17th July 2006

• Our Diamond Jubilee Founders’ Day was blessed with fabulous weather, which reflected the smiles of our pupils and School community, as we gathered together in the marquee in celebration of individual, team and whole School achievements. 
   
• I was delighted to see families taking the opportunity to look around the class rooms to acknowledge pupils’ work on display.  For me, as Head it was also a privilege to meet some of the old boys and girls of St Peter’s School, particularly Richard Burnham, a founder pupil, who was able to tell me in precise detail about his first day in Sunnylands.  The display of memorabilia in Sunnylands Hall brought an opportunity for reminiscence from many of our guests associated with the School’s past, either as parent or pupil.  The arrangements from Kettering Flower Club, celebrating their Golden Jubilee, served as the ‘extra’ ingredient to adorn our wonderful Victorian house. 
   
• Later in the afternoon, our youngest girl and boy in this year’s Reception Class; Olivia Cawthorn and Henry Potter, assisted Richard Burnham in the cutting of our Diamond Jubilee Cake, created for us by Mrs Bowers.  After a brief lull, allowing children going home to change into ‘party’ clothes, the evening’s PTAFA events, organised by Mrs Drage and Mrs Bolter began.  Many thanks to Mr Telford for the loan of the bouncy castle! It was a wonderful night, and gratifying to see our fabulous School grounds being used at the end of a busy year for the enjoyment and relaxation of pupils, parents and staff alike.
   
• At the start of last week, each pupil received a Diamond Jubilee mug, as a present to mark our special year. It was lovely to read ‘thank you’ letters so competently written by pupils in Reception Class, in response to their ‘treat’.  By the end of the week, it was clear that each and every one of our pupils had realised the significance of an establishment celebrating its ‘birthday’, and I have a feeling that the pride each child holds in being part of St Peter’s School, is now even more deeply set.
   
• Saturday’s Diamond Jubilee Ball was a spectacular success.  My thanks to all of the sponsors for providing super raffle prizes, to Mrs Tye for organising table decorations, to Mr and Mrs Payne for, amongst a myriad of ‘jobs’, designing and producing the menu and place names, to Mr Owen for the table plan, to Tim Bull for taking on the position of ‘master of ceremonies’, to Mr Carl Fountain for his involvement with catering arrangements, to our great team of waitresses enjoying their escape from the School kitchen(!), to Mrs Sharp for juggling information and liaising patiently with a great many, to Mr Owen for producing the table plan, to Danny Holmes for receiving different contractors on site to get the marquee ready and to the group of parents who returned to School on Sunday morning to help clear up!  Heading all of this was Mrs Michelle Lester, who drove forward the event from its original idea to its successful completion, assisted by Mr Grant Lester, providing and overseeing the sound and lighting that made the occasion all the more special.  I am sure that more will be said by many at the forthcoming PTAFA AGM on Thursday 21st September!
   
• Following the ‘spellathon’ undertaken by pupils as a fund raiser for NSPCC, an incredible £691.03 was raised.  Well done, boys and girls!
   
• Tomorrow we come to the end of the current School year.  I hope that many of you will find time to join us at the Service of Thanksgiving, in the Parish Church of Ss Peter and Paul, at 11am.  Please note, as set out in previous bulletins, tomorrow is a full school day.  The children will be ‘bus-ed’ back from the Church and then have a special Diamond Jubilee Lunch, which Mr Fountain has set up as a real ‘party’ affair.  There will be an end of year School assembly in the afternoon, after which pupils will be dismissed at the usual time.
   
• Pupils return for the Michaelmas Term on Thursday 7th September, with Early and Late Club running as usual from this day.  After school clubs will start from the week beginning 18th September.
   
• Tomorrow families will receive the second instalment of this year’s St Peter’s School Newsletter, with a final round-up of the last six months. 
   
• Just in case the summer holiday brings with it any moments of boredom, Pupils in Years 2 to 5 have been given a leaflet outlining details of a children’s magazine recommended by leading educationalists - ‘Aquila’-to which parents may wish to subscribe.
   
• All that remains is for me to wish families and staff at St Peter’s School a good summer, and to thank you all for your support and enthusiasm throughout this last academic year.