Today was our final day (or half day), and we know we’d saved the best until last!  Just as we found we had got used to our morning routine, it was bedrooms tidied and baggage wheeled to the packing area. 

This morning was our climbing day. Climbing requires, above all, co-operation and trust. In fact, it’s so full on, that there is barely time to be taking pictures. So today’s pictures are simply to give you an idea of scale. 

A big well done to everybody for challenging themselves on the climbing wall, with so many of you managing to exceed your own targets. 

On the Power Fan, everybody climbed to the top, and many even stepped off and took the plunge downwards!  

After a(nother) hearty and energising lunch, the sight of our coach waiting to return to Fressingfield was a bittersweet moment. We were all disappointed to be going home, but just a little relieved, as we were somewhat weary from our amazing experience. 

The Year 4 children this year have been awesome in their behaviour, attitude and willingness to try a little bit more. Many thanks to parents/carers who have supported us with organising our trip. And we also want to say thank you to everyone, at school and at Hilltop, who has worked so hard to make this residential so memorable. 

Today was our main day, and has really lived up to our expectations. After a hearty breakfast, we divided into two groups. One group learned bushcraft skills (including how to make a fire) and the other group learned how to use a huge zip wire.  Half way through the morning, we all swapped over.  Well done to everyone with your firelighting skills. One needs to find great kindling before attempting a fire, and so everyone’s eyes were peeled for silver birch. Marshmallows were then roasted by all. 

After a warming lunch of jacket potatoes with cheese and beans, plus birthday cake (yummy), we had our best session yet on the climbing ropes. Fantastic work was seen all round, with children all pushing themselves, Kayden, Caleb, Rio and Eden especially, and great collaborative work from children supporting the climbers. That took 100% concentration!  We are all so proud of Fressingfield children today. They rose to a massive challenge and did us all proud!

Just before tea, we opened the tuck shop. Mrs Tooley and Ms Perry had learned from our last Hilltop visit, and so managed to make this as painless as possible (for the adults). 

We will be celebrating our last evening with a disco, although will keep the ‘quiet room’ open, for anyone who’s not so keen. 

Well, we’ve arrived to find some sunshine, and a very warm welcome from the crew at Hilltop. After eating our packed lunches outside, we then grouped up and either played some very challenging team games or went on the awesome Super Swing, a contraption of wires and pulleys, which would rival any ride at Pleasurewood Hills. Well done to our fearless few, including Reuben, Kayden, Bonnie and Amelia. Fabulous teamwork from Fressingfield too – you’d never have got through the spider maze without that. And who knew that Summer would be so great at directing children through the maze? 

After our delicious dinner of sausages, wedgies and chocolate pudding for afters, we took a visit into the woods. Who needs Hallowe’en when you have your own Enchanted Forest?  Well done to Edward and Hector for sone great team work, and also to Oscar who really got the hang of the woodland game. 

We ‘hit the sack’ at half past eight although, for some of us, it felt like midnight!  Thanks to the amazing Hilltop staff, who are both kind and professional.

What a fabulous morning we had at St Peter’s and St Paul’s Church this morning for our Harvest Festival. Thank you to Revd Susan, her team and her parishioners for making us all feel welcome.  

One of our curriculum drivers is the phrase, ‘At The Heart Of Our Community.’ We are proud of the role we play representing and serving our community and keen for the children to play their part in community life. This never seems so true as at this time of the year when we are celebrating the Harvest together with our families. It was a lovely service too. The children sang beautifully, thanks to the expert tuition of Mrs Clarke; and each class’ presentation was wonderful. I was so impressed with the their enthusiasm, enjoyment and confidence. 

The generous Harvest Donations have been given to the Trussell Trust, the organisation responsible for our local Food Banks. As we said in the church, the cost of living crisis is having a profound effect on families across the UK including in our community. If you are suffering and you need food for yourself and your family, please contact Revd Susan in confidence on 01379 388493. 

I hope you all have a lovely half-term holiday.

The Great Charity Shop Book Scavenger Hunt is now ON and books are being sent in across the school. Thank you for your contributions so far.

Last year, with the Walk on the Wild Side, we raised £1,500 to buy as many of the books on the Essential Guides as possible, but we still have more to do to complete our collections and we need your help.  

So this year, we have launched the Great Charity Shop Book Scavenger Hunt. We would like you to scour the book shelves of charity shops wherever you go to find as many of the books on the Essential Guides as possible, buy them and donate them to the school. The books on the lists highlighted in yellow are the books we already have in school. (Children’s books in charity shops normally sell for about £1, so please don’t spend more than this.) The School Librarians will monitor how many books from the lists we have managed to collect and will keep track of our progress with a special display. If we manage to meet our target by the end of term, there will be a special treat for everyone during one of our Book Worm Sessions on Friday afternoons.  

We will add a special sticker to the inside of all donated books to read, “Kindly donated by the _________ family.” 

We hope you can help us with this initiative. The local charity shops are full of fantastic children’s books that would make a huge difference to the quality of our class libraries. With your help, and with the money raised earlier this year, we hope to be able to complete our collection of every book on the Essential Guide. How good would that be?!