Headteacher Newsletter: Issue 17
FORTNIGHTLY NEWSLETTER: ISSUE 17
Money Week
Monday 1st June saw the beginning of an exciting money week at Clavering. Everybody got involved in all kinds of activities. Key Stage 1 learned all about coins, counting money, shopping, prices and played a range of games, even taking part in a money treasure hunt. Key Stage 2 classes extended their experience to other currencies and exchange rates. They explored needs and wants, what we use money for and whether it makes us happy. Some children created pocket money policies considering whether children should be given pocket money, how much, whether to spend or save and if it should be earned – these make interesting reading! Others also investigated bank accounts, interest rates and the range of ways to pay for things: cheques, credit and debit cards or even simply with a mobile phones.
Year 6 embarked upon an enterprise challenge. They divided into groups with a target to raise £500 in just one week.
Georgia, Sophie, Amelia and Teija ran a very successful succession of ‘PJ Sports Days’ for children in Reception through to Year 3. Everybody dressed up and enjoyed a number of races including the use of balloons (quickly replaced by bean bags after they blew away!) and sacks. Children were rewarded with rosettes and everybody enjoyed an ice lolly at the end.
Thomas, Jack, George and Harry organised wellie wanging out on the field which was great fun. Levi (Y5), Sebastian (Y2) and James (Y4) were the winners of their groups.
Maddie, George, Jessica, Daisy and Ziggy set up a ‘funky foto booth’ for Years 4-6 in the library. Children had great fun dressing up in accessories including hats, glasses, feathers, tutus and tiaras with their friends and each received a photograph in a funky frame which the group had also made themselves.
Elliot, Max, Harry, Joseph and Lawrence ran cup cake decorating workshops for Key Stage 1 – some delicious creations were made which disappeared very quickly. The group also baked a Victoria sponge and giant cookie which they raffled and were won by Mrs Abusham and Summer.
The end of the week saw an ice cream sale at play time. A variety of toppings, sauces and sprinkles ensured that everybody enjoyed a sticky treat in the sunshine.
The children raised close to £600 which they are using to help fund their end of year show and play leader celebrations as well as sending a large donation to help in Nepal.
Well done everyone and thank you for all your support.
Maths Evening
Thank you to all the parents who were able to attend our Maths Evening on Thursday 11th June.
We have had very strong positive feedback from parents saying how useful it was. Reading was the focus for our previous curriculum evening for parents and with the changes to the National Curriculum from September 2014 plus the fact that Mathematics is even more challenging for the pupils in terms of its content, we felt it was essential for parents to be aware of how they can support their children with their learning.
You will be receiving a pack of information following the Maths Evening which will be useful for parents who were unable to attend and for you all to have an awareness of the content across all year groups.
Thank you to Gill Ford, our Mathematics Leader, who organised the event and all the Class Teachers that delivered workshops.
Maths Day at Great Chesterford Primary School
4 Year 5 children went to Great Chesterford Primary School for a maths investigation day. The children found the day challenging and fun.
Technology Day at Saffron Walden County High
Three Year 6 children were invited to a technology day at Saffron Walden County High School this week. They used a variety of tools to make bird boxes. The children thoroughly enjoyed their day.
Crucial Crew
Year 6 attended the annual Crucial Crew event at St Marks Saffron Walden on Monday afternoon this week. They worked in groups alongside Year 6 children from other local primary schools to learn more about road and fire safety, internet safety, the age of criminal responsibility, smoking, drugs and alcohol, first aid and good mental health. The workshops were all very informative and interactive and the children all felt that they gained a great deal from the afternoon.
Years 3 and 4 visit to Kentwell
On Tuesday June 16th classes 3 and 4 went to Kentwell Hall. Because our coach was delayed, we ate some of our lunch on the coach! I was so excited because I was eager to learn about the Tudors! We did so much, I am just going to tell you a few things we did.
When we arrived we exchanged our modern money for Tudor groats and pennies and went through a time tunnel. I was given our Pass. We all stepped out into 1588 and were shocked at how real it looked! I stepped forward and handed the Pass to the gatekeeper who asked me a few hard questions about why we were there, but luckily he let us through.
A few activities later, we were in the Hedge School for poor children. The room was airy and there were blackboards on the wall. There was a big main table where three girls sat eating their lunch of pottage. The stern but kind teacher tested us on our numbers which were like Roman numerals.
Then we went to a few more activities including butts craft but I am going to tell you about the archers! They challenged each other this: who could knock the apple off the pole. The younger man did it and did it correctly but the older man was clever because he went closer and shot the apple! It was funny.
We had many more activities and then we went to the peddlers market. I bought a necklace with a Tudor Rose on it. We then went back through the Time Tunnel to 2015! I had a great day and I would definitely go back!
By Molly Hood Class 4
Years Reception, 1 and 2 visit to the Sealife Centre
When we got off the coach we went to the Aquarium. First we went to see the starfish in the water. The starfish were amazing, they were really big. Then we went to see the moon jellyfish they were luminous. After that Class 2 had a talk about rock pool habitats. We found out fascinating facts and even got to touch Patrick the starfish and Edwina the 25 year old crab! We saw black-tipped reef sharks swimming over our heads in the tunnel. We ate our lunch on the beach (making sure we didn’t get sand in our food). Then we had lots of fun paddling, digging and hunting for shells and stones. It was fantastically fun and we learned lots! Thank you to all our parent helpers.
By Emily Mackenzie and Rose Denyer
Year 6 Class Walk
Class 6 enjoyed their class walk on Tuesday this week. They were able to follow their maps on the now familiar route and even practised telling the time using compasses and the position of the sun. We took cameras and photographed landmarks and nature along the way which we are going to use back in class to create information leaflets to promote village walks.
Magna Carta celebrations
This week we have been celebrating the 800th anniversary of the signing of the Magna Carta. The children have been learning about the importance of this special document and how it still has an impact on our lives today. Classes have been taking part in a variety of different activities, including learning about the Magna Carta through songs and raps! Class 1 and 2 made shields showing the important people and events of June 1215 and Reception class thought about rules and important people. Classes 3 and 4 considered the importance of rules and fairness and also designed their own coats of arms after finding about the heraldry of the Barons at that time. Year 5 took part in a live webcast to explore how the Magna Carta has had an impact on human rights from the 13th century to the modern day. Year 6 carried out research, wrote diaries in character as the barons and were able to make links with their recent magistrate visit. This has been a fantastic opportunity to see how historical events have a direct impact on our lives today and be part of a larger national celebration.
Reception Induction Morning for Parents and Pre-school visiting Reception
We were delighted to meet our new Reception parents for September 2015 during our Induction morning last week. It was an informative and productive event. Parents were introduced to many members of staff, governors and members of the Friends of Clavering. Many thanks to Amanda Crabb and Rachel Betts who gave up their morning to run the Friends of Clavering refreshments.
We are already preparing for our new Reception Class in September with lots of activities to help make the transition smoother.
The older children from Pre-school visit our school library every Tuesday afternoon for some stories and games. We have also had some shared story times at the end of the day and it is super to see the current Reception Class setting a good example to their younger friends.
When Reception Class were out for the day to Southend, next year’s Reception children spent the morning in our classroom and familiarising themselves with the environment. They also went to the hall for their lunch and experienced going to the counter to collect a delicious lunch. They will repeat this when we are out for the KS1 Athletics morning.
All of next year’s Reception Class will be spending part of the morning in school together on Friday 17th July so that they are familiar with their new surroundings before the big day in September!
SPORTS NEWS
Sports Day – advanced warning
Sports Day is taking place on Thursday 9th July, 10 – 12. All parents are welcome.
Fun Run
The children thoroughly enjoyed themselves during the afternoon of the 19th June. They took part in our annual Fun Run as organised by the Friends of Clavering. The weather was kind to us. It was pleasing to see the older children encourage and support the younger ones. Thank you to the Friends of Clavering for organising and running the event. Thank you to all our parents for supporting the children.
Georgie Collett Award
Congratulations to Georgie Collett for winning her group at the Saffron Triathalon
Junior Event, an amazing achievement.
Year 6 Rounders Tournament
Joyce Frankland Academy hosted a twenty-eight team rounders tournament on the 10th June. After their success earlier that year, Clavering had high hopes. They began with two teams, the A-team, captained by Elliot and the B-team, captained by Jack.
In the morning both teams played three games each – the qualifiers. The A-team won 2 of their games and thoroughly enjoyed themselves while the B-team won one of their games, but were in good spirits.
In the afternoon the A-team had qualified to the 2nd group and the B-team to the 3rd. Many matches were won (a few lost) and the A team managed to grab a fantastic eleventh place. The B-team also did well with 18th place, not bad for twenty eight teams!
By George Oakes and Thomas Berrett
Sun Protection
At last the sunny weather has arrived! Please can you ensure that on sunny days your child brings a hat to wear at breaktimes and lunchtimes. Wide-brimmed or legionnaires hats, which have a cloth attached on the back to give additional protection to the neck, are perfectly acceptable. Sunglasses are not allowed and sun lotion (long lasting waterproof sunscreen with a high protection factor and high UVA protection) should be applied just before the children come to school. This should last until after school and overcomes the need for pupils to bring in lotion.
Home Time Arrangements
Please could we remind you that if anyone other than a parent is picking up your child at the end of the day (this includes relatives) to please notify the office and class teacher via letter, phone call, email or gate book.
We will also assume all children registered for the bus will be taking the bus each evening unless we hear via email, phone or through the gate book that morning that this is not the case.
Oliver’s Lodge have their own register which we follow and if this differs to the information that we have been given we will call the relevant parents.
Lateness
School starts at 8.50 a.m.
We have noticed several children that are consistently arriving late for school – ‘late’ is defined by not being within the school gates by 8.50 a.m.
Please make every effort to be at school on time and if you know that your journey will be disrupted by road works, do allow time for this. Thank you.
Friends of Clavering dates
19th June Fun Run (within school time)
1st July Bag2School
10th July Fete at 3.15pm
18th July Barn Dance
An opportunity to raise funds for Clavering Primary School when shopping online:
To raise funds for Clavering Primary School before shopping online –
- please click on easyfundraising.org.uk
- then click on Friends of Clavering Primary School.
Every purchase through many websites (including Amazon and John Lewis) raises a percentage for the school.
ACHIEVEMENTS
STAR OF THE WEEK
Week ending June 5th
Reception: Max Melville – brilliant concentration and hard work on The Three Little Pigs
Year One: Oliver Dyster – feeling proud for doing his best when writing about Neil Armstrong
Year Two: Roisin Kirkham – for brilliant writing as Grandma in George’s Marvellous Medicine.
Year Three: Uma Chetcuti – for her impressive story opening using the technique of addressing the reader
Year Four: Charlie La Roche – for his increased concentration in class and asking and answering questions
Year Five: Jack Day – for always being kind and thoughtful towards others
Year Six: Maddie Dudley-Scales – for enthusiasm and contributions to our enterprise projects. She is always ready to go the extra mile. Thank you
Week ending June 12th
Reception: George Johnson – for making his writing so much smaller and neater.
Year One: Matilda Course – for being a fantastic friend
Year Two: Rose Denyer – for the outstanding progress she has made in handwriting and the quality of her writing
Year Three: Maddie Bunce – for the excellent improvement in her writing, adding a variety of connectives
Year Four: Amelia Hartley – learning her lines so quickly for our play and delivering them with confidence
Year Five: Heidi Buckley – for the great progress she has made in mathematics this term.
Year Six: Jack Wilson – for consistently accurate bowling at the rounders tournament.
THE TIDIEST CLASSROOM OF THE WEEK!
Our cleaners are judging the tidiest classroom each week. The winners are announced in assembly on a Friday. The class that has won the most times at the end of a term will be awarded an afternoon with an activity of their choice or an extra playtime.
Winners:
13.4.15 Reception
20.4.15 Year Two
27.4.15 Year Three
4.5.15 Year Six
11.5.15 Year Four
18.5.15 Year Six
1.6.15 Year Four
8.6.15 Year One
15.6.15 Year Three
IT DIDN’T GO UNNOTICED AWARD
19.6.15 Matilda Course for being a kind friend
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
19th June Class photographs
19th June Fun Run
21st – 24th June Year 6 residential to Kingswood
24th – 26th June Year 5 residential to St. Marks
26th June Sharing Assembly – an invitation for Class Reception parents 2.45pm
1st July KS1 Athletics 9.30-11, JFAN Years R, 1, 2
1st July Friends of Clavering Bag2School
3rd July Extended Tray Day 3.15 – 4.30pm
3rd and 6th July Induction days for Year 6 children transferring to Saffron Walden County High School
6th July Induction day for Year 6 children transferring to Joyce Frankland Academy School
9th July Sports Day 10 – 12
10th July Year 2 Talent Camp 2 children from Year 2
10th July School Fete
16th July 9.30am Church Service
Year 6 Leavers’ Assembly 1.45pm
17th July ‘Class Swap’ (11 – 12)
18th July Friends of Clavering Barn Dance
21st July Break up for the summer 3.15 pm
REMINDERS
Parking and residents’ front gardens
Please remember to park sensibly and be mindful of the restrictions. A few cars have been seen parking on the yellow lines. The Community Police are monitoring the situation and can get sent photographs of illegally parked vehicles.
A few cars are starting to drive up to school to drop off and pick up children. As before I am afraid we cannot accommodate these vehicles due to lack of space and the health and safety needs of the pupils. There is no parking at the school.
Please can remind children not to climb fences or trespass across the front gardens along Stortford Road before and after school. It has been reported to me that children are climbing and damaging fencing. Thank you
If you have any questions at any time then please feel free to make an appointment.
Have a good weekend
Rosalind Allsop
Headteacher