5 Oct 2007 - Newsletter No 5
Horfield CEVC Primary School
Newsletter No.5
Friday 5th October 2007
Dear Parents,
Visitors
Grace and Sunday officially opening the Ugandan Shelter
Our two Ugandan visitors, Grace and Sunday, left Bristol early on Wednesday morning after a very full ten days with us. They were full of praise for the children and the many things that we do in school and were really enthusiastic about telling their story to the staff and children at Tropical School. During their visit we spent some time clarifying our curriculum plans for the remainder of the current school year. Our three year project has been on the theme of Human Rights and this year we shall attempt to complete the overall aims by focussing on the rights connected with individuality, family, freedom of expression and safety. By the end of the project we hope to have reproduced a Unicef book on children?s rights with our own partnership version using poems and art work from Bristol and Masindi schools.
On Tuesday this week we held a farewell assembly in the hall. Many of the staff, including Headteacher for the Day Marcus Mullin, dressed up in traditional Ugandan costume for this special occasion which featured some lovely singing of an African song by our choir (accompanied by Grace and Sunday using African drums), some superb whole school singing and a brilliant PowerPoint presentation of photographs chronicling the building of our Ugandan shelter (Thank you Mrs Pearce). Look out for it on the website soon! We also presented photograph albums to Grace and Sunday which were full of pictures that had been taken during their visit.
After the assembly in the Hall we all processed outside and gathered around the Ugandan shelter for the official opening of this new structure. Grace and Sunday untied a Ugandan rope made of banana fibres and we admired the special plaque which had been created by our artist friend, Cathy Faulkner. A final song and some more drumming brought the occasion to an end, and Headteacher Marcus Mullin, was so pleased with the event and the behaviour of the children that he awarded everyone an extra 5 minutes break time!
Reception Children
This week has been the final week of part-time attendance for virtually all our Reception children which means that Classes 1 and 2 will be operating full time from Monday. It has been so pleasing to see how well these new children have settled into routines and expectations and I look forward to seeing just how well they can do during the remainder of the year.
Information Evening for Reception Parents
This is to remind parents of the new Reception children that we shall be holding an information evening in school on Tuesday 16th October at 7pm. During the evening parents will receive information about the ways in which we teach reading, writing and numeracy together with some inputs on assessments procedures and behaviour expectations.
Class 6 Farm Visit
On Monday of this week Class 6 visited a farm at Dundry. Mr Harvey says that the visit started on what felt like a typical autumnal day with cold damp mist swirling around and obscuring the view from the farm. However, the children were enthralled with the workings of a real farm and saw lots of animals including cows being milked. They even witnessed cows from an adjacent farm coming into the farm yard after they'd escaped from their field because someone had left a gate open (not one of us we hasten to add!)
Year 5 Visit to Fairthorne Manor
All Year 5 children intending to go to Fairthorne Manor next May should now have brought consent slips and deposits to school. Similarly, all parents who have sent in money should have received a payment card. Please contact the office if there are any queries.
Year 6 Visit to Poland
On Wednesday this week we sent home letters inviting Year 6 pupils to take part in a residential visit to Poland in January. It is really important that parents return the slip which was attached to the letter by Friday 12th October if they are interested in their child participating.
School Photographer
This is a reminder that the photographer will be in school on Thursday 11th October to take individual and family group photographs. Parents with pre-school children can attend at 8.30am if you wish younger children to be included in family groups.
Harvest Service
Our Harvest service takes place at 9.30am on Wednesday 17th October in the school hall. Children will be invited to bring a donation for display during the service and there will be a sale of produce at the end of school in aid of a charity. Parents are invited to attend the service although we will be unable to offer a crèche facility for pre-school children.
Reception Places for September 2008
Children born between 1 September 2003 and 31 August 2004 are eligible to enter the Reception year group in September 2008. To apply for a place at a Bristol school for your child, you need to complete an application form that can be obtained from the school office (even if you have a child already in school). This form must be returned to Bristol City Council by 5pm on 19th October 2007. Alternatively, there is also an online facility at www.bristol-cyps.org.uk/schools/admissions. If you have a child of the relevant age, it is important that you make sure your application is received on time as late applications are considered separately.
Secondary School Admissions 2008
This is a reminder for Year 6 parents that applications for secondary school places must also be made by the 5pm deadline on 19th October 2007.
VIP Visit
Today we were visited by Mr Nick Batchelar, the Programme Director for the Standards & Achievement Division at Bristol City Council. Mr Batchelar had a tour of the school by Lily May Rice and Samuel Perkins in Year 6 and he was deeply impressed at their enthusiasm and sense of pride for the school. Furthermore, he congratulated us for the quality of work that is clearly taking place.
Students of the Week
This week Connor Vaughan has been chosen in Class 13 for his hard work and progress in writing. In Class 14 James Kempe has been selected for his consistently good behaviour and for trying hard at everything he does.
Newsletter No.5
Friday 5th October 2007
Dear Parents,
Visitors
Grace and Sunday officially opening the Ugandan Shelter
Our two Ugandan visitors, Grace and Sunday, left Bristol early on Wednesday morning after a very full ten days with us. They were full of praise for the children and the many things that we do in school and were really enthusiastic about telling their story to the staff and children at Tropical School. During their visit we spent some time clarifying our curriculum plans for the remainder of the current school year. Our three year project has been on the theme of Human Rights and this year we shall attempt to complete the overall aims by focussing on the rights connected with individuality, family, freedom of expression and safety. By the end of the project we hope to have reproduced a Unicef book on children?s rights with our own partnership version using poems and art work from Bristol and Masindi schools.
On Tuesday this week we held a farewell assembly in the hall. Many of the staff, including Headteacher for the Day Marcus Mullin, dressed up in traditional Ugandan costume for this special occasion which featured some lovely singing of an African song by our choir (accompanied by Grace and Sunday using African drums), some superb whole school singing and a brilliant PowerPoint presentation of photographs chronicling the building of our Ugandan shelter (Thank you Mrs Pearce). Look out for it on the website soon! We also presented photograph albums to Grace and Sunday which were full of pictures that had been taken during their visit.
After the assembly in the Hall we all processed outside and gathered around the Ugandan shelter for the official opening of this new structure. Grace and Sunday untied a Ugandan rope made of banana fibres and we admired the special plaque which had been created by our artist friend, Cathy Faulkner. A final song and some more drumming brought the occasion to an end, and Headteacher Marcus Mullin, was so pleased with the event and the behaviour of the children that he awarded everyone an extra 5 minutes break time!
Reception Children
This week has been the final week of part-time attendance for virtually all our Reception children which means that Classes 1 and 2 will be operating full time from Monday. It has been so pleasing to see how well these new children have settled into routines and expectations and I look forward to seeing just how well they can do during the remainder of the year.
Information Evening for Reception Parents
This is to remind parents of the new Reception children that we shall be holding an information evening in school on Tuesday 16th October at 7pm. During the evening parents will receive information about the ways in which we teach reading, writing and numeracy together with some inputs on assessments procedures and behaviour expectations.
Class 6 Farm Visit
On Monday of this week Class 6 visited a farm at Dundry. Mr Harvey says that the visit started on what felt like a typical autumnal day with cold damp mist swirling around and obscuring the view from the farm. However, the children were enthralled with the workings of a real farm and saw lots of animals including cows being milked. They even witnessed cows from an adjacent farm coming into the farm yard after they'd escaped from their field because someone had left a gate open (not one of us we hasten to add!)
Year 5 Visit to Fairthorne Manor
All Year 5 children intending to go to Fairthorne Manor next May should now have brought consent slips and deposits to school. Similarly, all parents who have sent in money should have received a payment card. Please contact the office if there are any queries.
Year 6 Visit to Poland
On Wednesday this week we sent home letters inviting Year 6 pupils to take part in a residential visit to Poland in January. It is really important that parents return the slip which was attached to the letter by Friday 12th October if they are interested in their child participating.
School Photographer
This is a reminder that the photographer will be in school on Thursday 11th October to take individual and family group photographs. Parents with pre-school children can attend at 8.30am if you wish younger children to be included in family groups.
Harvest Service
Our Harvest service takes place at 9.30am on Wednesday 17th October in the school hall. Children will be invited to bring a donation for display during the service and there will be a sale of produce at the end of school in aid of a charity. Parents are invited to attend the service although we will be unable to offer a crèche facility for pre-school children.
Reception Places for September 2008
Children born between 1 September 2003 and 31 August 2004 are eligible to enter the Reception year group in September 2008. To apply for a place at a Bristol school for your child, you need to complete an application form that can be obtained from the school office (even if you have a child already in school). This form must be returned to Bristol City Council by 5pm on 19th October 2007. Alternatively, there is also an online facility at www.bristol-cyps.org.uk/schools/admissions. If you have a child of the relevant age, it is important that you make sure your application is received on time as late applications are considered separately.
Secondary School Admissions 2008
This is a reminder for Year 6 parents that applications for secondary school places must also be made by the 5pm deadline on 19th October 2007.
VIP Visit
Today we were visited by Mr Nick Batchelar, the Programme Director for the Standards & Achievement Division at Bristol City Council. Mr Batchelar had a tour of the school by Lily May Rice and Samuel Perkins in Year 6 and he was deeply impressed at their enthusiasm and sense of pride for the school. Furthermore, he congratulated us for the quality of work that is clearly taking place.
Students of the Week
This week Connor Vaughan has been chosen in Class 13 for his hard work and progress in writing. In Class 14 James Kempe has been selected for his consistently good behaviour and for trying hard at everything he does.