22 April 2006

• The Spring term ended with an excellent ‘Science Week’ focus. The children worked on science centred themes all week incorporating many basic skills in new as well as familiar contexts. The end of this themed week saw a lively performance from Quantum Theatre to reinforce the science of light and sounds. We said goodbye to Antony and Rhys Boyce who have moved on to Olney First School and they carried a small gift and our best wishes with them.

• In the blink of an eye we were back at school to start the Summer term just after Easter and held our annual bonnet parade and egg-rolling contest. A ‘winner’ was chosen from each year group to receive a planting pack to take home but all were winners in the sense of participating and received yet more chocolate to round of this part of the year.


• At the time of writing we are practising for the Mayday dancing on the Knoll and only time will tell whether the weather was kind to us after publication. Either way, many thanks to Betty Feasey for once again choreographing the dances and to the children and their families who supported our part in this village event.

  29 March 2006

• We said goodbye to our two trainee teachers with a special assembly. Miss Jessica Askew and Mrs Lizzie Sharpe both achieved the highest grade possible and were chosen for quality assurance moderation by an external university examiner. These were very pleasing results starting Jessica and Lizzie on the best possible footing in their new careers as well as confirming our internal examination of the highest quality in teaching standards. Both students organised very stimulating programmes of work for the two classes with Class 1 having visits from the community police officer and school nurse (‘people who help us’) and Class 2 from the dental service (‘keeping healthy’).
• The generous response of our school community to charities was highlighted in our recent work with the NSPCC. Over £300 was raised through the children’s participation and the diverse learning involved neatly fitted with our new ‘Every Child Matters’ agenda. Such was the response that the NSPCC representative was keen to repeat the project in two years time.

• Our further involvement with the local community, in the form of exploiting and contributing to the Perry Lane recreational developments, continues with our youngest children planting trees donated by the Woodland Trust. We planted nine trees of three species (Birch, Rowan and Bird Cherry) each only knee-high to a reception child. We will see who grows the fastest in the years ahead.
• The Governors of the school have recently been pursuing the Every Child Matters for themselves by adding this framework to their regular observational visits to the school.
• Our Mothers’ Day Assembly was preceded by a home-cooked dinner and followed by presentation of cards and flowers to those who love us most.

• We look forward to an Easter Bonnet Parade upon our return with an egg rolling competition to follow.

  26 February 2006

• We ended the half-term with both classes working at full-steam with our two student teachers and their inspiring and first class practice. Class 1 joined our sister school, Stoke Goldington CE First, for an interesting and hands-on visit to the museum in Bedford. We shared a delightful talk in the Victorian Nursery, a toy-making session and a chance to play with many reproduction (non-electric unbleeping not computerised!) toys and a chance to work with our peers from Stoke Goldington.

• Class 2 had a visit from the dental service to complement their work on healthy eating and ‘Staying healthy’. As part of the latter Lisa Rogers has been carrying out fine work each week cooking a variety of fresh food with both classes which has been much appreciated by all the staff and children.
• Stepping into the breach of Thursday assembly following the absence of Maurice and Pauline is Pam Fielding and we have had a fine series of active sessions on ‘What its like to belong to Christianity’. This included a role-play baptism in St Laud’s and several children bringing in their christening memories and artefacts to share with us all..
• Thanks to the generosity of Acorn Nurseries, Emberton we have been able to plant a fine stand of immature trees in a corner of the field. Each of our Year 2 and Year 3 children, who will be leaving in the summer, planted 3-4 trees of 6 varieties and promised to visit us in the years to come to see how they are growing.

  30 January 2006

• With a sprinkling of coughs and sneezes the school came back after the Christmas break in fine form. Our two student teachers have begun to take over the reins of both classes and their freshness and new ideas have enlivened the school. Miss Jessica Askew is working with Class 1 while Mrs Lizzie Sharpe ne Weeks (congratulations on a winter wedding) is with Class 2.

• We started with a break from tradition (we could not go to the panto due to refurbishment of the Theatre Royal in Northampton). Cornelius & Jones, our local professional puppeteers gave us a fine showing of ‘Pinnochio’. Not only did we receive an entertaining and original rendition of this traditional from Neil but Sue followed this with an exciting educational workshop for the children. We thank Lisa and the PTFA for the fundraising which financed the project.

• We also had the sadness of saying ‘Goodbye’ to the Stanton-Saringers after their long involvement with the school as parents, Governor and Chair of Governors (Pauline) and providers of assembly on a weekly basis (both). We held a staff/Governors buffet at which the school gave their thanks and presents and Pauline came in to give a final assembly at which the children presented their cards and best wishes. We all wish them the best of luck in the future and recognise the many contributions made in many ways over the years.
• Finally the staff and Governors would like to congratulate Mrs Bourne on achieving her new qualification in Headship for which she has worked so hard over the past year alongside her daily duties in school.