24th April 2008 - We have a lot in store for Trinity Term, so pupils are reminded not to let the light nights lead to late nights, because they will need all the energy they can to fully enjoy what is on offer, in addition to the important job of ‘taking it all in’ during lesson times! Trinity Term curriculum projections for your child’s Key Stage accompany this bulletin.
- Trinity Term has kicked off at full speed with Science Week. By way of revision and as a very gentle way of waking up those sleepy post ‘school-hol’ brains, pupils in Key Stage Two were given a Science word search on Science topics completed this year. General knowledge scientific facts have been on display about the building during the week. On Tuesday, Key Stage Two were treated to "crackers and cream cheese" during assembly, as Mrs. Dreyer demonstrated how pupils could make their own cream cheese with milk and citric acid from lemon juice, using the principles of irreversible chemical changes. A round-robin of Science experiments took place this afternoon, when children were treated to the magic of sound, how air pressure relates to real life, chemical changes in materials, electric conductivity of various materials and an investigation into the fact that milk is made up of plastic polymers! On Friday a "potato quiz" will accompany the planting of potatoes that might be ready for harvest before half-term.
- Key Stage One has chosen to look at birds during Science Week. Fact files have been completed by pupils after researching birds’ habitats, the varying physical structure of different British birds and how they live in their surroundings successfully. Some of this work will become part of 2SW’s class assembly, details of which will follow further on in this bulletin. Reception Class pupils planted potatoes after working with their teacher to consider the role of roots and shoots in the structure of the potato and well as the conditions needed for it to grow……inquisitive minds had a feast of information this week, that hopefully made Science come alive for them.
- It is good to have the children back at School refreshed from the end of term break, because there is much to do this term. Year Six are limbering up for their end of Key Stage Two SATs, whilst the rest of the school prepares for Assessment Week. Please note that assessments for Reception, 3CVR, 4AH, 5GM and 6PP/LD take place during the week beginning 12th May, whilst assessments for 1KS and 2SW occur during the weeks beginning 2nd and 9th June. Please avoid requesting holiday leave for pupils during these times, as it is not possible to run the assessments at a later date for them.
- As stated on the school calendar, parent consultations for Years 3 to 6 are Wed 11th And Thurs 12th June, and on 23rd and 24th June for pupils in Reception, 1KS and 2SW. A letter offering appointments for these days will follow later in the term.
- Before this next assessment period, pupils and parents will have some time next week to share together some of the school work completed over the last two terms. It is ‘Share Your Work’ time on Monday, so if you have not yet returned your reply slip, please make sure that you do so tomorrow. Please refer to the letter sent out on Monday for timings and procedure. I hope that the session will enable pupils to feel proud of the work they show to parents. The aim of the session is also to aim for further improvement between now and Founders’ Day, when elements of school work will also be on display.
- This morning’s School Assembly celebrated yesterday’s St George’s Day. Yesterday, pupils in Key Stage Two also marked the 444th birthday of Shakespeare. I was most impressed with their knowledge of The Bard’s plays. Our trips to see ‘Shakespeare for Kidz’ productions over the years, and the work at School that prepares pupils for each performance, is paying dividends.
- Please note that if you wish your child to be given medicine during the school day then it must be deposited in the School Office rather than with the class teacher, and you will need to sign on a daily basis for the medicine to be administered.
- Parents of pupils in 2SW are invited to attend their class assembly which starts at 10.30am on Thursday 1st May. Please meet outside the School Office from where you will be taken up to the Hall once we know the class and rest of School is ready. Reception Class parents are invited to join School Assembly on Thursday 8th May to watch Reception pupils give their first assembly to the School. This is always a Very Special Moment and one that the older children particularly relish. The ‘family’ aspect of St Peter’s School comes to the fore at such times, and it is so good to see older pupils supporting, encouraging and celebrating the work of the younger ones.
- There will be an Open Day for Ballet students of Mrs Thompson. She has already contacted parents advising them of the time of their child’s ‘open class’ on Wednesday 7th May.
- Although it feels that we are well into Trinity Term, we cannot leave behind some of the important events that saw out Lent Term. Once again, nature chose to bless us with glorious weather for our annual Key Stage Two Winter Games Day. Two field sports and two courts sports were played, enabling pupils to take part in football, rugby, hockey and netball throughout the day. It was encouraging to see that all pupils took some part in every game. It was no surprise that the team that had no substitutes due to absences produced the most tired children at the end of the day! Mr Anthony Holmes reports that everybody put a great deal of effort into the games. Fair play was evident throughout, and smiles added to the sunshine that brightened the hearts of teachers, pupils and parents alike. Congratulations to the Pitsford team for winning Winter Games Day 2008.
- Also during the week before we broke up, Key Stage Two shared the work pupils had completed during the term as part of their PE topic of Dance. The ‘dance share’ took place out on the playground in glorious weather. Year 3’s dance was on a Viking theme, Years 4 and 5 participated in several Tudor dances and the two Year 6 classes interpreted a dance in celebration of the Olympic Games. Far from there being any sense of nervousness or reluctance, our pupils were eager to present their work, and their efforts once again thrilled both their teachers and their fellow pupils.
- With the Swimming Gala just round the corner on 23rd May, Summer Games Day on Thurs 5th June, as well as our major whole school sporting event: Sports Day on Wed 25th June, I rather think that we may be planting potatoes in Science Week at St Peter’s School, but there is no danger of couch potatoes growing here!
- The PTAFA Auction of Promises raised over £1000. Thanks to all those parents, pupils and friends who donated promises and those that bid for items. The next function is the PTAFA disco for pupils, which is held in two sessions. The first is from 5pm to 6.15pm for pupils in Nursery, Reception, 1KS and 2SW. Please note that pupils attending this disco should be supervised at all times by their accompanying adult. Pupils in Key Stage Two will be pleased to know that parents are requested to drop them off for their disco which starts at 6.45pm, and they need to be collected by 8pm please. Everyone will be relieved to know that this is NOT a school uniform event, so you are all encouraged to get your best dancing shoes on and strut your funky stuff. Tickets are available from the School Office NOW and cost £1.50 per child.
- It is Open Week at St Peter’s School next week. Please remind any of your family, friends and colleagues who are considering a move to independent education that they are most welcome to come and see the School in action next week.
- The next bulletin will be issued on 8th May.
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