17th November 2005 - This week, maths has been at the centre of pupils’ learning, with Numeracy Week events providing a range of exciting opportunities for working with number, shape, data handling and measure. The result of the daily maths challenges has been eagerly anticipated by pupils, with assembly being the time when the answers are revealed to all. Maths facts relating to the world around us have also been displayed about the school. There will be a house maths quiz tomorrow to finish off the week in Key Stage Two, and pupils in Key Stage One will take part in outdoor games that involve keeping totals through use of the four rules of number.
- Tuesday’s good weather brought with it the St Peter’s School Maths Trail, which is in its second year now, but already set to be a School tradition judging from the enthusiasm and sensible behaviour displayed by the children. Teams were set up in advance, comprising of children from different year groups, and there were all manner of tasks set around the school for teams to take on. This provided a valuable opportunity for children across the age ranges to work together, and was one of those magic St Peter’s School moments to behold.
- On Wednesday pupils in Years 1 through to 6 became town planners for the day, creating a model town from Lego. After considering the basic logistics of building houses, children constructed individual buildings. They then worked in groups to discuss the overall planning of their new town, after which it was carefully assembled. Whilst some might think that the popularity of Lego might be on the wane, I understand that Lego bricks are used in some university degree courses, such as architecture! Pupils’ skills of logic, mathematics, manual dexterity, practical design and teamwork were further developed today. There are photographs displayed in the notice boards for all to see.
- Parents of pupils in Nursery have come in to join the children in a series of ‘Come and Play’ days this week. These have been organised to give the grown-ups a chance to see if they can keep up with our 2 ½ to 4 year olds’ energy levels! They also provide a valuable chance for parents to share a small part of their child’s early learning experience within the Nursery setting.
- Monday’s ‘Share your Work’ session promises to be well attended. Children in Nursery and Key Stage One can show their work to parents between 3.15pm and 3.45pm, with this taking place in Key Stage Two from 3.45pm to 4.15pm. Please return your reply slip to your child’s teacher tomorrow regarding your intentions for this if you have not already done so.
- Please note that there will be no further Football, Netball or Running Club this term due to poor light. As in previous years, these clubs will resume during the second half of Lent Term.
- Our football team played Henry Gotch Junior School in the Floodlit Football League last night. Their minds were maybe a little too well focussed on today’s Small Schools’ Soccer Sixes competition, with a 4-0 defeat at the end of the match. Hopefully today’s games will bring out their sparkle once more!
- Our good wishes go to Rachel Kings who represents the School and the region at the ISA National Swimming Championships in Coventry this Saturday.
- With the promise of very cold weather, parents are kindly reminded to wrap children warmly in school issue hats and scarves. These can be purchased from the Uniform Shop, open each Monday after school. In the event of snow, children should wear Wellington boots to School, with shoes in a bag, ready to be changed into when inside the buildings. This means that playtimes in ‘wellies’ will not result in soggy, cold feet for the rest of the day.
- The PTAFA cake stall will run next week, after school on Friday 25th November in Sunnylands Hall, with proceeds being donated to Children in Need. Alongside this will be the Used Book Stall. Many of you have supported this initiative in one way already, by sending in an enormous quantity of books, both for children and adults. We hope that many parents will now visit the stall on Friday to purchase some books to fill up those empty book cases at home!
- Last week’s PTAFA Ghost Hunt was a resounding success, with a record turn out of parents and pupils. Thanks are extended to our gang of ghouls, led by Mr Mike Kilsby, and to the catering team for providing plenty of post-hunt nourishment. The children had a great time, and in the end the weather was sympathetic to the proceedings.
- Some pupils have already brought in decorated jars for the Christmas Fayre stall that will display them all. Last week Mrs Berwick brought in some examples to show children how they could decorate a jar, and what sort of ‘presents’ to the value of a £1 they could place in them. There will be a competition in each class to choose the best jar, and children can make as many entries as they wish. Please remember though, to put a sticker with your child’s name and class on the bottom of the decorated jar, before handing it into the School office.
- With preparations for Christmas Fayre in full swing, you will by now have received all manner of PTAFA letters: your child’s contribution to their class’s Christmas hampers, providing a parcel for ‘the man in red’, offering your services to the Fayre in a number of ways. Raffle tickets will also be distributed by the PTAFA next week, in the hope that you will purchase some, and sell some on to friends and family. The date for the Christmas Fayre is Saturday 3rd December.
|
