Extra Curricular

Clubs are run on a variety of days by both our teachers and external providers. Throughout the year we make sure that all age ranges from Foundation Stage (Reception) to Year 6 get an opportunity to take part in an out of hours club.

Children and families are informed about clubs on offer through our weekly newsletter. A variety of different clubs are offered each term and include things like multi skills, indoor athletics, Gaelic football, netball, yoga , badminton, maths club and choir.

We give opportunities for families to enjoy extra curricular clubs together and are currently running family Salsa on Thursday evenings.

The clubs are always very popular with the children and enjoyed by all.

Badminton Club

Mrs Kennedy and Ms Cope have been running an after school Badminton Club, which has been popular with both children and staff.

On Saturday 25th February, 2012 we took part in the BCSSA Badminton Tournament, we had only had two weeks practice and managed to come 6th overall. Our Boys Singles and pairs managed to come 5th.

Cheerleading Club

We asked children what clubs they would like to see taking place before or after school. Lots of children requested cheerleading.

Our cheerleading club meets once a week before school. They are getting better every week and are working on a routine to show the whole school.

Choir

The Abbey School Gospel choir is made up of a group of children from Year 2 to Year 6.

Choir practices are made fun and the children are encouraged to use various techniques when using their vocal talents and are given the opportunity to sing solo or as part of the choral. The children enjoy performing a variety of music ranging from Gospel, Christian Rock to pop music and songs taken from musicals such as Oliver and the Lion King.

The Abbey School Gospel choir play an important part in the school. They lead the praise and worship at Masses and at sacramental services and perform at many music festivals and events within the local community.

A CD has been produced in a professional recording studio, capturing the many talents of all the children involved in the Abbey School Gospel Choir.

Choir practices are held on Monday evenings from 3.15pm to 4.30pm. There are no auditions required for those children wishing to join the choir. If you are in Year 2 to Year 6 and enjoy singing, simply come along and join in the fun!

Film Club

Every Monday afternoon children from Year 5 and 6 meet to watch, discuss and review films from across the world.

Through the Filmclub website those in the club are able to catch up on film news, research upcoming movies and request the next blockbuster that we will be enjoying together. The children are able to share reviews of the films and are encouraged to sharpen their critical reasoning to produce an informative and intelligent review.

Our Film Club aims to 'make a wide range of films available to young people, which challenge, unite, educate, amaze and inspire. Children in our club will have the opportunity to explore the wonderful world of film. Over time we will gain access to 'Close Encounters'. These 'Close Encounters use Filmclub's industry contacts to introduce club members to film's top professionals. From directors and actors to accountants, make-up artists and stuntmen, the film industry has roles for a variety of skills and talents.'

Pupil's opinion: "Filmclub is great, it has to be one of the best after school clubs ever! In Filmclub you can watch movies, review them and currently we are making our very own films."

Gymnastics Club

"We have been very lucky to be given the chance to attend Gymnastics after school club, on Wednesday evenings.

Children from both key stages take part. Everyone has the opportunity to learn new skills. We have also got to go to competitions and have lots of fun. There are different types of rolls and shapes that we have learnt with the help of our teacher.

The competition that we entered included children from other local schools. Our school came first and we got through to the final.

We think that gymnastics is healthy and great fun, you also get to do different activities and become really flexible. Gymnastics can help you to be good at other sports, because it improves your balance and concentration."

by Natalie and Sophie

Running Club

Every week a group of Year 4 and 5 pupils take to the roads to complete a run. They are aiming to complete a marathon over a few weeks of Spring Term 2012.

You will be able to follow their progress below:

Week	Date	Distance Run	Time	Average Pace
1	w/e 27 Jan 2012	1.29 miles	18.10 min	14.03 mins/mile
2	w/e 3 Feb 2012	2.06 miles	26.03 min	12.64 mins/mile
3	w/e 10 Feb 2012	1.90 miles	22.55 min	12.04 mins/mile
4	w/e 24 Feb 2012	2.77 miles	31.34 min	11.23 mins/mile
5	w/e 2 Mar 2012	1.59 miles	18.14 min	11.27 mins/mile
6	w/e 9 Mar 2012	1.27 miles	13.51 min	10.58 mins/mile
7	w/e 16 Mar 2012	1.55 miles	20.12 min	13.03 mins/mile
8	w/e 20 Apr 2012	1.77 miles	11.21 min	11.36 mins/mile
9	w/e 27 Apr 2012	1.76 miles	15.40 min	11.54 mins/mile

Note: From week 7 the running club are now in training to compete in cross-country competitions. So their course has been changed to include hills and uneven surfaces.

Science Club

"Each Monday we go to Science Club. We did lots of fun experiments, like making ice-cream, spaghetti and marshmallow towers, periscopes, parachutes and electrical circuits.

We learnt lots of new things. We learnt that salt, ice and milk can make ice cream without putting it in a freezer. We also learnt how to make our own switches in a circuit. We learnt how to make periscopes accurately.

Some weeks we had some visitors that were science or engineering professionals who helped us. We had lots of fun."

by Sarah and Rajiv, Year 3

Some mad scientists led our after school Science Club in the Autumn of 2011.

It was very exciting learning about the universe and solar system with Professor Super Nova!

Yogabugs

Yogabugs sessions run every Friday before school.

Children from both Key Stages are able to begin their day in this fun and relaxing way. They enter school fresh and ready for whatever the day may hold in store for them.

Pupil's opinion: "I'm so glad that I was chosen to take part in Yoga before school. It calms me down before the long day ahead. There are excellent yoga moves like The Butterfly, in this move you have to sit on the ground and pull your feet together towards your body. Then flap your legs up and down whilst keeping your legs together. I like this move because it is simple and strengthens your legs. I also now know how to calm myself down if I am stressed or angry. It is for all ages so if you get the opportunity to do yoga then don't miss out!"

HSBC Bank

Every Monday afternoon in term time, our school becomes a branch of the HSBC Bank.

Year 6 children apply for the positions within the bank: manager, assistant manager and clerks. They are then short-listed and interviewed.

All children in Key Stage 2 can open a bank account. This is just one of the ways we prepare our children to achieve economic wellbeing.