7 Apr 2008 - Spring Newsletter

Newsletter – March 2008

 

 

Dear Parents,

 

 

Staffing

 

I would like to thank the staff, pupils and parents for their support over the last few weeks.  We have been experiencing an unusually bad run of ill health amongst the staff.  We are extremely fortunate to have a small but excellent pool of supply teachers who have stepped in to help us.  Support staff and governors have also been enormously helpful.

 

 

Site Improvements

 

As you will no doubt have seen the fencing around the playground has now been replaced.

 

 

We are having plans drawn up to extend our library.  I don’t envisage the work impacting on the day to day running of the school and as soon as I know when the work will commence I will let you know.

 

 

Health Matters

 

May I remind parents that children who have been suffering from sickness or diarrhoea should not return to school until the symptoms have been clear for 48 hours. 

 

 

Traffic Problems

 

We regularly have parents and neighbours telephoning the school to report incidents of dangerous and inconsiderate driving/parking at the beginning and end of the school day. We have even had incidents where parents have driven too fast onto the site because they are in a hurry to drop off or pick up children.  We would urge that whenever possible you walk your child to school.  If there is no other option than to drive please use the utmost caution when driving and parking in the area surrounding the school.  Help us to ensure that all children have a safe journey to and from school.

 

 

Pedestrian Routes around School

 

Please note that the route to and from the

Ellis Road

gate is around the back of the Infant School playground by the Acorn Unit.  NOT through the Infant Gate past the Infant School reception.

 

 

Environmental Club

 

Please note that the club will start on Thursday 22^nd April from 3.30 – 4.30 in the terrapin.  Everyone is welcome.  Please note that there will be no club on 6^th May.

 

 

Chess Club

 

We have recently started a Thursday lunch time chess club which is currently run by Mr  Hutton, as and when he is available. At the moment the format is simply turn up and play whoever is free. The club really needs someone who could devote more time to organise matches against other schools, set up a school league, knock out tournaments and open up the chess club to pupils that would like to learn how to play.

 

 

 If there is a parent out there who could spare up to an hour on Thursday lunch time, the children would really appreciate it. Please come and speak to Mr  Hutton (class 3) if you might be interested. If there is enough parental interest it might be possible to set up a rota.

 

 

Sport

 

We are very lucky at present to have a number of members of staff who are willing and able to give so much of their free time to enable the children to take part in sporting events. Our thanks go to Mrs. Ginty, Mr. Pearse, Mr. Hutton and Mr. Cotterill.  Reports are as follows;

 

 

Tag Rugby:                 Aaron Wray Class 2

 

 

‘On the 7^th March some Year 3 and 4 boys and girls went to Crossfields School to take part in a tag rugby festival.  We played 5 matches and won them all!  Mr Cotterill and Mrs Burrell said we played magnificently and my favourite part was grabbing the tags in the end we came 1^st in our group!’

 

 

                                    Abigail Skinner Class 2

 

 

‘On the 7^th March Year 3 and 4 played a tag rugby festival at Crossfields School.  The girls game lost 2, drew 2 and won 1, and Kira scored a try 3 seconds from the end of the match to win it for us.  We enjoyed playing in all of the games and we supported each other really well.’

 

 

Football:                      Mr. Pearse

 

 

A team of children went to Cantley Park, Wokingham, to represent the school in one of the top competitions in the country for junior school children. In the league we played 4 other teams and were undefeated, winning 3 and drawing one, scoring 15 goals and conceding 3. This meant we topped our league and went through to the quarter finals. Again we were successful, wining 6-0. In the semi finals a much closer game was played. We were on top for large amounts of the match but failed to score and so it went to sudden death penalties. Again we had the chance to take the match, but 3 times we failed to take our opportunities and went out at the fourth penalty. The children were disappointed, playing and not losing, to go out but they were a great credit to the school.

 

 

Netball:                        Mrs. Ginty

 

 

We entered two mixed teams of Year 5 and Year 6 pupils for the Sports Partnership Netball Tournament at Maiden Erlegh School.  In each team there were 3 boys and 5 girls and they played a rotation of eight with 5 players on court for each match.  There were 32 teams in total split into 4 groups and each team played 7 games.  Both our teams did really well, winning 3 games, drawing 2 and losing 2.  All the pupils played very well and enjoyed the experience of taking part in such a large tournament.  Their enthusiasm and support for each other was great to see.  Many thanks to those parents who supported us by escorting children to and from the tournament and to those who stayed and watched.

 

 

 

Basketball:                  Araon Wray Class 2

 

 

‘On the 28^th February some Year 3 and 4 boys and girls went t a basketball festival at Edgbarrow sports centre.  We played 5 games in total  and we also won 2, lost 2 and drew 1.  Mr Cotterill was pleased with the performance and my favourite part was being on court.  In the end Oaklands ended up 6^th.’

 

 

Cross Country:           Mr Hutton

 

 

Mr Hutton has organized two events, one on March 6th at Aldryngton School and the second on 26^th March at Woodford Park. His detailed report has been put on the school website www.oaklandsjunior.ik.org. In the two events we have entered we have learnt a lot and hope to make an even bigger impression next season.

 

 

Sports Relief

 

Thanks to Mr Pearse’s organizational skills the whole school took part in the sponsored circuit training for Sports Relief.  The children enjoyed taking part in a variety of timed sporting skills.  If you have not already done so, please ensure that sponsor money and forms are returned to school by Tuesday 22^nd April.

 

 

Road Safety Show

 

Each Year group enjoyed a very entertaining session by Louis Taylor on this very serious subject.  Each child who attended has been given a certificate.

 

 

French Day

 

Oaklands turned ‘Gallic’ on Wednesday 13^th February when we experienced our first French Day.  The children enjoyed activities as diverse as learning about French artists to playing boules and building The Eiffel Tower out of newspaper and copious amounts of sellotape!  All visited the café to enjoy “un vin rouge et un croissant ou un pain au chocolat!”.  Thanks to the staff and pupils who joined in the spirit of the occasion to make this a thoroughly enjoyable day.

 

 

Maths Challenge

 

On Wednesday 5^th March it was World Maths Day and we all joined in playing Maths Games with children across the world!  Despite the slow access, due to so many people all over the world being online at the same time, lots of fun was had and the children’s mental maths skills were certainly put to the test.

 

 

Ufton Court

 

Year 4 had a very successful trip to

Ufton Court

.  Class 3 went Monday 10^th to Wednesday 12^th March and Class 4 went Wednesday 12^th to Friday 14h March.  The children, and staff had an excellent time and rain and gale force winds did not stop any of the activities!  The children were a real credit to the school with their enthusiasm and excellent behaviour.  They had fun doing photo mapping, orienteering, making wattle and daub, playing tudor games and dressing up as tudor lords and ladies! 

 

 

Tokens for School

 

We are collecting the Tesco Computer vouchers and the Sainsbury Active Kids Vouchers so do please send them into school via your child.

 

 

PTA Easter Bingo

 

The Easter Egg Bingo took place on Saturday 29^th March.  The event was very successful and the children enjoyed their chocolate prizes.  Many thanks to all who donated eggs and to the PTA and staff for giving up their Saturday to run this event.

 

 

Easter Egg Competition

 

We have had some wonderful entries based on our theme ‘Olympic Egg Head’.  The children have really entered into the spirit of the competition and have been very imaginative.  I would like to thank Mrs Ginty for organizing the event and Mrs Mitchell for taking up the challenge of judging the eggs!

 

 

Crowthorne Carnival Saturday 5^th July

 

We are pleased to participate in this community event in any way we can.  To this end entry forms for the Princess for a Day Competition can be obtained from the school office.  Please note that entries are to be submitted to the Crowthorne Library by 15^th May 2008.

 

 

School Closure for Election

 

Please note that a Local Election has been called on Thursday 1^st May and that the school will be used as a polling station and therefore closed to pupils and staff.

 

 

I hope you all have a happy and safe holiday. 

 

 

Please note that the term starts on MONDAY 21^ST APRIL.  Check gthe diary dates button for term dates etc.

 

Kind regards

 

Yours sincerely,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Miss S. Charnley

 

Acting Headteacher