Harvest Festival

Children from each class presented a harvest assembly to parents and the rest of the school. They used the letters of the word HARVEST help the audience think about the meaning of harvest. They thanked everyone for their donation of harvest gifts which were later given to elderly people in the community.

Lovely Leeson

Even long walks in the rain and mud couldn't dampen the spirits of children on the residential trip to Leeson House Field Studies Centre near Swanage.

They enjoyed the whole Leeson experience: comforting food; lovely grounds; helping in the dining room and kitchen; and tiredness and excitement of two nights in shared bedrooms.

Out and about the day completing their geography work in the stunning Purbeck scenery, they had fun with activities like orienteering in the evening. Tired teachers were delighted with the success of the visit but looked forward to a good night's sleep back home!

School Improvement Plan (SIP) Review

School Improvement Plan (SIP) Priorities and Projects for 2005 - 2006	Date Due	Review Comment
To maximise value added for maths and English for 2006 SATs, given that attainment will be lower than exceptional 2005 results	July 06	Initial Value added close to top 25% of schools nationally
Continue to raise standards in Years 3/4 by - Introducing ‘learning partners’ for speaking & listening (Literacy across the curriculum) installing Interactive Whiteboards (Enriching the curriculum)	Oct 05 Sept 06	Successful . Introduce learning partners in Y5/6 from Sept. 06. Whiteboards ordered
Projects to Secure Long-term Improvement
Accelerating Progress To raise standards and accelerate progress throughout the School Take part in Dorset’s Primary Strategy pilot based on the Intensifying Support Programme Continue to embed good practice from ISP through relevant whole staff professional development and accountability	Ongoing	Membership of Dorset's network for Schools in challenging circumstances includes £4,000 for an intervention project. Portland Pyramid have secured further funding for a literacy intervention.
Emotional Health Continue to embed teaching of Social & Emotional Aspects of Learning (SEAL) Continue to promote good behaviour & eliminate bullying (OFSTED) Healthy Schools Scheme		By the end of this term we will have completed a full cycle of SEAL units. 92% of parents viewed behaviour as 'good' in a survey.
Attendance (OFSTED action plan)		Review needed, following recent figures.
Enrichment Enrichment of Curriculum (Whole School Review Day) Literacy & numeracy across the curriculum (OFSTED) Community Partnership to create a quiet garden area in the main playground		Draft policies reviewed on training day Awaiting outcome of lottery bid for £10,000
Non-Curriculum Priorities
Governors Governor Effectiveness (OFSTED action plan)		Audit at on 11 July will give useful feedback on progress with procedures etc.
Remodelling the Workforce Statutory review of Staffing Structure Completion of major remodelling of staff room and administrative areas to create effective working spaces for staff.	Jan 06 Sept 05	Completed and published Achieved

World Book Day

Children from all classes marked World Book Day by dressing up as book characters. During a special assembly the characters introduced themselves and staff shared some of their favourite books. Each class also did activities throughout the day to help bring home the enjoyment that can come from books and reading.

Stunning Stained Glass

Children in Years 5 & 6 designed stunning stained glass windows as part of their assessment in RE.

They had to include symbols in their designs and explain their choices.

The designs attracted a lot of praise when they were on display on the windows of the school hall. This included the Rev. David Botterill, who had the difficult task of picking some award winners.

It is hoped to display the children's work in St. John's Church when the ongoing renovation work has been completed.

Top Performing School

UJS is in the top 12 per cent of schools in the country for English value added, according to figures just released by OFSTED. This is based on the progress made by Y6 children who took SAT test last summer from their results when they were tested four years earlier.

UJS also ranks in the top third of schools nationally for overall progress in English mathematics and science. Headteacher, Mr. McKechan, said, 'I'm delighted that the OFSTED data credits the progress made by the children in their four years here. It's fitting recognition for all the hard work put in by the children and their teachers to achieve such good results'.

UJS Open Monday as heating is fixed

Parents and Carers will be pleased to hear that School will be open as usual on Monday 28th November, now that the problem with the heating has been fixed. There had been no heat all day on Thursday and, with the prospect of another very cold day without any heat, the school had an emergency closure on Friday 25 November. Heat slowly started to return to UJS at 2pm on Friday as the replacement central heating pumps kicked in.

Union Dance move UJS

Children stayed after the end of school to show their moves to the whole group following a successful dance workshop. The activity was led by two dancers from London based Union Dance. This workshop was arranged for all Year 6 pupils on Portland as part of the Pyramid's anti-racism project.

2012 Olympics

A dozen UJS pupils, two from each class, attended the National Sailing Centre to hear whether London would be chosen to host the 2012 Olympics. The excitement of hearing of London's win at the base for the Olympic sailing was an unforgettable experience for all who were privileged enough to be there.

Y6 at Imperial War Museum

Gas mask drill

Gas mask drill
Originally uploaded by ujs.

Children in Years 5 & 6 experienced life as World War Two evacuees on their visit to the Nothe Fort. The children responded brilliantly and started their journey from school dressed as evacuees complete with name labels and gas mask boxes.

Viking Invasion

Viking Invasion
Originally uploaded by ujs.

Three Viking warriors brought history to life for children in Years 3 and 4 at Underhill School. The children enjoyed seeing and hearing about the Viking way of life as part of their history topic on Invaders.

Open Morning Success

A successful open morning on Wednesday 9th March saw 30 visitors look around Underhill school. The number of positive comments in the visitors' book showed how impressed the visitors were to see 'the classes hard at work' in a 'good atmosphere'. Children in Year 6 who guided the visitors around were praised by all as 'polite and informed guides' who were justly proud of their work and school.

Stream Dipping

Stream Dipping
Originally uploaded by ujs.

Stream dipping was one of many activities that engaged children in Years 5 and 6 on their visit to Sutton Poyntz Water Museum. This geography and science field trip was part of this term's project on water.

Tsunami Cake Sale

Tsunami Cake Sale
Originally uploaded by ujs.

A Cake Sale organised by two Year 6 pupils raised £79 for the Asian Tsunami appeal.
Queues for the cakes, which were supplied by the children and their families and friends, stretched the length of the school corridor.

Display_sk8_design

Display_sk8_design
Originally uploaded by ujs.

This colourful display of skateboard designs was done as part of a 'Family Learning' day at Weymouth College in collaboration with 'The Front Skatepark'.
Half a dozen of our pupils and their parents took part in the workshops. They learnt how to customise their decks and improved their own skateboarding with demonstrations and coaching.

Swimming Lessons

A swimming lesson in our teaching pool

School Pool Safety

Pupils at Underhill Junior School entered a competition to design a poster warning of the dangers of using the school's swimming pool out of school hours. The winning designs were chosen by Mike Higgs, a Boscawen Lifeguard. First was prize went to Ryan Biles with Richard Sharpe and Emily Bullin as runners up.
Although the school's teaching pool is surrounded by a 2 metre high fence, it has been plagued by visits from youngsters using the pool in evenings and at weekends.  Worried nieighbours have had to call the police on several occasions.
As a teaching pool the water is only 1 metre deep but headteacher Mr.A. McKechan is worried that someone diving or jumping into such shallow water could suffer a serious head or spinal injury. Another worry is vandalism and, recently, pupils were very disappointed to have to miss a day's swimming lessons whilst the pool was repaired after one such incident.
An added danger during the summer holidays is polluted water. The pool is closed down when the children break up and the water is no longer purified. Chemicals are also added to the water and anyone using the water over the school holidays risks disease from dirty water or harm from chemicals.

In it to Win £100

First prize in this year's Summer Draw is the grand sum of £100. You've got to be 'in it to win it', so please ask for your books of raffle tickets from the school office. (This year we are only sending tickets out on request.)

Even if you don't scoop the £100 prize there are many other attractive prizes to be won. By buying and selling as many tickets as you can, you will also be helping AFUS, the Friends of the School

The Grand Draw will be made at our Summer Fete on Friday 9th July at 4p.m. This year's theme is Euro 2004 and for the fancy dress competition children will need costumes based on the countries taking part in the European Football Championships.

Free Makeover Course

Are you looking to update your decorating ideas or to do something practical with your child? If so, then this free five-week evening course could be just what you need.

At the parent and child workshops you will learn to make and use stencils and to create patterns with paint. In the final week, you will use your ideas to decorate a screen board, perhaps before trying it out in a bedroom at home!

The course is being run at the school by Weymouth College and starts on Tuesday 8th June from 6pm to 8pm. Places are limited to 10 children with accompanying parents so please return the reply slip below as soon as possible.