Headteacher Newsletter Issue 7
FORTNIGHTLY NEWSLETTER ISSUE 7: 13.12.19
Welcome
We would like to welcome Millie and her family to year one and the school.
Reception Class trip to see Santa at Audley End
Reception class enjoyed a wonderful trip to visit Father Christmas on the Audley End Train. We loved filling in the treasure map on the way. Father Christmas was so kind and gave us all a gift. We watched the elves dance and sing and helped them to sort their presents. We also posted out letters at the North Pole post office and did some Christmas crafts. The children were absolutely brilliant. Thank you to our parents for transporting the class to and from Audley End and to Mrs Draper for coming with us too!
The School Choir attend the Spirit of Christmas Event
Eighteen children from Years 2-6 performed in a joint choir with Thaxted school choir at the Spirit of Christmas concert on Saturday 7th December at St. Marys Church in Saffron Walden. They sang two solo pieces and joined the choral society and other primary schools for some fantastic festive songs and carols. The children were a credit to the school. It was a stunning concert to be part of. A big thank you to Maggie Griffiths for conducting the choir and to Heather Smith for her support on the day.
Year 5 take part in the Cheerleading Event
On the 5th of December, Thursday, we went to Flitch Green Academy to do a cheerleading routine. We competed against six other schools. At the end of the song we did fantastic lifts! We all enjoyed it very much and we loved watching the other dances. They were amazing and were very proud of ourselves.
Rosie & Rose
Year 6 sing to the Over 60s
The children in Year 6 visited the over 60s club in the Christian Centre on Tuesday morning this week to share some carol singing. This annual tradition is very much enjoyed by staff, children and the over 60s and this year was perhaps the most successful yet. It was lovely to be able to join with the wider community; the children, dressed in festive hats, were in fine voice and their singing was highly praised.
Friends of Clavering Christmas Fayre
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 Andrea Vaughan for leading the team and to all the families who attended to support the event.
The children also enjoyed a school Christmas lunch today followed by the Friends of Clavering entertainment. Christmas jumpers were worn for the occasion.
Next week there will be a Christmas Shopping morning for the children.
Christmas Plays
We have had a wonderful week of Christmas plays. The Key Stage One performance ‘Prickly Hay’ took place during the afternoon of 12th 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 12th 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’ over two evenings. It was an amazing performance. All year groups had a significant role within the play with a mixture of speaking parts and dances. Year 6 had the larger speaking parts. The acting flowed beautifully and the songs were sung extremely well.
Well done to all the children for taking part in the Christmas plays and a big thank you to all the staff. Thank you too for all your generous donations. The money will go towards the cost of the play licences and a donation to Cancer Research. This is a charity a year 5 pupil has chosen. He is selling cakes after school in the near future to also support the charity.
The school productions will be available to buy on a DVD early next term.
Snow Patrol
It’s 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.
Bad weather
In the event of severe weather conditions and possible school closure a notice will be placed on the school website.
Parents will be notified via our school website or the Essex County Council on the ‘Emergency School Closures’ page: https://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.
Communication Chain
Just as a reminder, in order for the communication chain to be effective it is important that phone calls are made as opposed to emails or texts, in order to ensure contact is made. Normally the chain will be activated the morning of the school closure as the decision is made on the day, unless in exceptional circumstances we know of the need in advance. We will try to open where possible, hence the decision being made at the last minute, once we can assess the school site. We will endeavour to give you as much notice as possible, but as you are aware it takes some time for the communication to pass through.
Facebook can be used as a supplementary means of communication if requested to do so by a member of the leadership team but this is not part of the school process. ParentMail, the Communication Chain, the school website and the Essex link above are the school notifications.
Thank you again for your support with this process.
INSET Dates for the academic year 2020 – 2021
Schools allocate five non-pupil days for staff training:
Wednesday 2nd September 2020
Friday 23rd October 2020
Monday 4th January 2021
Monday 12th April 2021
Wednesday 21st July 2021
School Admissions – Primary and Secondary – Apply Now!!
To apply quickly and easily for primary and secondary school places go online to http://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 11th November 2019.
https://www.essex.gov.uk/apply-for-a-primary-school-place
Applications can be made online via www.essex.gov.uk/admissions
LOST PROPERTY
Please can we ensure that all items are named. There is a lot of unclaimed and unnamed items in lost property. This will be put on display in the entrance hall during the last week of term Monday –Thursday 16th – 19th December.
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
13th December Christmas Lunch and Friends of Clavering Entertainment
16th December Tray Day 3.15 – 4.15pm
16th December Friends of Clavering Christmas Shopping Morning
17th December Church Service (9.30am)
6th January 2020 Spring Term starts
School Club Spring Term 2020
Clubs will commence the week beginning 13th January unless otherwise stated and a full programme is outlined below:
| MONDAY | ||
| Sting | 3.15 – 4.15 | Years 1 – 6 |
| Tennis | 3.15 – 4.15 | All year groups |
| Football | 3.15 – 4.15 | Years 5 – 6 |
| TUESDAY | ||
| Football | 3.15 – 4.15 | Years 1 & 2 |
| WEDNESDAY | ||
| Running Club | 3.15 – 4.15 | Years 3 – 6 |
| Cooking Club | 3.15 – 4.15 | Year 4 |
| Knitting Club (to start 8.1.20) | 3.15 – 4.15 | Year 6 |
| THURSDAY | ||
| Football league | TBC | |
| Relax Kids | 3.15 – 4.15 | Years 1 & 2 |
| FRIDAY | ||
| Hockey | 3.30 – 4.45 at JFAN start date TBC | Year 6 |
| Football | 3.15 – 4.15 | Years 3 & 4 |
ACHIEVEMENTS
STAR OF THE WEEK –
Week ending November 29th
Year R Sadie – for her brilliant writing
Phoebe – for listening to advice and writing brilliantly
Year One Sebastian – for amazing Science work this week
Year Two George K – for consistent hard work and focus in class
Year Three Thomas – for fantastic ideas and effort in English
Year Four Charlie U – for his excellent ‘How to Train a Dragon’ story
Year Five Amber – for being a good role model
Year Six Frederick – for fantastic team player at basketball – top scorer
Week ending December 6th – (Christmas Fair)
HEADTEACHER’S AWARD
For children who have achieved their personal best:
Reception:
Eve – for fantastic progress in writing
Toby – for outstanding phonics and reading
Year One:
Esme – for improvement in her Maths
Elliott – for working hard to improve his phonics
Year Two:
George K – for his hard work this term, always wanting to learn more and being a great
member of Clavering Primary School.
Harry P – for always working hard, huge improvement in reading and being a great member
of Clavering Primary School
Year Three:
Tom – for consistent effort and perseverance in English
Isaac – for great improvement in joining writing
Year Four:
Barnaby – for the big improvement in his spelling and handwriting
Poppy – for trying really hard to improve her writing and maths
Year Five:
Alice – for working hard to produce more quality written work
Aiden – for when he is unsure and strives to make sure his work is the best it can be
Year Six:
Olivia – for a consistent and conscientious approach to all her learning, alongside excellent
progress and achievement
Harry – for effort, enthusiasm and achievement in his approach to all his learning
Cartoon Attitude Learning Awards
We have our super hero learning behaviours, which the children created in their house groups during friendship week last year. This half term the children worked hard on creativity, championed by “Cre‑elephant”. Two children from each class were nominated for a special award and will enjoy a hot chocolate treat with Miss Allsop.
Reception: Lottie and Kitty
Class 1: Rory and Toben
Class 2: Jack and Oscar
Class 3: Matilda and Chloe B
Class 4: Tommy and Holly
Class 5: Joshua and Abigail
Class 6: Kitty and Rebecca
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
14.10.19 Class 2
11.11.19 Class 1
25.11.19 Class 5
2.12.19 Class R
IT DIDN’T GO UNNOTICED’ AWARD
Year One – in particular Carrie, Alexa, Maya, Rory, Mollie, Joseph, Rosie and Toben – for helping the Midday Assistants and Playleaders
Year Two – in particular Max, Ellie, Florence, Cooper, Samuel, Ava, Elliot and Toby – for helping the Midday Assistants and Playleaders
REMINDERS:
- DINNER MONEY – School dinners must be paid for in advance. Now that payment is on-line, please check your KS2 child’s account regularly to ensure it is in credit. Dinners cost £2.20 per day, £11.00 per week, £66 for the first half of Spring Term, £132 for the whole of the Spring Term.
- SWIMMING – Year 2 will have a term of swimming instruction in the Spring term. If your child is fit to attend school then they are fit to go swimming, unless a medical note is provided. Swimming will commence Monday 13th January for 11 weeks. A voluntary contribution, which covers the cost of the swimming teaching and transport is £70.00 Please make cheques payable to Clavering Primary School.
If you have any questions at any time then please feel free to make an appointment
Wishing you all a very happy Christmas
Rosalind Allsop
Headteacher
