Welcome to Balgowan Primary School
Balgowan is a very friendly, high achieving and heavily oversubscribed academy in Beckenham. There are 678 pupils taught in 22 classes. The academy follows a creative curriculum which is designed to engage and excite all the children whilst also ensuring the acquisition of key reading, writing and mathematical skills…
Balgowan’s Healthy Schools week
Balgowan’s Healthy Schools week will be taking place the week commencing 10th June. There are 5 areas that are recommended for a healthy child: Have breakfast, 5 fruit and veg a day, drink plenty of water. get active, sleep well. These are all equally important and will be discussed with the children at school. In particular, we will be focussing on eating at least 5 lots of fruit and vegetables a day and keeping active. Rachel Smith & Katie Helt—Healthy School Leads
Mathematics Heat Champions
On Wednesday 8th May 2019, the Balgowan team (made up of Donny A, Arthur G, Lewis O and Isaac P) went to Tubbenden Primary School for the Quiz Club Mathematics Competition. The competition consisted of ten teams. The first twenty questions were mental maths. For the other fifteen questions we were allowed pencil and paper (which were considerably harder). For each question we were allowed 60 seconds to work it out – sound easy? Try solving one of the questions we were asked in one minute: What is: 642 – ? Get it? We did! After the first twenty questions, Balgowan was in joint first with West Lodge after getting all the questions right for a total of 1200 points.
Calling all Business Mentors—Business Enterprise Project
Next half term, Balgowan pupils will be participating in an exciting business enterprise project. Each class from Year R-5 will design a product or service, pitch to the Bank of Balgowan for a loan and sell their product or service on Friday 12th July at a Gala Day (Reception products will be on sale at the Reception Sports Day.) Through this venture we aim to develop pupils’ enterprise skills whilst promoting the school values. Year 6 pupils will have a special role, acting as ‘business advisers’ and will be allocated to other classes in order to support the younger children. ? There will be two winning classes: The class with the greatest profit The class who have applied the school values
Trinity Science Visit
At first 4 children from each year 5 class went to trinity School for a computing lesson. We travelled in a mini bus to get there. Once we got there we had to wait for the teachers to come down to collect us. Once we were in the computing room we played a game on the computer where you have to control a character to collect metal—a bit like scratch. We then coded some robots called Sphero on an ipad. Once we got used to it we programed them to go through mazes. I really enjoyed it. I would recommend it to other people. Maggie 5AC I really enjoyed it at Trinity because it was really big and decorated
Year 6 Elite Steel Pans
I attend Year 6 Elite Steel Pans . It is a great thing to do! It gives you a chance to use a percussion instrument that you wouldn’t normally come across to play. When you start you will play some basic tunes, just so you can get comfortable. Once you have done some of the simpler tunes you start to do more challenging tunes. This makes it really fun.; when you see all the notes , you may panic. However when you start playing it all becomes less difficult. After you have played a few songs you get to change your pan if you would like. This rota will run throughout you committing to Steel Pans. You will get to
Dragon Quest
On Wednesday 1st May, one child from each class was picked to go to Dragon Quest crazy golf. They were picked for their brilliant writing linked to our dragon topic during Book Week. Each child left at lunchtime and walked to the bus stop. We went with Mrs Veysey and Mrs Bassett. Once we had signed in and got our equipment, we went to hole No1. After about half an hour, Mrs Veysey gave us snacks. We each got a small bag of popcorn and a juice carton. After finishing all the holes, we dropped off our equipment and walked back to the bus stop. When we arrived back at school, it was home time. Everyone had a great afternoon!
Forest School News
In May the great news that Forest School has been award £8,000 from Octopus Energy was a real highlight ,thank you to everyone who voted. We have also had some donations from parents and in response to parents request I have drawn up a wish list which will be sent out via parentmail. Forest School classes in May have included 4SS who came and planted wildflower seeds to encourage pollinators and Reception who have continued to amaze me with their enthusiasm and wildlife knowledge. At the other end of the school two Year six classes are now working on fire lighting, art and craft as well as collaborative challenges. Tracey Cleveland
English Schools Swimming Association Regional Success!
Back in March Balgowan took a small swimming team down to Margate for the Kent Primary Schools Gala. Tom Williams and Ted Pointon represented the boys and Isabelle Hampshire, Daisy Campbell, Olivia Dunn and Louise Taylor made up the girls’ team. Everyone competed in the individual events and the girls also competed in the Medley and Freestyle relays. The highlights of the individuals events were: Olivia 1st – Girls 50m Breaststroke Louise 3rd – Girls 50m Breaststroke Ted 5th- Boys 50m Freestyle Tom 7th – Boys 50m Breaststroke Isabelle 8th – Girls 50m Backstroke Daisy 22nd – Girls 50m Backstroke Each event had between 30 – 40 competitors. The really fun part came with the girls relays! The girls’ team swam fantastically
