They stressed the importance of being aware of how your child is using the Internet and of making sure that the computer is placed somewhere where you can see it, that children never give out any personal information online, and that privacy settings are always set to ‘sharing with friends only’.

They also reminded us that children can access Facebook and other social networking sites if they have smartphones, so it’s not always easy to monitor what’s going on. Also, watch out for interactive gaming – particularly with boys; sometimes they could be chatting to strangers.

It’s also a good idea to spot check your Web browser’s cookies and history when your child is online to make sure they have nothing to hide. Also be aware that Apple gadgets like the iPod touch, iPhone and iPad have slightly different privacy settings. See http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4213 for instructions.

Finally, keep an eye out for any changes in your child’s behaviour which might suggest that they are being bullied online, such as being very quiet (which is a common reaction), or becoming angry. Cyber-bullying doesn’t stop at the end of the school day.

For more information and advice see http://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/ – the CEOP Safety Centre is the place to get help if you are concerned about your child.

What you can do

Lots of practical tips on how to set up parental controls and other ways of keeping your child safe online can be found on the BBC Webwise website at http://www.bbc.co.uk/webwise/topics/safety-and-privacy/internet-safety-for-kids.

Google’s safety tools page - http://www.google.co.uk/familysafety/tools.html – provides a step-by-step guide on how to switch Google SafeSearch to “strict” mode, and keep it locked, to help filter out explicit text as well as images. You can do this easily in your Google search settings – it takes less than a minute, I just tried it! It also tells you how to turn on ‘Safety Mode’ in YouTube – again, this is quick and easy to do once you know how.

Many thanks to Wesley and Chris for sharing this information with us.

The day started at 7:30 when Mr. Lester woke everybody up. First we got dressed and did our teeth like Mr. Lester asked and then we tidied our rooms ready for the room inspection at 8:00 or later. After the room inspection we would have some free time until the breakfast bell rang. When it does ring we will go and sit in the seat we were given. Then we ate our two course meal and then we get ready for the day ahead by packing our rucksack and getting into the cloths we need to wear; then we went to get our kit we need for the following activity such as surfing or cliff adventure. Once we did that then we would climb into the appropriate mini bus. So I had to climb into the cliff adventure bus. It was really hilly on the way so my ears were popping like a popcorn machine. When we got to the cliff adventure place we made a bomb-fire and roasted marsh mallows on a stick they were really yummy. Next it was lunch time but I was not hungry so ate as much as I wished. Sooner or later it was time to go on a really long walk with no harness only a helmet and it was really bouldery.  Even though bit was bouldery we still loved it. Once we were done with that we went back to the lodge and went on the climbing wall. A day well spent. Molly Rogers

I like when we went rock climbing on the climbing wall. The beach had big waves they were so big that they could go over our head. The team that was in Shaun team got the most wood then Lisa’s team because we had broke the tree up. It started to rain then we got wet a bit but then we got to the bus. This dog came up to Kaleigh Flaxmen and took her biscuit and ate it. Alisha Bond

Today I went surfing with the rest of my group. It did take an hour to get there but it was definitely worth it. I did manage to stand up on my surfboard a few times but every time I did stand up I just fell in and swallowed a whole mouthful of water. This evening we had our dinner around a camp fire and then we saw some beautiful fireworks. Tye Halterman 

On Friday, we will be going home. Before we go home we will be going on a river walk down a wooded valley. I will miss Yenworthy but I am also looking forward to seeing my family.  Before we get back to Charlbury, there will be a long bus journey home. My favourite moment of Yenworthy was when I was surfing and Mr Lester pushed me off my surf board and a massive wave tipped right over me. Charlie Pearce

Yesterday we went surfing it was great, we got to stand up we all did, we had to carry the surf board all the way down a big hill and the surf boards were really heavy. When we came back had a shower, then had tea stew and dumplings it was delicious and for pudding like this treacle sponge. At night we went orienteering with our torches.

Today we did outdoor business and my team did the balance beam first then the zip wire then we did island swap then spaghetti tangle then disappearing clouds then the problem wall. Then we had sweet and sour chicken for tea. Jasmine Rhodes

Today we did Outdoor Business which is really about being put into groups of people who you don’t usually work with. We started by getting put into groups of 10 or 11, specially selected by Mr. Lester. I was in a group including, Millie, Ellen, Lucas, Sam(R), Isaack, Tye, Jack, Molly(D) and  Kara. We were given £30 in Yenworthy money which we spent £15 on our first activity, Tyre Triangle. We completed the challenge in 9 minutes, with plenty of time to spare.  My favourite activity was probably the zip wire because we didn’t really know whether we should try it or not because it’s a swing and you’re not really sure if it’s stable or not – but when you get down you think ‘oh my gosh, that was so much fun I want to go again.’ Phoebe Wilkinson

Today was our first day at Yenworthy. When we arrived at the lodge we were introduced to the very kind members of staff and the very cute dog, Dizzy. After lunch we did our first activity, the rope course. Steve, one of the members of staff, showed us how we do everything and then we got started. The only section of the course everyone failed at was the Elvis walk. Soon we got called in for our dinner which was very tasty! Then after a night walk on the moors, finally we went to our comfy beds. Connie Walsh    

Tuesday

TODAY WE WENT SURFING!!!!!

We went to the beach to go surfing, it was so fun. Unfortunately I fell off lots of times!!  But I finally stood up. The waves were massive.  Kailey Harley

Today was really fun! We had our room inspection this morning. Then we went on a Cliff adventure on the beach with Shaun. We had a campfire which we toasted marshmallows on. They were delicious! Then we did rock climbing and abseiling. After that we went on a walk over rocks and got soaked by the massive waves. Then we came back. Molly Duff

]]> http://charlburyprimaryschool.wordpress.com/2011/11/01/news-from-yenworthy/feed/ 0 vickybuser Yenworthy Yenworthy Yenworthy fun Surfing Surfing abseiling http://charlburyprimaryschool.wordpress.com/2011/10/17/karm-marg-update/ http://charlburyprimaryschool.wordpress.com/2011/10/17/karm-marg-update/#comments Mon, 17 Oct 2011 20:24:56 +0000 vickybuser http://charlburyprimaryschool.wordpress.com/?p=156 ]]> Earlier this year we described how Year 5 pupils helped to design and build a solar powered water heater in the school playground. This was part of a Charlbury Beer Festival project to fund solar-powered water heating for a children’s home, called Karm Marg, in New Dehli.

The Beer Festival gave £1,500 towards the cost of the heater, which has now been built and installed. The president of Karm Marg writes:

“Winter is soon approaching and the solar water heater will provide a big relief and comfort to the 60 children living and learning with us. Warm water for bathing will ensure that the probability of them falling ill due to catching chills will also considerably lessen. Washing will also be much more efficient with warm water. Also, using warmer water for cooking will help us save money on cooking gas too.”

The building of the water heater was not only an exercise in practical design and engineering; the children at Charlbury Primary also learnt about the environmental benefits of solar heating. Further, it was the first step in creating a link between Charlbury Primary and Karm Marg. The school hopes to strengthen and develop this relationship over the coming months and years by taking part in other activities and opportunities for making friends with the children and staff at Karm Marg. We’ll keep you posted!

Read more about Karm Marg at: http://www.karmmarg.org/

Lunchboox is a scheme of children’s reading clubs organised and run by Bookfeast for Oxfordshire primary schools.  Its aim is to promote and stimulate children’s enjoyment of reading.  Lunchboox encourages children to read more, to explore books beyond their comfort zone and to develop confidence in articulating their responses to books.  An additional aim of the scheme is to help schools to become, or further establish themselves as, “Book-Loving Schools” and to help encourage their pupils to become life-long readers, with all the attendant benefits.  Poet, author and former Children’s Laureate, Michael Rosen, is the newly appointed Patron of Lunchboox.

Lunchboox is open to all children in Years 5 and 6, whatever their reading levels and interest in books.  There is no charge for children to join, and all the books are provided free by Bookfeast, supplied through Blackwell’s.  Lunchboox books will be donated to the school library when the Club has finished reading them.  As with an adult reading group, everyone reads the same book and commits to reaching an agreed target page each week.  The group will go at a pace that suits everyone and we hope to read two books over a seven week cycle of sessions.

A scrapbook will be kept of the children’s book reviews, related activities and other interesting information about authors and books.  This will be available for the school to share. It is hoped that Lunchboox will help to boost the whole school’s interest and enthusiasm in books and reading.

The plumbing system

This objective complements Charlbury Primary’s Eco-School philosophy and, as part of this project, the children have been learning about where hot water comes from and the benefits of solar heating. In addition, on Friday afternoons Year 5 pupils have been building a solar-powered water heater in the school playground using local recycled materials, based on a model they created. The heater has recently been transported to the Cricket Club in time for the Beer Festival, where it will be used to wash glasses.

Solar powered water heater

 The hope is that the school will develop further links with the Karm Marg children’s home in the future.

Many thanks to Angus Burnett for the photos

Photos by Angus Burnett

Alex Westbury writes:

The CSA were offered the fantastic opportunity to be involved in a new event happening in Cornbury Park - The Rally Show. We decided that tea & cake was something we are quite good at now, and together with Charlbury Pre-School we embarked on this venture.  It was defnitely a voyage into the unknown, as it was a new venue for The Rally Show and a whole new group of customers for us.  A small, but dedicated team baked over 100 cakes and, together with flapjack baked by Pre-School, we offered a delicious selection of refrehsments during the afternoons of both days of The Rally Show.  We had a team of fantastic volunteers who made the event work effectively over the weekend. Massive thanks go to all those who baked cakes or flapjack, helped move, put up or take down the marquee, lent us things or helped out on the Saturday or Sunday. It wouldn’t have been possible without that help.