Due to the current COVID-19 restrictions, regrettably we are unable to invite parents into school for a tour of Berkswich CE primary and nursery. We understand that choosing the right setting for your child is one of the most important decisions that you will make in your child’s learning journey. With this in mind, we hope to provide you with a range of opportunities to allow you to gain an insight into life as part of our special Berkswich community and the chance to ask questions. We certainly welcome the opportunity to support and reassure you as you organise your child’s first steps into Nursery and Reception. We are offering virtual meetings to provide an opportunity for new parents to meet our headteacher, EYFS leader and teaching staff. This will provide a great opportunity for you to ask questions and find out about our community and learning at Berkswich CE. Your child is a vital part of this process, and so we welcome them to join in with the meeting.
Reception slots
Tuesday 17th November 9am – 10:30am
Tuesday 1st December 3:30- 5:30pm
Tuesday 8th December 9am – 10:30am
Nursery slots
Tuesday 19th January 9am– 10:30am
Tuesday 2nd February 3:30—5:30pm
Tuesday 9th March 9am—10:30 am
To book your ten-minute virtual meeting on one of the following days please call the school office on 01785 337360 or send an email to office@berkswich.staffs.sch.uk
Please visit our admissions page to take a closer look at our Nursery and Reception classes, as well as our admissions arrangements. Thank you.
We were very excited to learn that PopUK have created an uplifting song which encourages us to experience happiness, hope and joy as we sing together. There are so many benefits of singing and we'd love it if we could enjoy these together. Below, you will find the lyrics. Underneath these, there are words that can be printed out, music with the melody added and - for when you have learnt the song - the backing track to sing along to.
We'd love you to email a photo of you or you and your family singing along. If you send your photo in, it may be included in a video collage which Mrs Joint will be making for everyone to see, celebrating our Berkswich CE community singing. When we are back at school, we will be ready to sing as a giant school choir!
Are you ready for the next challenge?
It's amazing how many sounds you can make with your hands, voice and feet! Can you create a body percussion piece to go with this song? Could you find a way of writing it down in pictures, or in symbols, so that others can try it out? You could choose to make a four beat rhythm which you could repeat through each chorus. Alternatively, you could change it to suit each verse. Feel free to add dance moves too.
At the bottom of this page, there are some videos to give you a little inspiration. There is also a metronome which will keep the beat going whilst you practise. If you would like to send Mrs Joint a short clip of your percussion (no longer than 30 seconds), then please ask your parents to email this to her via (office@berkswich.staffs.sch.uk). It would be great to share your moves and music with others in school.
Lift up your voice
©Andy Silver 2020
Verse 1
Sing in every season
Sing in sun or rain
Sing in stormy weather
When the skies are dark and grey
Sing to share together
Sing to join as one
Sing to help each other
When we’re feeling all alone
Pre-Chorus
There’s a joy deep in our souls
As we gather, young and old
Sing the music loud and strong… sing this song
Chorus
Lift up your voice, our hearts rejoice
Feel the rhythm, feel the beat, let’s sing with joy
Lift up your voice, our hearts rejoice
Feel the rhythm, feel the beat, let’s sing with joy
Lift up your voice.
Lift up your voice yeah
Verse 2
Sing when there’s no answer
Sing when we’re confused
Sing when we are worried
And we don’t know what to do
Sing to heal our sadness
Sing to calm our minds
Sing to make us hopeful
For the future, throughout time
Pre-Chorus
There’s a joy deep in our souls
As we gather, young and old
Sing the music loud and strong… sing this song
Chorus
Lift up your voice, our hearts rejoice
Feel the rhythm, feel the beat, let’s sing with joy
Lift up your voice, our hearts rejoice
Feel the rhythm, feel the beat, let’s sing with joy
Lift up your voice.
Bridge
Oh oh oh oh
Lift up your voice
Oh oh oh oh
Lift up your voice
Oh oh oh oh
Lift up your voice
Oh oh oh oh
Chorus
Lift up your voice, our hearts rejoice
Feel the rhythm, feel the beat, let’s sing with joy
Lift up your voice, our hearts rejoice
Feel the rhythm, feel the beat, let’s sing with joy
Lift up your voice.
Click on the link below to practise with a steady beat. Choose a tempo of about 88. You can always slow it down whilst you try out your new sounds. By clicking on the 'four' button, you will hear a slightly different sound on the first beat in each bar. Please do not play this too loudly: it won't be great fun for others to listen to for too long!
Once you have mastered your rhythm, try it with the music track above. Can you draw out your percussion piece so that someone else could follow it? This is also a great way for you to remember it when you are back at school.