ST. PETER'S SCHOOL

27th March 2008

• What a way to herald in the Easter Break! The sight of children in Reception, 1KS and 2SW running the Sports Relief Mile was one to behold.  There was a spirit of camaraderie present amongst our youngsters, as they jogged around the course set out by Mr A Holmes and Mrs Van Rensburg.  Despite the mile being a challenge for some more than for others (I include myself in the former category!) everyone met the challenge.  Pupils in Key Stage Two made the mile too, with some interesting modes of travel. Some pupils hopped, some skipped, some rolled, some crawled and some even chose to run!
   
• The important thing now is to ask grown ups to collect any sponsorship money that runners have been promised, and return it to School quickly so that we can send it off to Sport Relief.  In addition, a PTAFA Cake Stall will take place tomorrow and proceeds will also be donated to Sport Relief, so please bake and buy for this good cause. Thank you.
   
• Success continued for St Peter’s School pupils competing in Kettering Eisteddfod.  Sofia Taylor won the ‘Vocal Solo Under 8’ class and Jordan Summerfield came second in ‘Vocal Solo 10 Years and Under’, with Tapiwanashe Taruvinga in 3rd place. Jemima Rees came 3rd in Piano 10 years and Under, and Allana Berwick came 1st in her Piano Duet competition, and 3rd in the Piano Trio class. 
   
• The ‘individual verse speaking 6 years and under’ was won by Olivia Ager, with Matilda Middleton being awarded 2nd place, and with Olivia Cawthorn in 3rd place. Daniel Hurd won the ‘Verse Speaking 7 and Under’, and he was also presented with the Churchill Award.  Well done also to Melissa Todd for coming 2nd in this category.  Jordan Summerfield was runner up in Verse Speaking 10 years and Under
   
• This year we chose to enter a Year Two choir in the ‘younger choir’ category.  Pupils in 2SW should be proud of their achievement, winning the Hymn Singing category and coming second in the secular song category. The Key Stage Two Choir also represented the School well, and was runner up in its two classes.
   
• For some months a group of children in Years 3 and 4 have been working hard with Mrs Van Rensburg during break times to prepare for the ‘Group Speaking 8 and Under’ class of Kettering Eisteddfod.  Hard work doesn’t always reap the rewards in life, but it did on this occasion, and a first place was awarded to Mrs Van Rensburg’s group.  Serious practice had also been taking place for some time with a group of Year 5 and 6 pupils working with Mrs Payne in preparing for ‘Group Speaking 10 and Under’. The performance they gave was superb and gained for them a tremendous 90 marks, seldom given!  In recognition of this high standard, Mrs Payne’s group were also awarded the Market Harborough Building Society Trophy, which Mrs Payne collected at the special Prize Winners’ Concert which took place on Saturday 15th March.  Well done also to Daniel Hurd, Olivia Ager and Emily Middleton for being invited back to perform at this concert.
   
• All in all then, this has been another wonderful year for St Peter’s School pupils at Kettering Eisteddfod.  I would like to take this opportunity to thank the School’s teaching staff for involving themselves in preparation during lunchtimes, visiting teachers for enthusing their pupils, parents for encouraging practice at home and most importantly, ALL of the pupils who took part.  Know that your efforts are truly appreciated by teachers, parents and fellow pupils alike!
   
• Efforts of another kind should also be commended…those of the pupils who took part in the Barnardo’s Egg Care Challenge during Lent half Term.  A staggering £832 has been raised for this children’s charity.  WELL DONE to you all! Andrew Wright in 2SW was the winner of the lucky dip for the much coveted Barnardo’s Bear.
   
• 2008 is the National Year of Reading but at St Peter’s, every year is a year of reading! This morning pupils in 1KS presented their class assembly to celebrate Book Week.  We were reminded about some of the different functions of books, and were treated to a super drama of Michael Rosen’s ‘We’re Going On A Bear Hunt’.
   
• The Scholastic Book Fair has arrived in time to mark our Book Week.  There are some excellent titles available at the Book Fair and I urge pupils to coax their parents into paying it a visit!  The Book Fair is open from 3.30pm to 4.15pm and its last ‘after school’ opening day is Monday 31st March.  As always, if sales are good the School earns a commission of books that are fed into our ever expanding reading scheme.
   
• Parents are reminded that we are in the process of reorganising the Uniform Shop. It will be closed from 2nd April 2008 until further notice. The final date of its opening is 1st April 2008, between 3.00pm and 3.45pm.  From 2nd April 2008 uniform purchases can be made by Order Form only, until further notice.
   
• Pupils should wear Summer Uniform upon return from the End of Lent Term Break: on 21st April 2008.  Should any last minute orders need to be made, then Uniform Order Forms are available from the School Office.  These should be submitted with full payment.
   
• A letter has been distributed this week to parents of Key Stage Two pupils regarding arrangements for Winter Games Day, which takes place on Thursday 3rd April.  Please refer to this letter for details of which items of kit your child needs to bring to School on the day.
   
• A High 5s Netball League match was played recently against St Edward’s.  Our girls played exceptionally well and won the match 8-3.  There are two league matches left, so there is still everything to play for girls!  Good luck.
   
• On 18th March a team of St Peter’s School netballers attended the Independent Schools Association Under 11 High 5 Netball Tournament, held at St Joseph’s Preparatory School in Newcastle Under Lyme.  The competition followed a round robin format, with six games being played by each team.  Well done to our players.  Mrs Van Rensburg reports that you were a credit to the School in the way you conducted yourselves and in the way you played.  Thanks are also conveyed to Mrs Brown, Mrs Flatman and Mrs Lyles for their help during this event.
   
• The ISA Under 11 Boys’ Tag Rugby Tournament also took place in Newcastle-Under Lyme on the same day. We included two debutant players in our squad so we were delighted that our ‘newer’ team scored lots of tries.   Team spirit was immaculate and the boys all enjoyed themselves immensely on a much warmer day than we experienced the previous year!  Mrs Sullivan and Mr Penny were helpers on the trip, so our thanks are conveyed to them.  This was a long day with a long drive too, so thanks also go to Mr A Holmes, Mrs Van Rensburg and Mrs Marshall for their support.
   
• Following our successful qualification for the latter stages of the Kettering and District Indoor Kwik-Cricket Competition, we returned to KLV on Thursday 13th March and played our semi-final against Havelock of Desborough. We held our own for most of the match but this time it just wasn’t enough to proceed to the final. We proceeded to play Southfields in the 3rd/4th place play off and succeeded in winning, enabling us to claim 3rd place. Our team played very well and are getting to grips with the intricacies of the rules and strategies.
   
• The PTAFA Auction of Promises takes place on Saturday 29th March and it promises to be a great event.  I have already purchased my catalogue and can confirm that there are some very tempting items for which I suspect many parents and friends will want to bid!  Catalogues are available in the School Office NOW priced at £1 and catalogues are also available on the night ‘at the door’.  Please bring your catalogue with you as your ‘entry ticket’.  The last Auction of Promises was excellent.  Please join in with this event if you can.  Such a lot of hard work has been going on in the background, and it really warrants a good turnout!
   
• The last school day of Lent Term is Friday 4th April.  Trinity Term begins on 21st April.  I urge pupils to use the energy gained from their short Easter break to maximise their work and effort in class tomorrow and next week, so that Lent Term ends with them feeling that they really have earned their break.
   
• The next bulletin will be issued on 24th April when there will be news about Book Week, as well as details about some of the events planned for Trinity Term 2008.