20th October 2005

• Today 5DF led a whole school assembly on the theme of ‘food’.  Children were treated to a lively and thought provoking presentation focussing particularly upon the various food categories.  As part of their Science programme of study, our Year Five pupils gathered and presented data about their dietary habits.  With so much emphasis upon healthy eating currently in the media, this morning’s assembly was avidly listened to by all of our pupils.
   
• As we come to the end of the first half term many parents will by now have had the opportunity to meet with their child’s class teacher to discuss current progress and intended targets for the academic year.  There will be an opportunity for you to look through your child’s school books after school on Monday 21st November at a ‘share your work’ session.  The session times are from 3.20pm to 3.50pm for Nursery through to Year Two, and from 3.50pm to 4.40pm for parents of Key Stage Two pupils.
   
• Our netball team played Millbrook on Tuesday 18th October.  At one point they were 5-0 up, with our opponents battling back as the match developed.  St Peter’s skilfully managed to keep the lead though, and won 8-6, thus securing a win for every game played so far this term! Thanks to all of the parents who attended these matches. 
   
• In last week’s bulletin the St Peter’s School Under 8’s girls’ cross country team were inadvertently robbed of their glory.  They were in fact runners up at Brooke Priory’s cross country event, and not in fourth place as originally cited.  Well done girls!
   
• Our footballers played Havelock on Tuesday in a home match.  Our team was seriously depleted through injuries, and therefore consisted of some of our younger players, who relished the opportunity of ‘making up the numbers.  Although we took an early lead from a wonderful performance on the part of 4SK’s Cameron Penny, we struggled to maintain the momentum, resulting in a 5-0 defeat.  The opportunity to make amends yesterday was denied, as the Floodlit Football League match against Park was rained off.
   
• In usual School tradition, the first half of Michaelmas Term will end tomorrow with our Conker Championship.  Year Three have collected the conkers and those pupils in Years Three to Six who have already won their class championship which have been held throughout this week will compete against each other for the coveted title of St Peter’s School Conker Champion 2005.
   
• The School Office will be staffed between the hours of 9.15am and 3pm each day during the next four weeks.  Please leave non-urgent reply slips, letters or written requests in the tray provided near the office door.  Such matters will be dealt with by Mrs Patrick-White, who has temporarily taken over School administration during Mrs Sharp’s absence.  Any instructions regarding medicine should be written down, and the medication labelled with your child’s name and class.  Any urgent information should be left in the tray outside my office.  A pen and pad have been left near each tray, together with envelopes for matters of a confidential nature.  The School’s answer phone will allow messages to be left outside of the listed office hours. Thank you for your cooperation during this time.
   
• Tickets for the PTAFA Ghost Hunt are available from the office.  If you require another letter in order to purchase tickets then please contact the School Office, or leave a note or telephone message.  Please note that the Ghost Hunt takes place on Friday 11th November and not on the Thursday as detailed in the initial PTAFA letter which was sent out advertising this event.  I hope that we have a good, strong group of ghost hunters assembled in Sunnylands Hall at 6.30pm ready to track down the likes of Murray the Monster, Barnaby the Bat and Harry the Hunchback!
   
• Information has also gone out regarding a PTAFA sale of suitable used books, particularly ones for children, which will run alongside the next PTAFA Cake Sale, taking place on Friday 25th November.  This is an excellent way of recycling, and it is hoped that many of you will want to take advantage of it! A box will be placed in the Nursery foyer for parents of children in Nursery, Reception, Year 1 and 2 to leave books, and there will be one in Sunnylands Hall in which children from Years Three to Six can leave books for this sale. If you are donating a large quantity of books then please leave them in the School Office, from where they will be carried to the collection boxes later in the day. 
   
• The next PTAFA meeting will be 7.30pm in Sunnylands Hall on Thursday 3rd November.
   
• Letters have now been distributed to pupils regarding the competition to design this year’s St Peter’s School Christmas card.  Please remember that the last day for entries is Friday 4th November, and that pupils can enter as many times as they wish as long as they use the template provided. I hope that part of our pupils’ half term holiday will be spent on this project, and the remainder on recharging their batteries ready for a new half term filled with even more hard work and determination.