Oxford High

Stella started in Yr3 at Oxford High in September (picture above from the first week of school). She's been getting a lot out of the excellent teaching there. She particularly enjoys science and art and tells us she wants to be either a scientist or an artist, or if possible both. She's started doing Judo which she loves, especially when she can practise on her little sister. She's part of a Chinese club and is learning some characters and simple Chinese phrases and also now has piano lessons. She's also learnt a bit of netball and some hockey. So, lots of new things. It's great to have a school which provides all these opportunities although I have to admit that I miss being able to witness her progress more closely as I did with her clubs in London.

This week was the school play. It was a Roald Dahl version of Goldilocks, which involved Goldilock's trial by jury. Stella was part of the prosecution (pictured below). The singing was of a really high standard and the girls seemed to really enjoy themselves. The bottom picture is of Stella delivering her lines.

At home Stella continues to enjoy drawing a lot and reading. She's also starting to enjoy building lego. When the weather was a bit better she had lots of fun climbing trees in University parks. She's very kind to her little brother Herbie and constantly wants to hold him, which he loves. It's been a very busy few months and Stella is growing up fast.

Gymnast

While we were in Hackney, Stella went to gymnastics every Wednesday. She was doing well and had earned three badges. During the summer holidays she and Africa did a gym summer school and this photo was after they had finished their fantastic end of course display.

Sicily

We had a lovely holiday in Sicily at Easter. Here is Stella on top of what are supposed to be mini volcanoes - can you tell??? Other sites were more impressive than this, but all together we had lots of fun with lovely food and swimming. Although, I'm sure we'll be back to Cergallina as usual next year, all being well.

Stella is doing really well at school. She had a top report at the end of term, with As in everything, that she was very proud of. She seems to really enjoy school and has some lovely friends. Her reading is coming along brilliantly. She can read chapter books no problem now, and even though I'm reading Harry Potter to them at night time, she keeps reading ahead and it's hard to keep up. My challenge is finding enough great books for her.

Other activities like gymnastics, swimming, singing and art are all thoroughly enjoyed by her. There is the occasional moan about being dragged off to another club after school, but she always enjoys it once she gets there.

Stella will become a big sister again soon, and I have a feeling she's going to be a big help! She really is a very lovely girl.

Birthday time again - Seven already

I am really behind on putting up pictures but here are a few from Stella's birthday last week. Firstly the cakes on the actual birthday and then with her friends at a party the day after.

We had lots of fun with party games. The favourite was the detective game where all her friends were detectives and Africa was a robber. As she dashed in the room in fancy dress, everyone had to quickly write down six of the things she was wearing. They loved it! Another favourite was the flour mountain. They took it in turns to scoop flour away from a sweet which was balancing on top of a flour mountain. The first to knock the sweet off had to eat it without using their hands. Very messy and of course, all the children really wanted to knock the sweet off!

Friends in clockwise order from Stella: Africa, Tilly, Lexi, Anousha, Harriet, Alex, Inacio, Winnie and Lilah.