East Brent Church of England First School

                               Newsletter

 

Newsletter Number 13                                 Wednesday, 14th March 2007

 

Last week was a memorable one for our school.  We gained 9 gold, 11 silver and 6 bronze medals at the Highbridge Festival.  These were our best results ever.  48 children took part, many of whom taok part in more than 1 class.  The children behaved beautifully.  Not only did they have to learn words and music but they had to learn the order in which to walk on stage; how to look at the conductor and concentrate; how to stand; how to use facial movements and gestures; how to tune their recorders; to use percussion instruments; how to support each other and work as a team.  They listened to the adjudicators and enjoyed the element of competition.  Every single child who took part was a credit to themselves, their families and the school.  It was through the dedication and hard work of Mrs Bowkett, Mrs Plummer and Mrs Steady that the children were so well prepared for the competitions.  Our thanks must also go to you, the parents, for presenting the children so smartly and for helping with the transporting of the children to and from the competitions.  The adjudicators were very positive in their comments and we all learnt a great deal from them.  One of them also commented on the wonderful opportunity that the festival gives the children in gaining confidence of performing in front of a large audience and on a stage.  This experience will be beneficial to every single child who took part.  They will never forget it.  We will put a selection of the entries together as part of our Easter Celebration on Thursday, 29th March at 2 pm in St. Mary’s Church, please feel free to invite family & friends to come along.

 

Besides all the successes we had at the festival, we had 5 children who won books for their book cover competition entries; they were Joseph Blake, Luc Richards, Tom Colls, Freddie Dolcezza and Natalie Smallwood.  All the book covers have been laminated and are being used to decorate our library.  A group of keen football players took part in a tournament at Hugh Sexey Middle School, they played well and enjoyed the event.  All our teaching and support staff continue to undertake training; last week they took part in courses on mathematics, phonics and circle time.  We continually strive to update our skills and to take on new initiatives, its pleasing to know that we are ahead of the Government with modern foreign languages.

 

Self Defence:  Thursday, 15th March 7 pm-9 pm there are still a few spaces left for this session, or there are more spaces on Wednesday, 21st March.  Please let Patrick Barber or Mrs Currie know if you are interested in joining one of these classes.

 

Chess Club:  We have a group of enthusiastic children who have started playing chess at lunchtimes; is there anyone who could help them with some training?

 

Field:  The lease has been signed and we are hoping to have the field fenced and ready for school use early next term.  We are collecting ideas about what we would like to have on the field.  So far we have had suggestions of an environmental area; storage shed; gazebo type structure; garden/vegetable garden; amphitheatre; adventure play area.   There is approximately £1650 in the PTA field fund, £2000 in gifts for the field and £4000 in the Travel Fund.  We will be able to have the field marked out with a football pitch, running lanes and circuit and rounders pitch.  We will be forming a ‘Field Working Party’ to sift through all the ideas and prioritise the developments.  We are also beginning to think about a social event to launch the field, if anyone has any contact with anyone famous we would be glad to hear from you.  If you have any ideas on this event please let us know, the PTA will be talking about this at their next meeting on Thursday 26th April at 8 pm in school.

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Comic Relief:   Friday, 16th March, non uniform day, children are encouraged to wear something red, (hair spray or gel at your discretion)  proceeds will be shared between Comic Relief and our Promise to Africa appeal.  There will also be a cake stall run by Hannah and Natalie, children are invited to bring in a small amount of money to buy a cake.

 

Literacy Week:  19th-26th March all schools throughout the Cheddar Valley are working together to promote writing and stories.  On Monday we will have a book making day.  On Tuesday we have booked a ‘storytree workshop’, which will involve stories from different cultures.  On Wednesday we will be working on cartoons.  On Thursday Mrs Duckworth will tell some Celtic Tales.  On Friday we are having a story sharing day.  We would like the children to bring in their favourite books and teddies.  If the children would like to dress up in their bedtime clothes that would be fun!  We will be having hot chocolate and cookies.

 

Easter Activity Afternoon:  Friday. 30th March, we will be finishing the term with an Easter activity afternoon.  The children will be working in family groups, they will rotate around 3 activities, each organised by a teacher.  At 2.30 pm they will take part in an Easter Egg hunt and at 3 pm there will be a parade of the Easter Hats that they made during the morning.  If any parent or grandparents would like to come and work with the children during the afternoon then they are very welcome, you will rotate around the activities with your children.   The afternoon session will start at 1.30 pm.  Please feel free to join us at anytime during the afternoon.  The afternoon will end at 3.15 pm.

 

Monday Sports Club:  There is no Monday sports club for the next two weeks, the Year 4’s are working towards a netball tournament and will use the time to practice.

 

Invitation Books:  The commission from these books raised £100 for the field fund, many thanks to Mrs Tanya Roberts for organising this.

 

Bonus Ball:  £145 profit has been raised by the Bonus Ball competition, many thanks to all who supported this event and to Mrs Smith and Mrs Dolcezza for selling the numbers.  Look out for the next competition.

 

Keep your child safe on the internet:  we have been sent a pamphlet on this to share with parents, if you would like a copy please log on to the following web site – www.thinkuknow.co.uk.

 

Child Safety:  Safety F1RST – you will be receiving letters (through your child’s book bag) from a company selling a booklet for you to work through with children, if you would like to look at a copy before purchasing please ask at the office.  We don’t get anything out of it.  It’s a good reminder to the children and reinforces everything that we teach in school about staying safe.

 

PE Club:  After Easter we will be opening up Wednesday PE Club to all years.  We have two parents who have been trained to run multi skills sports activities and they will work with Miss Louise Evans who is our SASP PE coach.  The cost will be £20 for the term, if your children are interested in joining this club please complete the slip overleaf.

 

Tennis:  Burnham Tennis Club are willing to run tennis lessons after school on Thursday’s from 3.15 pm to 4.15 pm; the cost is £12 for a six week session.  Please complete the slip overleaf if your child is interested.

 

Attendance:  our attendance levels are continually monitored by county and fed back to central government.  Our figures are showing a level of concern due to the number of holidays being taken in term time.  After Easter I will not be able to authorise holidays taken in term time unless there are extenuating circumstances.  These absences will then be logged as unauthorised which will help our attendance figures, to the detriment

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of our unauthorised figures.  I fully appreciate the reasons why some parents take children out of school for holidays but I cannot be seen to condone this.

 

For Sale:  Electric Guitar (Fender strat copy) full size – not heavy, with amp, case and lead.  Everything you need £60 ono phone Mrs. Steady on 01278 641396 or 07792223920.

 

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang – the original road-going motor car will be visiting Sanders Gardenworld on Saturday 17th March between 10 am and 4 pm.

 

Cool Milk – school milk register on line at www.coolmilk.com if you would like your child to receive school milk. 

 

Fruit Snack:  can I please remind you that fruit is the only snack that we allow at playtimes.

 

Start of the day:  some children are coming into school before 8.50 am, please supervise your children in the playground if you arrive before the start of the school day.

 

Year 4 residential trip The Beacon Centre:  please may I remind you that all money needs to be paid before 23rd March.

 

Parent Consultation meetings:  these meetings will be taking place next week. Please ensure that you sign up for these as this is your opportunity to discuss your child’s progress with their teacher.

 

Heather Hector

 

Dates for your diary:

Red Nose Day:  Friday 16th March

Literacy Week: Monday 19th – Friday 23rd March (dressing up day Friday)

Netball Tournament:  at Hugh Sexey Middle School, Thursday 22nd March 4 pm – 5 pm

Easter Celebration:    Thursday 29th March  2pm St. Mary’s Church

Easter Activity Day:   Friday 30th March 1.30 pm  or Fancy Hat Parade 3 pm

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TO:  EAST BRENT FIRST SCHOOL

Re:  Tennis Club on Thursdays 3.15 - 4.15 pm

 

I would like my child ………………………………………  to take part in this club and enclose payment of £12.00 payable to Avenue LTC.

 

Signed: ……………………………………………………………………………………….  Date: ………………………………………………………………

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TO:  EAST BRENT FIRST SCHOOL

Re: Wednesday, PE Club for all Year Groups

 

I would like my child …………………………………………. to take part in this club and enclose payment of £20.00

 

Signed: ………………………………………………………………………………………………  Date: