Headteacher Newsletter: Issue 7
Headteacher Newsletter: Issue 7 16.12.16
Staff News
We are delighted to announce that Miss Sabin is expecting her second child in April. She will be going on maternity leave at the end of March. We are fortunate that Mrs Karen Hall, one of our regular supply teachers, will be covering Miss Sabin’s maternity leave and working alongside Mrs Rudkin in Class Two.
Class names
This term the children have been voting for a class name. Each class thought of suggestions for a class name, from the theme of nature in and around Clavering. From these suggestions School Council drew up a short list and each class was given 3 choices to vote for. The one with the most votes won. These names will be used from January along with the year of that class. The results are:
Reception – Acorn Class
Year 1 – Squirrel Class
Year 2 – Fox Class
Year 3 – Hedgehog Class
Year 4 – Red Kite Class
Year 5 – Badger Class
Year 6 – Owl Class
Tray Day
Thank you to all the families that attended Tray Day last week. We hope you found the event informative and that you enjoyed looking at your child’s books as well as the work on display.
Clavering Primary School Choir
Well done to the Clavering Primary School Choir! The children represented the school extremely well on Saturday 3rd 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 Middleton, Mrs Course and the children for all their hard work in preparing for this event and for accompanying them.
A special well done to Maya Parker who came second in the junior section of the Saffron Walden Christmas Carol Competition. This is an excellent achievement.
Christmas Fair
We would like to thank the Friends of Clavering for organising and running a very good Christmas Fair the other week. A special thank you to 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.
School Choir Sing to the Local Community
During the morning of 13 December, the school choir joined the Clavering Over 60’s Club at the Christian Centre for their Christmas Carol Service. The children performed three songs to the members, The Calypso Carol, Mary’s Boy Child and a medley of Christmas Carols, 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 Baa Baa Bethlehem took place during the afternoon of 15th 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 December 15th 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 ‘Silent Night’ 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 Austrian Children, Year 4 were ‘Mice’ and Year 3 the Snowflakes and Nativity tableau. 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 8th 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. Everyone commented on how polite the children were.
Year 6 Cake Bake
Thank you very much for supporting the Year 6 cake bake. A total of £65.00 was raised to buy new play equipment for the playground.
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 (19th – 21st December). After this time it will need to be re-cycled.
New health digital tool launches to help you find the right treatment
Parents are encouraged to use a new NHS digital tool if they need health help and advice. The Health help Now web site and app gives detailed guidance on the most common ailments and symptoms. The tool also recommends the best place for treatment – showing which nearby services are open.
Parents can access the site online http://westessex.healthhelpnow.nhs.uk/ or search on your smartphone app store for Health help Now.
The app is broken down into different age groups – baby, child, teenager, adult and older adult – making it easier for people to find the right treatment for them. Health help Now also offers advice on lots of health problems – such as what to do if you accidentally run out of medication. It links to local services including pharmacies, the community and voluntary sector and social care.
More information can be found at http://westessex.healthhelpnow.nhs.uk/
INSET Dates for the academic year 2017 – 2018
Schools allocate five non-pupil days for staff training:
Monday 4th September 2017
Friday 20th October 2017
Tuesday 2nd January 2018
Wednesday 3rd January 2018
Monday 16th April 2018
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 secondary applications – (children in year 6) apply between 5 September 2016 to 31 October 2016
For primary applications – (child born between 1 September 2012 and 31 August 2013) apply between 14 November 2016 to 15 January 2017.
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.
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 www.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.
Ooo000ooO
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
14th December KS1 Dress Rehearsal – 10.00 am
KS2 Dress Rehearsal – 2.00 pm
15th December Reception Nativity – 10.00 am
KS1 performance – 2.00 pm
KS2 performance – 7.00 pm
19th December Christmas Shopping Morning – Friends of Clavering
20th December Christmas Lunch
20th December Church Service
20th December Christmas Entertainment, Friends of Clavering
21st December Cross Country event, am.
21st December End of term
5th January Spring Term begins
School Club Spring Term 2017
Week Commencing 09/01/2017
| 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 | |
| TUESDAY | Girls and boys football
Gymnastics TBC Science Club TBC |
3.15 – 4.15
3.15 – 4.15 3.15 – 4.15 |
Year 1
Years TBC Years TBC
|
| WEDNESDAY | Choir TBC
Girls Football |
12.30 – 1.05
3.15 – 4.15 |
Years 3 – 6
Years 4 – 6 |
| Fitness | 3.15 – 4.15 | Years 2,3,4 | |
| THURSDAY | Football League School Team
|
||
| FRIDAY
|
Girls & Boys Football | 3.15 – 4.15 | Years 2 & 3 |
ACHIEVEMENTS
STAR OF THE WEEK
Week ending December 2nd – Christmas Fayre
Week ending December 9th
Reception Poppy – for her enthusiastic and brilliant singing
Year One Poppy – for telling the time so well
Year Two Isla – for great use of descriptive vocabulary and for helping others in class
Year Three Ted – his beautiful singing in rehearsals for Silent Night
Year Four Patrick – for good acting, singing and dancing and being very mouse-like in rehearsals
Year Five Amelie – for brilliant effort and enthusiasm in Christmas play rehearsals
Year Six Emily – for super explanation writing as a judge in Strictly
HEADTEACHER’S AWARD
For children who have achieved their personal best:
Reception:
Katie – for great improvements in her independent writing
Emma – for great improvements in reading and writing
Year One:
Poppy – for progression in writing
Nathan – for progression in writing
Year Two:
Alice – for good listening and focus
Ted – for always doing his best, working hard
Year Three:
Freddie – for excellent progress in Maths
Kitty – for excellent progress in Maths
Year Four:
Freddie – for excellent recall of times tables and super French conversation skills
Millie – for persevering with handwriting, with excellent results
Year Five:
Molly – for her hard work and improvement in Maths
Isabella – for excelling in Maths
Year Six:
Ellie – for a positive, enthusiastic approach to her work, resulting in very good all round progress
Molly – for excellent progress and achievement in English
‘IT DIDN’T GO UNNOTICED’ AWARD
Hannah in Year 4 – for introducing lots of new games to her class mates, which they all really enjoyed.
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:
Week ending –
30.09.16 Class 5
03.10.16 Class 6
10.10.16 Class 6
17.10.16 Class 3
04.11.16 Class 3
11.11.16 Class 4
18.11.16 Class 4
25.11.16 Class 5
02.12.16 Class 5
REMINDERS:
- Please could all children bring in full PE kit on Wednesday 21st December for the Christmas Cross Country.
- REMINDER – 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.
If you have any questions at any time then please feel free to make an appointment.
Have a good weekend.
Rosalind Allsop
Headteacher
