Of the 105 known Faberge? eggs, only 69 have survived to the present day. The vast majority of them are stored in public museums, with the greatest number, thirty, in Russia. There are fifty-four known Imperial eggs, only forty-six of which have survived. After the collection in the Kremlin Armoury, the largest gathering of Faberge? eggs was assembled by Malcolm Forbes, and displayed in New York City. Totalling nine eggs, and approximately 180 other Faberge? objects, the collection was put up for auction at Sotheby ?s in February 2004 by Forbes ? heirs. Before the auction even began the collection was purchased in its entirety by the oligarch Victor Vekselberg for a sum estimated between $90 and $120 million!

The eggs are made of precious metals or hard stones decorated with combinations of enamel and gem stones. The term “Faberge? egg” has become a synonym of luxury and the eggs are regarded as masterpieces of the jeweller’s art.

Our Year V children were suitably impressed to be inspired to form their own interpretations of a “Faberge? egg”. Although they may not have a value in their millions they are still very impressive!

Snacks – Please ensure your child only has fruit on a Monday to Thursday. Friday remains a ‘treat’ day; therefore this is the only day where this rule is not adhered to.

SAT Tests – Week beginning 14th May. It is vitally important our Year VI are in school on this week to sit their examinations.

Holiday Club – The school is open for eight days over the Spring break. Please see the office if we can help in any way.

On our final day of term there will be an Easter party for our children. This will be a non-uniform day. We are hoping for donations of bric-a-brac and cakes for our stalls, if the majority of parents can make these donations it would be very much appreciated.

Mothering Sunday is the fourth Sunday of Lent. Although it’s often called Mothers’ Day it has no connection with the American festival of that name. Traditionally, it was a day when children, mainly daughters, who had gone to work as domestic servants were given a day off to visit their mother and family.

Today it is a day when children give presents, flowers, and home-made cards to their mothers.

Most Sundays in the year churchgoers in England worship at their nearest parish or ‘daughter church’.

Centuries ago it was considered important for people to return to their home or ‘mother’ church once a year. So each year in the middle of Lent, everyone would visit their ‘mother’ church – the main church or cathedral of the area.

Inevitably the return to the ‘mother’ church became an occasion for family reunions when children who were working away returned home. (It was quite common in those days for children to leave home for work once they were ten years old.)

And most historians think that it was the return to the ‘Mother’ church which led to the tradition of children, particularly those working as domestic servants, or as apprentices, being given the day off to visit their mother and family.

As they walked along the country lanes, children would pick wild flowers or violets to take to church or give to their mother as a small gift.

All the children in the school this week had a talk on road safety in the school hall. I was pleased to hear that our children were already very knowledgeable about keeping themselves safe. However rules and procedures often need to be reinforced!

The children thoroughly enjoyed the day laid on for them by the enthusiastic teachers and kitchen staff. It was very noticeable the wide array of colourful dragons that adorned the building by the end of the day!

The theme continued on Wednesday as the Year V assembly gave additional information on the symbols of Chinese New Year and recreated the story behind the willow pattern:

Even today, many people have never heard the true story of the willow pattern.

 

It tells of Knoon-shee, a lovely Chinese maiden, whose affections were bestowed upon her father’s secretary, Chang, but who was commanded by her parents to wed a wealthy rival suitor.

 

She refused to comply with their wishes, whereupon her enraged father locked her up in the little house just visible on the left of the temple. From here she contrived to send a message to her lover, ‘Gather thy blossom, ere it be stolen.’ Thus encouraged, Chang succeeded in entering the apple orchard and carrying off his beloved. So we see them hurrying over the bridge. Knoon-shee with a distaff, and Chang carrying her box of jewels, while the angry father follows hard after them armed with a whip – in some patterns also accompanied by the discarded lover.

 

The couple made good their escape in the ‘Chinese ship sailing by’ and landed on the island, which can be seen on the left of the picture, where they took refuge in the little wooden house. But the father and discarded suitor tracked them and set fire to the house while they were sleeping; and so the lovers perished.

 

Next morning, from the ashes rose their spirits, in the forms of two doves. And so we see them with out-stretched wings flying off to the realms of eternal happiness.

Annual St Martin’s PTA Ball – The PTA now has set a date of the ball of Saturday 17th March for the ball. This is a great opportunity for a fun evening out with friends and family.

Gung Hay Fat Choy! Happy Chinese New Year!