Keep up to date with all the latest news happening in school at the moment.

• Bulgarian Blog - Day 4

  Thu 07 Mar 2019 D.Spruce

  Before starting this evening’s report it should be noted that Appleby’s Bulgarian Blog has acquired quite the following in Sofia. With this welcome attention comes a certain degree of pressure on the writer to find something new to write about each day. Fortunately our gracious hostess Rosita, who has been absolutely fantastic and has gone out of her way each day to ensure that we are made to feel welcome and happy, has ensured that we have a fantastic programme of activities. Today has been no exception with the entire group kept busy for the last twelve hours!

   

  This morning we met early in school and headed into the city with a group of Bulgarian pupils and their teacher.  We made straight for the grounds of the National Gallery - the former Royal Palace from an earlier period of Bulgarian history. Here we all participated in a fun workshop using a unique method of identification to name some of Sofia’s oldest trees. By counting the number of children required to ‘hug’ the full circumference of the trunk, we identified oaks, sycamores, ash and cedar trees. The children really enjoyed themselves and we all had great fun.

   

  Next on the agenda was the National Museum of Natural History - a taxidermist’s dream. We saw all sorts of birds and animals from around the world. Mrs Clifford was intrigued to learn the difference between a buffalo and a bison - you can’t wash your hands in a buffalo!

   

  The highlight of the day was музейко - a museum designed specifically for children and a gift to the children of Bulgaria from the United States. Children of all nationalities enjoyed a workshop on stars and constellations before enjoying the museum together. There were a wide variety of interactive exhibits from a space simulator to a virtual reality headset which allowed the wearer to take part in an undersea archaeological investigation of a Black Sea shipwreck.

   

  Once again it has been really rewarding to see children from all our schools working and having so much fun together. This evening we have all been for a walk in the centre of Sofia and enjoyed and ice cream in a park when chess enthusiasts meet to challenge each other in the open air.

   

  It is an early night tonight as tomorrow brings an early start as we are visiting Koprivshtitsa. In the Sredna Gora mountains, Koprivshtitsa is a historical town and city museum; home to an array of traditional Bulgarian buildings and architecture. 

   

  It has been another fantastic day and the children have had a great time. Our days have passed so quickly and we can hardly believe it is almost Friday already! Time flies when you are having fun!

  

• World Book Day

  Thu 07 Mar 2019
  Appleby Primary School was invaded by superheroes, wolves, gangster grannies and all manner of fabulous book characters to celebrate World Book Day today. Well done for all the incredible costumes.

  

• Bulgarian Blog - Day Three

  Wed 06 Mar 2019 D.Spruce

  By day three we have all acclimatised to the Erasmus+ pace and are becoming old hands. Our children have made some great new friends and today it has been really rewarding to see them growing in confidence and spending more and more time mixing both with the other visit g pupils as well as the Bulgarian children.

   

  After a great night’s sleep for all the children and after a hearty breakfast we were in school bright and early. Whilst at home our families were probably just getting up, we were taking part in the first lesson of the day. Split into two teams of mixed nationalities the children were challenged to make two traditional dishes: a Bulgarian bread and Banitsa - a pastry made with filo pastry, yogurt, eggs and crumbly white cheese a bit like feta. The kids from all nations were great and showed some fantastic teamwork. The bread was decorated with pictures and patterns made with dough and the Banitsa was topped with skewers holding wishes for good fortune. These are traditionally written by Bulgarian children on Christmas Eve.

   

  After demonstrating our culinary expertise we were whisked speedily (there was hardly even time to have our photo taken) to our next session which was a citizenship lesson based upon the Bulgarian equivalent of Young Enterprise. Pupils designed their dream city containing buildings which beat represented our National identity. Ours was a shop selling fish and chips and cups of tea!  Not that we are adhering to any stereotypes or anything!

   

  After lunch in the school canteen we had a lesson with a number of Bulgarian children involving traditional crafts. Children (and a headteacher who could not resist) all made traditional dolls from wooden spoons. We had great fun and it was great to see the children working so well together and so refreshing to listen to a classroom buzzing with excitement being expressed in so many languages... and Mr Spruce managed to get a present for Freya without spending a single Lev!

   

  After a short break in the sunshine it was time for the moment the children were really looking forward to. It was time to don the ribbons and bells and do a spot of Morris Dancing. Each country had prepared a short dance piece to represent their country’s attitudes and cultural heritage. The Romanians treated us to an intricate hand dance with a rhythm hammered out on the floor, the Portuguese contingent put on a lovely display involving colourful ribbons and ballet-style movement. And then it was the turn of the British who, dressed in ribbons and bells skipped merrily to the strains of the accordion. We took a great video and, for a small donation to the school fund, we will make it available to parents so that they can show it at their children’s eighteenth birthday parties!

   

  Following the formal dances we all joined together for a great disco with children of all nationalities having a great time playing and dancing together. Over dinner tonight one of our children told us it was their “best school day ever!”

   

  With each passing day it feels more and more of a privilege to have the opportunity to participate in Erasmus+. Your children have been an absolute credit to you and our school. They have been the first to volunteer for any opportunity and have been brilliant at making new friends whether it is playing stuck in the mud with a group of Bulgarian children in the school yard or discussing the best locations for souvenir shopping with children from Romania. The lessons that we are all learning are truly unique and a very special experience.

   

  Tomorrow we will visit the National History Museum and we are all looking forward to another exciting day.

  

• Bulgarian Blog - Day Two

  Tue 05 Mar 2019 D. Spruce

  Our first full day in Bulgaria was a busy one. Thankfully everyone had been in bed early and had slept well. After a tasty breakfast pupils and staff from England, Italy, Portugal, Romania and Turkey readied themselves for a morning in school. 

   

  The imaginatively names 137 High School “Angel Kanchev” is home to approximately 1000 students from ages 7 to 20 and is a short walk from our hotel. Upon arrival and following the ubiquitous group photo which has been a recurring theme of our visit, we shown into the school entrance. Here we were met by a quite spectacular welcome. Children waved flags of all of the visiting nations, sang songs and performed dances. Pupils in national dress presented all of the visitors with bread, salt and honey - a traditional Bulgarian welcome. 

   

  Next on the agenda was a tour of the school in which we joined many of the junior classes for lessons in English, geography and cultural studies. In what was a lovely touch we were all presented with a handmade card containing a miniature key said to “open all of the beauty of Bulgaria.” This was a great opportunity to learn a bit about life in school for Bulgarian children as well make comparisons between education here and at home. With a theme involving “similarities and attitudes” it was interesting to learn just how much our schools have in common despite the many differences. There was then more singing... and photographs.

   

  The school headteacher met with us all and presented each visiting school with our Erasmus+ certificates and a jigsaw puzzle of the Bulgarian national theatre... and then more photographs.

   

  Lunchtime was an opportunity for our children to play in the playground. Just like at home children played skipping, chase games and football. We then enjoyed lunch in the school canteen where our pupils mixed well with the other visiting nations and were challenged to find out as much as they could about each other over their meal.

   

  When visiting new places it is always a great experience to explore the city and we were treated to an afternoon of just that. A short ride on the Metro took us all into the heart of Sofia. A group of Bulgarian pupils aged between 9 and 11 led the tour with their English teacher. At each building or monument one of the children gave a brief presentation. As a particularly diminutive nine year old discussed - we kid you not - “the baroque architecture” of the University of Sofia, one of children was heard to note: “Their English is quite good isn’t it.”

   

  All of our teachers were very impressed with the interest and enthusiasm of our children and, as confidence grew, the ease with which they mixed with children from all nations. The centre of Sofia is renowned for its golden cobbled streets and this was a key part of my highlight of the day. Crossing a broad cobbled square, our children took children from Bulgaria, Portugal and Italy by the arms as they skipped and sang “we’re off to see the wizard.” This is exactly the “ similarities, attitudes, motivations and emotions” that our SAME project has been designed to represent.

   

  Following the tour, with Mr Spruce’s Fitbit registering over 10,000 steps for the second day, and fortified with hot chocolate, there was just time for a little souvenir shopping before dinner. In the Happy Restaurant we sat with staff and children from Italy who were only too pleased to instruct the uninitiated of England in the correct strategy for eating spaghetti bolognese. 

   

  Our second day here in Sofia has been a triumph. With all the children safely tucked up in bed, we are all looking forward to more new experiences tomorrow.

  

• Bulgarian Blog - Day One

  Mon 04 Mar 2019 D.Spruce

  It was a wild and windy morning and... let’s face it... ridiculously early, as seven intrepid explorers met at Appleby Primary School. Storm Freya May have been flexing her muscles but it was not going to stand in the way of Appleby Primary School’s international travellers. 

   

  The taxi buzzed with excitement as we made our way to Manchester Airport. What would the week bring? What would our hotel be like? Where were the other children participating coming from? Would we have time for a full English breakfast before boarding the plane? - that last one was mainly the headteacher whose tummy had taken on a distinct rumble somewhere south of Lancaster!

   

  It was not long before we were boarding the plane and taking to the skies. The girls chatted happily as they speculated about the week whilst searching intently for Wally. The boys slept long and deeply. It seemed only moments before the pilot began his decent into Sofia and four excited children looked gleefully from the windows at the city and mountains below.

   

  Once through passport control, and with baggage collected, we were soon zipping though busy city traffic towards our hotel. The children we excited to point out the interesting landmarks along the way.

   

  Our hotel is situated a couple of metro stops from the city centre and the children were thrilled to explore their rooms and - not quite so thrilled - to unpack. After a quick lunch, we met up with the teachers and children from Portugal and headed into the city centre on the metro. For one of our party it was the first time on an underground train and a great new experience.

   

  We emerged in the bustling heart of the stunning city and, whilst our Portuguese friends headed off in search of lunch, we took the opportunity to explore. We visited the Parliament Square with its large and imposing facade and explored a lovely garden full of sculptures and modern art. The highlight of the afternoon was a visit to the amazing Alexander Nevsky Cathedral with its enormous golden dome. 

   

  As the sun began to set it was time to head back to the hotel for dinner. Here we met up with more new friends - this time from Italy. We were really pleased that the children were quick to try new foods - though the grilled chicken with cornflake coating was not quite the culinary delight it promised to be. Nonetheless, it was four full and tired children that settled down to bed a few moments ago.

   

  Today has been an absolute honour and thrill to be part of and we are all excited to spend our first day in school tomorrow. 

   

  

• Class 3 Tree Planting Day

  Fri 01 Mar 2019
  Class 3 went to Flakebridge to help with the Eden Rivers Project. This project aims to protect our rivers and wildlife by planting trees along river banks, which helps to slow the flow of water from the fells and prevents flooding. We learned about the different types of trees that grow in our local area, and how to plant trees. Overall we planted 250 trees in one day!

  

• Year Six Cook up a Storm

  Thu 14 Feb 2019

  At Appleby Primary School we are very proud of our rich and deep curriculum which inspires our pupils and offers opportunities and experiences that bring learning to life. 

  This week our Year Six pupils have been cooking up a storm in our cookery competition with the Rotary Club of Appleby. Children were challenged to design their own pizzas and prepare them from scratch. Our children all really enjoyed themselves and cooked some utterly delicious pizzas with a wide variety of healthy toppings. Congratulations to Kyran who was voted the eventual winner.

  

• Healthy Tuck Shop

  Mon 11 Feb 2019
  Our School Council have voted to reintroduce the Healthy Tuck Shop on a Monday and Wednesday morning break at a cost of 30p per portion. Different healthy snack will be offered each week.

  

• Kingfisher Education teach Class Three about the Water Cycle

  Thu 07 Feb 2019

  Class 3 have welcomed Kingfisher Education into their class to come and talk about the water system; how United Utilities are helping keep their water clean and how they can save water.

  After they completed a Science investigation, the class were shocked to find that Biodegradable ‘Flushable wipes’ don’t break down like toilet paper, and learned that it’s better to put them in the bin. They were horrified at the blockages of fat in the sewers from cooked meats and were relieved to find that the workers that have to manually unblock the sewers were protected with safety clothing.

  They all understood that only the three P’s are allowed down the toilet: pee, poo and paper.

  They enjoyed using their knowledge of the water system to organise event cards correctly, with the extra challenge of adding the water treatment sections to the water cycle.

  Reservoir safety was learned after hearing the story of Dylan Ramsay, who died from ‘Cold Water Shock’ while swimming in a reservoir, during a heatwave. The children were taught not to swim anywhere without a working lifeguard.

  Understanding that many countries have to walk for hours each day to get enough for only a litre of dirty water each, helped children to realise how lucky they are to have clean, running water; especially as they learned that on average, most people in the UK use around 150 litres each, per day.

  They made promises about how they would save water themselves.

  

• Class 3 Campaign to Reduce Plastic Pollution

  Wed 23 Jan 2019

  The imagination of a group of pupils at Appleby Primary School has been captured by learning about an important subject which is currently high on the public agenda.

   

  Pupils in Class Three have been learning about plastic pollution and what governments around the world are doing to reduce the amount of single-use plastic in circulation. Children have been sharing their favourite "Plastic Swaps" and those of their teachers whereby an alternative option is adopted in order to avoid using single-use plastics. Mrs Parsons' current favourite swap is to use reusable "Cheeky Wipes" rather than standard 'baby wipes'. Mr Spruce has been wrapping his sandwiches in kitchen paper rather than cling-film. Children are looking forward to meeting a local young environmental campaigner who has set up her own charity at aged 16 and has founded "Another Weigh" in Penrith.

   

  This week, our children have been writing to local supermarkets to find out what they are doing to reduce packaging and improve plastic pollution.