Download this bulletin including all sports information as a pdf.
On Wednesday we were privileged to have experienced the highlight of the year when the Pre Prep and Junior Prep performed their end of term concerts. In the morning the younger pupils were superb, singing and dancing their way through an array of songs on an Olympic theme. In the afternoon we were stunned by the performance of the older boys in an outstanding version of ‘Joseph’. Nobody wanted it to end and our guest of honour, Mrs Jeanette Chippington, five times Paralympic swimmer, was duly impressed. Thanks go to all the staff involved in the production but also many thanks to the boys for their brilliant performances.
We have also enjoyed an excellent, if wet, sports day in the last week, a view of the Olympic Torch Relay, a Pre–Prep International Picnic and a guitar concert. A busy end to the term, but now we can relax and recharge our batteries and we wish all our community an enjoyable summer break and we hope you find some sun.
Our final Rabbits of the year go to two Year 5 boys who regularly think of others and are kind and helpful. Those boys are Finley Memery and Ollie Walter who earlier in the week were extremely helpful to a certain member of staff who was ‘overloaded’ at the time. Without prompting or hesitation they came to help. Well done Ollie and Finley.
Could we remind families that they should be sure to remove all personal belongings and litter from the School premises after a visit or event of any kind. We would also remind you that we do not permit dogs on any of our grounds or playing fields.
We will greatly appreciate your co–operation with these requests in order to keep our grounds safe and clean for our pupils.
Year 2 pupils Alex Watson and Aaron Mussell took over at Ridgeway Friday 29 June as Head and Deputy Head, temporarily deposing Mr Watkins and his team. Alex's parents had bid for this day at the May Ball and both boys thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Alex and Aaron took assembly, held a staff meeting, wrote a development plan (mmmm — that could be good!), helped the younger pupils with their reading, dictated letters, created lunch menus and showed visitors round the School.
On Wednesday 4 July Reception visited Beale Park in Pangbourne. They enjoyed looking at various birds and monkeys and watched the wallabies hopping about their enclosure. The highlights of the day were the train ride which took them around the park and playing on the large climbing frames in the giant sandpit.
Claires Court School Boat Club hosted their first annual dinner on Saturday at Maidenhead Rowing Club. The festivities were kicked off with the naming of the two new quads after the outgoing Captain of Boats, Josh Harris and the incoming captain Dan Gordon. Over 80 parents, boys and family enjoyed a hog roast dinner and an amusing video of the year.
The guest speaker, Ali Brown, former Director of Rowing at Sir William Borlase's and currently Director of Rowing at Bedford Modern School, inspired everyone with his many anecdotes. Mr Wilding then demonstrated impressive auctioneering skills during the highly successful auction of promises. The coaching team would like to thank everyone that helped to run the event and all who attended or donated prizes for the auction.
Photos will appear on the website shortly!
What an event and what an atmosphere — and we were on television on BBC London News!!!
Tom Jost, Head of Rowing and Sebastian Harris in Year 7 were both interviewed!
The whole event really was exciting and the sight of all those intimidating policemen on motor cycles ‘high–fiving’ all and sundry was highly entertaining. The children loved it (the adults of course, were so restrained!) and there was much shouting, screaming, waving of flags and general excitement. Ridgeway boys were at the head of the whole parade at Pinkneys, whilst College and Sixth Form filled the pavements of Marlow Road and were fortunate for some of them to be beside the torch change over. The Claires Court boys filled the area by the bridge with the rowers lining the bridge holding their blades and we have some iconic photos to prove it!
The Pre Prep Strawberry Café opened for its limited run last Friday when the Years 1 and 2 girls donned their badges and lacy ‘caps’ to become hard–working waitresses for the afternoon. They served their customers with delicious cream teas with clotted cream and fresh strawberries.
Running the café gave the girls the opportunity of putting their newly acquired addition and money skills into action as they took orders, totalled bills and worked out change. All the customers seemed very happy with their afternoon teas and many even left tips!
Year 12 students had the opportunity of experiencing the judicial system when they took part in a mock trial.
For a change Matt Martin was completely innocent of the accusation made against him! Such was the ruling made by the magistrates and jurors during the mock trial presided over by Jackie Rance and Patty Prescott from ‘Magistrates in the Community’ during Activity Week. A number of the Year 12 students acted out their roles as witnesses, magistrates, police, defence and prosecution lawyers trying to establish the defendant had received stolen goods.
Not only did the experience inform students of the practicalities of court room procedure but it also highlighted many previously unknown and interesting facts about the British criminal justice system.
An enlightening and entertaining exercise!
Cliveden began this year as they finished the last by gaining the most house points during the Autumn Term. They dominated the rugby house matches but did not find it as easy to win the Lent Term football matches. The overall winners for football were Dorney. However, it was Fawley's excellent performance in the chess activity that helped them to finish ahead of the other houses in the Lent Term. This term the overall winners at Sports Day were the boys in Windsor who performed consistently throughout the day. Cliveden have again gained the most house points in the classroom and this has helped to make them winners for the second time this year.
Over the whole year all the houses have had their triumphs. The boys have worked hard to gain the house points for hard work, attainment, good manners and helpfulness. The tidiest house has been rewarded along with the library reading champions and Sports Day winners. Every house point is counted from the boys in Reception through to Year 6.
The three terms totals have now been added together and the winners are Cliveden with 10829 followed by Windsor. Congratulations to everyone in Cliveden and House Captain Richard Adams and Vice–Captain Jack Griffin.
This Bulletin will travel with your end of term mailing, including the latest copy of Scribblings and Scribblets for pupils in Reception to Year 6. Please do check through all of the information now rather than the other end of the holidays, to ensure you are up to speed with coach bookings etc. Full coach information is contained in the mailing together with up to date routes and booking form. Reports for all boys are also enclosed in the envelope.
Please note that a few changes have been made to a some of the stops notably Hazlemere where a stop for Great Missenden has been added and some minor adjustments made. Also the stops on the Stoke Poges and Chalfont St Peter have been amended. If you used any of these routes, please do check the timing for your stop and if you wish to make an amendment, send your form into School by 31 July please. This allows us time to make any necessary adjustments to arrangements.
A new menu for the Autumn Term has been included with this mailing. The main meal remains at £2.50. Please also note that we will be continuing to encourage ‘Healthy Eating’ at Ridgeway and hope that any packed lunches brought into the school would also be very healthy! We also would ask that you send in healthy items for break. We would ask parents to ensure that packed lunches do not include any products containing nuts or kiwi fruit.
DVDs of Wednesday's performance of ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat’ are available for £10 each. Similarly DVDs of ‘Going for Gold’ are available at £7.00. You can purchase via the school office with a cheque payable to Gowland Film Studios or alternatively you may purchase online from www.gowlandfilmstudios.co.uk. Pink order forms were given out to the boys last week. The orders will be delivered to school at the beginning of the Autumn Term.
On the first Friday of next term, a sheet highlighting music tuition vacancies will be sent home with each boy. If any parents wish their son to take up individual brass, woodwind, string, guitar or keyboard tuition, would they please complete this form and return it to school for the attention of Mr Rowan at the start of the Autumn Term.
Would parents please note that if they wish their son to stop instrumental tuition, half a term's notice is required in writing in lieu of fees.
Photographs are still available to purchase on–line through DE Photography (www.dephoto.biz) using the user name as detailed below.
View photos on the weir website.
The login details for this event are:
As well as photos see our GREAT range of gifts which make FANTASTIC surprise gifts for the family all year round!
Posters, Magazine Cover, Jigsaw, Acrylic, Canvas, Box Framed Print, Pencil Case, Moneybox, Mousemat, Mug, Coaster & Placemat, Shoulder Bag, and MUCH more!
Twelve pupils, selected from all three schools, competed in the Thames Valley Team racing Challenge held at the Upper Thames Sailing Club in Bourne End recently. They competed in two games against seven opposition teams and conditions were great for spectators with a brisk 4–5 wind but still quite warm in the sunshine. All our pupils should be very proud that they competed so well, especially as frequent capsizes were common. They all finished the day exhausted but every one of them had a great time. The CCS ‘A’ team achieved 2nd place in the Bronze flette and the CCS ‘B’ team achieved 2nd place in the Silver fleet. Henry Wheeler (5Y) sailed in the CCS ‘A’ team.
Each boy will receive a postcard in their house colour. The idea of the Summer Fun Reading Challenge is to fill in the postcard and pop it in the post to me before we come back in September. Boys could draw a picture, drop me a line about what they have been reading or where they have been reading or even have a photo taken & stuck on, of them having fun and most importantly READING!!
The more colourful and interesting the better as I have a prize for best postcard that I receive and I will make a display in the library of all the entries!
The house that returns the most postcards will receive 250 house points, then the next house will receive 150 house points, then the next house will receive 100 house points and finally 50 house points to the house that returns the fewest.
Have fun reading this summer !
Mrs Davies
This commences on Thursday 6 September
The first day of term starts at 8.50am. Boys in Years 2–6 should assemble in the playground where members of staff will be on duty. Pupils in Year 1 should go straight to their new classrooms.
Please note that RECEPTION boys will start their first day of term at 10.00am going straight to their classroom.
Parents of boys in Reception and Year 1 should note that the School day ends at 3.30pm. Travellers on the coach and boys with older brothers will be supervised until the remainder of Ridgeway finishes at 3.50pm.
All buses will leave Ridgeway at 4.00pm for the first two days of the Autumn Term. Late coaches will start from Monday 10 September.
| All boys | Grey shirt, grey shorts (except Yr6), grey socks, black outdoor shoes, school cap, art overall. (Boys in Year 6 wear long grey trousers). |
|---|---|
| Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 | Green school sweatshirt, school blazer (optional), green polo shirt (Summer Term only). |
| Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 | Green v–neck sweater with jacquard, school tie, school blazer. |
| Outdoor Wear | School kagool, school fleece (both available from Hawkinsprt) or a plain dark green coat |
Rugby lessons will take place on the first day of term for pupils in Years 2,3,4, and 6. Would all pupils please ensure they have the correct kit:
| Sports' Clothes | Reception and Year 1 | White T–shirt trimmed in green, plain white shorts, plain short white socks, waterproof trainers (predominantly white!), swimming trunks, towel, school tracksuit. |
|---|---|---|
| Years 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 | Green reversible hooped rugby shirt (Years 2–6), blue rugby shorts, green rugby socks, football/rugby boots, white T–shirt trimmed in green, white shorts, white socks, predominantly white trainers, school swimming trunks, towel, school tracksuit. (All available from Hawkinsport) | |
| Equipment | Pencil case with pencils, rubbers, rulers etc., satchel/suitable case, sports' bag, ink pen with medium italic nib (Years 3, 4, 5 and 6). There are separate sports' drawstring bags for the boys in Reception / Year 1 (available from the school). |
|
All clothing (including shoes, trainers and football boots), equipment and possessions must be labelled with the owner's name. Whilst indelible pen works, the most effective labels remain those that are printed or embroidered on a distinct label which is then sewn into the garment. Watches and other items not suitable for this kind of labelling should have their owner's initials engraved on them.
Please note that all sports' kit needs to have ½ inch name tapes sewn onto the front.
| Position of ½ inch name label | ||
|---|---|---|
| Rugby/Soccer Kit (Yrs 2–6) | Shirt | Front top right, opposite the school crest |
| Shorts | Front hemline of right leg | |
| White P.E. Kit (all boys) | T–shirt | Front top right |
| Shorts | Front hemline of right leg | |
| Kit bags(Yrs 2-6) | Son's initials on the end panel of the sports' kit bag (using idelible ink or tippex) | |
All possessions, including lunch boxes, must be carefully marked with the owner's name.
Ridgeway has been running a School Council Stationery Shop, which is managed by some of our boys. This will be open again from the start of the Autumn Term. It is open 3 times a week, usually Monday, Wednesday and Friday at morning break. This is very useful if your son has run out of pencils, rubbers, sharpeners etc. Just remember to send him to School with an extra bit of money.
The full activity programme begins on Monday 17 September. However study, homework club and some sporting activities will start on Monday 10 September. The Autumn Term Activity sheet outlining all the activities for pupils in Yrs 2–6 will be available at the start of term.
There are still a few places left on the Pre Season Rugby Training being held on the Monday 3 September (10am–4pm), Tuesday 4 September (10am–4pm) and Wednesday 5 September (2pm–4pm). These are excellent opportunities for boys to develop their rugby skills and will help with the ‘warm up’ for the autumn rugby season. Booking forms are available from the school office and can be dropped in over the holidays or posted.
Thursday 27 September at 7.30 pm in the Gallery of the Claires Court Sports Hall
Refreshments will be served after the formal proceedings at approximately 8.15 pm
Charity Number: 1052993
Holiday Club is on at The College from 16th July to 31st August, we do hope you will be joining us. In addition to our ever popular programme of fun–packed activities for our mini, mid and kool kidz, we are delighted to announce our kool kidz Xtra activities. The older child can join activities including Bikeability Cycle Training and Cricket and Football days; with drills, skills and mini games in our ‘Sport Club’. Fashion, Textile and Art Award workshops... to name but a few, are on offer during our lsquo;Art and Craft Club’. The ‘Drama Club’ brings you ’Puppets and Theatre’ where you can make and create!
Highlights of Holiday Club events, visitors and activities along with the Xtra programme and booking form can be found online at www.clairescourt.com/holiday–club over the weekend. Don't forget to tick the ‘Club’ box on the booking form to ensure your child gets a place on the fantastic Xtra activities.
J.C.W.
13.7.12