Headteacher Newsletter: Issue 7
Headteacher Newsletter: Issue 7 11.12.15
Outside Area
Our outside area is developing well and two events took place last week as part of this work. For homework year 6 were set the task to research /design an inscription for our new Reading Circle bench. The entries were excellent and will be displayed in the library. The winner, with the most votes, was from Luke Townsend from Treasure Island: “There is More Treasure in Books than in All the Pirate’s Loot on Treasure Island” Walt Disney.
Also last week, as part of National Tree Week, two children from each class worked with Paul Robson, from Ace of Spades, to plant trees in our new Reading Circle area. The Tree Council has funded the new trees and we would like to thank them for this contribution and Sonja Phipps for organising the fund raising, as well as supporting the school with the design for the outside areas.
Parent Consultations and Tray Day
Thank you to all the families that attended Tray Day and Parent Consultations over the last two weeks. We hope you found both events informative and that you enjoyed looking at your child’s books as well as the work on display. Parent consultations for year 2 will take place early next term and a date will be shared in due course.
Christmas Fair
We would like to thank the Friends of Clavering for organising and running a very good Christmas Fair last week. A special thank you to Amanda Crabb and Rachel Betts for leading the team and to all the families who attended to support the event. Next week there will be a Christmas Shopping morning for the children as well as Christmas Entertainment after their Christmas lunch.
Clavering Primary School Choir
Well done to the Clavering Primary School Choir! The children represented the school extremely well on Saturday 5th December during the Spirit of Christmas event at St Mary’s church in Saffron Walden. A number of schools in the area, primary and secondary, joined the Saffron Walden Choral Society and put on a concert for Christmas. The singing was beautiful and added a special touch to the festive season. Thank you to Mrs Ford and the children for all their hard work in preparing for this event and Mrs Course and Mrs Honour for accompanying them at the church.
A special well done to Beth Parker and Rafaella Phipps who were highly commended in the junior section of the Saffron Walden Christmas Carol Competition. This is an excellent achievement.
School Choir Sing to the Local Community
During the afternoon of Tuesday 8th December, the school choir joined the Clavering Over 60’s Club at the Christian Centre for their Christmas Carol Service. The children performed two songs to the members,’ Heaven Has Opened’ and ‘Walking in a Winter Wonderland’, which were very well received. The choir also participated in the communal singing of traditional carols to the accompaniment of the church organ and enjoyed some refreshments before returning to school.
Christmas Plays
We have had a wonderful week of Christmas plays. The Key Stage One performance ‘The Christmas Kerfuffle’took place during the afternoon of 10th December. The children were fantastic. All of the children managed to learn a lot of lines for the speaking parts and words for the songs.
During the morning of the December 10th the Reception class performed a wonderful Nativity for their parents. It was a great success and the children impressed us all with all the songs and actions that they had remembered.
KS2 performed ‘Scrooge’ during the evening. It was an amazing performance. Year 6 had the speaking parts and the acting flowed beautifully and the solos were sung extremely well. Year 5 were the Carol Singers, Year 4 were ‘Strictly’ and Year 3 the Nativity. The singing was wonderful throughout the performance.
We were really pleased to be joined by many of our local community members for either the dress rehearsals or one of the performances.
Well done to all the children for taking part in the Christmas plays and a big thank you to all the staff.
The school productions will be available to buy on a DVD. The order forms can be collected from the school office in January.
Reception Class visit Audley End Railway and Father Christmas
On 7th December, Reception class enjoyed a fabulous trip on the train to see Father Christmas. We rode through the woods and were really excited in the pitch black tunnels. Mrs Christmas waved at us and some cheeky elves danced for us. Finally, Father Christmas arrived with a sack of toys. He spoke to every child and gave us all a present. On the way home Oskar led a spontaneous sing song – all the way home! What a fabulous time we had!
School Admissions – Primary and Secondary – Apply Now!!
To apply quickly and easily for primary and secondary school places go online to www.essex.gov.uk/admissions
For primary applications – (child born between 1 September 2011 and 31 August 2012) apply between 9 November 2015 to 15 January 2016
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.
Lost Property
A large amount of lost property is collecting. If your child has lost any clothing please could you have a look through the collection to see if any of it belongs to you. It will be displayed in the main entrance Monday to Wednesday of next week (14th – 16th December). After this time it will need to be re-cycled.
Bad weather
In the event of severe weather conditions and possible school closure a notice will be placed on the school website.
This year BBC Essex and Heart FM will not be announcing or publicising via websites. Parents will be notified via our new school website or the Essex County Council on the ‘Emergency School Closures’ page: http://www.essex.gov.uk/Education-Schools/Schools/Dates/Pages/Emergency-School-Closures.aspx
Please note that when the school is open in bad weather a path will be cleared to enable you to gain access to the school but care does still need to be taken.
Snow Patrol
It’s getting to that time of year again – if you would like to volunteer your services to help Mr Docking to clear the school grounds in the event of snow, please let the office know so that we can compile a list of names. We are very grateful for any offers of help, so that school can, where possible, remain open.
School Club Spring Term 2016
| MONDAY | Bedazzle | 3.15 – 4.15 | All year groups |
| Tennis | 3.15 – 4.15 | All year groups | |
| Boys Football | 3.15 – 4.15 | Years 4 – 6 | |
| WEDNESDAY | Girls Football | 3.15 – 4.15 | Years 4 – 6 |
| Fitness | 3.15 – 4.15 | Years 3 & 4 | |
| THURSDAY | Football | 3.15 – 4.15 | Years 2 & 3 |
| Recorders (Beginners) | Lunch time | ||
| Recorders (Intermediate) | Lunch time | ||
| FRIDAY | Boys RugbyHockey | 3.15 – 4.15Match dates to be confirmed | Years 3 – 6Year 6 |
ACHIEVEMENTS
STAR OF THE WEEK
Week ending November 27th
Reception James Elphick – always listening, working hard and putting his hand up
Year One Harrison Bakali – for super doubling of numbers
Year Two Scarlett Hilton-Keech – for trying very hard to hold her pencil correctly
Year Three Bella Birch – for super description of Tutankhamun’s treasures using prepositions
Year Four Isabella Budden – for always giving 100% in all subjects
Year Five Ellie Wilkinson – for her good work on long and short multiplication
Year Six Tabitha Joseph – for her very positive approach and super progress in mathematics
IT DIDN’T GO UNNOTICED’ AWARD
William Downham and Edan Anderson-Patmore – for being excellent role models for the younger children
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: Year 6
Week beginning
14.9.15: Year 5
21.9.15: Year 2
28.9.15: Year R
5.10.15: Year 5
12.10.15: Year 6
19.10.15: Year 6
2.11.15: Year 4
9.11.15: Year R
16.11.15: Year 5
23.11.15 Year 1
30.11.15 Year 3
7.12.15 Year 6
14.12.15 Year 6
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
14th December Christmas Shopping Morning
16th December Christmas Lunch
16th December Cross Country event am – All children to bring in full PE kit please
17th December Church Service
18th December End of term
4th January Spring Term begins
REMINDERS
- Please could all children bring in full PE kit on Wednesday 16th December for the Xmas Cross Country.
- A gentle reminder, please could you ensure that cheques sent into school for payment of school trips, swimming etc are separate from each other and from dinner monies. This is due to separate bank and budget accounts. All money should be sent into school via your child’s class in an envelope stating their name, class and amount enclosed. Thank you.
- Please ensure children bring in coats now that the weather is getting colder. Also please ensure that all items of clothing are clearly labelled with your child’s name.
- Swimming for this term is for year 2 and 3 on Mondays. Please make sure your payments are up to date, the cost is £5.00 per week, £65.00 per term. Please make cheques payable to Clavering Primary School.
- Please remember do NOT park at the shop for school events (eg class assemblies, school plays, Tray Day and Sports Day) only for drop off and pick up. The Fox and Hounds are more than happy to accommodate parking at all times. Parking at the shop prevents customers from accessing the shop.
- Healthy and Safety notice regarding the wearing of earrings during PE
We have been informed by Essex that The Primary Code states that all jewellery is to be removed for PE lessons and taping over earrings is not allowed. This means that if pupils cannot take their earrings out they will have to sit out of PE until a time that they can be removed. Schools have to comply with this guidance.
If your child is about to have their ears pierced it is advisable for it to take place over the summer so that the earrings can be removed for PE ready for the start of the Autumn term.
As this is the last newsletter of the term I would like to wish you all a very happy Christmas
Rosalind Allsop
Headteacher
