10 Apr 2008 - Newsletter 10.4.08
Dear Parents,
Although we have been back at school for a whole week this is the first newsletter of the term so we would like to take this opportunity of welcoming everybody back after the Easter break.
With only five days behind us it is amazing just how much has gone on. We will be telling you about some watery fun and some netball news. Class 4 are going to be learning some Street
Before all that, however, we have even more great news to tell you. Mrs Postlethwaite has been very busy preparing our latest application for the Artsmark award. Artsmark is a national award scheme managed by Arts Council England that recognises schools with a high level of provision in the arts. The award scheme is open to all schools in England - primary, secondary, special schools and pupil referral units, both maintained and independent.
By gaining an Artsmark, a school shows its commitment to the wider development of young people and teachers and to raising the profile of the arts in the school and local community.
We obtained the Gold Award in 2004 and we have just been assessed by a representative of the Arts Council for this round of awards. He was delighted by what he saw in this school and told us that we had one of the strongest applications he had seen. We are very pleased to be able to pass this news on to you so that you know what an excellent experience your children have at Abberley.
You may have been at the Family Service this morning when Mrs Wylie announced that we are looking forward to being visited by the Headteacher from our twin school in the Gambia. Mr Alhaji Camara will be spending a week with us in June when, among other things he will be teaching Abberley children about school life in the Gambia and accompanying us on a trip to London with Years 5 and 6 (Please see below). We will be holding an evening Reception for Mr Camara, at school, on Thursday, 5th June and hope that we will be joined by executives from the Local Authority, representatives of local community organisations and, of course, yourselves. This is a most prestigious venture for us and we are most grateful to Mr Camara’s school for allowing him to come More details will follow.
Details of Class 4’s trip to London are now finalised. The main focus of the trip is an afternoon at the National Gallery when we will be shown how to read and enjoy looking at paintings. Experienced and skilled staff from the Gallery will be showing us the collection which includes works by Rembrandt, Leonardo da Vinci, Constable and Van Gogh. The day will be very full and details of cost, itinerary, etc will be sent out in due course.
Sadly, the weather doesn’t seem to be warming up too much yet, but this hasn’t stopped Gardening Club getting outside and tackling some of the jobs on their list. Thank you Mrs Yapp for coming along to help with tidying the pond area yesterday. We now have a wonderful bark path.
We have been reliably informed that Wednesday, 30th April is going to be a gloriously sunny day (please see Mr Prestidge if this doesn’t prove to be the case!) so we have fixed this date in the diary for an after school working party. Thank you very much to those people who offered to help with a ‘Ground Force Day’ following our plea in the last letter of last term and we hope you will be able to make it on the 30th. Please confirm if you are able to so that we can draw up a plan of the jobs that need doing the most. WE REALLY COULD DO WITH LOTS OF HELP SO PLEASE COULD WE HAVE SOME MORE OFFERS –AN HOUR OR TWO AFTER SCHOOL WITH LOTS OF PEOPLE SHOULD SEE OUR LIST SHRINK CONSIDERABLY. We will be planting up the pond, tidying the flower beds, and moving a shed to name but a few of the items. We have put a slip at the foot of this letter for you to use. Looking forward to seeing you.
Gardening Club is also looking forward to the Fete (6th June). Do you have any of the following which you would like to donate?
Hanging baskets (empty)
Wellies
Terracotta pots and/or
Bamboo canes
The club has plans for all of the above and the results will be on sale at the Fete. Many thanks.
One last piece of gardening news – the school is running a sunflower growing competition this term. From next Monday children taking part will be able to collect their seeds from Mrs Day. (2 seeds in an envelope for £1 – all proceeds to Gardening Club) to take home to grow. Judging will take place during the week beginning 14th July. Plants will need to be measured and photographic proof of height supplied. More details about this will be in future newsletters. There will be a prize for the girl and boy with the overall tallest sunflowers and further prizes for the tallest in each class.
Mr Juckes is running the London Marathon this weekend in aid of Cancer Research and we would like to wish him the very best of luck. We’ll be looking out for him on the TV! If you would like to sponsor
Sporting News
Netball Tournament – Our team played extremely well in the Tournament at Tenbury yesterday winning 4 of their 5 pool games placing them 2nd in the pool with the best average of all 2nd places. They went through to the semi finals losing their game to the ultimate winners of the tournament, who were a very strong team. We ended up 4th overall (16 teams were in the tournament) so well done Sophie, Yasmin, Lucie, Katie B, Katie M, Millie and Chelsea.
Cricket Coaching – Children from Class 3 and 4 had a lovely time with the cricket coach yesterday. He was very positive about all the children’s behaviour and enthusiasm. Please remember this is outdoors and our playground can be very cold so children will need to bring something warm to wear over their usual PE kit. Blue or black tracksuit trousers would be ideal.
Class 2 PE – From next week one PE session a week will be outside so they will need to bring suitable clothing too.
Bell Boating – Year 6 went to Upton Warren last week to have a go at Bell Boating. Max Drew and William Helm write:
When we arrived at Upton Warren it was quite misty but we were still up for the challenge. When we had our safety equipment on we went and got our paddles and we all got into one big bell boat. We learned the basic ways to paddle and were then given a challenge to paddle to the opposite side of the lake. We were paddling around the lake and everyone got drenched in water (WHICH WAS THE FUN PART OF THE TRIP!!!) Everyone enjoyed it, it was fun and very wet.
Sports Day - This year’s Sports Day will take place on Friday, 27th June.
Clubs
Netball – Wednesday lunch time
Football for Yrs 3,4,5 and 6 after school on Wednesday
Tag
Football coaching for Swifts and Ants Thursday after school
Little Saints meet at St Michael’s next Thursday, 17th April at
2 p.m.
Parents with pre-school age children can contact
School Calendar
5.5.08 May Day (School Closed)
26 –30th May HALF TERM
6.6.08 Summer Fete (after school)
27.6.08 Sports Day
18.7.08 END OF SUMMER TERM
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
GARDENING
Wednesday 30th April
(Anytime between
3.15 p.m.
and
6.00 p.m.
)
I would love to come along to help the Gardening Club on 30th April.
Signed …………………………………………………….