Newsletter No 6 - 10th October 2008

Class 1 and Class 3 arrangements during “PGL Week”
From Monday 20th to Thursday 23rd October, Year 5 and Year 6 pupils will be away from school on their residential visit to Marchants Hill in Surrey. They will, on this occasion, be accompanied by Mrs Manzie and Mrs Lisa Scragg. Class 3 pupils not going on the residential visit will join Class 2 for these four days (including going swimming on Monday 20th October for which we request an additional £1 to cover coach costs).
Class 1 pupils will be taught by Mrs Sutton who previously taught in Class 1 and is looking forward to returning for the week!

PGL Residential Visit for Years 5 and 6 Pupils
A letter detailing arrangements was sent home with pupils earlier this week- please contact the school office if you have not received one.

Report on the “My” Project visit to the exhibition at Modern Art – an art gallery in Oxford, by Jessica Tombling (Y6)
Class 2 and 3 really enjoyed their trip to the Museum of Modern Art. We went there to see our “My” tree. As we looked for our tree we saw lots of interesting and unusual artwork by children from other schools. There were video presentations, photographs, pictures, clay models, paintings and lots more!

Report on Class 3’s visit to the “Joining Forces” show and Hands On interactive science gallery, Oxford, by Daniel Green (Y6)
On the 1st October Class 3 went to Science Oxford. We saw a great show on forces, which included a parachuting duck! There were also loads of hands-on activities including a pump lift, freeze frame shadow photographs and a magnetic can sorter.

Favourite Story Fortnight
Many thanks to all parents who volunteered to read their favourite children’s story to the pupils in their child’s class over the last two weeks. We have been treated to a rich variety of classic and contemporary stories, which the pupils (and teachers!) have greatly enjoyed.

Visit by Polish pupils and teachers 8th – 12th November 2008
As part of our Comenius project we will receive a visit from a group of four pupils and three teachers from Szkola Podstawowa im Trzech Braci, Hazlach (our Polish partner school) for five days from Saturday 8th to Wednesday 12th November. We are in the process of finalising their itinerary. Monday 10th November will be a “school experience” day for them and they will join in with activities in each of our classes. To provide an informal opportunity for families to meet our guests we are planning (weather permitting) to go kite flying on Wittenham Clumps (Round Hill, overlooking the river/Little Wittenham depending on wind direction!) between approximately 3 and 4pm on Sunday 9th November. This is not an “organized” event as such, and is, of course, entirely optional but any family interested in joining us would be very welcome. (NB if the weather is wet the kite flying event will be abandoned). For pupils in Years 5 and 6 we are also planning a kite-making workshop in school from 11.30 to 1pm on Sunday 9th November. This will cost £4, including kite, and further details are attached for pupils in Years 5 and 6.


Energy Garden Developments and Outdoor Mosaic
We welcome Mr David Bowers into school today, and early next week, to help us design and make an outdoor circular mosaic stage for performing arts. Mr Bowers is a professional mosaic artist and often works with school children. He will be working with small groups of pupils over the next three days of his residency to create our mosaic, which forms part of our energy garden developments and will include images based on the theme of energy. This opportunity and facility has been made possible through the generous financial support of both Didcot Power Station and the Edina Trust, and through the tireless efforts of Mrs Julie Pattisson to whom we give particular thanks.

Message from the PTA Committee
Music Quiz – The Music Quiz held on Friday 3rd October was a great success, raising almost £260 for PTA funds, a good start to the new fund-raising year. It was a busy night, which was well attended by parents, staff and villagers. Thank you to Rowena and Gareth Dobson who, once again, organised a brilliant quiz.

Clothes collection – please start bringing in bags from Thursday 13th November after school for collection on Monday 17th November at 10.30am.

Primary Cross Country
If any pupils in Years 3-6 are interested in taking part in a series of cross country events at Chiltern Edge School beginning on Saturday 11th October, please contact Chris or Kevin on 0118 972 1500 for more information.

Little Bears News
This week Little Bears enjoyed making fairy cakes and also doing leaf printing for our “Autumn Display”. Everyone has also been busy planting daffodil and tulip bulbs in our garden. We are holding a Coffee Morning on Friday 31st October between 10am and 12pm and everyone is welcome to come along and see the children wearing their Halloween costumes!

DIARY DATES:

10th, 13th, 14th October
David Bowers – Mosaic artist in school
14th October
PTA Meeting
Wednesday 15th October
School and Little Bears Open Morning from 9.00am until 11.30am. All welcome
Monday 20th – Thursday 23rd October
PGL Residential visit for Class 3 pupils
Break up at 3.15pm on Thursday 23rd October
Friday 24th October
INSET DAY – School closed for pupils
27th – 31st October
October Holiday
Monday 3rd November
Pupils return to school
Tuesday 4th November
Advance notice of Parents’ Evening from 3.30pm