Annual Inter–House Athletics Championships

Friday 18 May 2012 3.15pm–6.00pm Thames Valley Athletics Centre (SL4 6HN)

We hope to see all parents, grandparents, friends and rivals at this supporting your chosen individual and House for a very enjoyable evening of Athletics. TVAC has an all-weather track and covered stadium seating, which means the will take place whatever the weather! Refreshments will be available at the centre together with a bar that is open to visitors.

Non competitors in Years 7 & 8 will have a modified curriculum at school. Years 9 & 10 boys on Games will travel to TVAC but will return in time for buses. Year 11 may have an option for a revision session.

Please see the pdf version of this bulletin for a full programme of events.

Saturday 12 May — Art on the Street, Maidenhead High Street

Don't forget Art on the Street. Our Art & Photography will be on display and our musicians will be performing — Samba Band at 12.50pm and Sam McGregor at 2.05pm, statues will be in place in Nicholsons Shopping Centre and a great range of work from talented artists will also be on display. Art Workshops and Art & Craft Club workshops run by Claires Court Schools will be providing entertainment for children, so join us and enjoy an ‘arty’ day out.

Office News & Looking Ahead

Monday 21 May — Year 11 Study leave commences

Years 7,8,9 & 10 Internal exams commence.

Monday 4–Friday 8 June — Half Term Week

Year 11 & Exam Update...

GCSE Written Exams Commence Monday 14 May.

Please ensure you bring all your own equipment to every exam in a clear plastic pencil case — this includes:

• a decent calculator,
• 2 x pens,
• pencil,
• rule,
• eraser,
• compass,
• protractor etc.

sickness

Following the recent spate of sickness and diarrhoea I would remind parents that along with Department of Health guidelines pupils should not return to school until 48 hours has elapsed from their last bout.

Pupils and parents are reminded that scrupulous hand washing will help us to eradicate this unpleasant condition.

Diamond Ball — Saturday 12 May

We hope you all enjoy this dazzling event. There are some beautiful hampers to be won and a fantastic selection of Auction Prizes on offer including a Ladies Diamond Watch, ‘The Fat Duck’ Tasting Menu for 2, Arsenal v Fulham — Platinum Tickets and Proms Season Box Seats at ‘The Royal Albert Hall’ plus others.

Still can't find a thing to wear — don't forget Sapphire or Jolliffes.

Lost items

May we ask parents please just to check laundry baskets etc — we have several items of lost property, all named, that we cannot seem to track down. We are searching for an assortment of items including jumpers, cricket tops and trousers and track suit tops, all of which have been lost in school recently. The boys know that all bags/kit etc must be locked away in their lockers. If bags are not locked away, or are left on top of the lockers we find that kit is ‘borrowed’ and then not returned and despite a good deal of searching, there are some items that we never find, causing a good deal of understandable frustration to parents as well as unnecessary expense, which we try hard to avoid. Boys — please lock bags away in your locker.

Trips

20–24 October German language trip to Cologne

The interim payment of £150 for this trip is now due. Payment may be made online via the link from the — or by cheque payable to ‘Claires Court Schools Limited’ please.

21–25 October Spanish language trip to Sevilla

The interim payment of £255 is now overdue. We would be grateful for any outstanding payments without delay either online via the link from the School's website or by cheque payable to ‘Claires Court Schools Limited’ please.

21–27 October French language trip to Normandy

The interim payment of £200 is due for this trip by Wednesday 30 May. Payment may be made online via the link from the School's website or by cheque payable to ‘Claires Court Schools Limited’ please.

Ski Trip 2013 — 6–13 April 2013 to Belle Plagne

Details of this exciting and enjoyable trip are now available from the School Office. We have a limited number of 80 places available and these tend to go rather quickly, so get your Booking Form and deposit payment into your School Office as quickly as possible. This trip is open to pupils from Year 5 (September 2012) upwards.

June Half–term Holiday Club — Wednesday 6–Friday 8 June — for 3–12 Year olds

The week starts off with a Diamond Jubilee Party including traditional games and a picnic. We'll discover our favourite Mr Men or Little Miss, and help to create new ones! They’ll also be Magic and Mystery designed to amaze and surprise, and the usual artz n craftz and swimming will be available. Plenty of Community Activities for our older children will be returning in the Summer holiday.

Look online at our ‘Calendar’ for more highlights and daily food menus. Visit www.clairescourt.com/holidayclub for the Booking Form, FAQ's and Terms & Conditions. Our discounted booking rate ends Friday 25 May, and so does the chance to book a hot lunch — so please book early! If you need any more information please email holidayclub@clairescourt.com or call us on 01628 687440.

Holiday Club are in need of more ‘easy to play games’ for fun during the school holidays. Ever popular games include Connect 4, Guess Who, Top Trumps and Battleships, to name but a few! So, if you have any games that your children don't use any more or have just grown out of... please drop into your schools office and tell them they're for us! Your help is really appreciated, thank you.

The teacher had asked the class to write an essay on cricket. With only a few minutes left, one boy had written nothing. Suddenly he looked up at the clock, grabbed his pen and scribbled something on the paper. The Teacher read out his essay: ‘No play today. Rain’

JMR 11/5/12

Last weekend saw terrific success for our chess players with Charlie Grayson, Nikolai Hintereither, Ethan Bains–Gillespie and Jake Bains–Gillespie all winning their age groups. Very well done to the boys involved — please read all about it elsewhere in the Bulletin.

This week I was particularly impressed with the Year 4 boys and girls who enjoyed a terrific Chembakoli Day where they en–acted a day as children in a Southern Indian village. It was a pleasure to watch the boys and girls working together, sharing, cooperating, creating and communicating. An excellent day.

I have also been impressed by many individuals this week, notably Sam Mead 2G and James Hargreaves 3G who are our Rabbit winners this week. Sam was particularly helpful to his teachers and fellow pupils during a football session this week and James is always aware of other boys who might be hurt or troubled around him and will give them a helping hand. Well done Sam and James.

Davenies Maths Challenge

Six boys from Year 5 went to Davenies to take part in an inter–schools maths challenge. Altogether almost 140 pupils took part, working in pairs to solve 8 puzzles, which were marked by Davenies pupils! Our lads thoroughly enjoyed the informal atmosphere and the challenges presented. Other staff commented on the buzz created in Davenies large sports hall.

Definitely an to repeat next Year.

Chembakoli Day — Wednesday 9 May

Year 4 boys and girls enjoyed a hands on learning experience about Chembakoli, a village in Southern India. As part of their Geography curriculum they walked through the ‘Chembakoli Forest’ (The Thicket) learning about the life of an Adivasi child, key geographical features of the forest and the dangers the children faced when walking to the school bus. They also learnt about traditional Indian games and experienced lessons and craft activities Adivasi children would do. The boys all thoroughly enjoyed their day.

Saturday 12 May — Art On The Street, Maidenhead High Street

Come and join the happy throngs enjoying not only the range of art, but also the entertainment and workshops on offer. There will be music — some of it from our own pupils, our ‘statues’ will be found in a range of locations, Claires Court Art & Craft Club workshops in the unit in Queen's Mall, opposite Argos, Art workshops in the old Waterstone's Unit in the Nicholsons Shopping Centre plus of course, our own students' art and photography on display alongside that of many other talented local artists. A ‘treasure trail’ of questions and answers around the gives the opportunity to win prizes.

The Samba Band will perform at 12.50 and Sam McGregor (Year 8 Claires Court) will also be performing at 2.05 — both may be found at the top of the High Street on the stage located by the Boy with the Boat statue.

Mindlab Olympics — Saturday 12 May

On Saturday 12 May the Ridgeway Mindlab team will be competing in a National tournament which will take place at St Pirans in Maidenhead. Mindlab is an after–school activity where the boys develop their thinking skills through the playing of games.

Toby Ward, Jake Bains–Gillespie, William Kilpatrick and Alec Ellis will form the team this Year and we wish them every success.

Karate Tournament — Saturday 12 May

Boys involved in the Karate Tournament tomorrow should arrive at school at 9.30am ready for a 10am start. Good luck to those boys.

After–School Activities and Extra Curricular Music During Exam Week 14 May–18 May

When exams are taking place, if you would prefer your son to be excused from any activity, please inform the teacher concerned by letter or a note in their homework diary.

There will be disruption to normal scheduled extra–curricular music with some lessons cancelled and some timetabled at a different time than usual. Please check with the Ridgeway Weblog.

Diamond Jubilee Celebrations — Friday 1 June

In honour of the Diamond Jubilee of HM Queen Elizabeth we will be holding a Jubilee Celebration at school on Friday 1 June. As part of the festivities the boys can attend school in mufti, the theme being ‘red, white and blue’.(No football jerseys!) More details will follow in a later Bulletin.

Ski Trip 2013

The 37th Claires Court Ski Trip has been arranged for 6–13 April 2013. This is open to boys presently in Year 4 and Year 5, and also to those in Year 6 who are going to Claires Court next Year. In 2013 we plan to visit La Plagne — part of a group of resorts including Plagne, Bellecote, Belle Plagne, Plagne Soliel and Plagne 1800, as well as Plagne Centre. Travel to France will be by air with coach transfers each end. If your son is interested in taking part please collect an information sheet from the school office. Booking forms and payment should be returned to the office by 25 May. Places are on a first come first served basis and there are only 80 in total!

Lost Property

Harry Turner has mislaid his cap and a pair of long grey trousers. Toby Greatwood has been unable to find his blue Umbro pencil case. Harry Grayson is missing a shoe size 2 with double Velcro straps. If anyone should find any of these items please could they bring them to the school office.

June Half–term Holiday Club — Wednesday 6–Friday 8 June — for 3–12 Year olds

The week starts off with a Diamond Jubilee Party including traditional games and a picnic. We'll discover our favourite Mr Men or Little Miss, and help to create new ones! They’ll also be Magic and Mystery designed to amaze and surprise, and the usual artz n craftz and swimming will be available. Plenty of Community Activities for our older children will be returning in the Summer holiday.

Look online at our ‘Calendar’ for more highlights and daily food menus. Visit www.clairescourt.com/holidayclub for the Booking Form, FAQ's and Terms & Conditions. Our discounted booking rate ends Friday 25 May, and so does the chance to book a hot lunch — so please book early! If you need any more information please email holidayclub@clairescourt.com or call us on 01628 687440.

JCW 11.5.12

Don't forget Art on the Street! Our Art & Photography will be on display as well as our musicians performing — Samba Band at 12.50 and Sam McGregor at 2.05 — statues will be in place in Nicholsons Shopping Centre and a great range of work from talented artists on display. Art Workshops and Art & Craft Club workshops run by Claires Court Schools will be providing entertainment for children, so join us and enjoy an ‘arty’ day out.

Amber Hill Year 10

Amber was in Italy last week competing in the ‘Lonato Shooting World Championships’. This was for adults (not juniors) and 74 countries from around the world took part. Of the team of 5 GB ladies, Amber finished second, and the Olympic coach thinks that if she trains hard she will have a good chance of selection for the 2016 Olympics!

Year 4 Chembakolli Day

The day was a great success with girls from Year 4 joining the boys at Ridgeway for a special day to learn about life in Chembakolli, a small village in Southern India. The day commenced with a walk in the Thicket imagining it was the Chembakolli forest so the children could learn how the villagers lived and worked in the forest. The children then played the Indian game ‘Khokho’ together which was followed by an Indian lunch. The afternoon was spent trying out a variety of Indian crafts and taking part in a quiz. The children thoroughly enjoyed their experience and had a wonderful time.

Claires Court Community Contribution!

Many thanks to Tim Knight and his colleague, Nadia, who spoke to Years 11 and 12 this week about an exciting community initiative that his charity, ‘GroundWork’ are running in conjunction with the National Citizen Service. The programme offers young people of 15–17 Years of age an opportunity to plan, prepare and deliver a community project of their choosing. The project starts with a week's residential course at Longridge from Monday 16 July and includes an opportunity to crew narrow boats as well as lots of opportunities to develop planning, organisational and leadership skills during the process of identifying and running a much needed community initiative through an interactive and engaging series of activities. Packs, including an application form, will be sent home to the families of those students who expressed an interest. The programme is absolutely free to anyone wanting to participate — so sign up if you can. Not only will the local area benefit from your contribution but you will learn valuable skills which will impress potential employers and university admissions tutors! Go to www.groundworkfixers–tv.org.uk for more information.

Important information for parents

‘48 Hour Rule’

All parents are reminded that if their child suffers sickness and/or diarrhoea they should not return to School for 48 hours following the last bout.

Nursery & Transition News —(specific news but please read the rest of the Colloquium!)

Next week, the colour of the week for Nursery is pink. Transition will be finding out about ‘watery weather’ (how ever will they do that?!)

Dates!

Week Commencing Monday 14 May 2012 — Week 1 of the Summer Term Menu

Sat 12 May — Art On The Street, Maidenhead High Street

Please see the above for details.

Diamond Ball Saturday 12 May — We hope you all enjoy this dazzling event

There are some beautiful hampers to be won and a fantastic selection of Auction Prizes on offer including a Lady's Diamond Watch, ‘The Fat Duck’ Tasting Menu for 2, Arsenal v Fulham — Platinum Tickets and Proms Season Box Seats at ‘The Royal Albert Hall’ plus others.

Still can't find a thing to wear — don't forget Sapphire or Jolliffes.

Wed 16 May — Years 6 And 11 Class Photos And Sports Teams Photos

For the team photos, please ensure your daughter has all her kit and that it is clean.

Thurs 17 May — Junior Informal Music Concert 3pm in the School Hall

All girls who have individual music lessons at School will be performing together with the Junior Choir (all girls in Years 3–6). Parents and friends are warmly invited to join us and enjoy their performances!

Fri 18 May — Year 11 Study Leave Available From This Date

The girls will have a fun day which will include a BBQ and playing Rounders' matches with staff taking part!

Fri 18 May — Tea Party For Year 11 Parents! — 4.10pm

As part of the Year 11 celebrations we have invited Year 11 parents to join us at 4.10pm for tea. We have had very little response as yet, but there is still time to let us know that you would like to join us. To enable us to cater, please return the slip at the end of this Colloquium on Monday or email hep@clairescourt.com . We look forward to seeing you.

Mon 21 May — Junior And Senior Internal Examinations All Week

Thurs 24 May — Year 5 National Science Inter–School Quiz Championship

A team of Year 5 girls will be taking part in these Championships, taking place at Eton End PNEU School, either as participants or much needed supporters. A letter has been sent home with details and consent slips should be returned to Mrs Prestedge by Wednesday 16 May, please.

Thurs 24 May — ‘Maths–Whizz’ Session For Reception To Year 6 Parents

We are currently working with ‘Maths–Whizz’, an online personalised maths tutoring programme for children aged 5–13 Years old. ‘Maths–Whizz’ caters to each child's unique mathematical ability by providing interesting, interactive lessons for them and giving plenty of information and data to parents and teachers so that progress can easily be monitored. In order to inform parents further we have organised a short session after School at either 4pm or 6pm, which will be hosted by representatives from the Maths-Whizz team and the teaching staff who will present the programme to you and answer any questions you may have. A letter has been sent home today with full details and parents are asked to respond to their daughter's Form Teacher as son as possible.

Tues 29 May — Year 8 HPV Injection

Please note that the girls will have their last HPV injection.

Tues 29 May — Year 5 History Trip To Raf Hendon

Another trip for Year 5 to look forward to! Details will follow shortly.

News From The Head Teacher

First of all well done to the Year 10s for an excellent Parents' Evening on Thursday, not just for the way in which they are all working well or showing that they are capable of stepping up to the plate, but also for the skilful way in which they navigated their parents round the staff — apparently some had misplaced their appointment sheet!

One of the best things to be seen around our School is laughter, and in our assembly on Friday we looked at laughter and the way in which it helps us psychologically, physically and dare I say spiritually. We even watched a short clip of a BBC video of a group in India who have been using laughter via a morning ‘Laughter Club’ to enhance people's lives.

As you will all be aware we are entering the exam period for all the girls in the School, both junior and senior and I know the girls are all preparing hard. It is, of course, vital that we help them to keep their lives in balance during what can be stressful times — girls can have a tendency to place themselves under more pressure at times. What helps is, as far as possible, maintaining their regular life and activity pattern — plenty of sleep, eating well, exercise and other activity, fresh air and above all some fun (remember laughter).

The key to exam success is, as we know, preparation and the girls have been given plenty of advice on exam topics, revision and exam technique. Above all though I would want them to understand that exams are only snapshots and cannot always represent the breadth and depth of work they have covered over a Year. This will be expressed most clearly in the end of term report and teachers will always see exam results as only a part of that picture. Most of all, we have been emphasising with all of the girls that the most important feeling for them is a sense of satisfaction that they have tried hard and done their best. Nobody can ask for more.

Do please keep your daughter's Form Tutor or Class Teacher aware of any issues that may arise over this period.

So, a final word — it's been great to hear about our Year 7/8 and 9/10 athletics teams' success in the Knight Frank Athletics League (we are leading in both competitions), Ellie Rayer's success at the County Multi–competition, and Amber Hill's fantastic performance at the Ladies World Championships. We have also been off to Reading Uni with our top Year 8 chemists to participate in a Salters Chemistry Day, whilst Year 4 enjoyed a ‘Chembakolli’ expedition.

I have also been interviewing Year 10 girls for the positions of Head Girl and Deputy Head Girl. It is clearly going to a really tough choice — very well written letters of application, confident and articulate interviewees, and all of them with ideas and a vision for what they would bring to the role and the School — impressive.

And really finally — the sun's come out and it's Whole School Photograph day, what timing!

Have a wonderful weekend.

Paul Bevis

May Half–Term Holiday Club — Wed 6th–Fri 8th June

Join us this holiday where we will be packing in loads of fun for our 3 to 12 Year olds in just 3 days: a Diamond Jubilee Party starts us off, with traditional games and a picnic. We will discover our favourite Mr Men or Little Miss and help to create new ones! There will also be Magic and Mystery designed to amaze and surprise. All this, and there is still time for our ever popular challenges, games, Artz ‘n’ Craftz and swimming!

Just to let you know... plenty of Community Activities for our older children will be returning in the Summer holiday.

Look online at our ‘Calendar’ for more highlights and daily food menus.

Our discounted booking rate ends Friday 25 May and so does the chance to book a hot lunch — so please book early! If you need any more information please email holidayclub@clairescourt.com or call us on 01628 687440.

Advance Dates

Oct 2012 — German Language Trip To Cologne

The interim payment of £150 for this trip was due today, Friday 11 May. A couple of payments are still outstanding and may be made online via the link from the School's website or by cheque payable to ‘Claires Court Schools Limited’.

21–27 Oct — French Language Trip To Normandy

The interim payment of £200 is due for this trip by Wednesday 30 May. Please note that payment may be made online via the link from the School's website or by cheque payable to ‘Claires Court Schools Limited’.

"Everyone is gifted — but some people never open their package"

11.5.12

Students have already begun some of the centre–assessed modules with Science assessed practicals and Physical Education moderation of practical skills as well as Drama moderation. All the language speaking exams are also now completed. Art exams will also take place in the Art Studio at college.

However all written examinations will be held in the Sports Hall on the Ray Mill Road site.

Students are responsible for their own transport during this time and must report to Dr or Mr Meek outside the Sports Hall by 9am for a morning exam and 1.30pm for an afternoon exam. Students who are late for any reason must telephone 01628 411470 immediately they realise this, but they can only be admitted up to half an hour after the examination has started.

If students do travel in by school coach and need a place to study quietly they must make their way to the Sixth Form area on the College Site as the library and any spare rooms at the boys school will be utilised for examinations.

Students are reminded that business dress is required for examinations and girls are asked to dress modestly, even in hot weather. Trainers, flip-flops, jeans, strappy tops, bare midriffs and short skirts are not permitted. If you are not dressed appropriately when you arrive, you will be asked to leave the examination room until you are.

If you decide to withdraw from an examination for which you are entered you must let Mr or Dr Meek know at least 24 hours before the exam. Otherwise you will be disrupting the start of an exam as we try to contact you to find out why you have not appeared!

Study Leave

Year 12 students have commenced Study Leave today but there are many revision lessons being held which they are encouraged to attend. Students will recommence on Monday 11 June to start A2 studies.

Year 13 students will leave us for their study and examination period on Friday 1 June 2012. There will be a ‘Leavers’ Assembly, a farewell BBQ and students will be dismissed by 12 noon.

Between now and 1st June we are allowing Year 13 students to use Wednesday and/or Friday afternoons for home study instead of games, if they wish. Those students who have indicated this to us have been given a letter to take home with a permission slip that must be returned as soon as possible if they wish to be allowed home study.

Claires Court Community Contribution!

Many thanks to Tim Knight and his colleague, Nadia, who spoke to Years 11 and 12 this week about an exciting community initiative his charity, ‘GroundWork’ is running in conjunction with the National Citizen Service. The programme offers young people of 15–17 Years of age an opportunity to plan, prepare and deliver a community project of their choosing. The project starts with a week’s residential course at Longridge from Monday 16th July and includes an opportunity to crew narrow boats as well as lots of opportunities to develop planning, organisational and leadership skills during the process of identifying and running a much needed community initiative through an interactive and engaging series of activities. Go to www.groundworkfixers–tv.org.uk for more information.

Packs will be sent home to the families of those students who expressed an interest, included in which are application forms. The programme is absolutely free to anyone wanting to participate – so sign up if you can. Not only will the local area benefit from your contribution but you will learn valuable skills which will impress potential employers and university admissions tutors!

Saturday 12 May — Art on the Street, Maidenhead High Street

Don't forget Art on the Street. Our A Level Art & Photography will be on display as well as our musicians performing — Samba Band at 12.50 and Sam McGregor at 2.05, statues will be in place in Nicholsons Shopping Centre and a great range of work from talented artists on display. Art Workshops and Art & Craft Club workshops run by Claires Court Schools will be providing entertainment for children, so join us and enjoy an ‘arty’ day out.

Urgent! — 15–18 June A Level Geography Field Trip to Wales

The deadline has passed for the return of dietary/medical forms and less than half have been returned. We need these urgently in order to complete to arrangements for this trip. Please make sure that they are sent in over the next two days. If your son or daughter is on Study Leave and will not be in school please post it to Mrs Gasalee, College Office, 1 College Ave, Maidenhead, SL6 6AW.

June 12 — Year Higher Education Evening

Your invitation to attend this very informative evening is enclosed with the Bulletin. It will help you to guide your son or daughter through the complex process of application to university via UCAS or to help them decide on an alternative course. As the evening will be held on the second day after the students return from Study Leave please could you email your reply to flm@clairescourt.com.

Revision

Ski Trip 2013 — 6–13 April 2013 to Belle Plagne

Details of this exciting and enjoyable trip are now available from the School Office. We have a limited number of 80 places available and these tend to go rather quickly, so get your Booking Form and deposit payment into your School Office as quickly as possible. This trip is open to pupils from Year 5 (September 2012) upwards.

"A true friend is one who overlooks your failures and tolerates your success!"

Doug Larson

PAB 11/05/2012

Saturday 12 May — Art on the Street, Maidenhead High Street

Come and join the happy throngs enjoying not only the range of art, but also the entertainment and workshops on offer. There will be music — some of it from our own pupils, our ‘statues’ will be found in a range of locations, Claires Court Art & Craft Club workshops in the unit in Queen's Mall, opposite Argos, Art workshops in the old Waterstone's Unit in the Nicholsons Shopping Centre Plus of course, our own students' art and photography on display alongside that of many other talented local artists. A ‘treasure trail’ of questions and answers around the event gives the opportunity to win prizes.

The Samba Band will perform at 12.50pm and Sam MacGregor will also be performing at 2.05pm — both may be found at the top of the High Street on the stage located by the Boy with the Boat statue.

Mr Roach has handed a letter out to all the Samba band players regarding playing at this event as part of ‘Art on the Street’. Please could these be returned to him asap.

Claires Court's published author — take a look! Free book available!

In the words of Mr Wilding, there is an ‘amazing new literary star rising through the ranks of CCS.’ Over this bank holiday weekend (Friday 4—Monday 7 May), you can download Mr Wespieser's (English Department at Claires Court) first novel ‘The Eternal Book of Lol’ (for Kindle, Ipad, Android and PC) free of charge on Amazon.co.uk.

Enjoy the read and you can boast that we have a published author in our midst!!

Annual Inter–House Athletics Championship

Friday 18 May 2010 3.15pm–6.00pm Thames Valley Athletics Centre (SL4 6HN)

We hope to see all parents, grandparents, friends and rivals at this event supporting your chosen individual and House for a very enjoyable evening of Athletics. TVAC has an all–weather track and covered stadium seating, which means the event will take place Whatever the weather! Refreshments will be available at the centre together with a bar that is open to visitors.

Non competitors in years 7 & 8 will have a modified curriculum at school. Years 9 & 10 boys on Games will travel to TVAC but will return in time for buses. Year 11 may have an option for a revision session.

Volunteers

Miss Lunney is looking for pupils to help out with the start at Dorney Lake for the Ball Cup Regatta on Sunday 13 May. All year 7 & 8 rowers should have had a letter about it, but she would love to have help from non rowers too. The role involves being on the start pontoons and holding the boats whilst they line up. This is an ideal opportunity to experience the London 2012 venue and learn something about this sport before the big event this summer! It would only be asking for 1 hour of your time.  If you are interested and can help please email fgl@clairescourt.com.

Office News & Looking Ahead

Monday 7 May — Bank Holiday

Friday 11 May — Whole School Photo

At 9.00am — Please wear full sparkly school uniform.

Examination Officer

Mrs Jackie Cremin is taking early retirement as our Exams Officer and leaves us today, she will be moving near the sea and getting back in the saddle. We would like to wish her lots of happy days relaxing.

We would like to welcome Mrs Gail Wolfendale into this position.

Kindle Culture

It is pleasing to see how many pupils are embracing the Kindle culture. If your son is a reluctant reader, this is a wonderful, interactive way to get them to read. If your son is an avid reader — He probably already has one!

Year 11 & Exam Update...

GCSE Edexcel Linear Mathematics Revision Programme

Year 11 pupils who are entered for the Edexcel Linear Paper in Mathematics should attend the Revision classes every Wednesday after school in Room 1 from 4.25pm–5.25pm. You should have received a notification from Mrs Cremin, our Examination Officer, informing you that you are entered for Edexcel Linear Paper in Mathematics. Past papers are available download from the Hub.

English Departments — End of Year Examination

Exemplar papers for all Year 10 and 11 examination units are now available in the English folder on the hub. In addition candidates should have a close look at the ‘Examination Information’ document in this folder.

May Examinations for Years 7–9

Examination information can be accessed in the English folder on the hub.

Diamond Ball Saturday 12 May

It's not too late, there is one full table and a few other spaces remaining £60 per person. For full information and booking please go to PTAbookings@gmail.com. A flyer is at the end of this Bulletin.

A reminder to all table leaders to please make sure cheques are received into the School Office as soon as possible. Thank you.

Still Haven't got your outfit???!!

Jolliffes in Marlow and Sapphire in Wooburn Green have agreed to provide guests with a 10% discount on dress hire for the CCS Diamond Ball (offer applies to dresses and dinner suits at Jolliffes). So don't delay!!

Trips

20–14 October German language trip to Cologne

The interim payment of £150 for this trip is due by next Friday 11 May please. Payment may be made online via the link from the School's website — www.clairescourt.com or by cheque payable to ‘Claires Court Schools Limited”’ please.

21–25 October Spanish language trip to Sevilla

The interim payment of £255 was due to have been made by today, 4 May. We would be grateful for any outstanding payments without delay either online via the link from the School's website — www.clairescourt.com or by cheque payable to ‘Claires Court Schools Limited’ please.

21–27 October French language trip to Normandy

The interim payment of £200 is due for this trip by Wednesday 30 May. Payment may be made online via the link from the School's website — www.clairescourt.com or by cheque payable to ‘Claires Court Schools Limited’ please.

Ski Trip 2013 — 6–13 April 2013 to Belle Plagne

Details of this exciting and enjoyable trip are now available from the School Office. We have a limited number of 80 places available and these tend to go rather quickly, so get your Booking Form and deposit payment into your School Office as quickly as possible. This trip is open to pupils from Year 5 (September 2012) upwards.

June Half–term Holiday Club

Wednesday 6 to Friday 8 June — for 3 to 12 year olds

The week starts off with a Diamond Jubilee Party including traditional games and a picnic. We'll discover our favourite Mr Men or Little Miss, and help to create new ones! They'll also be Magic and Mystery designed to amaze and surprise, and the usual artz n craftz and swimming will be available. Plenty of Community Activities for our older children will be returning in the Summer holiday.

Look online at our ‘Event Calendar’ for more highlights and daily food menus. Visit www.clairescourt.com/holidayclub for the Booking Form, FAQ's and Terms & Conditions. Our discounted booking rate ends Friday 25 May, and so does the chance to book a hot lunch &mdashh; so please book early! If you need any more information please email holidayclub@clairescourt.com or call us on 01628 687440.

Holiday Club are in need of more ‘easy to play games’ for fun during the school holidays. Ever popular games include Connect 4, Guess Who,Top Trumps and Battleships, to name but a few! So, if you have any games that your children don't use any more or have just grown out of... please please drop into your schools office and tell them they're for us! Your help is really appreciated, thank you.

"Before you judge a man, walk a mile in his shoes. After that, who cares? ...He's a mile away and you've got his shoes.

Billy Connolly

JMR 4/5/12

Wet and windy it may have been, but what a fantastic outward bound experience Year 4 enjoyed last weekend! Girls and boys together built and paddled rafts, climbed and swung on giant swings. They stayed overnight — though didn't sleep much — and generally had a terrific time, learning to cooperate and work together, gaining a degree of independence and cementing friendships whilst all the while behaving superbly.

The news on chess is that Nikolai and Charlie just missed out on selection for England this time round. They have both done extremely well to get this far in the selection process, are congratulated for that and are still very much ‘in the frame’ for future selections. Keep trying and good luck in future.

Our Rabbit awards this week go to Ben Hitchen (4Y), James Cooper (6S) and Ollie Hill (6S). Ben was outstanding last week during the Y4 Outward Bound activities, helping and encouraging other pupils and full of enthusiasm throughout. James and Ollie are two exceptional members of our Y6 Young Leaders who give up their time to help our younger pupils during breaks and lunch times. Well done Ben, Ollie and James.

Parking In The Car Park

Following an incident in the car park earlier this week, where an unsupervised child walked into a slowly manoeuvring car, we have to stress the importance of keeping children safe. Please ensure your child is visible to you at all times and preferably sat in the car if you are talking with other parents. We should add that on this occasion the child in question was unhurt, but we are most concerned about this, as I am sure you are too.

Reception Fruit

There is no longer a requirement for parents to bring fruit in for Reception boys to eat at snack time as this will now be provided by the kitchen.

Reception Shoes

Please name your son's shoes! After swimming today you can imagine the chaos when numerous 4 and 5 year olds attempted to match their shoes to their feet!

Communication

A reminder to all parents — if you are going away for a few days during the week or if there is a particular situation happening at home, please let the school know in advance so that we have all the contact details, and also because we can make sure that we support your son through the changing routines that will be occurring at home. Often boys can be a little anxious with changing or unusual circumstances at home and this forewarning allows us to be able to keep an even closer eye on them for you!!

Year 4 Outward Bound Trip To Longridge

A fantastic time was had by all and the boys behaved extremely well. They were challenged not only by the activities, but also by the dreadful weather However, the boys were cheerful, positive and extremely well mannered and they represented the school with great pride. It was a most successful trip.

Davenies Maths Challenge Tuesday 8 May

A few of our talented mathematicians from Year 5 are attending the Davenies Maths Challenge on Tuesday 8 May. They will be pitting their wits against 29 other school teams. We wish them the very best of luck.

Year 4 Chembakolli Day 9 May

Year 4 boys and girls will be enjoying a day when they learn about Chembakolli and what life is like for those living there. Information has been sent home to the boys with details of the day and appropriate foods for their packed lunches. Consent slips were due for return by Tuesday 8 May at the latest.

Saturday 12 May — Art On The Street, Maidenhead High Street

Come and join the happy throngs enjoying not only the range of art, but also the entertainment and workshops on offer. There will be music — some of it from our own pupils, our ‘statues’ will be found in a range of locations, Claires Court Art & Craft Club workshops in the unit in Queen's Mall, opposite Argos, Art workshops in the old Waterstone's Unit in the Nicholsons Shopping Centre PLUS of course, our own students' art and photography on display alongside that of many other talented local artists. A ‘treasure trail’ of questions and answers around the event gives the opportunity to win prizes.

25 May–27 May Y5 Ridgeway Iow Cricket Tour

U10A and U10B Ridgeway teams are on tour over the weekend of 25–27 May playing matches against Ryde and Ventnor Cricket Club. The boys will be staying at Whitecliffe Bay Holiday Park, which has a pool and other facilities for the boys to enjoy. Consent slips and payments are due in to the office by Tuesday 8 May.

Lost (all items below are clearly named)

Luke Chester has lost his PE bag with all his kit inside. Last seen in school on Friday, it has now disappeared. If anyone sees this please could you bring it to the office. Thank you.

Holiday Club

May half–term Holiday Club — Wednesday 6th–Friday 8th June

Join us this holiday where we'll pack in loads of fun for our 3 to 12 year olds in just 3 days...A Diamond Jubilee Party starts us off, with traditional games and a picnic. We'll discover our favourite Mr Men or Little Miss, and help to create new ones! There will also be Magic and Mystery designed to amaze and surprise. All this, and there's still time for our ever popular challenges, games, artz n craftz and swimming! Just to let you know... plenty of Community Activities for our older children will be returning in the Summer holiday.

Look online at our ‘Event Calendar’ for more highlights and daily food menus. Visit www.clairescourt.com/holidayclub for the Booking Form, FAQ's and Terms & Conditions. Our discounted booking rate ends Friday 25 May, and so does the chance to book a hot lunch — so please book early! If you need any more information please email holidayclub@clairescourt.com or call us on 01628 687440.

Holiday Club are in need of more ‘easy to play games’ for fun during the school holidays. Ever popular games include Connect 4, Guess Who, top trumps and battle ships, to name but a few! So, if you have any games that your children don't use any more or have just grown out of... please, please drop them into your school's office and tell them they're for us! Your help is really appreciated, thank you.

JCW 4.5.12

We are delighted to announce the appointment of Miss Leanne Barlow as the new Head of Junior Girls, following on from the retirement of Mrs Pauline Murphy at the end of this term. Miss Barlow is currently the Upper Phase leader at Watchetts Junior School, and has been a significant and highly commended part of the leadership team of that school during its move out of special measures, giving her excellent experience in the processes of school improvement and leadership. She has also previously undertaken the roles of Maths, PSHCE and general Curriculum Co-ordinator and is a School Governor. In her spare time she is an enthusiastic netballer and plays in the Hampshire League.

We are sure you will all join us in warmly welcoming Miss Barlow to our school community. We will be making arrangements for Miss Barlow to meet the children, and, of course you the parents, and we will publish details of those opportunities in the near future.

Sat 12 May — Art On The Street, Maidenhead High Street

Come and join in the fun on the High Street on Saturday 12 May to enjoy not only the range of art, but also the entertainment and workshops on offer. There will be music (some of it from our own pupils), our ‘statues’ will be found in a range of locations, Claires Court Art & Craft Club workshops in the unit in Queen’s Mall opposite Argos and Art workshops in the old Waterstone's Unit in the Nicholson's Shopping Centre. Plus of course, our own students' art and photography will be on display alongside that of many other talented local artists. A ‘treasure trail’ of questions and answers around the event gives the opportunity to win prizes. The Samba Band will perform at 12.50pm at the top of the High Street on the stage located by the Boy with the Boat. Sam McGregor from Claires Court will perform at 2.05pm.

Year 4 Have Fun At Longridge

Year 4 girls and boys enjoyed a great time at Longridge last week–end, with some new experiences and activities. Full reports will appear in the Sports Circular but be assured that they would all love to repeat the exercise!

Netball Opportunity

Congratulations to Daisy Rühle, 9B, who has been invited to attend the Netball South's Summer Programme for athletes with promise (PDP). PDP is an excellent opportunity for athletes looking to progress with England Netball.

Daisy will attend four training days in June and hopefully will then be invited to attend the Regional Screening session at the end of the fourth day which leads to selection to the Regional Academy. We will be delighted if Daisy gets selected as she will be the fifth Claires Court netball player to have reached Regional Screening!

The Npower Big (Hockey) Dribble

Earlier this week, 11 girls from Year 8 and Ellie Rayer (Year 10) took part in the nPower BIG Dribble @ Reading. The nPower BIG Dribble is an amazing opportunity for the Great British public to get into the Olympic spirit! The hockey roadshow has toured the country over 18 days giving people of all ages and abilities the chance to pick up a stick and take part. The girls joined Katherine Grainger (Rowing Olympic Silver Medallist at the Sydney, Greece and Beijing Olympics and London 2012 hopeful gold medallist) and took part in the attempt to set a record for dribbling hockey balls 2012km across Great Britain.

Important information for parents

Ski Trip 2013, To Belle Plagne — 6–13 April 2013

Details of this exciting and enjoyable trip are now available from the School Office. We have a limited number of 80 places available and these tend to go rather quickly, so get your Booking Form and deposit payment into your School Office as quickly as possible. This trip is open to pupils from Year 5 (September 2012) upwards.

Claires Court's Published Author — Take A Look — Free book available!

In the words of Mr Wilding, there is an ‘amazing new literary star rising through the ranks of CCS.’ Mr Wespieser is a member of the English Department and over this Bank Holiday weekend you can download his first novel ‘The Eternal Book of Lol’ (for Kindle, Ipad, android and PC) free of charge on Amazon.

Enjoy the read and you can boast that we have a published author in our midst!!

Nursery & Transition News — (specific news but please read the rest of the Colloquium!)

Next week, as part of their Water topic, Nursery will learn about floating and sinking and Transition will learn about the importance of water and how we need it.

Message From The College Libraries...

All students will be bringing home a copy of the latest Scholastic Book Club leaflet this week, featuring a wide range of books to suits all tastes and abilities. For every order placed, the School will automatically receive a commission to spend on new books for the College Libraries. With great books on offer from £1.99, it's an opportunity for readers of all ages to save money AND raise funds for the School. Ordering is easy — just choose your books, fill in the order form and return it to School. Closing date: Thursday 31 May. You can also view the Scholastic web site to look inside the latest releases, share your favourites, join the Review Team, play games and win prizes.

Volunteers Wanted at Olympic Venue!!

Miss Lunney is looking for volunteers to assist at Dorney Lake on Sunday 13 May as help is required at the start of the Ball Cup Regatta. All Year 7 and 8 rowers should have had a letter, but she would love to have help from non rowers too! The role involves being on the start pontoons and holding the boats whilst they line up. This is an ideal opportunity to experience the London 2012 venue and learn something about this sport before the big event this summer! It would only be asking for 1 hour of your time. If you are interested and can help please email fgl@clairescourt.com.

Holiday Club Request!

Holiday Club is in need of more ‘easy to play games’ for fun during the school holidays. Ever popular games include Connect 4, Guess Who, Top Trumps and Battleships, to name but a few! So, if you have any games that your children no longer use or have just grown out of... please, please, drop into your School Office and leave them for us! Your help is really appreciated, thank you!

Dates!

Week Commencing Tuesday 8 May 2012 — Week 2 of the Summer Term Menu

Mon 7 May — May Day Bank Holiday

Wed 9 May — Year 8 Salter's Festival of Chemistry

A letter has been sent home to the Year 8 girls invited to attend.

Wed 9 May — Year 4 Geography Visit To Ridgeway ‘Chembakolli’ Day

Year 4 has been invited to join the boys for the day to learn about life in Chembakolli through role–play and other activities. A letter has been sent home with details of the day and appropriate foods for their packed lunches and parents were requested to return the consent slip by today, Friday 4 May.

Thurs 10 May — Year 10 Parents' Evening — 6pm

An appointment sheet has been sent home via pupil post (and emailed to all those who have given us their email address) inviting parents to make appointments with their daughter's teachers.

Fri 11 May — Whole School Photo

All pupils should be smartly dressed in summer uniform including blazer (and a hairbrush in the school bag would not go amiss!).

Sat 12 May — Art On The Street, Maidenhead High Street

Please see the front page for details.

Diamond Ball Saturday 12 May

It's not too late — there is one full table and a few other spaces remaining at £60 per person.

Still Haven't Got Your Outfit? — Jolliffes in Marlow and Sapphire in Wooburn Green have agreed to provide guests with a 10% discount on dress hire for the CCS Diamond Ball (offer applies to dresses and dinner suits at Jolliffes). So don't delay!!

Wed 16 May — Years 6 and 11 Class Photos And Sports Teams Photos

Advance warning: lots of clean and smart team kit required!

Thurs 17 May — Junior Informal Music Concert

3pm in the School Hall

All girls who have individual music lessons at School will be performing together with the Junior Choir (all girls in Years 3–6). Parents and friends are warmly invited to join us and enjoy their performances!

Fri 18 May — Year 11 Study Leave Available From This Date

The girls will have a fun day which will include a BBQ and playing Rounders' matches with staff taking part!

Fri 18 May — Tea Party For Year 11 Parents! — 4.10pm

As part of the Year 11 celebrations we invite Year 11 parents to join us at 4.10pm for tea. To enable us to cater, please return the tear off slip at the end of this Colloquium (or ask your daughter to collect a slip from the School Office if you are unable to print at home). We look forward to seeing you.

News From The Head Teacher

BBC World's Biggest School Assembly

The objective is to get children and young people in schools talking about what matters to them, and we are turning our assembly into an opportunity for us to talk and debate.

What Is It?

Get more information about the World's Biggest School Assembly.

So we are asking our pupils and young people to take part by thinking about something that matters to them — it can be something local within their own community, or something more national or global. See the BBC video: ... and then tell us.

How They Can Be Involved

How can you tell everybody on the 8th what they would like us to debate in assembly? We can have more than just one topic or issue). Well, you could:

• Bring a poster to school
• Put your ideas onto a Google presentation slide.
• Or make a short movie and post it onto the Hub or link to it from the Google presentation
• Put together a photo story or a news montage to show what you want us to discuss and either put it on a slide or make a link
• Or tweet including the hashtags #clairescourt and #bbcassembly
• Or any other way you can think of.

Please get thinking!

Paul Bevis

May Half–Term Holiday Club — Wed 6th–Fri 8th June

Join us this holiday where we will be packing in loads of fun for our 3 to 12 year olds in just 3 days: a Diamond Jubilee Party starts us off, with traditional games and a picnic. We will discover our favourite Mr Men or Little Miss and help to create new ones! There will also be Magic and Mystery designed to amaze and surprise. All this, and there is still time for our ever popular challenges, games, Artz ‘n’ Craftz and swimming! Just to let you know… plenty of Community Activities for our older children will be returning in the Summer holiday.

Look online at our ‘Event Calendar’ for more highlights and daily food menus.

Visit www.clairescourt.com/holidayclub for more info, the Booking Form, FAQs and Terms & Conditions.

Our discounted booking rate ends Friday 25 May and so does the chance to book a hot lunch — so please book early! If you need any more information please email holidayclub@clairescourt.com or call us on 01628 687440.

Advance Dates

Oct 2012 — Spanish Trip To Sevilla

The interim payment of £225 was due today, 4 May. We would be grateful for any outstanding payments without delay either online via the link from the School's website or by cheque payable to ‘Claires Court Schools Limited’.

Oct 2012 — German Language Trip To Cologne

The interim payment of £150 for this trip is due by next Friday 11 May. Please note that payment may be made online via the link from the School's website or by cheque payable to ‘Claires Court Schools Limited’.

21–27 Oct — French Language Trip To Normandy

The interim payment of £200 is due for this trip by Wednesday 30 May. Please note that payment may be made online via the link from the School's website or by cheque payable to ‘Claires Court Schools Limited’.

"Put your future in good hands — your own"

4.5.12

Examinations!

Students have already begun some of the centre–assessed modules with Science assessed practicals and Physical Education moderation of practical skills as well as Drama moderation. All the language speaking exams will take place between 4–11 May at College. Art exams will also take place in the Art Studio at college.

However all written examinations will be held in the Sports Hall on the Ray Mill Road site.

Students are responsible for their own transport during this time and must report to Dr or Mr Meek outside the Sports Hall by 9am for a morning exam and 1.30pm for an afternoon exam. Students who are late for any reason must telephone 07961 694620 immediately they realise, but they can only be admitted up to half an hour after the examination has started.

If students do travel in by school coach and need a place to study quietly they must make their way to the Sixth Form area on the College Site as the library and any spare rooms at the boys school will be utilised for examinations.

Students are reminded that business dress is required for examinations and girls are asked to dress modestly, even in hot weather. Trainers, flip-flops, jeans, strappy tops, bare midriffs and short skirts are not permitted. If you are not dressed appropriately you will be asked to leave the examination room until you are.

If you decide to withdraw from an examination for which you are entered you must let Mr or Dr Meek know at least 24 hours before the exam. Otherwise you will be disrupting the start of an exam as we try to contact you to find out why you have not appeared!

Study Leave

Year 12 students will commence Study Leave from Monday 14 May 2012 and a letter has been sent to parents giving more details of the arrangements for the end of the Summer Term.

Year 13 students will leave us for their study and examination period on Friday 1 June 2012. There will be a “Leavers” Assembly, a farewell BBQ and students will be dismissed by 12 noon.

Between now and 1st June we are allowing Year 13 students to use Wednesday and/or Friday afternoons for home study instead of games, if they wish. Those students who have indicated this to us have been given a letter to take home with a permission slip that must be returned as soon as possible if they wish to be allowed home study.

Claires Court's published author — take a look — Free book available!

In the words of Mr Wilding, there is an ‘amazing new literary star rising through the ranks of CCS.’ Over this bank holiday weekend (Friday 4th–Monday 7th May), you can download Mr Wespieser's (English Department at Claires Court) first novel ‘The Eternal Book of Lol’ (for Kindle, Ipad, android and PC) free of charge..

Enjoy the read and you can boast that we have a published author in our midst!!

Colour printer cartridges

If your printer uses HP57 Colour Injet cartridges, HP 364XL photo or HP 58 photo cartridges you are in luck! We have two of each of these, sealed in original packets, in the Sixth Form office for £5 each. Those of you who normally buy these cartridges will know that this is an enormous saving so the first people to see Dr Meek with the money will be able to buy them.

Banish the ‘Revision Demons’!

Saturday 12 May — Art on the Street, Maidenhead High Street

Come and join the happy throngs enjoying not only the range of art, but also the entertainment and workshops on offer. There will be music — some of it from our own pupils, our ‘statues’ will be found in a range of locations, Claires Court Art & Craft Club workshops in the unit in Queen's Mall, opposite Argos, Art workshops in the old Waterstone’s Unit in the Nicholsons Shopping Centre plus of course, our own students’ art and photography on display alongside that of many other talented local artists. A ‘treasure trail’ of questions and answers around the event gives the opportunity to win prizes.

The Samba Band will perform at 12.50 and Sam McGregor will also be performing at 2.05 — both may be found at the top of the High Street on the stage located by the Boy with the Boat statue.

Car Parking

Sixth Formers who drive to school are reminded to take care not to block (or partially block) the driveways of nearby houses. College Road and College Avenue are heavily used for parking by parents, staff and students and we must always be considerate of local residents and their requirement for access at all times.

Ski Trip 2013 — 6–13 April 2013 to Belle Plagne

Details of this exciting and enjoyable trip are now available from the School Office. We have a limited number of 80 places available and these tend to go rather quickly, so get your Booking Form and deposit payment into your School Office as quickly as possible. This trip is open to pupils from Year 5 (September 2012) upwards.

15–18 June A Level Geography Field Trip to Wales

The final itinerary together with kit list for this trip has been distributed. Medical/dietary forms should be returned to School by next Friday 11 May please.

Dates for your diary...

Monday 7 May — May Day holiday

Don't forget, this is the May Day holiday. The School is not open!

Friday 11 May — Sixth Form Photograph — 1pm

Please make sure you are in smart business dress including jackets for all students and ties for boys.

Saturday 12 May — Diamond Ball

It's not too late — there is one full table and a few other spaces remaining at £60 per person. For full information and booking, please go to PTAbookings@gmail.com. A reminder to all table leaders — please make sure cheques are received into the School Office as soon as possible. Thank you.

"Man's mind, stretched by a new idea, never goes back to its original dimensions"

Oliver Wendell Holmes

PAB 04/05/2012

Claires Court Schools/Art on the Street Award

We were delighted to make the presentation of the Claires Court Schools/Art on the Street Award earlier this week at the Rendezvous Café in Maidenhead Town Hall. The clear winner of this award was the Slough Arts Group who were flabbergasted and delighted at their success. The next Art on the Street event will take place in Maidenhead High Street on Saturday 12 May when you will find not only some terrific art (including that of our own pupils and students), but also art workshops, craft workshops (run by Claires Court) and entertainers including some from different parts of our organisation. Put the date in your diary and come and enjoy all the delights on offer.

Office News & Looking Ahead

Thursday 3 May — Sailing match with Clifton

Away 12.30pm–6.30pm — Will not connect with buses.

Monday 7 May — Bank Holiday

Friday 11 May — Whole School Photo 9.00am

Please wear full sparkly school uniform.

Friday 18 May — Sports Day

Thames Valley Athletics Centre 3.00pm to 6.00pm — full information in next weeks Bulletin.

Holidays in Term Time

We have received a number of requests for pupils to leave school early on Friday 4 May to enable them to travel to a rugby tournament that begins on the Saturday. These absences are unauthorised in line with our school policy.

Bus Journeys

May we remind parents that the school office must be advised — in advance — of any occasional use of the school buses, or any change of route. Some routes have more space on them than others and we cannot guarantee a seat if we have not been informed. For administrative as well as Health and Safety reasons we need to know who is travelling where.

Open Morning (for Prospective pupils) at Claires Court Schools

Wednesday 2 May from 9.30am—12.00 noon (11.30am Nursery). At all three sites.

Recycle 4 Charity

We were visited yesterday in our Assembly by Janet Brewer from ‘Alexander Devine Children's Hospice Service’ who advised us that an alternative way for them to make some money is by Recycling mobile phones — so if you are having a spring clean and wish to donate any you have please bring them to the school office by Friday 4 May. Thank you.

Year 11 & Exam Update...

GCSE Edexcel Linear Mathematics Revision Programme

Year 11 pupils who are entered for the Edexcel Linear Paper in Mathematics should attend the Revision classes every Wednesday after school in Room 1 from 4.25pm to 5.25pm. You should have received a notification from Mrs Cremin, our Examination Officer, informing you that you are entered for Edexcel Linear Paper in Mathematics. Past papers are available download from the Hub.

English Department: End Of Year Examinations

Notes on the format of these for Years 7–11 are now available on the hub. In addition hard copies will be stuck into all English homework books.

Kindle Culture

It is pleasing to see how many pupils are embracing the Kindle culture. If your son is a reluctant reader, this is a wonderful, interactive way to get them to read. If your son is an avid reader... He probably already has one!

‘Of Mice & Men’

A production ‘Of Mice & Men’would be particularly useful for our Year 10 or any Year 11 pupils who may be re–sitting this unit to attend, (as they are studying this book for both GCSE English Language and Literature) is running from 10 May to 16 June at The Watermill Theatre, Bagnor, Newbury RG20 8AE

Modern Foreign Language

Letters to Years 7 & 8 have been distributed via boy post — please complete and return to ‘The Office’. Thank you

Diamond Ball — Saturday 12 May

It's not too late, there is one full table and a few other spaces remaining £60 per person. For full information and booking please go to PTAbookings@gmail.com. A reminder to all table leaders to please make sure cheques are received into the School Office as soon as possible. Thank you.

June Half–Term Holiday Club

Wednesday 6 to Friday 8 June — for 3 to 12 year olds. The week starts off with a Diamond Jubilee Party including traditional games and a picnic. We'll discover our favourite Mr Men or Little Miss, and help to create new ones! They'll also be Magic and Mystery designed to amaze and surprise, and the usual artz n craftz and swimming will be available. Plenty of Community Activities for our older children will be returning in the Summer holiday.

Look online at our ‘Event Calendar’ for more highlights and daily food menus. Visit www.clairescourt.com/holidayclub for the Booking Form, FAQ's and Terms & Conditions. Our discounted booking rate ends Friday 25 May, and so does the chance to book a hot lunch — so please book early! If you need any more information please email holidayclub@clairescourt.com or call us on 01628 687440.

Trips

Spanish Trip to Sevilla — 21–25 October 2012

A letter requesting the interim payment for this trip of £255 was distributed today for those attending. Please make cheques payable to ‘Claires Court Schools Limited’ by Friday 4 May. Thank you.

Claires Court Schools Diamond Ball 2012 — Saturday 12th May

The Crowne Plaza,
Fieldhouse Lane,
Marlow Bucks,
SL7 1GL.

Last Few Remaining Tickets Still Available!

• £60 per person
• Dress Code — Black Tie and Bling!
• 7pm — Pre–Dinner Drinks
• 8pm — Three Course Meal
• Raffle, Auction, Entertainment & Disco
• 2am — Carriages

Contact: PTABookings@gmail.com or Louise Johnson 07787123034

Hamper Raffle & Auction

To those parents who have already donated items, we would like to say a big thank you. However we still need more! Here are an example of the types of gifts we are looking for:

• Pampering gifts
• Luxury candles/Room diffusers
• Champagne
• Vouchers for beauty treatments
• Vouchers from
  • Marks & Spencers
  • John Lewis
  • Next

If you feel you can help then please drop off any items into the School Office by Thursday 3rd May, marked ‘Diamond Ball’.

Many thanks
Louise and Gill

"The early bird need not pursue the worm when he can order pizza at midnight."

Charles M Schulz

JMR 27/4/12

Wet play–times, dodging storms, cricket cancelled — yes — it is the start of the Summer Term! Despite all this the boys have quickly settled into their work and, believe it or not, their sport!

This weekend we wish good luck to two of our top chess players, Charlie Grayson and Nikolai Hinterreither who are spending the weekend in Liverpool playing chess against the very best of England's U11 players. They are attempting to win places in the England squad, so best of luck to Charlie and Nikolai.

We wish good luck to Year 4 as well. They will be spending this afternoon, evening, night and tomorrow morning at Longridge Activity Centre. They will have a fantastic time — whatever the weather.

Our Rabbits this week go to Geiovannie Sealy (4G) and Harry Morris (6S). Geiovannie has been consistently helpful and thoughtful throughout school, but in the library in particular. Harry is suffering his second broken leg of the year, yet he has been cheerful, uncomplaining, well behaved and an excellent example to others about how to react to adversity. Well done Harry and Geiovannie.

News From Our 3 For 3 Charity Appeal...

The money is still rolling in on all three sites so we are unable to report a ‘grand total’ but Ridgeway have so far raised in excess of £4600. Well done and thank you for all your support.

Friday 27 April – Year 4 Outward Bound Trip To Longridge

A write up regarding this trip will appear in next week's Bulletin.

Ridgeway Swimming Pool News

We are delighted to inform you that we have now received planning consent for the rebuild and improvement of our swimming pool. Much of the research has been carried out and we are now working on the logistics of getting the physical work carried out! Those at Ridgeway will be able to watch the progress!

Lunch Money

If your son forgets or loses his lunch money, the office staff are happy to lend money for lunch. A note of how much your son borrowed is written into his homework diary and a record is kept in the office. Would parents please repay the loan the following day. Thank you for your assistance.

Tesco Vouchers/Sainsbury's Active Kids Vouchers

Thank you so much for your support on the above programmes.. Please keep sending your tokens in. We shall update you with our totals shortly.

Music Notes

As times can change at short notice will boys who take extra curricular music lessons please make sure they check the website for the time of their music lessons. A great deal of time is lost when teachers have to come to search for boys who have not turned up for their allocated lesson.

May half–term Holiday Club — Wednesday 6th–Friday 8th June

Join us this holiday where we'll pack in loads of fun for our 3 to 12 year olds in just 3 days... A Diamond Jubilee Party starts us off, with traditional games and a picnic. We'll discover our favourite Mr Men or Little Miss, and help to create new ones! There will also be Magic and Mystery designed to amaze and surprise. All this, and there’s still time for our every popular challenges, games, artz n craftz and swimming! Just to let you know… plenty of Community Activities for our older children will be returning in the Summer holiday.

Look online at our ‘Event Calendar’ for more highlights and daily food menus. Visit www.clairescourt.com/holidayclub for the Booking Form, FAQ's and Terms & Conditions. Our discounted booking rate ends Friday 25 May, and so does the chance to book a hot lunch — so please book early! If you need any more information please email holidayclub@clairescourt.com or call us on 01628 687440.

Claires Court Schools Diamond Ball 2012 — Saturday 12th May

The Crowne Plaza,
Fieldhouse Lane,
Marlow Bucks,
SL7 1GL.

Last Few Remaining Tickets Still Available!

• £60 per person
• Dress Code — Black Tie and Bling!
• 7pm — Pre–Dinner Drinks
• 8pm — Three Course Meal
• Raffle, Auction, Entertainment & Disco
• 2am — Carriages

Contact: PTABookings@gmail.com or Louise Johnson 07787123034

Hamper Raffle & Auction

To those parents who have already donated items, we would like to say a big thank you. However we still need more! Here are an example of the types of gifts we are looking for:

• Pampering gifts
• Luxury candles/Room diffusers
• Champagne
• Vouchers for beauty treatments
• Vouchers from
  • Marks & Spencers
  • John Lewis
  • Next

If you feel you can help then please drop off any items into the School Office by Thursday 3rd May, marked ‘Diamond Ball’.

Many thanks
Louise and Gill

JCW 27.4.12

We were delighted to make the presentation of the Claires Court Schools ‘Art on the Street Award’ earlier this week at the Rendezvous Café in Maidenhead Town Hall. The clear winner of this award was the Slough Arts Group who were flabbergasted and delighted at their success. The next Art on the Street will take place in Maidenhead High Street on Saturday 12 May when you will find not only some terrific art (including that of our own pupils and students), but also art workshops, craft workshops (run by Claires Court) as well as some entertainers from different parts of our organisation. Put the date in your diary and come and enjoy all the delights on offer!

ISA National Essay Cometition

Congratulations to Molly Ross, 11M, who was awarded a Highly Commended in the ‘Favonius Senior’ section in the recent competition.

Ellie Rayer Playing For England

Ellie played in all of the U16 England games in the ‘4 Nations Championship’ in Hanover Germany in what proved to be very testing conditions both due to the standard of the opposition and the weather conditions (the Spain v Germany match was stopped due to a hailstorm making conditions unplayable). England lost to Germany 4–0, Spain 3–1 and Netherlands heavily, however the team showed clear improvement through the tournament and enjoyed the experience. On her return, Ellie travelled to Cannock where she joined up with Miss Fuller, Miss Hudson and past pupil, Laura Haynes, in the final of the National Trophy 2nd XI Team playing for Maidenhead and who all beat Oxford 4–1.

Sports Relief

Well done to the 4 girls who completed their 6 miles for Sport Relief on Sunday: Hannah Wardman, Katy Pocock, Ana Murphy and Liz Newton, all 10R. The girls said there was a great atmosphere at the event and, to make the day even more special, some of them managed to run alongside JLS. They all had their race numbers signed by a number of celebrities. The money is still coming in, but their total so far is £370!

County Hockey

Ana Murphy, 10R, has been selected to play for Berkshire U15 Girls hockey team this weekend, 29 April, for their final fixture of this year. Of the 30 girls who make up the Berkshire U15 team only 16 were selected for the two matches, v Middlesex and Sussex. Ana also played in both matches of their previous double fixture in March, v Hants and Bucks. By the end of the programme, she will have played in 4 out of the 5 matches (unfortunately she missed the 5th game as she was away on Geography trip!). Kathryn Wills, 8F, has also been selected from the Berkshire U13 Girls Hockey team (as with Ana, only 16 selected from the 30 team members) for a match in Reading this weekend. Good luck to both girls!

Important information for parents

Junior Book Club: Greenaway Medal 2012

This term, Junior Book Club members will be shadowing this year's Greenaway Medal, the prize awarded annually for an outstanding book in terms of illustration for children and young people. Students will be reading the 8 shortlisted titles and writing their own reviews. More information on the shortlisted books can be found on the College Weblog and on the Greenaway Award website.

Anyone For Cricket?

Maidenhead and Bray Cricket Club are driving an initiative to promote cricket for girls. This coming Monday 30 April, Charlotte Edwards, the England Women's Cricket captain, will be leading a coaching session for girls between the ages 8 and 14 (Years 3–8) at the Club in Bray. The session will be from 6.00pm–7.00pm. All girls are welcome — both members and non–members. For further information, please contact hdb@clairescourt.com.

RBWM ‘Sports Bug’ And ‘Return to Sport’: 12–25 May Free Taster Sessions

The Sports Bug initiative is targeted at children and families and offers a number of free sports activities across the Borough for residents to come and try. Activities range from Athletics, Cricket and Dragon Boating to Hockey, Sailing and Tennis. Local sports clubs and leisure centres open their doors to offer taster sessions and more information about how to join up if you want to continue the sport on a regular basis. For parents and older teenagers who also want to try activities, there is also an adult specific taster fortnight that runs alongside called ‘Return to Sport in RBWM’ activities this year include Boot camp, Nordic Walking, Sailing and Touch Rugby. For more information on both initiatives and for the full timetables on what is on offer, please go to www.getactiverbwm.org.

Nursery & Transition news (specific news but please read the rest of the Colloquium!)

Next week, as part of their Water topic, Nursery and Transition will find out what it is used for!

The Nursery colour of the week is Yellow.

Dates!

Week Commencing Monday 30 April 2012 — Week 1 of the Summer Term Menu

Wed 2 May — Open Morning On All Three Sites

From 9.30am–12.00pm (to 11.30am for the Nursery). We welcome prospective parents and also our existing parents who might be considering the next step e.g. Nursery to College. There is no need to book, just turn up! You will be shown around the division of your choice by some of our girls and have the opportunity to meet Mr Bevis and other senior members of staff.

Mon 7 May — May Day Bank Holiday

Wed 9 May — Year 8 Salter's Festival of Chemistry

Details to follow.

Thurs 10 May — Year 10 Parents' Evening

A letter will be sent home on Monday, via pupil post, inviting parents to make appointments with their daughter's teachers.

Fri 11 May — Whole School Photo

All pupils should be smartly dressed in summer uniform including blazer (and a hairbrush in the school bag would not go amiss!).

Sat 12 May — Art On The Street, Maidenhead High Street

We are continuing our friendship with our community based art group and hope the date is in your diary to join us and see Maidenhead come to life. Some lovely unusual and unique items will be just waiting for you to buy them!

Saturday 12 May — Diamond Ball

It's not too late &mdsh; there is one full table and a few other spaces remaining at '60 per person. Please see the back page of this Colloquium for details and a request for raffle Prizes.

Still Haven't Got Your Outfit??!!

Jolliffes in Marlow and Sapphire in Wooburn Green have agreed to provide guests with a 10% discount on dress hire for the CCS Diamond Ball (offer applies to dresses and dinner suits at Jolliffes). So don't delay!!

Wed 16 May — Years 6 And 11 Class Photos and Sports Teams Photos

Advance warning — lots of clean and smart team kit required!

May half–term Holiday Club — Wednesday 6th–Friday 8th June

Join us this holiday where we'll pack in loads of fun for our 3 to 12 year olds in just 3 days: a Diamond Jubilee Party starts us off, with traditional games and a picnic. We will discover our favourite Mr Men or Little Miss, and help to create new ones!

There will also be Magic and Mystery designed to amaze and surprise. All this, and there is still time for our every popular challenges, games, artz ‘n’ craftz and swimming! Just to let you know...plenty of Community Activities for our older children will be returning in the Summer holiday.

Look online at our ‘Event Calendar’ for more highlights and daily food menus.

Visit www.clairescourt.com/holidayclub for the Booking Form, FAQ's and Terms & Conditions. Our discounted booking rate ends Friday 25 May, and so does the chance to book a hot lunch — so please book early! If you need any more information please email holidayclub@clairescourt.com or call us on 01628 687440.

Advance Dates

Oct 2012 — Spanish Trip to Sevilla

The interim payment of £225 is now due and reminder letters have been sent home. We now have the facility for parents to pay online by following the link from the school's website, www.clairescourt.com.

News From The Head Teacher

The drought, or the flood, depending upon your elevation, got us to thinking about water in assembly on Friday and how much we take for granted that never ending purified stream that comes out of our taps. That led us into thoughts about those parts of the world for which the word ‘drought’ has a far more dramatic outcome than the inconvenience of washing the car with a bucket, threatening as it does the health and life of millions of people across the world. A simple sum led us to the startling fact that if we were able to halve the water loss from our pipes, it would be the equivalent of meeting the daily needs of 50 million people in Africa!

Water is an essential component of life and we have had more life join us this term — no, not the new pupils who have settled in so quickly and happily, but our caterpillars. Following on from the highly successful venture with the chicks last term we have ventured into the world of butterfly farms and we now wait for caterpillars to pupate and then burst into life as butterflies in about 5–6 weeks' time. Year 2 couldn't bear not being able to see them on a daily or hourly basis so they have gone ahead and set up a rival attraction ... (not sure that the linked TV screens will cause quite the same fascination).

The purchase of the butterfly farm (we need a far zingier name that that... suggestions, please) has been enabled with the very generous support of our PTA which has also agreed to fund the purchase of the following:

• Olympic sports shirts for the girls' teams going to the ISA Festival of Sport (senior girls)
• Butterfly Farm (whole School)
• Heat transfer press for the Art and Textiles Departments so that creative designs can be imprinted upon a whole range of materials wood, metal etc (whole School)
• Plants for the Junior Garden, which is coming on apace, and we are looking to purchase plants that will help us celebrate the Queen's Jubilee (Junior Prep girls)
• High Tea Shape Matching Cake Stands — something for Year 1 to help in shape matching, number recognition and used in role play
• Small sound system for the library to enable more audio work to be undertaken
• An Eglu — yes, that is spelt right! This chicken coop will allow us to keep our chickens and give the children the opportunity to look after the hens, collect the eggs etc.
• iPads — we are very excited that the PTA are supporting our digital learning initiatives. The Junior classes and the PE Department will be piloting the use of these in the School and we shall be reporting back on the impact they have had, at the end of term.

We are incredibly fortunate to have a PTA that as well as giving such a huge amount of time and energy to fund raising activities also takes a genuine interest in the effect that their generous support has on the learning and development of the children and young people in the School. No doubt you will see adverts for the Diamond Ball and if you haven’t yet bought your ticket there are just a few left.

Well, we left assembly this morning to the strains of Gene Kelly, ‘Singing in the Rain’ and with the thought that — ‘Life isn't about waiting for the rain to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain’.

Have a wonderful weekend whatever the weather.

Paul Bevis

Claires Court Schools Diamond Ball 2012 — Saturday 12th May

The Crowne Plaza,
Fieldhouse Lane,
Marlow Bucks,
SL7 1GL.

Last Few Remaining Tickets Still Available!

• £60 per person
• Dress Code — Black Tie and Bling!
• 7pm — Pre–Dinner Drinks
• 8pm — Three Course Meal
• Raffle, Auction, Entertainment & Disco
• 2am — Carriages

Contact: PTABookings@gmail.com or Louise Johnson 07787123034

Hamper Raffle & Auction

To those parents who have already donated items, we would like to say a big thank you. However we still need more! Here are an example of the types of gifts we are looking for:

• Pampering gifts
• Luxury candles/Room diffusers
• Champagne
• Vouchers for beauty treatments
• Vouchers from
  • Marks & Spencers
  • John Lewis
  • Next

If you feel you can help then please drop off any items into the School Office by Thursday 3rd May, marked ‘Diamond Ball’.

Many thanks
Louise and Gill

"If you can't beat your computer at chess, try kickboxing"

20.4.12

All Bulletins are now sent by email unless a printed postal copy has been specifically requested.

Claires Court Schools/Art on the Street Award

We were delighted to make the presentation of the Claires Court Schools/Art on the Street Award earlier this week at the Rendezvous Café in Maidenhead Town Hall. The clear winner of this award was the Slough Arts Group who were delighted at their success. The next Art on the Street will take place in Maidenhead High Street on Saturday 12 May when you will find not only some terrific art (including that of our own pupils and students), but also art workshops, craft workshops (run by Claires Court) as well as entertainers. Put the date in your diary and come and enjoy all the delights on offer.

7 Steps to Success

To succeed in anything, including taking your exams, remember to follow these 7 steps:

1. Remember the big picture — what are your plans beyond Sixth Form?
2. Believe in yourself — if you think you can, you can!
3. Don't be afraid to make mistakes — but learn from them!
4. Do it for yourself — after all, it is your future.
5. Take responsibility — you cannot blame anyone else for your results.
6. Have a plan — where do you want to be next year, in five years?
7. Be proactive — take control and make the things you want to happen, happen!

Mrs Rogers

Study Leave

Year 12 students will commence Study Leave from Monday 14 May 2012 and a letter has been sent to parents giving more details of the arrangements for the end of the Summer Term.

Year 13 students will leave us for their study and examination period on Friday 1 June 2012. There will be a ‘Leavers’ Assembly, a farewell BBQ and students will be dismissed by 12 noon. Between now and 1st June we are allowing Year 13 students to use Wednesday and/or Friday afternoons for home study instead of games, if they wish. Those students who have indicated this to us have been given a letter to take home with a permission slip that must be returned as soon as possible if they wish to be allowed home study.

Car Parking and Litter

Sixth Formers who drive to school are reminded to take care not to block (or partially block) the driveways of nearby houses. College Road and College Avenue are heavily used for parking by parents, staff and students and we must always be considerate of local residents and their requirement for access at all times.

Local residents have also mentioned the fact that more litter appears in College Avenue during term time than in holiday time! Sixth Formers are one possible source of litter in the streets – could you all try to minimise litter (drinks cartons, wrappers, etc.).

Dates for your diary...

Wednesday 2 May — Open Morning for prospective students on all three sites

We are open from 9.30 am–12.00 noon for visitors — no need to register, just turn up and enjoy our warm welcome and the opportunity to see the School at work!

Monday 7 May — May Day holiday

Don't forget, this is the May Day holiday. The School is not open!

Diamond Ball — Saturday 12 May

It's not too late — there is one full table and a few other spaces remaining at £60 per person. For full information and booking, please go to PTAbookings@gmail.com. A reminder to all table leaders — please make sure cheques are received into the School Office as soon as possible. Thank you.

Hamper Raffle & Auction

To those parents who have already donated items, we would like to say a big thank you. However we still need more! Here are an example of the types of gifts we are looking for:

• Pampering gifts
• Luxury candles/Room diffusers
• Champagne
• Vouchers for beauty treatments
• Vouchers from
  • Marks & Spencers
  • John Lewis
  • Next

If you feel you can help then please drop off any items into the School Office by Thursday 3rd May, marked ‘Diamond Ball’.

Many thanks
Louise and Gill

Colour printer cartridges

If your printer uses HP57 Colour Injet cartridges, HP 364XL photo or HP 58 photo cartridges you are in luck! We have two of each of these, sealed in original packets, in the Sixth Form office for £5 each. Those of you who normally buy these cartridges will know that this is an enormous saving so the first people to see Dr Meek with the money will be able to buy them.

"If everyone is thinking alike then somebody isn't thinking."

George S. Patton

PAB 27/04/2012

ISA Drama Festival

Congratulations to all our Actors who performed in ‘Hymns’ and ‘Blue Remembered Hills’. Both productions came out with a cup The Nancy Griffiths Cup for an aspect of acting/production/staging or costume effect which caught the Adjudicator's eye in ‘Hymns’ and The Hollygirt Trophy for the Best Moment of Theatre in ‘Blue Remembered Hills’.

Congratulations

Congratulations to the following boys who passed their Associated Board to the Royal Schools of Music singing exams, taken before Easter:

• Charles Cassidy — Grade 1,
• Jack Jesseman — Grade 3
• Sam MacGregor — Grade 3 with distinction.

Well done to all, and to their teacher Miss Fenech.

Ski Trip

A very successful visit to The Piolet in Les Menuires saw the Claires Court Ski Trip enjoy the best snow conditions over Easter that we have experienced. Indeed Wednesday saw powder snow and sun together — a very special experience.

The skiers and boarders used the conditions and the excellent French Ski School who gave expert tuition (and made learning fun), to show a great improvement over the week.

We were hit by a 24 hour bug that affected a number of our pupils and staff. The cleaning fairies at the Hotel ensured that we maintained a positive attitude at all times. The food provided was eaten (always a good sign) and the entertainment enjoyed by all.

I would like to thank the pupils for their behaviour on the trip and the fact that they were great fun to be with. Any rumours about the party leader falling off a chair lift are obviously false! Sadly we don't appear to have a photo of this mythical event!!

John Rayer — Ski Trip Leader.

Claires Court Old Boys v Desborough Old Boys

The combined efforts of Mr Hudson (English/Games Teacher) and Jack Rider (former pupil) ensured that on Good Friday a crowd of enthusiastic friends and families supported this rugby match. Happily, Claires Court won 26–12 and the full report can be found on the website. There was a tremendously jovial atmosphere about the whole event and it was great to see so many of our old boys blending well together as a team. It's hoped that this will become an annual fixture.

Hazewinkel Rowing Training Camp

Claires Court Schools Boat Club travelled to Hazewinkel in Belgium for this year's training camp. A party of 34 boys and staff embarked on a week of intense training at the world class training centre in Willebroek.

With 3–4 sessions per day the training was intense so the afternoon off in Ghent was a well earned break. Crews and individuals improved throughout the week, right up to the last day where all the boys performed well. This week has put the Boat Club in a great position as we enter the regatta season and the main event of the season, the National Schools' Regatta in Nottingham at the end of May. Early indications show that this should be one of the School's most exciting and successful summers for a few years — watch this space!

Tom Jost

We would like to congratulate Mr Tom Jost who has taken over the running of the Boat Club from Mr Cremin, who has returned to his old job in industry.

Year 11 & Exam Update...

• Monday 23 April — GCSE English Language Controlled Assessment (Year 11) — ‘The writing task for The Spoken Voice’.
• Tuesday 24 April — Year 11 GCSE PE Moderation
• Thursday 26 April — Year 11 GCSE French Speaking

GCSE Edexcel Linear Mathematics Revision Programme

Year 11 pupils who are entered for the Edexcel Linear Paper in Mathematics should attend the Revision classes every Wednesday after school in Room 1 from 4.25pm to 5.25pm. You should have received a notification from Mrs Cremin, our Examination Officer, informing you that you are entered for Edexcel Linear Paper in Mathematics. Past papers can be downloaded from the Hub by Monday 23rd April.

Results

For boys in Years 10 & 11 who took module exams in March, the results were handed out and posted home yesterday.

‘Of Mice & Men’

A production ‘Of Mice & Men’ which would be particularly useful for our Year 10 or any Year 11 pupils who may be re–sitting this unit to attend, (as they are studying this book for both GCSE English Language and Literature) is running from 10 May–16 June at The Watermill Theatre, Bagnor, Newbury RG20 8AE

Open Morning (for Prospective pupils) at Claires Court Schools

Wednesday 2 May from 9.30am–12.00 noon (11.30am Nursery). At all three sites.

Office News & Looking Ahead

Thursday 3 May — Year 9 Parents Evening

From 6.30pm Form sent via email.

Three for Three Charity Week

Please remember to bring your sponsorship money in. Total will be in next weeks Bulletin.

Found

An Ipod and speakers have been found at Margam Park, South Wales, we believe they were possibly left there by one of our pupils on the recent Geography trip. We also have a watch at the office that was found from the same trip. Please contact the school office if you think they may be yours!

We are Collecting...

We are Collecting ‘Sainsbury vouchers Active Kids 2012’.

Diamond Ball — Saturday 12 May

It's not too late, there is one full table and a few other spaces remaining £60 per person. For full information and booking please go to PTAbookings@gmail.com.

A reminder to all table leaders to please make sure cheques are received into the School Office as soon as possible. Thank you.

"Why do psychics have to ask for your name?"

JMR 20/4/12

Welcome to a new term and to our new parents and we trust that you all had an enjoyable Easter Break. The weekly bulletin is intended to keep you fully informed of life in our school, our pupils' achievements, important information and any last minute changes to fixtures.

Welcome

A very warm welcome to all our parents, but especially to the parents of our six ‘new boys’ who have started after Easter. Our numbers continue to grow and it is pleasing to see how well the new boys have settled in and how welcoming our ‘old’ pupils have been towards our newcomers.

Easter holidays it may have been, but there was still much ‘school’ activity going on, with the annual ski trip, cricket coaching and several chess tournaments. Nikolai Hinterreither took part in the National Junior Chess Squad Championships 2012 at Kingston, winning the under 10 age group.. Well done Nikolai.

We have barely been back at school for three days but it was a pleasure to present several merit certificates this morning in assembly.

Also, the Rabbits this week go to two boys who have produced work over and above the norm: firstly, Ben Spiers (6W) for an outstanding geography project and secondly, Oliver Payne (RY) for fantastic progress with his reading. Well done Ben and Oliver.

Reception Visit To Odds Farm

Reception had a fabulous time at Odds Farm just before the Easter break. The sun shone all day and they enjoyed feeding the baby animals and they bottle fed the goats. They found their way out of the maze and all thoroughly enjoyed the soft play area including Miss Powell! The boys were all extremely well behaved as well.

News From Our 3 For 3 Charity Appeal...

Money is still coming into the office but our total so far is over £4419. This is a fantastic amount and we must thank you all for your support in the charity fund raising.

If you have any outstanding sponsorship money to still hand in please can you deliver it to the school office by the end of next week, Friday 27 April. Thank you

For Prospective Pupils Open Mornings In Claires Court Schools

Wednesday 2 May — Open Mornings — 9.30–12.00. Ridgeway, Claires Court, The College, Sixth Form & Nursery (9.30 to 11.30) — just drop in...

Ski Trip

A very successful visit to The Piolet in Les Menuires saw the Claires Court Ski Trip enjoy the best snow conditions over Easter that we have experienced. Indeed Wednesday saw powder snow and sun together — a very special experience.

The skiers and boarders used the conditions and the excellent French Ski School who gave expert tuition (and made learning fun), to show a great improvement over the week.

We were hit by a 24 hour bug that affected a number of our pupils and staff. The cleaning fairies at the Hotel ensured that we maintained a positive attitude at all times. The food provided was eaten (always a good sign) and the entertainment was enjoyed by all.

I would like to thank the pupils for being such good fun to be with. Any rumours about the party leader falling off a chair lift are obviously false! Sadly we don't appear to have a photo of this mythical event!!

After School Activities

The full Evening Activity programme will begin on Monday 23 April. Activities based at Ridgeway will end at 5.00pm and boys should be collected then unless they are taking the late coach.

All activities take place at Ridgeway, apart from Sailing, Swimming and Tuesday Judo.

Late Coaches

Late coaches commence Monday 23 April

May we remind you that there is No late coach leaving Ridgeway at 5.00pm on a Friday.

School Council Stationery Shop

Just to remind you that the School Council stationery shop (run by the boys) is open 3 times a week, usually Monday, Wednesday and Friday at morning break. Please send in extra money with your son if you wish them to purchase anything. Price lists are on display around school.

Swimming

Reception will be having swimming lessons at The College this term. A letter will be given to the boys concerned very shortly. Please remember swimming trunks and towels etc. The School swimming trunks are available from Hawkinsport in Bourne End.

Polo Shirts — Pre–Prep

The dark green polo shirt is part of the summer uniform for boys in the Pre–Prep department. We do currently have a few shirts in the larger sizes to be sold from the office if you need to buy a new one. All sizes, however, are stocked by Goyals of Maidenhead, our new uniform supplier.

Thursday 10 May — Whole School Photo

The school photograph will take place at 9.15am on Thursday 10 May. Boys in years 3, 4, 5, and 6 should wear complete school uniform, including blazers. Boys in Reception, Years 1 and 2 should wear their green polo shirts and green sweatshirts.

Monday 7 May — Bank Holiday Monday

Please note that the May Bank Holiday takes place on Monday 7 May.

School Exam Dates — Years 3–6

Please note that the school exams for pupils in Years 3–6 will take place from Monday 14 May to Friday 18 May.

Pre-Prep Parents: Important Summer Term — Wednesday 11 July — Diary Date

The morning of Wednesday 11 July is the date of the Pre–Prep Summer Concert, after which school will end for the day for all boys in Pre–Prep and they will need to be collected at 12 noon.

In the afternoon, the Junior Prep will have their annual Concert/Prize–Giving. Would parents also please note that there will be no after school care provision on that day.

Library News

As you are aware the Puffin Book Club publishes a book leaflet for different age groups on a half–termly basis. There is no pressure to buy from the club, but many parents have enjoyed the opportunity of encouraging their sons to develop their reading habits! Should you wish to place an order, please return the order form by Friday 27th April for delivery after half term.

Calling all Reading Champions! Let's race to read!

This term the Ridgeway Junior department will be taking part in a new reading challenge...a Reading Relay!

Every year group will be given a new book that will be passed around the class and read by all the students. After reading the book, every student will score their reading experience as Gold, Silver or Bronze, then pass the book on to another reader. The aim is for the whole year group to have shared and read their book before the end of the term… so, on your marks...get set...Read!

JCW 20.4.12

We hope that you have all had a chance to enjoy some sunshine and relaxation during the holiday. As always, we look forward to a busy Summer term and suggest that you read your weekly Colloquium, emailed home each Friday, as it will keep you in touch with all the College news, Dates for Your Diary including any amendments to the published list and any other issues of the day!

Amber Hill Has Made Junior GB Team In Olympic Skeet Discipline

During the Easter holidays, Amber Hill, 10E, continued with her meteoric rise. Possibly the most prominent of her achievements was when she achieved a place in the GB Ladies' Junior Olympic Skeet team (ages up to 21) beating everyone else in the ladies' section. As a consequence she has been asked to go to Italy to shoot in the World Championships on 3–7 May and to the European Championships in Cyprus around the week of 16 May — a packed programme! Prior to this great achievement, Amber had been progressing really well with the England Ladies' team sporting selections where she was lying third overall with only a few shots between the contestants. She had to pull out of these selections to take part in the Olympic trials. Amber had hoped to have a chance of getting in the GB team at the end of the year, but not as quickly as this, and it is believed that she is the youngest competitor to have made this achievement. In additional to all this, she has also won CPSA Young Shot of the Year, her prize being a Browning gun and yet another trophy!

Sixth Form Success!

Our Sixth Form have had a successful start to term, accepting The President's Cup for entering wholeheartedly into the spirit of the Maidenhead Lions Club Swimarathon in January of this year.

Book Cover Competition Winner!

We're delighted to announce that we have a winner in our recent Book Cover Competition run by the Berkshire Education Library Service. Corinne Mankoo, Year 6, won third prize in the upper KS2 category for the 2012 competition, for her beautiful book cover illustration on the theme of ‘Mysteries’(around 500 pupils submitted designs in this category!). Corinne and her family have been invited to an official prize giving ceremony next month.

A copy of Corinne's winning design is on display in the Junior Library. All the competition winners can be seen on the ELS website: www.berkshire-els.gov.uk

Author In The Making!

Congratulations to Sarah Messer, 9B, who has entered the Chris Evans Breakfast Show 500 Words competition and, out of 74,00 stories submitted, is one of the top 2000!! Her story, ‘Eilean Mor Lighthouse’ will now be sent to the National Literacy Trust for the second stage of judging. All very exciting, and we wish Sarah the best of luck in the next round!! Sarah received a Head’s Certificate in assembly today from Mr Bevis for ‘Excellence in English’.

Head's Certificates For Academic Achievement, Effort And Progress

We are a School that rewards achievement in all its guises but academic work is a central focus. At the end of the Lent Term, and the beginning of this term, Certificates were awarded in Assembly to the following girls:

2012 Ski Trip To Les Menuires

A very successful visit to The Piolet in Les Menuires saw the Claires Court Ski Trip enjoy the best snow conditions over Easter that we have experienced. Indeed Wednesday saw powder snow and sun together — a very special experience. The skiers and boarders used the conditions and the excellent French Ski School who gave expert tuition (and made learning fun) to show a great improvement over the week.

Although we were hit by a 24 hour bug that affected a number of our pupils and staff, the cleaning fairies at the Hotel ensured that we maintained a positive attitude at all times. The food provided was eaten (always a good sign) and the entertainment enjoyed by all. I would like to thank the pupils for their behavior on the trip and the fact that they were great fun to be with. Any rumours about the party leader falling off a chair lift are obviously false! Sadly, we don’t appear to have a photo of this mythical event!! Mr John Rayer, Party Leader

Important information for parents

End Of Term Mailing

Please return the acknowledgement slip confirming that received your daughter's Grade Card as soon as possible if you have not already done so.

Year 11 Parents — Study Leave

A reminder to Year 11 parents that any outstanding planning forms and consent slip for Year 11 pupils must be received by Mrs Gristwood on Monday 23 April.

For Year 11 Parents — Important Sixth Form Information!

Please note in your diaries now that if your daughter is joining the Claires Court Sixth Form, the Registration Day is Monday 3 September, before the College returns on Thursday 6 September. Please do not book holidays that prevent her attending on Monday 3 September 2012 as she needs to be there in order to ensure she is registered for her first choice of AS subjects.

Internal Examinations

A letter, with examination timetable and exam rules, has been posted home today to Years 7, 8 and 9 parents.

***CANCELLED****Year 9 Parents — Parents' Evening Thursday 26 April

A letter has been posted home to parents explaining how, although the Parents' Evening is NOT taking place, some families will be Invited in for further discussions on GCSE Options.

Year 10 Parents And Pupils — Found!

An Ipod and speakers have been found at Margam Park, South Wales. It is believed that these items were possibly left there by pupils on the recent Geography trip. Please contact the School Office if you think they may be yours!

News From The College Library...

Junior Library Story Time!

Thanks to the generous support of the PTA, the College Library now owns a wonderful new CD player which we will all be enjoying this term! Come to the Junior Library every Monday and Friday lunch time to listen to the amazing ‘Frozen in Time’ by Ali Sparkes, a wonderful science fiction author who will be visiting the School for the Junior Prize Giving in July. Story time will start promptly at 12.45pm so don’t miss out!

Olympic Reading Relay

Calling all Reading Champions! Let's race to read! This term the Junior department will be taking part in a new reading challenge... a Reading Relay. Every year group will be given a new book that will be passed around the class and read by all the students. After reading the book, every student will score their reading experience as Gold, Silver or Bronze and then pass the book on to another reader. The aim is for the whole Year group to have shared and read their book before the end of the term... so, on your marks... get set... Read!

Nursery & Transition News (specific news but please read the rest of the Colloquium!)

Next week, as part of their WATER topic, Nursery will find out where it comes from! Their colour of the week is RED. Transition children will learn about the water cycle.

Dates!

Week Commencing Monday 23 April 2012 — Week 2 of the Summer Term Menu

Tues 24 Apr — GCSE PE Moderation

Girls should arrive in School in their PE kit and have all appropriate kit for personal survival. In addition to this, pupils will need to bring a packed lunch and plenty of fluids. The PE staff wish all candidates the best of luck!

Tues 24 Apr — PTA Committee Meeting 7.30pm In The Senior Library

Thurs 26 Apr — Junior Maths Challenge Year 7 and 8

Year 7 and 8 will take part in this National Competition during normal lessons. The Challenge consists of problem–solving questions and is used to encourage further enjoyment in Maths.

Fri/Sat 27/28 Apr — Year 4 at Longridge

Final information was sent home at the end of term with a full programme and kit list. We hope Year 4 have a lovely weekend and, let's face it, with all that water activities to be enjoyed it doesn't really matter if it rains!

Fri 27/Sat 28 Apr — Year 11 Duke of Edinburgh Expedition

Wed 2 May — Open Morning On All Three Sites

From 9.30am–12.00pm (to 11.30am for the Nursery). We welcome prospective parents and also our existing parents who might be considering the next step e.g. Nursery to College. There is no need to book, just turn up! You will be shown around the division of your choice by some of our girls and have the opportunity to meet Mr Bevis and other senior members of staff.

Diamond Ball Saturday 12 May

It's not too late — there is one full table and a few other spaces remaining at £60 per person. For full information and booking please go to PTAbookings@gmail.com. A reminder to all table leaders to please make sure cheques are received into the School Office as soon as possible. Thank you.

News From The Head Teacher

Well, as I write it seems to be one of those rare mornings for the start of the summer term — blue sky and sunshine streaming through my window! It has been wonderful to welcome everybody back after the Easter break and I hope you had a marvellous time wherever and however you spent it. Summer Term at School is a very odd beast — senior pupils and students coming to the end of their GCSE or A Level marathons, now joined by Year 10s and 12s engaged in module examinations — oh, and of course Year 9 Science GCSE exams! What could express the lunacy of our current examination process when we learn that some of our top athletes may not be able to get to the London West Athletics Championships due to clashes with exams that start so much earlier now! However, all of our senior pupils and students are now focussing on the final sprint to the line and staff will, of course, be there alongside them helping, cajoling and supporting.

There are also many other activities to look forward to this term: Salters Chemistry Competition, UK Maths Challenge for Year 7 and 8, Year 7–9 Activity Week, Sports Days, Sixth Form Ball, Duke of Edinburgh expeditions, Lower School (Y7–9) Drama Performance, Summer Fete and, and.... well it's just going to be very busy!

At our beginning of term Assembly we also looked back and it was wonderful to be able to award a whole host of certificates for academic, music and art successes by the girls: certificates for French, Royal Schools of Music Associated Board Grade Exams, Art Excellence and Head Teacher's Commendations for Academic Progress. Last term we awarded Academic Achievement and Effort, and these completed that process of acknowledging those who have strived and achieved. Details of all these will appear elsewhere in the Colloquium.

It was also a real delight to award a Head Teacher's Certificate to Sarah Messer (Year 9), for her achievement in getting through to the last stages of the Chris Evans...Story in 500 words competition, to recognise the achievement of Corinne Mankoo, Year 6, for her third place in the Berkshire Education Library Service Book Cover Competition, and Amber Hill for her outstanding progress in her spot of shooting. See elsewhere in the Colloquium for more details.

On Tuesday, George Grose, Year 12, together with staff members Mrs Rogers and Mrs Burdett attended the Maidenhead Lions Club Of Great Britain awards to receive the President's Trophy for the Sixth Form's magnificent efforts in the Swimarathon back in January.

Looking forward again, it is of course Olympic Year (in case it had slipped by you) and it was brilliant news to hear that Olympic Torch will be coming to Maidenhead on the 10th July, and we are intending to take the whole College down to the Marlow Road to witness this historic occasion. Whilst researching for some inspiration for my Assembly I came across some really quite inspiring facts about the Olympic Torch Relay. It will cover 8,000 miles, over 70 days and be carried by 8,000 people, who have been selected for their contribution to sport and the lives of young people.

The torch is triangular in cross section and it has been designed to reflect one of the themes of the London Games – The Power Of Three:

• The three Olympic values of respect, excellence and friendship
• The three words that make the Olympic motto — faster, higher, stronger
• The fact that the UK has hosted the Olympic Games in 1908, 1948 and 2012
• The London 2012 Olympic Games vision - to combine together — sport, education and culture

That vision of the London Olympic Games of sums up precisely what we hold dear at Claires Court.

Paul Bevis

20.4.12

Team GB Meets Team CC!

Once again the Sixth Form have had a successful start to the term, accepting The President's Cup for entering wholeheartedly into the spirit of the Maidenhead Lions Club Swimarathon in January of this year.

The Cup was awarded to George Grose by Jeanette Chippington, a previous winner of the award herself. George also collected a certificate celebrating the £327 raised for the Lions Club, half of which is returned to the school for the ‘3 for 3’ charities supported by Claires Court. The Sixth Form team impressed the Swimarathon organisers with the ‘Olympic Torch’, medals and rings that they carried.

Jeanette is a very accomplished Paralympian having swum in five successive Paralympic Games starting with Seoul in 1988 and finishing her competitive swimming career at the Athens games in 2004. Jeanette won twelve Olympic medals in all for the sprint and relay events, including two gold medals at the 1996 Atlanta Games, at which she also achieved a World Record. She has shown a talent for kayaking in the last year and has just been selected to represent Great Britain at the World Kayaking Championships in Poland next month.

Not only was the contribution of our Sixth Form applauded, but our very own Mrs Burdett was awarded a certificate for her efforts in fundraising on behalf of St Luke's Church and reference was made to her many and varied efforts in supporting charities in and around Maidenhead.

Well done to our fine swimmers, Mrs Burdett and the Maidenhead Lions Club for a fantastic event.

Here is a challenge to our Sixth Form athletes — we are planning to enter two teams for the Lions ‘Fundrun’ on Saturday 29th September 2012 so please let Mrs Rogers know if you are interested in running a few laps at Braywick!

A Message From Mr Giles And Mrs Rogers

Welcome back, everyone. We hope you had a good break, including making some time for revision.

Fail to Plan, Plan to Fail!

It is only a matter of weeks until AS and A2 exams begin and it is vitally important you plan a structured programme of revision if you are to achieve the grades you should this summer. We cannot stress enough how crucial it is for you to increase your efforts further now to ensure you are not disappointed in August on results day. Be proactive — start with the ‘tough topics’, the ones you find hardest, so you have time to go over them a number of times; get to revision sessions and ask your subject teachers the questions you need to; hand in past papers which can be found via subject areas on the hub; and take your studies seriously. Think carefully about where you want to be and what you want to be doing next year — your future is in your hands.

Year 13 High Sports Leaders at Thames Valley Adventure Playground

During the Easter holidays, 6 of our Year 13 students undertaking the Higher Sports Leadership Award spent two days doing voluntary work at TVAP — one of our 3for3 charities. Each year the Sports Leaders arrive feeling a little apprehensive and each year they leave with a better understanding of how to relate to children and teenagers with various disabilities, as well as an increase in their own self–confidence.

Abbie Barrett, Ollie Beazley, Callum Campbell, Charlie Shephard, Jake Watson and Ollie Wood thoroughly enjoyed their time with the children — physical activity certainly has a way of generating fun and encouraging new friendships which were forged between our students and the children with whom they worked.

Claires Court Old Boys v Desborough Old Boys

The combined efforts of Mike Hudson and Jack Rider ensured that on Good Friday a crowd of enthusiastic friends and families supported this rugby match. Happily, Claires Court won 26–12 and the full report can be found on the website. There was a tremendously happy atmosphere about the whole event and it was great to see so many of our old boys blending well together as a team. It's hoped that this will become an annual fixture.

Ski Trip

A very successful visit to The Piolet in Les Menuires saw the Claires Court Ski Trip enjoy the best snow conditions over Easter that we have experienced. Indeed Wednesday saw powder snow and sun together — a very special experience.

The skiers and boarders used the conditions and the excellent French Ski School who gave expert tuition (and made learning fun), to show a great improvement over the week.

We were hit by a 24 hour bug that affected a number of our pupils and staff. The cleaning fairies at the Hotel ensured that we maintained a positive attitude at all times. The food provided was eaten (always a good sign) and the entertainment enjoyed by all.

We would like to thank the pupils for their good behaviour on the trip and particularly the Sixth Form students who were so helpful in helping to look after the younger pupils.

Study Leave

Year 12 students will commence Study Leave from Monday 14 May 2012 and a letter has been sent to parents giving more details of the arrangements for the end of the Summer Term.

Year 13 students will leave us for their study and examination period on Friday 1 June 2012. There will be a ‘Leavers’ Assembly, a farewell BBQ and students will be dismissed by 12 noon.

Between now and 1st June we are allowing Year 13 students to use Wednesday and/or Friday afternoons for home study instead of games, if they wish. Those students who have indicated this to us have been given a letter to take home with a permission slip that must be returned as soon as possible if they wish to be allowed home study.

Dates for your diary...

Monday 23 April — Years 12 and 13 Drama Trip to ‘Our Country's Good’ at South Hill Park

Information on this performance for our Sixth Form Drama students has been distributed and payments together with consent slips should have been returned to School.

Monday 7 May — May Day holiday

Don't forget, this is the May Day holiday. The school is not open!

15–18 June — Year 12 Geography Field Trip — Balance payment.

The final payment for the field trip to North Wales should have been made. There are still a few outstanding and we would appreciate it if they could come in as we would like to get the details for this trip finalised.

PAB 20/04/2012

If you wish to change your email please let mjw@clairescourt.com know.

Have a Very Happy Easter

School Commences on Wednesday 18 April.

After School Activities and Late Buses commence Monday 23 April.

Bank Holidays Monday 7 May, Monday 4 & Tuesday 5 June.

Inter House Music Competition 2012

This annual event took place on Tuesday 27 March during afternoon school. This year we were entertained to a variety of Music from mainly Years 7 and 8. Claires Court’s wonderful librarian Ms G Majoros (pictured with the boys) was the judge together with Mr Roach.

The results were as follows:

• 1st Place James Tapner–Evans (Vocals) ‘Dark Island’ by MacLachlan
• 2nd Place Sam MacGregor playing and singing ‘The A Teamrsquo; by Ed Sheeran
• 3rd Place James Roach (Clarinet) ‘Lotus Talk’ by Colin Evans

The overall house positions were:

• 1st Ridgeway,
• 2nd Kelly/St.Lawrence
• 4th Rowanhurst

Well done to all those who took part. Hope we can have more entries in next year.

PTA Quiz Evening provided the answers!

16 teams of willing souls battled it out at the PTA Quiz Night, 130 enthusiasts in total. All enjoyed a tasty fish and chip supper, spent generously at the bar and fielded a wide range of questions. Sixth Formers kindly helped with the setting up as well as running the bar. The overall winner with the highest score of the night was LMS — the teachers' team of 8 led by Evelyn Lang from Ridgeway who also won Teachers' First Place. Parents' First place was won by the team ‘Tequila Mockingbird’ comprising Martin Harris, Andrew Riley, Scott Graham, Tracey Riley and David and Louise Johnson. No need to sharpen the wits there then!

Office News & Looking Ahead

Staff News

We are delighted to announce that Ronell Selzer (Director of Studies) and Pauline Carr (Director of Curriculum Management) have been appointed to the Senior Management Team at Claires Court. Both have been active in these roles as Assistant Heads since September and are proving invaluable to the Academic Direction of the school and will be continuing in these roles.

Saturday 28 April — Google Science Fair at Claires Court

The Office Open Hours During the Break

Open daily from 9.00am to 5.00pm. The Office will close at 5.00pm on Thursday 5 April and re–open at 9.00am on Wednesday 11 April.

Three for Three Charity Week

£4,130.96 so far... Please remember to bring your sponsorship money in.

Sport Relief Day — Total for this was £334.10.

Thank you.

Goyals in Maidenhead is our new uniform supplier

As reported last week, we have changed our official uniform supplier to Goyals Ltd. We are sure that they will provide the quality and service that we require as well as proving much more convenient for all our families. Goyals are located at 28 Bridge Street, Maidenhead, SL6 8BJ, telephone 01628 639725, www.goyals.co.uk.

A telephone call or online shop will suffice to order your uniform, and if you wish to visit the shop, parking is available slightly further down Forlease Road behind 26–28 Forlease Road, Maidenhead SL6 1RX. Of course, if you are shopping at Waitrose, Goyals is just a step across the road!

This change does not affect Hawkinsport who remain the Official School Outfitter for sportswear.

Open Morning (for Prospective pupils) at Claires Court Schools

Wednesday 2 May from 9.30am–12.00 noon (11.30am Nursery). At all three sites.

We are collecting...

We are collecting Sainsbury Vouchers Active Kids 2012.

Year 11 & Exam Update...

GCSE Music Coursework

Mr Roach has sent home by boy post, a letter regarding times in the Easter holidays when he is making himself available for Year 11 GCSE. The days are Thursday 5 April and Friday 13 April from 10.00am–4.00pm. For music students to complete their coursework. Bring a packed lunch.

GCSE Business Studies

Wednesday 11 April from 10.00am–3.00pm — Please bring a good packed lunch.

GCSE English Language Controlled Assessment (Year 11 : The writing task for The Spoken Voice, 5EN03)

Candidates will sit this task on Friday 20 and Monday 23 April. They must ensure they return fully prepared after the holidays.

• Tuesday 17 April — Year 11 GCSE PE Practice Moderation
• Tuesday 24 April — Year 11 GCSE PE Moderation
• Thursday 26 April — Year 11 GCSE French Speaking

Trips

Bon Voyage to our travellers this Easter. Rowers will be participating in a week of intensive training at Hazewinkel in Belgium, whilst a party of 90 pupils and staff will be up in the mountains at Les Menuires on the 2012 Ski Trip. Daily reports will be available online at skitrip.clairescourt.net so take a look to enjoy news and photos.

Year 10 Drama Trip to Blood Brothers and The Woman in Black — Thursday 19 April

Our GCSE Drama students are required to compare two performances from different genre and in order for them to be able to do this, a trip has been arranged to these two performances. Letters have been distributed to the relevant boys and payments with consent slips are now overdue.

Diamond Ball Saturday 12 May

With the end of term looming, a final reminder to all table leaders to please make sure cheques are received into the School Office by 30 March.

Jersey Boys — West End Show — Friday 20 April

£50 which includes a great seat (usually £79.00) and round coach trip from The College departing at 6.00pm prompt, saves driving. Book via PTABookings@gmail.com Registration form on the PTA Website.

Easter Half–term Holiday Club and Community Activities

Monday 2 April to Friday 13 April (closed Fri 5 and Mon 9 April)

This Easter Holiday Club has an eggstravagant amount of activities including giant games, a hunt for the disappearing egg, seed planting and plenty of crafts. Our Community Activities this holiday include various Masterclasses. Visit the website's holiday club section for more details, for the Booking Forms and terms & conditions.

If you need any more information please email holidayclub@clairescourt.com or call us on 01628 687440.

"Life is like a box of chocolates….. You never know what you’re gonna get."

Forrest Gump

JMR 29/3/12

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

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

College and Nursery: Wednesday 18 April

Pre and After School Care also commence Wednesday 18 April

After School Activities and late buses start week commencing Monday 23 April

Goyals In Maidenhead Is Our New Uniform Supplier

As reported last week, we have changed our official uniform supplier, including Nursery, to Goyals Ltd. We are sure that they will provide the quality and service that we require as well as proving much more convenient for all our families. Goyals are located at 28 Bridge Street, Maidenhead, SL6 8BJ, telephone 01628 639725, www.goyals.co.uk. A telephone call, or online shop, will suffice to order your uniform and if you wish to visit the shop, parking is available slightly further down behind 26–28 Forlease Road, Maidenhead SL6 1RX. Of course, if you are shopping at Waitrose, Goyals is just a step across the road! This change does not affect Hawkinsport which remains the Official School Outfitter for sportswear.

Year 11 GCSE Drama Performance

Well done to our drama students who performed their scripted work for parents on Wednesday evening. The quality of their work was excellent and the audience enjoyed the three plays, ‘Be My Baby’, ‘Neighbours’ and ’Waiting for Gordon’, very much.

Hockey Success!

Congratulations to Victoria Saunders (Year 8) and Gabri Schnarr (Year 9) who were voted by Maidenhead Hockey Club as ‘most improved’ players of the season for the U14 girls section. Both girls have been outstanding at School level this season and the PE Department is so pleased to hear of their achievements at club level too. Well done!

Update On Amber Hill, Our Shooting Star!

Recently, Amber (10E) won Top Senior Lady at the School Challenge, which consisted of school teams or individuals representing their school (there were over 160 entries). Amber has also been concentrating on her Olympic Skeet, and is now also aiming for the England team/GB team. She has already had one trial for this, beating all the ladies on the day, and has another trial on 7 April. We are all crossing our fingers that she shoots well again as she may then be selected for the GB team and go to the ‘Europeans’ in Cyprus in May.

Amber is also trialling for the England team, and following her first trials last week she is currently lying in joint 3rd position. Her next trials are in mid April. Amber's ambition is to succeed with her place in the GB team for Olympic Skeet as she will then hopefully be able to move on to the Commonwealth Games and possibly the Olympics in 2016. Wow!

Charity Fundraising

The latest 3 FOR 3 total to emerge from the Finance Office is £1569.72, raised by College and Nursery and a further £139.44 by the Sixth Form. For Sports Relief Mufti we raised a total of £262.62. Thank you to all concerned for the wonderful fundraising events, parents for baking cakes (although Year 6 girls baked their own!) and staff and pupils for happily ‘putting on the pounds’ and then spending them!! The Year 11 fundraising continued this week with Katie Arrol and Bethany Howard in boys' uniform and Maddie Jones and Abi Love strapped together by an arm (as in a 3–armed race!). The atmosphere around School these last two weeks has been fantastic with everyone ‘pulling together’ for the common purpose.

Sixth Form Girls V Boys Charity Rugby Match

The annual Girls v Boys charity rugby match was one of the best ever! Our gorgeous girls donned their rugby shirts with pride and put on an amazing display of passing and movement, fizzing the ball from one side of the pitch to the other with fast hands and accuracy. Meanwhile, the gentlemen of Years 12 and 13 played in a sporting and chivalrous manner, dressed in a variety of superhero outfits and tutus! Their experience told in the end and despite several incredible tries by the girls the boys ultimately scored a few more points.

PTA Quiz Night

An excellent evening was had by all with 16 teams battling to a very close finish but two teams emerged victorious:

• Tequila Mockingbird, consisting of Martin Harris, Andrew Riley, Scott Graham, Tracey Riley, David Johnson and Louise Johnson won the Parents' First Place Award.
• LMS, a teachers team of 8 led by Evelyn Lang, won the Teachers First Place Award (and the highest overall score of the night).

Thank you to all quizzers, generous drinkers, and raffle players; thank you also to the staff, Sixth Form helpers, and all volunteer helpers. The evening raised around £1,500 for The College PTA. More details and photos can be seen on the PTA website.

Important information for parents

End Of Term Mailing

Your daughter will bring home the mailing containing invoice, menu and ‘Dates for the Diary’ for the Summer Term, Sports Circular and other important information. Pupils in Years 3 to 11 will bring home a Grade Card; please return the acknowledgement slip as soon as possible.

Summer Fete Programme Design Competition

A reminder that Junior Prep girls and boys are invited to design a front cover for the Summer Fete programme. This would make an excellent project for the Easter Holidays and we would ask for all entries to be submitted on the first day of the Summer Term. The theme is ‘Olympics’ and designs should be portrait on A5 paper. Prizes will be awarded for the best designs and the winner will have his or her design on the Programme!

Nursery & Transition News (specific news but please read the rest of the Colloquium!)

The topic for next term is WATER and we will be watching the frogspawn in our Nursery pond with great interest!

We wish all our families a lovely Easter!

Easter Half-Term Holiday Club And Community Activities

Monday 2nd April to Friday 13th April (closed Fri 5th and Mon 9th April)

Join us this Easter at Holiday Club where we have an eggstravagant amount of activities for our 3 to 12 year olds... including a visit from Puppetellers, the chance to welcome Spring by planting seeds and gain some rookie lifeguard experience. Our Community Activities this holiday includes Badminton at Ridgeway, Cookery Masterclasses and some Super Science. Art and Craft Club also brings plenty of activities to keep the older ones challenged! Look at the website's holiday club section for more details, for event information, booking details and T&C's...

Book TODAY to get your discounted booking rate and option of a hot lunch!

Please email holidayclub@clairescourt.com or call us on 01628 687440 if you have any questions.

During The Holidays: (please also see the Dates for the Diary)

Mon 2 and Tues 3 Apr — Year 11 GCSE Music Composition Workshops

10am–4pm

Wed 11 Apr — Year 10 GCSE Unit 1 Business Studies Revision Session

At Claires Court.

Tues 17 Apr — GCSE PE Practice Moderation

All Year 11 GCSE PE students are required to attend a practice moderation. The girls will need to be in School from 9am and should be finished by approximately 12pm. They will be required to wear their School sports kit and clothes appropriate for their Personal Survival practice.

Ski Trip To Les Menuires

A letter accompanies this end of term mailing with final details. We wish all our skiers and boarders a great holiday!

Dates!

Week Commencing Wednesday 18 April 2012 — Week 1 of the Summer Term Menu

Wed 18 Apr Nursery and Main School Commences

Thurs 19 Apr — Google Apps Event For Parents

6pm–9pm in the Claires Court ICT Room.

Tues 24 Apr — GCSE PE Moderation

Thurs 26 Apr — Junior Maths Challenge

Year 7 and 8.

Thurs 26 Apr — Year 9 Parents' Evening

A letter will be sent home on the first day of term.

Fri/Sat 27/28 Apr — Year 4 At Longridge

Final details will be sent home at the start of term.

Fri 27/Sat 28 Apr — Year 11 Duke Of Edinburgh Expedition

Sat 28 Apr — Google Science Fair

News From The Head Teacher

What have you done today to make yourself proud?

In the whirlwind of activity over the last week or so I was disappointed not to be able to hear the Junior girls when they performed at Ridgeway and so I was delighted when they were persuaded (actually, wrong word — they couldn't wait to sing it again) to reprise the Olympic Song ‘Proud’ at the Junior Sports Awards assembly on Monday. This assembly, and the Senior Girls version that followed on Tuesday, are held to celebrate the achievement and effort that the girls have put into sport over the last two terms and this song was such a fitting accompaniment. In fact, as so many of the lyrics sum up that ‘can do’ attitude we strive to instil in all of the girls, I thought I would quote a few of them below:

I was wondering whether we should adopt this as our School song for Junior and Senior girls. If you have not heard the song you can find it here (on You Tube): http://bit.ly/HduuDg — so why not have a listen and let me know what you think.

One of the phrases that caught my eye, ‘Still so many questions...to question is how we grow’, is a powerful reason for doing what we do in schools as educators. We must be absolutely clear that we are about empowering children and young people to query, question and challenge, and to do so socially, philosophically and intellectually. When they do that, they begin to find that they can make a difference, they can change their own lives or somebody else's, that they have an impact.

All last week, (and some events spilling over into this week), we have had a multitude of fund raising activities and we are still counting the pennies and the pounds (and yes, I am still removing my nail varnish) so no final total as yet. I was however astounded by the efforts of Year 6 girls who raised the absolutely staggering amount of £1337.55, which as far as I know is the largest amount raised by any single tutor group or form...but who knows? The Year 6 class was inspired to raise this amount so that they could help ‘Kids in Sport’ buy a competition wheelchair...they wanted to make a difference.

So, as a School, what have we done today to make ourselves proud? Oh, did I mention Year 12 AS Drama who gave an evocative and attention grabbing performance of Tennessee Williams ‘The Glass Menagerie’ at Norden Farm Arts Centre? Or Reception, Year 1 and 2 who responded to the Head's Challenge with a hugely entertaining performance of ‘Spring Chicken’? Oh, and thank you to the Year 8 tutor group who recommended somebody for a Claires Court Values Award.

Thank you girls for stepping out of the ordinary, it's been a wonderful term.

Paul Bevis

"A nice box of chocolates provides your total daily intake of calories in one place. Isn't that handy?"

Wishing you all a very restful and enjoyable holiday!

29.3.12

Girls v Boys Charity Rugby Match

The annual Girls v Boys charity rugby match was one of the best ever! Our gorgeous girls donned their rugby shirts with pride and put on an amazing display of passing and movement, fizzing the ball from one side of the pitch to the other with fast hands and accuracy. Meanwhile, the gentlemen of Years 12 and 13 played in a sporting and chivalrous manner, dressed in a variety of superhero outfits, ‘Tigger’ suits and  tutus! Their rugby experience told in the end and despite several incredible tries by the girls the boys ultimately scored a few more points. Mr Harris was a more than fair referee (thank you!) and contributed to a highly entertaining spectacle, which was enjoyed by numerous fans as they soaked up the warm spring sunshine.

The Sixth Form contribution to the 3 for 3 charities week (which included the GvB rugby, the donut eating competition and the final of the Sixth Form quiz) has been added up and comes to a very creditable £139. Well done, everyone involved!

AS Drama Moderation — The Glass Menagerie (Norden Farm, 27th March)

Year 12 students Hayley Howard, Matthew Martin, Brooke Snowe and Elliot Stokes provided a dramatic and compelling production of Tennessee Williams' play ‘The Glass Menagerie’ for their AS Drama Moderation. Their performances were strong and there was no doubt that the audience was spellbound and drawn into the drama of the lives of the four characters. The set design was provided by Lucy Wardman with the sound and lighting design put together by the group. Well done to all and, of course, to their producer, Mrs Olivier!

Fail to Plan, Plan to Fail! — A message from Mr Giles and Mrs Rogers

This term has come and gone in a flash and, with only a matter of weeks until AS and A2 exams begin, it is vitally important you plan a structured programme of revision if you are to achieve the grades you should this summer. We cannot stress enough how crucial it is for you to increase your efforts further now to ensure you are not disappointed in August on results day. Be proactive — start with the ‘tough topics’, the ones you find hardest, so you have time to go over them a number of times; get to revision sessions and ask your subject teachers the questions you need to; hand in past papers which can be found via subject areas on the hub; and take your studies seriously. Think carefully about where you want to be and what you want to be doing next year — your future is in your hands.

PTA Quiz Evening provided the answers!

16 teams of willing souls battled it out at the PTA Quiz Night, 130 enthusiasts in total. All enjoyed a tasty fish and chip supper, spent generously at the bar as well as fielding a wide range of questions. Sixth Formers kindly helped with the setting up as well as running the bar. The overall winner with the highest score of the night was LMS — the teachers' team of 8 led by Evelyn Lang from Ridgeway who also won Teachers' First Place. Parents' First place was won by the team ‘Tequila Mockingbird’ comprising Martin Harris, Andrew Riley, Scott Graham, Tracey Riley and David and Louise Johnson. No need to sharpen the wits there then!

PTA Thanks

The PTA would like to thank the fabulous Sixth Form students who so willingly helped at both the Easter Egg Hunt and the Quiz — you were a credit to the School!

Study Leave

Year 12 students will commence Study Leave from Monday 14 May 2012 and a letter has been sent to parents giving more details of the arrangements for the end of the Summer Term.

Year 13 students will leave us for their study and examination period on Friday 1 June 2012. There will be a ‘Leavers’ Assembly, a farewell BBQ and students will be dismissed by 12 noon.

Photography Facilities Available in the Easter Holidays

Mr Crawley will open the photography room between 10 am and 4 pm on the following days: Tuesday April 3rd, Wednesday April 11th and Tuesday April 17th. This is to help anyone who is behind with their work to catch up.

Dates for your diary...

Tuesday 17 April — Mathematics, Media Studies and Geography practice exams for Year 12

This is the day before term begins, and staff are prepared to give up their time to invigilate these exams and mark them so that students can get an accurate idea of their progress.

• 9.30–11.00am — Geography and Maths Core 1 exams.
• 11.30–1.00pm — Maths Core 2 exam (please bring a calculator).
• 1.00–3.30pm — Media Studies.

Wednesday 18 April — First Day of Term

Wednesday 18 April — Lions Club President's Cup Presentation to Swimathon Team

6.30pm. at Cox Green Community Centre, 51 Highfield Lane, Maidenhead, SL6 3AX.

A reminder to everyone who participated in the sponsored swim event earlier in the year that on 18th April there will be an awards evening at Cox Green community centre when our team will receive the President's Cup.

Thank you to everyone who participated and all the team and supporters are invited to attend. The ceremony is 6.30 for 7 pm and it will be finished soon after 8pm. We hope that as many of the team as possible will be able to attend. Please note it is the first day of the Summer Term. If you need directions or further information, speak to Mrs. Burdett or Mrs. Rogers.

Steve Rider is now unable to present Cups, Bonus Prizes and Certificates but we are told it will be done by a para–olympic athlete who has won 5 golds for Britain.

Monday 23 April — Years 12 and 13 Drama Trip to ‘Our Country's Good’ at South Hill Park

Information on this performance for our Sixth Form Drama students has been distributed and payments together with consent slips should have been returned to School.

15–18 June — Year 12 Geography Field Trip — Balance payment

The final payment for the field trip to North Wales should have been made. There are still a few outstanding and we would appreciate it if they could come in as we would like to get the details for this trip finalised.

"All I really need is love, but a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt!"

Lucy Van Pelt, ‘Peanuts’

PAB 29/3/2012

Three for Three Charity Week

Years 7 & 8 Fancy Dress Walk — which took place yesterday, pictures in next weeks Bulletin. The Year 9 Rowathon — took place this afternoon. Years 10 & 11 will be selling goodies during break time next week. Our charities are Thames Valley Adventure Playground, Kids in Sport and Alexander Devine Children's Hospice Service.

Sport Relief Day

Once we have counted out the money we will put the total in next week's Bulletin.

Music

Congratulations

Congratulations to Adam Becksmith who passed his Grade 4 Classical Guitar. Well done to Adam and to his teacher, Mr Higgs.

And also Edward Axtell of Year 8 who has just passed his Grade 1 Electric Guitar with distinction. Well done to Edward.

The Inter house Music Competition

The Inter house Music Competition will take place on 27 March — Up to 5 entries from each house. Forms from Mrs Adams on Reception.

Thursday 29 March — Commemoration Service in the Pearce Suite at the Magnet Leisure Centre

The senior boys and girls together with Sixth Form students will be joining together for a Commemoration Service at the Magnet on this day. Parents are welcome to join us for this event which will commence at 10.45am until 11.30am. This is a time to bring to mind those with whom we have lived and worked, and to reflect on a society based on the values we hold dear.

Office News & Looking Ahead

• Friday 23 March — Early Buses Commence
• Saturday 24 March — Cross Country at Station Ground
• Monday 26 March — Deadline for School to receive Year 9 GCSE Choices.
• Thursday 29 March — End of Term 12.30pm

Change of Uniform Suppliers

With immediate effect, the Claires Court Schools Group is delighted to announce the appointment of Goyals Ltd as the Official School Outfitter for all uniform clothing. The successors to Harrods who no longer act in this capacity. Goyals are located at 28 Bridge Street, Maidenhead, SL6 8BJ, telephone 01628 639725, www.goyals.co.uk

Further details will follow in next week's end–of–term newsletter.

This change does not affect Hawkinsport which remains the Official School Outfitter for sportswear.

Second Hand Uniform

Please bring any school uniform or Claires Court Sports clothing to the Cross Country event this Saturday 24 March. Forms are attached to the end of the emailed Bulletin or look on the Claires Court website for Bulletin 10.

Anti–Bullying Survey Years 6–10 (Last date to complete is 30 MARCH)

This survey has been designed for children and young people in Years 6–10, who live and go to school in the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead. It focuses on all types of bullying, with specific questions around cyber–bullying which is becoming of increasing concern both inside and outside of school. We would like to encourage pupils to complete this survey, as results will provide valuable information to ensure the Borough focuses future resources appropriately. The results will be fed back to young people through the Children in Care Council and the Youth Council and their views will help revise Anti Bullying Strategy.

The survey can be completed electronically through Survey Monkey – please click on this link:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/WQGGH2M or this can be accessed via the WAMSTER website: http://www.wamster.org.uk/

Year 11 & Exam Update

GCSE Music Coursework

Mr Roach has sent home by boy post, a letter regarding times in the Easter holidays when he is making himself available for Year 11 GCSE. The days are Thursday 5 April and Friday 13 April from 10.00am to 4.00pm. Music students to complete their coursework. Please could you let him know whether you are able to make this or not so that he knows that the information has reached you.

GCSE Business Studies

Wednesday 11 April from 10.00am–3.00pm — Please bring a good packed lunch.

GCSE English Language Controlled Assessment

(Year 11 : The writing task for The Spoken Voice, 5EN03)

Candidates will sit this task on Friday 20 and Monday 23 April. They must ensure they return fully prepared after the holidays.

Judo

If you are interested in your son doing Judo as an after school activity from September 2012 please contact Mr Blakeley — Deputy Head. There will be a fee for the instruction which, depending on numbers will be approximately £6 a week with a recognised Judo Instructor, Alan Scott, who has instructed at Claires Court in the past. Lessons will commence in September, on Mondays from 4.15pm–5.25pm should there be sufficient interest.

We are collecting...

We are collecting the following Sainsbury Vouchers Active Kids 2012

£50 Notes

Please do not send your son in to school with these large notes — it wipes the change from the catering department in one go and is rather a lot of money to be sending in to school.

Trips

Field Trip to Margam Park

Year 10 Geographers had a productive time on their Field Trip to Margam Park last weekend. This trip enabled the pupils to collect data for their Controlled Assessment on how the river Ogmore changed as they moved downstream. The pupils all worked extremely hard but also had fun — both in and out of the river!

Wednesday 28 March — Year 11 and Sixth Form Drama students to ‘Equus’ at South Hill Park

Drama students have the opportunity to attend this performance at South Hill Park in Bracknell during the evening leaving Claires Court at 6.30pm and returning at approximately 11.30 pm. This is a psychological thriller inspired by a true story. Reply slips and payments are now overdue.

1–6 April — Rowing Training Camp at Hazewinkel

The travel itinerary together with Medical/Dietary information has been posted home please ensure its timely arrival back to ‘The Office’. Thank you.

Ski Trip to Les Menuires — 7–14 April

Please ensure that you send the correct payment for extras through to the office by Monday 26 March absolute latest — this is now very overdue. If you wish to send Euros into School, please put them in an envelope with the name of your child on the front and the sum of money enclosed. We are pressing for the itinerary which will be despatched as soon as we receive it.

Year 10 Drama Trip to Blood Brothers and The Woman in Black — Thursday 19 April

Our GCSE Drama students are required to compare two performances from different genre and in order for them to be able to do this, a trip has been arranged to these two performances. Letters have been distributed to the relevant boys and payments with consent slips should be returned to School by Wednesday 28 March please.

Diamond Ball Saturday 12 May

With the end of term looming, a final reminder to all table leaders to please make sure cheques are received into the School Office by 30 March.

Easter Half–term Holiday Club and Community Activities — Monday 2 April–Friday 13 April (closed Fri 5 and Mon 9 April)

This Easter Holiday Club has an eggstravagant amount of activities including giant games, a hunt for the disappearing egg, seed planting and plenty of crafts. A visit from Puppetellers will help us create puppets and put on a play.

Our Community Activities this holiday include a Badminton Masterclass, Cookery Masterclasses some Super Science and Art and Craft Club including Felt Making and Jewellery.

Look online at our ‘Event Calendar’ for Holiday Club highlights, daily food menus and more information on the Community Activities. Visit www.clairescourt.com/holidayclub for the Booking Forms and terms & conditions. Our discounted booking rate ends today.

If you need any more information please email holidayclub@clairescourt.com or call us on 01628 687440.

"Spring is nature's way of saying, ‘Let's Party!’ "

Robin Williams

JMR 23/3/12

We have high expectations of the children across the range of subjects and activities in which they take part. However, I am still sometimes surprised and excited by what our pupils can achieve and Thursday evening's joint Concert was one of those times. The quality of a wide range of music was outstanding and this from boys and girls aged only 7–11. I am sure everybody who was there felt equally proud and privileged to have been present. What is also pleasing to see is the quality of music in the Pre–Prep, as witnessed on Monday morning when the younger boys entertained us with their songs and recorder groups. Well done to all the children involved and thank you to Mr Rowan and Mrs Walker at Ridgeway and Mrs Parr at The College for their excellent work in preparing the children.

I would also like to say thank you to members of our Parents Society for organising a wonderful Easter Egg Hunt last Saturday, and coffee morning on Friday. Look out for further events.

Our Year 6 boys this weekend are either enjoying the hospitality of Cornish rugby teams or taking part in an exciting new venture – a ‘Bushcraft’ weekend. Good luck to all of those boys.

And lastly, well done to Year 6 for being such good ambassadors for the school when showing visitors around on Open Morning — especially Zac Gordon–Smith and Thomas James. They are our Rabbit winners this week for the enthusiasm and manners they showed on Tuesday. The other Rabbit goes to all of Year 4 for their helpfulness and kindness when assisting Reception this week on their ‘sale’ day. Well done to Zac, Thomas and Year 4.

New Official School Outfitter Appointed

With immediate effect, the Claires Court Schools Group is delighted to announce the appointment of Goyals Ltd as the Official School Outfitter for all uniform clothing in succession to Harrods who no longer act in this capacity. Goyals are located at 28 Bridge Street, Maidenhead, SL6 8BJ, telephone 01628 639725, www.goyals.co.uk. Further details will follow in next week's end–of–term newsletter.

This change does not affect Hawkinsport which remains the Official School Outfitter for sportswear.

After School Activities & Coach Arrangements for the Last Week of Term

All After School Activities end today, Friday 23 March with the exception of Wednesday evening Judo. The final Judo sessions for this term will be at the normal time on Wednesday 28 March. Please note that there will be no late buses Monday 26 March — Wednesday 28 March. All coaches will leave Ridgeway at 4pm and Claires Court at 4.30pm. As the car park will be very busy at 4pm we would encourage parents of older boys to collect their sons somewhat later at 4.10pm this week.

Thursday 29 March — End Of Term — 12 Noon — Important

As the car park will be very busy at 12 noon on the last day of term, may we ask parents of boys in Years 4, 5 and 6 to collect their sons at approximately 12.15pm if at all possible to help with the parking. The coach will leave Ridgeway at 12 noon, calling at The College and then to Claires Court for onward travel.

Boys will be bringing home an envelope on Thursday containing important material as well as academic grade cards for pupils in Years 3, 4, 5 & 6!

Please Note: There will be no after school care provision on the last day of term.

News From Our 3 For 3 Charity Appeal...

We have been delighted by the boys' response to the challenge of raising money for our 3 for 3 Charity Appeal. So far we have raised a total of £1590. All year groups have taken the opportunity to boost funds by holding ‘sales days’ including mini raffles, penalty shoot outs, and by selling cakes.

• Reception raised a whopping £281.75 from their cake sale on Wednesday and money is still coming in from collecting 20p coins in Smartie tubes.
• Year 1 held a Sponsored Welly Throwing activity on Wednesday to see how many metres they managed to hurl one. We will report back in the next Bulletin as to how much they raised.
• Year 2 have a Sponsored Spelling Test on Monday 26 March.
• Year 3 & 4 are still collecting 1p and 2p coins to make a trail with them round the playground.
• Year 5 took part in a fancy dress sponsored run this afternoon. Sponsorship to still be collected in.
• Year 6 sponsored fancy dress village football match Wednesday 28 March at 11.30am.

Great ‘Shave Off’ sponsor money is still being collected in.

After–School Activities

The full Activity programme begins Monday 23 April. The booking form and information letter was sent home with boys on Tuesday. Some activities are on a ‘first come first served’ basis so we would encourage you to return your forms as soon as possible to avoid any disappointment. Please note that the sailing activity should be booked online using the link on the information letter.

Music Notes

Choir Last Week Of Term

Please note that there will be no Year 2/3 choir on Monday morning or Inchoir on Tuesday morning of the last week of term. They have all worked so hard and performed in a fantastic concert. Choirs will resume on Monday 23 April.

Year 6 Boys

May we remind parents of boys in Year 6 that if their son is not transferring to Claires Court Senior School in September, a term's notice is required. Thank you to those that have already given this notice.

Dates For Your Diary

Longridge Activity Centre — Year 4 — Friday 27 April & Saturday 28 April

A letter was sent home with the boys this week regarding this activity. We would appreciate the return of the reply slips with payment by Monday 26 March please.

School Exam Dates — Years 3–6

Please be aware and note in your diaries that the school exams for pupils in Years 3–6 will take place from Monday 14 May–Friday 18 May.

Fete Programme Competition

Junior boys and girls are invited to design a front cover for this summer's fete programme. The theme for the fete this year is the OLYMPICS. Designs should be on A5 portait paper and we would like to receive designs immediately after the Easter holiday. There will be prizes for the best entries and the winner will have his/her design on this year’s programme. Please ensure all entries are named on the back.

Lost And Found

• Tommy Schnarr has lost his new style named tracksuit top and a green sock.
• Ollie Hill has not been able to find his green school fleece.
• Tobias Clarke and Alex Stearn are unable to find their green V-neck jumpers.
• Max Keller has mislaid his school cap.

Society News

Ridgeway Parents' Society 100 Club Winners...

We would like to congratulate the following parents who are our winners for February and March.

• February —
  • 1stJack Griffin (no.16),
  • 2nd Sam Mead (no.19),
  • 3rd Ryan Tovar (no.17)
• March —
  • 1stJakob Allen (no.66),
  • 2nd Niam Popat (no.20),
  • 3rd Ben Hitchen (no.14)

Holiday Club

Easter Half–term Holiday Club and Community Activities — Monday 2nd April–Friday 13th April (closed Fri 5th and Mon 9th April)

Join us this Easter at Holiday Club where we have an eggstravagant amount of activities for our 3 to 12 year olds... including a visit from Puppetellers, the chance to welcome spring by planting seeds and gain some rookie lifeguard experience.Our Community Activities this holiday includes Badminton at Ridgeway, Cookery Masterclasses and some Super Science. Art and Craft Club also brings plenty of activities to keep the older ones challenged!

Look at www.clairescourt.com/holidayclub for more event information, booking details and T&C's... book TODAY to get your discounted booking rate and option of a hot lunch!

Please email holidayclub@clairescourt.com or call us on 01628 687440 if you have any questions.

JCW 23.3.12

• Fri 23 March — Early Buses Commence
• Mon 26 March — No After School Activities
• Wed 28 Mar — End Of Term For Nursery — Full Day
• Wed 28 Mar — (End Of After School Care)
• Thurs 29 Mar — End Of Term For College — Half Day

Easter Egg Hunt At Ridgeway!

What a fantastic day. Despite the lack of sunshine, there was no lack of enthusiasm and spirits were high! Chocolate was searched for and found, hot dogs and drinks consumed, raffle tickets purchased and the Adventure Playground at Ridgeway opened by Phyllis Avery MBE, President of the Claires Court & Ridgeway Society. The Society funded and project managed this beautiful facility as well as working with the PTA to organise the Easter Egg Hunt.

Ellie Rayer Gets The Call For England!

Ellie has been selected to play for the England U16 Hockey Squad at the ‘Four Nations Hockey Tournament’ in Germany in April. This is a remarkable honour, the biggest of her U16 hockey playing career to date, and she will travel to Hanover to face Germany, Holland and Spain in what will be an extremely challenging ‘Four Nations Tournament’. As a forward with great speed and dribbling skills, and having set up several goals in a recent training match versus Wales, she now sets her sights on scoring her first international goal for her country, and what better place to do it than in Germany!. We wish her all the best!

World Education Games 2012 — We Have A World Ranked Star!

Congratulations to Hannah Oram, Year 5, who, as well as being the top scorer overall across Claires Court Schools in the UNICEF World Education Games, was ranked in the World Spelling Day Hall of Fame as 55th in the world amongst 8 to 10 year olds! How impressive is that!! The World Education Games is an exciting event for all schools and students around the world. 5.5million students from over 200 countries and territories took part in this global challenge which gives the top students in each school an opportunity to see how they measure up against the best. (http://www.worldspellingday.com/). We think that to be in the top 100 in the World is quite an achievement — not least because Hannah undertook the exercises, unaided, on a mid week school night that included an after school activity and home work!!

World Maths Day

On 7 March, senior girls had the opportunity to play maths games against other pupils from all over the world via the ’World Maths Day‘ website. Judging by the feedback from pupils, it was great fun: "I really enjoyed playing on www.worldmathsday.co.uk because as soon as you start playing you get very competitive and strive to win" — Sally Price 7B.

Certificates and prizes of chocolate were awarded in assembly on Monday.

Platinum awards went to Ambre Raharijaona, Gabri Schnarr and Rebecca Brennan in Year 9. This was for completing 10 games at each of the 5 levels.

Prizes were presented to the highest scorer in each of the maths sets which were Niamh Bates and Sundyha Khera, both Year 7, Maria Gonzalez and Emily Richardson, both Year 8, and Ambre Raharijaona and Jenny Hansford in Year 9.

Well done to everyone who took part.

3 For 3 Charity Fundraising

Mrs Smith is still busy counting in her counting house but is hoping to emerge before the end of term with some totals for us! Watch this space!!

The College ‘Hatch Watch’

9 chicks have hatched out of 10 — a tremendous success rate as the norm is 7 out of 10. The fluffy little bundles have enjoyed much attention spurred on by the 3 for 3 fund raising of 20p to name a chick and 20p for a cuddle!

Spanish Language Trip to Sevilla

We still have a place available on the Spanish trip in October for current Year 9 and 10 girls!! Please contact Mrs Gaselee urgently if you want to join!!

Important information for parents

New Official School Outfitter Appointed

With immediate effect, the Claires Court Schools Group is delighted to announce the appointment of Goyals Ltd as the Official School Outfitter for all uniform clothing in succession to Harrods who no longer act in this capacity. Goyals are located at 28 Bridge Street, Maidenhead, SL6 8BJ, telephone 01628 639725, www.goyals.co.uk. Further details will follow in next week's end–of–term newsletter.

This change does not affect Hawkinsport which remains the Official School Outfitter for sportswear.

Parking!!

We have a serious problem with some parents parking in the coach bay in the morning, rather than merely ‘dropping off’ As a result coaches are having to park in the road which, we are sure you will agree, is not as safe for our children. Please do not park in the bay, (nor too close to the zigzags on the road which also make entry and exit a problem for our coaches). Thank you for your co–operation.

CCS — The College PTA

To those subscribing members of the above, as a registered Charity The College PTA may reclaim tax on all your qualifying gifts/donations and subscriptions.

The PTA Committee is in the process of dealing with the Income Tax repayments on behalf of the Association for tax years ending on the 5th April 2010, 2011 & 2012, and as confirmation of this you will, after the Easter break, receive a Gift Aid Declaration letter confirming the Committee's intentions. Thank you for your continued support.

Yours faithfully, David Grant, Chairman — CCS — The College PTA

Year 4 Outward Bound Programme at Longridge Activity Centre

Year 4 girls and boys have been invited to join in the fun on Friday 27 and Saturday 28 April! They will take part in a range of activities including Giant Swing, Water Balls, Dragon Boating and Raft–building — a good mixture of messing about in boats, confidence boosters and team building exercises! The letter sent home this week asks parents to respond very quickly, by Monday 26 March, so that bookings can be made.

Musical Open Day

Would your child like to learn a musical instrument but you don't know which one? Or do you want to find out how much it would cost? All your questions could soon be answered because Dawkes Music is holding an Open Day on Saturday 31 March at its Woodwind and Brass Warehouse in Reform Road, Maidenhead. Woodwind teachers will be available to give any interested adult or child a free lesson (10am to 3pm) and there will be woodwind demonstrations between 11am and 1pm. At 3pm, ‘Blakes Heaven Big Band’ will be playing a live gig, with Tom Politzer on solo Tenor Sax. All the events are free and you are welcome to come and take part, or just watch and enjoy!

If you would like further information please contact Dawkes Music:

• www.dawkes.co.uk/live
• info@dawkes.co.uk
• 01628 630 800.

Summer Fete Programme Design Competition

Junior Prep girls and boys are invited to design a front cover for the Summer Fete programme. This would make an excellent project for the Easter Holidays and we would ask for all entries to be submitted on the first day of the Summer Term. The theme is ‘Olympics’ and designs should be portrait on A5 paper. Prizes will be awarded for the best designs and the winner will have his or her design on the Programme!

News From The College Libraries: Summer Library Volunteers required

Enjoy books? Enjoy working with young children? Then your local library needs YOU! This year the local library service is once again looking for teenage volunteers of over 15 years of age to help out with their National Summer Reading Challenge. These volunteers are invaluable in helping the local authority run the Reading Challenge. They will be involved in encouraging younger children to take up the challenge in their local library while gaining useful work experience themselves. The library service is happy to provide references for the students who work with them and participating in the scheme also gives points for the Duke of Edinburgh project. This project was a great success last year, with some brilliant volunteers from local schools and so the library service is hoping to recruit even more this year. If you're interested, please email volunteers.library@rbwm.gov.uk.

Sports Relief

Good luck to the Year 10 team, Hannah Wardman, Katy Pocock, Ana Murphy, Hannah Lawrence and Liz Newton (registered as Claires Court) who are taking part in the ‘Sport Relief Mile’ at the flagship event in London this Sunday — completing 6 miles (up and down The Mall!). If you would like to sponsor them for their endeavours, the link is http://my.sportrelief.com/sponsor/ccgirls2012.

Nursery & Transition News (specific news but please read the rest of the Colloquium!)

Topics Next Week

All the children will be preparing for Easter!

Class Photos

Please note that the order will be sent off on Tuesday 27 March so any last minute orders can be dropped in to the School Office on Monday. After this date, any orders will have to be posted direct to Tempest, incurring a late order surcharge.

3 FOR 3

The winner of the Easter raffle is Lara Verstringhe in Busy Bees. Thank you to all parents for supporting our fundraising — we raised £216!

Dates

Wed 28 Mar — Parents' Evening for new parents to Transition in the Summer Term.

Dates!

Week Commencing Monday 26 March 2012 — Week 2 of the Lent Term Menu

Mon 26 Mar — Year 11 Physics Practice Test

Tues 27 Mar — Pre–Prep Assembly — Invitation To Parents 9am

The Pre–Prep girls will be singing a song they have prepared as part of the Head's Challenge this term and, of course, Mr Bevis will be there to hear it! All parents are welcome to attend the assembly which starts at 9.00am. Please be prepared to stay for the whole assembly which will last approximately 15 minutes.

Tues 27 Mar — Year 10 History Controlled Assessment

Please note that the final Year 10 History Controlled Assessment question will now be completed in class on Tuesday. It has had to be postponed due to the high number of absences in the group this week.

Wed 28 Mar — Year 11 GCSE Drama Presentations 7pm

Following their examination, parents and friends are invited to watch the girls perform their pieces. A letter was sent home inviting parents to attend. The moderation should finish by 4pm in time for early buses but girls can remain at College with a packed tea and under supervision. A letter has been sent home today and parents are asked to reply to Mrs Robinson.

Thurs 29 Mar — Commemoration Service at The Magnet Leisure Centre

The Senior boys and girls, together with Sixth Form students, will be joining together for a Commemoration Service at the Magnet in the Pearce Suite on this day. Parents are most welcome to join us for this event which will commence at 10.45am and finish at 11.30am. This is a time to bring to mind those with whom we have lived and worked, and to reflect on a society based on the values we hold dear.

During The Holidays:

Mon 2 and Tues 3 Apr — Year 11 GCSE Music Composition Workshops 10am–4pm

A letter was sent home to parents with full details and parents were asked to respond to Ms Macfarlane.

Wed 11 Apr — Year 10 GCSE Unit 1 Business Studies Revision Session

Mr Buckle will be running a revision session at Claires Court between 10am and 3pm. All Year 10 girls studying the subject were invited and due to limited availability, places had to be pre–booked.

Advance Dates!

Easter Half–Term Holiday Club And Community Activities

Monday 2nd April–Friday 13th April (closed Fri 5th and Mon 9th April)

Join us this Easter at Holiday Club where we have an eggstravagant amount of activities for our 3 to 12 year olds... including a visit from Puppetellers, the chance to welcome Spring by planting seeds and gain some rookie lifeguard experience. Our Community Activities this holiday includes Badminton at Ridgeway, Cookery Masterclasses and some Super Science. Art and Craft Club also brings plenty of activities to keep the older ones challenged! Look at www.clairescourt.com/holidayclub for more event information, booking details and T&C's...book TODAY to get your discounted booking rate and option of a hot lunch!

Ski Trip To Les Menuires

We are pressing for the itinerary and can only apologise for not having shared this yet. As soon as it arrives, information will be despatched. If you wish to send Euros into School, please put them in an envelope with the name of your child on the front and the sum of money enclosed. All payments and pocket money should have been received by now.

Diamond Ball Saturday 12 May

A reminder to all table leaders to please make sure cheques are received into the College Office by 31 March. If you are still interested in tickets please register your interest and you will be placed on a waiting list in the event of cancellation.

News From The Head Teacher

Wow — where did that week go! I'm afraid not too many profound thoughts this week (I hear muted thanks...) but just a lot of praise and thanks.

First of all, a huge thank you to all the senior girls and boys and member of the sixth form who turned up with their parents at the Careers Fair on Thursday. As planned, we had the first hour to ourselves and didn't we take advantage of that opportunity? There was a tremendous buzz in the Hall and the feedback I received from youngsters and parents was so positive and it is clear that this is going to become an important part of our careers work into the future. Even more heart warming was the hugely positive way that the exhibitors and presenters, from both small, local firms and multi–national groups, viewed our young people. I have no doubt that when they receive a CV with Claires Court as the place of education it will remind them of that confident, mature, aspirational young person whom they met at the Careers Fair. My thanks to all of the staff, and especially Mike Miller, our Head of Business, who was the driving force behind this event, and thank you to all the parents and young people who attended.

Sadly, due to the Careers Fair, I was unable to attend the joint music concert at Ridgeway. I know, both from Mr Wilding's early morning email, and the many comments from parents, that the girls were absolutely stunning. They sang and played their hearts out and I cannot wait to see the recording of the concert.

I was also not able to see our Under 13 Netball team at the ISA National Netball Championships, and they absolutely excelled themselves to come third. Luckily, I was able to see the Sixth Form Young Enterprise team take second place at the area final. They had clearly grasped the essentials of business &Mdash; that is to make a profit with a quality product and service — and so I was bemused to see us beaten by a team that was very high on creativity and presentation skills but hadn't actually sold any of their products!

With Spring well and truly breaking out all around us it's brilliant to see the Junior garden starting to take shape. I know that Mrs James and her band of enthusiastic diggers and planters have great plans and it's going to be a really special event when we can invite you all in to see it. Talking of things in the natural world, the chicks have been such a wonderful learning experience that we are now planning the purchase our own Eggloo so that we can keep our future chicks and give the girls the opportunity of even broader learning experiences. Now where was that PTA number?

Finally, there has been an absolute deluge of cake sales, nail bars, wacky tights, sellotape rolling challenges, dress sales, raffles, ‘Guess How Many Ties’... in short, all manner of fund raising ventures. No idea yet as to how much we have raised, more details next week, but we were all reminded of the importance of what we are engaged in as we had representatives of our three charities (TVAP, Kids in Sport and the Alexander Devine Children’s Hospice) who were all guests at our assemblies this week. What was most moving was to hear how the money we had raised previously had made a difference, how it had impacted directly upon the lives of children and young people who, for whatever reason, do not or will not have the opportunities that most of take for granted.

I am aware of course that you will also have been highly supportive — either baking, sewing or just putting your hand in your pocket &mdash so thank you

Have a wonderful weekend.

Paul Bevis

"Why can't life's problems hit us when we're 17 and know everything?"

23.3.12

3 for 3 Charities Fundraising

Year 13 are the donut eating champions for fourth year running — but only by seconds!

In a last minute dash Year 12 students, who left some of their ‘big eaters’ to the end of the line–up, almost caught up with the Year 13 gals and guys, who after all have mouths that are one year larger. A lot of laughter and shouting and we raised £28 for 3 for 3 charities.

On Thursday Dr Berman's Tutor Group triumphed at the Grand Final of the Quiz and this event raised a further £11.

Our next event, The ‘Boys vs Girls’ rugby match will take place on Monday at lunchtime when we hope to raise even more.

Year 12 Young Enterprise Team is Area Runner–up

The North Berkshire Area finals of Young Enterprise were held on Wednesday at the Mercure Castle Hotel in Windsor. Our Year 12 team of Danielle Bierne, Laura Mayo-Randall, Leisha Watters and Sam Rees under Managing Director Chester Camm, gave an excellent presentation, showing a very good marketing strategy and business plan that led to them become the group with the highest profit. They fully deserved the cup as runners–up.

Sports Leaders

Congratulations to all the Level 2 Sports Leaders who successfully qualified as ‘Rounders Young Leaders and Umpires’ last Friday. This Friday they will be taking their First Aid qualification which is the last hurdle to qualify for the Level 2 Sports Leaders Award.

AS and A2 Examinations are Looming!

Year 12 students were surprised, and horrified in some cases, to discover that their final examinations start on Monday 14 May which is in just 5 school weeks. Language students have oral exams even before this date. Students should now be drawing up a serious revision timetable and putting all their efforts into achieving the best grades possible. Many universities are now asking to see AS grades as part of the application process so it is important not to leave all your efforts to Year 13 in the hope of taking re–sits!

Each student's individual examination timetable and Lent Term grade card will arrive by post in the ‘end–of–term’ mailing next week.

Study Leave

Year 12 students will commence Study Leave from Monday 14 May 2012 and a letter has been sent to parents giving more details of the arrangements for the end of the summer term.

Year 13 students will leave us for their study and examination period on Friday 1 June 2012. There will be a ‘Leavers’ Assembly, a farewell BBQ and students will be dismissed by 12 noon.

A message for Year 12 Students and Parents from Mrs Rogers...

With the end of term coming into sharp focus and only three weeks left of lessons after the break it is important to plan your revision carefully. In light of this you will find your revision programme on the Year 12 page on the hub. Make the most of all the opportunities offered!

Helen Cole gave an informative presentation this week on ‘Alternatives to Higher Education’ to our Year 12 students. It was packed with useful guidance and numerous websites which should help those students considering options other than university following sixth form. A copy of the presentation is now available on the Year 12 page of the hub.

Common Room Clear Out

Both Year 12 and Year 13 Common Rooms will be thoroughly cleaned over the Easter Break. Students need to take all clothing, kit, bags and books home or leave them locked in their lockers. Any items left lying about will be discarded. Don't leave it until the last day — start taking home your belongings now.

New Official School Outfitter Appointed

With immediate effect, the Claires Court Schools Group is delighted to announce the appointment of Goyals Ltd as the Official School Outfitter for all uniform clothing in succession to Harrods who no longer act in this capacity. Goyals are located at 28 Bridge Street, Maidenhead, SL6 8BJ, telephone 01628 639725, www.goyals.co.uk. Further details will follow in next week's end-of-term newsletter.

This change does not affect Hawkinsport which remains the Official School Outfitter for sportswear.

Sport Relief day — Friday 23 March 2012

Suits were consigned to the back of the wardrobe for the day as Sixth Formers were happy to pay £1 each to come to school in jeans and trainers. A total of £105 was raised in the Sixth Form, and next week we will bring you the overall toal for Claires Court Schools.

Thursday 29 March — Commemoration Service in the Pearce Suite at the Magnet Leisure Centre

The senior boys and girls together with Sixth Form students will be joining together for a Commemoration Service at the Magnet on this day. Parents are welcome to join us for this event which will commence at 10.45 until 11.30 am and is a time to bring to mind those with whom we have lived and worked, and to reflect on a society based on the values we hold dear.

Dates for your diary...

Tuesday 27 March 2012 — Higher Education Conference

Letters have been distributed for all Year 12 students except those involved in Drama moderation. This is a valuable opportunity for all students to explore and research options available when moving on from Sixth Form. As well as University entrance there will also be information on Gap Year projects, employment opportunities and other courses. Consent slips and payments should have been returned to School.

Tuesday 27 March — AS Drama Moderation at Norden Farm, 6.00 pm

An opportunity to see our Year 12 Drama students perform their moderation piece. Friends, parents and staff all welcome.

Wednesday 28 March — Sixth Form Psychology Conference

Our Sixth Form Psychology students have the unique opportunity to hear Dr Philip Zimbardo, an eminent psychologist, speak about his work and experience. He will be examining how ordinary people do very bad things but also how they do very good things that qualify as heroic. Information was distributed last week and reply slips and payments should be returned to School by Wednesday 21 March.

Wednesday 28 March — Drama trip to ‘Equus’, South Hill Park, Bracknell

Letters have been sent home for Drama students for this trip to see Peter Shaffer's psychological thriller. The coach will be leaving at 6.30pm from Claires Court so there is time for students to attend both the Psychology lecture and the theatre. Please return slip and payment by 21 March.

Ski Trip to Les Menuires

For those students booked on this trip, a letter was sent home some time ago. It details the costs of extras as well as the opportunity for the School to purchase euros for pupils. We are pressing for the final travel itinerary and anticipate circulating this early next week.

Tuesday 17 April — Mathematics, Media Studies and Geography practice exams for Year 12

This is the day before term begins, and staff are prepared to give up their time to invigilate these exams and mark them so that students can get an accurate idea of their progress.

• 9.30–11.00am — Geography and Maths Core 1 exams.
• 11.30—1.00pm — Maths Core 2 exam.
• 1.00—3.30pm — Media Studies.

Wednesday 18 April — First Day of Term

Wednesday 18 April — President’s Cup Presentation to Swimarathon Team — 6.30pm

See the invitation from Maidenhead Lions Club below.

"We'd like to invite you and representatives of your swimmers to the Awards Evening which will take place in the presence of the Deputy Mayor at 6.30 for 7.00pm on Wednesday 18 April at the Cox Green Community Centre, 51 Highfield Lane, SL6 3AX.
Steve Rider has kindly agreed to present Cups and Bonus Prizes to winners and Certificates to all participating organisations and the event will finish by about 8.30pm."

Monday 23 April — Years 12 and 13 Drama Trip to ‘Our Country's Good’ at South Hill Park

Information on this performance for our Sixth Form Drama students has been distributed and payments together with consent slips must be returned to School by this forthcoming Wednesday 28 March please.

15–18 June — Year 12 Geography Field Trip — Balance payment

The final payment for the field trip to North Wales is now due. There are still a few outstanding and we would appreciate it if they could come in this week as we would like to get the details for this trip finalised.

Last week for Year 13 Students to order hoodies

We are arranging to have ‘Leavers Hoodies’ for our last year at school. If you would like to take part in this please bring in a cheque made payable to ‘School Leavers Company’ for £24.95. Mark the back of the cheque with your name and the name of the school ‘Claires Court Schools’. Please put this in an envelope with your name on it and hand it in to the Sixth Form office before 28 March 2012.

Summer Library Volunteers

Enjoy books? Enjoy working with young children? Then your local library needs YOU! This year the local library service is once again looking for teenage volunteers of over 15 years of age to help out with their national Summer Reading Challenge.

These volunteers are invaluable in helping the local authority run the Reading Challenge. They will be involved in encouraging younger children to take up the challenge in their local library while gaining useful work experience themselves. The library service is happy to provide references for the students that work with them and participating in the scheme also gives points for the Duke of Edinburgh project.

This project was a great success last year, with some brilliant volunteers from local schools and so the library service is hoping to recruit even more this year. If you’re interested, please email volunteers.library@rbwm.gov.uk

"Everything that can be counted does not necessarily count; everything that counts cannot necessarily be counted."

Albert Einstein

PAB 23.03.2012