ST. PETER'S SCHOOL

11th October 2007

• We found time to involve pupils in a range of activities last Thursday, to celebrate National Poetry Day, despite the rigours of Assessment Week.
   
• Pupils in Nursery celebrated Yellow Day as well as Poetry Day, and this provided an opportunity to learn a poem on the theme of this colour. In Reception Class pupils explored rhythmic patterns in words by learning the Dinnertime Rhyme.  Stories involving rhyme were explored by 1KS, whilst 2SW recited poems about the days of the week and months of the year.  In Key Stage Two activities included group speaking, examining how poetry has altered from ancient Greek times to modern day, and the writing of poetry on this year’s National Poetry Day theme: Dreams.  Favourite poems with the older children this year appear to be Lewis Carroll’s Jabberwocky, Spike Milligan’s On The Ning Nang Nong and Alan Ahlberg’s Please Mrs Butler…the latter is always a great favourite with teachers too!
   
• National Poetry Day was also celebrated at School Assembly last week, which was led by pupils in 6PP, who used the dream theme as inspiration for a retelling of a well known Biblical story, through the music of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat.  Today’s school assembly was led by 6LD, using the theme of Ancient Greece.  6LD pupils shared research completed about Greek ‘heroes’, including Pythagoras and Hippocrates.  Aesop’s fables were used as a model for pupils’ own writing of fables.
   
• Reply slips confirming appointments for Parent Teacher Consultations will be distributed tomorrow.  Please arrive at your appointment promptly.  This is not an occasion where it is appropriate for children to be in attendance.  Please note that it is vital that meetings do not overlap the 10 minutes allocated, even if the appointment is the last for the evening.  This is so that there is sufficient time to clean rooms and lock up the School. 
   
• The dates for Summer Term Parent Teacher Consultations for 1KS and 2SW have needed to be altered.  Appointments for parents of pupils in these two classes will be available for Monday 23rd June and Tuesday 24th June.
   
• Following the brain gymnastics required for last week’s Assessment Week, it was good to see pupils taking part in skipping activities yesterday afternoon.  Pupils in Key Stage One completed their activities in the morning, and it was gratifying to see how many children relished the opportunity to improve their skipping skills.  This was an excellent opportunity to focus upon coordination, balance and rhythm. Skipping has enjoyed something of a revival in our School, and I feel that this is something to be proud of at a time when nationally there is concern about children’s lack of motivation to take part in physical exercise.  The sight of the entire Key Stage Two pupils visiting five different skipping activity points on our school field in glorious autumn sunshine really was a sight to behold.
   
• Parents of pupils who would like to link yesterday’s skipping activities with the Jump Rope For Heart fundraiser for the National Heart Foundation are asked to start collecting in sponsor money, which should be returned to School together with the sponsor card that was distributed earlier in the term. 
   
• An enormous WELL DONE to all of the pupils who took part in Saturday’s Cross Country Event.  My thanks also go to parents who joined Mrs Van Renburg in encouraging our young runners along the course, and to Mr & Mrs Payne for recording the results.  It was a great afternoon!
   
• The after school sport programme is well underway, as we strive to get as much done before light stops play for winter.  In netball our team celebrated a 9-0 win after playing Avondale.  They also put on a super show against Isham, who took the game 2-5.  In football, a friendly was played at home against Havelock.  This was a very well supported match, with our new team putting on a great performance, and achieving a sound 4-2 score line.  Mr Anthony Holmes was impressed by the commitment shown by the team representing our School.
   
• Now that the structure has been defined for matches following the folding of the Floodlit Football, two games are booked to be played at St Peter’s School.  We play Isham and Mawsley on 7th November. 
   
• Still with football, the Eccles Shield tournament will take place here on Wednesday 31st October from 2pm to 4pm. I know that our team will be in the most serious of practice modes in the run-up to this event.  Come and support us. This invitation is extended to pupils and parents in Key Stage One.  We are one School, so come and cheer on our team!
   
• Please note that individual, class and team photographs will be taken at School on Tuesday 30th October.  All pupils should return to school in smart winter uniform after half term.  Pupils who are involved in team photographs will need to have correct clean kit in School for Tuesday 30th.  Mr Holmes and Mrs Van Rensburg will advise pupils as to who is involved in the team photographs.
   
• Parents are kindly reminded that all items of uniform should be named.  In Foundation Stage and in Key Stage One pupils are assisted in hanging up uniform, and they are also encouraged to start taking responsibility for hanging up their things neatly on the designated, labelled peg.  By the time pupils reach Key Stage Two, the expectation is that they are well on the way to dealing responsibly and independently with their belongings.  At the moment in Key Stage Two, some pupils are being encouraged to ‘smarten up’ in the way they use their new changing rooms.  It is not acceptable for clothes to be left strewn across the changing room floor. I share this with parents so that if you are also tackling this behaviour at home in the endless ‘keep the bedroom tidy’ stand-off, then let us unite in a shared expectation for orderliness from the children!
   
• The PTAFA Ghost Hunt is cunningly being organised by ‘you-know-who’ and once again shops across the county are being scoured for costumes by those who take on all manner of ghoulish form to scare the living daylights out of our pupils.  Tickets will be on sale very soon, priced at £3.50.  The catering for this event can be challenging.  Help us to get it even better for you all this year…. by buying tickets early so that we know how many will be attending.  St Peter’s School Ghost Hunt takes place on Friday 9th November…be scared…be very scared……..
   
• PTAFA Plant orders will be delivered to School tomorrow.  Mrs Hunnings has kindly offered to sort out the orders, which can be collected from the usual place (behind the hedge) at the end of tomorrow’s school day.
   
• The next PTAFA meeting will take place on Tuesday 30th at 7.30pm in Sunnylands Hall. Please come along and offer your support.
   
• The Macmaillan Coffee Morning was a huge hit with so many of you. It raised over £250.  Thank you for supporting this event by donating, ‘gift aiding’ and purchasing cakes. A cheque for £279.14 will be sent to the Goodwill Village in India, following families’ donations during the Harvest Festival. Thank you.
   
• Our Open Week has been very well attended.  My thanks are conveyed to parents who have recommended our School to friends and colleagues.  Please continue passing the word around……don’t keep our School your secret!
   
• Please note that the first Share Your Work session takes place on 19th November.  This will provide your child with an opportunity to show you work completed since September.
  
• The next bulletin will be published on 1st November.