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11 Feb 2008 - Spring Term Newsletter 3

SPRING TERM NEWSLETTER 3

                         Monday 11th February                             

  

 

Dear Parents and Friends                                                                     

 

RETIREMENT

 

I am aware that some of you have known for a while that I have been considering retiring from my position as Headteacher at St Peter’s. I can now confirm that I have indeed tended my resignation with effect from the end of this academic year.

 

It has taken a great deal of prayer and heart searching, but I am convinced that the time is right, and I have done so with a real mixture of emotions. It has been a privilege to work at such a friendly and well supported school through so many years. I’m sure I will want to say much more towards the end of the summer term, but for now it is just right that you should know of this decision.

 

The school governors have been working on exciting plans for the future and these will be revealed in a letter to be e-mailed and/or sent to you via pupil post this Wednesday, 13 February. Please be sure to check your e-mail or pupil’s bag that evening.

 

Until I leave, pleased be assured that I will do my utmost to ensure that St Peter’s continues to be the very good school that it is.

     

YELLOW PAGES

 

Many, many thanks for the tremendous response for old copies of Yellow Pages. At the last count we had around a thousand, still a long way short of our target of 1500, though.  I’m sure you have probably already sent yours in, but if you come across any more please send them in to school by the end of the month, as they will be collected from us soon after that. We are racking our brains for an original idea to turn them into a sculpture, which will be entered into local and national competitions. If you have ideas or fancy the challenge of doing this please let me know. It will be well into the summer term before we hear if we have won any of the prizes on offer.

 

CROSS COUNTRY – Tuesday 26th February –

 

Our talented running team will be competing against other local schools at Princetown   Primary School. You are very welcome to come and cheer on your children. We are most grateful to Tavistock Athletic Club for organising this worthwhile event.

 

ROAD SAFETY

 

Last week I was made aware of  a near accident on the approach to the main school entrance, involving a car going rather fast and a pedestrian. PLEASE drive carefully and slowly on the Greenland s estate. A few years ago many of us signed up to the

Greenlands Speed Pl
edge, saying we would keep our speed below 20 mph. It would be good for everyone’s safety if this could be maintained.

  

Of course, the same safety reminder applies to those of you who use the Deer Park entrance. Let’s do everything to ensure our children’s safety as they come to and leave school. Depending on your child’s age and maturity perhaps he/she could walk through Greenlands or Deer Park Cresent, hence reducing the congestion and dangers around the entrances, whilst also providing valuable exercise.

  

SAINSBURY ACTIVE KIDS VOUCHERS

 

We will once again be collecting these vouchers in order to exchange them for valuable P.E./activity resources, so if you or any of your family, friends or colleagues shop at Sainsbury’s please save these for us. The campaign runs from 14th February to 4th June and vouchers will be issued at the rate of one for every £10 spent.

 

TAVISTOCK CARNIVAL PROCESSION – Saturday 19th July

 

This might seem a very long way off, but the planning starts now! Once again I am extremely grateful to Mrs Donna Collacott for taking on the challenge of producing another spectacular float.’ But of course she can’t do it on her own! The Carnival theme is ‘From Bollywood to Hollywood ! I am also grateful to another of our parents, Mr Pearson, who has very generously offered to organise a lorry on which to build our float. There will be a working party meeting most Thursday afternoons in school to plan and prepare items, starting after the half term break (28th Feb).  If you can help out occasionally or prepare items at home please complete and return the reply slip. Thank you. Priority of children’s places on the float will be given to those whose parents have offered help in preparing the float.

 

HOCKEY CLUB

 

After the half term break, Mr Berry is planning to introduce a Hockey Club, running after school on Tuesdays. Priority will be given to years 5 and 6, up to a limit of 16 children. It is a safety requirement that children wear a mouthguard and shinpads to take part. Mr Berry can provide mouthguards at a cost of £1.00. Please ind icate on the reply slip if you would like him to order one. Please don’t send any money in yet until a place has been confirmed in the club. Confirmation notes will be sent home. The lower school football club will cease for the time-being.

 

TABLE TENNIS

 

On Friday afternoon, members of the Okehampton Table Tennis Club will give a demonstration of this rapidly growing sport. It includes a Tavistock player who has trained with the Chinese national team, and tipped to represent Britain in the Olympics later this year. The club are looking to expand and are considering running regular after school Friday sessions for some of our children. I will be able to let you have more details after the half term brea k.

 

SAFE CYCLING COURSE – HELP NEEDED

 

Mr Woodbridge-Harris is hoping to run a Safe Cycling course after school on Tuesdays  for a small number of year 6 pupils starting after the half-term break.  The first part of the course would run until Easter, and take place within the school grounds. If there was sufficient demand, a more advanced course could be run in the Summer Term, although would be limited to 6 participants. Alternatively, another lower level course could be run, allowing for more pupils to have some training. This will be determined when we know how many children are interested and also how much additional adult help will be available. For the higher level course (using roads on Greenlands) we are required to have at least one additional helper per 6 children. At this stage we need to know how much parental help we might have, as this will help determine how many children can participate. Please return the reply slip if you are able to help. A letter offering children placements will follow later.

 

YEAR 6 SATS  

 

You will no doubt have come across a number of publications and materials designed to help your child … ‘BBC Revise Wise’ and ‘Letts Revise National Tests and Practice Papers’ are just two to be recommended.

 

In school we have a number of excellent revision books at bargain prices.  They are of a similar design to the Maths Homework book.  I’m sure your child would find any of these extremely beneficial if they were worked through in a methodical way.

 

      There are   

‘Study Books’ for English, Maths and Science at £2.00 each. (Covers everything in some detail)

‘The Important Bits’ for Maths and Science at £1.50 each. (Covers the essentials …. recommended)

 

 

‘The Question Book’ for English, Maths and Science at £1.00 each. (Tests the knowledge acquired)

The English ‘Workbook’ – more formal exercise to try at £1.50 each

Practice Test Papers’ for Maths and Science at £1.00 each. (Very useful nearer the time of testing)

 

 

You are most welcome to view before buying.  Copies will shortly be on display outside the office and available for purchase after the half term break.

 

LADIES NIGHT  – at St Rumon’s on Friday 29th February.

 

I hope you’ve got this in your diary, ladies. There’s an excellent range of demonstrations and stalls lined up for you. It’s the first of many joint St Peter’s Association and St Rumon’s PTA events, so let’s make it a really successful evening.

 

POETRY IN THE PEWS

 

Well done to all those children who have contributed a poem to the project at St Eustachius’ Church. The poems will be ‘launched’ at on Wednesday … an event to which all are invited … and will be in the church pews until the end of half term. All are welcome to pop I to read the poems and locate their own!

  

Dinner money for the next half term will be £49.00

  

Yours sincerely

 

 John George

 

Headteacher

 

 

 

REPLY SLIPS

 

 

HOCKEY CLUB    Tuesdays, commencing 26th February   (Please return to Mr Berry)

 

Child’s Name    ………………………………………………..

  

·         I give permission for my child to participate in the Hockey Club taking part on Tuesdays and will ensure he/she has shin pads and a gum shield.

 

·         I would like to order a mouthguard at a cost £1  ( delete if not needed)

 

Signed ……………………………………………………………  (Parent/Guardian)

 

 

 

 

Safe Cycling Course   (Please return to Mr Woodbridge-Harris)

 

Parent’s Nam e  ………………………………………………..

  

·         I will be able to give some assistance during the basic course (Tuesdays next half term)

·         I will be able to assist with the higher level course should it go ahead in the summer term. (Tuesdays)

 

                  (Please delete as appropriate)

 

Signed ……………………………………………………………  (Parent/Guardian)

 

 

TAVISTOCK CARNIVAL   (Please return to the school office)

  

Name …………………………………………………        Tel. No. …………………………..

  

I am willing to be involved with preparing the St Peter’s Carnival float.

 

·         I will be able to join the working party on  Thursday afternoons

 

·         I will be able to prepare items for the float at home

 

·         If there is a particular way you would like to help, please indicate here

 

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

 

(Please tick or delete as appropriate)

  

 

 

Signed …………………………………………………………

 
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