In February, Year 4 pupils were fortunate enough to finish their history learning about the Anglo-Saxons with a visit to the 878AD experience in Winchester City Centre. 

They learnt to trade with merchants and barter for goods at the market, they looked for clues to solve ancient runes and created riddles about local artefacts. Everyone had a fantastic time and learnt many new facts to take away with them!

On a miserable February afternoon, twelve of St Bede’s finest runners took part in the Winchester and Eastleigh Cross Country event, held at the ever-slippery Fleming Park. St Bede has previously been successful in this event and hopes were high again as this year the team was packed with exciting runners and plenty of pace. 

The races bring together the fastest runners from our local schools, with the top twelve in each race qualifying for the Winchester and Eastleigh team that then go to the Hampshire School Games and race against the very best in the county. Every runner gave their all in very challenging conditions. Each managed good times and fantastic places.  Ema and Elsa finished 8^th and 9^th in their race. Seth (4^th), Oliver (5^th), Dexter (8^th) and Jude (12^th) can also all expect a call up to the team that competes in the County Finals.  Huge congratulations to everyone!

Stella, Isobel, Emily, Rose, Elliot and Max all ran fantastic races in hugely challenging conditions. Everyone made the top 50, which, in large and unpredictable races, is a great achievement.   A big thank you to everyone who participated and showed determination and grit during the race and in their training before the race - this is where all the important work is really done. A big thank you also, to the parents who supported us in enabling the children to participate!

At the beginning of February, the Year 2 children ended their cross curricular topic about China with a dance workshop. Their visitor Danielle led the children in a number of traditional Chinese dances performed to a range of traditional music pieces. They began with a lion dance that involved some children getting the opportunity to try on the headpiece. The children worked in pairs, following the instructions of how to move their heads and bodies. They were then taught a much slower peacock dance that allowed all of them to use a fan. They had to use precise hand movements and were taught to track their hand movements with their eyes. For the finale, children were split into 2 groups to learn the dragon dance! We were so proud of the children for their teamwork, and for showing our school values. Danielle commented on how impressed she was, not just with the dances, but with how well the children listened, followed instructions and gave their all to the performances! Well done everyone, what great ambassadors! A very fun way to end the topic and the half term!

Thank you so much to all the parents and carers who were able to make donations to allow this enrichment activity to take place. If you have not already made a donation, it’s not too late - via Scopay or Cash to the school office. It really does make a difference !

Year 2 children made some wonderful masks, linked to the 12 Chinese zodiac signs and showed them off to the rest of the school in our worship session. We were also joined by Miss Lai who works in the office who shared with the school facts and traditions linked to Chinese New Year. We are entering the year of the dragon and hope it will be a happy and prosperous year for all who are celebrating.