Claires Court Bulletin
JUNIOR BOYS
Christmas Bulletin | Autumn Term 2016
Email: dsp@clairescourt.com
Website: http://www.clairescourt.com/news-and-media/bulletins
Location: SL6 3QE for sat nav SL6 4QQ
Phone: 01628 411490
Facebook: facebook.com/clairescourt
Twitter: @clairescourt
FROM THE HEAD'S DESK
For my last Heads’ Words of the calendar year I would like our picture gallery to do most of the talking. I have just emerged from a wonderful Nativity performance from our Pre-Prep boys at All Saints church where the audience was dazzled by some superb singing, dancing and acting. Ours boys really shone on the stage and I would like to thank them and their teachers for entertaining us so well.
Having spoken with some parents and the choir who performed a number of songs at the Royal Albert Hall on Wednesday evening, it would seem that the production was an absolute triumph from start to finish. From the pictures that I have seen and the videos that were taken it really did make the hairs on the back of my neck stand up, such was the awe and wonder created by the pupils, their singing, and the special effects. Well done to all of those boys took part in this lovely event. When I was 11 years old, I joined other choir members of Claires Court school and also performed at the Royal Albert Hall - it is something I will always remember, and I hope our pupils also had a similar experience.
Mr Hogg will cover all of our chess triumphs’ of the week (and there have been plenty!), which leaves me to update you on Rayann Rasool’s Creative Writing. You may remember in my words last week that Rayan got through to the last 5 pupils in the National Young Muslim Writers competition - well he found out this week that he won it! Congratulations Rayan, a wonderful effort. On the subject of Creative Writing, you will see our Year 6 authors reading their Christmas stories to Reception and Year 1. The descriptive stories from some of our boys were just dazzling, and I ended up reading Alex Pearce’s piece to our school on Friday morning, so impressive was his vivid tale of a muddled Santa! We have also enjoyed piano, guitar and string soloist assemblies this week, allowing some of our maestros the chance to play on the big stage.
Decorations have been going up, and very well done to our Year 5 mathematicians who have done a brilliant job on the pavilion classroom, please see our main picture. I think Year 3 and 4 win the whole decoration competition though, they have been incorporating English and Maths into their creativity - we never miss a trick to keep the boys on task!!
As I write this we are about to start the Christmas Market and I would like to thank our PTA for giving so much of their time, as they always do, to make these events such a pleasure to attend. I have offered to be chief taster of the mulled wine - always happy to help!
You will be receiving your son’s school reports on Wednesday, and an added bonus for Year 5 parents where you will also receive the CAT (Cognitive Assessment Tests) test results. Please read the report with your son as we feel it is crucial that they get to hear of their progress too.
This leaves me to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a peaceful New Year - whether you are going abroad, visiting relatives, or simply staying at home (like me!) I hope you have an enjoyable, safe, and above all, a happy holiday break. Thank you all for your support this term.
U10A squad victorious after winning 60-0 against Ludgrove this week.
Charity Clothing Donations
This year, we welcome donations of clean clothing, which are to be used locally within the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead to support those who are sleeping rough or are homeless. Please drop bags of any clothing you wish to donate to one of the three school offices. Many thanks for your generosity.
PTA News
A very big thank you to Pooja Aspinall and Julie Van Vuuren for helping to organise the Christmas Market and also Saadia Baber and Louise Notton-Brown for producing such bespoke calendars for the pre-prep parents to purchase.
There will be a PTA meeting being held on Wednesday 11 January. More details in the first Bulletin of the Lent Term.
Ana Sidders
PTA Chair
FUTURE DATES
Tuesday 13 December- Pre-prep (Reception - Year 2) visit to Norden Farm to see The Elves and the Shoemaker
Tuesday 13 December - 2.30pm Junior Carol Service (Year 3 - Year 6) at All Saints Church. Parents are welcome to attend. The doors will open at 2pm. Please park considerately to avoid upsetting the neighbours.
Wednesday 14 December - Term Ends 12 noon. There is no after school care on this day. Boys may wear their Christmas Jumper over their uniform for the morning.
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Wednesday 4 January - First day of Lent Term
Friday 6 January - Film night for the House Point Winners! Winners will receive an invitation with all the details in their end of term envelope.
Monday 9 January - Activities commence and late buses run again.
Thursday 12 January - Reception - Year 6 Parents Evening commencing at 6pm
Tuesday 17 January - Reception - Y6 Parents Evening commencing at 4pm
IMPORTANT NOTES
AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITY/STUDY/EARLY BUSES
Activities and Study will end on Friday 9 December. Early buses are in operation on Monday 12 December and Tuesday 13 December for links to the College site and Senior Boys for onward travel. We will still operate After School Care and study for those two evenings here at Junior boys and a late 5pm bus can take boys to the College site for collection or further After School Care.
Please note that there is no After School Care or Study on the last day of term as we finish at midday.
OFFICE HOURS
The Junior Boys' office will be closed from Thursday 22 December and reopen on reopen on Tuesday 3 January.
The Junior Boys' uniform remains the same for the Lent Term.
MENU CHANGE
There is a menu change for Tuesday. Instead of Lasagne the boys will have chicken goujons and chips with sponge and custard for pudding.
NOTES & TO DOs
POST BOX
The Christmas Post Box will be in the entrance hall for boys to post their cards. Please remember to address the cards with the first name, surname and class to ensure safe delivery! Last date for posting cards will be Tuesday 13 December.
POPPY APPEAL
In our recent British Legion Poppy Appeal we raised £111.31 to enable them to continue with their vital welfare and benevolent work.
AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES
The Activities Hub is now open for registrations for Lent Term activities -http://activities.clairescourt.net
Parents should access this site to sign up for the next terms activities by Wednesday 14 December - confirmation of choices will be emailed before the start of term.
Any queries related to activities please email activities@clairescourt.net
HOUSE POINT WINNERS
Copas Turkey Offer
Order online using code ‘CCS16’ to earn the School PTA £5. Anyone collecting their turkeys that they ordered on this offer will be able to go and say hello to a couple of Santa’s helpers and have their picture taken too. As well as meeting the reindeer there will be many other treats including wine tasting, cooking and carving demonstrations, a choir and Father Christmas himself.FROM THE CHESS GRAND MASTER
What a week it has been in the life of Claires Court Chess!
Saturday saw us hosting a twenty-board match up between Maidenhead, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Barnet.
Maidenhead came out on top thanks in no small part to the number of Claires Court boys we had in the team. Very well done to: Josh Sharma, Josh Spanswick, Sam Jeffery, Samuel Tschiesche and Téo Rybak.
Our Autumn tournament was very well attended with over 40 boys signing up to take part. I will not give away the final standings now as the prizes and certificates will be awarded in our final assembly. Thank you and well done to all who took part.
Whether you are a seasoned tournament player or just starting out in chess, tournaments like this are an excellent way to make progress.
Please click link below for pictures from our Autumn Tournament.
Monday 5/12/16 Autumn Chess Tournament
Richard Hogg
MUSIC & DRAMA NOTES
Most lessons have finished this week but there may be a few lessons timetabled to make up for those missed during the term.
RABBITS
LINK FOUNDATION CHRISTMAS APPEAL
HOLIDAY CLUB
A Christmas Cracker Full of Fun
Monday 19 to Friday 23 December
All the fun of the festive season, with Christmas games, activities, pantomime,
Sing-a-longs, Winter Olympics and a visit from Santa Claus.
Or, why not try one of our Xtra days?
Christmas crafts, cookery and football all on offer……….something for everyone
BOOK BY THE END OF FRIDAY 9 DECEMBER
TO GUARANTEE A PLACE