13th March 2008 Dear Parents - There is nothing wrong with competitive maths, according to St Peter’s School pupils! Children in Key Stage Two were certainly up for the challenge of on-line real-time maths battles of speed and skill, and with our students joining those from 164 countries to correctly answer 182,455,169 questions during the event, a new World Record was set on 5th March. It was great to learn that our pupils continued to log on at home too, and I am aware that parents didn’t take much persuading to join in either. Although the Maths Challenge is over, the website (www.worldmathsday.com) is still accessible until Sunday 16th March, when pupils in Year 3 to 6 can sign in using their existing passwords.
- Problem solving in a different vein took place for pupils in 1KS and 2SW. They had great fun on their Maths Trail, working in groups, first solving a clue and then working out a maths question. The correct answer was then exchanged for a letter, and the final challenge was then to rearrange all the letters won through correct mathematical calculation, to make up a well known phrase.
- Having just drawn breath from all of this numerical excitement, the next day brought with it celebrations of another kind: World Book Day, on March 6th. A class book was made by pupils in Nursery using The Alphabet as the subject. This provided staff with another opportunity to work with our youngsters on phonics as the all important early steps to reading. The book made by the children is now being used as part of the ‘share a story’ scheme, so that parents can eventually enjoy the children’s hard work too.
- Meanwhile, Reception Class children used their previous project work about animals and habitats to create a super class book, using drawings and their own early writing skills to create an information book. Pupils were shown how an index works and they then helped Mrs Bull make one to add to their class-made book.
- Our World Book Day assembly this year focussed upon the recently published top 50 children’s books. This list has received a great deal of press coverage, and is available to view on www.booktrust.co.uk. Teachers were delighted to see that a great deal of reading is going on at home too, and not just under the School’s reading scheme. The Top 50 list was more than peppered with established classics, and it is good to see such books retaining popularity despite them being written at a time when there was less marketing accompanying a book’s release. It was also good to see that a classic book for more established readers topped this poll: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis was followed by Eric Carle’s much loved favourite for younger readers: The Very Hungry Caterpillar.
- Kettering Eisteddfod is into its second day. For any parents that are unfamiliar with this event, it is an arts festival focusing upon music and drama, providing the surrounding school and adult community with an opportunity to compete in friendship, under the adjudication of professionals within the speech and music field. Looking at this year’s programme, once again it is good to see that so many of our pupils are taking part in this event.
- Well done to all pupils who have taken part so far! There can only be a certain number of ‘places’ allocated and usually only one winner in each competition, but there would be no Eisteddfod without all of its competitors! By joining in you are keeping alive an important element of our arts community. Most importantly, by joining in you are showing a tremendous level of commitment and courage. There are plenty of ‘grown-ups’ who would find speaking and performing in public a great challenge. To see your excited faces as you come back to school after your competitions’ is a prize indeed!
- In Wednesday’s competitions, Joel Carroll was awarded 2nd place in ‘Piano 7 and Under’, Amy Shoemake gained 2nd place in ‘Piano 8 and Under’ and Jemima Rees received 3rd place in ‘Piano 10 and Under’. In Wednesday’s verse speaking competitions St Peter’s School swept the board, with Olivia Ager taking 1st place in ‘Verse Speaking 6 and Under’, 2nd place going to Matilda Middleton and 3rd place awarded to Olivia Cawthorn. In ‘Verse Speaking 9 and Under’ Sarah Kings came 1st and Erin Hill was 2nd.
- In this morning’s competitions our pupils continued to do well, with certificates awarded for merit and commendation too. Olivia Ager came 1st in the ‘Ocarina Solo Stage One’ competition, with Olivia Cawthorn 2nd and Lauren Church, Matilda Middleton and Karis Blott equal 3rd. The ‘Ocarina Group Stage One’ competition was awarded a Distinction certificate. In ‘Ocarina Solo Stage Two’ Emily Middleton was awarded 1st place, with Melissa Todd coming 2nd and Daniel Hurd at 3rd place. The ‘Ocarina Stage Two Group’ competition was also won by St Peter’s School. The ‘Descant Recorder Solo 9 years and Under’ brought a 2nd place to Sarah Kings and 3rd place for Roy Manning. In ‘Verse Speaking Under 10’ Jordan Summerfield came 2nd with very high scores from our pupils in this particular competition.
- Well done to all St Peter’s School competitors in these competitions for coming away with super marks, and good luck to al those preparing for tomorrow’s competitions.
- On Tuesday St Peter’s School did very well in the first stage of the Schools Kwik Cricket Tournament held at KLV. They achieved a relatively easy victory against St Mary’s Burton Latimer, and also worked hard to win their game against Park. This means that the team are through to this afternoon’s quarter finals. Good luck to our team!
- Our netball team battled well in their match with Hall Meadow last week, and were just one point behind after the second quarter, with excellent effort from the defence. Some super shooting on our opponents part gave them the game. Mrs Van Rensburg reports that there was some excellent play from our younger team members, which we anticipate will flourish and bring in some great results next season too!
- Our Sports Relief event takes place on Wednesday 19th March. We have opted to do this because tomorrow we have so many children involved in Eisteddfod competitions, and the usual swimming programme also runs. Many children have now purchased their £2 Sports Relief socks, but we still have some available from the School Office.
- School will be closed on Thursday 20th March through to Monday 25th March inclusive for a short Easter Break.
- Please note that the date for Summer Games Day in Key Stage Two has needed to be changed to Thursday 5th June. This is because Kettering Old Grammar School Foundation has recently set its date for the forthcoming Kwik Cricket Knockout Tournament.
- The PTAFA Auction of Promises takes place on Saturday 29th March. This is our last bid to appeal to you all for any promises you can donate to this event. The auction catalogue will be compiled soon, so please contact the School Office if you can donate an object, experience or service that we can auction. A huge THANK YOU is extended to all those parents who have already come up with auction items, and a huge PLEASE is sent out to those of you who have been too busy to contribute so far.
- The next bulletin will be issued on Thursday 27th March, when there will be another sports report and a final update on Kettering Eisteddfod.
|
