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It has been such a musical week at St Peter’s 2-8 with three live streamed Year Group music concerts and the Whole School Foundation Concert that was screened on YouTube on Thursday evening. As I write this newsletter I have just returned from the Year 3 music concert in the Rayson Room. All of the Year 1, Year 2 and Year 3 children performed in concerts that were absolutely wonderful. Fabulous collaborative singing from our choirs and solo, duet and quartet performances on recorders, violins, guitars, drums, piano and bassoon. These concerts were live streamed to parents, families and friends both in UK and around the world. My huge thanks to the IT team led by Barry Nacey who set up the technology for all to be able to be part of a virtual audience for our stunning musicians. At St Peter’s 2-8 we place a tremendous emphasis on music led by Mrs Hayden,
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Newsletter No: 29 Friday, 28th May 2021
with the Year 1 children and our close friend Billy Hickling, a leading performer from the musical ‘Stomp’, will be leading a workshop with the year 2 and Year 3 children. Next half term we are planning a Grand Exhibition for each Year Group to showcase their learning throughout the term including musical items. We are planning to be inviting parents to visit our Grand Exhibition and watch the children perform. I can’t wait…! On the theme of creativity Mrs Hall has organised a House Art Competition for all of the children to take part in. All entries have been displayed in an Art our wonderful Director of Music. Exhibition on the music school lawn at St Walking around the school you can Peter’s 13-18. The exhibition was always hear children singing in classrooms spectacular, akin to the summer show at in addition to the fabulous sound that the Royal Academy in London. Well done permeates around the school from Mrs to everyone who took part in the Hayden’s music room. Music at St Peter’s competition and huge congratulations to 2-8 provides an important contribution to the House Winners, Year Group winners the life of school and is celebrated, and the best in show. Thanks to Mr Hall promoted and encouraged. Music at and Ms Chisolm for doing the most school helps build children’s self-esteem, difficult role of judging and huge thanks to self-discipline and leads to higher Mrs Hall not only for organising the event standards across all areas of the but also for creating and setting up the curriculum. As a school we reap the stunning exhibition. benefits from the transformational power This week Nursery were invited on that music brings to the children, staff, holiday and had a wonderful, if slightly parents and the wider school community, damp, adventure on the school minibuses as we have seen in the past with our to the boat houses (via the ring road to intergenerational music workshops. make the most of the journey!) The Research tells us that music boosts played in paddling pools, took school improvement, improves the photographs in a photobooth AND had a learning process, fosters collaborative REAL ice-cream van. Well done Miss skills, builds life skills, underpins better Kelsh and team, and thank you to Darren behaviour, improves self-confidence, Adamson and the Estates team for all encourages creativity and is so much fun! their help. These skills have been evident throughout As we approach half term we will be the term and most recently in the Whole preparing class lists for the next academic School Foundation Concert last night, year. The rationale for creating new which was outstanding with stunning classes is to ensure the children get to performances across the school. If you know all their peers in the year group as missed the concert you can watch the they travel on their educational journey recording here: Whole School through St Peter’s 2-18. The teachers use Foundation Concert. their professional knowledge and insight My huge thanks to all the children who to create the classes for the following participated and the staff who created this brilliant production. Special thanks to Mrs Hayden for creating a fabulous environment for the children to be able to be creative, perform and thoroughly enjoy this incredibly important discipline/ area of school life. Next half term we have even more inspiring music experiences for our children. One of the most famous orchestras in the country, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, who are based in London, will be leading a workshop with our Reception and Nursery children, Gamelan musicians from York University will be working
year, ensuring a mix of boys and girls, age and independence. I know it causes a little anxiety with parents, but please trust our professional judgement as we observe your children every day in school and we spend a great deal of time ensuring this is a successful process for all. These will be communicated during the second week after half term. As we go into half term, I wanted to say how proud I am off all that children and staff have achieved during the past six weeks. St Peter’s 2-8 winning both the TES Pre-prep School of the Year Award and the TES Independent School of the Year Award was an astonishing achievement and a reflection of the incredible team effort by staff, teaching and support, parents and families, leadership, governors and our fabulous children. There will be a letter sent to you to keep you informed of the plans for the second half of term. Much of this has to be provisional but I thought it would be useful to share with you a sense of how the coming weeks are hoped to unfold. It is very busy and exciting. I hope you have a restful half term before we return for what will be another busy and exciting few weeks as we head towards the end of the school year. Never was a half term break more richly deserved and I hope the coming week will bring opportunities for rest and time spent together. May I take this opportunity to thank the outstanding staff team at 2-8 who work so hard for your children, to you as parents for your continued and ongoing support and most importantly to the children who make this job the best in the world. Have a great week and see you on Monday 7th June. Have a wonderful week,
Notice Board MUSICAL NOTES Wow, I can’t believe we have reached the end of another busy half term already! I have been so impressed by all the children who have performed in our concerts this week. We began with Year 1, fabulous singing from everybody and great performances from our amazing recorder players and pianists. On Tuesday it was the turn of Year 2. We had a variety of instruments from violin to guitar, recorder to piano. For some of our children it was their first chance to perform in front of an audience. There were a few nerves but everyone overcame them and performed confidently. The choir proudly sang the song they performed in last night’s Whole School Foundation Concert again and also showed off some amazing part singing. Not to be outdone, Reception took full advantage of the sparkly curtain and had their own mini concert on
Thursday. They enjoyed performing their Treasure Island Story to their friends and I am sure the children will enjoy showing the video to their grownups at home later too! Today it was the turn of Year 3. Wow, what a bunch of talented musicians you are! We had a wide variety of instruments on show, drums, clarinet, cello, violin, bassoon, piano, recorder and guitar and the choir also sang too. Everybody performed so well this morning, it was great to hear such wellrehearsed performances. A huge thank you to our amazing instrumental teachers who have prepared the children for the concert and to all our parents who encourage practice at home. It was fantastic to have you with us on our big screen, but we’ve got everything crossed that our next concert will be properly live!
Notice Board THE BIG 2-8 SLEEP OUT FOR SHELTER An estimated 280,000 people in the UK are homeless. That’s one in every 200 people, and the figure has risen because of Covid-19. Shelter offers advice, support and legal services to people experiencing housing issues and homelessness. They campaign to end homelessness and ensure that everyone has access to a safe, suitable home. We want to raise some money for Shelter and we are encouraging all the children to ask their friends and family to sponsor them for a Big 2-8 Sleep Out. Children can sleep either in the garden or in a part of the house where they don’t usually sleep and ask family and friends to sponsor them using this link: https://www.justgiving.com/ fundraising/st-peter-s-2-8? utm_source=Sharethis&utm_medium=fundraising&utm_content=stpeter-s-2-8&utm_campaign=pfpemail&utm_term=97fae0111fcf4ee09ff8512efbc36639. Please complete the challenge by Monday 7th June, and email photos of your sleep out to the school office.
LOST PROPERTY
Albert T-P has lost his named school coat.
NEARLY NEW UNIFORM SHOP The Nearly New Uniform Shop (located at St Peter’s 8-13) will be reopening after half term. The shop will be open on an appointment only basis between 3.30 & 4.30pm on Tuesday afternoons and between 8.15 & 9.15am on Saturday mornings. There will only be one customer (plus children) in the shop at a time and we do ask that you please do not come to the shop without an appointment. To book an appointment please contact Jenny Black by email at jenny.black@btopenworld.com.
2-8 MUSIC CONCERTS
2-8 MUSIC CONCERTS
Notice Board Music award
PE award
• All the concert performers!
• Charlotte W (RA)
• Erin G (2H)
learning superheroes • William F (RA)
• Isabel W (1C)
• Charlotte S (RA) • Freya Adlam • Beatrix H (RC) (1E) • Alfie S-D (RC)
• Owen F (1J)
• Matilda T (RC)
• Caspar V (2H)
• Gerard B (2J) • All of 3C
• Vinnie T (3M) •Christopher F (3S)
value champions • Tiaa C (RA) • Mason M (RC)
• Charlotte T (1J)
• Harriet R • Caleb B (1C) (2H) • Dhruv D (1E) • Matilda S
(2J) • Angus D (3C) •Noah A (3M) •Teddy S (3S)
Well done to all of the children who entered last weeks STEM competition. There were lots of fantastic entries from Reception all the way to Year Three; we were very impressed! A special well done to Rupert, Owen, Tulsi, Darcey and Freddie for blowing our socks off and thank you to everyone who took part. Scan the QR codes below to watch the videos and see pictures of the winning entries! Love,
Darcey and Freddie H
Year 2
Year 3 and Reception
Reception
Rupert B
STEM WEEK WINNERS
Tulsi S
Year 1
Owen F
HOUSE ART COMPETITION 2021 Mrs Hall was overwhelmed with all the fantastic art submitted to the Art Competition- our first ever! Mr Hall and Mrs Chisholm, from the Art Department at St Peter’s, were very impressed by the standard of work and spent a lot of time judging it. Everyone who entered will get a small prize and these, along with the larger prizes will be delivered on Friday. After half term, Mrs Hall will return all the work to the artists, along with certificates. Well done everyone!
Walmgate
Monk
Micklegate
Reception- Austin H
Reception- Finbar Y
Reception- Beatrix H
Year 1- Adele L
Year 1- Amara A
Year 1- Sam H
Year 2- Lottie W
Year 2- Sophia F
Year 2- Olivia M/Harry S
Year 3- Darcey H
Year 3- Mary-Jane R Year 3- Alice R
Nursery (Conkers) Thomas W
Best in Show (x2!) Arjun J RA- Walmgate Edmund F 2J- Monk
All the children have been absolute PE superstars this half term!
proven that this year’s Sports Day will be a really exciting competition, with lots of close races! The We have all Reception children’s demonstrated excellent relay knowledge has enthusiasm and hard progressed brilliantly, work in our athletics and Miss Flockhart and lessons and all the Miss Beaumont cannot children are really wait to see the children looking forward to show off their Sports Day in a few incredible teamwork weeks’ time! The skills! results of some of the practice events we All children’s attitude have completed has and enthusiasm
PE
continued throughout their games lessons this half term, resulting in some incredibly proficient Rounders players! Everyone was able to demonstrate a good understanding of the and we cannot wait to tactics and rules of the see you all back in game! school for our final half term of the Miss Flockhart and academic year! Miss Beaumont are extremely proud of We hope everyone has how hard everyone has a lovely, restful break! worked this half term
PE
ACORNS
This week our Acorns went on a secret adventure.....whilst the Conkers were off on their jolly holiday we snuck in and had an explore to see all the different things there are to play and learn with! We had such an amazing time and are super excited about our move into there from September! Sshhhhhhhhhh though, don't tell the Conkers we were there!
CONKERS The day finally arrived!!! Our suitcases and bags packed, tickets in our hands, minibuses ready and of course, like a true British holiday....a constant drizzle!!, But that didn’t stop us!! No wayyyy! We belted up and we were on our way! We arrived at the boathouse, got into our waterproofs and ran to where the fun started! Hook a duck, squirty guns, a huge sand pit, a photo station, ball games, tents and so much more! It was so much fun! Soon, our picnic lunch was delivered, so we sat down to refuel before the water fun started! But, hang on, what was that music we could all hear in the background???.....a REAL ice cream van!!! What a treat! By now, we were more than ready to get our swimming cossies on and enjoy some padding pool and sprinkler action....even the sunshine made an appearance!
The day drew to an end and we all congered back to the minibuses, where a lot of very tired but VERY happy children sat and chatted about ‘the BEST holiday ever!’ ❤️
CONKERS
RECEPTION We have had another fantastic week in Reception. At the beginning of the week the children arrived in school and realised that our caterpillars had transformed into cocoons! This has led to us looking in more detail at the life cycle of a butterfly and what process actually happens inside the cocoon - we were shocked to find out that a caterpillar breaks down into a liquid inside the cocoon before then being regrown into a beautiful butterfly! The children have watched lots of videos to show this process and we then created our own edible version of the life cycle, using a marshmallow for the egg, a jelly worm for the caterpillar, a raisin for the cocoon and a cracker for the butterfly! It was deeeeelicious! This also
inspired the children to write their own versions of The Very Hungry Caterpillar (RIP Eric Carle) in our Library role play area. The children have been busy stamping and lending out books and have made sure to tell their friends when to return the books by. In forest school we had an amazing popcorn party and we all got to make our own popcorn on the fire adding our favourite toppings at the end. On Thursday, we also enjoyed doing a special music concert to showcase what we have learnt to our grownups at home! We told the story of Treasure Island and three pirates who were on the lookout for buried treasure! The children used musical instruments to portray different areas and noises on the island - we thought they were fantastic! Another jam-packed week full of fun in Reception, well done for a fantastic half term we hope you all have a super week off!
RECEPTION
Wow what a busy half term we have had! It seems to have just whizzed by so quickly and now the half term holiday is nearly upon us just as the sun looks like it's about to come out!
YEAR 1
This week the children have continued to make us proud with their continued enthusiasm for our theme and leading their own learning. We seem to have individual and group projects initiated by the children springing up all over the place, from making sticky rice in IE, to creating terrariums in IJ and Lego Tsunamis in IC. The children are still very passionate about looking
after and protecting the animals in Asia and have been writing questions to the Elephant sanctuary, who spoke to the children live on Skype on Thursday to answer their questions, and also to Dr. Galdikas, an orangutan expert. They have had to think carefully about their writing for an audience making sure others can read their work. Continuing the writing theme, we have also been retelling stories this week linked to our topic and are practising drafting and improving our work. Finally, we have had a very sweet week in maths with lots of edible division going on! Yumhave a very well-deserved rest and a lovely holiday!
YEAR 1 Miss Evans would like to say a HUGE thank you to all the parents that generously donated items to her mum's refugee appeal. You all went above and beyond and have made such a difference to families that are most in need. A special mention to the parent who tirelessly raised £600 in vouchers! Thank you again!
further by reading Flip Flap Jungle by Alex Scheffler and then creating our own weird and wonderful mixed up animals in collage. Then we made these into illustrations and they were brilliant! Art has been on our minds as we went to visit the first St Peter’s 2-8 Art Exhibition when it opened on Wednesday. Mrs Hall was so proud of all of us and we enjoyed looking at everything that had been submitted. In science we went down to Forest School again - it had finally stopped raining!- and made our own terrariums, based on rainforests, which was great fun and led to lots of questions about the climate in equatorial regions and what the tropics are. On top of ALL this we squeezed in a concert with Mrs Hayden, where the choir sang beautifully and the soloists overcame nerves to give great performances. Well done Year 2we have all planned more exciting work next half term, so we will see you in a week when you have had a rest!
YEAR 2
It seems incredible that we are already at half term in our FINAL term of Year 2! We packed so much into this week that all the children and definitely the teaching staff are more than ready for a holiday. We started the week with a new exciting topic in maths of Money, which gave us the idea of making shops at Forest School. Mrs Hall’s favourite children’s author (and she is so clever that she illustrates the stories too...) is Shirley Hughes and we read the Alfie and Annie-Rose story about shops. With that idea in mind, we had a wonderful time, deciding what our shops would sell (flowers, lemurs, buns and…televisions!) and worked with our friends to make the shops and then stock them! We have been reading Just So stories during the week and spent time thinking about why Madagascan animals might have certain characteristics and funny reasons why this might have happened. Did the Tomato frog fall in a tin of red paint or eat too many strawberries? Did the lemur swap his tail with a zebra’s? On Art Wednesday we took this even
YEAR 3
We have had another busy week in Year 3!
Continuing with our Egyptian theme we have mummified half an apple carving in a preservative of our choice based on last week’s findings from our mummification experiment. We explored Forest School, created dens and imagined we were sailing boats on our very own mini river Nile. We have carried out some research on Egyptian Gods and Goddesses and made our very own imaginative apps. In Art we have turned ourselves into Egyptian Gods and Goddesses using oil pastels. We have also decorated and made our own sarcophagus for use in the afterlife!
In Maths this week we have been looking at unit fractions. On Wednesday we used midget gems to help us do some fraction work and then used our skills to draw bar graphs too. Afterwards we thoroughly enjoyed indulging in our sweet treats! Finally we have topped off our week with our wonderful music concert this morning, well done to all those children who took part and to the lovely Mrs Hayden for coordinating! We have had a super half term jam packed with some very exciting adventures across Europe and into Northern Africa. We are all looking forward to a well-earned break before we continue on our journey next half term! HAPPY HALF TERM EVERYONE!
COLLECTION DAY
Friday 18th June 2021 Bring in your bags of unwanted items and raise money for charity!
YES to all of these:Clothes
Paired shoes (tied)
Jewellery
Handbags
Socks and tights
Hats
Belts
Scarves and Ties
Lingerie
Curtains Bed Linen
Household Linen
Towels
(But NOT Duvets, blankets, pillows or cushions)
NO to all of these:Duvets, blankets, pillows and cushions
Textile off-cuts
Carpets, rugs and mats
Soiled, painted, ripped or wet clothing
SCHOOL UNIFORMS
Corporate clothing
Toys
COLLECTION DAYS Nursery – Monday 14th June Reception – Tuesday 15th June Year 1 – Wednesday 16th June
Year 2 – Thursday 17th June Year 3 - Friday 18th June 2021
The Collection Point for Bag2School will be behind the Nursery/ Hope House building, at the Friends of St Peters 2-8 shed.
Just follow the A-board signs, queue up at 2m intervals and use the one-way system in place, to ensure we abide by strict social distancing guidelines. If you miss your year group’s day, don’t worry, you can drop off on another day, but we are just trying to keep as socially distanced as possible.
Thank you Friends of St Peter’s 2-8