Birdwatch Survey Inspires Pupils
Eagle-Eyed pupils will be taking part in the RSPB’s Big Schools’ Birdwatch later this month. Youngsters from Cundall Manor School will be taking part in the nationwide campaign to monitor and record the local winged wildlife across three days this January. The RSPB claim that it is the world’s biggest garden and wildlife survey aimed at individuals and the family. Pupils have been preparing for the event by constructing bird tables and feeders to help the native wildlife during the winter. The school, based near Thirsk and Ripon in North Yorkshire, will be encouraging its pupils to take note of the wildlife they share their school with. The initiative at the school is being run by Victoria Wick. She said: “We have a wonderful environment at Cundall Manor School and our pupils are keen to get involved with the outdoors.” Mrs Wick added: “Our pupils enjoy the great outdoors and regularly engage with a wide variety of gardening and nature based activities. The Big Schools’ Birdwatch is a great way for our youngsters to engage with the wildlife in the school grounds while also contributing to a great campaign.” The school will be tweeting the most interesting results.
ISA National Swim Finals
Pupils from a North Yorkshire School are set to make a splash at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park later this month. Youngsters from Cundall Manor School will compete at the ISA’s National Swimming Finals in the London Aquatics Centre at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park on Saturday 21 January. FIVE pupils from the school, based between Ripon and Thirsk, will compete for the prestigious national prize across three races. Swimming Captain, George Sanderson, will compete in the 50 meters breaststroke and as part of a medley team made up of other members from ISA North schools. Year 7 girls, Millie Baker, Lauren Gaunt-Edwards, Minnie Pollock and Pippa Bentley, will compete in the 4 x 50 meters Freestyle relay award, after winning both the Freestyle and Medley relay events at the ISA North qualifying event in late 2016. Swim squad coach, Jo Pollock, said: “The team have been fantastic this year. We have seen some wonderful results and a great amount of effort put in to both their training and their competitions this year.” She added: “The competition is due recognition of how hard they have worked but it is also great opportunity for our pupils to go down to the Olympic Park and be inspired by the London 2012 legacy.” The event will be the second time this academic year that some of the squad have been to a national final at the Olympic park, with members of the Girls’ relay team having recently claimed the ISA Under 13 National Junior Hockey Champions Trophy.