6 Jun 2008 - Newsletter highlights - 6th June 2008

Visits

This week the Year 5 classes visited the Synagogue in Cheltenham as part of their work in RE on Judaism.  The visit included a tour of the Synagogue and a talk about how Jewish families come together for worship and the importance of the family.

The Year 2 classes had a wonderful visit to Weston-Super-Mare yesterday.  The visit was part of their topic about the seaside, and the children enjoyed various seaside activities and finding out about the geographical features of the town.  The weather was fine and sunny, and everyone had a lovely time.

The Year 6 children thoroughly enjoyed their trip to the Gamelan Orchestra in Cheltenham on Tuesday.

Next week, the Year 3 children are going to the Cathedral and the Reception Classes to the Cotswold Wildlife Park.

International Award

I am delighted to report that we have recently been awarded our Intermediate International School Award.  The Award recognises the international ethos of the school, and also acknowledges the collaborative curriculum based work we have undertaken with our partner schools in other parts of the world.  We are very proud of this achievement - thank you to Miss Groves for her hard work and dedication in leading International Education throughout the school and in putting together the submission for the assessment.

Concerts

Over the last few years, it has been usual to have a Summer Concert, involving the orchestra and other music groups, together with performances by individual instrumentalists.  We are going to try something different this year.  Mr Groves is keen to share what the junior classes have bee learning in their music lessons, and so we are planning 2 concerts after school on Wednesday 25th June and Wednesday 9th July.  All junior children will be involved in both concerts, and parents of lower juniors (Y3 and Y4) will be invited on 25th June and parents of upper juniors on 9th July.  The Concerts will begin at 3.30pm and will last about an hour.  Further details will be given in a separate letter (including details of tickets and arrangements for younger brothers and sisters), but please note the dates and your child/children's involvement now.

Leavers' Disco

The Leavers' Disco (for children in Y5 and Y6) is to be held at Bowden Hall on Thursday 10th July from 7 - 8.30pm.  Further details from the Friends' Association later.

Greetings Card Recycling

Mrs Hawksworth is collecting used greetings cards (not Christmas cards) for recycling.  This is to raise money for the Akany Orphanage in Madagascar, where her daughter will be working in August 2009 with the Venture Scouts.  If you have any used cards, please hand them into the school office for Mrs Hawksworth to collect. Thank you.

Year 6 Residential Visit - 2009

The Residential Visit for the Year 6 children will be taking place next Spring, from 23rd-27th March.  The cost will be approximately £240 per child.  There will be a detailed letter given out on Monday 9th June and a short information evening on Wednesday 11th June at 6pm for parents and children currently in Year 5.

The school part will stay at the PGL Centre, Boreatton Park in Shropshire, and the children will have opportunities to try a range of Outdoor & Adventurous activities, which might include abseiling, archery, raft building and canoeing under the expert guidance of PGL staff.

We shall need to confirm our provisional booking with the PGL Centre very soon, and so we shall be asking for a firm commitment and deposit from those who are interested.

Life Education Bus

All children have enjoyed a visit to the Life Education Bus this week as part of our Personal, Social and Health Education Programme.  The Life Education Bus is a hi-tech mobile classroom providing a unique learning environment for up to 30 children, who visit along with their teacher.  The classrooms are equipped with audio-visual materials, interactive models (including a talking brain!) and Harold the singing giraffe.  The children have been learning more about how their bodies work, how to keep healthy and how to make sensible choices.

School Photographer

The school photographer is visiting on Monday to take the class and leavers' photographs.  The Year 3 classes will have their photos taken before they leave for their trip to the Cathedral.