We have such an inspiring, exciting week!
On Monday, we were visited by Karl Nova, poet, rapper and storyteller. He delivered a wonderful assembly to all year groups. He shared the story of how he discovered his love of spoken word and rap and shared the story of his younger years – living in London until he was 9 and then moving to Nigeria to live with his Dad after a family holiday. Karl also shared some of his poems, and encouraged us to join in. He had us had emphatically clicking our fingers in appreciation – we had a great time! Karl delivered workshops to children in Year 6. They had a great time learning and reciting their own poems!
On Tuesday we were visited by Chrissie Sains, who wrote ‘Alien in a Jam Factory’ and other associated books! She began writing books when she was 7 and wasn’t the best at grammar and spelling but she had great ideas! She shared her creative process and brought in her ‘box of treasures’ – she uses special found items she keeps in a special box to inspire ideas for characters and plots! She helped us to understand that anyone can be an author – it just takes a great idea and perseverance! Chrissie worked with Year 4, helping them to create story characters and settings for their own stories.
On Wednesday Year 3 spent time with the wonderful Joshua Siegal! They created poems based on their favourite places and things. They read poetry together and discussed misconceptions abut poetry (it doesn’t always have to rhyme) and ways to add interest to your poem (add some humour!). The children enjoyed writing their own, very personal, but funny poems!
It was World Book Day yesterday. We all dressed up as our favourite characters or in comfortable, relaxing clothes – ones you might choose to wear while snuggling up to read your favourite book. On Thursday, the enchanting storyteller Margaret Bateson-Hill visited and told us the story of Masha and the Firebird. She inspired the story teller in us all with her captivating tale and use of props and song. She also gave us her three tips for writing – one of them being read as much as you can! Margaret worked alongside Year 5 children helping them develop their own cinquain poems. Cinquain poems are poems with five lines that do not rhyme. The children based their poems on the re-imagined fairytale story, The Sleeper and the Spindle by Neil Gaiman.
Today we all gathered together for our annual Cypress Upper Poetry Slam! Each class learned a poem to recite, practising with attention to tone, diction and use actions to supercharge their performances! We had such a fun time listening to the poems and watching the children delivering them with such enthusiasm. Children also received their World Book Day voucher that can be spent at our Scholastic Book Fair, that arrived at Cypress Upper yesterday! Make your way to Juniper Room at the Upper School on Friday and Monday afterschool and Monday Tuesday and Wednesday before school to pick up a book. A portion of the sales from is given to the school to purchase more books for our book corners and libraries so please visit if you can!
Well done to Joe and Barney, who won our extreme reading competition! They won A £5 book voucher each to use at the Book Fair!
Thanks to Mrs Parker, English Lead for the Trust, and Miss Pumphrey, English Lead at Cypress, who together organised an inspirational Book Week 2024. Special thanks to the Cypress PTFA, who fund our Book Week author visits, inspiring the children to read widely, read often, get lost in a book and know if they want to be, that they too can be a published author!
Cypress Superstars
Well done to Emerson who wrote a wonderfully persuasive letter as the character Maisie from the book Robot Girl, by Malorie Blackman. Fraser has been making great progress in his phonics programme and wowed Ms Wayman and I with his confidence as he read the written words in from of him with accuracy and speed. Poppy created a wonderful picture of a cave man wearing a an animal skin. She had used shading to add detail and he even had a beautiful 3D ‘bone’ necklace! Very creative, Poppy! Well done to Willa and Ayesha, who wrote a beautifully descriptive poem about the seasons, inspired by preparations for Poetry Week!
Have a wonderful weekend.
Mrs Carpenter and the Cypress Upper team
