Children at Bedales Pre-Prep Dunannie have performed their nativity musical play to a packed audience. Over the 
past few weeks, the children have also been busy organising fundraising events, celebrating Thanksgiving as part of a project on the Native Americans and practising music and dance in preparation for end of term celebrations.
Year 3 pupils worked on a project dedicated to the Native Americans, which culminated in a Thanksgiving dinner with everyone in the school eating a traditional turkey lunch to commemorate the date. Year 3’s classroom was re-named the ‘Town of Independence’ and the children followed the progress of the pioneers on the Oregon Trail.
The classroom was decorated with props that illustrated America’s founding years, with a Native American corner complete with totem pole and a Western area complete with wagon and saloon.
Lessons that explored American history featured activities such as writing a play about the pioneers and the gold rush and making a 3D model of the ‘Town of Independence’ complete with railroad, shops and houses.
The school has been busy fundraising too, donating £320 for Hounds for Heroes as a result of a bake-off.
School Head Jo Webbern became Dunannie’s very own Mary Berry as she viewed the cakes and gave certificates to each of the entries according to style.
Certificates were awarded for ‘fabulously, fantastic, fairy cakes’ and ‘the most sparklingly glamorous cake at the 
bakeoff’. In a separate event for Children in Need, pupils and staff donned their pyjamas for school and raised £220 for the campaign.
Commenting on the Autumn term at Dunannie, Jo Webbern said, “The nativity performance was a triumph. The Reception children did well performing key roles in the play, with children from Years 1 – 3 showcasing their talents in music and dance – including tap-dancing sheep.
This term has seen the children on a voyage of discovery with all year groups exploring the curriculum in creative and stimulating ways. The children have also enjoyed recent fundraising events as part of the overall programme of outreach at Bedales schools.
It has been a wonderful term and the children and staff deserve a well earned break in readiness for the Spring Term.”