ST. PETER'S SCHOOL

5th October 2006

Dear Parents

National Poetry Day was marked in our School assembly earlier today.  To tie in also with yesterday’s World Animal Day pupils have had the opportunity to hear and read animal poetry written by a range of modern day poets, as well as those well known and loved: Christina Rossetti, Alfred Lord Tennyson, Lewis Carroll and Edward Lear.

Last week I wrote about some of the teaching and learning activities taking place for pupils in addition to numeracy and literacy.  This week, there are details of some of the work being pursued in music lessons: 

Newer children in our Nursery have been learning the names of percussion instruments and how to play them, whilst those pupils who joined St Peter’s School Nursery earlier last year relished the opportunity of showing them (and everyone else in the room!) how simple rhythms could be made to accompany music. 

The most important foundation to good music making is the development of a good sense of rhythm. Pupils in Reception Class have been developing their awareness of tempo, enjoying the opportunity to respond to ‘the beat’ with a range of body movements.

In 1KS boys and girls have gained experience in responding to a range of musical signals indicating pitch and volume; the early stages of following a conductor.  They have also explored contrasts of pitch, dynamics and melody, both by listening to these in pieces of music and using them for short improvised compositions.

Meanwhile, the art of playing the ocarina is being revealed to pupils in 2GM who have recently started learning to play this instrument.  Correct positioning of the instrument with regard to mouth and fingers is essential if a good tone is to be achieved.  In 3CVR the boys and girls have made a great deal of progress since starting to play the ocarina last year. With basic skills now secure, the fingering of a number of different notes has been learnt, and the variety of music the pupils are able to tackle is even greater.

Recorder playing is introduced in 4AH.  As with any instrument, the all important positioning of the player and the instrument is first tackled.  In recorder playing the way in which the note is sounded is a vital skill to master, and using the tongue in the right way is what our Year 4 pupils are currently mastering.  The fingering of two notes has been learnt, a composition task has subsequently been set, so that pupils use the skills acquired in a creative way.

If you are parent of a pupil in 5DF or 5LD you may have noticed a white ribbon at the end of your child’s recorder, and wondered what on earth this is about!  Recorder Karate is proving very popular in this year group, whereby a series of challenges have been set for each pupil to work their way through. With enough ribbons available to provide a challenge for all, there is every opportunity for the skills both of recorder playing and reading music to be further enhanced this year.

The theme of ‘space’ has been the stimulus for music in 6PP.  In addition to ‘classic’ links such as Gustav Holst’s Planet Suite, pupils have also heard less conventional responses to this theme, with sound sources such as paper being ripped, a fork being dragged over sand paper, and dustbin lid percussion!  A compositional project has been set involving the making of an ‘original’ instrument which Mrs Cumming hopes will then become the sound source for an original composition.

Last week saw the first netball match of the new season, played away against Broughton.  To add to last week’s great news about the win in the first football match, Miss Farrant and the netball team were positively elated with their 11-3 win.  Well done!  And then last night we enjoyed further success in the Floodlit Football League, with a 3-1 win against Avondale. 

Following the announcement of the School’s production of The Button Box, there has been a super response from pupils in Key Stage Two.  We are all very excited about the show, which is certainly in its stages of infancy, but that is what makes it such an exciting project!  After School today and next Thursday, members of Production Club will take part in ‘auditions’ so that the production staff team can decide on the casting.  Having heard the children sing as a group, I can tell you that this really promises to be a great show, and I hope that many of you will come to one of its three performances in February. 

Parents of pupils in 6PP should please note that the application forms for places in county schools should be returned to the School Office before half term, in order for us to send them off and meet the deadline set by county for receipt.

Last week I received a telephone call from one of ‘our’ parents, expressing concern about the parking habits of some St Peter’s School parents. It has been noted that some parents repeatedly park cars on the ‘zig zags’ near School, thus creating a real risk, not only for other parents and pupils, but also for members of the public. Please, please take the time to park safely, and do not disregard the available, legal parking spaces that are certainly out there, simply in order to avoid walking a short distance to the School.  The traffic warden has not visited for some time, and I am no longer sure that this is a stroke of luck! 

There was a true community feel in Sunnylands Hall last week when many of us met for the PTAFA’s Harvest Supper. There were some thought provoking poems and prayers written and presented by the children, who clearly see the significance of celebrating our plentiful food supplies in a world where hunger still exists. To this end, your donations totalling £374.30 were so very gratefully received, and will be sent on to The Goodwill Village in India.  The food and flowers brought to School last week by children was distributed by our team of mums to Four Seasons Day Centre and The Grange Over 60’s Club.  Thanks to all for making this all happen!

There will be a PTAFA meeting in Sunnylands Hall on Wednesday 11th October. Please come along and join in the planning of this year’s events.

Many thanks to all those who supported the recent PTAFA plant sale, which made a profit of £53.70.

A letter regarding appointments for the forthcoming Parent/Teacher Consultation Evenings will be distributed this week.  Please return your reply slip quickly, particularly if you require appointments with more than one teacher for siblings.

Maths Week begins on Monday, and pupils will take part in an assortment of activities, including a Sudoku-thon.  More on this and other School news will appear in the next bulletin, on Thursday 19th October.