Wilberfoss Primary School

On the 8th of October Nathan, Matthew and I went to Woldgate for an afternoon of the Primary Schools Maths Challenge.

When we got there we went in at the main entrance and were met by Mrs Longstaff, the Year 7 Head Of Year. Then we went into the maths room and were given nametags. They had been very sneaky and each nametag had different colours. They were the colours of the teams we were put into. I was in blue group.

First we did tanagrams , there was a black picture on the board,  then your team had to try and make out of the shapes. My team weren’t very good at that, but most of the time we were close to getting it right.

After that the teacher at the front called out four numbers and we had to make 24, using times, divide, minus and add. I didn’t get many, but I was close to getting a lot right. We did them on whiteboards.

Then we had some cards in packs and you had to find the answer to the question. One was about a race and you had to find the order each car finished. Also you had to get rid of the cards you didn’t need.

In the end my team came second to last, with seventeen points. I thought it was very good and I would definitely do it again, if I had chance.

By Jessica, Year 6, Wilberfoss

On the 7th of October 2010, all the prospective pupils of Woldgate College went to see where they would be next year.

There were many people and the evening was very well put together and thought about. When we first got there it was very organised and we were directed into the car park. Then we queued up outside the main entrance, until we got in, to be greeted by two welcoming pupils, who gave us a booklet and letter with the route of our tour around on.

First me, my mum and my dad went to D Block, which is Modern Languages, English and Media Studies. In there we went into D4, where the room had been themed around a book they were reading called Private Peaceful. There were quizzes, where you had to find your character on the wall, and then find the answers which were jotted around the picture in the middle. If you got them all right, which I did, you got a chocolate out the Quality Street tin. Also they had make a bookmark, where you had a piece of paper with a war man on and you had to colour it in and then they laminated it for you.

Second we went to E Block, which is Sixth Form (KS5) Drama. In there there was a huge performance room with a massive pull down projection board. Also in there was a common room where they can stay at breaks and lunch. Upstairs were some more classrooms and an office.

Third we went into the Sports Hall where there were all sorts of activities like throwing the ball into the hoop, balancing and skipping. There were older people there who were recording our results.

Fourth we went into B Block, Art and Technology, where there were all sorts of game reviews. Also there were lots of amazing pieces of artwork on the wall. We went into one of the rooms where they were making key rings with the word Woldgate on. You made a small donation and could take one. I got a red one with white writing.

Fifth we went into C Block, Science, where there were all sorts of different experiments including a friction one. Also best of all, I got to see Jupiter (the planet) and its four moons. There was a huge telescope set up on the field then you climbed up a ladder and looked through it and you could see Jupiter and its four moons very clearly.

Then we went to the main hall in A Block for the talk. We met Mr Bower who had a chat with all of us. After Mrs Waterhouse, our head of year, had a little talk. Then Luke Young and three other pupils did a power point presentation, which helped me get a lot of confidence about next year.

After this we went to look around A Block, as we didn’t get to see it before. In there we went into the maths room, where my dad and I played a game on the interactive whiteboard. We were given a number in the top corner and you had a grid of numbers and you had to make the number. In the end my dad won it, but I did quite well too.

I am glad I went and now I’m feeling really confident about my transition. All the pupils that were helping were very welcoming and made it feel easy to be there.

Jessica, Year 6, Wilberfoss.