MKSolutions Blog

I turned my head and there he was: Elvis accompanied by Marilyn Monroe, the Beetles, Rockers, Flower Power, Glam Rock; you name it every decade was represented in costume at the Big Party held on the last day of school before the Jubilee Weekend commenced. Oh and don’t forget the rain! In true British style our picnic for children and parents was called off. What an amazing sight this would have been; up to a thousand people taking part in a picnic on the field.

But the rain didn’t dampen the spirits; fun was had by all. The children were entertained and encouraged to join in those iconic dances from the past. Well the Birdy Dance was iconic for Mr Ludlow! Yes children, dancing like a chicken is part of our history. Many families joined together on the Saturday for the Strensall Jubilee Parade, such a great community occasion, congregating at the school and then walking behind the City of York Pipe Band heading towards the incredible event held in the Village Hall and Playing field. Well done to the Jubilee Committee, you did us proud, a culmination to a fantastic week.

And what a week it was. Thank you to all the senior citizens that turned up for the tea party organised by the children on the Monday. This was followed on Tuesday with the Jubilee Concert.  Parents were tempted to head bang to the school rock band, sing with the choir and who needs the last night of the proms when we have an orchestra such as ours. Waving flags and singing the National Anthem was a memorable climax of this event. On Wednesday the doors of the school were flung open for parents to visit our school. Just watching the children guide their parents (in some cases being dragged!) you can see the pride they have in their school, their work, their achievements. This Jubilee Open Doors event enabled us all to reflect on the talented children and staff we have at our school. The Art work displayed in the Jubilee exhibition was head-turning; even David Hockney would be impressed.

The visit by parents was also an opportunity to see the new outside activity trail. This was a joint funded project with the Parish Council. The pupil council, who recently made a visit to Westminster, London, lobbied the Parish Council for some funds towards the play equipment together with a mammoth effort from our FORWS (parent fund raising committee), who are raising £10,000.  

In true Tina Turner Style we can really say our children and our school community are Simply The Best.  

Mr Ludlow (Headteacher)

Robert Wilkinson VC Primary School prepare to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee

“I see trees of green (well very soon), red roses too (will Yellow Daffodils do?)”

Lyrics of a song can evoke emotion and can tell a story. I love listening to children singing in assembly. They always sing with great gusto and joy when the song engages them. There are those songs that seem to spark a collective response. We, at school, have experienced two such songs released during the past two decades. The come back single ‘Patience’, by Take That (2006) and ‘Dynamite’, sung by Taio Cruz (2010).

To celebrate the forthcoming Diamond Jubilee each year group at school are looking at a decade leading up to 2012, starting from the 1950s. Our 569 children will be taking part in an enormous street party on Thursday, 31^st May dressed in fashions from the past and present. During the street party there will be songs from the previous decades, with rewritten lyrics.

The Sixties crooner (no not Mr Ludlow!), Englebert Humperdinck, is representing the U.K.in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest. We wait in excited anticipation to see what songs are chosen from other decades to be represented in the Robert Wilkinson Jubilee Song Contest. Could it be Englebert’s ‘I Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You’ or as we have just hosted on Spanish visitors recently it could be “Quando, Quando, Quando“(I think that’s Spanish!)? Whatever songs are picked, fun will be had to celebrate this once in a life time event.

The school would also like to invite those senior citizens in our local community to a Jubilee Tea. This will be taking place on Monday, 28^th May, at 1.30pm. Our Pupil Council will be organising the event. There will be an opportunity to look around the school, followed by tea, light refreshments and the chance to be serenaded by some of those songs from the past.

“I see children (a small change of lyrics!)  bloom for me and you
And I think to myself, what a wonderful world”

Mr Richard Ludlow (Headteacher)

How things have changed since I was young! I can see you more senior members of our community thinking the same. I remember my grandmother telling me about her sister, who immigrated toAustralia(by choice, I was assured). It took weeks by ship. Now look at how quickly we can travel to the other side of the world.

As well as being able to travel further and faster, our children are living in a multi media world where they can communicate instantaneously with people across the seas. Computers and the internet have revolutionised how we communicate to each other. Yes Ethel, I know you have fond memories of sitting around a wireless set, and you Gladys, with memories of The Coronation being screened on your brand new 7 inch TV screen, with half of the neighbours inviting themselves in to watch. Well it’s a different world nowadays!

Two members of our teaching staff have spent a week in our partnership school inSingapore, working with colleagues from the Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus Our Lady Queen ofPeacePrimary School. They have been undertaking a study on effective strategies to engage our children in learning (I suppose it is more interesting than going to a school in Skegness). What a great opportunity for our teachers to share practice and to gain first hand, a cultural understanding about education in another part of the world. As a result of our partnership, we have also embarked on talk face to face video conferences between the schools. See Ethel, you wouldn’t be able to do that with your old wireless set! With the benefit of new technology, a group of our pupils arrived in school at the crack of dawn (well 7am) and had a live video link with children in Singapore. How exciting it was to hear the children converse and ask questions about each other. Similarly, the two classes of children from our school held a video conference with their respective teachers, who because of time difference were in their hotel enjoying a warm Singapore evening.

We are so fortunate to have established this partnership. Together with our Spanish Partnership, we will give our children a small but significant insight into the world we live in.

Richard Ludlow (Headteacher)

Our Headteacher

 He may be Robert Wilkinson’s Head,

But a visit from him we do not dread.

He really enjoys visiting Singapore,

Whilst laying down our school law.

In assemblies he likes to have fun,

But when he’s late he has to run.

He always wears a very smart suit,

And likes us all to eat lots of fruit.

He walks around wearing his glasses,

When he visits all our classes.

He helped to create our first school blog,

Whilst sometimes sitting on the forest school log.

He doesn’t have very much hair,

And in his office is a cuddly bear.

He’s the excellent head of our school,

And thinks he’s really really cool!

Out of all the Headteachers we think he’s the best

And certainly beats every one of the rest.

If you’re in assembly and see a show

It must be the one and only Mr Ludlow.

By:  Eleanor Clarke, Lewis Inkster, Amy Jackson, Jemima Pinkney, & Erin Wilkes

(Year 5 Miss Davids class)