Year 5 and Year 6
Term 5
Here is what we are up to this term:
Residential Update 13.3.25
Day 4 is already been and (mostly) gone. It’s all been an intense blur of wellington boots, helmets and canoeing paddles. The Scavenger hunt proved a very popular activity, with pairs trying to find small, tiny objects around the grounds (anything running around at night is a winner). The children have finally relaxed a little, meaning that some needed a little more persuasion to get to sleep…
Everyone has grown accustomed to the eclectic range of music in the mornings. We’ve had everything from Blur to Miley Cyrus, but mostly upbeat ‘get out of bed’ numbers. The drying room is full of very damp clothes, and as much as we are doing our best to get things back to you in a suitable state please be prepared for a big run to the laundrette on the weekend!
The Green group completed the full set of canoeing today. Yes, people fell in, it’s to be expected now. It certainly tests friendship groups to the limits when you are trying to steer down a canal and under a bridge. The other two groups took a trip up into the mountains for a spot of climbing. Many of them are taken by surprise at how good they are! There was lots of great teamwork and trust on display as they helped their teammates up the cliff face. They’re also surprised at how many layers they need. It was very cold!
Back home for our final meal of the night, a roast dinner (on a Thursday?! Madness). Right now, they’re charging around doing team challenges and buying a souvenir from the gift shop.
Tomorrow, after the mammoth task of packing and clearing dorms, the whole party are cascading down a gorge and going through a VERY dark tunnel. Back to Plas for a quick lunch before heading home at about 2pm. ETA is 4ish but we will keep you posted en route.
So, that’s it for updates (for this year). It has genuinely been a wonderful group to take on residential, with so many challenges overcome and fears conquered. I’m sure that they will all be grateful to be home, but also grateful for the incredible experience that the school has provided. The staff from Plas have been very accommodating and hospitable, which has made the whole experience even greater, and a big thank you to Miss Jefferys, Mr Millichip, Miss Moore, Mrs Sykes and Ms Cafferkey for making this amazing adventure possible.
Have a lovely weekend when it arrives.
Mr Powe
Residential Update 12.3.25
Day three and everyone is in the swing of things now. They took a bit more persuading with music to wake up ready in time for breakfast. Don’t worry, we’ve been helping them to keep track of their clothes, though we do already have a ‘lonely socks club’ beginning to grow in membership. They’re keeping their rooms very tidy, you’ll be happy to know!
Green group went caving and were greatly encouraged by the other two groups who had been the day before. It’s the one that they’ve been talking about the most. When they come home, they may tell you about ‘the toilet’ or ‘the letterbox’. I’ll let them explain…
Meanwhile, the other two groups went on an epic journey in canoes! They managed to get the hang of the steering and boat swapping pretty quickly, with only one or two accidental swimming trips. Everyone has been displaying a healthy appetite for rolls, crisps, fruit and hot chocolate to fuel their adventures.
Tonight is a scavenger hunt around the grounds with torches, and everyone (including the adults) is relieved that no-one is going to get too wet or fall over in mud. What’s also been great to see is new friendships forming, as many of the classes are mixed among the groups. No-one seems left out or isolated, everyone is looking out for each other, which makes the camp a privilege to be on. Enjoy some photos from the day.
Residential Update 11.3.25
It’s been another action-packed 24 hours on Year 6 Camp. Last night, we were all charging around the woods, torches in hand, completing orienteering challenges. There was a great spirit of competition, and their energy levels were impressive. It must have tired them out because everyone was tucked up in bed very quickly!
Mr Powe wasn’t very popular in the morning when the wake-up alarm was a combination of Taylor Swift and Blink 182. One child gave him ‘0.5 stars’ for his music choices. After a hearty breakfast it was time for the main activity of the day. One group went climbing, and the other two groups went caving. Caving is always the one that the children feel most nervous about…but is often the one where they enjoy it the most!
Whether they were going up or down today, all the children pushed their limits of what they thought possible. The comradery amongst the groups is impressive and it’s been lovely to see some of our quieter children shine in challenging situations. Speaking of which, the children are about to go on a ‘dingle descent’, a walk in a stream where they are tied together. It’s going to take all of the teamwork skills that they can muster!
There’s lots of tired children today, I don’t think we’re going to have much trouble getting to sleep tonight. They’re all, understandably, missing family back home, but are excited to tell you all about their adventures when they return on Friday.
I’d like to thank the staff again who continue to go above and beyond to give the children a good time.
Photos to follow!
Mr Powe
Residential Update 10.3.25
Day 1 is nearly accomplished and very single person has been an absolute star! traffic was kind to us, and there was a very helpful truck and trailer to lug the suitcases up the hill. This has been the best group at making their beds so far (they must have been practising). They’ve made their own lunches and have already great teamwork and resilience.
The first activity was a ‘walk’ but not in the traditional sense! This was an ADVENTURE walk, sliding down dingles, crawling through holes and navigating difficult terrain. Although it didn’t rain, everyone was soaked and caked in mud by the end.
Dinner was pizza and chips; we aren’t short of carbs here at Plas! Everyone has ben able to manage their various dietary needs and everyone has been well-fed.
The children’s behaviour has been EXEMPLARY. They have been polite to all the adults, helpful to each other and positive about giving everything a go. We wait to see how bedtime goes, but I imagine most of them are looking forward to 40 winks, maybe even 41 winks…
Thanks to parents at home who have helped to prepare your children for this adventure, and thank you to the staff who’s positive relationships with the children really shine through. Tomorrow is our first day of the big activities. I look forward to sharing photos with you. Just trying to sort out the blasted I-PAD cable!
Mr Powe
2024-2025
Who’s who?
Kites Eagles Ospreys Class Teacher: Miss Allen Class Teacher: Miss Jeffreys Class Teacher: Mr Millichip PPA Teacher: Miss Ibison PPA Teacher: Mrs Clarke PPA Teacher: Mrs Clarke Teaching Assistants: Mrs Hall Teaching Assistants: Mrs Knight Teaching Assistant: Mrs Nevers Term 4
Here’s what we are learning this term:
Term 3
Here’s what we are learning this term:
Term 2
Here’s what we are learning this term:
Term 1
Here’s what we are learning this term:
2023-2024
Residential
Day 5 complete! All groups took part in a gorge walk where we admired the beautiful views, walked through the gorge and slid down waterfalls; it was a perfect finish to our week! The children had their last lunch altogether, finished packing and said their goodbyes to the team at Plas Pencelli who have been absolutely brilliant! The coach journey home was full of singing and sharing memories from the week which was lovely to hear. As a Staverton staff team, we are incredibly proud of the team work, positivity and resilience all of the children demonstrated this week! We hope you all have a great weekend and get lots of rest and sleep!
Day 4 and our final full day complete! One group went canoeing which was a huge success with no capsizing! All the group picked it up really quickly, avoided oncoming canal boats and jumped in at the end. The other two groups were climbing today. Both groups started off bouldering to gain confidence and worked together when climbing and belaying; resilience and team work was incredibly strong. Final dinner went down a treat with chicken goujons and chips followed by the biggest waffles we have seen! We finished the evening with orienteering around the grounds. Here we are in action!
Day 3 complete! We have been non-stop today so an earlier night was appreciated by many! Two groups had a fab time canoeing and were incredibly successful at this! Lots of the children entered in the water, mostly by choice, but we did have a few accidental trips in (as you can see from the smiley faces in the pictures, they didn’t seem to mind this). The third group were caving today! They were amazing cheerleaders to one another and encouraged each other to complete different challenges! This evening, after pasta, meatballs and arctic roll, they completed the evening activity of problem solving! Here we are in action!
Day 2 complete! It has been a busy day here at Plas Pencelli with two groups caving and one group climbing! The cavers overcame many fears and really challenged themselves throughout the day clambering through the tight spaces. The climbers began with bouldering before taking on greater heights on the quarry. We all learned how to support one another on the ropes, climb and abseil. They were all incredibly proud of how high they manage to climb as they should have been! The evening activity was a wet one to say the least. Each group navigated a course through the water whilst attached to ropes and each other! Again, great teamwork was demonstrated all day today! Here are we in action!
Day 1 complete! We have arrived and already the activities are in full swing. First challenge of the trip was making their beds and a challenge it was for many! A bit of teamwork and resilient was all it needed for all beds to be made! After lunch, all groups took part in an adventure walk around the grounds where we got wet and muddy straight away! Everyone embraced all the challenges and the team work continued. Full of pizza, potato wedgies and profiteroles, we completed a scavenger hunt around the centre of the site. Here we are in action!
Term 5
See what we are learning this term!
Term 4
See what we are learning this term!
Term 3
See what we are learning this term!
Term 2
See what we are learning this term!
Year 6 Leavers’ Treat
FOSS arranged a super last treat for the Year 6 that involved a silly string battle, an ice-cream from the ice-cream van and a disco. The brilliant Mrs Sykes made a fab frame for their photo booth! What great fun we had and lasting memories were created!
Term 5
Residential
Day four completed! With full tummies from our two-course breakfast, our groups set off to take part in either rock climbing or caving. It was wonderful to witness our children pushing themselves to try new things whilst tackling their own challenges and goals. The children have taken teamwork to a new level this week, building their confidence to work collaboratively and stepping in to offer encouragement to aid others in overcoming hurdles.
Day three completed! Our busiest day yet full of caving, canoeing and a wet dingle descent! Now that all groups have completed canoeing, we can say that we were successful with no-one capsizing (but lots of jumping in at the end)! The caving groups were equally successful with many children facing their fears with the small spaces and darkness. The children are being brilliant and making themselves and us incredibly proud! We are excited for our final two days.
Day two completed! We started our day full of beans ready for breakfast. Two of ours groups embarked on a canoeing adventure whilst the other two challenging themselves with rock climbing. All groups were recognised for their determination and seizing opportunities to push themselves out of their comfort zones. The lack of sleep hit us on our return home, but not for long … Curry and pudding to the rescue!! This allowed us to complete the evening activity of orienteering around Plas Pencelli’s grounds with just as much energy as this morning. We hope you enjoy looking through our successes today.
Day one completed! We arrived in just over two hours with the sun shining the whole way. The sunshine stayed with us all day for our adventure walk where we got very muddy and very wet. After pizza for dinner and pancakes for pudding, we took part in some problem solving activities including a tense egg-drop competition. Here we are in action…
What are we up to this term?
Term 4
What an excellent term we have had! We thoroughly enjoyed reading Beetle Boy and creating our own newspaper articles and a missing person narrative inspired by M.G.Leonard. In Science, there were lots of fun and interesting practicals such as dissecting flowers to study their parts in more details and using a range of different ‘beaks’ to work out how bird beaks have adapted over time. We developed our skills in PE where we were learning how to play seated volleyball! Take a look at the pictures of us below!
What are we up to this term?
Term 3
We have had a busy term! Each class loved reading Letters from the Lighthouse by Emma Carroll and completing letters and writing a story based on this (and our World War 2 learning from History last term). We also enjoyed learning all about North and South America in Geography, learning how to use tactics in our realPE unit, composing our own piece of Music, taking part in activities linked to Children’s Mental Health Week and engaging with prayer spaces. See pictures of us below enjoying Term 3!
What are we up to this term?
