Newsletter 29 2nd May 2013 In the Immortal Words of George Harrison:… …..Here comes the sun!... and about jolly time too I must say. It looks like the southern half of the UK will have a really warm and pleasant few days including the Bank Holiday Monday on 6th May and I hope you have a terrific long weekend. I know that there is a great deal going on locally (The Larkhall Festival etc) and I look forward to hearing lots of exciting stories on Tuesday 7th May when we return to school. Mufti Day – Friday 3rd May You should have received a letter regarding our fund raising day for Atse Bekafa. As well as dressing in the colours of your year group’s assigned flag, please encourage your child to enter the competition. If you have not received a letter, please call into Reception for a copy. School Council Book and Cake Sale - Friday 10th May 3.20pm in the school hall. Please come along and support the school council in raising money for new classroom books. We still need your second hand books – please put them in the boxes provided in each classroom. Donations of cakes on the day would also be greatly appreciated! Many thanks, School Council New Oriel Hall poetry competition Congratulations to Bea Goodliffe (F12) who won first prize in the competition. We understand that the standard was very high so well done to Bea and to everyone else who entered. Hands on Music Please find at the bottom of this newsletter a flyer advertising an opportunity which is being run at St Stephen’s Church. Dr. Douglas Simper is a member of St Stephen’s congregation and a passionate music educator and has asked me to draw to your attention this opportunity to learn music in a different way that Douglas has devised and which over many years has enjoyed a great deal of success both in the UK and abroad. Message from our Parent Support Advisor Hello everyone. I hope that the following workshops may be of interest. Top Tips for Managing Bothersome BehaviourI am repeating this workshop at St Saviour’s Juniors on Wednesday 22 May - it looks at a few tried and tested techniques for dealing with bothersome behaviours in children (whinging or not doing as they are asked spring to mind and I’m sure you can think of a few more!). I’ll be looking at when and how to apply the techniques and allow time for discussion and idea sharing, which parents tell me is very helpful. Rewards and Incentives – how to use them effectively to improve behaviourSome of you may be interested in coming along to another workshop, specifically looking at rewards and incentives, to be held at St Saviour’s Infants School on Thursday 16 May. There will be time built in to allow parents to start designing a reward scheme and chart for their children. Both workshops start at 9.15 and should last for about an hour and a half. Tea, coffee and biscuits are provided. If you would like more information or wish to book a place please get in touch. Debbie Youngs, Parent Support Adviser Tel: 07530 263 289 [email protected] Club Timetable Please find attached Club Timetable for next week. Nappy Sack warning We have received advise from BANES Council about the potential dangers of nappy sacks. Nappy sacks can pose a risk of suffocation if left near babies or young children and therefore extra care should be taken with their use. It appears that this risk is not well known to parents and therefore we have been asked to raise awareness of this potential danger. The advice given is to always keep nappy sacks well out of reach of babies and never put them in a cot, pram or buggy. For further advice about child safety, please visit the Child Accident Prevention Trust website at www.capt.org.uk] Holiday Clubs and Out of School Activities From time to time we notify you of ‘out of school’ events, activities and clubs which are run by outside agencies. Please note, that we are not recommending or endorsing these in any way and are just bringing them to your attention. PTA News Children's Art cards The beautiful cards designed by the children last month, have now returned from the printers and should have already come home in their book bags. This personalised sample card is yours to keep. If you want to order more cards follow the on-line instructions included with the sample card before midnight Friday 10th May 2013. Order 3 packs and only pay for 2, sibling orders count towards the 3 for 2 offer. The PTA will earn commission on all orders placed before this date. No access to the internet? No worries. Use the paper order form and hand in to the school office before 3.30pm on Friday 10th May 2013, with cheques made payable to ecoArtcards. Many thanks Karen St Stephen's Family Treasure Hunt Sunday 19th May 2-4 pm Don't miss this lovely afternoon of outdoor fun and adventure for the whole family. Start point Primrose woods followed by a downhill walk with surprises along the way. Ending with a reward of tea and biscuits! Tickets will be on sale from Monday 13th in the reception playground at £5 per family. If you can help on the day we'd love to hear from you. Contact Kate [email protected] Lashings of old school fun at Stephen's Summer Fair! Saturday 15th June 12-3pm. Save the date! Come and enjoy all the fun of the fair whatever the British weather. You never know, it may be sunny by June. .. Roll up, roll up, helpers and retro stall holders - your fair needs you! Contact Siobhan [email protected] or Annie [email protected] Many thanks Annie and Mandy PTA Chair Notes from the Sports Locker Yet again another really busy week for the children of St Stephen’s on the sporting front! Hockey Last Sunday saw the final competitions of the season with the Team Bath Buccaneers Cup. St Stephen’s had entered 4 teams. The event was held at the University astro pitches. For the Yr6 children this was to be their final appearance in the ‘Green shirt’ of St Stephen’s. They did not disappoint. Playing some beautiful and fluid hockey the ‘A’ team eventually came runners up! Coupled with winning the Sunday league this is really quite an achievement. The Yr6 ‘B’ team also played some wonderful hockey and did not lose a game. They eventually came 2nd having scored one goal less than the winners Team Bath Buccaneers. The ‘B’s should be really proud of themselves coming so close. Great effort! The Yr5 ‘A’ team were also in action and after some fast and furious matches they came out on top, winning the Cup. In the Plate competition the Yr5 ‘B’ team faced some stiff competition and really made the other teams work hard. I’ve heard that Jack Foster in goal was quite the superstar and made some absolutely amazing saves from goal bound shots. The Plate was eventually won by Team Bath Buccaneers with St Michael’s taking the runners up slot! A HUGE’ thank you’ to all the parents and ‘coaches’ who supported the St Stephen’s children on Sunday, your support is invaluable and ensures that the children are in the correct place at the correct time. Finally, congratulations to Mrs Potter and her fine ‘crew’ of coaches who have ensured yet again that children from St Stephen’s have had a wonderful opportunity. St Stephen’s ‘A’ team receiving the League trophy! St Stephen’s ‘B’ team (Runners up) and the winners of the Cup competition Team Bath Buccaneers St Stephen’s Yr5 ‘A’ team receiving the Cup after winning all their matches! Football Tuesday was also an opportunity for the Yr6 footballers to represent the school for the last time. The whole of the Yr5/6 football club ‘decamped’ from their normal ground and went to Newbridge Primary School to play a number of ‘friendly’ games. The results were really encouraging for the St Stephen’s children. The Yr6 won 1-0 whilst the Yr5 won 3-0. The combined Yr5/6 team were losing 1-0 when unfortunately a Newbridge pupil badly injured himself in a ‘fair’ tackle and had to be taken to hospital! However, a great time was had by all. I am informed that a date for a return fixture is being set up for September when the new season starts. Yr5/6 children from Newbridge and St Stephen’s celebrate the opportunity to play some competitive football on Tuesday of this week . Finally…It is the season of sporting festivals. Congratulations to Xavi Vaudin and Seb Chester-Phillips who played for Bath Mini Rugby recently and between them scored 11 tries! Congratulations to all those involved. If you are participating in any sport this weekend I hope you really enjoy yourselves and make the most of the opportunities presented to you. Diary Dates – new additions in bold type! May 2nd – Roman Bath trip – Yr 3 2nd – F13 First Aid Training p.m. 3rd – F14 First Aid Training p.m. 3rd – Mufti Day for Atse Bekafa 6th – May Day holiday 10th – School Council Sale 3.20pm 13th – 17th – SATs week KS2 15th - Year 2 trip to SS Great Britain 15th – Reception visits to Swainswick Farm 15th – PTA Meeting 24th – End of term 5 June 3rd June - Return to school, beginning of term 15th – Summer Fair 12 – 3pm (PTA) 17th – 21st Yr1 Phonics check week 20th – Yr 1 trip to Bristol Aquarium 25th – Y6 to Wells for ‘Spirit of Wells’ service Pete Mountstephen Head Teacher July 4th – Yr 6 invasion day to secondary schools 4th,5th& 6th – Musical 7pm 8th – 12th – Sports Week 8th – YR Sports 1.45pm 9th – Y1/Y2 Sports 1.45pm 11th – Y3/Y4 Sports 1.45pm 12th – Y5/Y6 Sports 1.45pm 10th – Open Evening – 4 - 5.30pm 16th – Y6 Tea Party 1.45pm 17th – Y6 Disco 6.30-8.00pm 18th – Last day of term for pupils Leaver’s Service St Stephen’s Church 9.45am 19th - Inset Day 22nd – Inset Day Hands on Music Centres Ltd Hands on Music Centre, St Stephens Church, Lansdown Road, Bath BA1 5SX Piano: Ms Linda Chuter BEd(Hons) - Music Flute: Mr Simon Hall BMus(Hons) The ‘H ands O n M usic’ approach: is student centred, em braces all styles, all ages, is easy and fun unlock your creativity realise your potential Enquiries: Dr Douglas Simper 01761 568 166 mobile: 07876 384297 Email: [email protected] www.handsonmusic.biz