walk back through the woods. 

Humane traps were laid and the children were delighted to find seven animals when they awoke this morning; they have all been released back into the wild (the animals that is, not the children!)

Showers, a midnight feast and hot chocolate, the children fell into bed exhausted, but happy.  All slept well and have got off to an early start this morning.

HOMEWARD BOUND
Thanks to the fire making skills of Mrs Zofia and Mrs Fraley, all the children had a brilliant campfire last night.

On the agenda today, is shelter building for Indigo and an earth walk and making corn dollies for Blue.  Lunch and then homeward bound, the coach leaves Sayers Croft at 1.30 and their ETA is 3.00. If this changes, the school office will send out an email. More photos will follow shortly.

We started the week with Ed Warner, the Chairman of UK Athletics, coming to talk about The Olympics followed by the procession of our Olympic torch, kindly donated for the week by our Olympic torch carrier, Kenny Logan, to start our own Mini Junior Olympics.

The children have enjoyed Olympic Theatre, Music and Science Workshops, visiting artist Darcy Turner and trips to Orleans Gallery.

During the week we have been creating Olympic playground sculptures, kites, medals, Mascot bags, torches and lots more. On Thursday morning the children came dressed as an Olympic Sportsperson for the day!

Click here to see the photogallery

Our Mathletics competition is very exciting and we are proud to tell you that two classes have already made it into the top 50 classes in the world.

At the time of writing Violet are ranked at number 21 with 59,267 points with Ultra Violet hot on their heels with 58,383 points in position 23, but keep you eye on their website http://www.mathletics.co.uk as this is changing by the minute!

You don't need to sign in to Mathletics to see these results as they are under the Hall of Fame which you will see when you go to the website.

We will end the competition at the end of the school day on Friday.

Well done to all the children for trying so hard and please keep it up!

http://www.unicornschool.org.uk/auction-winners 

If you are the lucky recipient of an auction prize, please make your cheque payable to Unicorn School and thank you to everybody that donated and/or bid for prizes.

Finally, an enormous thank you to Fiona Gunnion, Elizabeth Prickett and all of the School Committee for making the evening such a remarkable success.

Please click here to see their photographs

CUMBRIA
Lots of rain and lots of fun, ultra violet class children enjoyed canoeing, ghyll scrambling, raft building (none sank!), sea level traversing, visits to the Aquarium of the Lakes by steam train, Beatrix Potter’s House, low rope courses and many wet walks!

Please click here to see their photographs

The BBC Relic Challenge was a fantastic success with schools from all around the UK taking part.  We were delighted to learn that the judges have now met and made their final decision and the 'Travelling Microscope' that belongs to the McGinn family will feature on Radio 7.  We will keep you informed and let you know when the programme is going to be aired.

It is believed that the travelling microscope was made well over 100 years ago and was used by Caitlin [Blue Class] and Alexander's [Yellow Class] great great grandfather, a zoologist who travelled the world collecting samples. He may have inherited it from his father, also a zoologist and in fact keeper of zoology at the Natural History museum.

It's called a Withering microscope, after a medical student called William Withering who designed a simple pocket microscope, made of brass, to help him and others in the study of botany when out of the laboratory. His original design dates back to the late 18th century and looks very similar this one.

All the children enjoyed taking part in the BBC Relic Challenge bringing in artefacts that have contributed to the history of the world. Please click here to see our contribution on the History to the World website.

Photo gallery      

Please click here to view the video

Orange Class visit The London Transport Museum

If you suspect that your child has flu, he/she must not be sent to school and should limit his/her contact with others.
 
If you need medical advice, please contact your GP or contact NHS Direct by calling 0845 4647 or visit their website at: www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk.
 
Please do not send your child back to school until he/she is fully recovered.
 
Thank you for your assistance in reducing the impact that flu has on our school community.
 

Click here to see photo gallery

Please click here to see the photo gallery