8th June 2006

This week’s bulletin is accompanied by a couple of other important pieces of printed information:

Firstly, for pupils in Year One and upwards, there is a letter about instrumental tuition for next year.  We have decided to offer beginners the opportunity to have instrumental tuition in pairs.  This will keep down the cost to parents and still provide children with a valuable opportunity to learn a new skill.  It is also worth noting that the fees for the tuition includes free instrumental hire for a year in many cases. There is time deadline by which Mrs Cumming has to book the teachers with Northamptonshire Music Service, so please give the accompanying letter your immediate attention and response.  Please note that the enclosed letter does not affect those of you who wish your children either to continue or start piano or flute tuition with Mrs Pam Knight.  The form should however be completed on behalf of any pupils wishing to continue violin lessons.

Details of the School Uniform Shop’s opening times for the purchase of uniform in preparation for academic year 2006-07 have also been provided for you.  Please note that there is a booking system in some cases, and certain days have been designated for certain purchases.  Please refer to this timetable before telephoning the School Office.

We are now approaching the end of the second week of Readathon, so I trust that pupils have not lost the resolve they showed when we ‘kicked off’ this year’s fundraiser for Cancer Care for Children!  There is one more week to go, before children have to collect their sponsor money, but the challenge next week is to keep up with the reading whilst returning also to the homework tasks that will be set by teachers.

Yesterday, pupils in years 4 and 6 enjoyed a visit to Brixworth Country Park for workshops linking to their Science curriculum.  The aim of the visit was to enhance their science knowledge and observational skills of habitats, food chains plant adaptation and environmental studies.  Pupils in Key Stage Two are off on their Summer Outing on Wednesday, which this year entails a visit to Warwick Castle.  Please refer to the letter of 26th May for arrangements.  Pupils are due to return to School at approximately 5.30pm.

Pupils in Years 3 to 6 are busy preparing for their Summer Concert.  A letter will be distributed early next week giving details of ticket availability.  The dates for these events are as they appeared on the School calendar: Wednesday 21st June and Thursday 22nd June.  Please note that there will be a coffee morning at 8.50am for parents before each performance, due to start at 9.30am

Pupils in 2GM will present their assembly to the School on Thursday 15th June.  Parents of children in this class are warmly welcome to join us.  Please call in to the school Office at 10.20 from where they will be escorted to Sunnylands Hall, once the children are ready.

This week’s assembly theme has been ‘Be Safe’, giving us an opportunity to focus with the children upon sun safety, road safety, general health and safety and ‘stranger danger’.  Today, there was a short presentation from Cathy Lomas, a representative of the NSPCC to round up this theme.  The children have also been asked to take part in a fund raising activity for the NSPCC which involves a sponsored spell.  We will distribute more information about this in a couple of weeks.

Congratulations to pupils in Rutland upon winning the Swimming Gala last week.

Tomorrow pupils go off to Northamptonshire’s County Cricket ground to take part in a Kwik Cricket tournament.  We wish them success in this, and look forward to the next sports report.

Congratulations also to our netball team, together with Miss Farrant and Mrs Marshall, on receiving the confirmation of them being runners up in this year’s Kettering High Fives Netball League.  A total of twelve teams formed the league this year, with St Peter’s School playing eleven matches, winning an amazing nine, dropping just one and drawing in the other.  A super result….well done girls! 

Tickets for the Diamond Jubilee Ball are currently being distributed, and there are only a few still available for purchase before we reach full capacity.  Mrs Lester’s determination has secured some spectacular sponsorship, which will also help to make the night even more special. If your company or place of work wishes to sponsor an aspect of the Ball then I can provide you with written information about how this can be done; Mrs Sharp will be able to pass this to you at the School Office.

Last night’s PTAFA meeting provided a forum for discussion of PTAFA organisation of the late afternoon and evening schedule for Founders’ Day.  Thanks to all parents who kindly completed and returned the questionnaire a few weeks ago.  The PTAFA are pleased to use some of the funds they have worked hard to raise to provide some fun activities for pupils, from 5pm.  There will be face painting, a conjurer, balloon modelling, two bouncy castles and ball ponds, together with ‘giant’ garden games:, Snakes and Ladders, Jenga and Ludo.  If you have any other games that we can use, or you are able to provide another activity then please either contact Mrs Tye or Mrs Walshaw in the PTAFA or call in to the School Office.  A small group of parents have offered to help out in the running of these activities.  Please let the School Office know if you are also able to help.

Tickets for tomorrow’s PTAFA’s Fashion Show are available from the School Office, priced at £3.  There has been a super response from our pupils for this event.  I look forward to seeing many of you at tomorrow’s event, due to start at 6.30pm.

The next bulletin will be issued on Thursday 22nd June, when there will be a report on the cricket tournament, and on the Key Stage Two Summer Concert.