MORE NEWS DATES FOR YOUR DIARY Update from your Parent Teacher Association As you may know, we are running a rolling chair system and currently I am enjoying my role as chair of the PTA. I took over from Lynette in May and we have had a busy time. Our quiz night went well, and this was followed by a choir night featuring the Craven Arms Male Voice Choir and children from both St Lawrence and Church Stretton School. It was a lovely night and these two events have made useful contributions to the pot of money we can invest in our children‟s future. Not satisfied with two events, we held a BBQ social evening with Lynne Latham, the schools community co-ordinator, for Year 6 students starting in September and their parents. Before we know it, it will be time for our annual Craft Fair. The date this year is Saturday 12th November at 10am - 4pm. If you are interested in having a stall for this event please get in contact with us as soon as possible via the school office. We need helpers again this year for the Craft Fair café. Please contact the school office if you can help out for a couple of hours on this day. A reminder to all those who are in the 200 club. It‟s about that time of year when Alison Themans starts thinking about collecting your money for next year‟s draws. If you are not already in the club this could be the time to join up, there are 10 draws a year with 3 cash prizes in each draw; that‟s 30 chances of winning and much better odds than the lottery! We will be asking the school to send home flyers in September with details for joining. So until then, have a lovely summer break. The PTA will take the chance to relax and refresh, ready to start all over again in September when I will hand over the rolling chair to our next volunteer. Our meeting will be held on Wednesday 14th September, 7pm in the Bucks Head. Many thanks, Bernadette Mortiboy FUND RAISING Joe Gray, Tom Ruscoe, Colin Butler, Francesca Johnson Colin Butler, a representative from the NSPCC, received a cheque for £1,000 from Year 8 students. He spoke about the work of ChildLine which merged with NSPCC in 2006. Students raised the money by completing a 5-mile sponsored walk through the Carding Mill Valley earlier in the school year. Students learned that the funds raised would contribute towards training volunteers and counselling children in need. July 22 PERSONAL INFORMATION/ EMERGENCY CONTACTS End of Term (Early Finish 2pm) Aug 25 Sept 5 Sept 6 NOTICE BOARD GCSE Results Day Professional Development Day It is very important that the information held in our computer system regarding your son/daughter is up to date. Can you please make sure that you inform the school office of any changes to your address, telephone number or any medical details. Thank you. ATTENDANCE REMINDERS Term Starts (8:55am) A TEACHER’S POINT OF VIEW By Mrs Jones, Technology Liaison Co-ordinator I was introduced to The Smallpeice Trust by Mr Walker (Head of Design). I have now taken four groups of pupils on courses and have spent the last two years as a course supervisor. Students are informed about the range of courses available at the beginning of the academic year. Our Maths Department is involved each year with The Trust. The event is always a major promotional activity, benefiting the school and students alike. There are many advantages of Smallpeice courses like staying at a university, meeting people from diverse backgrounds, working in teams and gaining an insight into engineering careers. The experiences they go through when working in their teams with role-model engineers is quite unique, providing a chance to find out what engineering is like and what jobs and career paths are available. Our students are inspired by this and many have found it to be quite a life-changing experience. It is difficult to sum up just how good the courses are, all I can say is that our children blossom and grow, and whilst they return exhausted, they are fulfilled and inspired! The STEM Days are easy to book, contain excellent information and are good value for money. They certainly always meet our expectations. The Education Officers are also fantastic, enthusiastic and fun and they push our students to places they never thought they could go. All schools should have someone who links with The Smallpeice Trust. The STEM Days and residential courses are well organised and offer a unique experience to learn about dynamic careers in engineering, as well as developing team and leadership skills. I would also thoroughly recommend that teachers go on the courses, and act as supervisors, as this is also a valuable career-enhancing experience for them. We would like to remind parents/carers: On the first day of pupils absence parents/ carers must telephone school - 01694 722209. We now have an answering machine service to prevent delays. ON THE DAY OF RETURN please send a note to explain absence. Hospital and dental appointments should be accompanied by appointment cards or letters. Where possible dental/doctors appointments should be made outside of school hours. If this is not possible pupils should report to office with appointment card as proof of treatment and return to school as he/she is able to do so. YOUTH CLUB OPENING TIMES (Term time only) Wednesday Shropshire Youth 3.30 - 6.00 pm Spanish Lessons 4.00 - 5.30 pm Homework Help 6.00 - 7.00 pm Reach (ssyf) 7.00 - 9.00 pm Friday Open session DJing lessons, Table tennis coaching 3.30 - 5.30 pm SSPIN (SSYF) Girls Group 5.30 - 7.00 pm SCHOOL WEBSITE Exam timetables and potential employers for work experience are on the school website at:www.churchstretton.shropshire.sch.uk CRACKING IDEAS ENGLISH STUDENTS EXCEL Congratulations go to our Year 9 students, who entered a National design competition „Cracking Ideas‟ and were selected as the regional winner in the 12 - 16 age category. The Cracking Ideas team thought their winning entry „Lava Springs‟ was “innovative and creative, just the job for Wallace and Gromit!” Year 8 students wrote mini saga short students gained recognition! They stories during their English lessons in received certificates, a typed copy of the spring term. Greg Chadwick won their story and a bookmark. the school competition. Their work will be published in a All entries were forwarded to a regional mini saga short story national competition and 90 of our anthology which will go on sale. They were invited to attend the award ceremony in Newcastle upon Tyne on 7th July, where they were presented with their prizes; including new animation software and a Wallace and Gromit book signed by Oscar winner Nick Park. Well done; Sarah Farrow, Anna Moore, Emma Clarke, Sam Bodza and Dan Raybould. For advertising please contact: [email protected] MYND D.I.Y OPEN TO THE TRADE & PUBLIC FOR ALL YOUR DIY PRODUCTS OPEN: PLUMBING, ELECTRICAL ITEMS, PAINTS SILICONES, NAILS SCREWS, HAND TOOLS, TIMBER AND MUCH MORE... Mon, Tues, Thurs & Fri 8:30am—5:00pm GROOM THE BUILDERS YARD MYND INDUSTRIAL ESTATE CHURCH STRETTON TEL/FAX 01694 724427 Wed 8:30am-1:00pm E.J & G.J GROOM BUILDING CONTRACTORS Starts January 2011, Tuesday evenings, fortnightly 3.35pm – 5.30pm See school website for latest film details Open to members only, to join collect your application form from the school office or the English department . Free membership & entry to all students Brambledene, Mynd Industrial Estate, Est.1983, employing local Church Stretton SY6 6PG highly skilled craftsmen. Our attention to detail has Tel:01694 723436 Fax: 01694 724564 seen us presented with VAT No. 404 1040 24 prestigious awards includEmail: [email protected] ing ‘Builder of the Year 2008’ Web: www.groombuilders.co.uk best commercial Building. All enquiries phone or visit our website Works undertaken: Renovations, Extensions, New Builds & General Maintenance, Purpose made Joinery, softwood & hardwood. Church Stretton School School Uniform available from 18th July 2011 Peppers clothing shop in Church Stretton will now stock the entire range of the Trutex uniform approved by the secondary school. Uniform prices will be the same as Trutex Direct. For more information contact Peppers: tel: 01694 722724 or email [email protected] 22 Sandford Ave Church Stretton Shropshire SY6 6BW Music Lessons including guitars, woodwind, all brass, all strings, percussion. Enquiries to Mr Womble, Head of Music Tel 01694 722209 [email protected] CHURCH STRETTON NEWS www.churchstretton.shropshire.sch.uk challenging • supportive • passionate • sports • laughter • caring • opportunities • celebration • rugby • individuals • fun