Claires Court Bulletin
JUNIOR BOYS
Bulletin 10 | 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
Some of my friends who do not work in education ask me if I find my job boring at all. The answer is always a very polite but firm ‘Never!!’ Take this morning for example: I arrived at school at around 7am to be greeted by Steve, my ever present Site Manager, with the news that there had been some issues relating to our alarm system, and we had to evacuate the school. Thankfully there were very few people to evacuate! However, by greeting the incident commander from the Fire Service this morning (please see the picture gallery for evidence!), it certainly made for an interesting if not slightly unusual first task of the day. The fact that he was a parent of a former pupil of mine when I worked in Secondary Education, who is now reading Geography at University, made the morning even more unique, and certainly made me feel rather old!
From there I prepared an assembly for our boys on the European Union voting results. Some of our older year groups have spent time discussing this in their PSHE and News Diary lessons. The main emphasis of my talk was to reassure the boys that although we have now left the EU, we are still part of, and very much in a community with our European friends and colleagues. We made a list in assembly of the things we love about Europe and the things that we will continue to share. As you might guess, top items on the list included Pizza, Lego, Eurovision song contests and Paella (with or without chorizo!) The Ryder Cup was also mentioned in dispatches!! The boys really enjoyed the discussion and I intend to speak with them next week about the things that Great Britain shares with our close neighbours.
Back to my morning, two swimming galas, two sets of visitors to the school, Reception preparation for their ice cream afternoon (which I chose to get involved with!), and the small matter of the Summer Fete preparations. One thing my role as Headteacher allows me to do is to celebrate lots of your sons' wonderful achievements , and it is something that is not only a responsibility, it is also a huge privilege. Boring is not a word you would ever use to describe teaching!!
My colleagues have written some words to inform you of individual and team successes in our school, please take time to read some of the many achievements. And I would like to thank the many of you who commented so positively about our recent picture galleries - we do everything we can to bring the boys school day to you images. I intend to start putting more of our Artwork on display both around the school and in our bulletins, so keep your eyes peeled for our next budding Picasso.
I hope to see many of you at the Fete tomorrow and at the School Sports Day on Thursday. Both the PTA and Sports Department have been spotted doing their ‘Sun Dance’ so that we can have some kind weather!
I hope you enjoy the weekend and I look forward to seeing you in school at one of our upcoming events.
Justin Spanswick
PTA NEWS
Summer Fete
There is an opportunity for 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.
Special Attraction at the Summer Fete
On Saturday 25 June, as part of our celebration of the great outdoors, 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 practice 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
There is also an opportunity for 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.
CALLING ALL FOOTIE FANS
Memorabilia from the 2015-16 season for a Reading Football Club fan.
A match day programme from Saturday 9 April 2016, signed by the players on the day, together with a certificate of authenticity and a 'crib sheet' for which signature is which. In addition, we also have a signed photograph of their Fullback, Chris Gunter, currently playing in the Welsh team at the European championships.
Please email marketing@clairescourt.net with your best offer by close of business Wednesday 27 June and we'll announce whether we have sold the item on next week's bulletin (no names!). All proceeds to the PTA charity.
**The Old Boys Cricket Match this evening has been cancelled due to the weather**
FROM THE SPORTS' MASTER......
This week the CCJB pupils attention has turned to preparation to Sports Day. All pupils this week have selected the events they wish to take part in next week and during Games and PE lessons have been refining their skills in their chosen events. We are all keeping our fingers crossed for good weather next week.
However, we have still managed to fit in a little bit of cricket. The U10A & B teams travelled to the Isle of Wight on tour last weekend. Sadly the Friday matches against Ryde School were called off due to bad weather but we managed two good games against Ventnor CC on the Saturday. The B team, despite scoring more runs, sadly lost too many wickets and due to the rules involved in pairs cricket they lost the match 231-18 to 271-8.The A team turned up later in the morning to take on Ventnor's A team. Just like the B team, we lost the toss and they chose to bat first. Ventnor started off slowly with some great bowling from Oliver Todd, Blake Sylvester and Louis Stewart. The Ventnor captain however, managed to get the better of us and was hitting it around the park at will. They finished on 102-5. We could not have got off to a worse start losing 4 wickets in the first 2 overs, 3 of them ducks! Thankfully our middle order of Louis Stewart, Blake Sylvester and Robbie Jones steadied the ship and started to chip away at our target. It came down to our last 2 batsman needing 11 runs from the last 2 overs! With the crowd biting their fingernails Harrison Sands and Oliver Todd kept their heads to run 1 off the last ball to draw the game on 102-8.
The U9 ABC teams also played their last games of the season this week with the B team finishing with a draw and therefore have managed to go the whole season unbeaten.
A huge congratulations must go out to all Year 4 players that have played in that team and Mr Grose as coach.
Nick Butterfield
FROM THE CHESS 'GRAND MASTER'
Temporary eviction moved chess into the Year 6 classrooms this week, as space was made for Year 5 and Year 6 parents' evenings. Whilst it was a pleasure speaking to parents from both year groups it did mean that I was dragged away from chess!
Thanks to Mr Dennis, Mrs Goford and Mr Bollon who were helping the boys this week.
There are just 10 days left until this term's chess tournament.
Entries continue to pour in and the boys are looking forward to a last chance to prove their skills this academic year.
Richard Hogg
FORTHCOMING DATES
Saturday 25 June - PTA Summer Fete
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*****************
***********PLEASE REMEMBER A PACKED LUNCH FOR ALL BOYS******************
Reception - Year 1 9.30am - 10.30am
Year 2 & Year 3 11am - 12.30pm
Year 4, Year 5 & Year 6 1.15pm - 3.45pm
Thursday 30 June - Activities after school will still be running Thursday but if you take your son home after the afternoon Sports Day please make sure your son excuses himself from his activity otherwise we will be searching for him once we have called the registers. Thank you.
Thursday 30 June - Please note that the Registration Portal for those wishing to take the Bucks CC Transfer Test for September 2017 closes at 3pm on Thursday 30 June
FUTURE DATES
Wednesday 6 July - Speech and Drama Exams for boys who have lessons with Ms Icke
Wednesday 6 July - Year 6 Caribbean Cricket
Friday 8 July - OPRO Gumshield fitting for Years 3 - 5 in the Mezz
Friday 8 July - Informal music concert in assembly. Parents are welcome to come and watch. Boys will know if they are participating.
TRIPS
Friday 1 July - Reception to The Forest School, Windsor. Letter out in due course.
Friday 1 July - Year 3 Outward Bound
Wednesday 6 July - Year 1 visit Windsor Castle. Letter to follow shortly.
FROM THE GARDEN.......
Inside the classroom the boys of 2Y have been producing 'cress heads'. Sebastian Von Schmidt's creation was applauded during assembly today. Boys in the Gardening Clubs have also made these eggshell faces and other pupils around the school will have an opportunity to make their own 'cress heads' before term ends.
LIBRARY NEWS
RABBIT AWARDS
HOLIDAY CLUB
HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES – Three days of Golf – Tri, Street & Fun Day (Tue 2 to Thu 4 Aug)
Children in current years 3 to 7 can join Claires Court Holiday Activities for three days of Golf at the beginning of August. This will include Tri Golf, Street Golf and a Fun Day visit to Huntswood Golf Club on Wed 3 Aug. This day will bring the opportunity to take part in a variety of prize competitions and fun activities along side PGA pros. There will also be family activities and a BBQ at the end of the day, plus a goody bag for all who come – click here for more information
>> BOOK NOW for the Fun Day or for all three!