Reception thoroughly enjoyed their visit to Avon Heath Country Park. They began with a walk in woodland and heathland searching for mini-beasts.
This was followed by a mini-beast picnic in glorious sunshine.
During the afternoon they explored the adventure play area and ended with games and races on the green.
Thankfully, the rain held off for the Year 4 annual trip to Montacute House on Wednesday. Year 4’s enjoyed the opportunity to make Tudor spice bags, write with a quill copying the Tudor alphabet and dress in traditional Tudor attire. Children saw one of the original Armada paintings which they have studied and guides were very impressed with the children’s foundation knowledge of the Tudor era. Children explored the galleries of Tudor paintings and the scullery before adjourning to the pudding house on the scavenger hunt of the grounds. They spilt into groups and explored the grounds searching for clues linked to the day’s learning.
The children enjoyed looking around the impressive gardens and at the water fountains and were most impressed with the Montacute estate. It was a lovely way to bring together all the Tudor learning of the year.
Yarrells pupils shone at the annual Under 8 Mini Tennis tournament last week with our A and B Teams coming first and second overall!
4 teams took part in the event, including teams from Bournemouth Collegiate School. The ‘A’ Team won in convincing fashion, beating all 3 of the other teams, barely dropping any games, with very good performances in both singles and doubles. The team consisted of Louis Cunningham, Jake Fascione, Tom Shepherd and Jordan Toop on the boy’s side, along with Sophie Kenwright, Poppy Green, Bethan Davies and Freya Tudberry-Swain in the girls. The ‘B’ team consisted of Alexander Peaty, Nathaniel Merrell, Joseph Stickney and Cameron Talwar for the boys, as well as India McCrudden, Helen-Sophie Saunders, Ellie Thomas and Ellie Blakeway for the girls. Nathaniel Merrell put in a particularly strong performance, winning all his singles matches. Mr Darragh, Tennis Teacher commented “Many of the players were playing in their first competitive tennis matches and did really well. All of the children who took part enjoyed themselves and gained some valuable experience in a friendly and encouraging team atmosphere”
Written by Year 6
It was a sunny day at Yarrells Preparatory School when an injured hedgehog was discovered on Thursday 2nd May. The helpless hedgehog was discovered in a Year 6 science lesson investigating different animals and their habitats around the school. The students immediately reported the tiny tragedy to a member of staff who thought there must have been an injury to a pupil. Once the immediate relief had passed the pupils went to inspect the injured hedgehog. One pupil reported, “I was heartbroken at the sight of the poor hedgehog”. Another pupil suggested we contact the RSPCA without delay to seek advice.
The RSPCA advisor told the students not to touch the mammal; Mr Lewis placed it in a soft dark bed in a quiet place, to give it time to recover. With a group of students on watch to ensure no predators could injure the vulnerable animal. The RSPCA animal collection officer would be with us in 2 ½ hours. Pupils carefully carried the distraught hedgehog into a quiet secret location. Signs were made to secure the area for the small mammal.
The pupils waited anxiously checking between lessons to ensure it was safe until it was collected at 4:45pm. Most pupils had gone home at this point and a small group were relieved to pass on the injured animal to the RSPCA. The hedgehog had a lung infection which meant it could not curl up and protect itself. As a result he had been attacked by another animal and its injuries were almost fatal. The hedgehog will recover if it is regularly given antibiotics and cared for until it is fully recovered.
We waved goodbye as Spike was carefully taken to recover.
It’s a memory Year 6 will cherish forever.
Yarrells Yr 6 & 7 ‘A’ and ‘B’ Teams started off the cricket season with a great win against Sunninghill.
Yarrells bowled well restricting Sunninghill to 76 for 7 off 16 overs. Everybody called upon bowled well, with Tom Lemans , James Palmer-Snellin and Samuel Wyatt all taking 2 wickets each. Seb Miles (21) and Jamie Schneider were the pick of the batsmen both of them hitting the ball well. In the end after a great team performance we ended up hitting the winning runs with 8 balls left and 2 wickets in hand!
Yarrells Yr 6 & 7 ‘B’ Team put in a wonderful team performance in their first cricket match of the season to beat Sunninghill. After a solid display of bowling and fielding, including some great catches from Essa Diallo & Oliver Clarke, they went in to bat in confident mood. Joshua Linscott-Crisp and Jamie Saunders got the team off to a healthy start, while Gabriel Unt and Jack Baldwyn notched up the most runs. The final score was 220 – 207 to Yarrells.
On Thursday 2nd May Year 5 went on a study trip to Corfe Castle to learn more about a siege there.
The weather was perfect for a trip. The wind was blowing to cool us because the sun was very powerful that day. We parked in the National Trust car park and set off for the Castle. Mrs Blake said we should try to look for evidence and, wow, was there loads of that! We saw lots and lots of broken walls. When we finally emerged from the wooded trail we saw how beautiful Corfe Castle really is. After we had taken in the sights we started walking up to the old, crumbled doorway and met our wonderful guide, Pam, who told us about all the inhabitants of Corfe Castle and how they built it up to its former glory.
Pam then showed us a 9lb cannonball which was very heavy despite its size. After that, we stood up, stretched out, and paced up the rather steep hill. There were three banks and we were at the top one. 
Pam then led us on to the second entrance. The second entrance was awe-inspiring. No one could get in though when the people who lived there didn’t want them in. And we saw what would happen if a spy got stuck in between the two murderous portcullises. There were multiple doors and murder holes through which soldiers would throw anything from hot coals to sewage.
We had a really good afternoon and learned loads.
Written by Year 5 pupil Coco Bicknell