Headteacher Newsletter Issue 3
FORTNIGHTLY NEWSLETTER ISSUE 3: 11.10.19
A visit from M G Leonard launches Book Week at Clavering Primary School
As part of their Book Week, the pupils at Clavering Primary School were treated to a fabulous day of stories and creative writing led by visiting author, M G Leonard. Maya started with an hour long presentation to the whole school about her Beetle Boy books, and everybody, from the youngest new Reception children to the oldest Year 6s, were quickly capturedand inspired by her stories, anecdotes, even dancing and obvious enthusiasm and enjoyment. Throughout the rest of the day Maya spent time in Year 3 sharing beetle facts with the children who had already begun their own beetle projects. She also led creative writing workshops with the children in Years 4-6 talking more about being an author and how to approach writing a story. These creative writing workshops helped them to plan beetle themed stories of their own with everyone inspired to ‘have a go’ for themselves. All the children thought it was a fun way to learn and many of them have lots of new ideas ready to include in their own stories which they are writing in class this week.
The day finished with a very well received book signing, Thank you to Harts in Saffron Walden for coming in to help book supplies for this.
Book Week continues at school with the book fair open each day for children to choose from a wide selection of books to buy. Creative writing and beetle projects in class, a book swap and a dress up as an adjective day.
Book Week
The children enjoyed a very successful book week once again this year. They all continued work about beetles in class following M G Leonard’s visit, examples of which are currently on display in the entrance opposite the office. Book swap and dress up day were much enjoyed. Congratulations to the winners who were each awarded a book from the Book Fair as a prize
School Council Conference 2019
On Thursday 3rd October, eight KS2 members of our School Council accompanied by Mrs Hall and Mrs Shaw, went to the Uttlesford conference at Henham and Ugley School. Along with six other primary schools we discussed our role as school councillors and how we could work together to help improve our school. We left with lots of ideas on how to be an effective School Council and inspired with thoughts of future projects.
Clavering Art Prize
The Clavering Art prize is awarded each term to a representative from Early Years, Key Stage One, Lower Key Stage Two (Years 3 and 4) and Upper Key Stage Two (Years 5 and 6) in recognition of outstanding work in Art:
Summer Term 2019
Isabelle Year 6
Will Year 4
George K Year 2
Rory Year 1
Victorian’s Day
Victorians Day – On Wednesday 9th October Classes 3 and 4 visited Audley End House as part of our topic on the Victorians. We each had a workshop where we learnt about the different jobs of a Victorian boy and girl servant including a tour of the servants quarters lead by the housekeeper. It was a very informative and enjoyable day where we learnt many facts about life in the Victorian period and how children had a very different life compared to now.
Bikeability
Over the last two weeks, Year 6 children have been out in all weathers, rain and sunshine, completing their Level 2 Bikeability.
They have all learned how to check their bikes for basic road worthiness and learned the rules of the roads. The children have cycled around Clavering with the Bikeability leaders practising their skills and learning competence in cycling and road safety.
Class 5 Walk
On the walk, the mud was hard and we walked 4-5 miles. We walked through fields and woods and lanes and streets. We used a map to find our way. It was a real adventure! We saw some rabbits and we found some sticks and different leaves. In Simon’s Wood we found birds nests and saw a river with stones in.
Our maps had a line on them to see where to go. We collected conkers from the horse chestnut tree. There was cow parsley in the fields. I liked the small flowers on them. There were holes in the ground on the fields, there was some interesting patterns in the leaves. Our legs were tired when we got back, it was a long way!
George, Yr 5
On our class walk we had lots of fun. It was glorious weather so we didn’t have to bring many layers. We walked through some beautiful landscape with lots of flowers and grass. As well as that, we walked through villages, fields and Simon’s wood.
On the walk we were all given maps which we used to track where we were. We passed many horse chestnut trees so we all collected conkers. We looked around for animals and other interesting things. We saw rabbits, squirrels, badger holes and many other things. One of the most interesting things we found was an old brick that dated back to 1800s to the 1900s.
When we got back we all took off our filthy boots. We all sat down for a while as we were tired. The walk was four to five miles long and was quite rock and hilly so we had very tired legs afterwards. We had so much fun and were very lucky with the weather!
Abigail, Yr 5
Football Tournament
Year 6 entered two teams in to the Uttlesford Schools’ Partnership Football Tournament last week. The event was held at Herbert’s Farm in Saffron Walden with the children competing in a number of matches throughout the day. The boys’ team put in a great effort and played very well coming fourth in their group. The girls were awarded gold medals after winning all of their group matches. They then went on to finish third in the tournament overall bringing home an additional bronze medal each. The children all represented the school well in their behaviour as well as their performance on the sports pitch and should all be very proud of their achievements.
Football Match
Last Thursday Clavering played Rickling in a football match. Everyone played very well and because of that we won 10-0. We all had a lot of fun and can’t wait for our next match. Goals were scored by Freddie (4), Ollie (2) and Ben (1) in year 6, and Joe (1), Aiden (1) and Ollie (1) in year 5.
Freddie, Yr 6
Harvest
Thank you for all your kind donations. The food will be taken to a local foodbank in the next few weeks.
Many thanks for your support with this good cause.
Mrs Course
PE Clothing – a reminder
In compliance with health and safety regulations, earrings (including studs) must not be worn for any sport. Please make sure that children who wear earrings know how to remove them and have somewhere safe and clean to keep them during PE lessons. Thank you.
School Admissions – Primary and Secondary – Apply Now!!
To apply quickly and easily for primary and secondary school places go online tohttp://www.essex.gov.uk/Education-Schools/Schools/Admissions/Pages/Apply-Online.aspx
For secondary applications – (children in year 6) apply from 12 September 2019
https://www.essex.gov.uk/apply-for-a-secondary-school-place
For primary applications – (child born between 1 September 2015 and 31 August 2016) You can apply for a primary (Reception) place from Monday 11thNovember 2019.
https://www.essex.gov.uk/apply-for-a-primary-school-place
Applications can be made online via www.essex.gov.uk/admissions
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DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
10th October Harvest
7th and 11th October Bikeability for year 6
16th October Cross Country Event years 2 – 6 at JFAN
17th October School Improvement Evening for staff and Governors
23rd October Parent Evening 5 – 7.30pm
24th October Parent Evening 3.30 – 6pm
25th October INSET day
28th October – 1st November HALF TERM
7th November School Photos
7th November Friends of Clavering Disco
22nd November Open morning for new parents
2nd December Flu Vaccine
3rd December Reception Class visit Santa at Audley End
6th December Friends of Clavering Christmas Fair
11th December Christmas Performance dress rehearsals and evening performance for year 5 and 6 parents
12th December Christmas Performances – Reception, KS1 and KS2 (years 3 and 4 parents)
16th December Tray Day 3.15 – 4.15pm
16th December Friends of Clavering Christmas Shopping Morning
17thDecember Church Service
18thDecember Christmas Lunch and Friends of Clavering Entertainment
ACHIEVEMENTS
STAR OF THE WEEK
Week ending September 20th
Year One Toben – for putting in so much effort with his writing
Year Two Rosie – Anne – for fantastic Kandinsky inspired art work
Year Three Kayleigh – for great effort in Maths
Year Four Luca – for good focus and effort in his work
Year Five Grace – for lovely descriptive writing in English
Year Six Abigail – for super English work this week and a fabulous start to Year 6
Week ending September 27th
Year One Alexa – for being a great role model
Year Two Darcie – for excellent Maths, working independently counting in 2’s
Year Three Sidney – for being a positive role model to others
Year Four Poppy – for her funny ‘knock knock’ joke.
Year Five Aiden – always contributing thoughtfully to classroom discussions
Year Six Matilda – for excellent writing about clock work
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 beginning –
23.9.19 Class 6
30.9.19 Class 1
REMINDERS:
- SWIMMING, Year 3 will have a term of swimming instruction in the autumn and Year 2 in the spring. Swimming will commence Monday September 9th for 13 weeks. Swimming costs £6.75 per session. This can be paid termly – £79.00 Please make cheques payable to Clavering Primary School.
If you have any questions at any time then please feel free to make an appointment
Have a good weekend
Rosalind Allsop
Headteacher