Claires Court Bulletin
JUNIOR BOYS
Bulletin 3 | Lent 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
Mrs Davies shared with me this lovely image of storytelling - I felt it was a very poignant way to finish the week. Whether or not your son is in Year 6 or in Reception, nothing holds the imagination like a great story being read to you by someone you love.
I will be telling our school story this week in pictures. You will see that the majority of the snaps are taken somewhere inside in the warm!! The cold and wet weather has certainly taken its toll on our sports fields and sportsmen this week, and our games department and groundsmen did very well to get several of the matches played. I was able to see a few of the Under 9 games on Tuesday and was very impressed at the standard of football on display. Oscar Helm, Theo Sullivan and Billy Ray were very strong in attack, while Fraser Jones, James Binks, Henry Dargan and George Crowe were ‘rocks’ in defence.
On the academic front, I have finally managed to display some of the essays that I was given last term in my office for boys, visitors and parents to see. On this note, I am challenging my Year 5 and 6 boys again next week in assembly to write me an essay with a slightly more directed title……….Mrs Vine, our Head of English, and I will be entering the pieces of work into the ISA National Essay Writing competition that will be judged by an independent panel in March. Better get your writing pens ready boys, no computers allowed for this event!! Reception to Year 4 boys will also be set a rather interesting writing challenge……..
I would like to wish the best of luck to our General Knowledge Quiz participants next week who will be taking on the best of the best at Davenies school on Thursday, where a number of schools are battling it out to see who knows the most! Our representatives have made their way through the internal rounds of our school trials. So well done and good luck to Hugo Winter (Year 3), Jack Newton (Year 4), Alex Pearce (Year 5) and Lewis Gabb (year 6).
Staying with academia and especially interesting for those of you looking at secondary school options, this is the last year in which schools in England are to be ranked by the DfE in their GCSE performance tables.
A quick look at the data on Berkshire Independent schools this year shows you just how redundant the tables have become, because the DfE do not permit the inclusion of international GCSEs in the tables, and almost all independent schools makes use of the iGCSE subject specifications in some way. At Claires Court, pupils take iGCSEs in English and Maths, though we do in addition make use of English GCSEs in these subjects as well, so we appear in some measure placed in the tables. Eton, the Abbey and Reading Bluecoat for example only use iGCSEs so are shown scoring 0% in the performance tables.
Next year, only state schools are to be included in performance tables, making use of data on progress across a prescribed 8 subjects at GCSE. Our schools performance in both GCSE and A levels is reported correctly by the Independent Schools Council in their published figures, which are first released shortly after the publication of exam results in early September. In addition, you can see our data in the Court Report, sent home in our Christmas mailing and on our website. The DfE A level performance data is very much more in line with published data, as most schools make use of A levels and as a result the statement of performance provides fair comparison. I should reiterate that if you would like to catch up with me to discuss Secondary School options, I am always available to listen to your questions and to share my own thoughts.
As you will see from the pictures, I made my way around some of our activities on Tuesday evening and was even allowed to take part in the cookery class…..although I was put to shame by the culinary skills of some of our Year 3 boys and ended up making a right mess!! Madame Shannon and Mrs Singeisen were not impressed!
Enough of the words, enjoy some of the pictures - I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.
Justin Spanswick
PTA NEWS
Plans for our Willy Wonka themed Easter event are well underway. The Egg Drop competition is back, so get your thinking caps on for how you will protect the golden egg. First prize is tickets to a chocolate workshop where you can make your own chocolate bars and lollies!
We also have a drawing competition to see who can come up with the most creative and interesting new sweet or chocolate, there is the egg hunt with a chocolate egg for each participant and a find the golden ticket raffle. Full details of how to enter the competitions will come home with the boys in the next few weeks, but in the meantime mark in your diary 19th March from 12.00 until 2.00pm.
Emma Robertson
Emergency Closure Guidance
FORTHCOMING DATES
Monday 8 February - Year 5 French Breakfast
Tuesday 9 February - Auditions for 'Ridgeway's Got Talent'
Tuesday 9 February -Year 5 Secondary School Talk 7pm. Details to follow in due course
Friday 12 February - U10 Football photos 1.45pm. Please remember clean kit
Saturday 13 February - UK Chess Challenge Tournament 2pm - 6pm
Sunday 14 February - Bucks, Oxon, Sussex, Wilts Team Chess Event 2pm - 5.30pm
TRIPS
Wednesday 10 February - Reception visit Pizza Express
Year 12 Young Enterprise - Saturday 23 January
Regatta Race Night - Saturday 6 February
FIXTURE ADDITION FOR U9 TEAMS
U9 A1 and A2 vs Gayhurst and Davenies at home
U9 C1 and C2 vs Davenies at home
U9 B1 and B2 vs Gayhurst and Davenies away
Team sheets will be sent home with boys on Monday and accessible by pressing the sports link at the bottom of this page.
MUSIC NEWS
Please remember 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. Thank you.
RABBITS
HOLIDAY CLUB
HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES
We offer specialised activities for older children every holiday… Sports Club held at Junior Boys is running Multi-Sports days from Tue 16 to Thu 18 Feb for children in year 3 and above. Also kool Xtra clubs running at Holiday Club in College Avenue are available for children in year 5 and above. Spend dedicated days with… Animal themed Cookery on Wed 17 Feb, where you’ll make and decorate edible animals. Also Crafts on Thu 18 Feb will join the animal theme to experiment with textile printing on different fabrics. **Please book Xtra early to avoid disappointment!**
Book by Fri 5 Feb… for free extended sessions to CC Junior and Senior pupils and a hot lunch option (holiday club only).
> more details - activity highlights, programme and booking on our website
DONATIONS - Holiday Club are always on the lookout for good condition construction toys, board games etc.… if you have any that you’d like to donate it would be much appreciated. Please let us know at holidayclub@clairescourt.com.