December

• Class 1 celebrated the Hindu festival of Divali with a small production for Class 2.
• Rehearsals for the Nativity Play in St Laud's are well under way. Angels, stars, camels and, of course, this year's Mary and Joseph are in full voice learning songs and dances for the productions on 16 and 17 December. You are invited to join in the celebrations at 2pm on 17 December in St Laud's Church. The orchestra, tuning up for their part, still has a way to go, but we are confident that it will be all right on the night.
• The 'Open Day' on 13 November was very successful for both the visitors and the children, who rose to the challenge of a wider audience for their activities that day. The school was also pleased to see some of the new recruits having a taster before next September. If you have a child born between 1 September 1999 and 31 August 2000, please complete an application form, available from Mrs Smith, to ensure a place in School next September.

• 'Book Week' was a roaring success, with children and parents buying many books, contributing to the school's stock of new library titles. Highlight of the week was a visit by author Antony Lishak who conducted excellent workshops for both classes in the morning and then really stretched the older children with an extended writing session in the afternoon. Many budding authors had a taste of the professional and are determined to follow his example by turning the garden shed into a creative den.
• The Governors are pleased to announce that they have invited Mrs Lesley Barnard to take up the position of Acting Headteacher from 1 January 2004. The whole School is looking forward to welcoming her.

 November

• As a busy half term draws to a close, some renovating building work is about to start. New internal doors to demarcate the Early Years teaching areas and a double glazed rear porch are about to be fitted. They will add greatly to the comfort and safety as well as the appearance of the school.
• Class 1 said goodbye to Joshua Mahony, who moves to Norfolk with his family, with a class party. Class 2 said goodbye to George Watson as he begins his new life in Australia and hello to Huw Roberts who joins from Wales, via France.
• Class 2 has been designing and making their multicoloured coats, working from hand and computer drawn plans. They have also had a successful visit to Hazard Alley to experience and cope with a variety of safety issues as part of the PSHE programme.
• Robert Rey spent a day taking formal, but delightful, photographs of the children that will spark the reunions of the future.
• The presentation of the Annual Report of the Governors to parents taks place on 12 November at 7pm.
• Mrs Betty Feasey's long association with the school has been renewed by her co-option to the governing body.
• There will be an Open Morning on Thursday 13 November from 9.30am to 11.30am. Please feel free to drop in and see the School in action.

 October

• The pumpkin plant has yielded over 40 pounds of pumpkins. The largest (28 pounds) was entered into the Sherington Show where ex-pupil Gemma Parkinson correctly estimated its weight.
• The pumpkin will also appear at the Harvest Festival in St Laud's on 3 October.
• The school is fortunate to retain the teaching assistants for the early years class, so even with the intake of eight new children, the adult to child ratio is similar to that of Pre-School.
• The newly installed computer suite now gives one computer for every four children.
• The Football club run by professional coach Martin Smith after school on Thursdays is very popular, with half the school (both boys and girls) taking part.
• The reception children will receive a brand new 'Brio' railway for group play, and a whole school workshop by author Anthony Lishak has been funded by the PTFA.

 September

• The autumn term started on Wednesday 3 September.
• The school welcomes Archie Gaskin, Alexander Tite, Aedin McCabe, Ryan Tanner, Jade Beal, Mitchell Barton, Elizabeth Shirley and Charlie Baldwin as this year's Foundation intake.
• During the summer holidays, a new pin board, new furniture and more new computers and printers were installed. The swimming pool has been dismantled and the heating oil tank was replaced.
• The staff attended a joint INSET day at Lovat School on 2 September.