Changing Faces Theatre Group Visit Bishop Ridley!

On Monday 14th June 'Changing Faces' Theatre group came to Bishop Ridley. They spent the morning performing a play to both the infants and the juniors. Then in the afternoon had a workshop with years 1 & 2. The play was 'The Elephants Child' and was enjoyed by all!

The year 1/2 children had the opportunity to develop a few story themes during a workshop with 'Changing Faces'. The children had a very enjoyable time!

Stretch Theatre Group

In January 2010 Stretch Theatre Group visited Bishop Ridley and spent a whole week working with the 3/4 classes on a curriculum based drama project linked to World War Two. During the week the children worked on developing drama skills such as freeze framing and by the end of the week the whole year group performed a well choreographed performance including solo singing and audio visual effects.

The children really enjoyed the week and the project really brought to life their knowledge of the subject. 

Here are some journal entries that the children wrote about the project:-

At the start of the week the drama company Stretch taught my class and the other two classes some warm uop exercises. I liked the warm-ups and the actual show. In fact I liked everything in the week! We were asked to bring in our teddies and special toy. The bomb sounds were great especially the Doodle bug. What I thought was interesting was how the blitz started. Did they get their gas mask for free? And if they weren't free would they have used up most of their coupons in their ration books?  By Hannah Earl 3/4 S

Every session began with some warm up activities that were great fun. On Monday we looked at when the war began in 1939 and when it ended in 1945. We played some games to remind us of what countries fought in World War 2. We also learnt more about evacuation, rationing and the Blitz. The best thing with Stretch was when we performed the play and when we listened to the Air Raid siren and the Doodle Bug. It was good because when the Doodle Bug goes silent and when the Air Raid siren goes off everybody had to run to the shelters.  By Cade Mittra 3/4 S

                             Tales of Life ~ Storytellers

 The group 'Tales of Life' are a group of storytellers who came to our school to tell us interesting stories from around the world using different instruments. They came to Bishop Ridley to celebrate National Storytelling week. They are professional musicians and storytellers.

"I thought the trio from Tales of Life were brilliant. They told us a story from the Brothers Grimm. The musicians were really good and I enjoyed listening to it". By Tilly W

"I like the bit with the wolf!" said Charlotte (year 1)

"I thought the group were really good. They told us stories with music in the background. I thought it was a really good idea. They had different instruments from all over the world. They had a harp, violin, gutar and different drums" reports Sofia Lee.

Author Bernard Ashley Visits Bishop Ridley!

Mr Ashley telling one of his many stories.

On Thursday 9th October, Bernard Ashley came to Bishop Ridley. He told us about himself and about being an author. Mr Ashley told us about how he got his story ideas and showed us some of his books. He had puppets and a very special old glass bottle. Mr Ashley was very nice to us and some of his books were very funny. He was a great story teller and we enjoyed his visit, it was very nice meeting him.
(By Molly Turner  YR3)

Kevin Pietersen visits Bishop Ridley!

Cameron won the HOWZART competition that was set up by Urban Cricket. Cameron had to draw a design for a cricket bat and his prize was a game of cricket for himself and a few friends with Kevin. Cameron chose his class mates! The children had a lovely morning with Kevin and were each given an Urban Cricket T-Shirt. You may have seen Cameron and his class mates on 'Inside Sport' on BBC with Gabby Logan.  Here is a photo of Camerons winning design:

                                        Well done Cameron!

********************************************************

Morley College Youth Regional Music Festival

The handbell team and Bishop Ridley Band were invited to the 'Morley College Youth Regional Music Festival'. Both the handbell team and band received some very high praise. Here are some photos of the day:

The Band

The Handbells & Mr Hall

The Band & Handbell Team

*******************************************

Fund Raising at Bishop Ridley School

Church Schools’ Festival 2006

On Wednesday 21st June Bishop Ridley Cof E Primary School took part in this year’s festival for church schools in the diocese of Rochester. We took our year 6 pupils to Rochester Cathedral for the day, along with our renowned handbell team, the Bishop Ridley Chimes.

The morning was spent doing various activities in and around the Norman cathedral. The children followed a pilgrim’s trail around the cathedral, looking for clues and details in the building and then had a workshop looking at and designing stained glass windows.

After lunch, a service on the theme of ‘Remembrance’ was held in the nave in which several of schools from other parts of the diocese also took part,. Each school offered up a book of memories by year 6 and presented their school banner. A school from Penge did a dance and movement number on saying ‘sorry’ and there were also instrumental and drama groups. Our handbells, conducted by Tricia Sheridan, performed several items during communion, including a piece she had written specially for the occasion, the ‘Rochester Festival Chimes’.

The whole day was immensely enjoyable and memorable. The children represented the school and parish admirably and we very much hope to take part again next year. As some of you may know, Tricia Sheridan retired from teaching this summer and we wish her every happiness for the future. We hope to carry on the handbells, a unique and marvellous legacy for our school.