CHILDREN from Mrs Vallance's class and Mrs Smith's class have been involved in lots of pirate themed activities this term.

They looked at the book Night Pirates, made treasure maps, designed their own pirate code, labelled items on a pirate ship, learned pirate language, sang pirate songs and made pirate boats, hats and earrings.

On Pirate Day Cutlass Kate and Captain Jack Sparrow from the company Jonty Depp joined the children and members of staff to teach them to become "proper" pirates.

First they had to swear an oath of allegiance repeating the words:

I "name" can always be trusted NOT to be trusted.

To run from any fight I can not win, but to win any fight I can not run from.

Jack Sparrow then taught the children how to be pirates using sword fighting, not to hurt but to make it look real, just like in the movies.

The children then played a pirate game with the girls team named Scurvy Scum and the boys named Black Spots.

The game involved attacking a pirate dummy with their sword, striking them three times, then collecting a cannon ball (tennis ball), which they had to throw into a boat. A coin had to be collected from Jack Sparrow which had to be deposited at the far end in a treasure chest.

The children rounded off the day with a Pirate Party with lots of pirate themed goodies.

Nora Parminter