Newsletter: 18th January 2019
Posted on January 15, 2019 | By Mr Cole
Birthday Celebrations
Please remember that our 140th Birthday is rapidly approaching! On Monday week (28th Jan) we will be dressing up in Victorian costume for the day and the children will be finding out more about what school life might have been like 140 years ago. We will also be cutting our school birthday cake, burying a time capsule and planting a commemorative tree. I have been asked by several people if former pupils and members of the community will be invited, but we took the decision that, being January, we will just keep the actual day to the school and when the weather improves we’ll hold an Open Day… and hopefully have a celebratory ring of the newley restored School Bell.
Devon Youth Jazz Orchestra
Next Thursday morning, the ambassadors from the Devon Youth Jazz Orchestra (DYJO) will be visiting the school. Everyone will have the opportuntity to watch and hear them perform in a special assembly and then the children who receive peripatetic music lessons with Annie or Laura will spend the morning working with the musicians using their own instruments. This is a really exciting opportunity and we hope your child enjoys the day! If as a result of watching DYJO perform, your child expresses an interest in learning the drum kit, keyboard, brass, woodwind or guitar please let us know and we will put you in touch with our music teachers.
Martial Arts Day at Kingsley
Next Friday, Years 5 and 6 will be going to Kingsley School to take part in a martial arts day. Children should have brought a letter home with specific information about what they’ll need on the day.
Children in Year 4 (i.e. the Alminstone children not taking part) will need to bring wellies in on Friday as they will be joining Burscott Class for a one-off Forest School session on that day.
Swimming
Governors are concerned that due to a shortfall in parental contributions, the Autumn Term swimming programme has overspent by £1600. The school is unable to continue to fund swimming at this rate. Please could you help inform the Governors discussion around this subject by completing the short survey HERE. This can be completed anonymously but will be really helpful in gauging parent views on this subject. Please fill out the questionnaire even if you haven’t yet sent your child swimming through the school as the discussions currently underway could shapre what swimming tuition looks like for years to come. Thank you.
Eco Club Activities
Eco Club will be attempting the Big Garden Bird Watch on 26-28th January. Perhaps the rest of the school would like to take part and send the data into the Eco club? If you would like to, the recording sheet and instructions can be downloaded here for printing:
Also, if you have any unwanted toiletries from Christmas, Eco Club are collecting them to donate to Harbour in Bideford towards Eastertime. Harbour suport disadvantaged people across Torridge, running the Bideford Foodbank as well as providing a soup kitchen and emotional support. Please send any donations into Stroxworthy Class. Thank you.
If you would like to attend the above workshop to help you manage family finances, please book your place by calling the organiser, Kim Payne, on 01823 461099 or 07825 228947
If you would like more information about your child taking part in Conderella in March, please speak to Richard or Gitta Todd.
Family Group Points
The fortnightly Family Group Points count-up has taken place, with points starting once again at zero following the Christmas Holidays. Because this is a short term, points will be collected across the whole term, with the children competing to blow and decorate Easter Eggs at the end of term.
- Beech: 99
- Elder: 82
- Hazel: 98
- Oak: 73
- Silver Birch: 71
- Sycamore: 70
- Willow: 109
It’s lovely to see Oak not at the bottom! Keep up the good work, everyone!
Headteacher Awards
Our amazing learners this week, who have all received a Headteachers’ Award, are:
- Cranford: Seren – writing sentences; Rebecca – writing sentences
- Burscott: Xavier – a big improvement in reading and writing due to trying really hard; Finley – a huge increase in confidence which is helping in all areas of his work.
- Stroxworthy: Maisie – An amazing performance in the school play; Imogen – an amazing performance in the school play
- Alminstone: Dan – being very engaged in his learning, and listening well in class; Gianni – being positive about his learning and showing great enthusiasm, especially in Science learning about the planets
- Ashmansworthy: Lilly – always trying her best in class, and helping organise the activities for Family Group Time; Charlie P – Always working hard to produce work of a high standard
Tasty Tuck
Having struggled since last half term to find a new supplier of appropriate snacks for Enterprise Voice’s Tuck Shop, we’re pleased to say that new stock is now in and Tasty Tuck is once again open for business on Friday breaktimes. Everything is 50p: we have spicy noodles, dried fruit chips, fuit bars, popcorn and fruity flapjacks. Thanks to Enterprise Voice for once again running this project.
The Week Ahead
- Monday:
- Tuesday: Blue Marine working with Alminstone Class
- Wednesday: Mr Cole out all day – ACCT
- Thursday: Devon Youth Jazz Orchestra visiting (am); Bideford College Sixth Form students visiting Ashmansworthy re future career paths
- Friday: Interviews for new Alminstone teacher (am). Martial Arts Day(Kingsley School; Y5/6) Year 4 on Forest School (pm)