18th May 2006

• This week’s highlight has been the Summer Concert, presented to parents by pupils in Foundation Stage and Key Stage One, entitled ‘Journey around the World’.  The children told the story of HMS Sea Shanty’s trip around the world, to return captive wild animals to their country of origin. However, one animal inside an unmarked crate posed a problem, as nobody knew where it came from or even what the creature was. The journey took us across the seas to Africa, India, China, Antarctica and Peru. During the journey the crew met children from the different countries, who entertained them with music and songs. The unknown creature, who was called a Thing-a-me-jig by the crew, turned out to be a Kinkajou, a honey bear from Peru. The concert ended with it finally finding its home.
   
• The focus for music lessons with Mrs Cumming this term has been world music and the concert provided an opportunity for the pupils to show their parents what they have been learning in music this term. Nursery children introduced the concert by singing a Welcome Song in different languages. Reception Class sang an African song called Nanuma, adding rhythmic patterns using percussion instruments. Year 1 accompanied a piece of music called Dragon Dance on tuned and untuned percussion instruments. Year 2, who have been working hard learning the ocarina this year, performed some Peruvian music. It was a truly magical performance each time!
   
• Pupils in Year 5 and 6 and teachers returned from their residential trip last Friday after an exciting week in Wales.  They took part in activities such as orienteering, tunnelling, and a waterfall walk, and there were also visits to Dan yr Ogof Caves, Big Pit and Caerphilly Castle.  The aim of the trip was not only to provide such thrilling experiences, but also the opportunity to develop team skills, independence and confidence.  Parents of pupils who went on this trip are cordially invited to attend a Year 5 and 6 assembly, giving more personal and group accounts of this year’s residential trip.  This will take place on Friday 30th June at 2.45pm in Sunnylands Hall.  Please note that the starting time will be confirmed closer to the date of the assembly.
   
• On that same Friday, pupils in Nursery, Reception, Year 1 and 2 took part in their French Day.  Nursery enjoyed learning the song ‘Il Pleut Il Mouille’, whilst Reception Class practiced the vocabulary for parts of the body and French greetings with the song ‘Petit Pouce’. The traditional French song ‘Sur le Pont d’Avignon’ was the focus for pupils in 1KS whilst vocabulary for animals was practiced within the song Le Grand Lion’, and feelings and expressions explored through ‘Un Grand Cerf’.  In addition to this some of the children had the chance to sample typical traditional drinks popular with French children.  Nursery children enjoyed watching the preparing of garlic bread, and many (but not all!) enjoyed tasting it too.  The older children had great fun playing the game ‘petanque’.  It is through active involvement that the acquisition of additional languages is best achieved, and Mrs Green (Madame Vert to the pupils!) certainly uses this approach in her French lessons.  After nearly a year where French has been taught also to pupils in Nursery and Reception Class, this is certainly a curricular ‘extra’ that will be maintained.
   
• If you have not yet returned your reply slip requesting an appointment time for next Wednesday or Thursday’s Parents/Teacher Consultations, then please do so by tomorrow.  Please note that clubs on these days will not run as teachers are engaged in consultations.
   
• Please note that orders for the Diamond Jubilee school photograph should be returned to the School Office by tomorrow.  There is a framed full sized version of it hanging in the reception area of the School Office, for you to view.
   
• Earlier last week pupils in Years 1 to 4 visited Boughton Estates, where they watched or took part in a wide range of activities and demonstrations: they watched the milking taking place, sheep being rounded up by the estate’s dogs, and they even met a grass snake.  The children brought back a wooden hedgehog, which was made by a woodman using his chain saw.  This new addition to St Peter’s School is still to be named, with pupils in Key Stage One eagerly waiting the choice made from their suggestions! The day was a great success, even more so by the fact that teachers gave a glowing report of pupils’ behaviour and manners whilst ‘out’ representing the School.
   
• As a Summer Term treat, pupils in Reception Class had tremendous fun on their Pirates’ Day. The vessels ‘Captains Hook’ and ‘Bluebeard’, named by the children, led their crew into a testing treasure hunt.  Once back on the ship, the crew made their way to the galley to make Pirate Bear Biscuits for tea.  As always, the parents worked really hard to find wonderful costumes which helped make the day such a success.
   
• On Monday pupils in Year 3 and 4 visited the Alfred East Art Gallery, taking part in two workshops.  In the first, Looking at Landscapes, pupils used the gallery’s collection to look at contrasting localities, and how weather and time of day was depicted in the works. Most importantly, they were engaged in discussion with their teachers, who encouraged them to express their responses to the picture in appropriate and relevant vocabulary.  This was further developed in the afternoon session, when pictures from the collection were considered in the light of subjects’ lives, promoting an imaginative response to art appreciation. Pupils particularly enjoyed the role play aspect of this session, as many of you can imagine!
   
• Tomorrow’s swimming session for Year 2 will be the last for this half term, with the usual swimming timetable resuming after the half term break.  This is in order to complete the ‘swim offs’ that need to take place for Key Stage Two pupils, in preparation for the Swimming Gala, which will take place on Friday 26th May.  Miss Farrant will provide further details of arrangement for this event.
   
• Pupils who took the Poetry Vanguard examinations as a result of attending Speech and Drama classes with Mrs Sally Arnold did very well again this year, all of them gaining merits or distinctions, the latter grade being achieved by two thirds of the candidates!  Well done, boys and girls.
   
• The World Challenge is a national charity organisation that takes groups of year 12 pupils to countries in need, where they spend two weeks working within a local community.  This year, pupils from Latimer Community Arts College have been set the task to build a Church in a community where the World Challenge organisation has already built a school. Before the trip, items that have been requested by the community are collected, and this year these items are: plastic recorders (wooden ones cannot be sterilised) and old football shirts in children’s sizes. Mrs Bowers would be grateful to any families that can donate such items for this cause.  Items can be left at the School Office.
   
• Our chef, Mr Fountain is looking forward to creating some vegetarian delights within next week’s menu, which will be given over in part to celebrate and take part in National Vegetarian Week.  He is still reeling from the shock that our inspection report mentions a pupil reluctant to go to lunch because of maths lessons being so enjoyable.  He has not taken this personally!
   
• Thanks to the many parents that supported the recent PTAFA plant sale, earning £122.71 towards the PTAFA’s fund raising.  The Race Night was similarly well attended.  Congratulations to the winners, and commiserations to the losers, whose consolation is that at least their loss contributed to the PTAFA’s fund raising! A letter regarding the forthcoming Fashion Show will shortly be distributed, inviting parents to consider their child(ren) taking part in this fun event.  There has been an excellent response so far to the Flower Quiz set up by Mrs Payne, to raise funds for Kettering Flower Club’s floral decoration of the School.  There is still time to purchase a quiz sheet for £1 from the School Office. Finally in PTAFA news, advance notice that the next Cake Stall will be on Friday 23rd June.
   
• A short bulletin will be issued next week, including a report on the Swimming Gala, netball and the forthcoming and ever popular Readathon, which takes place soon.