Bolton School Junior Boys' Weekly Newsletter - 16 Nov 2022

Bolton School Primary Division Junior Boys’ School

Autumn Term, 2022 WEEK A Wednesday 16th November

We ended last week with a well attended Remembrance ceremony. Our Year 6 boys spoke in a thought provoking and moving assembly, sharing information about remembrance services and their history. They also shared their own personal stories about relatives who had fought in wars. The minute's silence and the whole ceremony was well observed by our boys. The bugle performance of the Last Post, played by Senior School pupil, Antoine, set the tone. A special thanks to Mrs Brisk for organising the service and to Year 6 parents who attended. More details further on in this newsletter.

As we approach the winter period, we will inevitably encounter sicknesses. We ask that parents follow school protocols related to absences. We understand the difficulties when keeping children at home, but sending a sick child to school inevitably affects other children and our staff. We will be giving plenty of reminders over the coming weeks for the boys to maintain hygiene standards as we enter into a busy school period.

CAROL SERVICE WEDNESDAY 7th DECEMBER

Thursday 17th November

LAMDA, 4-5pm Jujitsu, 4 .5.30pm Cubs, 6.30 7.45pm

Friday 18th November

Children in Need Day bring £2 donation and wear spotty accessories

This week, you will receive your son’s first school report of the year. This report will give you information on how your son is performing academically and the teachers’ judgments on the efforts he is putting into lessons. Your son’s form teacher will also have written a brief statement at the start of the year, along with some targets to pursue moving ahead. There will be an opportunity to discuss elements of the report and get more detail from your son’s form teacher next week, with our first parents’ evening of the year.

Last night, we held our first big performance of the year with our Year 6 concert in the Arts Centre. The boys and Miss Ormerod, in particular, have worked very hard all term to prepare for what was a very special occasion. More details about the concert will be in next week’s newsletter.

Please find details below of a free parent webinar on the topic of ‘Building a Resilient Family’, which will take place on Tuesday 29th November at 7.30pm., The 45-minute event will be followed by Q&A, exploring how to build a resilient family in the modern world. Ideas shared are relevant for parents of children of all ages. What you will learn: why resilience is such an important skill to foster in your family in 2022, what it means to be resilient, ways to develop resilience and how embedding resilience can support your family.

Please register using this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/3916630613941/WN_dSrpL6NvTKGwjhP967eQqg

www.rolemodels.me

York Presentation Assembly (parents of boys who attended trip) (refreshments from 8.15am)

U9 World Cup Football Festival, MCFC, 8.40am departure

Water Polo, 4-5pm

After School Hockey, 4pm, collection from Leverhulme Pavilion, 5pm Fencing, 4-5pm

contacting the School Office

Park Road, BOLTON, BL1 4RD. t: (01204) 434735

e: parkroad@boltonschool.org.uk www.boltonschool.org

The School Office is open from 8.15 am 4.15 pm during term time. Please note that any texts sent by the Office cannot be replied to.

Please direct all enquiries to parkroad@boltonschool.org and always include your son’s first name and surname, as well as his form. Please note that ParkRoadOffice email is no longer monitored.

If your son is going to be absent from School, whether he be off sick or attending dental, medical or any other appointment, please email parkroad@boltonschool.org so that the registers may be marked accordingly. Please use this email address for all day-to-day enquiries relating to school matters to ensure that your enquiry may be dealt with in a timely manner.

For all coach / transport enquiries: Logistics Co-ordinator: Mr B. Gould, t: (01204) 434711, e: bdmgould@boltonschool.org.uk

Monday 21st November

Online Parents’ Evening (from 3.30pm)

Judo, 4-5pm

Tuesday 22nd November

Online Parents’ Evening (from 3.30pm)

Chess, 4-5pm

Wednesday 23rd November

Online Parents’ Evening (from 3.30pm)

Ski lessons for ski trip boys, Chill Factore (collection at 6.30pm from CF or 7pm from PR)

Cubs, 6.30 7.45pm

Thursday 24th November

Online Parents’ Evening (from 3.30pm)

LAMDA, 4-5pm Jujitsu, 4 .5.30pm Cubs, 6.30 7.45pm

Friday 25th November

Online Parents’ Evening (from 3.30pm)

Water Polo, 4-5pm

After School Hockey, 4pm, collection from Leverhulme Pavilion, 5pm

Fencing, 4-5pm

November Geography Mission

World Cup Challenge!

Choose your favourite football player or team playing in the Qatar World Cup 2022.

Provide a fact-file about their country of origin, which gives an excellent insight into the country. You could include famous cities, their favourite foods, landmarks and tourist hotspots, holidays, physical features e.g. mountains, rivers and other famous people who were born in the country.

How to submit your World Cup fact-file:

Upload it to the Showbie Whole School / Geography Competitions / November folder by 4pm on Wednesday 30th November!

THERE WILL BE PRIZES FOR THE WINNERS! WHO CAN CREATE THE MOST INTERESTING AND GEOGRAPHICAL WORLD CUP FACT-FILE?

GOOD LUCK ! LJG

AJIS Chess Success

Well done to all the boys who competed in the AJIS Chess competition held here on Saturday. After a short hiatus due to lockdown, it was lovely to see so many children really concentrating well on their games throughout the day and enjoying themselves surrounded by like-minded individuals.

There were lots of medals won by our boys, some of whom are just beginning their chess careers, but particular mention should go to Svojas Dubey, in Year 3, who came through a tough final round to win the U9 champion’s trophy and also to Ashton Morrissey, in Year 6, who won the U11 champion’s trophy after a dramatic final game with his teammate, Ryan Chattopadhyay.

We also managed to take home the Team Award as a result of the tremendous performances of all the boys who attended. Thank you very much to the many parents who volunteered to help with the running of the day. We hosted over 100 children from 12 different schools from across the North West and look forward to this event again next year. MP

Lost Property

All unnamed lost property left at the end of last half term was recycled locally. All named items were returned to their owners.

It is essential that all children’s belongings are named so that lost property can be returned easily.

Unnamed clothes, bags etc which are found around school are placed in the lost property bin in the cloakroom area. Named items are returned to classes. Every half term we will empty out the lost property bin, displaying items on the small yard –giving parents a chance to claim back their items. Any unclaimed items left at the end of each half term are recycled locally. CDH

Recycled Art Project

We have an exciting new project planned, to spice up the interior design of the Dining Room and get the boys at Park Road recycling more plastic.

We are hoping to recreate the Bolton School crest out of recycled bottle tops, to sit above the hot plates in the dinning room. Please could you collect as many bottle tops as possible, wash them and bring them in to school when you have a bag full. These can be any size or colour, and any that aren’t used will be sent away to be recycled after we have finished the project. When you are ready to send a batch of bottle tops in, please ask your son to give them to Mr Winstanley.

Christmas Hamper Raffles

Christmas hamper raffle tickets can now be purchased by via the raffle form linked here. Tickets are £1 each for a chance to win a fabulously festive Christmas hamper and £2 each to win a £250 Amazon voucher. Please send in donations suitable for a hamper in your son’s class colour chocolates, toiletries, bottles of wine, candles, gift sets, festive treats - anything you would like to receive in a Christmas hamper !

Please return the completed form and payment to school in a sealed envelope indicating "Christmas Raffle". If enclosing cash, please include the correct amount as unfortunately we cannot give change. Cheques should be made payable to Bolton School Junior Boys PA.

Last day for donations will be Friday 9th December. The colours for each form are:

Primary Maths Challenge

This week, some of our most able Year 6 mathematicians took park in the Primary Maths Challenge.

This is a national competition created by The Mathematical Association and is a fun and exciting mathematical challenge. It is designed to encourage enthusiasm and boost confidence in mathematics and shows the different ways in which mathematical questions can be asked. It emphasises the importance of problem solving as a means of helping pupils develop their reasoning skills

The boys’ scores have been submitted and we wish them the best of luck in getting to the next round.

Well done to all who took part in an extremely challenging set of tasks! GF

Severe Weather

School’s severe weather arrangements are linked here. This document contains key information which you may need to act on now in preparation for any disruption caused by severe weather. The key points are that information will be posted on the front page of the school website (www.boltonschool.org), usually by 7.00am, and we would be grateful if parents would use the website as the first port of call.

You will also be sent an email, and news often first appears on Twitter @Philip_Britton/ @sfboltonschool

Well done to Ra’ees Ally in 4B, who completed his Junior Medic 1 course on First Aid over half term. He was introduced to the basics of first aid and what to do if there is an emergency.

Brilliant work, Ra’ees.

Achievements

Please do let us know of any endeavours which your son has achieved out of school.

We would love to share this with the wider whole school Foundation.

U10 Rugby Tournament at MTS

All of the boys involved played exceptionally well, and I have been well informed by Mr Grieve that this was a much improved performance from the previous tournament.

Overall, the boys won one of their games and lost two, coming fourth overall in the tournament. Well done, boys. TP

U11 Football vs MTS

Last Friday saw forty two boys from Year 6 travel to Crosby to face Merchant Taylors’ School.

After the long journey west, the boys stepped off the coach full of excitement and ready for an afternoon of football.

Following the conclusion of the four matches, our Year 6 boys finished with one draw and three wins. Well done to everyone involved! TG

BWFC Kids’ Cup

A massive well done to the Year 6 football team who finished second in the Bolton Wanderers Kids’ Cup competition last Tuesday.

Over the course of the afternoon the boys performed exceptionally well, winning every game in their group and only conceding three goals.

After topping the group, the team put in two excellent team performances on their way to the final. Following a very competitive final, with some excellent football from both teams, our boys narrowly missed out on being crowned champions.

Congratulations to all that took part and well done to our boys.

Monday saw another brilliant rugby tournament from the boys in Year 5 at Merchant Taylors’ School.

Remembrance Day Service

Last Friday, for Remembrance Day, we held a special assembly and service to remember those that have fought in the wars. Year 6 volunteers lead the assembly, introducing the importance of Remembrance Day; remembering the service and sacrifice of the armed forces, paying tribute to the emergency services and acknowledging civilians and those who have lost their lives in conflict.

Last year, School purchased a special memorial bench in memory of Kenneth Lee, an old boy of Bolton School and WW2 veteran. Kenneth had worked with a group of Year 6 boys in 2019 to share his experiences in the war to support their writing and production of an e-book. His bench now sits proudly in the corner of the school field as a place for pupils to remember Kenneth and those that have fought in the wars. Prior to the two minutes’ silence at eleven o’clock, all pupils and parents gathered close to Kenneth’s bench to hear The Last Post, played perfectly by Senior School boy, Antoine (Year 9). Following the two minutes’ silence, Freddie read The Kohima Epitaph.

During form periods in the week, each form had collectively made a class wreath. After the silence, all wreaths were then placed by Kenneth’s bench and the school memorial planter. The service closed with Noah, Mark, Mrs Hough, Mr Minta and our lollipop man, Barry, singing

Banksy Exhibition

There can be few contemporary artists whose work is so recognisable whilst themselves remaining such an enigmatic mystery.... Banksy has risen from the mean streets of the Bristol graffiti scene, to be one of the most collected artists in the world. Always with a political edge or with a point to make, Banksy’s work continually sparks an interesting debate. It was great to take the boys to see the work of this artist at Media City last week and to see them take such an interest in Banksy’s work and the stories behind it.

Hadnan wrote “The Banksy trip was awesome and we took lots of pictures of paintings. We enjoyed our time. Thank you for giving us this opportunity Mr Minta.” Jacob wrote “I enjoyed the trip and the art was brilliant!” and Karim wrote “I liked the artwork because it altered famous pictures he makes unique pictures” . JM

Senior School Joint Production 2022 : The Great Gatsby

This December, pupils in Years 10 to 13 will present an adaptation of The Great Gatsby in the Boys' Division Great Hall. It is 100 years since F. Scott Fitzgerald's character, Jay Gatsby, threw his lavish parties and we will be marking the occasion with a cabaret style show.

Set in post-war Paris and Jazz Age New York, the show provides The Lost Generation context of the novel's genesis and tells the tragic story of Gatsby, a self-made millionaire, focussing upon his pursuit of Daisy Buchanan, a wealthy young woman whom he loved in his youth. Nick Caraway, a Yale University graduate from the Midwest, is our guide through the show. Nick recounts the events of the fateful summer of 1922. The show runs from Wednesday 7th December to Saturday 10th December with a 7.30pm start each evening. The Great Hall will be transformed into the Roaring '20s. Guests are invited to dress to impress; era specific attire is encouraged.

Tickets are priced at £10 each and tables seat up to 10 guests. It is not necessary to fill a table; individual, small group and table bookings are all welcome. To make a booking please go to Shopfront: As you make your booking, please use 'Gatsby' as the reference and include the date you wish to attend + number of tickets you wish to reserve in the reason for payment box. If you have any questions about the processing of your booking, there is an enquiry button on the Shopfront page. Tickets should be collected on the door on the evening you come along to watch the show. All other enquires should be directed to Miss Lord at nrl@boltonschool.org. Show updates can be enjoyed via Twitter @_NaomiLord.

Dragon Design Contest

After over 80- entries into the dragon design contest inspired by Cressida Cowell, we finally managed to choose 10 winners. S

The designs were chose for their innovation, colour or creativity. Well done to everyone who submitted an entry, with special mention to the winners who will receive their prizes soon. JM

Christmas Dinner on Jesus Collection of Selection Boxes

This festive season, we are once again joining with the whole Bolton School Foundation to support Urban Outreach and their Christmas Dinner on Jesus annual appeal, but we are not asking for money…

Urban Outreach provides hampers to struggling individuals and families containing everything they need to do a traditional Christmas Dinner – right down to mince pies and Christmas crackers!

For the last few years, helped by schools, churches and local businesses Urban Outreach has put together hampers and distributed them a couple of days before Christmas to families in Bolton who are having a hard time, for various reasons. These families are identified by contacts in local churches and other organisations. People from the church or organisation then collect the hampers and take them round to the families who they know are in need.

Urban Outreach asks schools, churches, local businesses and other organisations to pledge and collect Christmas food items to help us make this a reality for hundreds of families in Bolton, giving them a little bit of good news and hope at Christmas.

This year, we will be collecting selection boxes for the campaign. The Junior Boys target is 250 and we must meet our target by Wednesday 7th December. We ask that boys drop off selection boxes in the box in the bottom corridor if they are able to help.

If any parent has contacts whereby they can get extra boxes for us through work or other means then all donations will be gratefully received to help the whole Foundation achieve its target.

Thank you in anticipation of your support. CDH

DT Upcycling Project

If you have an old, wooden skateboard at home (broken or otherwise!), please bring it to the School Office, to be passed on to Mr Winstanley, who will be undertaking an up-cycling project this half term. AW

Christmas Pudding Orders

If you would like to help raise funds for the GDPA, why not order a delicious luxury plum, sticky toffee or lemon pudding.

Please place your order on the link here. Order forms are downloadable on Parent Portal too.

After School Activities

If your son is unable to attend any of the after school activities that he signed up to, please could you ensure that you inform the activity provider in advance, if it is a school-run activity, or Mrs Iddon in the School Office, to let them know that he is unable to attend.

We have spent a lot of time recently chasing non attendees for after school activities which means time is reduced on them for all the other boys involved.

Thank you.