Claires Court Bulletin
JUNIOR BOYS
Bulletin 6 | Lent Term 2017
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
I have decided to let the gallery talk you through the events of the week, and there has been plenty to celebrate. Special mention must go to Luke Hargreaves whose exploits in goal this week were awesome, our U9 footballers who were victorious at the St Bernard's Tournament (pictured right) and to Tyler King, one of our Rabbit winners, who has not only been working hard inside school, but also outside school…….more on this later.
Have a wonderful half term break wherever you may be, and I look forward to seeing everyone refreshed and relaxed on Monday 20 February.
Justin Spanswick
ARTISTS OF THE WEEK
NOTES AND TO DO
- We are collecting 'Active Kids' Sainsburys vouchers up to the end of June 2017. Please donate any vouchers you have from your shopping and post them in the box on the fireplace in the entrance hall. Thank you.
- The before school gardening activity will start after half term. It is from 8am to 8.45am on a Wednesday morning. This is a drop in session open to boys in Year 3 - Year 6.
- Disabled parking - May we respectfully remind you that only bona fide disabled blue badge holders should be using the marked disabled parking bays at the school.
FORTHCOMING DATES
Monday 13 February - Friday 17 February H A L F - T E R M
Wednesday 22 February - Class group photographs. Clean uniform and tidy hair please.
Friday 24 February - U11 football photographs. Please remember kit (clean).
Friday 24 February - Year 6 cake sale 3 for 3 - more details after half term via boy post.
Sunday 26 February - Judo Tournament and grading.
Whatever the weather….
As the weather gets colder, may we take this chance to remind our parents of the School’s Emergency Closure Guidance in case we need to close the School due to adverse weather conditions.
PTA NEWS
Our Annual Easter Event is being held on Saturday 18th March between 12-2pm. This year the theme is Alice in Wonderland. As well as the Easter trail, where you answer the clues to win a chocolate prize, there is a competition to make a hat for the Mad Hatter. The winning entry will receive Amazon vouchers. There is also a Junior Bake Off Competition to see which budding baker can bake and decorate the best cake. The winner for this competition will receive a large chocolate egg. Further details of the event and how you can buy tickets went home with boys recently. If you cannot find your copy here is the Poster. There is a PTA meeting for committee members to discuss the Easter Hunt on Wednesday 8 March 7.30pm.
As always the success of these events relies on volunteers, please let us know if you can help for an hour or more on the day. Email ptaccjb@gmail.com or click on the link to add your name to the rota.
PTA AGM - 23 FEBRUARY 2017
You are warmly invited to attend the AGM of the Claires Court PTA on 23 February. This is an opportunity for all to hear what activities the PTA creates throughout the year as well as the contributions it makes to enhance the school experience of the boys and girls. After the brief formalities, refreshments are available and the presentation of the PTA Award is made. All are encouraged to attend and understand the contribution the PTA makes to school life.PTA Masquerade Ball - Save the Date
Saturday 13 May 2017 at Claires Court Junior Boys.
Who’s up for a great night out? Plan your table now, as details of how to reserve tickets for the PTA adult social event of the year will be announced after half-term.
FROM THE SPORTS MASTER
These last ten days have been incredibly busy with swimming galas, cross country competitions, football tournaments, rugby 7s tournaments and not to mention regular fixtures for our U10 & U11 teams. Read more about sports this week in the news section below.
On Thursday 2nd February the year 5 and 6 boys attended a friendly swimming gala at Berkhamsted. This provided 18 of our boys with a wonderful opportunity to experience diving off starting blocks and swimming in a 25 metre pool. The year 5 boys put in an awesome performance and won the majority of their races securing 1st place overall at the end of the meeting. Year 6 found the competition tough and although they ended up bottom of the pack they were certainly not bottom in terms of commitment and spirit! We were complimented by the Berkhamsted staff on the polite behaviour and excellent manners of our boys so we can look back on a very good afternoon.
Wednesday saw the U10s travel to OPS and the U11's hosted Berkhamsted. The U10s came home with 5 wins from 5 matches. This is all the more impressive as we have already played OPS this season and we only managed one win from five on that occasion. The U11s played some great football but struggled to get results against some tough Berkhamsted opposition.
We finish off the week with U10 fixtures against Thorpe House. I think all pupils deserve a well earned rest over the half term holiday.
Nick Butterfield
Head of Sport
FROM THE CHESS MASTER
Congratulations to all those boys who were selected to play for Maidenhead last Saturday at the Under 9 Team Event at St. Gabriel's School in Newbury. Eight teams took part and Maidenhead was represented by Samuel Tschiesche, Joshua Spanswick, Hou Ning Zhu (Kida), Moksha Suriarachchi, Aaran Hitschmann, Josh Sharma and Peter Babcock. A special "well done" to Josh Sharma and Kida who scored 3/3. Our Claires Court boys helped Maidenhead finish third overall.
Delancey and weekend chess
The second round of the UK Chess Challenge took place this week. Boys who have earned 3 points have now earned a badge. Boys who have earned 6 points have earned their first gold spot. The third round will take place the week after half-term.
Whilst half-term begins for most at 4pm today, there is a busy weekend of chess ahead.
On Saturday at 2pm there will be another chance to qualify directly for the Delancey Megafinal. Mr Dennis is running a tournament in the Sports' hall which will end at around 5:30pm.
On Sunday at 2pm the school is hosting another Maidenhead team event. Mr Dennis has sent out invitations and we wish the very best to all Claires court boys who are taking part.
Chess Homework
I know that I said this last week but, as only a few boys at chess club had been practising their checkmates, I thought that I would say it again - use this link and have a go at some of the endings: Handy Homework
Boys should be able to complete the following checkmate:
King & Queen v King
King & Rook v King
King and Pawn v King
King & 2 Bishops v King.
Remember - after you've played a really good game you need to be able to finish your opponent off!
Richard Hogg
MUSIC AND DRAMA NEWS
Please note that lessons are subject to times/days altering so it is imperative that you check the timetable regularly thus ensuring boys have their music and/or instrument in school on the correct day.