12th June 2008

• This week’s bulletin begins with a reminder to you all about Saturday’s PTAFA Barn Dance.  Ticket sales have been very good, but tomorrow is the day to get over to the School Office if you still need to purchase your ticket!  Tickets may be available on the door on the night, but their availability cannot be guaranteed because of the usual last minute rush to the School Office that we hope will happen tomorrow.  This promises to be a great night, with plenty of space for families to relax and join in the fun. The music is high quality and the barn provides a great space for this family night.  The Barn Dance is also open to your non-St Peter’s School friends, so you are warmly welcome to purchase tickets and bring friends along too.
   
• Assessments in Reception and Key Stage One are complete and have been sent off for external marking.  We anticipate that results will be returned in time for the Parent Teacher Consultations that are booked for Reception, 1KS and 2SW on Monday 23rd and Tuesday 24th June.  Class teachers report that pupils approached the assessments in a careful and confident manner, so I thank parents for working with the School to ensure that the children did not feel over-anxious.
   
• The first half of Trinity Term ended with the Key Stage Two Swimming Gala, giving our swimmers the opportunity to put into practice all their hard work from the swimming lessons.  Everyone that took part competed in at least two events, earning valuable points for their House team.  3CVR eagerly took on the challenge of competing in their first Swimming Gala.  Mrs Van Resburg also commends the Year Six pupils, who displayed admirable leadership qualities, encouraging and supporting the younger pupils.  The final scores were: Pitsford 91, Grafham 86, Rutland 82 and Thorpe 70.
   
• Summer Games Day took place for pupils in Key Stage Two last week. Once again we were blessed with a perfect day on which our children could demonstrate their skills and knowledge in cricket and rounders. The competitive nature of both competitions was never overshadowed by the sense of fair play and consideration for the feelings of others, attitudes which we try to instil into the pupils at St Peter’s School. The captains of the cricket teams in particular, and their Year 6 colleagues not only played to their abilities but had to learn to choose which players would play in each 6-a-side game and what partnerships they would be in….such decisions in sport are also ways in to preparing for their necessity in adult life too.   Pitsford proved victorious this year, but the competition was always so very close. 
   
• A cricket team from the School travelled to Newark just before half term for the Independent Schools’ Association Under 11 Midlands Kwik Cricket Championship, with the intention of gaining more competitive experience before we travelled to Northampton for the Kettering Area competition in June. There were nine teams involved.  When all results were in we found ourselves to be second overall and were declared runners-up. Once again our children behaved impeccably and were a credit to the school.  Well done on a great result!
   
• Your Founders’ Day invitation and letter reminding you of the usual arrangements should now be with you.  If yours has not arrived in the post please see Mrs Sharp in the School Office.  Reply slips indicating numbers in your party attending should be sent in as soon as possible.
   
• A letter regarding tickets for the forthcoming Key Stage Two Summer Concert was distributed last week. Ticket orders should be in by tomorrow please.
   
• There are only four days left until the end of Readathon, so pupils are urged to get reading to reach their last chapters, before asking parents to embark upon collecting sponsorship money, which can be brought in to School from Monday 16th June.
   
• Orders for the School Photograph should also be sent in as soon as possible please.
   
• There are two places available from September for percussion tuition (drum kit) given by Mr Mike Kilsby.  If you are interested in finding out more, please ask at the School Office. 
   
• A schedule is in place at the end of term for hand-over meetings between class teachers, so that the social, medical and academic information pertaining to your child is passed on to their next teacher.  The focus in School with pupils however, is the current academic year, so please help by supporting this approach at home.
   
• Younger pupils recently took part in Speech and Drama exams conducted by The Poetry Vanguard.  Mrs Arnold reports that an exceptional set of results was achieved. We will hear more about this at Founders’ Day. Parents are reminded that in September there will be some Speech and Drama places for pupils who would like to start this class. Application forms and information about this activity are available from the School Office.  Good luck to those Speech and Drama students who will be taking their English Speaking Board examinations on Saturday 21st June.
   
• Please note that the Uniform Shop will be opened up on Tuesdays from 3pm to 3.45pm. If you wish to visit the Shop on a Tuesday please come to the School Office first.  As usual, completed order forms can be taken with payment at the School Office too, with items packed for collection a few days later, except in the case of items for which we sometimes have to await delivery.
   
• The Pond Restoration Project is making incredible progress thanks to the hard work of a group of parents over a number of Saturday mornings.  The final two Saturday morning sessions will be on 21st and 28th June from 9am.  With Founders’ Day fast approaching and the need to end the project for this time, a call for extra help is being made by PTAFA Chairman Steve Bowers to us all.  The aim is to clear the area near the pond where the benches are situated. Please bring a shovel or fork if you can help us out. 
   
• The next bulletin will be issued on 26th June.