5th May 2005

• Our netballers have accomplished an impressive set of results in the last fortnight’s games. Their 27-0 and 19-0 victories against St Mary’s and Hall Meadow respectively gave them an even sharper taste for winning, which culminated in last night’s 7-5 win over Havelock School. As the season draws to a close our girls should be very proud of their achievements, having won seven matches out of the ten they played.
    
• Coaches from Northamptonshire County Cricket Club visited School last Monday to work with pupils in years 3 and 4.  This was a great opportunity for our pupils to further sharpen their skills, and of course they relished another chance to work with professionals of such kudos.
    
• In swimming lessons this year pupils have been working towards awards.  Due to the heavy administration load of Kettering pool staff, there is a delay in the issuing of certificates and badges, but these will be distributed in due course.
    
• There is great excitement among our pupils in Years Five and Six, who will be embarking upon their residential trip next week.  As staff running lunchtime and after school activities will be accompanying them, the following extra-curricula activities will not run next week: netball, cricket, knitting.
    
• Year Two have been looking at ‘forces and movement’ in their science lessons this term.  As part of their homework they designed and built wind machines whose purpose was to measure the wind’s strength.  A host of imaginative designs were brought in to School.  The machines were tested at different points of the School grounds, enabling the children to locate the windiest sites. Some parents commented that they had enjoyed this homework as much, if not more than the children!
    
• Continuing with Key Stage One science, the topic being studied by 1SW is ‘sound’.  Children in this class have been exploring the sounds they can make using different parts of our body and in the playing of different musical instruments.  They have been set homework to design, build and decorate a musical instrument.  We look forward to their creations being presented and played.
   
• Last week’s whole School assembly was led by 5SK.  They gave a confident, well organised and amusing presentation to pupils and invited parents, based on the findings of the local traffic study conducted during their Geography lessons this term.  
   
• It was good to see so many parents in School for last Monday’s ‘share your work’ session, and even better to see the excited faces of children proudly showing their exercise books and talking about their work.
   
• Parents are kindly requested to return their reply slip requests for tickets for the forthcoming Foundation and Key Stage one Summer Concerts, so that allocation is not a last minute pressure on the School Office.
   
• Reception class had a special dressing up time on Friday.  One of their themes this term has been clothes, and they were set the task of choosing and putting together an elegant outfit for a Prince or Princess’s Ball.  The children thoroughly enjoyed this ‘special’ activity, and our thanks go to parents for not only providing such beautiful outfits, but also for their endurance of the mounting excitement prior to the ‘great day’.
   
• The PTAFA cake stall raised £60 for Guide Dogs for the Blind.  The next stall will take place on Friday 20th May.  If you have a suggestion for local charities for which we could raise funds then please pass these ideas through to the School Office or telephone the School.
   
• There is a PTAFA meeting this evening at 7.30pm in Sunnylands Hall.  All parents are warmly welcome.  Please do not feel that you have to come to every meeting.  Even very occasional attendance ensures that the decisions that are taken are reflective of a large, important group – you, the parents! PTAFA fundraising has covered the cost and fitting of the new blackout blinds recently fitted in Sunnylands Hall.  These will greatly benefit all School performances.  The new PA system was delivered this week.  Consisting of two speakers, stands and case, a good quality amp and handheld and headset radio microphones, it will certainly improve the sound quality with which we are able to enhance pupil performances. The tireless commitment to PTAFA fundraising, and the advice of individual parents regarding the purchasing of such items is so greatly appreciated.