Horse Riding

Since September, pupils have been attending Greenhall Stables where owner Rachael looks after 20 horses and ponies.
The children are shown how to look after the horses by curry combing and grooming them, and caring for their hooves. They are shown how to ‘muck out’ and bed the horses down.
They also learn how to correctly fit the saddle and bridle before getting themselves ready for a ride.
They have the opportunity to ride, with supervision, in the arena, where they are taught the basics, from sitting properly and holding the reins, to trotting.
Pupils have thoroughly enjoyed this experience and have learnt to gain the trust of the ponies, as well as developing their own self confidence

Sports News

The school football team has now completed the fixtures for 2008—2009. The team played 13 games, won 4, drew 1 and lost 8, scored 33 goals and conceded 37. We all look forward to the new season in the autumn.

A team from Cedar House competed in the Williams Shield fishing competition in April. On a day of continuous rain, the team failed to catch a single fish, but they stayed on until the last minute hoping for a bite.

On 28th. April 2009 the school sent two teams (Junior and Senior) to the Harvey Cup cross Country competition. After an exciting race the Senior team’s combined positions placed them third and the Juniors achieved first place. All team members received their medals in a school assembly and the Junior Captain was presented with the trophy, which will be engraved with the school name.

More than 20 pupils have taken part in a football coaching scheme set up in conjunction with Barrow AFC. Striker Jason Walker and coach Craig Rutherford were both highly impressed with the skill and dedication of the boys and girls who took part.

Duke of Edinburgh Award

Recent weeks have seen two groups from school making successful camping and walking expeditions to Dent in the Yorkshire Dales. Both groups, one of boys, the other a girls group, experienced hill walking, navigation, outdoor cooking and overnight camping as part of their progress towards the Duke of Edinburgh Award.

On returning, all of the children said how much they had enjoyed the experience. This was despite the torrential rain that fell almost continuously during both expeditions!

The Natural Classroom

As a result of their outstanding achievement and diligent efforts in a wild and sometimes hostile forest environment, several pupils have recently received their John Muir 'Explorer' awards.

This is the culmination of sustained hard work on their part, assisting forest rangers in Grizedale Forest and undertaking woodland management on a weekly basis. As they have grown in confidence, pupils have been able to give talks about their work, describing the benefits of understanding and caring for the natural environment, both in school and to larger audiences around the Lake District.

Activity Week

MVC-024F, originally uploaded by Cedar House School.

The final few days of the summer term again provided staff and pupils the opportunity to enjoy out of school activities and visits to a wide range of venues in the area.
Trips and events included gorge walking, horse riding, bowling and canoeing.
A fine end to the term was enjoyed by all.

Stars in their Eyes

site 020, originally uploaded by Cedar House School.

As the summer term drew to a close, thoughts of holidays and sunbathing were cast aside for an afternoon as Cedar House saw the sixth Starts in their eyes contest. A dazzling array of talent was on show, and acts included The Beach Boys, Nickelback, Elvis and the eventual winner, Sara Bareilles.
A glittering afternoon’s entertainment as always.

Sport Relief

Sport Relief, originally uploaded by Cedar House School.

Following the success of previous year's Sport Relief initiatives at Cedar House, this year we sold cakes, earned sponsorship points in class and kicked footballs past a retired goalkeeper.
This was just one of a range of sporting activities enjoyed by the pupils today. Others included Wellie Wanging, the Rowing Machine and the Pogo Stick.
Altogether we raised... we await the final figure with eager anticipation.
Or 'breathlessly' in the case of the goalkeeper.

Christmas Dinner

xmas chs 07cam2 141, originally uploaded by Cedar House School.

This was the scene at our end of term Christmas Dinner. Now that we are back into the routine of the new school term, it all seems so far away, but thankfully, somebody has taken a whole set of photos of the event and saved them on the school network. So we can all revisit happy times in the depths of January.
Now all I have to do is remember which folder they are in...

Merry Christmas...

White Christmas Tree, originally uploaded by Ronald Suello.

...and a happy new term (on January 7th next year).

Children In Need

mjk 001, originally uploaded by Cedar House School.

Bob the Builder made a triumphant appearance in school today, and brought his hammer down on a selection of goods and promises in our annual Children In Need auction.
The pupils and staff were able to bid on a fabulous range of items, including the complete works of Oscar Wilde, a carved occasional table and the inevitable cuddly toy. Further excitement was caused by the inclusion this year of 'promises', which included an Indian meal, to be cooked by the school's Food Technology teacher, a portrait, to be painted by the school's Art teacher and a lesson, to be taught by the Headteacher.
Altogether we raised over £135 in the auction. A year 7 pupil also brought in a carrier bag of loose change for the appeal, taking our total contribution this year to £144.50.
Well done to all concerned and good luck to the main appeal which will be taking place this evening.

Color Magic Kitten

Picture2, originally uploaded by Cedar House School.

This beautiful image of a kitten was drawn using the program 'Color Magic' by a year 8 pupil this week in an IT lesson. The colours of the kitten's fur are lifelike, the shape of the legs and paws capture the awkwardness of a young cat perfectly, but the most remarkable aspect of the whole picture are the eyes, which have the exact, slightly demonic, stare of the mischievious kitten, about to unravel the edge of a rug or pounce on an unsuspecting sibling.
A remarkable piece of work.

Grizedale in the mist

Grizedale 19.12.06 4, originally uploaded by Cedar House School.

Working in the forest in all seasons gives us a chance to experience nature in all its beauty, from the first stirrings of life in the spring, to the full magnificent splendour of a summer woodland, through the rich autumnal smells of a wood that is preparing itself for the long rest it deserves, and the quiet ethereal slumber that winter brings.

As a pupil recently said as he travelled back to school after a hard days work in the forest '...going back to school is like turning the mute button off.'

We know what he means...

Come on you Cedars...

DSC00054, originally uploaded by Cedar House School.

With the football season in full swing, we are again enjoying the sensation of success that comes with winning matches fairly and with honesty. While our pupils watch their highly paid heroes in the Premiership rolling around in agony whenever they have the ball taken off them, or not turning out if they have a slight thigh strain, they themselves are owning up to infringements before the referee blows, helping opponents to their feet and encouraging each other to do well.
They might not have the power and control of the Football League's finest, but their attitude and sportsmanship is second to none.
Professional footballers play football.
We play the Beautiful Game.

QWERTYUIOP

KAT_5909, originally uploaded by Cedar House School.

ICT is now firmly embedded in all aspects of learning at Cedar House School. Pupils are confident users of technology and can access information on the web with ease.
Not just a personal opinion, but the view of successive inspections of the school in recent times, by local authorites and OFSTED.
Learning how to search the internet , shop online and how to interact in online communities is undoubtedly a central pillar of the IT curriculum in school. By the time the pupils leave they are able to find, buy and sell the things they need, discern the good from the bad and the indifferent and they have a healthy suspicion of anything they are told online. Even if it is in Wikipedia.
But all of this hinges on one core skill. The use of a keyboard.
Finding QWERTYUIOP quickly and without pressing Ctrl as you do so, is so important that it almost deserves a lesson of its own.
Now that would be interesting...

We're going to the zoo...

PICT0663, originally uploaded by Cedar House School.

A reminder of the visit to Dalton Zoo, made by staff and pupils in July, during Activity Week. As the nights draw in, and the colder air from the South Lakeland hills reaches out to us in Kirkby Lonsdale, the photographs we took in summer evoke memories of warmer times.

Hello...goodbye.

DSC_0608, originally uploaded by Cedar House School.

As a new school year begins, and we begin to admit a number of new pupils, we remember those who left us last term after completing their exams.

A total of 15 pupils left school this year. Before doing so they took GCSEs in: English, Maths, Science, Geography, Art, Food Technology and ICT, and Entry Level Certificates in English, Maths, Science, Geography, Art, ICT, Food Technology and PSHE. They also finished portfolios of work for their ASDAN Bronze Award alongside a range of AQA Units of Accreditation.

Their results, which were announced in August, continued the school’s record of success with all pupils who took GCSEs passing 3 or more at grades A-G, and four pupils achieving 6 passes.

During their final year pupils were able to take part in a range of work based learning placements and courses, including Fire Fighting and the Army Cadet Force Camp.

We wish them all success and happiness as they begin the next stage in their lives.

Welcome Back

MVC-001F, originally uploaded by Cedar House School.

A very warm welcome back to Cedar House for all pupils and staff after the summer break.
After three weeks of torrential rain at the start of August, the weather finally brightened up for around 25 minutes before it began to rain again, which it did almost continuously right up until the beginning of staff training week.
After a summer like that it was something of a relief to attend courses on First Aid, Health and Safety and IT.
And now the pupils have returned, everyone has remembered why we all, in our own particular way, actually rather like it here.
Let the term commence...

Photographic Competition 2007 -Best Animal

Best Animal, originally uploaded by Cedar House School.

...and overall winner!
Congratulations.