School Bulletin: Lent Term 2012 - Week 11 - Ridgeway

Download this bulletin including all sports information as a pdf.

Please see the Summer Term Menu for next term's choices

Week after week, throughout the year, I am immensely proud to proclaim the successes and activities which the boys take part in on a regular basis. This week, despite being the final week of the term, has been as busy as ever with the tremendous success of the Year 6 Bushcraft weekend and the U.11 rugby tour to Cornwall. These were followed by success in a Maths Tournament at St John's, in which our boys came 3 out of 26 and 8 out of 24. Our U.9 chess team came 2nd out of 10 teams in a Berkshire Jamboree and that was followed by our own Charity Chess Tournament on Wednesday.

All this comes at the end of a Term which has included many highlights; notably the Joint Music Concert last week, Ridgeway's Got Talent, U.10 football tournament winners, cross–country success, our first ever Bridge match, Year 2 Pirate Day, a ‘Greek’ visit and Persian Wars, French breakfast, Birdwatch, Planetarium visit... the list goes on. Added to that we enjoyed a brilliant Easter Egg Hunt and are delighted with our new climbing/play equipment, all organised by our Parents' Society.

Furthermore, the boys, with your help, have raised huge amounts of money for charity, which is still coming in and we are still counting! Thank you all for your support and help throughout the year in so many ways, and we wish you all a very happy Easter break.

Our Rabbits this week go to Tommy Schnarr (5G) and Theo Sullivan (RY). Recently, Tommy was seen tidying up after Year 5 had done their sponsored run and young Theo was extremely helpful to Year 6 boys preparing their camp last Friday. Both boys were being particularly helpful, thinking of others, without being asked and we thank them for that. Well done Tommy and Theo.

Ridgeway Swimming Pool Update

Following exhaustive investigations on how best to update and renew our pool as an indoor swimming facility, I am delighted to report that our application for this work is now with the RBWM planning department. Our agents in the matter are Buttery and Watson, who have assisted us for many years with expert help of this kind, the application number is 12/00701/FULL and you can find out more about the application on the Borough website. Our application is being dealt with under delegated powers and we wait the planners' decision, due 8/5/12. The building works are expected to be carried out by a local builder, supported by a well known cover supplier — Swimex Enclosures.

News From Our 3 For 3 Charity Appeal...

With money coming in daily, the total collected is approaching a tremendous £2,000. Included in this total is the magnificent amount of £132.06 raised by Year 3 and 4 in one penny and two pence pieces which were laid in a trail round the playground this week. The boys had enormous fun laying these out on the playground.

Can we request that any outstanding sponsor money be brought in by the end of the first week of the Summer Term. Thank you for your generosity and be assured that the money is going to three worthy causes.

Bushcraft

Last weekend sixteen intrepid would–be Bear Grylls spent Friday, Saturday morning and Monday learning about many aspects of Bushcraft. The boys learnt about survival issues in the wild, learning how to build shelters and light fires in a variety of improvised ways. They cooked their meals on a campfire, savouring that distinct smoky aroma! Friday evening the boys hosted their parents at a barbecue, before enjoying some time stargazing and a rather chilly night under canvas.

On Monday the boys took part in a junior first aider course, learning the basics of CPR, wound management and emergency procedures. Afterwards they trekked through the Thicket, finding out about Iron Age settlements, highwaymen and Robin Hood.

The boys had a wonderful time, working together. Our thanks go to all those parents and staff who helped out, especially Mrs. Jonckers who came up with the idea and provided her expert skills for the First Aid training.

Maths Challenge

On Tuesday four boys from Year 6, accompanied by Mr. Leuzinger, attended the St.John's Beaumont Maths Challenge. The boys, working in pairs completed a series of mathematical problems and puzzles against the clock in competition with other schools. The boys did fantastically well finishing 3rd out of 26 in one section, and 8th out of 24 in the other, being the fourth placed school overall from the 24 attending, a very creditable performance. Well done boys! (Ben Allanson, Charlie Gowland, Drew Longman and Matthew Stone).

Odds Farm

The boys in Reception had a glorious sunny day for their trip to Odds Farm on Wednesday 28 March. A report on their visit will be published in the first Bulletin of the Summer Term.


Library News

We have a new group of reading champions who need congratulating.

  • Richard Adams 6L
  • Charlie Gowland 6S
  • Jack Griffin 6W
  • Edward Cameron 5G
  • Ashwin Goyal 5Y
  • Geiovannie Sealy 4G
  • Joshua Foy 4Y
  • William Kilpatrick 3G
  • Matthew Watkins 3Y

I also want to extend a big thank you to all those who sent in Nestle tokens so far this year. I am delighted to announce that we have sent in double last year's total with 511 tokens having been submitted from Ridgeway. I have now got the pleasant job of choosing a nice new selection of books for the library and I will keep you all informed when they arrive.

Please keep sending the tokens in and we can put them towards next year's collection. Many thanks for your support.

Happy Easter Reading — Mrs Davies


Games Arrangements

Sports' days remain the same for the Summer Term when cricket will be the major game played during lessons. Boys in Years 1, 5 and 6 will have sport as normal on the first day of term. Classes 2G and 4G will have PE as normal.

Games Days

  • Year 6 —
    • 6L — Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday
    • 6W — Monday, Wednesday, Thursday
    • 6S — Monday, Wednesday, Friday
  • Year 5 —
    • 5G — Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday
    • 5Y — Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
  • Year 4 —
    • 4G — Monday, Tuesday, Thursday
    • 4Y — Tuesday, Thursday, Friday
  • Year 3 —
    • 3G — Monday, Tuesday, Thursday
    • 3Y — Tuesday, Thursday, Friday
  • Year 2 —
    • 2Y — Monday, Tuesday, Thursday
    • 2G — Monday, Wednesday, Friday
  • Year 1 — Wednesday and Friday
  • Reception — Monday and Friday

Sports' Kit

Cricket (Years 4, 5 and 6)

  • White shirt with collar
  • White shorts (all year groups!)
  • All–white short sport socks
  • Predominantly white trainers
  • Cricket pullover (optional)
  • Cricket support and abdominal protector (box)
  • Long white trousers for the U.11 A team

Athletics (All pupils)

  • White T–shirt with green trim
  • White shorts
  • All–white short sport socks
  • Predominantly white trainers

All boys should be provided with a proper shoe bag, a plastic bag is not appropriate as it will tear and shoes will then be lost!

Please, please ensure that all items of clothing are named either with sew–in tapes or indelible ink.

Naming Of Sports' Kit — Position of ½ inch name label

  • Cricket Kit (Yrs 4–6)
    • Shirt — Front top right
    • Shorts — Front hemline of right leg
    • Trousers (Yr 6 ‘A’ team members ONLY) — Below front waistband of right leg
  • White P.E. Kit (all)
    • Shirt — Front top right
    • Shorts — Front hemline of right leg
    • Swimming Trunks (all)(from Hawkinsport) — Front right hip

School Bags

Please note that ‘squashy bags’ are not allowed for the carriage of books. Solid sided briefcases or satchels are required to ensure that school books do not become ‘dog–eared’.


After–School Activities

The full Activity programme begins on Monday 23 April.

School Lunches

We will start on Week 1 of the new menu following the Easter Break. (See separate Summer Term menu). If parents send in cash for their son's lunch, would you please put this in a sealed envelope with your son's name and class number on the front plus the amount enclosed.


Happy Easter— Holidays We hope you all enjoy a relaxing and refreshing break.

J.C.W. 29.3.12

 
Responsibility • Respect • Loyalty • Integrity