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16 July 2010

16 Jul 2010

9 July 2010

09 Jul 2010

It’s finally arrived, my last webnews. A blessed release many of you may think but I’ve enjoyed writing them over the years. As I told you a few weeks ago approx 60000 words have been committed to print on various topics over the past four and a half years. This week I’m aiming for exactly 600 words.
When I was leaving my last school in Cairo some of the mums asked me what would be my lasting memory of Cairo. I didn’t have to think about that one for long. I told them the incessant tooting of the taxis and the fact that they were, without a shadow of a doubt, the most neurotic set of mothers I had ever come across in my career.
You may think I caused offence over my assessment of them but no they all agreed with me.
No one as yet asked me what my memory of Lancashire will be but I’m going to tell you anyway even if you’re not interested.
The countryside, it’s absolutely stunning.
I enjoyed my walks with Tess in the hills, along the river and through the fields. Being able to catch glimpses of deer on the fields behind my house in Grimsargh. Tess chasing rabbits in the early morning and me stopping for breath climbing Pendle Hill while she ran up and down putting me to shame. Pulling her out of the pond on the field when she slipped in and couldn’t get out. Happy days!
And yet I had to wait until last week to see one of the most spectacular sights of all. The view seen from the lawn at Alston Hall on a clear, sunny Sunday afternoon. It was to me all that a typical serene English country scene should be.
Quite magnificent.
I could imagine John Constable painting the scene it was that impressive.
I shall also take away fond memories of Grimsargh or ‘The Village of the Damned’ as I call it due to the inability of most mobile phones to function within its boundaries. In my house it’s best to stand on the landing next to the airing cupboard if I want to be certain of a strong signal. This is, for whatever reason, an improvement as I used to have to open the window in the spare bedroom and hold the phone just outside. That was OK but a nuisance when raining.
By the way talking of rain you won’t find a boy from S Wales complaining about the weather ‘up north’ very similar indeed.
But Grimsargh is a lovely village and I have had the opportunity to know many great characters and make good friends over my time there. I think this exchange sums up the humour of some of my friends rather well. ‘David when do you leave?’ ‘Not for another three weeks’ I replied ‘Oh that’s fine are you having a leaving do?’ and before I could reply my friend quick as a flash said ‘Because we are’ howls of laughter all round. I think he was joking.
I’ll bring this final edition of webnews to a close. Thanks for reading week in week out; if I’ve helped raise a smile and kept you informed about school life then it’s all been worthwhile. On the other hand if you’re not a regular subscriber then you don’t know what you’ve missed.

Congratulations to all the Year 6 children on achieving the best ever SATs results. They all had Level 4 in English and mathematics and then 91% achieved level 5 in English and 88% Level 5 in mathematics. My congratulations and thanks to all the teachers who have played their part over the years.

I’m hoping to see many of you here at school on Sunday for the annual PTA Summer Fayre which takes place between 1.00pm and 4.00pm. You will have realised that the timing ensures everything is finished and packed up in time to allow all interested parties to be home safely in time for the World Cup Final KO at 7.30pm.

Good luck to our chess players who are taking part in the Northern Gigafinal over this coming weekend.

Congratulations to the boys and girls who sat the York Academy examinations last weekend, 35 gained Honours and 34 Distinction where a mark of 85 and above is required for honours.

Next week sees the long awaited performances of ‘The Dracula Rock Show’ on Tuesday at 2pm and 7pm and then again on Wednesday at 7pm. I’m looking forward to the show as I’ve heard some excellent reports from rehearsals.
Advance warning for you the Tuesday evening performance is being recorded.

Wednesday is Special Interest Day when the normal timetable is suspended for most of the day and the children sign up for different activities organised by the teachers.
Thursday afternoon is the Word of the Week film afternoon.

Friday is of course the last day of the academic year. The Final Assembly and Prize Giving takes place in the Sports Hall beginning promptly at 2.30pm. Invitations have already been sent to the families of Year 6 leavers. After the Prize Giving the families are invited to the Leavers Tea in the dining room.
May I ask if you are organising treats for the children at the end of the day not to organise anything before 4.00pm so as to allow all Year 6 children and their families to have tea and say goodbye to their teachers. This is an important day for the children and teachers and I would not want anything to detract from it.

News from the Sports Field
On Wednesday afternoon Miss Sykes and Mr Duke took an athletics team to the Preston Schools’ Athletics Championships and yet again the children performed superbly well. The team finished second overall with the respective boys’ and girls relay teams finishing as champions.

Merit Awards
RB Abdullah
1F Emma
1B Mack
2H Imran
3C Elizabeth
3S Ayham
4W Oliver
5M Annabel
5D Emma
6H The Whole Class
6S The Whole Class

And Finally,
The Answers to the Last quiz: Nostradamus (Did he see it coming I wonder?), the American Declaration of Independence and an alligator.
There are no more quizzes this term.