Year 2

At the end of the school year, a special ceremony awaited the Year 1 pupils – their initiation as readers. After months of learning letters, syllables and their first books, the children’s parents were delighted to congratulate them on becoming proper readers. The ceremony began with the arrival of the king, who welcomed the children to a fairy-tale kingdom. However, before they could be inducted as readers, they had to demonstrate their reading skills and complete three tasks. First, they helped the king put the jumbled fairy tales back in the right order. They then worked in small groups, putting the plots of well-known fairy tales into the correct order and subsequently reading them out to the others. The final task was to match the mixed-up quotes to the fairy-tale characters. Each pupil then read their sentence aloud, demonstrating the progress they had made in their reading over the year. After successfully completing all the tasks, a ceremonial reading pledge was taken. The King then called the pupils up one by one and knighted them as readers. I hope that their joy in books and discovering new stories will continue in the years to come. 📚👑✨

Today was a day full of discovery, learning and adventure for our pupils. The Trilopark mobile museum visited the school, introducing the children to the fascinating world of dinosaurs, prehistoric animals and fossils. During the interactive programme, the children were able to try their hand at the work of real palaeontologists, examine genuine fossils and take home a souvenir they had made themselves. Three stations awaited the children. At the first station, they went in search of a dinosaur. The nearly three-metre-long raptor skeleton attracted the most attention. The pupils became field palaeontologists and worked together to uncover the individual parts of the skeleton. They then helped to reassemble it and learnt how fossils are formed and how scientists study the Earth’s distant past. The guide also explained a number of interesting facts about dinosaurs to the children in an engaging way and set the record straight on some common myths. At the second station, a hands-on exhibition awaited the children, where the exact opposite of the familiar museum rule ‘Do not touch!’ applied. Under the guidance of an expert instructor, they were able to hold real fossils in their hands and examine them up close. The pupils examined, for example, dinosaur teeth, a mammoth molar, the teeth of the giant prehistoric shark Megalodon, and other rare fossils. Thanks to the opportunity to touch everything and examine it in detail, the children gained a much deeper understanding of life on Earth millions of years ago. The creative workshop was also a great success. Each pupil chose a plaster replica of a prehistoric find and coloured it in according to their own imagination. There were several types of models to choose from – for example, the skulls of a T-Rex, a velociraptor, an allosaurus, a dilophosaurus and a sabre-toothed tiger, as well as a slab featuring trilobites or ammonites, and many others. The children were thrilled by the Trilopark mobile museum programme. The combination of fun, discovery, hands-on demonstrations and creative activities transformed an ordinary school day into an unforgettable journey into our planet’s distant past. We would like to thank the instructors for the engaging programme and look forward to further similar events.

On Wednesday 27 May, our school held its traditional Spring Festival, which this year had a magical, fairy-tale atmosphere. Well-known and much-loved fairy-tale characters guided us through the entire programme, which was full of songs, dancing and poems. We met the Smurfs, and we were really worried whether they would win their battle against Gargamel; we also met the Minions, who turned up at our school and were trying to find out how things actually work at school and what new things they could learn. We discovered the magic of the fairy tale “Long Live the Ghosts” and stretched our limbs with Bob and Bobek. We set off for Hollywood with Shrek, accompanied by beautiful princesses and, of course, his faithful friend Donkey. And because fairy tales sometimes get a bit mixed up, our drama club’s performance showed us just how that can turn out. The older pupils also deserve great admiration for enchanting us with a wonderful musical performance. The magical atmosphere of the whole afternoon was further enhanced by the marvellous costumes and carefully prepared props. During the festivities, the children also enjoyed fun activity stations, and we all tucked into the delicious refreshments prepared by our pupils’ parents. We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to them for their help and support. Thank you to all the performers, organisers and visitors for a wonderful afternoon together, full of joy, laughter and a fairy-tale atmosphere.

We’re already looking forward to next year!

We took the pupils to see a musical entertainment show at Polanova Hall, which forms part of the town library. It transported us into the colourful world of the big top, music and circus skills. During the programme, the children not only had fun but also learnt some interesting facts about circus animals – for example, where elephants come from, how people dance in India, and whether it is easy to tame wild animals. The show was full of songs, storytelling and active audience participation. The children enthusiastically played the part of circus animals, sang new songs and took part in the programme with great enthusiasm, some even joining in on stage. The children really enjoyed the show.

The Year 1 pupils made their final trip of the year to the Sofronka Arboretum, where a programme entitled ‘A Journey into the World of Bees, Trees and Animals’ had been organised for them. During the programme, the children learnt many interesting facts about the life of bees and the work of a beekeeper. They discussed why bees are so important to nature and all the equipment a beekeeper needs to use in their work. The demonstration of the glass beehive and the beekeeping tools sparked great interest. The children were able to examine items such as the frames, the smoker and the beekeeper’s hat, which they later even tried on. The programme also included a talk about the forest, forest animals and the rules for behaving appropriately in the countryside. The children were reminded of what is and isn’t allowed in the forest, learnt to recognise trees and discovered interesting facts about forest wildlife. We revisited the differences between horns and antlers during a practical demonstration. To round off the day, we paid a visit to the fallow deer, though this time, due to the noise coming from the surrounding area, we observed them from a distance.

On Wednesday, we held a project day at our school called ‘Journey Through Time’, which took the children on a journey through various historical periods. The programme began with the reading of a letter from a ‘mad scientist’, who left the children an important message – the time machine had broken down and it was up to them to fix it. The children then split into teams, came up with their own names and enthusiastically created team flags, which accompanied them throughout the day. The groups then set off to various stations, where they completed tasks from different historical eras. They visited ancient Egypt, where they built pyramids, deciphered hieroglyphs and even tried their hand at mummification. In ancient Greece and Rome, they competed in a mini-Olympics and learnt about the gods and their symbols. In the Middle Ages, they defended a castle against enemy attack and practised logical thinking. The Renaissance provided scope for creativity – they devised inventions and presented their own ideas. In the modern era, they then tried their hand at encryption, communication and building ‘robots’ from various materials. The whole day took place in a very pleasant, collaborative and creative atmosphere. The children worked with great enthusiasm, helped one another and had lots of fun at the same time. The day concluded with a joint finale, which symbolically ‘repaired’ the time machine. We would like to thank all the pupils for their enthusiasm and excellent cooperation. A big thank you also goes to the teachers who helped organise the project. We believe the children thoroughly enjoyed the day and took away not only new knowledge but also lots of wonderful memories.

Today, the Year 1 pupils went on an educational trip to the Sofronka Arboretum for a programme called ‘When We Say “Tree”’. A morning full of learning and fun outdoor activities awaited them. During the programme, the children learnt to recognise the most common types of trees and discovered how individual trees differ from one another. Together, they discussed how seeds spread in nature and also named the different parts of a tree. There was also an interesting discussion about which forest creatures can live in trees and how trees protect themselves. The talk was complemented by practical demonstrations – the children examined pine cones, twigs with needles and leaves. We also stopped to visit the bees and fallow deer. The whole programme took place in the pleasant surroundings of the arboretum, and the children thoroughly enjoyed it. Not only did they gain new knowledge about trees and nature, but it was also clear that they were enjoying their time outdoors.

To mark Earth Day, we reminded the pupils why it is important to protect our planet and look after the environment. The whole day was packed with interesting activities during which the children learnt, created and helped those around them. To start with, we talked together about why we celebrate Earth Day, why the Earth is so important to us and all the things it provides for us. The children then worked in groups to create posters on the theme of ‘What harms the Earth and what helps it’. We then explained the concept of recycling and watched short videos about our planet and how to sort waste properly. The children then practised what they’d learnt on a worksheet, where they reviewed the principles of waste sorting, energy saving and the many ways in which water features in our daily lives. We spent the last lesson outdoors. A trail had been prepared for the children, featuring ten tasks focused on nature conservation and environmentally friendly behaviour. However, what brought the children the greatest joy was the final clean-up of the area around the school, which they set about with great enthusiasm and a keen desire to help. For their effort, enthusiasm and excellent attitude, they all deserved praise and a medal. We all thoroughly enjoyed Earth Day together, and we believe that the children took away not only new knowledge but also a desire to look after our planet every day.

On Thursday, the children took part in the Animánie programme for the first time. They learnt about the basic principles of animation and how it is created – from the initial idea right through to its realisation. The theme was classic fairy tales, through which the children revisited, in a playful way, what is important in a fairy tale, following the sequence of events, the setting and the characters. And then it was time to get creative. In the second part, the pupils took it a step further. Their fairy-tale characters, made from modelling clay, began to come to life. To start with, the children were introduced to the technique of animation and the necessary equipment. The whole process was explained to them in detail. The children soon realised that animation requires a great deal of patience, care and concentration, as every movement must be very subtle indeed. By gradually compiling a large number of photographs, they created a short animation. Following an introductory demonstration and explanation, the pupils split into three groups to work together. Each group created its own short animated story. The children communicated with one another, agreed on the individual steps and watched with enthusiasm as their characters gradually ‘came to life’. At the end, there was a joint evaluation of the whole project. The children had the opportunity to present their animations to the others, share their experiences and appreciate the work of their classmates. The result was a series of very successful and creative animations of which the children can be justifiably proud. The whole project was a wonderful example of how creativity, collaboration and new skills can be combined in a fun and playful way.

In the run-up to Easter, our Year 1 pupils enjoyed a varied project day centred on Easter. The whole day was devoted to learning about traditions, creative activities, games and fun learning. To start with, the children learnt about Easter customs and traditions. Through a presentation, they discovered the origins of Easter and how it is celebrated here. During the morning, the children completed various Easter-themed tasks. They practised reading, put jumbled sentences back together, solved maths problems and used a torch to find pictures. To finish off, they took part in an ‘escape game’ and almost all of them managed to escape. There was also time for crafts – the children made a cute little bunny pencil topper out of fuzzy wire, which they took home as a souvenir. The children really enjoyed it when we went outside. For example, they competed in an egg-and-spoon race, tried scooping up eggs, or passed a willow switch to one another in various ways. There was also the ever-popular Easter chocolate hunt, which the children were allowed to eat as a reward. The project day was a great success.

On Monday, a project entitled ‘A Journey with a Drop of Water’ was organised for the children to mark World Water Day. The whole day was devoted to learning about water as one of the most important elements of life on Earth. To begin with, the children learnt about the water cycle in nature and discovered the different states in which water occurs. Together, we also talked about all the ways we use water in our daily lives and why it is important not to waste it. Throughout the day, the pupils completed a variety of water-themed tasks that developed both their knowledge and their ability to work together. To round off the project day, the children tried their hand at several simple experiments with water. For example, they created a rainbow on a plate, mixed colours and discovered what new shades were created by combining them. An optical illusion was also a great success, captivating and surprising the children. The project day was a great success and the children took away not only new knowledge but also several new experiences.

On Saturday 21 March 2026, our school hosted its traditional Easter workshop. Children arrived with their parents, and the whole morning was filled with creativity and a spring-like atmosphere. Five stations had been set up for the participants, where they could try out various art techniques and create their own original Easter decorations. They took home a little bird made from iron-on beads, a bunny in a cup, a woolly lamb or a picture of a bunny made from fabric, the pattern for which everyone chose as they pleased. What sort of Easter would it be without eggs? That’s why there was also an activity involving decorating an egg with crepe paper. The whole event took place in a pleasant and friendly atmosphere; everyone had a great time and the craft work went smoothly. We hope this morning helped everyone get into the spirit of spring and the approaching Easter. We’d like to thank the children and parents for taking part, and a special thank you goes to those who brought refreshments – they were the perfect icing on the cake for the whole event. :-)

Our pupils set off on an interesting trip to Sofronka, where an educational programme entitled ‘Who Lives in the Forest’ had been organised for them. This programme focused on learning about forest animals and their natural habitat. During the programme, the children listened to an engaging talk about the forest’s inhabitants, both large and small. They learnt, for example, where ants and badgers live, where wild boars go, and who is actually afraid of the wolf. The expert commentary was complemented by fun games, which helped the children better understand life in the forest and engage with the learning experience, as well as displays of antlers and various natural objects. A highlight of the day was meeting the fallow deer in the local game reserve. The children had the chance not only to observe them up close, but also to feed them. The whole programme was both educational and entertaining. The children came away with a wealth of new knowledge about nature and forest animals, whilst also enjoying a lovely time spent in the forest.

Pupils in Years 1 and 2 went on a trip to explore the world of fairy tales and animation. We visited an exhibition dedicated to the work of the Czech artist, animator and director Zdeněk Smetana, entitled ‘Zdeněk Smetana and His Worlds’, which marks the 100th anniversary of his birth. The exhibition took place at the Holešovice Market Hall in Prague. During the tour, the children learnt about the work of the artist, who brought many well-known fairy-tale characters to life. We recalled, for example, the stories of the gnomes from “Křemílek and Vochomůrka”, the water sprite from “Rákosníček”, and the adventures of the canine friends from “Štaflík and Špagetka” and “The Little Witch”. The children were familiar with many of these characters from children’s television programmes, and it was wonderful to see how the characters came to life. The interactive sections of the exhibition were also a great experience. The pupils were able to try out various principles of animation, for example using a zoetrope or flipbooks, and discover how still images are transformed into movement. They were also fascinated by the film screenings and the chance to create their own character inspired by Zdeněk Smetana’s style. The exhibition was not only entertaining but also educational for the children. They learnt how an animated film is made, how important imagination is, and just how much work goes into creating their favourite fairy-tale characters. We returned home full of impressions, and the bus ride on the HC Škoda Plzeň bus was a great experience too :)

Today, the Year 1 pupils visited the museum in Blovice. An interesting Easter programme had been organised for them at Hradiště Castle. They learnt lots of interesting facts about Easter customs in the Plzeň region. For example, why boys go round making clattering and rattling noises. Everyone had a go at trying out different kinds of clappers and rattles. They learnt what people used to eat during Lent and why ‘Jidáš’ and ‘Mazanec’ are baked for Easter. The children had the chance to try out games with eggs and much more. To finish off, they decorated Easter eggs and together made a Morana figure, which they threw into the stream in the castle park and bid farewell to winter with a poem. They thoroughly enjoyed the whole day.

On Tuesday 17 February 2026, an English-language project called ‘We’re Going on a Bear Hunt’ took place. It was the children’s first experience of working in English for a whole day. At the start of the project, we had to identify the tracks we’d found in the school corridor. Then, armed with cameras, we set off on a bear hunt. Tracks marked with numbers and their written forms helped us find the right path. Along the way, we completed various tasks: walking through the grass (and solving a maths problem in English) or through the mud (pulling out letters to form English words), wading barefoot across the river (fishing out shells with numbers on them), find pine cones and twigs in the forest and practise prepositions, catch a book-themed jigsaw puzzle in a snowstorm (using polystyrene shapes), head into a cave (the English classroom) and try to take a photo of the bear. In the English class, we set about completing nine tasks at different stations and, for each one completed, we received photos of parts of a bear. During Friday’s after-school English session, we’ll be reading a book and watching a short video based on the story of the same name.

Miss Pavla

On Tuesday 3 February, Ms Romana Kazdová visited our class and ran an educational programme for the children called ‘First Aid Through Experience’. The event took place under the auspices of the Česká spořitelna Foundation’s ‘Day for Schools’ initiative and was met with great enthusiasm by all the children. During the programme, they learnt about various emergency situations that can arise in everyday life. They learnt how to react correctly in situations such as drowning, a car accident, an injury or a fire, and received valuable advice on how they can help save a person’s life. The practical session proved particularly beneficial, as the children had the chance to practise how to help an unconscious person, how to check whether they are responsive and breathing, and how to call for help correctly. The programme also included practising how to call the emergency services, as well as CPR and chest compressions, which the children practised in a playful way to the tune of ‘Jingle Bells’ and other songs. The programme was not only educational for the children but also a very engaging experience. They came away with new knowledge, skills and, above all, greater confidence that they would be able to provide the right help if the need arose.

On the last day of school in January, the Year 1 pupils received their first school reports. For many of them, it was a moment they had been looking forward to for a long time. We started the day with a detective hunt. When they arrived in the classroom, a big surprise awaited the pupils – the classroom was in complete disarray and, on the shelf where the primers should have been, there was a note reading: ‘SOMEONE HAS STOLEN OUR PRIMERS!’. The children split into teams and set about investigating. They looked for clues, worked through a list of suspects and, guided by subtle hints, gradually uncovered the truth. In the end, they managed to successfully solve the mystery and were awarded a detective’s certificate for their teamwork.

The first half of the school year is now behind them, and they deserve praise for their effort, diligence and the progress they have made during this time.

Today, pupils from Years 1 to 3 attended an English-language theatre performance – “Grétička Perlička” – which was not only educational but also great fun. The performance was tailored to the children’s age group and introduced them to the English language in a playful way. The actors involved the children in the story, encouraged them to participate actively and were not afraid to improvise. As a result, the children reacted naturally, answered questions and repeated simple English words and phrases. The fairy-tale story of Grétička Perlička captivated the children with its plot, cheerful songs and colourful costumes. The children left the performance thrilled and with the feeling that English can be fun and easy to understand.

We spent the last day of school this calendar year with the children in a Christmassy atmosphere. Right at the start of the day, we reminded ourselves together why we celebrate Christmas, and the children set about completing themed Christmas tasks. They formed words, helped Father Christmas find his way through a maze, and coloured in Christmas-themed maths pictures. After our snack, we headed to the theatre in Polana Hall, where the children watched the performance “Christmas Here and There”. Through an entertaining and musical format, the show introduced them to how Christmas is celebrated in different corners of the world and offered the children a fresh perspective on Christmas traditions. On returning to school, the children were most looking forward to the gift-giving ceremony by the Christmas tree. Together, we reflected on how the children had got on throughout the year and wished each other a peaceful and wonderful Christmas.

⭐🎄We also wish you a very Merry Christmas and good health, happiness and joy in 2026.🎄⭐ Miss Verča and Miss Martina, the teaching assistant

The Year 1 pupils put on a lovely Christmas show for their parents, which was in keeping with the spirit of the approaching Christmas. The whole performance was conceived as a Christmas programme, which began with a short skit about how there is no snow at Christmas, and so we need to conjure it up together. The opening skit was followed by the poem ‘Snowflake’, and gradually, together with the children, we made our way to Christmas Eve. The whole programme was interwoven with Christmas songs (including some in English), which alternated between the different parts of the show. The children not only sang but also danced and accompanied the songs by playing musical instruments. The finale of the party was a get-together for children and parents. Seated in a circle by candlelight, the children and their parents exchanged Christmas cards and enjoyed a lovely moment to round off the whole performance. There was a lovely Christmas atmosphere throughout, and the children showed off everything they had prepared. The party was a great success and provided a lovely highlight to the run-up to Christmas.

On Friday, we took the children on an Advent train trip to Blovice, where we visited Hradiště Castle. The train journey itself was a real treat for the children. At the castle, a programme had been organised for the children focusing on the Advent season and the traditions associated with it. Together, we toured selected exhibitions in the castle, and the children learnt in an engaging way how people used to celebrate Advent in the past. For example, they learnt the story of Saint Lucy, what dishes were a staple on the Christmas table, what the Advent candles symbolise, and which figures belong in a traditional nativity scene. The programme also included a creative workshop, where the children decorated a wooden snowman as a souvenir. The trip was a great success and the children really enjoyed it – from the train journey right through to the Advent atmosphere at the castle.

During the second weekend of Advent, our school hosted its traditional Christmas craft workshop. Pupils gathered here with their parents and enjoyed a creative morning together, full of Christmas spirit. Everyone could choose from a wide range of crafts – including a reindeer made from pegs, a scratch-off Christmas tree, a rocking snowman, a glittery Christmas tree and a water-based decoration with glitter. Helpful parents provided some lovely refreshments, and we’d like to thank them very much. The morning took place in a very warm and friendly atmosphere.

On Friday 5 December, a magical St Nicholas Day awaited our pupils. First thing in the morning, the children discovered that an angel, St Nicholas and a devil had prepared all sorts of themed tasks for them. They solved devilish maths problems, drew a long beard for St Nicholas, practised their reading and took part in several other activities linked to this December tradition. Later in the day, St Nicholas himself visited the class, accompanied by his angel and the devil. The children initially overcame their initial shyness and eventually handled everything bravely; the visit also brought them a small gift. In return, the children recited a poem they had prepared.

Our class spent its first night together at school, and the children really enjoyed it. After collecting them from after-school care, we set off together for an evening stroll around the school. There was a peaceful pre-Christmas atmosphere everywhere, which we enhanced with a stop at a nearby nativity scene, where the children happily sang a Christmas carol. Back at school, it was time for some free play – the children played various board games, chatted and enjoyed spending time together away from their school desks. After dinner, we set up a little ‘cinema’ together. We screened the popular animated film “The Grinch”, which created a lovely pre-Christmas atmosphere. After a short evening chat, the children snuggled into their sleeping bags and gradually drifted off to sleep. In the morning, we enjoyed a communal breakfast full of treats that the children had brought from home. The first school sleepover was a great success and a wonderful experience for the children.

This year, we organised a Christmas fair at our school once again before the start of Advent, so that everyone could buy beautiful Christmas decorations and presents in good time. Visitors were able to choose from a wide range of items that the children had made in art lessons, craft sessions and in after-school care. New this year were the chess Advent calendars, whilst the beautiful Advent wreaths and original clothing remained a tradition. The atmosphere was enhanced by a fragrant corner offering hot chocolate, Christmas biscuits, gingerbread, canapés and other treats. To round off the event, there was a raffle for a gingerbread model of the Easy Start Primary School building. Interest was huge, and most of the items sold out in no time. Thanks to the generosity of our visitors, we managed to raise an amazing CZK 53,781, which we will donate to the NFG Foundation. We would like to thank everyone who helped with the preparations, as well as everyone who came along to buy something. We wish you a peaceful and enjoyable Advent.

On Monday, we visited the library in Doubravka, where the ‘At Home in the Library’ programme was waiting for the children. Right at the start, they were introduced to Doubravka the puppet, who guided them through the whole programme. Together with her, they talked about what a library is for, how to behave there, and everything anyone who wants to borrow books needs to know. They also learnt how to find the right book, how to handle books and why it’s important to look after them carefully. The librarian showed the children different types of books and introduced them to books suitable for early readers – from simple stories to beautiful fairy-tale books and encyclopaedias. The children were then able to browse the books on their own and discover what interested them most in the library. The visit to the library was a lovely experience.

The Year 1 pupils had the chance to watch a fairy tale in which they encountered all four seasons. Strict Mrs Winter, gentle Spring, spirited Summer and artistic Autumn all appeared on stage. Together, they engaged in a playful contest to see which of them had the final say in the world. Two snowflakes, both named Anežka, also guided the children through the story. The children were thus able to follow their journey throughout the year – from falling to the ground in winter, through melting in spring and evaporating in summer, right up to their reunion in the autumn clouds. One of the main characters was Karel – a somewhat solitary but very entertaining eccentric who lives far away from other people. It was in his modest abode that the different seasons gradually made their appearance. Karel thus witnessed their cheerful squabbles and unexpected visits. The performance was full of humour and music, and the children thoroughly enjoyed it.

During a two-hour project session in the morning, the children learnt about Saint Martin, whose feast day we celebrate in November. First, they learnt about the legend surrounding him – they discovered why he is a symbol of kindness, humility and generosity, and how the well-known tradition of St Martin arriving on a white horse came about. Following the introductory story, the pupils set about activities inspired by themes from the life and legacy of St Martin. The children were given maths and Czech language tasks, through which they practised arithmetic, reading and writing. The project also included physical and creative activities – cutting, sticking and drawing – through which the children created their own little ‘St Martin’s Day’ crafts and pictures.

On Monday, we set off for Doubravka to the Pluto Theatre. The pupils had the chance to watch the popular classic fairy tale “Salt Over Gold”, this time in a musical adaptation. The performance was playful, and the whole fairy tale was accompanied by rhythmic songs which immediately drew the children into the story and had the entire audience singing along. The plot remained faithful to the original story, though it was enriched with a few charming changes. This time, the king had three daughters – Jituška, Zlatuška and Květuška – each of whom tried, in her own unique way, to show just how much she loved her father. And as is often the case in this fairy tale, the king was initially sceptical of the youngest daughter’s words… until he realised their true meaning. The performance was cheerful, but it also conveyed an important message about what really matters.

Our pupils enjoyed a truly varied and fun Halloween day this year. The morning was all about preparations and creative activities – the children prepared their own refreshments in the form of a refreshing fruit punch and mixed healthy fruit drinks. This was followed by a dress rehearsal for the Halloween programme of songs and poems, which was to be performed for all the parents. After the rehearsal, the classes got stuck into project-based learning. We reflected on the significance of Halloween, watched a themed video, and the children set about completing various tasks: they ‘flew’ like ghosts into the castle, navigated a maze, searched for carefully hidden pictures, solved spooky maths problems and even managed to tackle a special Halloween sudoku puzzle.

The afternoon was dedicated to both children and parents. After a joint performance of the Halloween programme by all the classes, everyone set off on a spooky trail full of challenges – they had to throw rings at a witch, navigate a pumpkin slalom, complete a word search, ‘bloody hands’, shooting down Frankenstein, and catapulting bats and spiders. For the older pupils, an outdoor escape game with QR codes had been prepared, offering plenty of excitement and fun. The celebrations culminated in everyone roasting sausages together and tucking into the treats the children had been preparing throughout the morning. The whole day was filled with a spooky, but above all, cheerful atmosphere. The children thoroughly enjoyed the Halloween celebrations and are taking home lots of wonderful memories. 🎃👻

The pupils set off for the Puppet Museum in Plzeň, where a magical world full of stories, characters and moving sets awaited them. The exhibition “A Story on a String” introduced the children to the history of puppetry from the 19th century to the present day. They learnt about travelling puppeteers, the first permanent Škoda Theatre, and the famous characters Spejbl and Hurvínek, who were created right here in Plzeň. The children were most fascinated by the floor with interactive exhibits, where they could try their hand at operating various mechanical puppets and scenery. They were also captivated by the magnificent diorama “The Broučeks’ Wedding” by Jiří Trnka, which transported visitors into the poetic world of his work. To round off the visit, everyone made their own paper puppet, which they took home as a lovely memento of this extraordinary experience. The children thoroughly enjoyed the whole morning.

Our school organised a popular sports morning for parents and children called ‘Games Without Borders’. The whole event was all about fun, exercise and teamwork. Upon arrival at the school, each participant found a slip of paper with a rhyme on it, which was used to assign them to a team. Each team then came up with its own name – and then the games could begin! At six different stations, children and adults alike put their minds, dexterity and team spirit to the test. Together, they built the tallest structure, tackled the straw challenge, searched for the correct numbers, tried out unconventional ways of carrying objects, put together jigsaw puzzles and had to crack a mysterious code using encrypted coordinates. The popular guessing game was also part of the programme – this year, the challenge was to guess how long all the lollipops would be if laid out in a straight line. And to make it a bit trickier, the guesses had to be in inches! The whole morning was spent in a relaxed atmosphere full of laughter, joy and overcoming challenges.

Thank you all for taking part and for bringing refreshments, and a big congratulations to the winners of the guessing competition! 🎉

Our Year 1 pupils marked ‘Animal Day’ and dedicated the whole day to animals. The children were allowed to bring their pets to school, which they happily shared with their classmates. Those who don’t have a pet at home brought their soft toys, so there was no shortage of animal company. Together, we talked about what different pets eat and how to look after them properly. The children also learnt to recognise animal sounds, played a game of charades where they had to guess which animal each person was imitating, and practised their spatial awareness on a grid as they worked out which animal had gone to visit whom. Once again, there was no shortage of outdoor activities. Outdoors, the children did maths problems involving animals, practised reading syllables and also tried to see how far they could jump – to see if they could match a frog, a deer or a grasshopper, for example. It was clear that the children really love animals. They enjoyed the whole day with enthusiasm, joy and lots of new insights into the animal world.

On Wednesday, almost the whole school went to the Josef Kajetán Tyl Theatre, where we had the chance to watch the fairy tale “The Tale of a Dog and a Cat”. Josef Čapek’s well-known stories about two inseparable friends came to life right on stage and provided us with plenty of fun and educational moments. The children watched as the dog and the cat went on various adventures – tidying up, baking the famous cake and much more. The actors managed to captivate not only the youngest members of the audience, but the adults as well. There was no shortage of humorous situations, songs or moments for reflection. We hope to visit the theatre again sometime.

Pupils at our school had the chance to visit a mobile planetarium, which came right to our sports hall. The children watched the animated film ‘3-2-1 START!’, whose main character was Elon, a science-loving hamster. He unexpectedly set off on a great adventure – whilst trying to repair a lost robot, he found himself faced with the task of getting it back into Earth’s orbit before his spacecraft took off. The film showed the children just how important courage, resourcefulness and teamwork are when a person (or a hamster) ventures all the way into space. To round off the programme, the children were captivated by a demonstration of the starry sky, during which they learnt about some constellations and interesting facts about the night sky. The children thoroughly enjoyed their visit to the mobile planetarium.

On Friday, the Year 1 pupils enjoyed their first project day, entitled ‘Mouse, Mouse’. The whole day focused on combining learning with play-based activities, which helped the children develop skills in various areas. The pupils tried out graphomotor exercises, during which a ‘mouse’ helped them improve their drawing and writing. In maths, the children solved ‘cheese sums’, and in Czech, they practised working with the letters of the word MYŠ. There was also plenty of teamwork – the children worked in small groups, where they tried their hand at collecting cheese using robots. They also really enjoyed the outdoor activities. Their favourite part was the fun mouse races, during which they had a run about and enjoyed being active. Art and craft activities were also on the programme. Everyone took home a paper mouse that they had made themselves. The project day took place in a pleasant atmosphere; the children completed their tasks with enthusiasm, and we all enjoyed the whole day.