14th April 2005

• Pupils have been enjoying a variety of activities as part of Maths Week. A sunny Monday morning brought with it an opportunity for older and younger pupils to work alongside each other and take part in a Number Hunt around the School and its grounds.  It is always warming to see the entire School grounds being enjoyed by our pupils in this way.  The ‘number of the day’ and the ‘estimation of the day’ have proved to be very popular with pupils, who have entered into the spirit of these competitions wholeheartedly.  Our hundred square was used yesterday afternoon, when Key Stage Two took part in a ‘number round robin’.
   
• Key Stage One will be taking part in a Sports Afternoon in addition to their usual weekly PE and Games activities.  This will take place on Monday, and will involve both fun and skills based activities, such as a penalty shoot-out, races including relays, skipping and hoop skills. 
   
• Our netball team play Broughton Junior School’s team after school today.  There has been plenty of training in preparation for this game, as well as for the three further games booked for this term.  We wish our girls continued success for this season.
   
• If your child has asthma which requires the occasional use of an inhaler, please ensure that a labelled one is provided for the School Office, as well as one for the child’s use in the classroom.  If there have been any changes regarding your child’s medical information please bring this to the School’s attention promptly.  Similarly, where there has been a change of address or other contact detail we need to know quickly.
   
• The current developments to reading material for Foundation and Key Stage One are now complete, and pupils are relishing the opportunity to read a wider variety of books.  A great deal of positive feedback has also been received from parents who listen to their children read from these new books at home.  There was an article in the Times recently about the success of synthetic phonics based reading schemes compared to other methods that are advocated by some schools.  St Peter’s School has been using a synthetic phonics approach to the teaching of reading for some time now, with the groundwork of this being introduced in Nursery and then further developed in Reception class and Key Stage One.  It is encouraging to see that the methods of teaching reading that we have been advocating for many years are being recognised and recommended as superior techniques.
   
• Please note that the arrangements for the start of the School day remain unchanged for this term.  Early club is therefore open from 8.15am. The ‘drop off’ will commence at 8.25am, although we endeavour to start this slightly earlier where staffing allows.  When children are dropped off at School before 8.30am they will need to wait behind the main gate area, where they will be supervised.  Parents accompanying children on site are requested to leave them at 8.30am when the bells are rung and teacher supervision on the playgrounds commences. If it is a rainy morning then all pupils are sent into the building immediately and teacher supervision begins from this point.
   
• Following last week’s plea, many parents have supported us in purchasing tickets for Saturday’s Murder Mystery, presented by the PTAFA.  Our thespians are looking forward to presenting ‘the crime’ to their audience. There has also been an encouraging response to our plea for offers of promises for the PTAFA’s forthcoming auction.  It is still not too late to help us out.  The deadline for offers of promises is 4th May. Whilst we are particularly on the look-out for some ‘big’ promises, smaller ones are also greatly appreciated!