Creative: Art from the Heart

By Isabel and Eadie, Looe Primary School

Looe Primary Academy have been fortunate to have received visits from two creative artists to give our year five and six students the opportunity to reveal their artistic talents. We believe that here at Looe Primary Academy, it is important to try your hardest to be the best you can be and these visitors helped us to do that. It reflects our values in terms of being enthusiastic and creative.

MINI CHALLENGES

On Monday the 11th of March 2024, Andrew Litten and Ruth Bateman from the south west of England, visited the school to give some of the students the experience to try and complete many different artistic challenges such as:

*Closing your eyes whilst trying to draw an accurate self-portrait.

*Using your non dominant hand to try and draw a life-like diagram.

*Trying to draw something that you imagine yourself as.

*Trying to draw something that you like about yourself or something that you like in general.

THE MAIN PROJECT

After many exciting and fun art challenges, the students began to plan their main project in their sketch books; drawing something important to you in any way. People drew things like hobbies that they have, their pets and family members, animals that they like, certain features they like about themselves and many other things. Everybody’s main project is to draw on a wooden board which will be put together to create a collage that will be a work of art.

One of our year six students told us that, “I really enjoyed being able to express my feelings in a different way!”

Our visitors even shared with us that, “We were delighted to see the children engaging in the highest levels of creativity possible.”

Why don’t you try to be creative too – try some of the activities mentioned and let your imaginations take you into a world of your own!

  Curious: the Rich and Famous ...

By Lowrie and Freddie, Delaware and Gunnislake Primary School

Gunnislake village is on a steep side of the Tamar Valley and was developed due to the increase in mining activity in the middle of the nineteenth century, when the area became the richest copper mining centre in Europe. You may not have visited the area, as we are tucked away in the south east corner of Cornwall, but there is plenty on offer for a family day out and it is famous for its history!

Living Here

Residents enjoy living here, one resident, Miss Cunningham, who works as a Teaching Assistant at Gunnislake Primary Academy, told us; “I love living here, because it's a close community and everyone is really friendly. Visitors should try the great food from Dave's Fish’n Chip shop."

In summary, it’s a hidden gem that offers a delightful blend of natural beauty, rich history and a warm community spirit.

Activities to Try

Why not catch the train to the village…

The Tamar Valley line is on a railway line from Plymouth, Devon, to Gunnislake, Cornwall, in England also known as the Gunnislake branch line. The line follows the beautiful and dazzling River Tamar for much of its route and you can enjoy peaceful and naturally inspiring views as you make your way over the famous Brunel viaduct at Calstock.

You can also walk back through time, past the lime kilns along the scenic valley route to Cothele, the National Trust House.

Visitors can also enjoy kayaking on the river Tamar, or cycling through the ‘Tamar Trails’ – you can hike, bike, zip-wire and enjoy a bite at the café. It is 25km through dramatic valley and forest – ideal for spotting nature or whizzing through the countryside on your bike. Many artists are also inspired by this pretty area of Cornwall.

The History

In the eighteenth century, mining was one of the most industrial technological revolutions of all time- introducing all new perspectives on technology and developments for the future of the world.

When people think about Cornish mining they usually think of tin, but when mining was at its peak in Gunnislake, it was copper that was being mined. Back in the eighteenth-century copper mining had significantly more importance than tin; by the nineteenth century Cornwall was the greatest producer in the world. Due to the demands, it made Gunnislake rich – and famous!

Mining in Cornwall benefitted from abundant mineral deposits and a lack of these resources elsewhere in the world. However, copper and tin were discovered outside the county in the mid-1800’s thus causing the market to flood and eventually crash in 1866. After that, copper mining seemingly vanished from Cornwall by the end of the century.

Even today mining is still a part of Cornwall as in 2021 it was announced that a mine was extracting battery-grade lithium carbonate, more than 20 years after the closure of the last South Crofty tin mine in Cornwall in 1998. So there’s still hope for mining after all.

Gunnislake has everything from it’s sparkling rivers and stunning scenic views to its famous history and as Mrs Fraser, Secretary at Gunnislake Primary Academy told us, “There are lovely views and the people here are lovely”.

Why not book yourself a trip, enjoy an outdoor activity and see for yourself!

  Responsible: Polperro Connects with School in Ors

By Rosie and Jack, Polperro Primary School

In February 2024, children from Polperro Primary Academy had the chance to make real connections with pupils of a similar age in Ors, France via Teams.

This event was organised and supported by international poet, Sally Crabtree, who visited the school and immersed the children in a day of poetry. During that day, they wrote their own poems which will be scattered over The Somme in July 2024 by a World War 1 plane. All the schools in Bridge Schools have taken part in writing poems for this and some will also be scattered over Bodmin Airfield by a vintage plane in June 2024. Watch this space!

Polperro were lucky to work with Sally for a day before she went to France. The biodegradable paper will contain wildflower seeds including poppies for Britain’s remembrance flower: poppies, France’s remembrance flowers: cornflowers and Germany’s remembrance flowers: forget-me-nots.

Year 6 told us that; ‘It’s important to know what happened in the past and how it has shaped our today. We are excited to be able to contribute to such a significant project because it’s important we all remember our past and what those people sacrificed.” The flowers that are grown in France and in Cornwall will become a living, growing memory for the people who gave their lives fighting for their countries.

Further French connections will continue through letter writing to one another. Mrs Hillman, who teaches French and speaks fluent French told us that she hopes to continue the link with the school and develop the letter writing between the two schools.

  Enthusiastic: Seaside Shanties for St Piran

By Isabel and Eadie, Looe Primary School

On Tuesday, 5th March 2024, Looe Primary Academy and many other schools in Bridge Schools celebrated St Pirans Day. This year, Looe enjoyed some unique events - as they had special visitors: Polperro Fisherman’s Choir.

The choir kindly came to sing with the pupils and the whole school enjoyed listening to and joining in with traditional songs such as ‘Haul Away Joe’, ‘Oggy Land’ and ‘Looe is my Home’. You may recognise this song title, as it is similar to ‘This is My Cornwall…’ written by Harry Glasson.

Upon special request, Miss Gregory and Mrs Davies asked the writer if they could change the lyrics to make it specifically about Looe – and he agreed. They also sang the Trelawney shout (of course!) and ‘Roll the Old Chariot’, all songs that teach us more about the history of famous industries in Cornwall – fishing, mining and farming.

Taking part in days such as this reflects an important Bridge Schools value – Responsibility because we learn about and keep up the traditions that make our area a special place because, as Mr Bowden said, “It was lovely that we all came together to celebrate Cornish heritage”. We were also Curious to learn more about the history of St Piran’s Day.

The story of St Piran is a very interesting one. He started his life in Ireland, he was well loved and a friend to King Angus. King Angus wanted a divorce, but St Piran disagreed. After a dispute, the King tied him to a millstone and threw him in the ocean, expecting never to see him again. However, miraculously, he survived and was washed ashore in Perranporth in Cornwall. It was there that he spread the word about the Christian religion. One frosty night, he built a larger fire than usual in his seashore cave. As he was sitting, meditating, a big black rock he had brought back for a hearthstone began to melt in the heat… a silver metal ran from it! He called people to come and look- they felt it was another miracle. Soon the miners of the area started digging where he had found the tin and melting it. They could then sell it to merchants all over Europe. Piran became the Tinner’s saint.

That’s why the flag of Cornwall became known as the cross of St Piran- a white cross on a black back ground, symbolizing the light of God in a dark world and also the white tin metal against the black rock. Mrs Waring, the Headteacher, said; “St Piran’s Day is such a special place and it was heartwarming to see so many people turn up to enjoy the singing. Singing with the Polperro Fisherman’s Choir was very special.”

Mrs Cook also commented on the way it brought people of different ages together, “It was fantastic to hear Polperro choir and see the mix of different generations.” You may not know but Queen Elizabeth II enjoyed her cream tea with jam first…. just like us in Cornwall! Kernow Bys Vyken! (Cornwall Forever!)

  Excellent: Making the World a Better Place

By Rowan and Emily, Duloe Primary School

Duloe Primary Academy is a small school in the village of Duloe. We have just under 100 children aged 4-11 years old. At Duloe we know we have a responsibility to protect our planet. We are becoming increasingly concerned about plastic pollution, greenhouse gases and many other things that are making our planet sad. As a school, we decided to explore the big question, ‘How to make the world a better place?’ Throughout the school, children made kindness stones and placed them around the village, there are now plans to plant new trees locally, and we even wrote to the Prime Minister.

In Class 3, we were disgusted to learn that every year about 8 million tons of plastic waste escapes into the ocean, that’s the equivalent of setting 5 rubbish bags on every foot of the coastline around the world. By the year 2050 there could be more plastic than fish in the ocean. Something needs to change. We decided to write to celebrities and people of power, such as Rishi Sunak, David Attenborough and Greta Thunberg to ask them to use their status to help spread our messages.

A collection of our letters is included below.

  Determined: Walking Miles for a Good Cause

By Rosie and Jack, Polperro Primary School

On Tuesday, 27th February, ten dedicated children from Polperro Primary Academy took part in a sponsored five mile walk around the school playground to raise money for Marie Curie. They raised £692.05.

This caught the attention of the charity, due to it being such a small group of children who were raising such a large amount of money. Despite the wintery conditions, Year 6 completed the full five miles (the same distance as going from Talland Beach to Looe) demonstrating the school values and Bridge values of being excellent, determined, responsible and very…enthusiastic!

It is interesting to know some background information about Marie Curie to discover how amazing it is. Marie Curie was a Polish physicist and chemist (later becoming a French citizen). She discovered two things: radium and polonium and she invented the term ‘radioactivity’. She also contributed to the development of X-Rays and the treatment of cancer. The charity was established in 1948 , its history started at the Marie Curie Hospital , and was founded in 1930 – staffed entirely by women , who cared for over 700 patients in a year, in only 39 beds. Unfortunately in 1944, it was nearly entirely destroyed in a direct air raid hit. Four years after this marked the start of the Marie Curie Charity.

Polperro Primary Academy was proud to do the event for this charity and one year 6 student said; “It’s really nice to know we have helped someone somewhere”.

Mrs Hillman, Headteacher also said; “I am delighted to see the pupils enthusiastically raining money for such a worthwhile cause. Their determination to help others is commendable.”