Nice bit of press today in the local newspaper.

WE did it. What a day. A picture is worth a thousand words!

The sun shone and we saw over 60 parents come into the school on the day (and many more in the evenings and weekends before) and work with the whole teaching and support staff and a fantastic team of external artists and creatives to put on the most amazing day.

 

The school looked great, the entrance brought to life by the sign that dad Huw Morgan made for us. Stunning job!

Our MC for the day, Maximillian Wigglebottom, kicked things off and fired the children's enthusiasm in an assembly like no other.

 

 

We imported half a ton of clay (thanks to Mr Higgins for carrying it all in) from which the children crafted a clay mountain of amazing characters.

In silhouette story telling the children made paper cut-outs of their favourite fairytale characters whcih they brought to life with shadow puppetry and their own musical soundtrack.  

Noisy toys was a real hit - the chance to experiment with a load of music making gadgets and gizmos to explore the way noise, music and sounds are made.

You can see more photos in the photos section on the right hand menu >

First look at the passport

On the day, each child gets a Passport that tells them about all the activities we have planned for them. When they complete a task they get a stamp. 6 stamps = a medal.

Another world class design job from Mike Bone, brought to life by Fiona McCarthy's lovely copy. See the complete thing here.

Medal making

As well as having a team of supermums feverishly sewing bunting together we have 4 teams of parents making medals which will be given to the children on the day for completing tasks. Medal making instructions here.

We have a poster!

As well as creating an amazong logo for the event, one of our superdads, Mike Bone has designed a poster.

Fiona McCarthy has written the most magical copy with a hidden message for the children to discover.

Yes it's really coming together perfectly.

Click here to have a look.

Sponsors confirmed to help make our event reality

Great news in that we have managed to get sponsorship for the event to compliment the money pledged by parents and the PTA.

Creative marketing agency EHS 4D have signed up as the main sponsor - their Head of Creative, Nigel Clifton said “our team are queuing up to get involved in this project and help inspire a future generation of creatives”. 

A team from EHS 4D will create and run a creative activity on the day.

Other supporting companies are Beaconbrands, Coptic Street Studio and Webb Architects to whom we are truly grateful. We really couldn't do it without you.

LHoF announced to the children - flag homework given out

The project was announced to the children in assembly yesterday and was really well received, especially the news that it's a non uniform day and there's no charge!

The children were given a template form whcih to make a simple flag out of any old scrap of fabric they have at home to bring back into school by Monday 19th September. These will be strung together to decorate the outside of the school.

Click on image to download the form.

Update document

Here's a copy of the flier that went out with the newsletter last Friday where we unveiled the great logo that Mike Bone has designed for us and which really captures the spirit of the project.

In a nutshell we need help on the 30th, help before the 30th and donations from parents if possible or local companies who want to sponsor us for £250.

Click image to download the document.

Busy summer

Jacky and Ashly helped out at the House of Fairy Tales at Camp Bestival.

It was hard work but they had a great time and got lots of inspiration and made soem great contacts.

The Apple Cart 2011 - See HoF at this great summer holiday family festival day out in London.

The House of Fairy Tales are running a whole range of activites at The Apple Cart 2011, London's brand new, bespoke festival for lovers of music, comedy, interactive art, cabaret, good food and magic. THe music line up alone includes Patrick Wolf, Badly Drawn Boy, Chilly Gonzales, James Yorkston, Saint Etienne, Soul II Soul Soundsystem, Steve Mason, The Magic Numbers, Giles Peterson, Kevin Rowland, and Sean Rowley.

Taking place on a leafy, tree-lined part of Victoria Park, Hackney, London from 11am until 10pm, The Apple Cart offers a completely new take on the festival experience and caters to both adults and children alike. With everything from Mercury award winning musicians, award garnering comedians, conjuring Magic circle members, the acclaimed Art Car Boot Fair, a new bespoke interactive art happening from The House of Fairy Tales and everything from hog roasts to the coconut king at Venn St Market – there's something for everyone at The Apple Cart festival.

From the people behind the Underage and Field Day festivals – The Apple Cart will sit on the Sunday of the same weekend, in the same location, however with a truly innovative and one of a kind programme it promises to appeal to a new generation of festival goers and families alike.

Early bird tickets are still available at just £25  - see the website at: www.theapplecartfestival.com

The c-word - it's why we're doing this.

If you do nothing else, click the image below to watch a really entertaining and engaging video about why Creativity and Creative skills are going to be so important for our children when they start looking for jobs in ten or so years time (Will you have any idea what the world will look like then?)

If this stirs you like it shook us, then please think about helping us make this project happen. See the 'what's it all about link on the right.

Little House of Fairy Tales: Activity ideas

Little House of Fairy Tales: Activity ideas: "This is the place to make suggestions about ideas for various activities that parents can conceive, produce and run as well as the activities..."

Don't miss HoF at Camp Bestival

Where would you get to see the House of Fairy Tales AND Blondie, Primal Scream, a full on BMX/skate park, cocktail bar and Mr Tumble (only one of these acts features a St Saviours Dad by the way!).

Camp Bestival of course - it really has something for all the family.

This is where we first came across the HoF and they have an amazing event and range of activities lined up for ths mega family friendly festival this year - http://bit.ly/hofcb

Be sure to buy tickets ASAP as it will sell out. Our top tip is that if you can, go on the Thursday as the whole of Dorset felt like one big traffic jam last year as you could only go in after midday on the Friday.

It will be a weekend of your family life to truly cherish. NO excuses - be there!

If you are thinking of going, why not say so below and look out for/hook up with other 'St Savvy's'!  Be sure to drop in the the HoF area and say hello to Jacky and Ashley who are helping them out.

http://www.campbestival.net

The fact that the music that plays on the home page is 'Come Together' by Primal Scream says it all - wonder if we could pinch it for our strap line?

House of Fairy Tales are at the Hampton Court Flower Show this week

Andy Murray's mum has kicked off a similar project

While we're trying to get parents to run creative activities for their kids, she's encouraging parents to organise games and sports activities. And the RBS backed her with £2m - wonder whether that's anything to do with who her son is ;-)

See  http://www.set4sport.com/

Any one fancy tacking an adults sports day (three legged race, egg and spoon, sack race, etc) on to the end of the school one next week?  ;-)

Blog starts here

There's nothing worse than staring at a blank piece of paper or a blank blog page come to that, so let's get started.

This blog is a place to capture the thinking and happenings around a group of enthusiastic parents and teachers staging a Little House of Fairy Tales at St Saviour's School, London in The Autumn of 2011.

We'll be developing and sharing ideas and inspiration, asking for help and dishing out jobs as we go on.

We hope to inspire other parents at other schools to feel they can and should and will something similar.

So... watch this space

And please do comment and add to the conversation around this exciting project. It's OURS to share and enjoy and for our children to benefit from. There's a role for EVERYONE.