Claires Court Bulletin
JUNIOR BOYS
Bulletin 9 | Summer 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 HEADS DESK
A very short set of Head’s Words this week as I would like our colourful and busy last five days be presented to you in pictures rather than words. Swimming galas, academic investigations, Chembakolli day, cricket matches, rehearsals for our plays, tours to the Isle of Wight, Bushcraft expeditions, chess Jamborees, cookery in class, parents evenings………… all in five days!!
This week for nominated ‘Healthy Eating Week’ our boys were able to try out some unusual and obscure foods. It was generally thought that smelly, stinky cheese was the least favourite of all foods, and olive bread was one of the best!! Either way, we have hopefully opened your son's eyes to a variety of different foods that they may never have tried before.
In assemblies we have been talking about a combination of ‘Honesty’ and Euro 2016, discussing whether professional football and being truthful go hand in hand! The boys were certainly very keen to understand some of the stats I mentioned on red and yellow cards!! I also played some tennis with Joseph Brittain this morning in front of the school - Joseph has just qualified for the National Championships for his age group. He is now one of the top tennis players in the country. A marvellous achievement and we are very proud of him.
Please have a look at our picture gallery - the staff are very proud of your sons and their achievements. The Chembakolli pictures will follow in next week’s gallery.
Have a lovely weekend.
Justin Spanswick
PTA NEWS
Please remember to bring in donations of toys and books next week for the summer fete. There will be a gazebo up on the lawn for you to leave your donations in. We are still collecting sweet cups in the reception area outside the school office and boxes will be coming home on Wednesday for baked goodies.
Decathlon will be bringing along lots of outdoor equipment for the boys to try, such as soft archery sets, badminton and football goals. They will also be handing out flyers for a free backpack when you visit the store. Please also remember to drop in any unwanted uniform to the office. There will be a nearly new uniform sale at the fete.
Finally, please don't forget silly sock/tie day on Thursday 23rd. Adults can bring in a bottle and in return the boys can wear their most outrageous socks and/or ties.
Let's hope the sun comes back before next weekend!
Emma Robertson
HOW TO BOOK A STALL OR BUY YOUR TICKETS...
This year the theme of our fete is 'The Great Outdoors', a theme inspired by the allotment and bushcraft projects the PTA have recently supported.
If you, or anyone you know, would like to take a stall at this year’s event please contact me at emmarobertson@hotmail.co.uk. We are also looking for a number of raffle prizes. If you are able to contribute something please contact me at the same address.
Please click here for the ticket order form.
Payment can be made by cash or cheque with the accompanying order form to the school office. If you pay online then please remember to send in your prize draw entry to the school office as it also assists us with how many tickets you require. Cheques should be made payable to Claires Court and Ridgeway Society.
***********Special Attraction at the Summer Fete***********
On Saturday 25 June, as part of our celebration of the great outdoors,we are asking pupils to take part in a poster competition. All they have to do is download the template– get creative and draw their dream playground and bring the final poster to the fete. The best winning entry for the poster design will win a £20 Amazon voucher.
Also at the fete we are being visited by the Great Gun Dog Company and their wonderful dogs.
They will be giving demonstrations on how to handle and train the dogs. Pupils (aged 3 to 12) who wish to learn how to 'work' the dogs are then invited to practise the commands that they see in the demonstration.
After the event, two or three children will be selected and given certificates as finalists and will have the opportunity to progress to the ISA Gundog Challenge national final at the Midland Game Fair on the17th September 2016. All finalists, along with parents, will receive free passes to the weekend event. More information
FROM THE SPORTS' MASTER......
Last weekend saw the U11A team set off on their Cricket Tour on Friday. Sunny North Devon was the base for 3 cricket fixtures over the weekend. The weather reports were truly miserable, so how they managed to play two and a half matches is a minor miracle. The first fixture was against Taunton Preparatory School and it was a stern test against a large boarding school boasting Marcus Trescothick as their cricket coach. The boys played brilliantly with some tight bowling by William Keylock (2-0-5-0), Harley Hutchings (2-0-3-0) and Niam Popat (2-0-8-0), however, we just lost by just 12 runs. The second match against North Devon CC saw the CCJB team suffer a batting collapse falling just 38 runs short of the target. The final game of the tour saw the match abandoned due to heavy rain with CCJB having kept Braunton CC to 58-7 before the heavens opened. The boys represented their school exceptionally well over the weekend: always courteous and polite. The tour was an excellent way for them to finish their school playing career. A huge thanks goes out to Mr Goddard and Mr Barber who ran the tour.
This week has been a fairly quiet week in terms of fixtures at school with most year groups starting to practise their events for Sports' Day. Many of the boys will be selecting which events they wish to take part in over the next week.
Wednesday was a funny day weather wise as the U11s all saw their fixtures cancelled as Gayhurst’s playing fields were nearly flooded with torrential rain. The U10 ABC teams all managed to play their fixtures against the Oratory Prep School at home. The A team had a fantastic win ahead of their U10A & B tour to the Isle Of Wight this weekend with Louis Stewart, Gabe Cooper and Tom Welch all batting in heroic performances.
Nick Butterfield
FROM THE CHESS 'GRAND MASTER'
Berkshire Schools' Chess
It was the Under 9's turn to be in county action this week and the outcome of the Berkshire Schools' Jamboree could not have been closer with three teams finishing in joint first place. I was extremely proud that two of those teams were from Claires Court, despite the fact that they inevitably took points off each other and thus stopped each other winning outright! I am glad to report that I was spoilt for choice when selecting our two teams, as we have a great number of up and coming chess players in Years 2, 3 and 4. I hope that competition for places will be even greater next year.
The squad for this event was made up of: Henry Dargan, Joshua Spanswick, Theo Sullivan, Sam Jeffery and Tom Dargan in one team,
with: Téo Rybak, Kida Zhu, Nayan Popat, Samuel Tschiesche and Haider-Ali Baig in another.
Our congratulations go to both teams. Well done, boys!
CCJB Summer Chess Tournament
A weekly reminder about the forthcoming termly Chess tournament on Monday 4th July. Entry forms are available from Mr Hogg and the entry fee is £1. We are up to 34 entrants so far from Years 2 - 6.
Richard Hogg
FORTHCOMING DATES
Monday 20 June - Year 5 Parents Evening from 4pm
Monday 20 June - Reception Parents Information Meeting. 8.45am -9.30am
Monday 20 June - Year 6 Swimming Gala 9.15am - 10.30am. Tea, coffee and croissants will be available from 9am for those coming to support.
Tuesday 21 June - Year 1 Parents' Information Meeting. 8:45am - 9:30am
Wednesday 22 June - Year 2 Parents' Information Meeting. 8:45am - 9.30am
Wednesday 22 June - Year 6 Parents Evening from 4pm
Thursday 23 June - Year 3 Parents' Information Meeting. 8:45am - 9.30am
Thursday 23 June - Silly Sock Day/ Silly Tie Day (see info in PTA NEWS)
Friday 24 June - Year 3 and Year 4 Swimming Gala 9:30am - 11am. Tea, coffee and croissants will be available from 9am for those coming to support.
Saturday 25 June - PTA Summer Fete
FUTURE DATES
Monday 27 June- Year 4 Parents' Information Meeting. 8:45am - 9.30am
Tuesday 28 June - Year 5 Parents' Information Meeting. 8:45am - 9.30am
Tuesday 28 June - Early buses only for link to Senior Boys due to New Boys Evening
Thursday 30 June **************SPORTS DAY*****************
Reception - Year 1 9.30am - 10.30am
Year 2 & Year 3 11am - 12.30pm
Year 4, Year 5 & Year 6 1.15pm - 3.45pm
COACH SERVICES FROM SEPTEMBER 2016
Does your child currently use the coach? If so please make sure you complete the form emailed to you this week with your requirements for next term as soon as possible.
TRIPS
Friday 17 June - Sunday 19 June - U10 Isle of Wight Cricket Tour.
Thursday 23 June - Year 4 to Woolley Firs. Letter has gone out this week.
Friday 1 July - Reception to The Forest School, Windsor. Letter out in due course.
Friday 1 July - Year 3 Outward Bound
HEALTHY EATING WEEK NEWS
Year 4 Dylan Bridges
Year 5 Jack Beever
Year 6 Aaron Johnson
Our overall site winner was Aaron Johnson.
NOTES AND TO DO LIST
There will be no Lifeguarding next Thursday after school or any class swimming lessons as Mrs Whiteley is attending a swimming gala with some of our elite swimmers. The boys who normally attend Lifeguarding may do study or be collected at the end of school.
LIBRARY NEWS
RABBIT AWARDS
HOLIDAY CLUB
HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES – Summer holiday (Mon 18 Jul to Fri 2 Sep)
This Summer at Claires Court Holiday Activities we're offering 7 themed weeks based on different book genres for the Mini, Mid and Kool groups. Xtra activities for older Kool children will include themed Science, Textiles, Cookery and Crafts. Sport Xtra offer days of Golf, Cricket, Olympic Sports and Rugby, as well as Swim, Bike and Run.
>> click for more of What's on and To Book on our new booking system.
>> Claires Court parents will need to wait a minimum of 24 hours after registering to allow the booking system to be updated, which will then trigger any available discounts. Please do contact us before completing your booking if you think the discount has not been applied.