6 Jun 2008 - June Newsletter

Dear Parents,

As we come towards the close of the academic year there are a number of items of news, diary dates, etc. which I would like to make you aware of.

Staffing

We are all very pleased that Mr Munson has returned to his duties as Site Controller after being on sick leave.

At the end of this term Mrs Ginty, who has been covering a maternity leave for a year, will be leaving us as a full time teacher although she will still be around school on the odd day or covering a class as a supply teacher. Mrs Reyneke has informed us that she will not be returning to school at the end of her maternity leave choosing instead to spend her time with her lovely daughter. I am delighted that Mrs Mullier has been appointed to join our school. We also look forward to welcoming Miss Newman in September. Miss Newman spent part of her teacher training with us and is well known to the school and in particular Year 3.

I am sure a lot of you have already guessed the happy news that Mrs Peck is expecting a baby. She will be starting her maternity leave at the end of this term and her class will be covered by a job share between Mrs. Hildebrand and Mrs. Penstone. Mrs Hildebrand is well known to the school and has taught many of the children. Mrs Penstone is currently completing her contract in Oaklands Infant School .

Mrs Brett has started her Maternity Leave and was presented with appropriate gifts from the staff and cards from the children.

Site Improvements

The new library build is scheduled to start at the end of the summer break. During the work access to most of the school through the courtyard will not be possible. Children will need to enter the building via their class room doors.

We intend to make better use of some of the potential storage areas around the school. I do not believe this will affect access to the school or the pupils.

I would like to thank the Governors for giving up their valuable time to come into the school to paint the picnic benches.

Health Matters

We no longer as a rule send headlice alerts out to parents but this term have done so as the problem kept recurring in a particular year group. Please check your child’s hair at least once a week. Friday night is a good time to do this as any outbreak can be treated during the weekend. Please also ensure that long hair is fastened back whilst in school as an added deterrent. Frequent combing with a fine-toothed comb also helps.

CURRICULUM

SATs and QCA Tests

Year 6 completed their Standard Assessment Tests (SATs) with the help of some light refreshments in the morning to boost their energy and get their brains going! Other Year Groups have also now completed the end of year QCA Tests (Optional SATs).

SCHOOL VISITS

Rushall Farm / River Trip

On 23^rd May the Year 5 children were transported to the River Pang as part of their geography topic on ‘Rivers’. Measurements of flow, depth and width of the river were taken. All sorts of interesting creatures living in the river were found and we were able to compare these with the creatures we found whilst pond dipping.

I would like to thank Ms. Moores who organised the event and all the parent helpers and governors who helped to make this visit successful.

SPECIAL ACTIVITIES

Police Week

This took place for pupils in Year 6 during the week beginning 19^th May and it was a very welcome change from SATs preparations for both staff and pupils. Many thanks to Mr. Pearse and Mrs. Cooper for organising this and to Mrs. Chris Skelton (ICT technician), Mrs Roberts and Mrs Griffths for ensuring that the two constabularies of Upshire and Downshire were ready in time.

Author

“On the Thursday 20^th May, we had a visit from a local author named E.R Riley. He introduced the children to some of his books which included: Tall Tales, Children’s Lottery and Mirror, Mirror. He was a lot of fun and wiped his arm on the teachers, which really made us laugh! He explained how to get books published and answered all of their questions. They asked him what his favourite book was and he answered: “I’d have to say its Tall Tales. It’s about a girl who always tells fibs and one day she tells a man there are fairies at the bottom of her garden so then he tells the local paper and before you know it there are T.V cameras watching her garden to see if the ‘fairies’ come out…………………….. But if you want to find out, you have to read the book!” So get stuck into those books!”

By Alex Wilson and Daniella Marsh

Sports Relief

Thank you for your very generous support. The total banked for this charity was an amazing £2,343.93.

Special Assemblies

The whole school enjoyed a guitar assembly on Thursday 3^rd April and Years 3, 4 and 5 a woodwind assembly on Thursday 22^nd May.

Adopt a Chef

On the 15^th June Mr Michael Coaker spent the day with Class 6 preparing and making savoury flans and cheese straws. The children had great fun learning cookery skills and appreciated using fresh ingredients. He will be visiting us again on 20^th June to repeat the exercise with class 5.

Year 5 Play – Hoodwinked

Year 5 put on a production of Hoodwinked last half term. It was a musical re-telling of the Robin Hood story and was a fantastic success. Every child had a role to play and we saw fabulous solos from several children including Jordan Montgomery (class 5) as Robin Hood himself. The production had adults and children alike enjoying the clever humour and the show was a great achievement for the children, who worked so hard, in year 5.

Sporting Activities

Farnborough Tag-Rugby Festival

“On Sunday 11^th May a team of 8 children competed in a tag-rugby tournament at Farnborough Rugby Club. It was a brilliant day and everyone enjoyed it very much. Every player played at least 3 games and we played so well as a team that we made it to the semi-finals.

At the group stages we won all 3 matches and at the end of each game we shook the opposition players’ hands and cheered. Two of our players (Matt and Ben) were even made man of the match in a couple of the games!

After lunch, and a long wait, we played our semi-final which was a very close game but the opposition won. We were all sad to have lost but really happy to have taken part. Mr Cotterill was extremely proud of all of us and said that we had played some of the best rugby he had seen from our age group. Thanks also to Mrs Burrell and her son Alex for coming along to help and support us.”

Written by Mason Williams and Ryan Proctor

Athletics at Palmer Park

“On the 3^rd June 2008 Mrs Cooper took a group of Oaklands children (who were selected by Mr Pearse in previous trials) to St Crispins School to represent the St Crispins family in an athletics event.

The competitors took a team bus to Palmer Park where we competed against nine other cluster groups. Unfortunately the weather was awful and that resulted in the high jump being called off and the long jump becoming a standing jump it also made the track slippery for all the runners (most people slipping at the start). Put aside the weather, we had a great day and we all competed well.

St. Crispins came home with nine medals and a plaque for the years three and four team for winning overall”.

By Jamie and Harry

Cross Country at Crosfields School

On Tuesday 1^st April we took 5 teams of children over to Crosfields School to compete in a cross country event. The teams comprised 2 girls teams, one from year 3 and one from year 4 and 3 boys teams, one from year 3 and 2 from year 4. For some children this was their first opportunity to represent the school in a sporting activity. The weather probably suited spectators more than the runners as it was a bit warm, but I’m pleased to say that the children thoroughly enjoyed themselves despite the size of the big hill at the end. I’m also delighted to report that one of our year 4 boys won his race.

Multi Skills at Edgbarrow

On Thursday 22^nd May we took 12 year 4 children over to Edgbarrow School to take part in a ‘multi skills’ event. This was the first time we had been invited to take part in this type of event so we were not quite sure what to expect. What we found was a well organised event which the children had great fun taking part in. The event gave the children a chance to develop their agility, balance and co ordination, as well as introducing them to a variety of skills needed for sport (i.e. throwing, catching, running, jumping etc.) Many thanks to the staff and children from Edgbarrow who organised and ran the event.

Mr K. Hutton

Oxfam Trailwalker

Over the weekend of the 19^th/20^th July I will be taking part in Oxfam Trailwalker, an endurance walk that involves walking 100 km along the South Downs in under 30 hours. This is a charity event, and along with my 3 team mates we are aiming to raise £2,000 for Oxfam and the Gurkha Welfare Trust. Every penny raised will go directly to these worthwhile causes. In return we are pledging to walk the 60 + miles with smiles on our faces, a spring in our step, blisters on our feet (probably) all with no sleep at all during the event, with the aim of completing the course in around 28 hours. If anyone would like to sponsor us for Oxfam Trailwalker or just find out more about the challenge, please visit our website at www.justgiving.com/gottakeepwalking

Please be kind to me on Monday 21^st July Class 2. My feet might be aching a little!

Mr S. Cotterill

Sports Mark

We are delighted to advise you that our sporting achievements have been recognised and we have been awarded the Sports Mark. Many thanks to the staff and in particular Mr Pearse for co-ordinating this.

Walk to School Week

'Walk to School Week' will take place from 16^th June 2008. This is part of International Walk to School, which is really more than just getting children to walk to school for one week a year. This is certainly important, but the event's greater aim is to bring forth permanent change in communities. Below are just a few of its goals:

Encourage physical fitness through the easiest-to-do and most enjoyable form of exercise by teaching children the skills to walk safely and to identify safe routes to school.
Raise awareness of how ‘walkable’ a community is and where improvements can be made.
Raise concern for the environment.
Reduce traffic congestion, pollution, and speed near schools.
Allow children to share valuable time with parents and friends.

We hope that the experience of Walk to School Week will encourage you to walk to school on a more regular basis. We appreciate that many of you do live too far away to be able to manage the whole journey. In these circumstances, it could be an idea to park a distance away from the school and then walk in.

All year the children have been encouraged to walk to school to gain ‘moving feet points’. The winning class each half term can either choose a non-uniform day or half a day of activities. This has proved to be very popular.

Sports Day – PLEASE NOTE THE CHANGE OF DATE

Just a reminder that Sports Day will take place on Thursday 10^th July (if wet the reserve date is Tuesday 15^th July). This is a morning event, which will start at 9.30a.m. and finish by about 11.45a.m. For those of you, who have not been to this event previously, please note that the arena is split into two. The Years 3 & 4 programme of events runs simultaneously with the Years 5 & 6 programme and the two halves are then combined for the final races.

Programmes will be available on the day. There is very little shade on the field so please remember to apply suntan lotion to your child before school and supply them with a hat and still drinks (no glass bottles or cans please).

Environment and Science Club visit

After school on Tuesday 1^st July children from these two clubs are invited to meet at the Wind Turbine in Green Park , Reading at 4.30pm. Parents will need to provide transport and of course, are invited to stay. Siblings from Oaklands Junior are welcome too. We also hope to do a spot of pond dipping nearby. Picnic teas are suggested but more details will follow shortly.

Gardening

I hope you have noticed the many things growing in the raised beds. If you are free at lunch time to help the children thin the plants and weed the plots, please let the school know.

Ms M.Moores

Sun Protection

I know it doesn’t feel like summer at the moment but when the sun does start to shine we encourage children to use their own sun protection cream and to wear hats at break-times when appropriate. Most children bring in bottles of water from home to drink during the daytime, but as the temperature rises we encourage this practice even more.

PTA EVENTS

PTA Quiz Night

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the PTA for arranging another super evening which was enjoyed by all who attended.

Summer Fete

This event will take place on Saturday 21^st June. Please support this event as much as possible as the PTA work extremely hard every year to produce a wonderful day despite the British weather!

GENERAL

Tokens for School

Please search through your bags and purses for Tesco computer vouchers, Sainsbury vouchers, and Persil tokens and send them into school.

Please check the Diary Dates link for the latest dates for your diary.

Finally I am sure you would all like to join me in wishing Miss Scoble many congratulations on her marriage to Andy. She will be returning after this weekend as Mrs Simpkins.

Very best wishes

Miss S. Charnley

Acting Headteacher