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7 Dec 2007 - Newsletter No 13

Horfield CEVC Primary School

 

Newsletter No.13 - Friday 7th December 2007

 

 

Christmas Bazaar

 

Our Christmas Bazaar was certainly a resounding success even if the rain (and hail) did absolutely pour down! Nevertheless, a huge number of people came to enjoy the event and support the school, and I am delighted to announce that the overall profit from the day is an amazing, record breaking £3143. I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to everyone who attended and helped out, and of course, to the School Association for organising such a brilliant occasion. Thank you.

 

Save the Children Concert

 

Unfortunately, I was unable to attend the annual Save the Children concert at the church and I understand that I missed a marvellous performance by the choir to a very large audience.  Geoff Stock, the concert coordinator wrote the following comments to us:

 

“The children’s response to their teachers and the energy, spirit and enthusiasm of their performance were thrilling to observe: clear evidence of time devoted to preparation and practice, and to the ability and inspiration of staff involved.”

 

Very well done to all the children who took part in this event and I look forward to hearing them sing at our Carol Service on 17th December.

 

Old Vic Nativity Performance

 

Students from the Old Vic Theatre School were here on Monday to entertain the children with their innovative version of the Nativity story.

 

Infant Nativity Performances

 

Our Reception children have given two excellent performances of the Nativity story to parents this week and it seems to me that there are many budding thespians amongst Classes 1 and 2 this year. Well done to them all. I would also like to commend the children in Years 1 and 2 as well for their brilliant readings and fantastic singing. All in all, the Nativity performances were yet another highlight for all concerned.

 

Helpers’ Coffee Morning

 

It was coffee and mince pies this morning as we took the opportunity to say thank you to some of the many helpers who assist the school in so many ways on such a regular basis. It really is a great strength for the school to benefit from their enthusiasm, skills and general goodwill, and we hope they enjoyed the choir songs as an expression of our gratitude. In particular, it was especially pleasing to hear the first ever performance of the newly formed Key Stage 1 choir!

 

Christmas Parties

 

Class teachers and children have been giving thought to their Christmas parties next week and I am sure they will be enjoyable events. Can I remind parents that it is school policy not to have cooked meats or peanuts on these occasions.

 

Christmas Dinner

 

This is to remind you that all children will be invited to have a Christmas Dinner in school on Thursday 13th December - even if they usually have a packed lunch.  The dinner will cost the standard amount of £1.95 and we would like to receive the payment for the meal by Monday 10th December. This is a very pleasant occasion where the children are waited on by staff and we hope that as many children as possible will wish to take part.

 

We are also requesting that any dinner money outstanding for meals taken this term is sent to school by Friday 14th December.

 

Christmas Carol Service

 

Please remember to put 7.00pm on Monday 17th December in your diaries as we will be holding our carol service at the Parish Church at that time. This year we plan to use the Nativity story in a more traditional theme by including a tableau, spoken words and familiar carols. The orchestra will be taking part as well as the Key Stage 1 and 2 choirs, and the staff choir will depart from tradition by not singing “In the Bleak Mid Winter”. There will, of course, be lots of candles and we hope that as many children and parents as possible will join together in this unique way as a school community to celebrate the coming of Christmas.

 

Football Reports

 

It’s been a busy week for our footballers despite the awful weather and the following report has been complied by Samuel Perkins, Keiren Johns and Matthew Leigh in Year 6:

 

“On Monday the football team went to Monks Park to play on the Astroturf. We had to play against Weston Park and Lockleaze. We beat Lockleaze 4-0 and we drew against Weston Park 0-0. Samuel Perkins scored 2 goals against Lockleaze with Joe Jones and Keiren Johns scoring 1 each”.

 

“On Tuesday we played QEH on our field. We thought we would lose because they looked really big, like rugby players. It was a close game but we won 2-1. Samuel Perkins scored both goals and was set up by Joe and Keiren. They brought along extra players so all members of the football club had the chance to play. We really enjoyed the session.”

 

 

Lifeskills

 

Our Year 6 classes took part in some special Lifeskills training at the Create Centre this week. During the sessions the children were confronted with various scenarios which simulated accidents / incidents in and around the home. The scenarios included the garden, the home, a roadside scene, a rail incident, making emergency telephone calls, first aid, and a fire. Emily Thomas in Class 13 commented:

 

“Being at the Lifeskills Centre was great!”

 

Emily also mentioned that her group leader was surprised at how much she knew about dangers in the kitchen. Well done Year 6!

 

Tree Shredding / Grounds Tidy-up

 

During the morning of Saturday 12th January we are planning to hold our annual Christmas tree shredding session and at the same time carry out some important maintenance jobs in the schools grounds. These will include:

 

  • Pruning and tidying up borders and hedgerows

     

  • Digging and preparing the allotment

     

  • Making paths between borders in the allotment

     

  • Creating a path in the conservation area

     

  • General clearance and litter picking

     

If you are able to help in any way with these activities and would like to work off some of the Christmas excesses in a worthwhile manner with a keen group of volunteers please return the slip below to give us some idea of numbers as we plan the event. You certainly don’t have to be an expert and there will be free coffee and biscuits for all helpers!

 

Similarly, if you wish to have your tree shredded you can bring it along to school on the morning anytime before 12 noon and watch it being converted to mulch, or you can even throw it onto the grass at the corner of the extension car park near the main entrance pedestrian gate during the week beforehand.

 

Students of the Week:  Students of the Week in Year 6 are Keiren Johns  in Class 13 for his excellent improvement in handwriting skills, and Lewis North in Class 14 for being a quietly efficient class leader all week. Well done both!

 

Assembly Theme:  Our assembly theme for next week is Christmas.

 

Achievement Board

Congratulations to Mathew Bryant and Sarah Dunmall for passing their Gold Water Safety Skills tests last week. The test was very challenging as it involved swimming 400m in clothes apart from a range of other requirements including treading water, surface diving and underwater swimming! Well done to the two of them!

 

Congratulations also to Christopher Ackerman for achieving his 400m in the swimming pool last week.

 

Finally, congratulations to Bethany Culliford for obtaining a Bronze medal for patterns in the Bristol Inter Schools Taekwondo tournament last weekend.

 

Congratulations to Ms Lewis, Miss Graham, Miss Sutton, Mr Parr, Mr Dowse and Mr Sutton for passing their refresher course for First Aiders at Work this week. The assessor commended them for the quality of their knowledge and practical First Aid skills.

 

Well done to them all!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grounds Tidy-up Reply Slip

 

10.00 – 12.00 Saturday 12th January 2008

 

 

Name…………………………………………………………………………..

 

Child’s Name and Class…………………………………………………….

 

 

I am willing to help with the work in the school grounds on 12th January.

 

Signed……………………………………………………………………

 

Diary Dates – Term 2

 

Monday 10/12 /07

 

Year 5 parties in the afternoon

 

Tuesday 11/12/07

 

Year 3/4 parties in the afternoon

 

Wednesday 12/12/07

 

Reception + Year 1 / 2 parties  - afternoon

 

Thursday 13/12/07

 

Christmas Dinner

 

Friday 14/12/07

 

Year 6 parties in the afternoon

 

Monday 17/12/07

 

Carol Service at Horfield Parish Church - 7pm

 

Wednesday 19/12/07

 

Last day of Term 2

 

 

Diary Dates – Term 3

Thursday 3rd January

 

INSET

 

Friday 4th January

 

INSET

 

Monday 7th January

 

Term 3 begins

 

Saturday 12th January

 

10-12 Christmas tree shredding and general grounds tidy up.

 

 
 
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