15th March 2007 - Close on the heels of World Book Day, celebrated earlier this month, it was World Maths Day yesterday. To mark the event, Key Stage Two staff are in the process of working on a project with their classes, which will eventually result in pupils collectively making a Maths Dictionary, covering the many terms that children need to understand in their maths curriculum.
- Tomorrow is Red Nose Day. Parents were reminded in a previous bulletin that to partake in this charity, the School has purchased The Big One (red nose) for each child in Reception Class through to Year Six. In order to give pupils the opportunity to also raise funds for this initiative, as part of Book Week, children in Key Stage Two are asked to dress up as a fictional character from a book and pay £1 towards Comic Relief.
- This week is the culmination of a great deal of hard work on the part of pupils who have been preparing for Kettering Eisteddfod competitions. It is important to note that these indeed are competitions, and they are judged with the expectations of a high standard of performance. I am delighted that once again this year, so many pupils have chosen to take part in Kettering Eisteddfod. Furthermore, the results as they currently stand at the time of writing show that the hard work has paid off, with high scores awarded and plenty of merits and commendations too! Well done to all of the children who have already taken part in their competitions, and good luck to those who still have them to come.
- Here are just a few highlights……In ‘verse speaking 7 years and under’ Amy Shoemake came second. In the same category for ‘six and under’ James Walton came first, Melissa Todd was second, and Miriam Cragg and Jessica Todd were joint third. There were so many entrants to the ‘verse speaking under 6’ category that this has become two competitions! In this morning’s competition, James Walton came first, Melissa Todd and Sofia Taylor were joint second and Emily Middleton and Miriam Cragg were joint third.
- In instrumental competitions, Breony Bolter and Amy Shoemake came joint third in ‘piano solo 7 and under’, Allana Berwick came 2nd in ‘piano solo 9 and under’ and Sarah Kings gained third place. In the same competition for 10 years and under, Jessica Todd came first and Allana Berwick came third. Allana also took part in the piano trio competition, coming second. Emily Middleton gained first place in ocarina, with Melissa Todd in second place. In the same competition for older children, Amy Shoemake came first and Rebecca Drage and Breony Bolter were joint second. Tapi Taruvinga was awarded a first place plaque for her descant recorder solo, whilst in the recorder solo 10 years and under Sophie Twyford came first, winning the H. H. Kite Cup, with Hope Carpenter and Jessica Todd in joint third place.
- I hope that pupils enjoying a weekend ‘lie-in’ will want to ‘think positive thoughts’ for all those pupils in Year 5 and 6 who are taking part in verse speaking competitions, in full school uniform on Saturday morning! There will be a further Eisteddfod report in the next bulletin, on 29th March.
- On Tuesday our cricket team took part in the Kettering Kwik Cricket Tournament at KLV. We played Grange School and Broughton Primary. Miss Farrant and Mr Holmes report some excellent batting and bowling from our players, resulting in St Peter’s winning both matches convincingly. We now progress onto the quarter finals this afternoon.
- There is plenty of netball news to report. There was a welcome return to play after the winter break from matches, and this was celebrated in style on Friday 2nd March, with a 5-3 win against Hall Meadow. On Tuesday 6th March, St Peter’s School played Meadowside. It was a close game with end to end action, resulting in a 6-5 win to our opponents. The next match saw St P’s meet Avondale. An excellent performance was put in, resulting with an 8-2 win for our team. The girls play St Edward’s at home after school today. Good luck!
- On 7th March St Peter’s School football team played St Joseph’s, with much of the play in our favour during the first half. It was therefore something of a shock when we went 1-0 behind at the end of the first half. There was an equaliser in the second half, and special mention goes to Dempsey Ainsworth, who played very well in defence. With so many of the team involved in Eisteddfod pursuits, it was not possible to play a match this week. Football practice has now ceased, with more focus on cricket and athletics as summer draws closer.
- Footballers in Year 5 and 6 travelled to Stoke College in Suffolk last Friday, to take part in the ISA Under 11 National Finals. What wonderful weather there was to accompany the beautiful venue! Our team reached the plate quarter finals. After extra time and no ‘golden goal’ the match went to nail-biting penalties, which is seen by some as never the best way to determine a result, especially when it is not in ones favour!
- To link in with their study on Moving Toys in the Design Technology curriculum, pupils in Year 5 recently attended a workshop session at the Northampton Abington Park Museum and Art Gallery on Thursday 1st March. The session included a hands-on opportunity where children could handle a large range of moving toys and investigate the material choice for toys and how and why they move, looking at a variety of forces, cams, gears, lever and pulley systems. As it was World Book Day, children made good use of the opportunity to look at a specific book that illustrated toys of yesteryear. The evaluation of the Velocipede made many children thankful for their high-tech mountain bicycles! The museum also had a good selection of Victorian artefacts and leather shoes that enhanced Year 5's understanding of the Victorian era. This was an educational and fun day combined into one!
- Key Stage Two’s Winter Games Day will take place on Tuesday 27th March. A letter regarding arrangements for this will be distributed next week, but advance warning is given that house t-shirts will be required. Should your child require a new t-shirt then it can be purchased from the uniform shop, or completed form and payment left at School Office for later collection.
- As we approach Book Week, pupils may be pleased to learn that photographs for Extreme Reading are still being accepted by Mrs Dreyer. We have had some great pictorial evidence to verify some bizarre scenarios for enjoying the written word! The forthcoming display will tell all, and we will make sure it is somewhere for parents to see during the next ‘share your work’ session, on Monday 23rd April.
- The PTAFA has recently distributed a letter about summer plant orders. Please send orders in to School by the last day of term.
- Thanks to all those who took part in the PTAFA Quiz Night last Saturday, and special thanks to Mrs Walshaw for organising the questions. Once again, this was a great night. If you didn’t come, I thoroughly recommend it to you the next time it appears on the PTAFA calendar. If in doubt, ask someone who went. I think it was great…but then, I did have all of the answers!
- The next bulletin will be issued on 29th March, when there will be a report about Book Week, as well as a final round-up of Eisteddfod news.
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