Fair, festival and fort fun for Castlewood School

Supporters Of Castlewood School, SOCS, arranged the annual Blackberry Fair event to raise funds for the children.

A Non-uniform Day was held on the day prior to the Fair when pupils brought in donations from their parents.

Many willing parents and friends then spent the afternoon setting up stalls and sideshows for everyone to enjoy.

Pupils, ex-pupils and their families bought cakes, books and breads, jumped on the bouncy castle, slid on the huge inflatable slide and sampled scones and tea whilst sitting in the warm sunshine. Volunteer parents painted nails and faces.

The highlight of the Fair was the stocks where children could throw wet sponges at members of the school staff.

The longest queue formed when the Headteacher, Julia Slocombe, took her turn. A soaked Mrs Slocombe commented: “It was great fun for the children and such a fabulous way to raise money for extra things for the school.

“We are so grateful to SOCs for giving of their time so generously and the total of £2,100 was fantastic. We hope to further improve the school grounds.”

The school have also been marking the Harvest Festival.

Harvest is always a time for celebration and thanksgiving and this was no exception.

Children performed a mixture of poems, songs and dramas to celebrate this traditional Festival in front of their families and friends.

Generous parents gave donations of tins and packets of food in aid of The Easter Team, a voluntary organisation providing Christian Care, which serves the homeless and those in need around Crawley.

Castlewood’s Head Boy, Finlay, and Head Girl, Katrina, were delighted to hand over the huge quantities of food to a representative from the Team. Finlay said, “The whole school really enjoyed performing and we think it is a kind and generous thing to help others who do not have as much as we do.”

Pupils from Years 5 and 6 also enjoyed a fun day recently when they visited Newhaven Fort.

Their World War II studies were at the forefront of their minds as they explored the outside fortifications, looked at artefacts from the time and experienced what it was like in an air raid shelter during the Blitz.

Deputy Head, Lauren Brown, said, “It is wonderful to be able to immerse the children in their studies with practical activities so that their learning really comes alive for them”.

The children will now use these experiences to enhance their World War II knowledge through cookery, art work and drama.