Celebration & Poetry Assembly

 What a busy assembly today! Here are some photographic highlights; performances of some of this week's poetry can be seen on the Facebook and Twitter feeds.

Mr Ansell performed some brilliant Michael Rosen poems 

- ask your child about 'Beans' and 'the Torch'

200 Housepoints by March is a major achievement. We were delighted to award three certificates this morning.

Sixteen children have achieved an impressive 100 Housepoints

Our amazing football teams have had a great week representing Havering at the London Youth Games

A talented young guitarist received a Merit in his exam

The swimmers had a great week in the pool

Year Six performed TS Eliot's 'Macavity: The Mystery Cat'

Year Five perform as a group

Year Four classes performed a verse each

Talking Turkeys

5S perform Benjamin Zephaniah's 'Talking Turkeys' as part of Poetry Week

On The Ning Nang Nong

Class 3GM perform Spike Milligan's poem as part of the UJS Poetry Week.

At the River

Performance poetry with Val Bloom

Poetry Week @ UJS

Poet Val Bloom is in school today as part of our Poetry Week.

We've all learnt some Jamaican Patois, and performed some of Val's work with her.

Year 5 & 6 then moved into the library for smaller group workshops.

More information about Val can be found on her website: http://valeriebloom.co.uk/about/bio/


Come back to this page for regular updates during the week.

Rotary shoebox gifts

Before Christmas we filled shoeboxes of gifts for children and families in need around the world.

Mr Ansell launched the shoebox appeal with an assembly.

Shoebox Assembly

Rotarians George Larkey and Geoff Furzland attended the Christmas Concert and thanked everyone for making the gifts.

Presenting the gifts

The boxes are filled with many useful items and toys which Rotary will send to children in need  from different parts of the world.

Mr Larkey returned with his colleagues Terry Monk and Colin Davies to start the 80+ boxes on their journey. The boxes containing gifts, toys and useful items are being shipped overseas.

Gifts to the world from UJS

Mr Woodford, aided by representatives from Year 6, handed the boxes over to the local Rotarians who will forward them to the team that ships them overseas. The President and members of the Rotary Club of Hornchurch and Upminster said 'we would like to thank all the UJS children and families for supporting the scheme and spreading joy around the world.'

Celebration Assembly

Celebration Assembly 26 February 2016

Well done to all of these children for their excellent work. These are the children who shared their learning in assembly today and we hope to share this with you via our Blog each week!

Year 5 have been working with the London Borough of Havering to investigate the air quality around the school. They placed Nitrogen Dioxide tubes around the main streets and the park of Upminster. These tubes measured the air pollution.

They also looked at different types of lichens as they indicate air quality. Lichens are a cross between fungus and algae.

After 8 weeks the Nitrogen Dioxide tubes were analysed and they were used to produce a map to show pollution around the school. To improve the pollution around the school it was suggested that we have more plant containers in front of our school.

The children also created leaflets and posters about air pollution. You can see some of the posters in the photo. You can also see the banner that was created using the children's posters. Our school won the competition for the whole of the London Borough of Havering and Aaryan and Isabelle's posters was chosen as the best overall! Fantastic!!

By working on this project the Year 5s have been supporting our School Vision by learning about 'the world around us' and about our 'community'.

Year 3 children shared the vividly colourful rainforest art work and Year 5 shared their Clarice Cliff clay containers. Year 5 will be using these for their World War II Victory Party later in the term.

 Today we also announced our winning success at the Six Nations rugby tournament at Oakfields. That's a big trophy - I think we are going to need a larger trophy cabinet. Well done to all those who took part.

These children all received certificates for passing their music exams. Very well done!

6R have been learning about sequences in gymnastics and have created a video showcase. Also, the video was produced and edited by a pupil in the class - Christopher. Well done everyone - lots of our School Values in action here! (Unfortunately, the video is too large to upload to this Blog).

Year 4 have two classes to share next week. I hear we may be getting some video footage from 4J?

Tag rugby champions

Upminster Junior School had a Six Nations rugby competiton. We played as England. Our first match was against Oakfields - it was six to them and six to us. Then we played three other schools and won them all.

UJS Tag Rugby team 2016

There was some excellent opposition, overall we won with 21 points. This is the third time that UJS have won this tournament. We are delighted to keep the trophy for another year.

Robbie Lee-Weedon - Year 6

Y4 Learning Challenge

Message from Mr Woodford....

This morning four children from 4Z came to show me their Learning Challenges. I was so impressed by their work and they way they described their learning. They have clearly been working very hard and have enjoyed creating these fabulous projects.

Owen's Water Cycle

Olivia's Water Cycle

Olivia's 'three states of matter' poem

Holly's Water Cycle

Holly's Mayan numbers

James's model of Violet (a character from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory)

Quicksticks Hockey tournament

On Wednesday the 10th February, three girls & three boys from Years 5&6 went to Coopers' to play in a Quicksticks hockey tournament against other schools in Havering.

Schools were split into four groups. Our UJS team was in 'group 3', and we played against St Edwards, Pyrgo, Mead, Parsonage Farm and Branfil. Our first game was against St Edwards, which we won 2-0. Next we played against Pyrgo and we won 4-0. Out third game was against Mead, which again ended in a 2-0 victory. After that we played Parsonage Farm and this was a game that we unfortunately lost 2-1. Still determined, we finally went on to play the last match of the group against Branfil, which we knew would be hard. Although they scored early on we pushed through and successfully won 2-1. The winners of each group then made it into the semi-finals.

When the results were announced three teams in our group had only lost one game, so it came down to goal difference. Despite us beating them earlier on, Branfil made it through to the next round, so unluckily that was the end of the tournament for us. We were, however, one of three schools to receive a 'passion' school value card. This award proves to us that we worked well together and during the tournament supported each other.

The team and I would like to thank Mr Stanley for his coaching and hard work.

Kira McFaull - 6R

Safer Internet day

We have had a great day taking part in Safer Internet day 2016 this year. Our digital leaders did a great job in the assembly this morning and lots of pupils took part in posting positive comments on pictures put up in the corridor.The children were brilliant at finding the negative comment! 

UJS goes to Havana via Malborough Gardens

Year 5 & 6 visited Hall Mead this morning to see a performance of 'Copacabana'.

Waiting for the performance to start

The play performed by the Hall Mead pupils was amazing. They played their parts with great enthusiasm and confidence which made the play even more enjoyable.

All of the pupils bought the Copacabana to life. The singing, dancing and acting was brilliant, furthermore all of the children looked like they were enjoying themselves. The costumes were beautiful and brought lots of colour to the stage.

The finale

The pupils that helped with the lighting and the stage crew were all very good and the children helping with the music were amazing too. Some of the performers used to come to UJS.

Overall the performance was excellent and all of the teachers who helped bring the play to life were great too.

Libby Orriss 6W

County athletics

On Saturday 30th January 2016, Chloe Brand, Callum Basinger and I took part in the East Region Sportshall Athletics competition.

There were five teams, Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire & Hertfordshire. In itself, it was an honour to be there. To qualify for the Essex team we had to go to three trials. There were many people at the competition and our opponents were very fierce, however, our team were determined to persevere and with our efforts we came in third place. We were supported by family and Mrs Day, the athletics coach.

There was a wide variety of events which included javelin, standing long jump, speed bounce, obstacle relay, hurdles relay and a two lap race. I tool part in the 4x1 relay, hurdles relay and standing long jump. It was a great opportunity to represent our county by competing as part of the Essex team and I enjoyed every passing minute.

Olivia Boachie

Three in a row for the ladies

Another Upminster Derby for the Girls, this time at home to Branfil.

On the 28th of January the Girls' Football team played a very tough match against Branfil Primary School. The UJS goals were scored by Ruby Barnes who scored two goals, Chloe Brand scored 2, Olivia Sorrell scored an amazing penalty to take the score to 5-0, Evie Gadsdon scored one goal which was a tough goal to get and we also had a stunning goal from Bethan Hodges. Branfil netted two, taking the final score 7-2, in what was an excellent match.

Match report: Holly Bradley - Defender & Olivia Sorrell - Wing

Success at home for the Girls

The UJS Girls' football team had their second match on Tuesday. 

They played their first home game versus Hacton school and showed great teamwork and sportsmanship as well as how amazingly talented they are.

 By the first half they were 3 goals up and in the end won 4-0.

Miss Beqiri - Team Manager

Match Report - the Upminster Derby

On the 13th January 2016, Upminster Junior School Girls' Football team took on Engayne Primary School. What should have been a home match had to be moved to Engayne because of the weather.

UJS triumphed in a hard and physical match against excellent opponents, with goals from Ruby Barnes and Evie Gadsdon. The final score was 2-1, with a penalty against us.

A massive thank you to all the supporters, and especially to our coaching team of Omar, Lizzy and Miss Beqiri.

Match Report: Chloe Brand - Centre

Maths Workshops

As part of Maths Week, some Year 5 & Year 6 pupils created and organised a maths workshop for our lower school pupils on Wednesday & Thursday.

Each child was challenged to complete some exciting activities such as:

- Tetrahedron Teaser


- Transforming Times Tables


- Polygon Puzzler


- Competitive Coin Collecting


- Subtraction Shoot-out


- Forearm Fling


Adam, Year 4, attended the workshop on Wednesday.
'It was good, my favourite was where you stand opposite each other, a bigger boy calls out a sum, and we had to answer it. Whoever gets it right can kick the ball. If you score a goal your team gets a point'.

Parents: your turn next... Maths Workshop tonight (Thursday) 7pm in the hall with Mr Ansell.

Christmas Lunch

Christmas dinner at UJS. Havering Catering have provided turkey and all the trimmings...

And it is served by our very own elves!

Play area is open

 The whole school gathered on a gloomy Monday morning for a very special event.

Mr Woodford made a speech welcoming everyone to the special moment in the school's history. More than just an opening of the play area, it was a celebration of the years of hard work and dedication to the school by the Parents' Association.

He explained how the play area was a fine example of the school values in action. He thanked the School Council for their plans.

Mrs Wright

Mr Woodford thanked the PA team for their hard work, especially Mrs Wright (Chair for the last four years) & her family. Mrs Wright was presented with a bouquet as a token of the school's gratitude. Mr Wright, who is also a Governor, has looked after and managed the funds in his role as PA treasurer. The cheque for £50,000 was presented to the school by Rebecca Wright, now a Coopers' pupil, on behalf of the Parents' Association.

Other staff members were thanked - especially Mr Brown, Mr Fitzgerald & Mr Rowden for moving a ton (literally!) of leaves, moving benches and preparing the area. Mrs Wyer has put together a lunchtime plan to enable all children to be able to use the play area on a regular basis. 

Mr Woodford then handed over to the Mayor of Havering to conduct the official opening. There was a countdown...

... and the playground was open! The School Council and representatives from each class needed no encouragement - they were off to play! A few members of staff were also spotted 'testing' the equipment.

 

The official photograph

Mr Woodford feels on top of the world

Governors inspect the equipment

Mrs Wright 'tests' the equipment

Each class were given a chance in turn to play on the equipment on opening day. They will now have the opportunity to use the area, which includes a trim trail, stage and benches, during their lunch breaks. For more information and photographs please click here to read Creative Play's case study