Claires Court Bulletin
JUNIOR BOYS
Bulletin 7 | 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
Let me finish this half term with some lovely news. Susan Payne, our beloved former Deputy Head teacher, visited us at school yesterday and took her first steps into the playground with boys and parents since February. So many of you who were lucky enough to catch up with her could not comprehend how well she looked. Although she is still having chemotherapy, she is now walking without the need of crutches or sticks. And the best news is that she will be coming back into school to do some work with us after half term, albeit for short periods of time. Susan is an inspiration to us all.
When I took assembly this morning for the whole school I noticed a slight lethargy in the boys as they came up to get their awards and merits, a slight decrease in volume when we sang our assembly song, a slight shade under the eyes……..no surprises here, the boys are tired! It has been such a busy and hectic first half of term, with so much packed into it, I think we all need a fortnight to have a rest and recharge the batteries!
In our last week before half term, I will let the pictures below and in our gallery tell our story, with Halloween parties, Diwali celebrations, rugby clashes against St John’s and The Dragon School.
Mr Rowan and I have been analysing our music provision for the school over the past week. We are very proud of our choirs, guitar groups, orchestra, curriculum lessons, and Mrs Stevenson has added so much energy to our Prep Prep department. We currently have 102 pupils learning instruments, and I am pleased to announce that we have a wonderful new singing teacher joining us after half term - more details will follow, but do let the office know if your son would like to have some lessons.
In our discussions, Mr Rowan and I agreed that our pride in our pupils stems from their attitude towards music - their ‘anything is possible’, ‘sing nice and loud’ and ‘create your own pieces’ reflects the enjoyment and freedom we want our boys to have. We ensure the boys know when music needs to be formal and informal, and the boys singing their hearts out and playing their instruments with a smile on their faces is what we are about. Their enjoyment comes through in their music. I have been playing them a combination of music genres in assembly all week, from Bach’s ‘Orchestral Suite No.3 in D major’ and Supertramp’s ‘From now on’, to Chopin’s ‘Piano Concerto No.1 in E minor’ and Snow Patrol’s ‘Give me strength’.........there is a fair bit of diversity in these pieces!
Thanks to so many of you who attended the Fireworks on Saturday and braved the weather. It was pretty wet, but the rain did settle down for the actual display, thank goodness. More information of our PTA upcoming events can be found later on in the bulletin.
Well, I hope you all enjoy a relaxing break this half term (although it is often not a half term for parents!) - the boys have certainly earned a good rest and I would like to thank them for their wonderful efforts this first half of term.
Thank you for your continued support of our school.
Justin Spanswick
PTA News
A big thank you to everyone who attended the Firework Spectacular last Saturday and especially a big thank you to those who helped at the bar. By supporting this event you have made possible lots of projects such as like the Pupil Voice funding at CCJB.
If you want to help the PTA please contact us at ptaccjb@gmail.com. The next events are the Chess tournament on Saturday 12th November and the Fright Night at CCJG on Friday 18th November.
Have a great half term.
All the best,
Ana Sidders
Chair PTA
Forthcoming PTA Events
Saturday 12 November - Chess Tournament at Junior Boys
Friday 18 November - Fright Night Disco for Junior Boys and Girls held at the College Avenue site. A flyer about this event has come home with the boys today. Tickets will be on sale on our return after half term.
Friday 9 December - Christmas Fair & Nearly New Uniform Sale at Junior Boys. Great shopping for gifts. There will be a raffle and refreshments.
And one for the future .... Saturday 13 May - Annual Ball
FORTHCOMING DATES
Monday 24 October - Friday 4 November *****H A L F T E R M*****
Saturday 12 November - CC PTA Chess Festival in the Sports Hall CCJB
TRIPS
Thursday 10 November - Friday 11 November Y6 First Aid and Bushcraft days
Thursday 10 November -Sunday 13 November Y6 Cornwall Rugby Tour
NOTES & TO DOs
POPPIES
We will be selling poppies in school for the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal. If your son would like a poppy please send him in with some money during the first week back. Thank you.
MY FIRST CLASS PHOTO
The Advertiser’s ‘My First Class’ photo special of Reception classes is in this week's edition.
Copies of the photos printed in the paper as well as alternative versions taken when our photographers visited CCJB will be available via their website - www.maidenhead-advertiser.co.uk
Photographs can be bought in the following formats:
6x8 - £10.50
8x10 - £12.50
Digital - £20.00
Price includes delivery within 10 working days.
SINGING TEACHER
We have appointed a new singing teacher for CCJB and she starts after half term. Lessons will be on a Monday and those who showed an interest earlier in the term will be given a taster session on Monday 7 November. Any other pupils who are interested in singing should let the office know so we can add them to the list for a taster session.
HOUSE BADGES
New and replacement House Badges were issued today to boys in years 1 - 6 who were missing theirs. We have changed the badge design to make it easier to remove when the blazer is cleaned or becomes too small. Should your son lose this badge, a replacement is available from Mrs Nott at the price of £1.50. Boys in Reception will receive their badges when they are made familiar with the 'House' system.
Scholarships
The Scholarship programme for pupils entering Years 7, 8 , 9 or Sixth Form in September 2017 is now available. You can request a scholarship application pack from the school office, or download one from the website. Please note, there was an error in the printed leaflet, please refer to the website for the correct qualifying ages.
To aid parents with the planning of their child’s education and the high demand for places we have two Scholarship application rounds for 2016-17. Candidates can only take part in one round. Dates for round one are as follows:
YEAR 7, 8 & 9
CLOSING DATE: Monday 14 November 2016
EXAMINATION/ASSESSMENT DATES:
ART/SPORT Friday 25 November 2016
ACADEMIC Saturday 26 November 2016
CHORAL/DRAMA/ART Saturday 26 November 2016
FROM THE SPORTS MASTER
This week our U9s had their last game of this half term against St John’s Beaumont. With five teams playing we did extremely well to come away with three wins, one draw and a narrow loss. Tom Dargan captained the U9A in his last game for the school and as usual led from the front to help us win 20-5. He will be very much missed by the team and we wish him luck in his new school.
The U11s had a long journey to Oxford to play Dragon school. While the boys played extremely well, this proved to be a very tough afternoon and and we struggled for results. However, with a rugby tour to Cornwall to look forward to after half term the boys will go into half term with optimism.
The U10s play The Beacon this afternoon, which may prove to be one of the sternest tests of the term. Henry Dargan will also sadly be playing his last match for the school and we all wish him the best of luck at his new school.
With the first half of this term drawing to a close it has given me a little time to reflect on the sport we have played since September. I for one have been hugely impressed with what our pupils have achieved! For the statisticians we have had 136 pupils from Year 4, 5 & 6 represent the school across 15 different teams, in 113 matches! We have won 47 and drawn 18, scoring a massive 2770 points! That's 554 tries!!! But more importantly, what really matters is that our pupils all get the chance to learn and develop on the sports field and get to experience what it is like to be part of a team and represent their school!
Nick Butterfield
Head of Sport
FROM THE CHESS GRAND MASTER
Last Saturday, Kida was recognised as the best Under 8 player in Berkshire when competing at the County Championships. Year 6 boys were also playing in this tournament as they were aiming to become the Under 10 champions. It was impressive that Kida finished 3rd overall in the tournament.
Congratulations Kida!
Chess lessons
From half term onwards there will be some openings available for chess lessons with Mr Tuck on a Friday.
Please contact me if your son would like to take up this opportunity - first come, first served.
Not long to go until the PTA Chess Festival and entry forms are coming in. To avoid any late fees, please do get your son's entry form in asap. A copy can can be taken from the chess noticeboard or by clicking on this link.
Richard Hogg
MUSIC & DRAMA NOTES
A Night at the Movies - presented by Claires Court
Friday 11 and Saturday 12 November at Norden Farm
This year’s show is filled with song, dance, performance and music, from some of the world’s most famous and favourite cinema soundtracks. The programme includes The Great Escape, Pirates of the Caribbean, What a Wonderful World, Ghostbusters, Moon River and Stand By Me. Get your tickets now, from the Norden Farm online box office