14th June 2007

• Pupils in Key Stage Two proudly presented ‘Reach for the Stars’, their annual Summer Concert this week, featuring a selection of the work completed in this year’s music lessons with Mrs Cumming.  The programme was dense with musical delights: unaccompanied scat singing, part singing, group compositions, rap, and a fabulous range of songs. It was noted by many of us that the pupils looked so confident and eager to perform, concentrating well and displaying knowledge of a host of musical concepts, such as pentatonic scales, ternary form, graphic notation and rondo form.  Although I confess to not really being partial to rap music, I do believe that pupils in 6PP and 4AH have won me over with their self composed St Peter’s School raps!  I could quite simply write about each and every item on the programme, but even then, the ‘special’ sparkle of these wonderful performances could not be conveyed-one simply had to be there!
   
• To continue our preparations for the new School year, please note that there will be a meeting for parents whose children are moving into a new Key Stage in September.  This will take place on Monday 2nd July at 3.45pm.  The meeting for parents of children who are now in Reception Class will take place in 1KS class room, whilst parents of pupils currently in Year Two should go up to Sunnylands Hall.  This will be an opportunity to meet with the new class teacher who will be able to talk to you about the structure of next year’s curriculum and give an outline of the class routine.
   
• This is the last week of Readathon.  Rumour has it that St Peter’s School bookworms have been celebrating this fortnight!  Over the weekend, please start collecting in your sponsorship money, returning it to School by the end of next week.  Cheques should be payable to Readathon. 
   
• Letters have gone out from each Key Stage detailing arrangements for St Peter’s School Sports Day, which takes place on Wednesday 27th June.
   
• The last few weeks have been very exciting on the sport front at St Peter’s School. On Saturday our High-Fives netball team played in the Kettering tournament at Avondale School. Fifteen teams competed from around Kettering. We played St. Mary’s Kettering and Meadowside, winning both games convincingly. We then progressed onto the quarter-finals where we beat St Edwards. In the semi-finals we played a tough game against Millbrook and then progressed onto the final to play against Mawsley, who won the league this season. After full time the scores were even, and after two minutes extra time the scores were still even.  It was then decided to opt for the ‘golden goal’ solution as a way of deciding the score, and on this occasion our opponents scored quickly, securing the result in their favour. Miss Farrant reports that our team played superbly!  It really is a fantastic achievement to finish runners-up. Well battled, girls!
   
• On Thursday the St Peter’s School cricket team competed in the Kettering Old Grammar School Foundation Kwik Cricket Tournament at Northants County Cricket ground. Thirteen teams competed altogether and in our group we played St. Mary’s, Avondale, St. Mary’s Burton Latimer and Highfields. With some excellent bowling, fielding and batting, we won every game! Ysobel Rees and Dempsey Ainsworth played superbly for their first ever tournament.  We then played Millbrook in the final, finishing as runners up. Well done to all the girls and boys representing St Peter’s School in this competition.  It was a very long day, and a great number of cricket matches were played, resulting in a super final position for St P’s.
   
• Although we are into our second week of the last half term of the year, let us not forget the exciting way in which the first half of Summer Term was rounded off, with the St Peter’s School Swimming Gala! Thorpe made a promising start and took the early lead, but there was no stopping the mighty Rutland this year.  They had some outstanding swimmers, who have clearly worked so hard during the weekly swimming lessons, in preparation for this event. It was a superb gala and I’m sure the cheers of encouragement could be heard for miles around! All Key Stage two pupils competed in at least two events for their house, and it is important particularly to commend the pupils in 3CVR for performing so superbly at their first Swimming Gala. Well done to everyone who took part. The final scores were: Rutland 87, Grafham 72, Pitsford and Thorpe 66.
   
• Last week, Reception Class presented their assembly to the School.  Throughout the year, all classes take a turn at this, focusing upon a particular topic within the curriculum, or relating to the week’s assembly theme. Each year, Reception Class delights us all with their confidence and ability, and this year was no exception.  We heard the children read or recite sentences that they had previously written in class, illustrated with delightful art work, all linked to the theme of transport and journeys.  We listened to a song and a recitation too.  I watched our older pupils sit agog, taking in this very special moment, and was reminded about how much of a ‘family feel’ there is to this School, how so many of the children in different year groups care about each other, look up to each other and admire each other’s individual and collective efforts.
   
• My thanks to parents who have already RSVP’d to the School office regarding Founders’ Day.  Tickets were sent out at the end of last week, together with the arrangements for the day.
   
• Next week will be the last for homework in this academic year.  From Monday 18th June pupils are encouraged to continue ‘free reading’ and to make the most of the opportunity to enjoy The Great Outdoors. In the light of Sports Day being just around the corner, this could be the chance for some limbering up and practice runs in readiness for the big event!
   
• Pupils in Year 5 and 6 are probably compiling their packing list for the residential trip to Norfolk.  The departure date is Tuesday 19th June, and parents of children in these year groups are asked to attend a short but important meeting after School tomorrow at 3.30pm.
   
• Yesterday Key Stage One visited West Lodge Rural Centre.  The sun shone and pupils thoroughly enjoyed the activities, handling and feeding some of the smaller animals, as well as taking turns to feed a lamb with a bottle. Pupils also learnt about the habits of the farm animals, and went on a nature walk, looking for animals in the surrounding ponds and woods.  They also learned about how plants were used as medicines in the past, and how the names of some plants and animals were derived.  I think it might have been a bit of an unusual entertainment for our children to watch some of their teachers try pig herding too!  Of course old favourites such as the adventure playground and the barrel ride added the fun element to this educational activity day.
   
• There is a PTAFA Summer Fayre Committee meeting in Sunnylands Hall this evening at 7.30pm for all those involved in the organising of this event with Mrs Tye.
   
• There are still a few Barn Dance tickets remaining for Saturday’s event, so if you are partial to a little ‘dosi do’ -ing, then please purchase your tickets from the School Office.  Our thanks go particularly to Andrew Loake (who played for us in The Button Box) and his band for providing the music.
   
• I hope that many of you will be able to come along to the PTAFA ‘cheese & wine’ social, on Thursday 21st June.
   
• The next bulletin will be issued on Thursday 28th June, when there will be a report about the previous day’s Sports Day and tales from the residential trip, as well as a round-up of French Day, taking place for pupils in Foundation and Key stage One on Friday 22nd June.