Headmaster's Welcome
Headmaster's News - 8th January 2016
Jan 8, 2016
8 January 2016
Dear Parents
Welcome back! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday and managed to spend some quality time with the family. We bought a family present this year which was a jigsaw of an owl in 1000 pieces! We have all had eureka moments with it during the last two weeks, when we have been delighted to find: the corners, the sides, part of the eye or even just two pieces that go together! Needless to say, we have not finished it yet but we are determined not to give up.
The children have been full of what they have been up to and are excited about their challenges which lie ahead this term, including: their HPSED exams, ISA football, running and swimming competitions, chess championships, Year 7 Entrance Examinations and our acting and dancing performance of “Ernie’s Incredible Illucinations” at The Charter Theatre; all this before we even get to half-term! Our PTA have been busy organising a wonderful Cabaret Night on Saturday 6 February where we will be entertained by the band of Year 2’s very own Mr Murray! Don’t forget to get your tickets for what promises to be an excellent night.
The children are full of energy and excitement about being back at school and Year 1 and 2 even gave an impromptu cheer at the end of assembly on Monday as we looked forward to the term ahead. Fantastic!
Out and About
I followed 3M into their CSIT lesson with Mr Turner this week where they were studying simulations and how a computer can be used to reflect a real life situation. Eryk explained to me that they had to design a balloon car and choose an appropriate size of axle, wheel, body shape and the hole that the air would pass through before seeing how far and fast the car would go. The children understood that a variable was something they could change to make their car go further and faster. Jaison said that he was going to change the axle and Natasha said she would change the size of the body. Hannah had named her car Super Sonic as it had achieved a very quick time of 8m/sec. The children then had to try out a variety of designs changing the variable each time. Aamina surprised herself with her first trial as the distance and time were the same as her original design. She was very interested to see how small alterations would affect the result. Abigail was methodically going through each instruction, making sure that she didn’t make any mistakes before testing each prototype. Holly found that the car with the smallest wheels and biggest body achieved the best distance.
Mr Turner then discussed how simulators were used to train pilots and in epidemiology to see how diseases spread through a population. It was very impressive to see the children not only take on difficult vocabulary but also go through the practical work with ease. It was obvious from the children’s feedback on the lesson that they had not just enjoyed it but also really understood the work they had covered. More simulations next week Year 3: you’re going to help a duck to fly!
Rugby and Hockey –Towels and gum shields!
The Junior boys and girls will be playing a lot of hockey and rugby this term. All pupils will need gum shields and towels for these sessions. The boys will get particularly muddy and wet when we train and play matches away from school. Sorry! We would also greatly appreciate any help with lifts. The Year 5 and 6 boys’ first outing will be to Stonyhurst next week when we will be taking all the boys. The hot showers and meal afterwards are usually the highlight of the afternoon!
Internet Safety Talk
There will be Internet Safety talks on 21 January for children, staff and parents. The sessions will be approximately an hour and we plan to run two sessions for parents: one straight after school and the other in the early evening. I will confirm the times next week. This will be a very important session for the whole community and will highlight potential concerns and also give you a number strategies to keep your children safe. Please make a note of the date in your calendar.
AGM- this will take place on Thursday 28 January, full details will be sent by PMX.
Derian House and Baby Beat
Thank you to everyone for their donations over the Christmas period for our school charities this year, Baby Beat and Derian House. We raised over £700.
Collecting Children at the End of the Day
Please could I remind parents that children should be picked up no later than six o’clock at the end of Extended Care and Nursery. We had a number of children being picked up after this time last term which isn’t fair to the children or the staff. If you know you are going to be late, please make alternative arrangements for someone to pick your child up and telephone Pre-School or Nursery at the earliest possible opportunity.
Nursery: 01772 706700 Pre-School: 01772 706704
The charge for late pick up is £8.50 per child or £12 per family for every 15 minutes after 6pm. Thank you for your cooperation.
Snow?
The weather forecast for next week says that there is a chance of snow. Please take extra care when driving into and away from school, especially at the bottom of the drive and on the playground. If you are concerned at all about the road down to school, please park and walk.
Merit Awards
RD: Joseph RF: Bethan 1D: Isabelle 1W: Zorain 2M: Hamza
3J: Darcey 3M: Isabelle 4D: Rory 4S: Sophie 5H: Aaliyah 5M: Jacob 6H: Rohan
Thought for the week
Satisfaction lies in the effort, not in the attainment. Full effort is full victory. Mahatma Gandhi
Yours sincerely
J M Duke
Headmaster
