Term 12 2011 Issue 4 | December 2011 Children return to school Thursday 5th December.
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In this issue... Sports The school team wins the East West Berkshire Sportshall Competition.
Activities and Trips Y6 are evacuated to the country. I always enjoy the second half of the autumn term, and particularly the run up to Christmas. It really is a special time of the year, and to be able to share it with the children is wonderful. As ever, it has been a busy half-term, and this year we staged not just one Christmas production, but two! For some children this meant learning the lyrics to songs for both productions. ‘Will Santa get Through?’ and ‘It’s a Baby’ were both hugely enjoyable, and it was lovely to receive so many wonderful comments from parents and grandparents. Mrs Hillerton, Mrs Nicholson, Mrs Phillips, Mr Teale, Mrs Javes, Mrs Thompson (to name but a few) and all the children worked extremely hard to ensure that both productions were a huge success. Although the videos of both events do not do them justice, we still hope to make them available to parents via the school website. Sadly, a number of children are leaving Woolhampton this term. I would like to wish Lewis, Matthew, Dylan, Miles and Rosie all the best in their new schools. They and their families will be greatly missed. I do hope you all have a peaceful and enjoyable Christmas and a happy New year.
Andrew Bingham
KS2 SAT’s
The new cupboard layout
The plans for the final phase of our classroom refurbishment project are now in place. We now need to ensure that we have the funds to refurbish both classrooms over the summer 2012 holidays.
Parents may be aware that the KS2 ‘league tables’ were published at the end of last week. Whilst these ‘tables’ have to be treated with an element of caution, particularly for a small school like ours, it is pleasing to see that we have maintained our high level of achievement and attainment. I would like to congratulate all the former Y6 pupils and staff.
Friends of Woolhampton The Friends of Woolhampton Christmas Fayre raises almost £1000.
Christmas Activities The school clubs create decorations for their own Christmas trees.
House Points Blue Kingfisher win the Inter-House Maths Challenge
Children’s Work Pizzas, production reviews and dark, dark boxes!
Parent Notices Reduction in lost property!
Mrs Howe and her team were very sad to say goodbye to our student teacher, Lauren Smith, last week. She had an extremely successful teaching practice, achieving outstanding grades, and we hope that she will return to see us in the spring term.
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SPORTS Undoubtedly our finest sporting achievement of this year (and, indeed, any year since 2005!) was our win at the East West Berkshire Sportshall Tournament, held on the 22nd November at Denefield School. As is often the case, we were the smallest school in the competition, and were competing against 8 other schools, including Bradfield, Spurcroft and Birch Copse. Our small squad of 4 boys and 4
A rather dejected group of Y6 children get ready to be evacuted.
ACTIVITIES & TRIPS Y6 have greatly enjoyed learning about life in wartime Britain this term. As part of the topic the children have experienced a number of fascinating events. The Y6 girls compete in the relay. girls performed magnificently, winning many of the multi-discipline events. At the end of the event the combined team won by several points and will now represent West Berkshire Schools at the county event to be held in 2012. Well done to Charles, Henry, Owen, Archie, Elizabeth, Jessica and Victoria.
Jack and Charles play it tight! Immediately after the sportshall tournament, the same boys and girls plus Jack took part in the mini basketball tournament, held at Kennet School. Though extremely tired from their exertions in the morning, the boys and girls performed magnificently in the tournament, winning their group and then narrowly losing in the semi-final. In the third and fourth play off match, the team beat Curridge School.
Straight after the half-term holiday the children were evacuated from wartime London to the country (i.e Woolhampton!) A number of governors and other adults came to ‘London’ to select their evacuees. Rev Des became the ‘grumpy’ vicar, demanding strong boys who could ‘pump’ the organ and sing in his choir! In the end he selected Samuel and Liam. Jill Billington was an equally grumpy farmer, who wanted children who knew how to dispatch a chicken. Owen obviously convinced her that this was something he was quite capable of doing! Lady of the manor, Sylvia Allen, selected Edward, whilst former chair of the governing body, Graham Ward selected Henry and Bobby to tend his allotment. The following day, the children spent the morning at their new wartime school. School teacher, Mrs Wynne Frankum, showed the children what life was like in a wartime classroom. Parents may have seen the excellent videos the children produced, which used video from both events. Once again, Mr Baldwin and his father, managed to organise a visit for the Y6 children to the fascinating wartime museum at RAF Welford. The children were invited to lay wreaths at the
various memorials at the airfield. The children were a credit to the school, asking many fascinating questions and their behaviour was impeccable. Thanks also to Mr Baldwin and his father for coming into school and giving a presentation on RAF Greenham Common.
Y5 show off their Christmas Cards made at ‘Christmas Unwrapped’ This year’s Newbury Weekly News Quiz was held at Chieveley School. Our Y6 team came a very creditable 7th out of 15 teams. Those parents who managed to see the Y4/5 end of term guitar session will appreciate how hard the children have been working with their guitar teacher. Mrs Shone and I have been hugely impressed by the children’s enthusiasm, and also the skill and dedication displayed by the teacher, Mrs. O’Shaughnesy. It is very disappointing that government funding for the lessons for the spring term has ceased but we do hope that all parents will see the benefit in paying for the lessons to continue.
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FRIENDS OF WOOLHAMPTON This has been an extremely successful term for the Friends of Woolhampton. Parents may have noticed that Jack has moved up several ‘leaves’ on the beanstalk target board outside the school, and we are well on our way to achieving the £10,000 target set at the start of the year. This money will be used to pay for the new furniture required for the refurbished classrooms. The ‘Kids on the Catwalk’ event, held after school on November 14th, raised just over £100. The children greatly enjoyed the event, and were warmly applaued by an appreciative audience. A video of the event is available to purchase from the school website. The Friends Film Night was attended by the majority of the children and raised just under £200. Children and adults enjoyed Rio and Kung Fu Panda 2.
CHRISTMAS ACTIVITIES
As usual there have been a number of Christmas activities, involving both individual classes and the whole school. Children in Y5 took part in ‘Christmas Unwrapped’, at Beenham Church on Friday 9th December. Working alongside children from Beenham School, Owen, Isabella, Georgia, Louis, Jamie and James learnt more about the Christmas Story, using a variety of resources. Thanks to Rev. Des and Rev. Becky for organising the event. A number of our choir children (and Mrs Javes!) entertained the older residents of the village at their Christmas lunch, held on 7th December. Mrs Stella Nisbet said that the children sang beautifully, and more than one of the audience commended them on their excellent diction!
Father Christmas in discussion with Louie at the Christmas Fayre. tinselled rugby balls and pictures of the all-conquering (!) English rugby team. Foundation produced a tree covered with stars (because they are all stars!) and the Choir Club tree was decorated with minature instruments and musical notes. The Gardening Club tree was
The Bags2School event raised £228. Thanks to everyone who donated sacks of clothes and shoes. The wonderful Christmas Cards designed by the children, raised an additional £100. The main fund raising and social event of the term was the Christmas Fayre, which this year was held on a Friday evening. I am sure all those parents who attended will agree that there was a wonderful atmosphere at the event (maybe this was helped by the sale of mulled wine!) The choir sang beautifully, the food was great and the various games and stalls ensured that everyone had an enjoyable time. Bills are still being processed, but it looks as though we will have raised just under £1000. Thank you to everyone who helped out at the fayre and the other activities. Without the support and hard work of parents we would not be able to stage any of the events.
s
Kate Jave
(Chairperson)
Eloise and Abigail enjoying their Christmas dinner. Angie and Sue provided another super Christmas lunch for the pupils and staff on Wednesday 14th December, whilst all the children enjoyed watching the wonderful Christmas film, The Polar Express, on the afternoon of Monday 19th December. Over the past week, the children have been working in groups creating decorated Christmas trees. Each group represented one of the school clubs or groups. The Science Club group produced minibeasts and space decorations, whilst the Tag Rugby Club tree was decorated with miniature
A ‘piano decoration’ on the Choir Club tree. covered in beautiful red robins and flowers, the Art and Craft Club tree was covered with an assortment of decorations made out of different materials and the Computer Club created animated trees that can be viewed on the school website.
HOUSE POINTS Congratulations to all the children in Blue Kingfisher House, who managed to complete a hat-trick of wins this half-term. Not only did they win the Considerate Behaviour and Presentation competitions, but they also won the first inter-house Maths Challenge Competition, held on the 25th November. The child who was awarded most points for presentation was Henry J in Year 6. Well done to runners-up, Harry P and Eloise S. Next half-term we will be awarding house points for good maths work.
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ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS The following children have been awarded Achievement Awards this halfterm. Foundation: Grace, Beth, Erin, Edward, Oliver and Aiden. Year 1:
Jamie, Skye, Lana, Isabel, Rhys and Millie.
Year 2:
Adam, Micah, Fenya, Isabelle, Dylan and Alex.
Year 3:
Eloise, Elliot, Tyler, Neve, Matthew and Grace.
Year 4:
Anna, Aaron, Torr, Matthew, Ryleigh and Max.
Year 5:
James F, Jamie and Louis.
Year 6:
Samuel, Isabel, Elizabeth, Jack and Y6.
The choir prepare for the Christmas Fayre
TOPICS AND CLUBS Next term’s topics are:
PARENT NOTICES Please could I remind parents that school meals should be paid for promptly. Dolce will not provide a meal for a child if parents have not paid for more than 2 days. Parents can now pay for school uniform by credit or debit card via the PayPal link on the school website. Please could parents ensure that a note or e-mail is sent to the office after any absence - whilst a phone call informing us that a child will be absent from school is very much appreciated, we must have written confirmation explaining the reason for the absence. Our lost property box is not as full as usual! This is largely due to parents ensuring that all items of clothing are labelled. Many thanks for your help.
Foundation/Year 1: Year 2/3: Year 4/5: Year 6:
Toys and Books The Weather Energy Efficiency Ancient Greece
Clubs running next term: Monday Choir Y3/4/5/6 Tuesday Science Club Y1 Craft Club Y4/5/6 Thursday: Judo Club All Poetry Club Y4/5/6 Friday Chess Club All Computer Club Y4/5
SCHOOL CHARITIES This term we raised just over £400 for our school charities, Helen and Douglas House and the RSPCA. Many thanks to everyone who donated so generously to these charities, as well as to Children in Need and Genes for Jeans. Over the years we have developed a close relationship with Helen and Douglas House, the world’s first children’s hospice. We recently recieved a lovely letter from Janet Carruzzo, one of the charities community fundraisers, which gave the children some idea about how the money raised is spent.
Letters have gone out to parents. Erin, Aiden, Rosie, Charlie and Skye sporting spots for Pudsey
ST PETER’S CHURCH WAITROSE COLLECTION
There is a Carol Sing-a-long at Woolhampton Village Hall on Thursday 22nd December at 7p.m Coffee, tea, squash and mince pies to all those attend! The Christmas Day service, a family communion, is at 11 a.m and will be officiated by the Rev. Des Foote.
Snowball fight from the Y6 production
Thanks to everyone who placed tokens into the Woolhampton School collection point at Waitrose. We rccently received a cheque for £280, which will be used to purchase rugby kit for our tag rugby team.
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CHILDREN’S WORK This review of the Y6 production, ‘Will Santa get Through?’, was written by Ethan. Will Santa get Through ‘Christmas time 1940, the war had begun and Geoff and his family had an eventful Christmas. This was a fantastic production from Woolhampton Primary School, directed by Mrs Anne Hillerton. The main character, Geoff, played by Charles Holland, was magnificent. He was convincing in his role and spoke his words loudly and clearly. The best scene was when Geoff was writing his letter to Santa and his timing was spot on with the narration. It was accurate to the 1940’s with good costumes and scenery. The songs reflected the times successfully, especially the opening and closing Boogie-Woogie.’ Y4 and 5 have been making and costing pizzas to sell in their fictitious restaurant, Pepe’s Pizza Parlour. Here are the descriptions of Ellen’s and Anna’s pizzas. Salami & Salad Pizza ‘Sharp, thin salami slices with freshwater anchovies and plump green olives (freshly picked!) on a thin and crispy pizza base. Oh, and don’t forget the
The most popular cover design for ‘Will Santa get Through’ by Charles H
The runners-up design for ‘Will Santa get Through?’ by Max T.
juicy, tender chicken, and the three creamy cheeses (which were just essential!) The olives and tomatoes are fresh from our very own garden, while the chicken is free range.’
In the dark, dark box there was a skeree purpl spider.
Tucky Pizzas ‘This is the most fantastic crown pizza in the whole wide world! If you like meat, veg and fruit you will like this. With olives, peperoni, tomato and anchovies and also tomato sauce and cheese.’
Mrs Hillerton sent several of the Quentin Blake inspired stories, published in the last newsletter, to Puffin Books. She receieved a lovely letter back from the publisher this week thanking her for sending them ‘her ‘pupils impressive work’ Enclosed with the letter were several Quentin Blake/Roald Dahl books, which will take pride of place in the Y6 fiction library.
Lana, Joscelyn, Dylan and Katie P.S from Year 1 have been writing about what they might find in a dark place. ‘In the dark, dark box there is a dark, dark chocolate and there was a dark, dark marshmelos and there was a mouse the mouse swichis on the light.’ ‘In the dark, dark box there was a cheeter. He was skaird of me and he told his mum who screemd and call the poleese.’
Advent wreath created by children in Year 2 and Year 3
In the dark, dark box there is a key but it iznt just enee key. It is a key to a dor behid the dor there is sdeps down the sdeps leeds to a wichs hous.
One of the Wise Men (Charlie) and his bodyguard, Archie!
WE WISH YOU ALL A HAPPY CHRISTMAS AND A PEACEFUL NEW YEAR
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