Dear Parents and Carers
The last vestiges of snow have just disappeared from school, and, touch wood, everything has now returned to normal. It won’t be long before I’m reminding everyone to bring in a sunhat and suncream, but in the meantime, please make sure your child has a warm, waterproof coat in school each day as we do go outside for play whenever we can.
Year 3/4 Football Festival
I must begin this newsletter with a huge ‘Well Done’ to our children from Chestnut Class who took part in the local schools’ festival. Playing in a B tournament (the A team tournament had been cancelled due to the weather) our team played brilliantly, not only showing outstanding individual skill, but working effectively as a team. Not a single goal was conceded in four matches, while goals ‘for’ numbered 16! Congratulations, Team, and many thanks to Messrs Trim, Beeson and Hoskins for their time giving invaluable additional coaching. As winners of the B Festival, next year we are promoted to the A competition – better get practising!
More Sports
Next week we will be sending the Hockey Squad to take part in the Year 5/6 Hockey Festival at Gillingham School, gum shields and shin pads at the ready, while two weeks after that, the last day of term, we are taking part in the Year 5/6 Football Tournament at Mere. We still have chance to enter the Lions’ Club Swimarathon on 22nd April. If anyone would like to take part in this great fund-raising activity (half of sponsorship to the Lions and the Guide Dogs, the other half to the school), please put your name on the form in the office and we will organise a team of 6 to take part. Cups & medals will be awarded in Senior & Junior categories mainly on a points basis where Points = Laps Swum x Money Raised.
For a small school, it is brilliant there are so many opportunities for your children to take part in a wide range of sporting activities, and don’t forget that the Football, Tennis and Street Dance clubs are open to the younger children, too. If anyone would like to help with our staff-led after-school clubs, or to run one of your own, as we head towards the Summer Term, please let me know.
Pupil Health and Well-being
Please remember to check routinely for headlice and treat accordingly. Also, I have been made aware of a case of Verrucae: look out for tiny, black spots on the feet and, if suspected, apply the appropriate treatment.
Duncliffe Gardening Club Spring Show Saturday 31st March
The children will be entering poems and pictures from school for this local event taking place at East Stour Village Hall. There is a class for a Lego (or similar) Garden for the children to be working on at home – entries to be taken direct to the village hall between 9:00 and 10:30am on the day.
Fly the Flag for the Commonwealth – Monday, 12th March
The school is honoured to be welcoming Cllr Ridout, the Mayor of Gillingham on Monday, to read the Commonwealth Affirmation and raise the Commonwealth flag. If you are free and would like to join us in this 20 minute ceremony, please be at the school by 9:45am on Monday.
Parental Questionnaires
Thank you to everyone who has completed a parents questionnaire; you have hopefully all received your raffle ticket for a chance to win a £10 WHSmiths voucher. If you have not yet completed and returned your questionnaire, please do so by next Wednesday, 14th March.
Class Assemblies
Thank you, Conker Class, for sharing your delightful assembly with us this morning. It is amazing to see how the confidence of our youngest children has grown during the year, and the work they are producing is truly impressive. Next Friday, 16th March it is the turn of Acorns to lead the assembly, while Chestnut Class will share their learning on Friday March 23rd. Oaks, as you will recall, have had their assembly postponed until Friday 25th May.
Pupils of the Week:
Well done to our star pupils this week:
Conkers: Logan for explaining what was healthy in his lunchbox.
Acorns: Thomas for good knowledge of a balanced diet.
Chestnuts: Joel for becoming better at drinking after the water challenge was set.
Oaks: David for a good understanding of a healthy diet.
Football Club (Wednesday)
Due to low numbers football club will take a break for the summer term, the last session will be 21st March and will restart again in September. However Primary Stars football will continue on a Monday 3.30 to 4.30 until 30th April, all Wednesday club players welcome.
With best wishes
James Stanford