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The highlight of our Parent Teacher Association year arrives tomorrow with the School's Summer Fete, 12 noon to 4pm, to be held in the grounds of Ridgeway, home of Claires Court Junior Boys.

Please remember to bring your hard-won programme with you (or bring £5 to purchase one per family), together with its lucky draw slip for a day out at Stoke Park. As you arrive up the main driveway, you'll see our new field in all its ploughed glory, awaiting the arrival of grass seed and levelling machinery later this Summer.

Please do come and join us, meet up with the wider Claires Court community and visit more of our plans for the future in the Mezzanine of the Sports Hall. You can see our new finger-print scanner (small), one of our new buses and boats (big), hear from some of the Google mentors on their work with the ‘Hub’ and Chromebooks, and see/hear more about our plans for the estate.

James Wilding – Academic Principal

Summer Fete

See you at the Summer Fete this Saturday!! Junior Boys site Ridgeway 12.00 – 4.00 pm Cannon Lane, Maidenhead (sat nav SL6 4QQ) Entry £5 per family or by pre ordered ticket.

Loads of excitements on offer with as well as the Football Tournament in the morning. Our renowned Samba Band will be performing and with a full range of attractions, all the fun of the Fair is guaranteed. Don't forget to bring your ticket with you!

Maidenhead's Got Talent

Certainly Claires Court has! What a splendid event this was in lovely surroundings. Our musicians performed their hearts out and demonstrated quite clearly the depth and range of musical talent we have across the entire range of year groups.

We have received many compliments on the quality and talent of our pupils and students.

Art On The Street

We wowed the town – again! What a fantastic day we had on Saturday with a High Street display of Art, the Art Workshops in the Nicholsons Centre and our musicians proving, yet again, that they are capable of stopping the town.

The range of talent and quality of performances was terrific and all complemented by the ‘statues’ who gained a great deal of attention and admiration. The sun shone on us all and we had a full, fruitful and enjoyable day!

Annual Inter-House Athletics Championships

Friday 28 June 3.00pm – 5.30pm 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 afternoon 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. Athletes will need to be collected from TVAC but for those not involved, afternoon lessons and normal Friday buses will run.

Advance Notice

Tuesday 25 June there will be early buses.

This is due to our New Boy's Induction Evening.

Music Notes

Samba Band

Sam MacGregor and Connor Lee are playing at the school fete tomorrow. Please could these lads meet at 12.45pm to play from 1.00pm onwards.

New Boys Evening – Tuesday 25 June

Mr Roach would like to remind Sam MacGregor, Connor Lee, James Tapner-Evans, Thomas May and Thomas Buckle that we would like them to play between 5.00pm and 5.30pm as ‘entertainment’ as New Parents and pupils arrive for the Induction evening. They will be free to leave by 5.30pm – but please note there are early buses this day.

Music Concert – Monday 1 July

Starting at 6.00pm. As usual there will be a variety of music on offer to entertain. All welcome to attend Refreshments from 5.45pm.

Mr Roach would like to thank both Parents and staff for the support given at Maidenhead's Got Talent and Art on The Street last week. The boys did the school proud!

Office News and Looking Ahead

• Monday 17 June – Year 10 Spanish Speaking GCSE Controlled Assessment. ISA National Athletics
• Tuesday 18 June – Year 10 Spanish Speaking GCSE Year 8 RS Trip Neasden Hindu Temple
• Friday 21 June – Year 11 Trip to Thorpe Park & Buffet at Maidenhead Rowing Club
• Monday 24 June – Year 7 University Challenge at Lunch Time
• Tuesday 25 June – New Boys Evening – for all those new pupils starting with us in September 2013.
• Thursday 27 June – Year 8 Drama Festival from 6.00pm – 8.00pm

GCSE Controlled Assessment

Year 10 German speaking on Monday 1 July

Sports Team Photographs

The Summer Term Sports Team Photographs are on display in reception. Order forms available from Mrs Adams. Deadline for orders 17 June 2013.

Whole School Photos

A reminder to all parents to check out the whole school photo either in the hard copy on site or online at www.tempest-groups.co.uk/collections/results and use the password ‘Burgundy’ to access the photos. Photos may also be ordered utilising the order envelope sent home with the Bulletin.

Notes From The Head

The school continues to have a very active hum and we are constantly rising up to new challenges. Last weekend saw the musicians enjoying Maidenhead's Got Talent, a brilliant event held at Taplow Court which was a great venue for the performers to experience. Saturday was Art on the Street, again a showcase for our artists.

This weekend I hope to see as many of you as possible at the Fete, the weather forecast is good and the event promises to be as spectacular as always.

We have registered the boys for the Cashless Catering process, if your son has not brought his form back yet, please send it in as soon as possible so we can complete the process.

J Rayer

Trips

Year 11 (Current Year 10) French Language Trip To Normandy – 20 to 26 October

The interim payment of £200 is now overdue.

German Language Trip to Cologne – 20 to 24 October

The interim payment of £170 is now overdue.

Spanish Trip to Salamanca – 20 to 24 October

The interim payment of £275 is now overdue

Ski Trip

Unfortunately at this stage we do not have sufficient skiers to make our proposed trip to Alpe d'Huez a viable event. We are therefore cancelling our arrangements for April 2014 and will take a fresh look later in the year with the possibility of a re-launch in the Autumn Term. Personal letters are going home to those who have booked and deposits will be returned.

“The difference between genius and stupidity is; genius has its limits.”

Albert Einstein

JMR 14/06/13

Please remember to bring your hard-won programme with you (or bring £5 to purchase one per family). As you arrive up the main driveway, you'll see our new field in all its ploughed glory, awaiting the arrival of grass seed and levelling machinery later this Summer. Please do come and join us, meet up with the wider Claires Court community and visit more of our plans for the future in the Mezzanine of the Sports Hall. You can see our new finger-print scanner (small), one of our new buses and boats (big), hear from some of the Google mentors on their work with the 'Hub' and Chromebooks, and see/hear more about our plans for the estate.

James Wilding – Academic Principal

Maidenhead's Got Talent, Art on the Street, swimming gala (Reception–Y3), Year 5 history visit to RAF Hendon, Pre-Prep Workshare, Cricket tour to the Isle of Wight, ‘Art in a Day’, Reception to Woolley Firs — so much has happened this last week that many boys (and staff) have not had their feet on the ground for a while!

We have also had new balance/play equipment installed and many thanks to you, our parents, and the PTA committee in particular, for funding and organising that. Thanks again to you all for the organisation of tomorrow's Fete. The school has been buzzing this week as the preparations for that gather pace and we look forward to the fun and games of that tomorrow! That will be quickly followed by 14 of our boys representing London West in the ISA National Athletics event in Birmingham on Monday. Good luck to those boys involved.

Well done to Joshua Morgan (6G), James Hargreaves (4G) and Aaron Sanger (4G) our Rabbit winners this week.

Joshua and James were incredibly helpful and conscientious in their duties as additional ‘lifeguards’ and assistants during the swimming gala last Friday. They were excellent. Aaron has shown over and over again how helpful and thoughtful he is and this week, amongst other things, he was up and down to the library offering to help carry things for staff during his break time. Many thanks Aaron, James and Joshua.

Jeff Watkins

See You at the Summer Fete This Saturday!

Loads of excitement on offer, with the Football Tournament taking place in the morning, our renowned Samba Band performing in the afternoon and with a full range of attractions all the fun of the Fair is guaranteed. Don't forget to bring your ticket with you!

Parents' Evenings

Please ensure you have returned your appointment slip in order to secure yourself a convenient time to discuss your son's work.

Art On The Street

What a fantastic day we had on Saturday with a High Street display of Art, the Art Workshops in the Nicholsons Centre and our musicians proving, yet again, that they are capable of stopping the town. The range of talent and quality of performances was terrific and all complemented by the ‘statues’ who gained a great deal of attention and admiration.

The sun shone on us all and we had a full, fruitful and enjoyable day!

Maidenhead's Got Talent

Well done to our musicians. What a splendid event this was in lovely surroundings. Our musicians performed their hearts out and demonstrated quite clearly the depth and range of musical talent we have across the entire range of year groups.

Mrs Stay is a Cardboard Cut Out!

A number of Year 5 boys enjoyed creating a cardboard copy of Mrs Stay last Friday! They drew rough 2 minute life sketches then designed a 3D man to be made out of cardboard. They built two designs but one broke so turned into a dog! The ‘sculpture’ was then painted and put on display in the Sports Hall.

Swimming Gala

Junior boys make a Splash, Reception to Year 3 celebrated their new swimming pool with a display and gala. The event was expertly run by our coach Mrs Karin Whiteley assisted by Mrs Katie Morgan and two of our most able swimmers, James Hargreaves and Joshua Morgan. Throughout the morning excited boys gathered to showcase their skills.

Reception and Year 1 put on a splendid display showing their enjoyment and confidence in the water. They all jumped in, splashed, floated and swam.

Year 2 eagerly lined up to race in front crawl and backstroke with all boys able to take part. On the starting whistle they dived in as staff anxiously held stopwatches at the finishing end. They ended their gala with an inter house train race. Excitement rose as each train with a driver and passengers linked together with woggles raced to the station.

Excitement reached a crescendo as Year 3 dived in to race with style and speed to climax the morning. Parents proudly watched and cheered and also took the opportunity to mingle on The Terrace with refreshments. A must for our diary next year.

Parents proudly watched and cheered and also took the opportunity to mingle on The Terrace with refreshments. A must for our diary next year.

Year 5 Visit to RAF Hendon

Year 5 spent a very interesting day ay RAF Hendon. They were able to see the planes in Bomber Hall, watched a show about the Battle of Britain and try lots of different activities in the Aeronauts Interactive Gallery. They particularly enjoyed learning about the role of an ARP warden and making their own gas mask box.

After School Activities — Thursday 20 June

Due to some staff being involved in Parents' Evening next Thursday there will be changes to the activities on this evening. The only activities which will still be running this evening are: Sailing, Film Club, and Drama. Those who need to stay after school can be supervised until 5pm.

After School Care for Reception to Year 2 will still take place at Junior Boys until 5pm and then the After School Care for all will be available at College via the late bus as usual.

Nearly New Uniform Sale

There will be a stall at the Summer Fete on Saturday where you can purchase items of nearly new uniform

Year 3 Vikings — Wednesday 19 June

Y3 boys will be joined by Y3 girls for our annual Viking invasion on Wednesday 19th June. A packed lunch will be required (please remember no nuts or kiwi fruit) and as, hopefully, we will be outside all day, suncream applied before arrival at school. Boys are encouraged to dress as Vikings - big, baggy T-shirt, belt and tracksuit bottoms.

Lost and Found

Theo Josh has lost his cricket trousers along with the whole of his swimming kit which is in a black bag.

Library News

Travelling Book Company

We would just like to remind you about the Travelling Book Fair on Thursday 20 June. The brochure with a selection of books on offer was sent home by ‘boy post’ today. Your sons will have the opportunity to buy books during the day and there will be time after school for parents to come along too! If you want your sons to buy any books please send them in with their pocket money on that day.

Ski Trip

Unfortunately at this stage we do not have sufficient skiers to make our proposed trip to Alpe d'Huez a viable event. We are therefore cancelling our arrangements for April 2014 and will take a fresh look later in the year with the possibility of a re-launch in the Autumn Term. Meanwhile, personal letters are going home to those who have booked and deposits will be returned.

J.C.W. 14.6.13

Please remember to bring your hard-won programme with you (or bring £5 to purchase one per family), together with its lucky draw slip for a day out at Stoke Park. As you arrive up the main driveway, you'll see our new field in all its ploughed glory, awaiting the arrival of grass seed and levelling machinery later this Summer. Please do come and join us, meet up with the wider Claires Court community and visit more of our plans for the future in the Mezzanine of the Sports Hall. You can see our new finger-print scanner (small), one of our new buses and boats (big), hear from some of the Google mentors on their work with the ‘Hub’ and Chromebooks, and see/hear more about our plans for the estate

Maidenhead's Got Talent

Well done to our musicians. What a splendid event this was in lovely surroundings. Our musicians performed their hearts out and demonstrated quite clearly the depth and range of musical talent we have across the entire range of year groups. We have even received fan mail!

Art On The Street

And We Wowed The Town Again!

What a fantastic day we had on Saturday with a High Street display of Art, the Art Workshops in the Nicholsons Centre and our musicians proving, yet again, that they are capable of stopping the town.

The range of talent and quality of performances was terrific and all complemented by the ‘statues’ who gained a great deal of attention and admiration. Well done! The GCSE Drama group performed ‘The Unlikely Characters’ at ‘Art on the Street’ last Saturday. The audience really enjoyed it.

Learning development department cross-site debate

This month's topic: Are Junior School pupils too young to have mobile phones?

Although the Summer Term is a very busy one, we managed to squeeze in another LDD cross-site debate on Friday 7 June. It was held at the Senior Boys site, in the Pod. We are very grateful to Charlotte Docker (Year 10, Senior Debater) for giving up her Friday Lunchtime to adjudicate the debate. All the speakers have gained in confidence, improving with every debate. Well done to the girl's team of Freya Ramsay, Izzy Van Vuuren and Maddie Sparks.

Summer Fete

Saturday 15 June: 12–4pm at Claires Court Junior Boys

See you at the Summer Fete this Saturday!! Loads of excitements on offer as well as the Football Tournament in the morning. Our renowned Samba Band will be performing and with a full range of attractions, ‘All the Fun of the Fair’ is guaranteed. Don't forget to bring your ticket with you!

Important Information For Parents

Ski Trip

Unfortunately at this stage we do not have sufficient skiers to make our proposed trip to Alpe d'Huez a viable event. We are therefore cancelling our arrangements for April 2014 and will take a fresh look later in the year with the possibility of a re-launch in the Autumn Term. Meanwhile, personal letters are going home to those who have booked and deposits will be returned.

Early Coaches

Please note that on Tuesday 25 June there will only be early coaches (due to the Senior New Boys' Evening).

Whole School Photos

A reminder that the Whole School Photo is now on display in the Atrium and parents and girls can either collect an order envelope from the School Office (which can then be posted to Tempest), or visit the Tempest website www.tempest-groups.co.uk to view the photo. Enter the School name and password burgundy. Tempest advise using a browser other than Google Chrome as the mouse roll-over function does not work in Google Chrome.

Drama News

Juniors

The Junior Drama Club is working on the creation of three 'Sock Puppet performances'. Save the Date! If your daughter attends she will be involved in the performance which is scheduled for Friday 5 July in the Chapel at 9.00am, family welcome to attend!

Wanted

Fur coats — if anyone could lend us fur coats for the school production we would be very grateful! Please hand it to Mrs Warren - they will be safely returned!

Competition Winners

As you are aware we held a competition for the School production posters - there were so many great designs and images it was truly a difficult task, so we have decided to use one for the poster and another for the front cover of the programme.

1st Prizes

• Programme cover - Sophie Pierce,
• Poster design - Charlotte Webster.
• Runners up: Amy Walters, Natasha Maher, Corinne Mankoo.

Get Your Tickets Now!

Kate Horn, 10W, has been working so hard on producing a unique ticket for our production - don't miss out! Please fill in the form at the end of the Colloquium to reserve your tickets - the special effects are truly going to be out of this world!

Message From The College Libraries

Carnegie and Greenaway Medals 2013 — Winners Party!

Come and celebrate this year's winners! Over the past months Junior and Senior Book Club members have been reading the shortlisted books for this year's Carnegie and Greenaway Medals, a prize awarded annually to the writer and illustrator of an outstanding book for children and young people.

Eight books in each category have been read and discussed, and then scored according to a number of criteria. To celebrate the announcement of this year's official winners, and to reward those who participated in the scheme, there will be a Winners's Party in the Junior and Senior Girls's Libraries at lunch time on Thursday 20 June. Come and see who won the Medal! Was it your favourite?

Dates!

Sat 15th June

Claires Court Summer Fete

Blenheim Rowing Regatta — Miss Lunney has given all the information to pupils but as she has just had confirmation through from the organisers that, as the boats have to come off the trailer earlier than expected, the minibus will leave from the Senior Girls site at 7.30am.

Mon 17 June

Year 10 Art Trip to Tate Britain — The group will leave at 9am and return for approximately 4pm. They should take a packed lunch, a sketchbook, dry drawing materials and a small amount of money to buy postcards.

Tues 18 June

Lower Junior Parents' Evening — A letter has been sent home inviting parents to make appointments with their daughter's teacher. Please return the reply slip even if an appointment is not required

Year 5 Senior School Experience Timetable — Details can be found on last week's Colloquium. We hope that they really enjoy themselves!

Year 8 RS Trip to Neasden Temple — The coach will leave at 8.45am and return by 4pm. Pupils must be dressed in uniform and take a packed lunch. As the Temple is a place of worship, girls must ensure their knees are covered by their skirts. They should take a clipboard and pen.

Wed 19 June

Year 3 Viking Day — Please try to dress your daughter in the style of a Viking — tracksuit bottoms, large t-shirt and a belt would work well. Please send these items in to school on Monday 17 June.

Fri 21 June

World Rowing Cup at Dorney — A number of our rowers in Years 7 — 11 have been invited to attend this prestigious event. A letter has been sent home and the consent slip should be returned by Monday 17 June. The group will leave School at 9am and return by approximately 4.15pm.

Mon 24 June

Nearly New Uniform Sale 3.30–6.30pm in the Dining Room

The PTA will be selling uniform from 3.30pm to 6.30pm. If you have any good quality uniform to sell, now is the time to wash/launder/dry clean it. A flyer accompanies this Colloquium (hard copy) with details.

New Senior Girls Evening, Year 6

We are pleased that the PTA have kindly offered to sell Nearly New Uniform, from 3.30pm to 6.30pm, and the evening proper will start at 6.30pm with a talk by Mr Bevis. Please return your attendance slip to Mrs Sampson if you have not already done so

Tues 25 June

Years 7 & 8 Eureka Science Club To Braywick Nature Reserve — A letter has been sent home with details and the consent slip is due for return by Wednesday 19 June.

Wed 26 June

Year 10 Sixth Form Experience Day — A letter has been sent home to parents with information. Please direct any questions to Mr Giles, Head of Sixth Form, on arg@clairescourt.net

Thurs 27 June

Year 10 Spanish — Spanish Writing Controlled Assessment will take place during periods 1 and 2.

Fri 28 June

Years 1 & 2 Strawberry Tea — Information To Follow

Nursery and Transition News

Nursery Class Photos

Reminder — they are still on display in the classrooms, together with the order forms. All orders should be returned to your Nursery Leader by this Monday 17 June. Parents who miss the deadline will be able to post their order direct to Tempest.

We had a very busy Open Day on Tuesday and, as always, the children were wonderful, showing our Nursery provision at its best. Thank you to the children and to you for recommending us to your friends and colleagues.

The Nursery children have had another fun week caring for their plants and telling the staff how big the sunflower plants, which they took home, have grown. Next week the children in the Nursery rooms will be learning about the colour brown, the number 8, the letter l and will be learning about woodland and parkland.

Children transferring to our Junior Boys and Junior Girls departments had a wonderful time on Wednesday and returned full of stories and huge smiles. The rest of the week has seen the Transition children creating bark and leaf rubbings and having a lovely teddy bears picnic party. Next week Transition children will be talking about the letter a and will be learning about life cycles.

I look forward to seeing everyone on Saturday at the School Fete and if you have not got your family ticket yet you can pay on the gate. It will be a fun packed afternoon for everybody.

Sheena Wilding, Head of Nursery

Notes From The Junior Department

Change....

This Wednesday, all of the girls moved up to their new year groups for the morning. We also had ten girls who are joining us in September visit us for the day. In assembly we discussed the matter of ‘change’. We recognised that it can be scary and a little nerve racking but that actually change can happen without noticing. We also discussed favourite memories of School so far, and I asked the girls (and staff) if they could remember their first teacher. Most could, proving that even though we go through big changes, we never forget.

Merit Certificates:

• Reception Keelan Hopley
• Year 1 Lily Mae
• Year 3 Yasmin Paton
• Year 4 Kete Djan
• Year 5 Claudia Jimenez and Claudia Albares
• Year 6 Isha Ilyas

Bunny Award

• Year 5 for their outstanding work during a Samsung filming afternoon
• Jyotpreet Samra Year 2 - for being kind and helpful and trying to be her best self.

Leanne Barlow, Head of Junior Girls

News From The Head Teacher

It has been a good week — on Monday the awarding of athletics medals to successful athletes at both the ISA London West Championships and the Berkshire County Championships; prizes to the creative talents that designed the Programme cover for the Summer Production, ‘The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe’, and the agreement that we will be making the first award of a major literary prize linked to the Carnegie Medal.

Regular, but brief, conversations with Year 11's after their latest exam, which continue apace, indicate a confidence with what they have just finished - so fingers crossed for them. The GCSE Art and Textiles work has been displayed for the moderator, and the exhibition of the work of our talented students will move into the Chapel for its first viewing, starting on Monday 1 July. It will follow the A Level Art and Photography exhibition which opens on Friday 21 June (please note change of date from hard copies!).

Year 7 travelled to Warwick Castle and work is already flowing from that educational visit.

On Saturday, our first girls rowing crew compete at the Blenheim Regatta, and on Monday the athletes travel to Birmingham for the ISA National Championships. On Tuesday, Year 8 gets a chance to experience the different philosophical perspectives of Hinduism when they visit the Temple in Neasden. All in all, breadth, challenge and excellence.

Speaking of excellence, following the final award of Prefect badges on Monday this is my opportunity to congratulate the girls who have been appointed, after a challenging selection process, to the senior posts:

• Head Girl: Daisy Rühle
• Deputy Head Girl: Unni Tolkien
• House Captains: St Therese — Rebecca Yeabsley, St Francis — Kate Horn, St Ignatius — Sarah Messer and St Vincent — Fran Dickinson
• Games Captain: Freya Hulse
• Vice Games Captain: Charlotte Hole
• Performing Arts Prefect: Lisa Rogulska

Those who were not successful having put themselves forward are already bouncing back from their disappointment and finding ways, as Prefects, to both serve and lead. All members of Year 10 have prefectural responsibilities, and they have all signed an Expectation document acknowledging the demands and requirements of the role. I wish them all the best in carrying out their roles and I look forward to Daisy and Unni's first presentation to the School which will take place next Friday.

“Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence”

—Vince Lombardi

Paul Bevis

“Fatherhood is pretending the present you love most is a soap-on-a-rope”

—Bill Cosby

HAPPY FATHERS' DAY!!

14.6.13

The highlight of our Parent Teacher Association year arrives tomorrow with the School's Summer Fete, 12 noon to 4pm, to be held in the grounds of Ridgeway, home of Claires Court Junior Boys.

Please remember to bring your hard-won programme with you (or bring £5 to purchase one per family), together with its lucky draw slip for a day out at Stoke Park. As you arrive up the main driveway, you'll see our new field in all its ploughed glory, awaiting the arrival of grass seed and levelling machinery later this Summer.

Please do come and join us, meet up with the wider Claires Court community and visit more of our plans for the future in the Mezzanine of the Sports Hall. You can see our new finger-print scanner (small), one of our new buses and boats (big), hear from some of the Google mentors on their work with the ‘Hub’ and Chromebooks, and see/hear more about our plans for the estate.

>James Wilding
Academic Principal

Message from all the Sixth Form staff:

Good luck to all our students as they take their final A2 examinations

Perfect Weather for a Geography Adventure

For the first time ever we think, the sun shone for the entire 4 days of the Year 12 Geography Field Trip and not a drop of rain was felt — yes we really were in Snowdonia, totally unbelieveable! The four days saw the geographers developing their fieldwork skills and testing their knowledge of coastal and glacial processes in preparation for next years A2 Skills paper.

Sunday saw the group adventuring through the dunes at Harlech beach armed with point quadrats, ipads, anemometers, thermometers and various other instruments to help them in their quest to identify the factors affecting the sequence of psammosere succession. A further paddle in the sea and an evening bonfire were just reward for all the hard work involved.

On Monday rather than collect more data the intrepid geographers had the chance to fully appreciate the incredible landscape of Snowdonia with an “awe and wonder” adventure along the famous miners' track, finding the striations left by glaciers 1000's of years ago was a definite highlight.

Art On The Street

And We Wowed the Town Again!

What a fantastic day we had on Saturday with a High Street display of Art, the Art Workshops in the Nicholsons Centre and our musicians proving, yet again, that they are capable of stopping the town. The range of talent and quality of performances was terrific and all complemented by the ‘statues’ who gained a great deal of attention and admiration. The sun shone on us all and we had a full, fruitful and enjoyable day!

Art and Photography Exhibition

Parents of Art and Photography students have been invited to the ‘Private View’ on Thursday 20 June and the exhibition will be open to everyone on Monday 24 June after moderation has taken place.

Summer Fete

See you at the Summer Fete this Saturday! (Junior Boys from 12:00)

Loads of excitements on offer with as well as the Football Tournament in the morning. Our renowned Samba Band will be performing and with a full range of attractions, all the fun of the Fair is guaranteed. Don't forget to bring your ticket with you!

South Africa Tour - Urgent!

All money and documents are now overdue!

The final payment, medical and passport should have been in by Monday 3 June. Please check passports have at least 3 months (from date of departure) before expiry. Please note that there will be a training day on Friday 19 July for all students on the SA tour. Kit will be given out, and the session will end with a BBQ.

Ski Trip

Unfortunately at this stage we do not have sufficient skiers to make our proposed trip to Alpe d'Huez a viable event. We are therefore cancelling our arrangements for April 2014 and will take a fresh look later in the year with the possibility of a re-launch in the Autumn Term. Meanwhile, personal letters are going home to those who have booked and deposits will be returned.

Summer Ball

The Sixth Form Leavers' Ball will be at Taplow House Hotel, SL6 0DA on Wednesday 26 June from 7.30 pm until midnight. Dress — formal black tie/ball gown.

Students must have paid their subs in order to attend and one guest may be invited per student. Guest tickets are £25 each.

Urgent — Year 13 Locker Key Return

Please check that your son or daughter in Year 13 has returned their locker key in order for your £50 locker deposit money to be credited to your final bill. Any keys outstanding on Friday 14 June will be charged as lost.

Exams

There have already been a number of problems regarding students and examinations. Students have missed exams, arrived late after being pulled from their beds, or simply not turned up! Absences and late attendances were all due to students having written the wrong information in their diaries, so please recheck all your dates and times from you official printed timetable.

There have also been several instances of students having withdrawn without informing the Examinations Officer. If you have recently withdrawn from an examination please inform Mrs Gail Wolfendale or Mr John Meek so that your name can be taken off the attendance list. If you do not do this it is likely that you and/or your parents will receive panic phone calls when you do not arrive.

“Education is a weapon, whose effect depends on who holds it in his hands and at whom it is aimed!”

Joseph Stalin

www.facebook.com/clairescourt

Twitter @clairescourt

As the newsletters this week proclaim, the School's busiest season has now arrived. This means our boys and girls are playing a full and active part in the artistic, musical and sporting life of the town, county, region and nation. It also brings major companies such as Google and Samsung to visit as they take a real interest in what we do. Samsung Education's video team, captured yesterday in documentary form, the academic work we do using their equipment every day (Chromebooks). They have done so as we are seen to successfully pioneer working in the digital ‘Cloud’.

It's no mean feat to keep this all together and I look forward to talking further to Parents to show them our plans for the future, in the Sports Hall Mezzanine at the Summer Fete on Saturday 15 June.

James Wilding
Academic Principal

A ‘Star’ on stage

Well done to Frazer Gault who was awarded the Margaret Milner-Williams Medal for the Best Senior Boy Actor at the recent ISA Drama Festival.
He was presented with his medal by Mr Rayer and Mr Wilding.

Summer Fete

Saturday 15 June at Ridgeway our Junior Boys Site - Cannon Lane, Maidenhead (sat nav SL6 4QQ)

Have you sent in your ticket application? This year the Fete promises to have ‘All the Fun of the Fair’ so be sure to come and join in. There will be a tremendous range of stalls and attractions and as summer seems to have arrived, what better way to spend a sunny afternoon than supporting your PTA and School?

Please bring into the office as well as any unwanted toys, books and DVDs. Thank you. If you do not wish to attend, we would appreciate it if you could return the Programme to the Office.

Get that Pinny out - We need your BBQ skills

Are you available to help with the really popular BBQ at the summer Fete? Vanessa Shander-Kelsey would really like to hear from you via email vanessashander@hotmail.com

Art on the Street - Saturday 8 June - Central Maidenhead

Don't forget to join us at Art on the Street - Maidenhead's foremost arts event. We will have pupils performing within the two areas allocated for entertainment as well as an art workshop in the Nicholson's Centre.

In addition artist Sarah Crookes from Year 13, together with her talented photographer father, will be displaying their work on one of the pitches.

Please come and join us to enjoy the work of our talented local artists.

Year 9 Ray Mill Island

Year 9 turn Ray Mill Island into their outdoor Lab to improve their Biology sampling techniques. As part of their GCSE studies, they used the various sampling strategies that they have been learning about. In this picture they are using ‘belt transects’ to determine the percentage of grass cover under different trees and the effect of trampling and light intensity on the grass cover.

Advance Notice

Tuesday 25 June there will be early buses.

This is due to our New Boy's Induction Evening.

Music Notes

Friday 7 June - Maidenhead's Got Talent

Good Luck to our musicians who will be sharing their talent at Taplow Court this evening. What a splendid location in which to perform – we hope they have an enjoyable evening!

Saturday 8 June - Timings for Art On the Street

Samba band are playing from 12.05pm until 12.35pm. Please meet by the ‘Boy and the Boat statue’, the other ensembles are on at 12.50pm until 1.15pm approx.

Saturday 15 June - School Fete

Samba Band, Sam MacGregor and Connor Lee are playing at the school fete on Saturday 15 June. Exact timings TBC at Samba Band rehearsal.

Tuesday 25 June - New Boys Evening

Mr Roach would like to remind Sam MacGregor, Connor Lee, James Tapner-Evans, Thomas May and Thomas Buckle that we would like them to play between 5.00pm and 5.30pm as ‘entertainment’ as New Parents and pupils arrive for the Induction evening. They will be free to leave by 5.30pm - but please note there are early buses this day.

Monday 1 July - Music Concert

Starting at 6.00pm. As usual there will be a variety of music on offer to entertain. All welcome to attend.

Office News & Looking Ahead

• Tuesday 11 June - Open Morning 9.30-12.00 All Sites
• Tuesday 11 June - Year 10 English Controlled Assessment.
• Tuesday 11 June - GCSE Year 11 Artwork available to view in Reception until Thursday 13 June.
• Thursday 13 June - Year 10 English Controlled Assessment
• Monday 17 June - Year 10 Spanish Speaking GCSE Controlled Assessment.
• Monday 17 June - ISA National Athletics
ISA National Athletics
• Tuesday 18 June - Year 10 Spanish Speaking GCSE

Whole School Photo

The Whole School Photo is now on display in our Reception and can be ordered by either collecting an order envelope from the School Office (which can then be posted to Tempest), or visiting the Tempest website www.tempest-groups.co.uk/collections/results to view the photo. Enter the school name (Claires Court) and password ‘Burgundy’. Tempest advise using a browser other than Google Chrome as the mouse roll-over function does not work in Google Chrome.

Notes From The Head

This week we have spoken of the challenges that we face moving towards the end of the Summer Term, that there is a need to focus on the task at hand and full commitment is needed to the variety of activities that we face.

At assembly we looked at the tragic circumstance of Gunner Lee Rigby's murder and the reactions to this act. We cannot blame a whole culture/religion for what happened and the breaking of windows in a Maidenhead Mosque, the stoning of the Police and the recent burning down of a Muslim Cultural Centre are actions that we have to totally reject as extremist and against the values of our community.

Please read the request from Vanessa Shander-Kelsey for help at the Fete. If you can help it would be greatly appreciated and I hope to see you all there a week on Saturday.

J Rayer

Trips

Year 7 History Trip - Wednesday 12 June

Signed consent forms are now overdue. Please return as soon as possible.

Year 8 Religious Studies Trip - Tuesday 18 June

To Neasden Hindu Temple, London. There is no cost for this trip, but please return a signed consent form which is now overdue.

Year 11 (Current Year 10) French Language Trip To Normandy -  20 to 26 October

The interim payment of £200 is now overdue.

German Language Trip To Cologne -  20 to 24 October

The interim payment of £170 is now overdue.

Spanish Trip To Salamanca - 20 to 24 October

The interim payment of £275 is now overdue.

"Australia's animals include the Kangaroo and the Coca Cola Bear."

Taken from Classic Classroom Clangers.

JMR 07/06/13

Now, it's no mean feat to keep this all together and I look forward to talking further to Parents interested in our plans for the future, in the Sports Hall Mezzanine at the Summer Fete on Saturday 15 June.

James Wilding
Academic Principal

Very well done and congratulations to our Athletic team – winners of the London West Region ISA Junior Boys competition. With twenty schools competing, this is an excellent achievement and a good number of our boys from years 4,5 and 6 will now be representing London West in the National Finals on 17 June.

Claires Court School as a whole also won the overall cup, so a terrific achievement all round.

Starting a very busy few weeks leading to the end of term, tonight we have musicians from Year 6 representing the school in ‘Maidenhead's Got talent’ at Taplow Court, and tomorrow they are performing again as part of ‘Art on the Street’ in Maidenhead town centre.

Do try and come along to one or other of these events if you have time.

Next Saturday, of course, we will be hosting the school Fete, with much fun and excitement for the children and a chance for parents to catch up with one another over a cup of tea and a scone – or something stronger!

Our Rabbits this week go to Oliver McMillan (3G) and Cameron Jones (6G). Cameron's excellent manners and behaviour were noticed and commented on by a parent from another school while at the ISA athletics event this week.

Cameron, alongside the other Year 6 boys, was extremely polite and helpful throughout the afternoon. Oliver is consistently well behaved and thoughtful and that has been particularly noticeable this week. Well done Oliver and Cameron.

Jeff Watkins

Parents' Evenings

Parents' evening appointment letters have been sent out for Reception to Year 4. Years 5 and 6 will receive theirs next week.

Whole School Photo

The orders for the whole school photograph, which is on view in the entrance hall, should all now be handed in to the office. Any late orders will have to be sent direct to Tempest, but can still be delivered to school.

Library News

A reminder that the Travelling Book Fair will be coming to Ridgeway on Thursday 20 June – brochure and posters explaining more about the day, which has become one of the most enjoyable days for the boys in the annual Junior Boys calendar, will be sent out in due course.

Friday 7 June - Maidenhead's Got Talent - Good Luck To Our Musicians

Good Luck to our performers who will be sharing their talent at Taplow Court on Friday evening. What a splendid location in which to perform - we hope they have an enjoyable evening!

Saturday 8 June -Art On The Street - Central Maidenhead

Don't forget to join us at Art on the Street - Maidenhead's foremost arts event. We will have pupils performing within the two areas allocated for entertainment as well as an art workshop taking place in the Nicholson's Centre.

In addition, artist Sarah Crookes from Year 13 together with her talented photographer father will be displaying their work on one of the pitches.

Please come and join us to enjoy the work of our talented local artists.

Lost Property

Aaron Sanger has lost his named white cricket glove.

Ollie Walter has mislaid his named blazer.

A blue track suit top with his name embroidered on has been lost by Geiovannie Sealy.

Society News

CCS Back to the 80s Ball 2013

The Ball Committee would like to say a fantastic ‘Thank You’ to all 234 guests who made this evening such a fantastic event!

We managed to raise in the region of £8.500!!!! There were some fantastic costumes, a few Madonnas, Top Gun Pilots, the Robert Palmer Addicted To Love girls and of course the winning costume, MC Hammer!

From retro sweetie table centres, rubik cubes, 80s arcade games and of course who could forget the fabulous 80s tribute band The Wild Boys! Thanks to all guests who bid for some fabulous auction prizes and congratulations to the winners! It goes without saying the evening was made by all who supported this event, the very generous donations from parents for our wonderful hampers, auction and silent auction. Finally, we hope to see you all again next year!

Claires Court Schools Summer Fete

15th June 2013

Don't forget to buy your tickets for the Fete in advance.

If you complete the Lucky Programme Draw sheet and hand into the School Office you will be entered into the draw for a round of golf at Stoke Park.

Dates for the Diary

Friday 7th June

Plastic cups will be sent home for decoration and we would love them to be filled with sweets or a ‘penny’ toy. These will then be used for the children's tombola. Please drop off next week. There will be collection boxes in the playground.

Monday 10th June

There will be collection boxes in the playground for any bottles, toys, books and DVD's.

Thursday 13th June - Odd Tie and Silly Sock Day!

All the boys are invited to wear their brightest, funniest, shortest, longest tie or silliest socks in exchange for a bottle for the adult tombola. (Parents to carry any alcohol please…)

J.C.W.
7.6.13

Samsung Education's video team captured yesterday in documentary, the academic work we do using their equipment every day (Chromebooks). ISA They have done so as we are seen to successfully pioneer working in the digital ‘Cloud’.

Now, it's no mean feat to keep this all together and I look forward to talking further to Parents interested in our plans for the future, in the Sports Hall Mezzanine at the Summer Fete on Saturday 15 June.

James Wilding
Academic Principal

Rowing

The girls’ beginner rowing group have been doing some extra practice this half term, braving the rain in order to prepare for their first race in a few weeks time! Well done to Niamh Bates, 8M, who competed at the National Schools Regatta in Nottingham during half term. She stood in at the last minute to cox one of the Year 10 boys' crews and she was fantastic! They got through to the semi final!

Important Information for Parents

Saturday 8 June - Art On The Street - Central Maidenhead

Don't forget to join us at Art on the Street - Maidenhead's foremost arts event. We will have pupils performing within the two areas allocated for entertainment as well as an art workshop taking place in the Nicholson's Centre. In addition, artist Sarah Crookes from Year 13, together with her talented photographer father, will be displaying their work on one of the pitches. Please come and join us to enjoy the work of our talented local artists.

Saturday 15 June - Summer Fete - 12pm-4pm - At Claires Court Junior Boys

Only one more week to go until our fabulous Summer Fete! Make sure you complete your Lucky Programme Draw slip and hand it into the School Office to purchase your entry ticket and be entered into the prize draw. First prize is a voucher for four people to enjoy a mid-week round of golf at Stoke Park.

The Junior girls have been sent home with a plastic tumbler for the children's tombola stall. The idea is to fill it full of sweets/small toys etc and return it by next Wednesday. As we will be wrapping these, can you please put a ‘lid’ on it (cling-film would do!). We will leave a box in the Atrium clearly marked Children's Tombola. Many thanks in advance for your help.

Monday 10 June

There will also be collection boxes in the Atrium for any toys, books and DVDs for various stalls.

We still need your help on the day!!! Could you spare half an hour or so during the Fete to help out with one of our stalls? We have a rota in the Atrium which you can complete, or you can email PTABookings@gmail.com. The more offers of help we get, the less everyone has to do!

Friday 7 June - Maidenhead's Got Talent

Good Luck to our musicians! Good Luck to our performers who will be sharing their talent at Taplow Court on Friday evening. What a splendid location in which to perform – we hope they have an enjoyable evening!

Junior Boys And Girls ‘Beside The Seaside’

On Thursday before half term, the Junior Girls and Boys started to get in the holiday mood when the seaside came to School. The Lower Junior girls and Year 2 boys were treated to a day of seaside fun as they travelled back in time to experience what it would have been like to have a seaside holiday in the past. The day started when the School Hall was transformed into a museum and they were able to investigate lots of artefacts, photos and postcards from seaside holidays in Victorian times and up until the 1950s.

After a short break the girls and boys then spent the next part of the morning making their own seaside, souvenirs and pier games ready for the afternoon activities. The girls and boys had a typical seaside picnic, (in the classroom due to the good old reliable British weather), and then it was on to a fun packed afternoon at the pier.

Year 1 Have Fun With French And Fruit!

Year 1 girls have been learning about plants and growing things and just before half term they arrived in class to find a whole collection of plants, fruit and vegetables. As their first lesson was French, all the items were labelled in French, displaying everything from ‘un chou-fleur’ to ‘les radis’ and ‘des raisins’ to ‘de la menthe’. Later, the class sorted everything according to whether it is living/not living, edible/ not edible, what can be eaten raw/cooked etc before a very popular tasting session where some brave risk-takers tried new vegetables. Celery was pronounced delicious and the fruit was gone before the teacher could even take a picture!

Year 5 Learn About Water Conservation

Year 5 girls enjoyed a visit from Mark Mathews, Thames Water, and the girls learned about water conservation and ways in which we could save water in our homes. They went on to learn about ‘WaterAid’ and how this charity supports countries around the world by providing them with the expertise and finances to help provide clean water to thousands of families. The girls are now going to research ‘WaterAid’ and produce a Google presentation explaining its work.

Whole School Photos

A reminder that the Whole School Photo is now on display in the Atrium and parents and girls can either collect an order envelope from the School Office (which can then be posted to Tempest), or visit the Tempest website www.tempest-groups.co.ukto view the photo. Enter the School name and password burgundy. Tempest advise using a browser other than Google Chrome as the mouse roll-over function does not work in Google Chrome.

Drama News

Art On The Street

Good luck to Year 10 who are performing in the ‘Art on the Street’ on the stage in Maidenhead High Street at 10.30am and 11.40am. Please come to support Year 10's performance of ‘The Unlikely Characters’.

School Production

For parents of students in the School production - please send in your consent forms regarding the technical rehearsal scheduled for Sunday the 30 of June 2013 ASAP!

Change of time

On Tuesday 2 July the Dress Rehearsal will start promptly at 9am instead of 10am in order that girls involved in athletics can attend both events. URGENT!!! Sarah Messer needs your photos and ‘Blurb’ ASAP. If you have not sent her these, please do so by Monday to sarah.messer0916@clairescourt.net

Competition entries

Competition entries are now in and will be judged - check next week's Colloquium to see if you're the winner! The winner’s poster will be displayed advertising our performance. Good Luck!

Tickets:

Please fill in the slip at the end of the Colloquium to book your seats for ‘The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe’. Please note that tickets will be distributed the week before.

Message From The College Libraries

Junior Book Club: Julie Sykes

The Junior Department will be welcoming children’s author Julie Sykes to their Junior Prize Giving Day in July, so come and prepare for her visit in Junior Book Club! We will be finding out all about her and her books so visit your Library and find a favourite! There's also lots of information about Julie and her books on her web site: http://www.juliesykes.co.uk

Dates!

Week Commencing Monday 10 June 2013 - Week 2 of the Summer Term Menu

Mon 10 June - Year 5 History Trip To RAF Hendon

The group will leave School at 9am and they should wear School uniform and take a packed lunch (please remember, no nuts).

Tues 11 June - Years 3-6 Parents' Evening

A letter has been sent home inviting parents to make appointments. Please return your slip even if you do not require an appointment.

Wed 12 June - Year 7 History Trip To Warwick Castle

Pupils will need a packed lunch and should wear School uniform and suitable footwear. They will need pencils, paper and a clipboard and may take a camera and a small amount of money for souvenirs etc. They will return to School at approximately 5pm.

Thurs 13 June - Year 10 Spanish

Spanish Speaking Controlled Assessments will take place during periods 1 and 2.

Fri 14 June -  Reception, Years 1 And 2 Girls To Woolley Firs

The group will leave School at 9am and return for approximately 3pm. Pupils should wear School uniform including a blazer and a waterproof coat (just in case!) and should also bring a pair of wellies. Please also send a packed lunch and a drink.

Sat 15 June - Claires Court Summer Fete

Mon 17 June - Year 10 Art Trip To Tate Britain

This trip is rescheduled from January. A letter has been sent home with details and the consent slips should have been returned by today.

Tues 18 June -  Lower Junior Parents’ Evening

A letter will be sent home next week inviting parents to make appointments with their daughter’s teacher.

Tues 18 June - Year 8 Rs Trip To Neasden Temple

Consents were due by today, Friday 7 June – many are still outstanding.

Fri 21 June -  Year 3 Viking Day

A letter has been sent home this week with details.

Mon 24 June -  Nearly New Uniform Sale

The PTA will be selling uniform from 5.30pm to 6.30pm. If you have any good quality uniform to see, now is the time to wash/launder/dry clean it. More details to follow.

Mon 24 June -New Senior Girls’ Evening

We look forward to welcoming our new Year 7 pupils, both those moving up from Year 6 and those due to join Claires Court in September 2013 from other schools. It is an informal and sociable evening where the girls ‘buddy up’ their new classmates and our parents meet Senior staff and the new parents. We are pleased that the PTA have kindly offered to sell Nearly New Uniform, from 5.30pm to 6.30pm, and the evening proper will start at 6.30pm with a talk by Mr Bevis.

Thurs 27 June -  Year 10 Spanish

Spanish Writing Controlled Assessment will take place during periods 1 and 2.

Tues 18 June - Year 5 Senior School Experience Timetable

Year 5 will be having a senior school experience for the day. They will be following the timetable below:

We hope that they really enjoy themselves!

Fri 21 June – Year 3 Outward Bound Programme - The Look Out Discovery Centre

Nursery & Transition News

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

It’s wonderful to have some sun and warmth to help with our Nursery topic of planting and growing. The lettuce, pumpkin and sunflower seedlings are developing well in the planters in our pond area, the herbs smell delicious and the yellow (colour of the week) Iris, which are growing in the pond, are blooming. The children were overjoyed when real ducks waddled in to the water and seem to have made the pond area their home. We are not certain that the tadpoles felt the same way!

In the three Nursery rooms, garden centres have appeared so lots of lovely related activities have taken place. Apologies to our cleaning staff who have done a great job each evening removing soil from the floors!

Next week the children in the Nursery rooms will be learning about the colour orange, the number 7, the letter k and will continue learning about planting and growing. Transition children were out on a bear hunt this week exploring the whole School site and incorporated a large range of musical instruments in their adventure. They will be talking about the letter o and will learning about forests and woodlands next week.

With this week's Colloquium you will have received a consultation document on proposals to expand primary and junior schools in Maidenhead which the RBWM (the Borough) have asked us to distribute to all Early Years parents. There is a response questionnaire in the centre for your views which should be returned to RBWM direct or via the website listed.

Nursery Class Photos

They are now on display in the classrooms, together with the order forms. All orders should be returned to your Nursery Leader by Monday 17 June. Parents who miss the deadline will be able to post their order direct to Tempest.

Sheena Wilding, Head of Nursery

Notes From The Junior Department

There is no easing your way back into School after half term here - we have had a very busy week! Girls from Year 4-6 competed in the ISA athletics; Year 5 starred in a short film for Samsung Chrome Books; Year 3 went on a ‘Thinking Walk’ around the School; Year 4 produced some Nature Art in the grounds; Reception initiated their own learning activities after bringing in inquiry books about flowers and fungi. plus we have had taster days for prospective new pupils every day this week! Just using this week alone, we really do have a culture of possibilities at our School.

Congratulations to all of the girls who competed in the ISA Athletics. Pupils, parents and teachers alike have all commented on what a fantastic day it was and just how well all of the children worked together - you are a credit to Claires Court! Thank you to all of the PE staff who continue to work incredibly hard to promote outstanding sporting participation!

I hope you have a wonderful weekend and I will see some of you at ‘Art on the Street’ on Saturday morning.

Prize Giving - Wednesday 10 July

You will receive a letter within the next week regarding Prize Giving.

Awards for external events:

Victoria Jesseman (Reception) – 10m Rainbow Swimming Badge; (Year 3) Alana Ainsley – 2nd Place Judo Medal; (Year 2) Isabella Billingham – Visualise Energise Medal.

Leanne Barlow, Head of Junior Girls

News From The Head Teacher

On Tuesday I was late into School - for this I blame our Head of Junior Girls, Leanne Barlow who had sent me a link to the latest TED talk by Ken Robinson, and once I had started watching this sixteen minute gem I had to finish. Ken Robinson, as an educator, has some clear and trenchant views (as well as being a highly entertaining speaker) on education in both the US where he is now based, but also in the UK, and much of what he says chimes enormously with the education philosophy we hold dear at Claires Court Schools. I would recommend most highly that you take the 16 minutes out of your day to view it and here's the link http://bit.ly/10zBCYq. I defy you not to be stimulated by it!

One of his main thrusts, in this and his other talks and books, is that education systems can squeeze out of youngsters their creativity, or their belief that they have talent, by narrowly prescribing what is valued in schools. Education systems and schools that only value what can easily be measured do a huge disservice to the life chances of children and young people, and waste a great deal of a society's human capital. Achieving the best you can in public exams is of course vitally important, but each individual has so much more that has to be nurtured and challenged.

So that's why it was marvellous to see our youngsters excelling at the ISA London West Athletics Championships on Wednesday, the brilliant meals from around the world created in an hour by the Year 9s which I had, of course reluctantly, to taste on Tuesday.

In a few weeks time we shall see the Art and Textiles GCSE exhibition, and I am already considering our end of term Academic Awards for girls in Years 7 to 10. Add to that our annual Summer Production - the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (tickets available now), the huge variety of challenges and opportunities to excel in Activity Week and I can safely say we are developing our human capital.

“Human life is inherently creative. It's why we all have different résumés. …
It's why human culture is so interesting and diverse and dynamic.

Sir Ken Robinson

Paul Bevis

Advance Dates!

W/C 1 July – Non-Blazer Week

Details to follow.

Fri 27 Sept-Sun 29 Sept - Year 5 Outward Bound To Pgl Marchant's Hill

A reminder to current Year 4 parents that the payment is now overdue.

Sun 20 – Thurs 24 Oct – Spanish Language Trip To Salamanca

The interim payment of £275 is due by Friday 7 June and a letter has been sent home.

Rugby/Hockey Tour To South Africa

Final payment, medical and passport info IS NOW OVERDUE!! Final invoices require payment and we need to provide passport information to the Tour Company. Please check passports have at least 3 months (from date of departure) before expiry.

Spanish & German Language Trips

Interim payments were due in Friday 7 June – many are still outstanding.

"Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving."

Albert Einstein

7.6.13

Message from all the Sixth Form staff:

Good luck to all our students as they take their final A2 examinations

As the newsletters this week proclaim, the School's busiest season has now arrived. This means our boys and girls are playing a full and active part in the artistic, musical and sporting life of the town, county, region and nation. It also brings major companies such as Google and Samsung to visit as they take a real interest in what we do. Samsung Education's video team captured yesterday in documentary, the academic work we do using their equipment every day (Chromebooks).

Now, it's no mean feat to keep this all together and I look forward to talking further to Parents interested in our plans for the future, in the Sports Hall Mezzanine at the Summer Fete on Saturday 15 June.

James Wilding
Academic Principal

With no students in school this week our Bulletin is mainly to remind you about coming events.

Art on the Street

Saturday 8 June – Central Maidenhead

Don't miss the opportunity to join us at Art on the Street – Maidenhead's foremost arts event. We will have pupils performing within the two areas allocated for entertainment as well as an art workshop taking place in the Nicholson's Centre.

This year, Sarah Crookes in Year 12 has a stand with her father so that as a family they will be displaying their talented art and photography – be sure to pay them a visit!

Summer Fete - Saturday 15 June

The Summer Fete will be with us next week and Mrs Rogers and Mr Giles are currently signing up Sixth Form helpers. If you have a particular job with which you want help, please sign up now.

Year 12 return as Year 13 for A2 studies -  Monday 10 June

It is essential that Year 12 students, who have probably been in ‘resting’ mode after the end of their AS exams, come in on Monday morning ready to work hard. Our geography students will have already started as they are off today on their field trip to North Wales. These next four weeks are vital as there will not be a chance to catch up in September if you miss lessons now. You must continue with all your AS subjects as there can be surprise results meaning you change your choices for A2.

Higher Education Evening for Year 12 and their parents -  Tuesday 11 June

The numbers for this useful evening are lower than usual. We are not sure if this is because less students are interested in going to university, or whether the intervention of half term has resulted in parents forgetting to reply. If you do intend to come and have not replied please email arg@clairescourt.net as soon as possible saying how many seats you require.

South Africa Tour – URGENT!

All money and documents are now overdue! The final payment, medical and passport should have been in by Monday 3 June. Please check passports have at least 3 months (from date of departure) before expiry. We need to provide passport information to the Tour Company by Friday 7 June.

Please note that there will be a training day on Friday 19 July for all students on the SA tour. Kit will be given out, and the session will end with a BBQ.

Summer Ball

The Sixth Form Leavers' Ball will be at Taplow House Hotel, SL6 0DA on Wednesday 26 June from 7.30 pm until midnight. Dress – formal black tie/ball gown.Students must have paid their subs in order to attend and one guest may be invited per student. Guest tickets are £25 each.

This is an urgent reminder to those who have still not paid their £40 subscriptions. Please pay by next week (cheques made payable to Claires Court Sixth Form Social Club) as we have to make the final payment to Taplow House during study leave and at present there are insufficient funds available in the bank. In addition could students pay and confirm the names of any guests.

Urgent - Year 13 locker key return

Please check that your son or daughter in Year 13 has returned their locker key in order for your £50 locker deposit money to be credited to your final bill. Any keys outstanding on Friday 14 June will be charged as lost.

Exams

There have already been a number of problems regarding students and examinations. Students have missed exams, arrived late after being pulled from their beds, or simply not turned up! Absences and late attendances were all due to students having written the wrong information in their diaries, so please recheck all your dates and times from you official printed timetable.

There have also been several instances of students having withdrawn without informing the Examinations Officer. If you have recently withdrawn from an examination please inform Mrs Gail Wolfendale or Mr John Meek so that your name can be taken off the attendance list. If you do not do this it is likely that you and/or your parents will receive panic phone calls when you do not arrive.

Rowing news - National Schools' Regatta

Our rowers faced some of the highly variable conditions of the British weather but nonetheless achieved some good results. The J14B quad gained the gold medal and was named the fastest J14B crew in the country! They were Jack Jesseman, Sam MacGregor, Henry Osborne and Oliver Costley, coxed by Tom Moreland. The J16 quad made valiant efforts particularly in the last 500m of their final but just missed a medal by less than 1 foot. Rory Kempson and Josh Harris achieved a bronze in their final beating Sir William Borlase‘s and King’s School, Worcester.

"Don't wait for your ship to come in - swim out to meet it!"

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

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Twitter @clairescourt

Accompanying this Bulletin are two publications — one being on the last academic year at Claires Court and the other looking forward to the PTA Summer Fete 2013. Both editors and contributors deserve our fulsome thanks.The Court Circulars form a remarkable documentary archive of our School and go back to the 1960's. They are a true celebration of what children and adults working together can achieve!

The Fete programme captures some of the energy and excitement of our younger pupils as we all look forward to a Saturday gathering of all of our families — action packed fun guaranteed!

The week-end before that sees our leading musicians performing on Friday 7 June up at Taplow Court, with more of the same the next day (Saturday 8 June) plus our painters too at Art on the Street, one of Maidenhead's premier events of the Summer!

So best of luck to all for a sunny half-term and gather your wits for the rush that is the second half of term.

James Wilding Academic Principal

Rowing news — Maidenhead Junior Regatta

Sunday 19 May saw Claires Court rowers racing against a number of their local rivals. With the team aiming to take the advantage of home water, we saw two Claires Court crews battle it out against each other in the same race, leading to a day full of success and excitement.

The J14 B crew, taking part in the J14 B quads event, raced outstandingly in the heats, beating the C quad, (who put up an impressive battle for their first race). The J14 B crew then went on to win the final against Maidenhead Rowing Club.

The J15 A quad racing against the J15 B quad also put in a good performance, to take the victory over their compatriots. The J16 double in an exciting race narrowly missed a win against Maidenhead by just one foot. The J14A crew, proved too good for the competition and had to pull out after overtaking a boat in the race in front!

Successful crews were:

J14B

• Sam MacGregor
• Oliver Costley
• Jack Jesseman
• Henry Osborne
• cox Madoc Lewis

J15A

• Thomas Ives
• Alexander Richardson
• Will Richards
• Jonathan Cameron
• cox Kurtis Hartburn

Summer Fete — Saturday 15 June

The Summer Fete programme accompanies this Bulletin.

This gives you entry as a family to the Fete, the cost being £5.00 with an automatic entry into the Lucky Programme Draw.

Please return the Lucky Draw slip to the office so we can send you your entry tickets.

We will be running a bottle tombola — so any bottles would be welcome. Please bring into the office as well as any unwanted toys, books and DVDs.Thank you.

Art on the Street — Saturday 8 June — Central Maidenhead

Don't miss the opportunity to join us at Art on the Street — Maidenhead's foremost arts event. We will have pupils performing within the two areas allocated for entertainment as well as an art workshop taking place in the old ‘Waterstone's’ unit.

This year, Sarah Crookes (Year 12) has a stand with her father so that as a family they will be displaying their talented art and photography mdash; be sure to pay them a visit! A postcard with details of the event accompanies this Bulletin

Year 8 University Challenge House Quiz

Winning Team — James Groeneweg, Seb Harris and Fred Peck.

A very exciting competition which went down to the last question - How many sides are there in a dodecagon? Answer 12. St Lawrence was the only team to know this and overtook Rowanhurst in a last gasp finish. Once again, the range of knowledge on display by the boys was tremendous and now the House Competition is in the balance with only the Year 7's to compete (Monday 24 June).

Overall positions so far:

Years 7, 8 & 9 Geography

In Geography this week all classes have been looking at the ‘Send my Friend to School’ campaign, which is aiming to raise awareness that 60 million children around the World still do not have access to an education.

The idea was to produce a diagram of the ideal teacher which would be sent to No. 10 Downing Street. 9C were creative in their thinking and devised a life size model of their ideal teacher!

Music Notes

There will be a boys Music Concert on Monday 1 July starting at 6.00pm. As usual there will be a variety of music on offer to entertain. All welcome to attend.

Office News & Looking Ahead

• Monday 27 to Friday 31 May — Half Term — The Office is Open.
• Monday 3 June — Year 8 Study Skills Day

• Wednesday 5 June — ISA London West Athletics at Thames Valley Athletics Centre
• Friday 7 June — Maidenhead's Got Talent — Taplow Court. Grade Cards go home.

Court Circular 2011–12

A much delayed publication is travelling home this half term with all the news and excitement from last year and we hope you enjoy the read. One copy per family is distributed but if for some reason your family does not receive a copy, a call to your School Office will correct this.

Whole School Photo

The Whole School Photo is now on display in our Reception and can be ordered by either collecting an order envelope from the School Office (which can then be posted to Tempest), or visit the Tempest website www.tempest-groups.co.uk to view the photo.

Enter the school name (Claires Court) and password burgundy. Tempest advise using a browser other than Google Chrome as the mouse roll-over function does not work in Google Chrome.

Lost Property

We are searching for a cricket top belonging to Alex Samber in Year 7 — please double check you have the right top. Please also check laundry baskets and kit bags for a pair of grey school trousers — we think they were picked up by accident after a games lesson this week.

Thank you.

Notes From the Head

This week we have introduced the School to their new Prefect body. I am sure they will be a credit to the School.

This gave me the opportunity to focus the boys on their efforts to date; how the exams went and what their targets are from now until the summer break.

The week–end saw the final of the Rugby European Cup between Toulon and Clermont. It was a classic match to watch as the result was never certain and Nick Kennedy who was on the victorious side, was a good example of one of the many ways our old boys gain success in their careers. A role model for the boys to aspire to.

Good luck to the boys racing at the National Schools' Regatta and to the Cricket Squad who will be touring Devon over the Half Term.

I hope all families enjoy the break.

John Rayer

Trips

Year 10 Design Technology Trip — Friday 7 June.

Please return your signed consent by Monday 3 June. Thank you

Year 7 History Trip — Wednesday 12 June.

Please return the signed consent form by Monday 3 June. Thank you.

Year 8 Religious Studies Trip — Tuesday 18 June.

To Neasden Hindu Temple, London. Departing at 9.15am and returning for approximately 4.30pm. Full information sheet accompanies the printed version of this Bulletin. Full school uniform should be worn and a packed lunch will be required. There is no cost for this trip, but please return a signed consent form by Friday 7 June.

Sailing Camp 2013 — Wednesday 28 August to Sunday 1 September

At Weymouth and Portland Sailing Academy in Dorset. If your son would like to participate in this trip (no sailing experience required), details are now available from Reception.

Forty places are available and deposits are required by today. The cost will be in the region of £400 to £450.

Year 11 (current Year 10) French Language Trip to Normandy — 20 to 26 October.

The interim payment of £200 is now due. Details have been emailed to those attending, but a hard copy is available from Reception.

German Language Trip To Cologne — 20 to 24 October.

The interim payment of £170 is now due and by the latest Friday 7 June.

Spanish Trip To Salamanca — 20 to 24 October.

The interim payment of £275 is now due and by the latest Friday 7 June.

Ski Trip 2014 to Alpe D'Huez — 12 to 19 April 2014

There are still places remaining for next year's Ski Trip — information is available from the School Office. Visit the Ski Trip website skitrip.clairescourt.net (no www.) for photos and news from this year's trip to La Plagne.

Holiday Club — Tuesday 28 to Friday 31 May

JMR 24/05/13

The Fete programme captures some of the energy and excitement of our younger pupils as we all look forward to a Saturday gathering of all of our families — action packed fun guaranteed! The week-end before that sees our leading musicians performing on Friday 7 June up at Taplow Court, and more of the same the next day (Saturday 8 June) plus our painters too at Art on the Street, one of Maidenhead's premier events of the Summer!

So best of luck all for a sunny half-term and gather your wits for the rush that is the second half of term.

James Wilding
Academic Principal

Many congratulations to our U11 cricketers and our U9 and U11 chess teams who all performed superbly last weekend. The U11 cricketers won the OPS 6-a-side tournament, a top quality tournament which we have never won before. The chess teams achieved silver in the National Primary Schools Chess Championships in Bristol where 34 teams met from all over the country. We are proud of the achievements of all of these boys.

We are also very proud of the way the Reception boys behaved on their train trip to Marlow this week Ð they were very sensible and polite — and they also had a great time!

Also this week the boys and girls got together in Year 2 and 4 for a ‘seaside’ day and a ‘Chembakolli’ day respectively. In both cases the children learnt a great deal through their experiences and thoroughly enjoyed themselves at the same time. Well done boys and girls and thank you staff on both sites for the work and time involved.

Our Rabbits for this week are awarded to classes; Reception and 3G. Reception were excellently behaved on their trip to Marlow, and 3G were extraordinarily friendly and welcoming to a new boy visiting from Holland this week.Well done Reception and 3G

Jeff Watkins

Sickness ' Diarrhoea

May we remind parents that should your son have a vomiting bug he should not return to school until he is clear for 24 hours. With diarrhoea children should not return until clear for 48 hours. All absences, through sickness or otherwise, need to be explained by way of a letter on the day your son is back to school. Additionally please call the office to report his absence before 10.30am on the day.

Summer Fete Programme Front Cover Winner

Edward Verstringhe won the competition for the ‘Design the programme cover’ for the Summer Fete. He was chosen against stiff competition and now his design adorns the front cover of all those Fete programmes which have come home with the boys this week. An enlarged framed copy of his picture was presented to Edward in assembly earlier this week.

Chembakolli Day

As part of their Geography studies our Year 4 Junior boys and girls enjoyed experiencing the life of an Adivasi child from the Chembakolli village situated in the Nilgiri Hills, Southern India. The children went for a walk in the Chembakolli Forest (Maidenhead Thicket) making sure they kept an eye out for dangers such as elephants and tigers!! Later in the day they took part in typical Adivasi lessons, played the Indian game Khokho ate an Indian style packed lunch and made traditional arts and craft. The children embraced the day fully which has helped them consolidate their learning about the contrasts between economically developed places and less economically developed places.

Reception Train Trip to Marlow

On Wednesday, Reception Junior Boys went on a journey to Marlow Park. They travelled by mini-bus to Furze Platt station where they caught the train to Marlow. All the boys were very excited and had lots of fun playing on the swings, slides and giant fireman's pole. The boys had a picnic in the park and went to feed the ducks by the river before heading back just in time to catch the train. An excellent time was had by all. The boys behaved perfectly.

Seaside History

With a blast on the whistle the train puled steadily from the station and Year 2 were off to a Victorian/50's seaside. It was fabulous. We went to the Seaside Museum. We made sailing boats, flags, stamps and beautiful seaside boxes. We walked along the promenade spending our pennies and shillings and finally laughed loads watching Punch and Judy. Naughty Mr Punch! We chugged back home with sand between our toes, smiles on our faces and souvenirs for our families. A wonderful day out!

Whole School Photo

The recent whole school photograph is on show to view in the entrance hall. Boys were given order forms on Tuesday. Please return your orders by Friday 7 June to enable the order to be processed and delivered before the end of term. If your order is late it will be necessary for you to send it direct to Tempest incurring a late order fee, but it can still be delivered to school for collection.

Cricket Photos

Cricket team photographs will be taken on Tuesday 4 June at 10.30am. Please ensure that all relevant boys have the correct, clean kit on the day.

Pre-Prep Swimming Display And Gala

On Friday 7 June Pre-Prep are having a swimming display and gala during the morning. A letter regarding this will follow in due course. Parents will be invited to come and watch from the outside of the pool.

Raf Hendon

Year 5 boys have a fabulous visit lined up for Monday 10 June. They are visiting the RAF Museum at Hendon as part of their studies on World War 2. The coach will leave promptly at 9am so please ensure that your son is at school in plenty of time. A packed lunch is required for this visit.

Lost Property

Ethan Clarke has mislaid his whole kit bag which is all named. Kavin Verma has been unable to find his named jumper which has a Harrods label.

Art On The Street — Saturday 8 June — Central Maidenhead

Don't miss the opportunity to join us at Art on the Street — Maidenhead's foremost arts event. We will have pupils performing within the two areas allocated for entertainment as well as an art workshop taking place in the old ‘Waterstones’ unit.

This year, Sarah Crookes in Year 12 has a stand with her father so that as a family they will be displaying their talented art and photography Ð be sure to pay them a visit! A postcard with details of the event went home with boys earlier this week.

Library News

A date for your diary is our Annual Travelling Book Fair, on Thursday 20 June. A brochure with a selection of books on offer will come home with your son after half term. Your sons will have the opportunity to buy books during the day and there will be time after school for parents to come along too! If you want your sons to buy any books please send them in with their pocket money on that day. This is an excellent way to raise new funds as the commission from the books can be spent on exciting new library books. Please support this worthy cause if you can.

Our Reading Champions for this half of the term are:-

• Jasper May
• Harly Hutchings
• James Hargreaves
• Ben Hitchen
• Matthew Spencer
• Richard Cselik
• Raphael Conte

Ski Trip 2014 to Alpe D'huez — 12–19 April 2014

Details of next year's ski trip are now available from the School Office. We have a limited number of 80 places available, on a first come, first served basis, which tend to go rather quickly, so get your Booking Form and deposit payment into your School Office as quickly as possible and by Friday 24 May. The trip is open to pupils from Year 5 (in September 2013) upwards. Visit the ski trip website skitrip.clairescourt.net (no www.) for photos and news from this year's trip to La Plagne.

Sailing Camp 2013 — 28 August To 1 September

40 places available on a ‘first come, first served basis’ and for children in our current Year 5 and upwards...Cost in the region of £400 to £450. Information available in the School Offices. Closing date Friday 24 May.

Summer Fete — Saturday 15 June

The Summer Fete programme was sent home with boys earlier this week. This gives you entry as a family to the Fete, the cost being £5.00 with an automatic entry into the Lucky Programme Draw. Please return to the office so we can send you your entry tickets.

Court Circular 2011-12

A much delayed publication is travelling home this half term with all the news and excitement from last year and we hope you enjoy the read. One copy per family is distributed but if for some reason your family does not receive a copy, a call to your School Office will correct this.

Events Leading Up to The End of Term

Please make a note in your diary

PTA News

Claires Court Schools Summer Fete

The Summer Fete Programmes went home with the boys this week. Please complete the Lucky Programme Draw sheet attached to the programme, hand it into the school office to purchase your entry ticket and be entered into the draw. First prize is a voucher for four people to enjoy a mid-week round of golf at Stoke Park.

Dates For The Diary

Tuesday 4th June

We will be holding a coffee morning from 8.30 in the dining hall. Members of the committee will be available to answer any questions you have and give advice on organising the stall your year is responsible for.

Friday 7th June

Plastic cups will be sent home for decoration and we would love them to be filled with sweets or a ‘penny’; toy. These will then be used for the children's tombola.

Monday 10th June

Collection boxes in the playground for any bottles, toys, books and DVD's.

Thursday 13th June

Silly Tie Day! All the boys are invited to wear their brightest, funniest, shortest or longest tie in exchange for a bottle for the adult tombola. (Parents to carry any alcohol please..)

PTA 100 Club Winners..

Congratulations to the following who are our winners from the May draw.

May

• 1st - Thalia Kenton - No 10
• 2nd - Izzy Walton - No 35
• 3rd - Jeff Watkins - No 33

J.C.W. 24.5.13

The Fete programme captures some of the energy and excitement of our younger pupils as we all look forward to a Saturday gathering of all of our families — action packed fun guaranteed! The week-end before that sees our leading musicians performing on Friday 7 June up at Taplow Court, and more of the same the next day (Saturday 8 June) plus our painters too at Art on the Street, one of Maidenhead's premier events of the Summer!

So best of luck all for a sunny half-term and gather your wits for the rush that is the second half of term.

James Wilding
Academic Principal

Kally Mudge - A Busy Few Weeks!

Well done to Kally 7F who, at the Wycombe District Swimming Competition two weeks ago, came 1st in the 100m Freestyle and 50m backstroke and 2nd in the 50m Freestyle and 100m Backstroke.

She followed these successes by winning four Gold Medals at the ISA National Swimming Gala in Coventry on Sunday 18 May — for the 50m Freestyle (4th year running), 50m backstroke (she set a National record), Medley Relay (set a National record) and Freestyle Relay (set another National record!). Wait for it …! The next day she swam at a Woking Competition and won the 100m Individual Medley (achieving a County time) and came 3rd in the 50m Butterfly. Kally, you deserve a rest — take next week off!!

Hockey Success!!

Many congratulations to Lara Bampfield, Brittany Holder and Freya Hulse for being selected by their Junior Academy Centre (County) hockey coaches to progress through to the Junior Regional Performance Centre (Tier 1) which is the next stage in the Player Development Pathway.

JRPC's are training centres for those who have successfully come through assessment from a Junior Academy Centre (County level). The girls will now take part in six training sessions where they will receive high level coaching on the core skills of hockey from JRPC coaches. There will then be two days of competition where the girls will again be assessed for the next stage which is JRPC Tier 2. Congratulations and good luck!

Well Done to the Bookmark Competition Winners

Congratulations to the ÔDesign a Bookmark Competition' winners. In the photos are the winners from Year 7 and Year 5 — Ava Khan and Aarti Sanger.

The Senior Book Club Carnegie Shadowing Group are all reading and voting for their favourite novel to win this year's Carnegie Medal. (The Carnegie Medal is awarded annually to the writer of an outstanding book for children.)

On the Buses!

Last week the Reception girls enjoyed walking to the bus stop and waiting for the Number 6 bus to take them on a journey to the library. The bus arrived on time, much to the excitement of the girls.

Having boarded the bus and paid our fare, we began our short journey into Maidenhead. When we arrived in town at the bus stop, we checked the timetable to find the time of our return journey. In the library the girls were set the task of searching for books about journeys. Our return bus journey took a little bit longer as we took the scenic route and spotted some local landmarks and familiar faces - Mrs Fowles!!

Mrs James

Junior Girls' Concert

Last week's concert was a real success, with parents commenting on the tremendous range of instruments which the girls can play, and to the fact that every girl from Reception to Year 6 was involved. The final act — the Junior Choir singing ÔCount on Me' was a definite highlight.

Important information for parents

Court Circular 2011-12

A much delayed publication is travelling home this half term with all the news and excitement from last year and we hope you enjoy the read. One copy per family is distributed but if for some reason your family does not receive a copy, a call to your School Office will correct this.

Whole School Photos

Summer Fete — Saturday 15 June - 12pm–4pm - at Claires Court Junior Boys

The Summer Fete will be with us straight after half term and so today all pupils will be bringing home a copy of the Summer Fete programme. Please complete the Lucky Programme Draw sheet attached to the programme and hand it into the School Office to purchase your entry ticket and be entered into the draw. First prize is a voucher for four people to enjoy a mid-week round of golf at Stoke Park.

The programme was sent home earlier this week with all pupils. Please ask your daughter for your copy! If you do not want to attend, we would appreciate it if you could return the Programme to the School Office.

The College PTA need your help!!!! Would you be willing to spare half an hour or so during the Fete to help out with one of our stalls? The more offers of help we get, the less everyone has to do!!! Please email PTABookings@gmail.com and someone will get in touch with you.

Art On The Street — Saturday 8 June — Central Maidenhead

Don't miss the opportunity to join us at Art on the Street — Maidenhead's foremost arts event. We will have pupils performing within the two areas allocated for entertainment as well as an art workshop taking place in the old ‘Waterstone’s unit. This year, Sarah Crookes in Year 12 has a stand with her father so that as a family they will be displaying their talented art and photography — be sure to pay them a visit! A postcard with details of the event accompanies this Colloquium.

Year 10 Scientists

Well done to all Year 10 Scientists who have sat their Unit Two Science Exams over the last few weeks. Your hard work and focus has been noted. Unit One Science exams are rapidly approaching for some Year 9 and Year 10 students. We recommend that these students use half term for some focused revision. On Wednesday 5 and Thursday 6 June, Mrs Mulhearn is running extra revision classes for all students sitting C1 on Monday 10 June. The classes run from 4.10 to 5.10pm and will support the revision already being undertaken in lessons and at home.

Ski Trip 2014 To Alpe D'huez 12 — 19 April 2014

There are still places remaining for next year's Ski Trip — information is available from the School Office.

Please get your Booking Form and deposit payment into your School Office as quickly as possible. The trip is open to pupils from Year 5 (in September 2013) upwards. Visit the ski trip website, skitrip.clairescourt.net (no www.) for photos and news from this year's trip to La Plagne.

Advance Notice of Fun to Come!

Following the success of last year, our Activity Week will take place again during the week commencing 8 July (known as JOPA week at the boys' school). Information will be sent home during the next half of term regarding the outward bound activities and other exciting opportunities. Watch this space!

Sailing Camp 2013 - 28 August To 1 September

There are places still available. The cost is in the region of £400 and information is available from the School Office. The camp will be held at the Weymouth and Portland Sailing Academy in Dorset. If your daughter would like to participate in this trip (no sailing experience required) please collect a letter from the School Office.

Drama News

School Production: a letter went home on Wednesday with the Rehearsal schedule and timings of the technical rehearsal. Please can parents sign the form and return it to Mrs Warren as soon as possible.

All girls are expected to have learnt ALL their lines over half term as we are 'Off Script' from Monday 3 June for the start of a complete run-through. Girls must ensure their costumes are finished and ready for constant use by Monday 17 June - no excuses! A reminder that all girls who have main roles need to email Sarah Messer their Ôprogramme biography' and a photograph by the 3 June to go into the programme, sarah.messer0916@clairescourt.net

Competition deadline is midday Monday 3 June — give your entry to Mrs Warren to be in the chance of winning great prizes. Tickets will be available to order from Monday 10 June - using a slip that will be printed onto the next Colloquium.

WANTED: we still really need some ICICLES to set the atmosphere in the Hall; if anybody can help please contact Mrs Warren.

SOCKS! Desperately in need of long socks for use with Primary Drama Club - if you can help please hand in to Reception.

Art on the Street:

Please come along and support the Year 10 drama group who are performing 'The Unlikely Characters' in Maidenhead (on the stage) at 10.45am and 11.20am. This is a great piece of comical drama telling the story of Jennifer who gets a bit more than she bargained for when her day looked to be set for nothing but she soon discovers unlikely characters popping into her life! Good Luck year 10!!

Want To Run For Fun?!

The Maidenhead Relay Marathon takes place on Sunday 9 June and I am hoping to organise a Claires Court team of teachers, parents and pupils. We need to field a team of 10 and each team member will run/walk a 2.62 mile leg around Braywick Park. Together, the team will make up the full marathon distance. If you are interested in joining the team please contact Miss Fuller at raf@clairescourt.net and for more information on the event visit http://www.purplepatchrunning.com/races/the-charity-relay-marathon

Dates!

Week Commencing Monday 3 June 2013 — Week 1 of the Summer Term Menu

Holiday Club - Tuesday 28 To Friday 31 May:

See www.clairescourt.com/holiday-club for details.

Wed 5 June — ISA London West Athletics Competition 12.30pm — 5.30pm

The biggest sporting event of the calendar, held at the Thames Valley Athletics Centre, Eton, is almost upon us. Athletes from Years 4 - 11 have now been selected and parents have been informed of all event details via pupil post.

All pupils should please arrive at School in their PE kit for the day, full tracksuit please. We hope families can come along to watch this spectacular event and cheer the girls on as they perform in the events for which they have been working so hard to improve upon. Any questions / queries, please speak to the PE Department.

Sat 8 June — Art on the Street

See above for further information.

Mon 10 June — Year 5 History Trip To RAF Hendon

The Year 5 girls and boys will be making this visit as part of their studies on World War 2. Please return the consent slip by Monday 3 June if you have not already done so.

Tues 11 June — Years 3 — 6 Parents' Evening

A letter will be sent home after half term inviting parents to make appointments.

Wed 12 June — Year 7 History Trip To Warwick Castle

A letter has been sent home and the consent slip is due to be returned by Monday 3 June if you have not already done so.

Fri 14 June - Reception, Years 1 and 2 Girls to Woolley Firs

The girls will visit Woolley Firs which was created by the Berks, Bucks and Oxon Wildlife Trust and is a hands-on activity centre in Cherry Garden Lane, Maidenhead. A letter has been sent home with details and the consent slip is due for return by Monday 3 June if you have not already done so.

Sat 15 June — Claires Court Summer Fete

Letters have gone home for:

Mon 17 Jun — Year 10 Art and Textiles Trip to Tate Britain (Rescheduled From January)

Tues 18 June — Year 8 Relious Studies Trip to Neasden Hindu Temple

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

We have had lots of fun making pig models and masks this week and talking generally about farms whilst playing with related toys. After half term the children in the Nursery rooms will be learning about the colour yellow, the number 6, the letter j and will be talking about planting and growing.

Transition children will be talking about the letter c and will learning about parks and woodlands. The wind socks that they have made this week will be displayed outside but let's hope that it is not too windy during the holiday. Have a lovely rest and we look forward to seeing you all after the half term break.

If you have any pictures/comments of your children doing exciting things during the half term holiday which you would like included in their ÔAchievement Records,' we would be delighted to have them.

Sheena Wilding, Head of Nursery

Notes From The Junior Department

Another jam-packed half term!

Didn't those weeks fly by...? This half term has been filled with even more successes and achievements. We have had many fantastic trips and events including this week's trip to the Junior Boys site to learn about Chembakolli linked with Year 4's topic of India; the Seaside Experience here at the Girls' site, again with the Year 2 boys linked to their topic of 'The Seaside'. These learning experiences alone show just how many excellent opportunities our girls and boys have to extend their learning and to collaborate with different people.

I hope you all have a wonderful half term break and I thank you for all for your continued support.

Awards:

• Mayden Jacobsson (Reception)
• Zara Brewer (Year1)
• Jyotpreet Samra (Year 2)
• Kumi Nakai & Grace Sheffield (Year 3)
• Caitlin Tse (Year 4)
• Nissi John (Year 5)
• Charlotte Wheeler (Year 6)

Bunny Awards:

• Bluebell St John (Reception) for trying her best in everything this week.
• Katie Day (Year 4) for working well independently and always being focused.

Leanne Barlow, Head of Junior Girls

News From The Head Teacher

The College Avenue site seems rather an odd place at the moment - Year 11s, 12s and 13s are on study leave and that brings a little less hustle and bustle around the corridors and staircases. It is also a time when those older students come in to work with a member of staff to get that precious last minute support and encouragement. Or, one meets a group waiting outside the exam room, the nervous chatter, the slightly too loud laughter and then the quiet Ògood luckÓ as they compose themselves before beginning. So a reminder to all of our students that they do not need to restrict themselves to their normal lesson times; if some extra support is needed just let us know so that arrangements can be made.

I attended the RBWM Athletics Trials at the Thames Valley stadium on Wednesday and it was great to see so many of our girls gaining opportunities to compete at the County Championships. There is no hiding place in athletics - on the track it is head to head and on view to all, and in the field events each individual trial is performed in isolation, with no chance of being immediately able to redeem oneself as you might do in a game of hockey. So, well done to all of our athletes and good luck at the County Athletics Championships in June.

The pool is of course another place where there is no hiding place and congratulations to Kally Mudge with her four gold medals at the ISA National Swimming Championships.

On Friday I will be seeing all of Year 10s and telling them who has been elected as Head Girl, Deputy Head Girl, and the rest of the senior prefect positions. There is quite an intensive approach to this process, with letters of application and then an interview with myself or another senior member of staff. The nine individuals I interviewed for Head/Deputy Head Girl submitted well researched and prepared letters of application and interviewed with confidence, poise and a great understanding of the role and why they wanted to do it. This was followed by a period of reflection by the senior team and tutors, culminating in some pretty hard decisions.

A slight change this year in that all Year 10s (soon to be Year 11s) have been asked to undertake a Prefect role, and take on a responsibility, many of which will have been devised or suggested by the student herself. I will be asking those who were not successful in their application for the most senior roles to give some thought over the half term about the area of School life in which they feel they can make a significant impact. We have adopted this approach because we recognise that all of these senior girls have shown themselves to be capable of leading and inspiring others.

"You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today."

Abraham Lincoln

Paul Bevis

Advance Dates!

Fri 27 — Sun 29 Sept — Year 5 Outward Bound To Pgl Marchant's Hill

A reminder to current Year 4 parents that the payment is now overdue.

Sun 20 — Thurs 24 Oct — Spanish Language Trip To Salamanca

The interim payment of £275 is due by Friday 7 June and a letter has been sent home.

Rugby/Hockey Tour to South Africa

Please return your final payment, medical form and passport information by Monday 3 June. Please check passports have at least 3 months (from date of departure) before expiry. We will need to provide passport information to the Tour Company by Friday 7 June.

"There is no ‘I’ in TEAM"

24.5.13

Message from all the Sixth Form staff:

Good Luck to All Our Students as They Take Their Final As and A2 Examinations

Accompanying this Bulletin are two publications — one big on last academic year at Claires Court, the other looking forward to the PTA Summer Fete 2013. Both editors and contributors deserve our fulsome thanks. The Court Circulars form a remarkable documentary archive of our School and go back to the 1960s. They are a true celebration of what children and adults working together can achieve!

The Fete programme captures some of the energy and excitement of our younger pupils as we all look forward to a Saturday gathering of all of our families — action packed fun guaranteed! The week-end before that sees our leading musicians performing on Friday 7 June up at Taplow Court, and more of the same the next day (Saturday 8 June) plus our painters too at Art on the Street, one of Maidenhead's premier events of the Summer!

So best of luck all for a sunny half-term and gather your wits for the rush that is the second half of term.

James Wilding
Academic Principal

Court Circular 2011-12

A much delayed publication is travelling home this half term with all the news and excitement from last year and we hope you enjoy the read. One copy per family is distributed but if for some reason your family does not receive a copy, a call to your School Office will correct this. As many Sixth Form students are on study leave at present do remind them to pick up a copy from the Sixth Form office next time your son or daughter is in school

Sixth Form Photos

Both of these have arrived — both the traditional one and the ‘mucking about’ one. They are available to view in the Sixth Form foyer area or on the Tempest website where parents can access the photos using the school name and the password of Burgundy. Use Internet Explorer for this as apparently it does not work using Chrome. Order forms are available in the Sixth Form office to be sent direct to Tempest or order directly online.

Summer Fete — Saturday 15 June

The Summer Fete will be with us straight after half term and Mrs Rogers and Mr Giles are currently signing up Sixth Form helpers. If you have a particular job with which you want help, please sign up now.

Art on the Street — Saturday 8 June — central Maidenhead

Don't miss the opportunity to join us at Art on the Street — Maidenhead's foremost arts event. We will have pupils performing within the two areas allocated for entertainment as well as an art workshop taking place in the old ‘Waterstone's’ unit.

This year, Sarah Crookes in Year 12 has a stand with her father so that as a family they will be displaying their talented art and photography — be sure to pay them a visit!

Summer Examinations

The timetable shows AS written exams run until Thursday 6 June 2013. A2 exams begin on Monday 3 June 2013 and end on Monday 24 June 2013.

Study Leave for Year 12 students will begin on Monday 13 May and run until Monday 10 June when they must return to begin their A2 studies. This 4 weeks of intensive A2 work is very important and students may not be able to progress in their chosen subjects at A2 Level if they miss this work due to absence.

Year 13 students will begin their study leave on Friday 24 May 2013.

Summer Ball

The Sixth Form Leavers' Ball will be at Taplow House Hotel, SL6 0DA on Wednesday 26 June from 7.30 pm until midnight.

Dress — formal black tie/ball gown

Students must have paid their subs in order to attend and one guest may be invited per student.

Guest tickets are £25 each.

This is an urgent reminder to those who have still not paid their £40 subscriptions. Please pay by next week (cheques made payable to Claires Court Sixth Form Social Club) as we have to make the final payment to Taplow House during study leave and at present there are insufficient funds available in the bank. In addition could students pay and confirm the names of any guests.

South Africa Tour

Rugby/Hockey Tour to South Africa. Final payment, medical and passport info by Monday 3 June.

Please check passports have at least 3 months (from date of departure) Before expiry.

We will need to provide passport information to the Tour Company by Friday 7 June. Please note that there will be a training day on Friday 19 July for all students on the SA tour. Kit will be given out, and the session will end with a BBQ. More details to follow.

Urgent - Year 13 Locker Key Return

Please check that your son or daughter in Year 13 has returned their locker key in order for your £50 locker deposit money to be credited to your final bill. Any keys outstanding on Friday 14 June will be charged as lost.

Revision Lessons

Many of our subject teachers have organised valuable revision lessons to help students with their preparation for final A Level examinations in May and June.m Please see the list below for various subjects.

Business Studies

Physical Education (AS)

Every week until exams are completed.

Biology

After 26 April Mrs Wolton will be available throughout the study leave period at normal lesson times and usual rooms. Please email her in advance if you wish to attend for help.

Psychology (PSYA2)

Sainsbury's Active Vouchers

Dates for Your Diary:

• Monday 10 June - Year 12 students return to begin A2 studies
• Saturday 15 June - Summer Fete ‘All the Fun of the Fair’

Year 12 Geography Field Trip to North Wales — 7 to 10 June 2013

Final information has been sent home via students this week. Please send in the medical form which is now overdue as the Field Studies Centre needs this information to complete our arrangements.

Ski Trip 2014 to Alpe D'huez — 12 — 19 April 2014

Details of next year's Ski Trip are now available from the School Office.

We have a limited number of 80 places available which tend to go rather quickly, so get your Booking Form and deposit payment into your School Office as quickly as possible. The trip is open to pupils from Year 5 (in September 2013) upwards.

“I think there is a world market for maybe five computers.”

Thomas Watson (1874-1956), Chairman of IBM, 1943

PAB 24.05.2013

• www.facebook.com/clairescourt
• www.twitter.com/@clairescourt

Dear Parents

Contacting us on behalf of the Public Health Services for Berkshire, Dr Kakoli Choudhury writes:

Ensuring that your pupils are protected against measles

You may be aware that there has been an increase in the number of measles cases in England with some local outbreaks. Measles can cause complications like ear infections, diarrhoea, pneumonia and convulsions, but are rarely fatal. Measles spread very easily. It can spread to an unprotected person if they spend 15 minutes with someone who has the disease. So a national catch-up programme has been launched to ensure that 10–16 year old children receive two doses of the MMR vaccine.

Two doses of the MMR vaccine offer the best and safest way to protect children against measles, mumps and rubella.

  There is more information on measles on the NHS Choices website.

We recommend that parents of 10—16 year old pupils at your school check that their child/children have received 2 doses of the MMR vaccine. If not, or if there is any doubt about their vaccination status, parents should make arrangements with their GP's to get their children vaccinated.

The health campaign is focussed on those children in Year 5 and above, and I recommend that in the first instance Parents contact their doctor for further advice and a status check. Here is the the full version of Dr Choudhury's letter.

I will produce a fuller advisory note on medical and health issues and how they affect age groups in the School to accompany the End of Term Report.

JamesWilding Academic Principal

Good Luck Year 11

The Year 11 boys are now sitting their written GCSEs and can take optional Study Leave.

Back to the 80s Ball held last Saturday

The Ball Committee would like to say a huge ‘Thank You’ to all 234 guests who made this evening such a fantastic event!!! We managed to raise in the region of £8,500!!!

There were some excellent costumes: a few Madonnas, Top Gun Pilots, the Robert Palmer ‘Addicted To Love’ girls and of course the winning costume, MC Hammer!!

There were retro sweetie table centres, Rubik Cubes, 80's arcade games and of course who could forget the fabulous 80's tribute band ‘The Wild Boys’!!

Thanks to all guests who bid for some fabulous auction prizes and congratulations to the winners!!!

It goes without saying that the success of the evening was due to all who supported this event, and the very generous donations from parents for our wonderful hampers, auction and silent auction.

Finally, we hope to see you all again next year!!!

Congratulations

Alexei Murphy (10C) came 1st in the RYA National Windsurfing Zone Championships in the 7.8m Class. This was held at Rutland Water last weekend.

Office News & Looking Ahead

• Monday 20 May — Year 8 University Challenge at lunch time
• Tuesday 21 May — Year 10 English Controlled Assessment
• Wednesday 22 May — Year 8 Study Skills Day with Linda Greetham
• Thursday 23 May — Year 10 English Controlled Assessment
• Thursday 23 May — Nottingham Rowers Depart
• Friday 24 May — Year 8 Cricket Tour Departs
• Monday 27 May-Friday 31 May — Half Term

Future dates

• Saturday 8 June — Art on the Street — Maidenhead
• Saturday 15 June — Summer Fete at Ridgeway — more news next week

Coaches

Can we please remind you that the link buses that operate between the three sites are not a free service and it is important that we know who is on board. If you wish your child to use one of these coaches, please contact Mrs Gaselee on 01628 687406.

Sports Team Photographs

The Sports team photographs from the Lent Term have arrived and have been distributed to those who ordered them.  Any queries please contact Mrs Adams. (Reception)

Notes From The Head

As we approach the end of exam week, we can look forward to the activities right through until the end of Summer Term. We will be going through the exams with your son and he will bring his papers home with a raw score on. This will be moderated and a grade card issued after the half term break. Please look at the paper with him, sign it and return it to school.

We have a full Cricket programme this weekend and our Rowing crews are competing at Maidenhead Junior Regatta. This is followed by another full weekend when the Year 8s will tour Devon, and our Rowers will compete at the National Schools' Regatta in Nottingham.

The Summer Fete is only two weeks after half term, so we are busy making plans for this event. With a great deal happening we rely on, and appreciate, your support of these events.

John Rayer

Trips

U13 North Devon Cricket Tour — Friday 24 to Monday 27 May

The final itinerary has been posted home. Final payments and medical forms must be returned as soon as possible.

Year 10 Design Technology Trip — Friday 7 June

To the Design Museum, Habitat and Heals in London. Full details have been emailed home, hard copy available from Mrs Adams on Reception. Please return your signed consent by Monday 3 June. Thank you.

Year 7 History Trip to Warwick Castle — Wednesday 12 June

Details have been emailed home hard copy available from Reception. Please return the signed consent form by Monday 3 June. Thank you.

Sailing Camp 2013 — Wednesday 28 August to Sunday 1 September

At Weymouth and Portland Sailing Academy in Dorset. If your son would like to participate in this trip (no sailing experience required) details are now available from Reception. Forty places are available and deposits are required by Friday 24 May. The cost will be in the region of £400 to £450. Spaces are strictly allocated on a date received basis — a reserve list is held if necessary.

Year 11(current Year 10) French Language Trip To Normandy — 20 to 26 October

The interim payment of £200 is now due. Details have been emailed to those attending, but a hard copy is available from Reception.

Ski Trip 2014 To Alpe D'huez — 12 to 19 April 2014

Details of next year's ski trip are now available from the School Office. We have a limited number of 80 places available, on a first come, first served basis, which tend to go rather quickly, so get your Booking Form and deposit payment into your School Office as quickly as possible and by Friday 24 May. The trip is open to pupils from Year 5 (in September 2013) upwards. Visit the ski trip website, http://skitrip.clairescourt.net (no www.) for photos and news from this year's trip to La Plagne.

Sainsbury's Active Vouchers

This is the last week for voucher collection — please do collect them up and bring them into school. Our Sainsbury's box is in Reception. Thank you.

Holiday Club — Tuesday 28 to Friday 31 May

At the Girls School on College Avenue — mini kidz are set to get crafty. Our mid and kool kidz will get to Explore Japan. Sport Club is offering 2 fantastic days of Aviva Athletics and our usual swim kidz sessions, games and fun for all will also be available. **Visitor Update** Active Gamerz will be bringing their active gaming club experience on Thursday 30 May. They will be working with our mid and kool kidz groups to teach them the basic techniques of sports such as sprinting, boxing and archery. Spaces for this and other activities are still available. Discounted rate for Bookings must be received by Friday 17 May, so book NOW! www.clairescourt.com/holiday-club

"A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out."

JMR 17/05/13

Contacting us on behalf of the Public Health Services for Berkshire, Dr Kakoli Choudhury writes:

Ensuring that your pupils are protected against measles

You may be aware that there has been an increase in the number of measles cases in England with some local outbreaks. Measles can cause complications like ear infections, diarrhoea, pneumonia and convulsions, but are rarely fatal. Measles spread very easily. It can spread to an unprotected person if they spend 15 minutes with someone who has the disease. So a national catch-up programme has been launched to ensure that 10–16 year old children receive two doses of the MMR vaccine.

Two doses of the MMR vaccine offer the best and safest way to protect children against measles, mumps and rubella.

  There is more information on measles on the NHS Choices website.

We recommend that parents of 10—16 year old pupils at your school check that their child/children have received 2 doses of the MMR vaccine. If not, or if there is any doubt about their vaccination status, parents should make arrangements with their GP's to get their children vaccinated.

The health campaign is focussed on those children in Year 5 and above, and I recommend that in the first instance Parents contact their doctor for further advice and a status check. Here is the the full version of Dr Choudhury's letter.

I will produce a fuller advisory note on medical and health issues and how they affect age groups in the School to accompany the End of Term Report.

JamesWilding Academic Principal

Exams are over and boys and parents are now looking forward to the weekend. There has been an atmosphere of quiet concentration in school this week as boys have worked hard to show themselves at their best. Well done!

After a busy week comes a challenging weekend: Our chess players are off to Bristol to compete in the National Primary Schools Chess Championships semi finals. Thanks to Mrs Goyal's generosity and flair for design our boys will be sporting ‘cool’ new team shirts. While on Sunday a number of our U11 cricketers will be taking part in a 6–a–side tournament at The Oratory. We are  proud that Louis Brown and Toby Greatwood will be playing cricket for the county this coming week. This is a hard earned and well deserved honour. Good luck to all our players and enjoy yourselves.

Our Rabbits this week are awarded to Ashwin Goyal in 6Y and the U11 Cricket Teams. Ashwin set a wonderful example of how a CCJB is expected to behave when he returned some dropped money to a member of staff at Davenies. The teacher was immensely impressed with Ashwin's honesty and manner, and was even more taken aback with the response that "this is just what we do" at CCJB. The boys know Our Golden Rules and we are proud that they act in accordance.

Following our U11 home fixtures against Thorpe House Prep on Monday, we were thrilled to receive an email from their Head of Sport complementing our boys on their conduct and sportmanship in the games. "can I ask you to thank the CC teacher and the boys for such a good afternoon. The boys were some of the best behaved and most pleasant I have come across." It is always so gratifying when others recognise the qualities in our boys — even more so when it comes from one of our on–field rivals.

Reception News

Reception boys enjoyed learning their numbers up to 100 using cakes to help them recognise the 100 square and what 100 looks like. Evidently they also learned about subtraction — each time a cake was eaten! So who didn't need their tea that day?

The boys have also been learning about journeys and they looked at how people travel in hot air balloons. Last Friday they each released a balloon with a message and the school email address to see how far they will travel.

STOP PRESS…One balloon located in Grafton Close near the Co-op supermarket. A lady telephoned as a result of seeing it mentioned in the Advertiser.

Year 4 Visit Highclere Castle

On Wednesday 15 May Year 4 were lucky enough to go and visit Highclere Castle (where they film Downton Abbey). They visted the amazing Egyptian Exhibition set up by Lady Carnavon to tell the story of the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb. The pupils felt like real archaeologists as they held their tealights and looked into the reconstruction of the tomb. The wonderful artefacts, which have been modelled on the original ones in the Cairo Museum, gave the pupils a real insight into life in Ancient Egypt. The pupils will tell you they saw ‘wonderful things!’.

Ski Trip 2014 To Alpe D'Huez — 12–19 April 2014

Details of next year's ski trip are still available from the School Office. We have a limited number of 80 places available, on a first come, first served basis, which tend to go rather quickly, so get your booking form and deposit payment into your School Office as quickly as possible and by Friday 24 May. The trip is open to pupils from Year 5 (in September 2013) upwards. Visit the ski trip website, skitrip.clairescourt.net (no www.) for photos and news from this year's trip to La Plagne.

PTA News

Parents' Society 100 Club Winners

Congratulations to the following who are our winners from our March and April draws.

March

• 1st — Billy Mead (no 19)
• 2nd — Caroline Payne (no 73)
• 3rd — Deborah Mussell (no 100)

April

• 1st — Anna Hitchen (no 1)
• 2nd — Billy Mead (no 19)
• 3rd — Claudia Munn (no 24)

Holiday Club

**Holiday Club visitor update** Active Gamerz are excited to be bringing their active gaming club experience to College Avenue on Thursday 30th May of the half–term holiday. They will be working with our mid and kool kidz groups to teach them the basic techniques of sports such as sprint, boxing and archery. Richard Tweed from Active Gamerz said the sessions will be extremely competitive and the winning teams will be rewarded with gold medals… he is also looking forward to working with such a highly regarded school.

Spaces for this and other activities are still available, including Xtra Sport Club with Aviva Athletics and Cookery Klub, part of Art & Craft Club. DISCOUNTED rate for BOOKINGS received by Friday 17th May, so book NOW! — see www.clairescourt.com/holiday-club for details.

J.C.W. 17.5.13

Contacting us on behalf of the Public Health Services for Berkshire, Dr Kakoli Choudhury writes:

Ensuring that your pupils are protected against measles

You may be aware that there has been an increase in the number of measles cases in England with some local outbreaks. Measles can cause complications like ear infections, diarrhoea, pneumonia and convulsions, but are rarely fatal. Measles spread very easily. It can spread to an unprotected person if they spend 15 minutes with someone who has the disease. So a national catch-up programme has been launched to ensure that 10–16 year old children receive two doses of the MMR vaccine.

Two doses of the MMR vaccine offer the best and safest way to protect children against measles, mumps and rubella.

  There is more information on measles on the NHS Choices website.

We recommend that parents of 10—16 year old pupils at your school check that their child/children have received 2 doses of the MMR vaccine. If not, or if there is any doubt about their vaccination status, parents should make arrangements with their GP's to get their children vaccinated.

The health campaign is focussed on those children in Year 5 and above, and I recommend that in the first instance Parents contact their doctor for further advice and a status check. Here is the the full version of Dr Choudhury's letter.

I will produce a fuller advisory note on medical and health issues and how they affect age groups in the School to accompany the End of Term Report.

JamesWilding Academic Principal

Good Luck Year 11

The Year 11 girls are now sitting their written GCSEs and can take optional Study Leave from today, Friday 17 May.

Good Luck, Kally!

Kally Mudge will be representing London West at the ISA National Swimming Gala in Coventry this Saturday 18 May. Staff and pupils would like to wish her all the very best as she defends her freestyle title for the third year running!

Congratulations To Georgia!

Well done to Georgia Toay 9T, who, with her team, ‘Noughts ' Crosses’, came second in the mini fusion competition they attended last weekend in Belgium. It was a Double Dutch ‘fusion’ (dance/jump–rope mix) competition, held in a sold–out theatre in Antwerp. There were competitors from all over the world (Honk Kong, America, Belgium, France.). If you are interested in seeing their routine, (and it is amazing!) it is on YouTube.

Amber Update!

Amber Hill has held on to her Number 1 England and GB places, shooting for selection for a number of forthcoming international competitions (Italy, Germany, Cyprus, Spain and Finland). She actually shot her personal best. And 3 GCSEs this week!

Thank You!

Many thanks to the team of girls who gave up their time to help out at the Ball Cup South Regatta at Dorney Lake on Sunday morning. Acting as stake boat girls, they did a sterling job of holding the crews whilst they lined up at the start and prepared to race. Miss Lunney would like to thank Amy Perera, Macie-Mae Price, Ellie Jones, Maddie Sparks (all in Year 7), and Hattie Thomas and Tiana Woolfenden from Year 8 for all their help.

Year 5 Science Trip To The Water Treatment Works

The girls had a great time. Paul, our tour guide, was excellent and showed us how the sewage was cleaned using filters and bacteria so it could be returned to the Jubilee River and eventually the Thames. The girls set up experiments in the classroom to show how gases were produced from the bacteria in the cleaning system — they used yeast in their experiments though! They also had a competition to see who could make some ‘sewage soup’ (made of food colouring, cocoa powder and water) the cleanest. They made filters using sand, gravel, cotton wool and filter paper. All the girls returned to School with their own pack of ‘Splash’ trumps cards and a colourful Thames Water ‘bug’! A great morning!

The Hearing Dog Joins In The Lessons

Girls in Years 4, 5 and 6 were joined by an extra pupil at the end of last week! Mrs Joanna Woolliscroft, Director of Music, is socialising a dog (on behalf of Hearing Dogs for the Deaf) and during Deaf Awareness Week (6–12 May) Kara joined the girls and they learned how she is being trained. Kara has spent some time in School, mainly with the Senior girls, which has given her the opportunity to socialise and stay calm in a busy environment. However during the normal days when Kara has visited, the class have not been able to stroke her so it was a treat for the Juniors when they were finally able to pet her. Mrs Woolliscroft will be joining an assembly later in the term to explain more fully the impact of a hearing dog on a deaf person’s life.

Year 2 Finally Meet Jack!

Last week Year 2 had an exciting interruption to their lessons when Jack finally made an experience. He had to sit and explain about the magic teapot and he had lots of things to show the girls in his bag. In due course the girls will tell the full story once it is complete – this is all about writing in different styles.

Salters Festival Of Chemistry

Two teams of Year 8s from Claires Court Seniors enjoyed an action packed day at the University of Reading as part of Salters' Festival of Chemistry. Each team worked collaboratively to solve a ‘Who killed the head teacher?’ murder scenario, using CSI style forensic science techniques. These included chemical testing and interpretation of police style suspect and witness reports. They had to complete a forensic report and suggest who the culprit was. The girls' team of Niamh Bates, Hattie Thomas, Katie-Jane Boon and Avi Von Dran correctly identified the murderer, well done!

During the afternoon the girls took part in challenges and experiments — winning first prize for the chemistry crossword. An inspirational and challenging day!

Back to the 80s Ball, 11 May 2013

The Ball Committee would like to say a huge ‘Thank You’ to all 234 guests who made this evening such a fantastic event!!! We managed to raise in the region of £8,500!!!! There were some excellent costumes — a few Madonnas, Top Gun pilots, the Robert Palmer ‘Addicted To Love’ girls and of course the winning costume, MC Hammer!!

We had retro sweetie table centres, Rubik Cubes, 80s arcade games and of course, who could forget the fabulous 80s tribute band, ‘The Wild Boys’!! Thanks to all guests who bid for some fabulous auction prizes and congratulations to the winners!

It goes without saying the success of the evening was made by all who supported this event, the very generous donations from parents for our wonderful hampers, auction and silent auction. Finally, we hope to see you all again next year!

Save the date — 15 June

‘All the Fun at the Fair’ 15 June, 12–4pm. Junior Boys (Ridgeway site).

Important information for parents

Coaches

Can we please remind you that the link buses that operate between the three sites are not a free service and it is important that we know who is on board. If you wish your child to use one of these coaches, please contact Mrs Gaselee on 01628 687406.

Found!!

The PE Department has a brand new navy blue tracksuit top size 8. Miss Cox would like to hand it back to the owner, but it has NO NAME!! If you are missing one, please come to the PE Department.

Message From The College Libraries

Thank you to all those who have placed their orders for books from the Scholastic Book Catalogue. Just a reminder that there is still time to order if you'd like to save money and raise funds for the School! Send your order form (from the back page of the leaflet) and payment to the Senior Library. (Cheques payable to Scholastic Ltd; please do not send cash.)

Alternatively, orders can be placed online at http://clubs-school.scholastic.co.uk/claires–court–schools where we have our own school ‘basket’ to collect online orders. The closing date for all orders is Wednesday 22 May.

Calling All Mums And Dads Wanting To Try Out Or Get Back To Hockey!

Did you ever play hockey at school or as a teenager and feel that you would like to try again? Well here is your chance — Maidenhead Hockey Club are running ‘Free Back to Hockey’ coaching sessions on Sunday mornings from 9.30am until 10.30am at Altwood School. The sessions are for all levels and provide fully qualified and experienced coaching aimed at learning new skills and having fun. For more information please call 07584 055966 or email loudone@btinternet.com or speak to a member of the PE Department.

Drama News

School Production

Competition Time

Come on girls get creative and have a go at creating a poster for the School Production of ‘The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe’ — the deadline is Monday 3 June at midday. Girls should check out the posters in and around School for poster requirements or see Kate Horn in 10W who can give you more information.

Wednesday 22 May — Rehearsal of Act 1

ALL GIRLS to be present in drama blacks — Lisa in Year 10 will lead small groups in supporting acting skills and stage presence if not on stage rehearsing.

Junior Girls

As we are now in full swing of GCSE and A Level Examinations — the Juniors' drama club has been re located to the Art and Textiles room in the Junior Department. Girls are to change into drama blacks and bring in sock puppets ready for key drama skills.

Senior Girls

As it gets warmer girls have been asking if they are allowed to wear their PE shorts in drama instead of the drama blacks. Girls must continue to bring in full drama blacks and, if appropriate, a message will be sent around during Registration, permitting pupils to wear PE shorts. Full blacks should be worn unless otherwise informed. Please note: the drama blacks on display in the Chapel lobby are compulsory for September 2013 (with an optional hoodie).

Ski Trip 2014 To Alpe D'huez 12–19 April 2014

Details of next year’s Ski Trip are now available from the School Office. We have a limited number of 80 places available which tend to go rather quickly, so get your Booking Form and deposit payment into your School Office as quickly as possible, and by Friday 24 May. The trip is open to pupils from Year 5 (in September 2013) upwards. Visit the ski trip website, skitrip.clairescourt.net (no www.) for photos and news from this year's trip to La Plagne.

Dates!

Week Commencing Monday 20 May April 2013 — Week 1 of the Summer Term Menu

Wed 22 May — Year 4 Geography ‘Chembakolli Day’ At The Junior Boys

The girls will join the Junior Boys to learn about life in Chembakolli through role-playing and other activities. A letter has been sent home with all the information, including guidelines on an Indian themed packed lunch. Consent slips should have been returned by today.

Thurs 23 May — Reception, Years 1 & 2 Seaside Experience

As part of their Summer topic, ‘The Seaside’, girls will be joined by the Year 2 boys and will participate in a day-long seaside experience, completing activities that will teach them about seaside holidays in the past. A letter has been sent home with details.

Wed 5 June – ISA London West Athletics Competition 12.30pm–5.30pm

Selected athletes from Years 4–11 are involved in the biggest competition of the sporting calendar. Parents are welcome to come and support! More details to follow.

Sat 8 June — Art On The Street

Mon 10 June — Year 5 History Trip To RAF Hendon

Wed 12 June — Year 7 History Trip To Warwick Castle

A letter has been sent home today with information; the consent slip is due to be returned by Monday 3 June.

Fri 14 June — Reception, Y1 and 2 Girls To Woolley Firs

Sat 15 June — Claires Court Summer Fete

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

We have had lots of fun making models and pictures of minibeasts this week. Next week the children in the nursery rooms will be learning about the colour pink, the number 5, the letter i and will be talking about farms. If you have any pictures/comments of your children visiting farms which you would like included in their ‘Achievement Records’ we would be delighted to have them. Transition children will be talking about the letters u and y and will be continuing their learning about the weather.

The children are anxiously waiting for the temperatures to rise as their grass heads are still looking very bald! They have done some lovely paintings of weather symbols and created a chart of their favourite weather and you will not be surprised to learn that the sun came out as the clear winner!

A reminder for those leaving Claires Court at the end of the Summer Term – please hand in written notice, giving details of your child’s next school, by half term. Children returning in September have received the sessions sheet for the Autumn Term. Please return these as soon as possible and at the latest before half term. During the holiday I will be allocating places for children registered to start in September so need to know your preferred days before then. Please note that if you do not hear from me you can assume that you have got the sessions requested.

Sheena Wilding, Head of Nursery

Notes From The Junior Department — Miss Barlow

Winnie the Pooh — Critical Thinker!

In our Years 5 and 6 Assembly this week, we talked about what critical thinking actually is. We discussed that, when thinking critically, we must analyse and that it means not just accepting what you are told but having a willingness to question it, to think it through for yourself. This is something which we want all of our girls to do. Some critical thinking and, hopefully, some questioning techniques will be used for the following riddles!

The floor of ship or boat,			
they walk on me at sea;
Then where there's a C, make it an S,
At school you sit on me.

What am I? _______________

Another word for sick, your forehead is quite hot;
Now put an H in front,
A mountain I am not.

What am I?______________

Well Done

Well done to all of our Junior Girls for the fantastic performances in this week’s Informal Concert. It was wonderful to see what the girls have been learning in their music lessons. Correction – Megan King is in Reception not Year 2 as published last week.

Merit Certificates

• Emily Warren (Reception),
• Anya Brewer (Year 1),
• Yana Todorova (Year 2),
• Ella Clarke (Year 2),
• Yasmin Paton (Year 3),
• Emily Tapner–Evans (Year 4),
• Claudia Jiminez (Year 5),
• Hannah Oram (Year 6).

Bunny Award

• Yana Todorova, Year 2, for trying incredibly hard to be her best self.
• Jessica Wreford Year 4, for her progress in reading.

Awards

• 5m Rainbow Swimming Award — Victoria Jesseman,
• Isis Challenge (1km run) — Maddie Todd.

News From The Head Teacher

It's been an interesting week since the last Colloquium. Last Friday, the Year 11 girls wrote, prepared and then delivered their Year 11 Final Assembly. With exams and study leave nearly upon them, Final Assembly represents the last time they will formally come together as a year group. The day began with fizz and strawberries, followed by a fancy dress barbecue and rounders' match versus the staff and then into the Final Assembly. This was a great opportunity for them to share their memorable moments of their time together in the School, to say thank you to the staff that have worked with them, and for each to receive an open–heart necklace. Head Girl, Gabby Lindley, supported by Games Captain Ellie Rayer, finished with an emotive reading of Rudyard Kipling's poem ‘IF’, which finished with an amended final stanza.

If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And — what is more — you'll be one with everyone!

Our senior girls then took tea with parents and staff which gave an opportunity to gather thoughts, exchange hugs and dry a few eyes ( including staff eyes).

Last Saturday the College PTA also offered all of us an opportunity to look back and remember — at the 80's Summer Ball. What a night that was — all the glitz and the glamour of the time, celebrated with fancy dress, dancing to a live band, auctions, raffles along with brilliantly themed tables. The night raised over £8500 which is then shared across the whole School — as are all funds raised from all the major events run by the two PTAs. Huge thanks to all of our extremely hard working and dedicated PTA Committee, lead by Louise Johnson, our indefatigable Chair.

Finally, to return to the Year 11 Final Assembly: our aim is to develop successful, aspirational young women, aware of their strengths and their place in the world, along with a sense of service to others. My commendation to them was that we are not only proud of what they have achieved, but that we have also been enriched as teachers and as a School community, by all that they have done, and all that they have been.

"Not in the clamour of the crowded street, not in the shouts and plaudits of the throng, but in ourselves, are triumph and defeat"

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Paul Bevis

Holiday Club — Tuesday 28 To Friday 31 May

**Holiday Club visitor update** ‘Active Gamerz’ are excited to be bringing their active gaming club experience to College Avenue on Thursday 30 May of the half-term holiday. They will be working with our mid and kool kidz groups to teach them the basic techniques of sports such as sprint, boxing and archery. Richard Tweed from Active Gamerz said the sessions will be extremely competitive and the winning teams will be rewarded with gold medals… he is also looking forward to working with such a highly regarded school. Spaces for this and other activities are still available, including Xtra Sport Club with Aviva Athletics and Cookery Klub, part of Art & Craft Club. DISCOUNTED rate for BOOKINGS received by Friday 17th May, so book NOW! — see www.clairescourt.com/holiday–club for details.

Advance Dates!

28 Aug–1 Sept — Sailing Camp 2013

The camp will be held at the Weymouth and Portland Sailing Academy in Dorset. If your daughter would like to participate in this trip (no sailing experience required) please collect a letter from the School Office.  40 places are available on a ‘first come, first served’ basis and the closing date for deposits is Friday 24 May.

Fri 27 Sept–Sun 29 Sept — Year 5 Outward Bound To PGL Marchant's Hill

A reminder to current Year 4 parents that the payment is due by Friday 24 May.

Rugby/hockey Tour To South Africa

Please return your final payment, medical form and passport information by Monday 3 June. Please check passports have at least 3 months (from date of departure) before expiry.

And to our Year 11 ladies…

"Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened."

Dr Seuss

17.5.13

Message from all the Sixth Form staff: Good Luck to All Our Students as They Start Their Final AS and A2 Examinations

Summer Examinations

The timetable shows AS written exams run from Monday 13 May 2013 until Thursday 6 June 2013.

A2 exams begin on Monday 3 June 2013 and end on Monday 24 June 2013.

The AS art examination will take place on Wednesday 15 and Thursday 16 May.

The A2 art examination will take place on Wednesday 22 and Thursday 23 May.

Study Leave for Year 12 students will begin on Monday 13 May and run until Monday 10 June when they must return to begin their A2 studies. This 4 weeks of intensive A2 work is very important and students may not be able to progress in their chosen subjects at A2 Level if they miss this work due to absence.

Year 13 students will begin their study leave on Friday 24 May 2013.

Summer Ball

The Sixth Form Leavers' Ball will be at Taplow House Hotel, SL6 0DA on Wednesday 26 June from 7.30 pm until midnight.

Dress – formal black tie/ball gown.

Students must have paid their subs in order to attend and one guest may be invited per student.

Guest tickets are £25 each.

This is an urgent reminder to those who have still not paid their £40 subscriptions. Please pay by next week (cheques made payable to Claires Court Sixth Form Social Club) as we have to make the final payment to Taplow House during study leave and at present there are insufficient funds available in the bank. In addition could students pay and confirm the names of any guests.

Plant Sale At TVAP This Saturday

TVAP is one of our 3 for 3 charities and also where our Sports Leaders go to work with disabled young people. If you still need summer bedding we can really recommend this sale as they had brilliant plants at good prices last year.

"We will be holding a plant sale at the Playground on Satuday 18th May from 10–1. This is a joint venture between the Playground and Braywick Heath Nurseries, who work with people with disabilities in Windsor & Maidenhead, and they are promising loads of lush and lovely plants for the summer! It is rather late in the day, but the unseasonal weather we have been having means that it is not too late to buy your bedding!"

South Africa Tour

Please note that there will be a training day on Friday 19 July for all students on the SA tour. Kit will be given out, and the session will end with a BBQ. More details to follow.

Revision Lessons

Many of our subject teachers have organised valuable revision lessons to help students with their preparation for final A Level examinations in May and June. Please see the list below for various subjects.

Biology — After 26 April Mrs Wolton will be available throughout the study leave period at normal lesson times and usual rooms. Please email her in advance if you wish to attend for help.

Back to the 80s Ball — 11 May 2013

The Ball Committee would like to say a huge ‘Thank You’ to all 234 guests who made this evening such a fantastic event!!! We managed to raise in the region of £8,500!!!!

There were some excellent costumes, a few Madonnas, Top Gun Pilots, the Robert Palmer ‘Addicted To Love’ girls and of course the winning costume, MC Hammer!!

From retro sweetie table centres, Rubik Cubes, 80s arcade games and of course who could forget the fabulous 80s tribute band ‘The Wild Boys’!!

Thanks to all guests who bid for some fabulous auction prizes and congratulations to the winners!!!

It goes without saying the success of the evening was made by all who supported this event, the very generous donations from parents for our wonderful hampers, auction and silent auction.

Finally, we hope to see you all again next year!!!

Save the date — 15th June

All the Fun of the Fair 15th June, 12–4p.m. Junior Boys (Junior Boys' site)

Sainsbury's Active Vouchers

Please collect these at the end of your shop and pop them in the Sainsbury’s box in Reception — they are available until 22 May. Thank you.

Dates for Your Diary

• Friday 24 May — Year 13 Study Leave commences. Assembly and BBQ, dismiss at 12 noon.
• Monday 10 June — Year 12 students return to begin A2 studies
• Saturday 15 June — Summer Fete ‘All the Fun of the Fair’

Year 12 Geography Field Trip to North Wales (7 to 10 June 2013)

Final information has been sent home via students this week. Please send in the medical form which is now overdue as the Field Studies Centre needs this information to complete our arrangements.

Ski Trip 2014 To Alpe D'huez — 12–19 April 2014

Details of next year's Ski Trip are now available from the School Office. We have a limited number of 80 places available which tend to go rather quickly, so get your Booking Form and deposit payment into your School Office as quickly as possible. The trip is open to pupils from Year 5 (in September 2013) upwards.

"The surest way not to fail is to determine to succeed.’

Richard Brinsley Sheridan

PAB 17.05.2013

• www.facebook.com/clairescourt
• www.twitter.com/@clairescourt

Many thanks to everyone for encouraging a full set of visitors to our Open Day on Thursday. With 56 families visiting on the morning across the three sites for all age ranges, we hope it has allowed us to show our school off in the best of lights.  And amazingly, the sun shone for most of the time!  For some of our older students, their time in our school is drawing to a close, heralded by the start of the Public examination season next week for both A levels and GCSEs.

Please do check out my blog this week, linked from the main school website; yet more evidence, this time from Oxford University, that the plans for secondary state sector education from the DfE are ill-thought out. As any visitor this week will have learned, our pupils are involved in a challenging and diverse education, and developing very high aspirations indeed for the future.

JamesWilding
Academic Principal

A glint of gold in the sunshine for our rowers!

Claires Court Boat Club (CCBC) had a productive day on Bank Holiday Monday. Joining the hordes of sun worshippers at Higginson Park in Marlow, the School's rowing teams competed in their first regatta of the season, the Marlow Spring.

The first success of the day came from the ‘J14 A Quad’ (pictured left) of Hadley Thomas, Tom Ballinger, Toby Yate and Jack Harris coxed by Kurtis Hartburn. The boys breezed through their semi-final and then convincingly beat both crews from Great Marlow School in the final, to seal the victory.

The ‘J16 Coxless Quad’ (pictured above right) of William Hobden, Daniel Gordon, Joseph Sanders and Toby Jones then followed suit providing an impressive display in both their races, impressively beating Maidenhead Rowing Club in the final.

The ‘J16 Coxed Four’ is also deserving of a mention, they competed admirably in the men’s Novice category, as the only Junior crew and achieved a commendable second place.

Sailing Results - BSDRA Hoad Shield

• CCS 1 (Senior Firefly) — 8th overall with 5 wins against Norwich 2, Kings 2, Wellington, Tonbridge Red and Ipswich 2
• CCS 2 (Junior Feva) — 7th overall with 3 wins against: MTS High, Sevenoaks ‘B’ and Kings ‘A’
• CCS 3 (Junior Feva) — 9th overall with 2 wins against: CCS 2 and MTS Pink
• Friendly home match against Merchant Taylors’ School (MTS) — 1st CCS 1, 2nd MTS 1, 3rd CCS 2, 4th MTS 2
• BSDRA Midland Championships was cancelled due to high winds.

Music Matters

Art on the Street

Letters for Art on the Street have been distributed to those involved; please could these be returned as soon as possible. Many thanks

New Boys' Parents' Evening

I know it is a long time away but the following boys have been invited to perform at the New Boys' Parents' Evening on Tuesday 25 June: James Tapner-Evans, Sam MacGregor and Connor Lee. This is for NEW boys coming to Claires Court in September. They will be performing from 5.00pm until 5.25pm. On that evening there are early buses so unfortunately they will have to be collected by parents please.

Mr Roach

Back to the 80s Ball — Saturday 11 May 2013

We look forward to welcoming 235 guests at The Crowne Plaza, Marlow, tomorrow night, for a fabulous evening of fun and entertainment. Final guest information has been sent to your table leaders to pass on to you.

Date for your diary — Saturday 15 June 2013

Summer Fete, All the Fun Of The Fair, Saturday 15 June 2013.

Office News & Looking Ahead

• Monday 13 May – Exam week for years 7, 8, 9 & 10
• Tuesday 14 May – Cricket Photographs U12A & B, U13A & B Teams. Please remember clean kit.
• Tuesday 14 May – U12/13 Athletics photographs – Please remember clean kit.
• Friday 17 May – Cricket Photographs U14A & B, U15A & B Teams. Please remember clean kit.
• Friday 17 May – U14/15 Athletics photographs. Please remember clean kit.
• Friday 17 May – Year 11 Study Leave commences.

Year 11 & Exam Update

GCSE Written Exams Commence Monday 13 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.

Notes From The Head

On Tuesday evening I was privileged to be invited to a DrugFAM Reception at No. 10 Downing Street, hosted by Samantha Cameron. A very pleasant event. However, this was a reinforcement of the message that substance abuse is far more common in our society than we may suspect and we need to be open and frank with our pupils about the dangers and the consequences of the use of recreational drugs.

I know that you will support the School's message of open communication as the best advice to ensure that our youngsters do not engage in these activities.

A big thank you to the School body for their enthusiasm at our Open Day yesterday; again in conversation with visitors after their tour, they were so complimentary about their guides and the behaviour of our pupils. Well done to all.

Good luck to all the boys on their upcoming examinations but especially to Years 10 and 11 who are sitting GCSE exams in the coming weeks.

John Rayer

Trips

U13 North Devon Cricket Tour – Friday 24 to Monday 27 May

The final itinerary has been posted home. Final payments and medical forms to be returned by Wednesday 15 May to the office.

Sailing Camp 2013 – Wednesday 28 August to Sunday 1 September

Weymouth and Portland Sailing Academy in Dorset. If your son would like to participate in this trip (no sailing experience required) details are now available from the School reception. Forty places are available and deposits are required by Friday 24 May. Spaces are strictly allocated on a date received basis – a reserve list is held if necessary.

Ski Trip 2014 To Alpe D'huez — Saturday 12 – Saturday 19 April 2014

Details of next year's Ski Trip are now available from the School Office. We have a limited number of 80 places available which tend to go rather quickly, so get your Booking Form and deposit payment into your School Office as soon as possible. The trip is open to pupils from Year 5 (in September 2013) upwards.

Sainsbury's Active Vouchers

Please collect these at the end of your shop and pop them in the Sainsbury’s box in Reception – they are available until 22 May. Thank you.

Holiday Club - Tuesday 28 to Friday 31 May at the Girls School on College Avenue

mini kidz are set to get crafty with stone bugs and cold cookery, plus a Princesses and Pirates day! Our mid and kool kidz will get to Explore Japan with traditional games, manga artz and craftz and Japanese sports. For fans of interactive sports there will be a visiting Gaming Day that is not to be missed. Bookable ‘Xtra’ activities for our older kool kidz this holiday include the chance to cook-up more treats in Cookery Klub. Sport Club is offering 2 fantastic days of Aviva Athletics and our usual swim kidz sessions, games and fun for all will also be available. More information can be found in our Highlight and Activity Calendars… Discounted rate applies to early bookings received by Friday 17 May, so book now. www.clairescourt.com/holiday-club for details.

"The repairman will never have seen a model quite like yours before."

JMR 10/05/13

Please do check out my blog this week, linked from the main school website; yet more evidence, this time from Oxford University, that the plans for secondary state sector education from the DfE are ill-thought out. As any visitor this week will have learned, our pupils are involved in a challenging and diverse education, and developing very high aspirations indeed for the future.

JamesWilding
Academic Principal

It was lovely to enjoy a three day break last weekend, though it was hardly restful for many boys and several teachers. Congratulations to the boys (mentioned below) who took part in the Mindlab Olympics at Twickenham Prep last Saturday, and also the five boys (see ‘Chess News’ in the printed version and pdf version of this bulletin.) who qualified for the UK Chess Challenge Gigafinal – a terrific achievement.

Maidenhead Rugby Club, with many Claires Court Junior Boys aboard, had great success on their annual tour to Brean Sands in Somerset last weekend. The U8 and U11 teams won their events and the U9 team went one better, fielding two teams which came first and second! Fantastic – and with 13 teams involved. Well done to Lewis Fletcher, William Dempster, James Hargreaves, Harry Grayson and to all the boys who took part.

The Rabbits this week are awarded to Zack Brewer 6G and Max Brooker 5G. At the Open Morning on Thursday our Year 6 boys were again outstanding in the manner in which they conducted themselves when showing visitors around the school. Zack is to be particularly commended for the way he looked after a young toddler who was with his mother but needed some extra attention! Max has been extremely helpful to both fellow pupils and teachers this week, without being asked, tidying up and returning property to where it belongs. Well done and thank you Zack and Max.

Jeff Watkins

Mindlab Olympics – Monday 6 May

Congratulations to Jake Bains-Gillespie, William Kilpatrick, Ansh Aggarwal and Sam Mead who displayed great gamesmanship and concentration at the Mindlab Olympics in Twickenham last Saturday. Seemingly the youngest team, they fought hard against some stiff competition, with Jake managing to win 4 out of his 5 rounds. Of the 8 teams taking part, the boys took the position of joint 4th and should feel very proud of their achievements.

After-school Activities And Extra Curricular Music During Exam Week 13 May – 17 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.

Lost Property

It would be greatly appreciated if you could ensure that all your son's uniform is named. All named items usually get returned to their owner in due course. Mrs Webb makes it her mission to return them to boys' pegs. Unfortunately there are a considerable number of uniform items, some brand new, which are not named and never make it back to their rightful owner. A black marker pen or sew-in name tapes would solve many ‘lost property’ problems.

Sailing Development Training

Sailing Camp 2013 will take place from 28 August to 1 September at the Weymouth and  Portland Sailing Academy in Dorset. If your son would like to participate in this trip (no sailing experience required) a letter will be sent home on Friday. This is open to current Year 5 upwards, 40 places available and deposits are required by Friday 24 May.

Ski Trip 2014 To Alpe D'huez – 12 – 19 April 2014

Details of next year's ski trip were given out to boys last week and further copies are available in the office. We have a limited number of 80 places available, on a first come, first served basis, which tend to go rather quickly, so get your Booking Form and deposit payment into your School Office as quickly as possible. The trip is open to pupils from Year 5 (in September 2013) upwards.

PTA News

Claires Court Back to the 80s Ball

We look forward to welcoming 235 guests at The Crowne Plaza Marlow tomorrow night for a fabulous evening of fun and entertainment. Final guest information has been sent to your table leaders to pass on to you.

Holiday Club

Holiday Club is looking forward to sneaking in a few summer activities this May half-term! We'll be at the College Avenue site from Tue 28th to Fri 31st and hope you can join us… mini kidz are set to get crafty with stone bugs and cold cookery, topped off with a Princesses and Pirates day! Our mid and kool kidz will get to Explore Japan with traditional games, manga artz and craftz and Japanese sports. Also for fans of interactive sports there will be a visiting Gaming Day that is not to be missed. Bookable ‘Xtra’ activities for our older kool kidz this holiday include the chance to cook-up more treats in Cookery Klub, part of Art & Craft Club. Also Sport Club is offering 2 fantastic days of Aviva Athletics. All this and more, along with swim kidz sessions, games and fun for all!

More information can be found in our Highlight and Activity Calendars… DISCOUNTED rate for BOOKINGS received by FRI 17th May, so book NOW! – see www.clairescourt.com/holiday-club for details.

JCW 10.5.13

Please do check out my blog this week, linked from the main school website; yet more evidence, this time from Oxford University, that the plans for secondary state sector education from the DfE are ill-thought out. As any visitor this week will have learned, our pupils are involved in a challenging and diverse education, and developing very high aspirations indeed for the future.

JamesWilding
Academic Principal

Year 5 Fight Hard At The Science Quiz

Year 5 faced some tough opposition at the recent local rounds of the National Science Quiz held at Davenies School. The group came seventh out of ten but put in an excellent performance and gained lots of confidence from the experience.

Sixth Form Girls V Boys Netball Match

Last Friday, before plunging headfirst into study time and exams, the Sixth Formers downed their pens and books for the annual match. What a fantastic game it was! It had drama, excitement and energy and as tradition dictated the girls won again, this year by 4 goals to 2! The sun shone brightly, as did the students' luminous fancy dress outfits, which meant we had huge crowds of Junior and Senior girls, Sixth Form students as well as staff outside to watch an extremely colourful spectacle.

Good Luck, Hannah!

The Wardman sisters will be having a busy weekend! Hannah, 11R, is performing at the Royal Albert Hall on Saturday night as ‘Lumiere’ in her drama group's excerpt from ‘Beauty and the Beast’, entitled ‘Be Our Guest’. Sister Lucy, Year 13, has helped prepare the group and will be working with them on the day. They will spend their whole day there, with other performing arts schools, learning a couple of songs and dances which they will all perform together as part of the grand finale of the show ‘Stars In The Round’.

Important Information From The Maths Department!

Mathematical Equipment for Maths Examinations - for all School and external mathematics examinations, students need to provide their OWN mathematical equipment. This means that students (from Years 7 to 10) must bring with them to their maths exams:

• a pen,
• pencil,
• rubber,
• ruler,
• protractor,
• pair of compasses,
• and a scientific calculator.

In recent years some pupils have come to rely upon being able to borrow equipment for maths exams but equipment will no longer be loaned by the department, so please ensure that your daughter has all the necessary items and that she brings them with her to the maths examination.

For Year 11, please adhere to the information already sent home: all the equipment listed should be carried in a named clear plastic bag or clear plastic pencil case and not an ordinary pencil case.

Drama News

Rehearsals:

• Mon 13 May - Production rehearsal ACT 1
• Wed 15 May - Production problem scene rehearsals.

Competition time

The time has come to design the School production posters; Kate Horn 10W will prepare the information for next week's Colloquium. There will be prizes!

School Production Programme

Sarah Messer 10W is now in full swing, compiling the programme and would like those girls who are performing principal roles in the play to produce a little autobiographical ‘Blurb’. They should also be prepared to have Sarah take their photo for the programme – she is extremely professional!

Lost!

An entire PE kit! It belongs to Laura Batten 9F and everything is named. Please check carefully that you do not have it in your locker.

Back to the 80s Ball, 11 May 2013

We look forward to welcoming 235 guests to the Crowne Plaza, Marlow, tomorrow evening for a fabulous evening of fun and entertainment. Final guest information has been sent to your table leaders to pass on to you.

Ski Trip 2014 To Alpe D'huez 12–19 April 2014

Details of next year's Ski Trip are now available from the School Office. We have a limited number of 80 places available which tend to go rather quickly, so get your Booking Form and deposit payment into your School Office as quickly as possible. The trip is open to pupils from Year 5 (in September 2013) upwards.

Dates!

Week Commencing Monday 13 May April 2013 — Week 1 of the Summer Term Menu

Tues 14 May – Year 5 Science/geography Trip

Pupils will travel by minibus, leaving School at 9.30am and returning for lunch at 12.30pm. Girls should be in School uniform.

Tues 14 May – Junior Assessment Forum (Years 2 – 6) 6.30pm

We are offering parents a second opportunity to meet and discuss our assessment and reporting procedure. The meeting will take place the Chapel.

Thurs 16 May – Junior Department Informal Concert

School Hall 2.30pm-3.30pm.

Family and friends are invited to join us for an informal concert at which a range of performances will be presented including choir, ensemble and individual musicians.

Fri 17 May – Reception Bus Trip To The Library

Details will follow!

Fri 17 May – Year 11 Study Leave Commences

Wed 22 May - Year 4 Geography ‘chembakolli Day’ at The Junior Boys

The girls will join the Junior Boys to learn about life in Chembakolli through role-playing and other activities. A letter has been sent home with all the information, including guidelines on an Indian themed packed lunch. Consent slips are due by Friday 17 May.

Thurs 23 May – Reception, Years 1 & 2 Seaside Experience

A letter will follow next week.

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

Next week the children in the nursery rooms will be learning about the colour red, the number 4, the letter h and will continue discovering minibeasts. Transition children will be talking about the letter j and the weather.

As I sit here writing this I am all too aware how much variety we have in the weather in this country; in less than a week the children have experienced the need for sun creams, sunhats and playing in paddling pools at home during the Bank Holiday weekend to having to put on wellingtons and waterproofs to explore the nursery pond area!! The Transition children will have plenty of experiences to discuss next week!

Please apply sun cream before bringing children to School and if they stay longer than the morning session please sign a permission slip and provide us with cream to put on them. Named sunhats should also be provided. Thank you.

We are looking forward to seeing the class photographs which were taken on Tuesday by Jeni from Tempest and were so pleased that almost all the children were present. Many thanks for bringing them in if it was not their usual session.

A reminder for those leaving Claires Court at the end of the Summer Term – please hand in written notice giving details of your child’s next school by half term. Children returning in September will be receiving the sessions sheet for the Autumn Term. Please return these as soon as possible and at the latest before half term. During the holiday I will be allocating places for children registered to start in September so need to know your preferred days before then.

Notes From The Junior Department - Miss Barlow

The Junior Girls are busy preparing for their exam week next week, the Informal Concert on Thursday and the many trips we have coming up.

During the past week, I have seen so much progress in the girls learning. From Year 1 writing instructions, Reception walking to Post Box, Year 5 studying and recreating David Hockney art and Year 4 generating Rangoli patterns outside using chalk. These are just some of the things that the girls have achieved this week!

Congratulations to the Year 5 class who competed in the National Science Quiz. Claires Court Junior Girls came 7th out of 10 schools. Mrs Prestedge shared some of the questions with me, and I have to say they were quite tricky!

Merit Certificates

• Keelan Hopley (Reception),
• Isabella Davy (Year 1)
• Sophie Jeffs (Year 1)
• Lily-Mae Morrell(Year 1),
• Devanshi Mandal (Year 2),
• Clara Slootweg (Year 3),
• Becca Ramsay (Year 4),
• Sally McKee(Year 5),
• Mireia Roberts-Martinez (Year 6).

Bunny Award

• Megan King, Year 2, for always helping others, especially new joiners.
• Emily Tapner-Evans, for enthusiasm when writing her account of the Year 4 Outward Bound trip.

Awards

National Science Quiz Competitors:

• Lauren Dennard,
• Claudia Jiminez,
• Nissi John,
• and Emily Taylor-West.

News From The Head Teacher

On Tuesday, Mr Rayer, Head of Senior Boys, Mr Bretherton, Head of Year 10 Boys, and I attended a Reception at 10 Downing Street, given to acknowledge and support the work of the charity DrugFam. The Reception, hosted by the Prime Minister’s wife Samantha Cameron, was attended by a wide variety of professionals including consultant psychiatrists, Head Teachers, senior police officers, counsellors and the health service. The DrugFam charity was founded by Elizabeth Burton-Phillips after she lost her son to drug addiction, and the charity visited us last January to talk to students in Years 9 and 10 and also to parents. One of my conversations at the Reception was with a psychiatrist carrying out research and work into the roots and causes of addictive behaviour. His view is that the decision to experiment, and the subsequent forces that may propel a young person into addiction, are complex and multi-faceted, and no respecter of social status. This reinforced in my mind the importance of ensuring that our young people hear a range of voices and viewpoints on this topic if we are to ensure they are able to make the right decisions.

On Friday our Year 11s create, organise and lead the School in their Final Assembly, as they will soon be going on study leave, and this will be the last formal occasion in which they are all together. The assembly, held at the end of the day, is preceded by some less formal celebrations and is followed by an opportunity for parents to join their daughters and staff for High Tea. It is an opportunity for them to reflect upon their time in Claires Court Senior Girls and for us to say ‘thank you’ to them for the huge contribution they have made to life of the School. As leaders and role models they have been outstanding, whether as Head and Deputy Head Girl, Heads of House, in Senior Prefect roles, or just by being the kind of person that a younger pupil can feel able to turn to when they need help and guidance. During my interviews with Year 10 for Head Girl, I have been struck by how many have been inspired to apply for that role because of the impact of previous Head Girls and the high esteem in which they were held. This is particularly true of the current cohort, lead with such distinction by Head Girl Gabby Lindley and Deputy Head Girl Matilda Swift, along with their friends and colleagues. We challenge our girls to become modern young women aspiring to make a difference in the 21st century though their resilience, confidence and self-belief – and they have risen to that challenge, and then some! We wish them good luck and good fortune and look forward to seeing so many of them entering the Sixth Form next year.

"As we look ahead into the next century, leaders will be those who empower others".

Bill Gates

Paul Bevis

Holiday Club - Tuesday 28 To Friday 31 May

Holiday Club is looking forward to sneaking in a few summer activities this May half-term! We'll be at the College Avenue site and hope you can join us… Mini Kidz are set to get crafty with stone bugs and cold cookery, topped off with a Princesses and Pirates day! Our Mid and Kool Kidz will get to explore Japan with traditional games, manga artz and craftz and Japanese sports. Also for fans of interactive sports there will be a visiting Gaming Day that is not to be missed. Bookable ‘Xtra’ activities for our older Kool Kidz this holiday include the chance to cook-up more treats in Cookery Club, part of Art & Craft Club. Also Sport Club is offering 2 fantastic days of Aviva Athletics. All this and more, along with Swim Kidz sessions, games and fun for all! More information can be found in our Highlight and Activity Calendars. DISCOUNTED rate for BOOKINGS received by Fri 17 May, so book NOW! – see www.clairescourt.com/holiday-club for details.

Advance Dates!

28 Aug 1 Sept - Sailing Camp 2013

The camp will be held at the Weymouth and Portland Sailing Academy in Dorset. If your daughter would like to participate in this trip (no sailing experience required) please collect a letter from the School Office.  40 places are available and deposits are required by Friday 24 May.

Fri 27–Sun 29 Sept – Year 5 Outward Bound To PGL Marchant's Hill

A reminder to current Year 4 parents that the payment is due by Friday 24 May.

Rugby/hockey Tour To South Africa

Please return your final payment, medical form and passport information by Monday 3 June. Please check passports have at least 3 months (from date of departure) before expiry.

"BTBYCB — Be The Best You Can Be!"

10.5.13

Many thanks to everyone for encouraging a full set of visitors to our Open Day on Thursday. With 56 families visiting on the morning across the three sites for all age ranges, we hope it has allowed us to show our school off in the best of lights.  And amazingly, the sun shone for most of the time!  For some of our older students, their time in our school is drawing to a close, heralded by the start of the Public examination season next week for both A levels and GCSEs.

Please do check out my blog this week, linked from the main school website; yet more evidence, this time from Oxford University, that the plans for secondary state sector education from the DfE are ill-thought out. As any visitor this week will have learned, our pupils are involved in a challenging and diverse education, and developing very high aspirations indeed for the future.

JamesWilding
Academic Principal

Message from all the Sixth Form staff

Good luck to all our students as they start their final AS and A2 examinations

And now the serious stuff!

Girls v Boys Netball Match - Friday 3 May 2013

What a fantastic game it was! It had drama, excitement and energy and as tradition dictated, the girls won again, this year by 4 goals to 2! The sun shone brightly, as did the students luminous fancy dress outfits, which meant we had huge crowds of Junior and Senior Girls, Sixth Form students as well as staff outside to watch an extremely colourful spectacle. 

Whilst the boys took a little while to familiarise themselves with the rules of netball, the girls capitalised on their mistakes and took an early lead; however, it was a very competitive game there was only one goal in it as the half time whistle went.

The boys began the second half with a more organised and tactically stronger approach; their power and physical stature meant they moved the ball quickly up the court but their strength meant they overplayed at times, leading to numerous rule infringements (launching the ball over a third, throwing it out of court and shooting at goal from outside the circle - none of which are allowed!)

The girls capitalised on these errors and notched up a second goal; the crowd sensed they might pull away at this point but the skirted young men would not give up and after a masterful passage of play, the Goal Attack shot accurately from distance and the boys were back in the game. At 2-1 the crowd cheered the teams on, willing the boys to draw level. It was not to be; the girls moved the ball skilfully at speed and with precision, passing it rapidly up the court and scoring before the boys could intercept and prevent a 3-1 deficit developing.YCredit to our elegant young men, they rallied again and after an explosive series of passes, brought the score back to 3-2.

After a nail biting couple of minutes the girls secured a 4-2 victory, scoring seconds before the final whistle. The girls, in their war paint, showed the courage, focus and commitment needed to win the battle against such a well drilled, determined and athletic battalion of boys.

It was an enjoyable and sporting display of everything good about our Sixth Form - colour, teamwork, achievement and humour. Well done to one and all!

Sixth Form rowers off to a good start!

Year 13 Claires Court Boys Josh Harris and Rory Kempson came second at Wallingford Regatta last Sunday in the hotly contested Junior Quads event held at Dorney Lake. Racing as part of the J18 Maidenhead Rowing Club crew they beat local rivals Sir William Borlase's, winners of last year's Fawley Challenge Cup at Henley Royal. A great start to their regatta season!

Summer Examinations

• A2 exams begin on Monday 3 June 2013 and end on Monday 24 June 2013.
• The AS art examination will take place on Wednesday 15 and Thursday 16 May.
• The A2 art examination will take place on Wednesday 22 and Thursday 23 May.

Study Leave for Year 12 students will begin on Monday 13 May and run until Monday 10 June when they must return to begin their A2 studies. This 4 weeks of intensive A2 work is very important and students may not be able to progress in their chosen subjects at A2 Level if they miss this work due to absence.

Year 13 students will begin their study leave on Friday 24 May 2013.

Revision Lessons

Many of our subject teachers have organised valuable revision lessons to help students with their preparation for final A Level examinations in May and June. Please see the list below for various subjects.

After 26 April Mrs Wolton will be available throughout the study leave period at normal lesson times and usual rooms. Please email her in advance if you wish to attend for help.

Summer Ball

The Sixth Form Leavers' Ball will be at Taplow House Hotel, SL6 0DA on Wednesday 26 June from 7.30 pm untill midnight.

Dress – formal black tie/ball gown.

Students must have paid their subs in order to attend and one guest may be invited per student.

Guest tickets are £25 each.

This is an urgent reminder to those who have still not paid their £40 subscriptions. Please pay by next week (cheques made payable to Claires Court Sixth Form Social Club) as we have to make the final payment to Taplow House during study leave and at present there are insufficient funds available in the bank. In addition could students pay and confirm the names of any guests.

Back to the 80s Ball, 11 May 2013

We look forward to welcoming 235 guests to the Crowne Plaza, Marlow, tomorrow evening for a fabulous evening of fun and entertainment. Final guest information has been sent to your table leaders to pass on to you.

Sainsbury's Active Vouchers

Please collect these at the end of your shop and pop them in the Sainsbury's box in Reception – they are available until 22 May. Thank you.

Dates for Your Diary

• Monday 13 May — Year 12 Study Leave commences
• Friday 24 May — Year 13 Study Leave commences
• Saturday 15 June — Summer Fete ‘All the Fun of the Fair’

Year 12 Geography Field Trip to North Wales (7 to 10 June 2013)

Final information has been sent home via students this week. Please complete the medical form and return by Friday 17 May.

Ski Trip 2014 To Alpe D’huez – 12–19 April 2014

Details of next year's Ski Trip are now available from the School Office. We have a limited number of 80 places available which tend to go rather quickly, so get your Booking Form and deposit payment into your School Office as quickly as possible. The trip is open to pupils from Year 5 (in September 2013) upwards.

"I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work."

Thomas Edison

PAB 10.05.2013

• www.facebook.com/clairescourt
• www.twitter.com/@clairescourt

As my brother Hugh highlighted last week, Claires Court, as currently configured, is now 20 years old! It is clear from the school calendar that all parts of the School are extraordinarily committed to a vast range of activity, academic and co–curricular, and it's a pleasure to come to work in such a vibrant environment.

At the PTA Summer Fete on Saturday 15 June, we'll be presenting our major plans for the next few years for parents to see and discuss. We know we want to get our land by the Junior Boys' School into use and we have plenty of other projects well underway, which we will highlight to you in our ideas for the future. Please reserve the date - the official opening will be at 12 noon, Claires Court Junior Boys, off Cannon Lane, Maidenhead Thicket SL6 4QQ.

JamesWilding
Academic Principal

Music Matters

Congratulations

Congratulations to Tom Torley has just passed two exams:

• Grade 6 Piano with merit
• Grade 7 Trombone with distinction!!

Good work Tom

Bank Holiday

Because of the Bank Holiday Mr Davis will be teaching his Monday pupils on FRIDAY of next week. Please check the times carefully.

Maidenhead's got Talent

We have Just been informed that this event is at Taplow Court and NOT at Cliveden as stated in the letter. Apologies.

New Boys' Parents' Evening

I know it is a long time away but the following boys have been invited to perform at the New Boys' Parents’ Evening on Tuesday 25 June:

• James Tapner–Evans,
• Sam MacGregor
• Connor Lee

This is for NEW boys coming to Claires Court in September. They will be performing from 5.00pm until 5.25pm. On that evening there are early buses so unfortunately they will have to be collected by parents please.

Mr Roach

Back to the 80s Ball — 11 May 2013  Crowne Plaza, Marlow

Hamper donations

Thank you to those parents who have already kindly donated items for our luxury hampers to be raffled at the Ball.   Please leave any items with the School Office (alcohol must be brought in by an adult!).

Date for your diary — Saturday 15 June 2013

Summer Fete, All the Fun At The Fair, Saturday 15 June 2013.

MMR Vaccination

In view of more press publicity about the measles outbreak, we would like, once again, to remind parents that if their child did not have the full programme of immunisation when they were babies, (because of concerns about the safety of the MMR), they should consider having it done now. Please contact your GP for further help and information. Thank you.

Thursday 9 May — Open Morning On All Three Sites

From 9.30am–12.00pm ( 11.30am for the Nursery). There is no need to book, just turn up! You will be shown around the school by some of our boys and have the opportunity to meet Mr Rayer and other senior members of staff.

Notes From The Head

When the exam question is: Name 6 animals that live in the Arctic and the answer given was 2 Polar Bears and 4 Penguins, we know that there has not been enough preparation undertaken by that pupil. My first message to the boys this week was to ensure that they prepare thoroughly for their exams that are fast approaching. The boys all have their revision guides issued by each subject; if they are missing a subject they must see their teacher first thing on Tuesday to get a replacement.

I also asked the boys how they will help on Summer Fete Day (Saturday 15 June), whether by running a stall, helping set up, donating prizes or simply attending. We need to work together to ensure the day is a major success.

Enjoy the Bank Holiday, I will be supporting the boys at Marlow Spring Regatta on Monday - the weather forecast is good so why not join us.

John Rayer

Office News & Looking Ahead

• Monday 6 May – Bank Holiday
• Monday 13 May – Exam week for years 7, 8, 9 & 10
• Friday 17 May – Year 11 Study Leave commences

Important Information for Year 11

Friday 10 May Final Assembly.

Rowing

The Ball Cup Regatta, being held at Dorney Lake on Sunday 12 May, are looking for people to volunteer to help at the start with the holding of boats as they line up. They were so impressed with the Claires Court team last year that they've asked us to take charge again this year! Miss Lunney is looking for girls and boys from year 7 upwards to help out for a minimum of 1 hour between 8.30am and 5.30pm. If you are interested please let Miss Lunney know on fgl@clairescourt.net

Sainsbury's Active Vouchers

Please collect these at the end of your shop and pop them in the Sainsbury box in Reception – they are available until 22 May. Thank you.

Trips

Year 8 Science Trip – Wednesday 8 May

A small team of 4 boys and 4 girls will be attending this years Salters' Festival. Letters have been distributed.

Year 9 English Trip – To See War Horse - Thursday 9 May

At The New London Theatre. Full details accompany this Bulletin. Please ensure that payment of £36 and the signed consent slip are returned – they are now overdue.

U13 North Devon Cricket Tour – Friday 24 to Monday 27 May

The final itinerary has been posted home. Final payments and medical forms to be returned by Wednesday 15 May to the office. Thank you.

Ski Trip 2014 To Alpe D'huez Saturday 12 – Saturday 19 April 2014

Details of next year's Ski Trip are now available from the School Office. We have a limited number of 80 places available which tend to go rather quickly, so get your Booking Form and deposit payment into your School Office as soon as possible. The trip is open to pupils from Year 5 (in September 2013) upwards.

Holiday Club - Tuesday 28 to Friday 31 May at the Girls School on College Avenue

mini kidz are set to get crafty with stone bugs and cold cookery, plus a Princesses and Pirates day! Our mid and kool kidz will get to Explore Japan with traditional games, manga artz and craftz and Japanese sports. For fans of interactive sports there will be a visiting Gaming Day that is not to be missed. Bookable ‘Xtra’ activities for our older kool kidz this holiday include the chance to cook–up more treats in Cookery Klub. Sport Club is offering 2 fantastic days of Aviva Athletics and our usual swim kidz sessions, games and fun for all will also be available. More information can be found in our Highlight and Activity Calendar's…Discounted rate applies to early booking – see www.clairescourt.com/holiday-club for details.

Horsepower was a lot safer when only horses had it.

JMR 3/05/13

At the PTA Summer Fete on Saturday 15 June, we'll be presenting our major plans for the next few years for parents to see and discuss. We know we want to get our land by the Junior Boys' School into use and we have plenty of other projects well underway, which we will highlight to you in our ideas for the future. Please reserve the date - the official opening will be at 12 noon, Claires Court Junior Boys, off Cannon Lane, Maidenhead Thicket SL6 4QQ.

JamesWilding
Academic Principal

England Chess Player!

Many congratulations to Nikolai Hinterreither and Ethan Bains Gillespie who last weekend performed superbly under huge pressure in the trials for England selection. They both achieved 3.5 points and we were highly delighted and excited to hear this week that Nikolai Hinterreither gained selection for the England squad as a result. Well done Nikolai. Nikolai is our first England squad member since Andrew Wincombe six years ago.

Ethan's achievement has also been recognised, and whilst not yet in the squad he is on the verge of selection and could still achieve it later this summer with good results in up-coming tournaments.

These are truly outstanding performances and we are extremely proud of both boys for we know that this success does not come lightly, but is the result of much hard work and countless hours of practice.

Elsewhere in the Bulletin are reports on Pirate Days and Outward Bound activities, there is news of next years ski trip and tomorrow a number of boys are competing in Mindlab Olympics. We hope you all enjoy the long weekend and may the sun continue to shine!!

Our Rabbits this week are awarded to Eren Bartlett in 1G and Josh Thorley in 4Y. Eren has really worked tremendously hard this term making outstanding progress. For a boy of Y1 age he really has shown a mature willingness to try hard and improve. Josh, like his twin brother Luke, is regularly helpful abut the school, but this week Josh went out of his way, without being asked, to tidy up and sort out lost property after swimming one day. A big thank you and well done to both Eren and Josh.

Jeff Watkins

Year 4 Outward Bound

Intrepid Year 4 students from Claires Court Juniors braved four seasons worth of weather to take part in an Outward Bound activity camp at the school's sailing club at Summerleaze Lake, and at the Ridgeway site. It rained a bit….it hailed a bit…it was windy…and very occasionally the sun shone. Undeterred the children took part in sailing, team challenge activities, woodland tracking and games. Despite near freezing over-night temperatures they also snuggled up and camped in the school grounds. The camp is part of the school's extended outdoor education programme that runs from early years right the way through to senior boys and girls who complete the Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award programme.

Ship Ahoy Me Hearties!!

To support the Year 2 topic in History, the Junior Boys had a ‘ship shape’ time with their learning today.  Getting to grips with tying knots and understanding how the pirates used them, making cutlasses, treasure chests and a large scale map of an imaginary treasure island. Plus reading pirate poems out loud, measuring how large the Golden Hind was and marking it out on the lawn, doing seascapes using water colours, playing a version of battleships using galleons, clippers and so much more… All whilst dressed and talking like pirates! Arr me hearties what a fun way to learn!

MMR Vaccination

In view of more press publicity about the measles outbreak, we would like, once again, to remind parents that if their child did not have the full programme of immunisation when they were babies, (because of concerns about the safety of the MMR), they should consider having it done now. Please contact your GP for further help and information. Thank you.

Friday 7 June – Sunday 9 June U10 Junior Boys Iow Cricket Tour

U10A and U10B teams are on tour over the weekend of 7–9 June 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 7 May for the boys who are touring.

Ski Trip 2014 To Alpe D'huez – 12–19 April 2014

Details of next year's ski trip have been sent home to the appropriate classes. We have a limited number of 80 places available which tend to go rather quickly, so get your booking form and deposit payment into your School Office as quickly as possible. The trip is open to pupils from Year 5 (in September 2013) upwards.

Library News

Sadly we have been advised that the Puffin Book Club is no longer in business. We have decided to ‘trial’ the Scholastic Book club to see how it goes. You will have received a brochure via boy post this week. Please return any order forms to the school office by Wednesday 8th May. Thanks for your support.

Mrs Davies

Mindlab News

We wish the very best of luck to Jake Bains-Gillespie, William Kilpatrick, Ansh Aggarwal and Sam Mead as they represent Claires Court Junior Boys in the Mindlab Olympics at Twickenham this Saturday. The boys have been working very hard to develop their game-playing skills and are looking forward to testing their strategies as they play against other Mindlab teams at the weekend.

PTA News

Back to the 80s Ball, 11 May 2013, Crowne Plaza, Marlow

It's still not too late to join in the fun!!! We have a table that has become available. Enjoy a fabulous 3 course meal, fantastic auction then dance the night away to a live ‘80s’ band. Take a trip down memory lane in our fun Photobooth or pitch your wit against Pac-man! Will you be the first to solve ‘The Cube?’ It's a night not to be missed! If you are interested please email PTABookings@gmail.com asap.

Hamper donations

Thank you to those parents who have already kindly donated items for our luxury hampers to be raffled at the Ball.   Please leave any items with the School Office (alcohol must be brought in by an adult!).

Date for your diary — Saturday 15 June 2013

Summer Fete, All the Fun At The Fair, Saturday 15 June 2013.

JCW 3.5.13

At the PTA Summer Fete on Saturday 15 June, we'll be presenting our major plans for the next few years for parents to see and discuss. We know we want to get our land by the Junior Boys' School into use and we have plenty of other projects well underway, which we will highlight to you in our ideas for the future. Please reserve the date - the official opening will be at 12 noon, Claires Court Junior Boys, off Cannon Lane, Maidenhead Thicket SL6 4QQ.

JamesWilding
Academic Principal

Rowing Weekend!

On Saturday, Emma Moores, 11E, took part in the Junior Inter Regional Regatta (JIRR) in Nottingham representing Upper Thames region, one of the 8 regions that cover the UK for rowing. In her category of single sculling she came 3rd and is now the proud possessor of a Bronze medal for her efforts. This event is the culmination of events across the country through the winter and an excellent result for Emma and her region. On Sunday, Emma took part in the Team GB Trials at Dorney. Only 17 junior girls had reached this stage and Emma was competing against girls up to the age of 18 (2 years older than her). In the first time trial, Emma came 8th of 17 and in the heats that followed came 12th of 17. Emma was only one of three 16 year olds competing, all of the other girls being from older age categories. Her performance bodes well for the summer and she will hopefully be selected to represent Team GB in their annual competition against France in July. Emma was back training on Monday evening although she did say she wanted an easy session!

Amber Hill - Shooting Update

Amber has now returned from Al Ain in Dubai where temperatures reached 46 degrees, and her competition days were up to 13 hours! Although she beat her personal best, and her World Record, Amber was pipped to the post by a 19 year old competitor for the World Junior Record. Amber is now number one lady in both England and Great Britain. In the next few months she competes for an Italian Cup and another World Cup. All this and GCSEs!!

From Miss Fuller

Thank you so much to everyone for their kind words and generosity over the last couple of weeks. I have been overwhelmed people’s generosity which has helped me to raise over £3000 for ‘Children with Cancer UK’. I had the most fantastic day, despite the aches and pains, and want to thank all those who came to support on the day.

Reception Girls Go On A Journey!

Reception girls enjoyed writing a postcard following their visit to the farm last week. They bought their cards on the trip, wrote a message home and then walked to the postbox, waiting with anticipation for the arrival of their mail at home. The girls looked at a Google map and reflected the Essentials in their learning by finding out and asking about what happens to the postcards, problem solving working out their route and working collaboratively in pairs to discuss how they would get to the postbox.

More News From The Giant!

Year 2 girls have now received a message from the Giant written on a piece of toilet roll (he didn't have anything smaller). He is very cross with Jack as he has run off with his teapot. Has anyone seen it?

Outward Bound

Last weekend, intrepid Year 4 girls and boys braved four seasons worth of weather to take part in an Outward Bound activity camp at the School's Sailing Club, at Summerleaze Lake, and at the Junior Boys' site. It rained a bit…it hailed a bit…it was windy…and very occasionally the sun shone. Undeterred, the children took part in sailing, team challenge activities, woodland tracking and games. Despite near freezing over-night temperatures they also snuggled up and camped in the School grounds. The camp is part of the School's extended outdoor education programme which runs from Early Years right the way through to Senior boys and girls who complete the Duke of Edinburgh's Gold Award programme. Well done to all who braved the elements and still had a great time!

PTA News

Back to the 80s Ball, 11 May 2013 - Hamper donations

Thank you to those parents who have already kindly donated items for our luxury hampers to be raffled at the Ball.   The PTA still need MORE so please support them by donating items via the School Office. Ideas for items for a hamper include: Vouchers for beauty treatments, Costume jewellery, scarves, make-up, pampering gifts, chocolates, luxury candles, photograph frames, gift vouchers from Marks & Spencer/ John Lewis/ Next and lastly but not least - bottles of spirits,  champagnes, fine wine! (Please note that alcohol must be brought in by an adult!).

Important information for parents

Ski Trip 2014 To Alpe D'huez 12-19 April 2014

Details of next year's Ski Trip are now available from the School Office. We have a limited number of 80 places available which tend to go rather quickly, so get your Booking Form and deposit payment into your School Office as quickly as possible. The trip is open to pupils from Year 5 (in September 2013) upwards.

MMR Vaccination

In view of more press publicity about the measles outbreak, we would like, once again, to remind parents that if their child did not have the full programme of immunisation when they were babies, (because of concerns about the safety of the MMR), they should consider having it done now. Please contact your GP for further help and information. Thank you.

Team Photos

Photos for the Junior teams (Years 4-6) can be viewed on the Junior corridor. Order envelopes have been sent home with pupils

News From The College Libraries

Year 6 Bucket List

Books to read before you become a Senior! There's a new challenge for Year 6 this term… to read as many books from their very own ‘Bucket List’ before they move from Junior Girls to the Senior Department in July! Come to the Library and see which books are on the list… They're all available in the Library and suitable for all interests and abilities. There's even a special Bucket Bookmark prize for every book read…can you collect all 5 in the set?!

Scholastic Book Club

All students were given 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 our Libraries. With must-have titles from as little as £2.99, it's a great 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 with payment to the Library. (Cheques should be made payable to Scholastic Ltd and please do not send cash). Alternatively, orders can be placed online, where we have our own School ‘basket’ to collect online orders. Closing date for all orders: Wednesday 22 May .

From The Domestic Bursar

We have observed that the new Laksa curry (Mondays Week 1) is a little spicy for both young and old despite adding yogurt. We are therefore changing the menu to the popular Thai Green Curry.

News From The Drama Department

School Production rehearsals: Wednesday 8 May, ‘The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe’ - all Cast in Act Two to attend. We plan to run Act Two - please ensure you arrive as quickly as possible to the Hall in preparation for this rehearsal. Full Drama Blacks MUST BE WORN!!!

Dates!

Week Commencing Tuesday 7 May April 2013 — Week 2 of the Summer Term Menu.

Tues 7 May - Nursery Class Photos

A reminder: please can all children attend for the morning session for our annual Class Photos. Please collect your child at 12pm.

Wed 8 May - Year 8 Salters' Festival Of Chemistry

Thurs 9 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.

Thurs 9 May - Year 9 English Trip To War Horse

The pupils will leave at 11.50am and return for approximately 7pm (to Senior Girls). School uniform should be worn and pupils will require a packed lunch.

Fri 10 May - 3.45pm - Tea Party For Year 11 Parents!

As part of the Year 11 celebrations we invite Year 11 parents to join us from 3.45pm to 5.30pm 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) and return it to the School Office by this Tuesday. We look forward to seeing you.

Tues 14 May - Year 5 Science/geography Trip

As part of their studies on water usage, treatment and conservation, Year 5 will visit the Water Treatment Works at Slough. Please return the consent slip by next Wednesday 8 May.

Tues 14 May - 6.30pm - Junior Assessment Forum (Years 3-6)

We are offering parents a second opportunity to meet and discuss our assessment and reporting procedure. Please return the reply slip to indicate whether or not you are able to attend.

Thurs 16 May - Junior Department Informal Concert

Details will follow.

Fri 17 May - Year 11 Study Leave Commences

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

Wishing you all a very happy Bank Holiday weekend and happy planting! The Nursery and Transition children have sown their sunflower seeds and those that have already started to shoot up are being sent home for the children to care for. We would love to see pictures of the children with their flowers in September.

Transition have looked at the life cycles of plants and have created some marvellous pastel pictures of sunflowers which you will find on their wall.

The pond dipping has resulted in tanks of tadpoles in all the rooms and the children have been fascinated by the growth of these little creatures. The Nursery rooms have some lovely displays of the life cycles of frogs.

Next week the children in the Nursery rooms will be leaning about minibeasts, the colour green, the number 3 and the letter g. Transition children will be talking about plants and growing and the letter t. A reminder for those who do not usually attend on Tuesday mornings that the class photographs will be taken next week on Tuesday 7 May and you are invited to leave your children with us for the morning so that they can be included with their friends.

Notes From The Junior Department - Miss Barlow

"And now we welcome the new year, full of things that have never been"

This week, I spent some time with the Years 4 and 5 girls teaching them the route of our Open Morning tours and I stopped to think how quickly this year has flown by - these girls will be Years 5 and 6 before we know it! However, as we start to think about transition mornings and the new year ahead, it is not something to be feared but something to embrace and plan for. It is a time to set new targets and goals and think about how we will achieve these things. It is also about learning from our mistakes and our successes and how we stride forward in our learning journeys. This term is, and will continue, passing quickly and I think it is important that we take moments along the way and reflect on what has been.

Correction

Lana Wallis achieved her award for ‘Player of the Season’ from Marlow Hockey Club not Maidenhead.

Merit Certificates

• Victoria Jesseman (Reception),
• Isabella Davy (Year 1),
• Riley Hopley (Year 2),
• Alia Hitschmann (Year 2),
• Grace Sheffield (Year 3),
• Hannah Hale (Year 4),
• Maddie Todd (Year 5)
• Rowan Norman (Year 6).

Bunny Award

• Eleanor Dries, Year 1, for being her best self (even when she was not feeling well) and for working hard and helping others.
• Lauren Dennard and Lana Wallis, both Year 5, for fund-raising for ‘Cancer Research UK’ in the Easter Holidays. The girls baked cakes and sold them to family and friends, raising £20.50.

Awards

• Maddie Todd, Year 5, - ‘Scootathlon’ medal for coming 2nd out of 60 people, raising money for a playground for Burchetts Green Infant School.
• Alia Hitschmann, Year 2, for her ‘Triple Dance Award’ for Ballet, Tap and Acrobatic Gymnastics.

News From The Head Teacher

The Summer Term is now in full swing and in a school it is often quite a strange time of year. It is of course the exam season and older students are engaged in preparing for public GCSE examinations, with work revolving around practice papers and revision sessions. We keep reminding the girls that whilst it is important to keep working hard, and that it is never too late to put in that little bit extra, it is also important that rest, eating well and some time away from the books figure in their planning. Exercise is a valuable counter-point to study and a ten minute walk in the fresh air will make the next session of revision far more effective.

It is always wonderful to be able to acknowledge effort and achievement and it was great to hear of the recent exploits of Emma Moores in Year 11, who won a Bronze Medal at the Junior Inter Regional Rowing Regatta (JIRR) in Nottingham last weekend. We are keeping our fingers crossed and hoping to hear of her selection for Team GB in July (see front page for details). Amber Hill returns to School following successes in shooting in Dubai and Ellie Rayer was busy over the Easter period playing for England Under 18s.

It is also a time when the transition from secondary school to Sixth Form, or to other destinations, starts to become a reality with plans being made for final assemblies and last opportunities to be together as a cohort. Strong friendships have developed and although some will not be learning together next year those friendships will endure because of the multitude of shared experiences upon which they can look back. Friendships are built upon trust, mutual respect and care for others and it is no accident that those values are such a central element of the DNA of our School.

"Friendships born on the field of athletic strife and endeavour are the real gold of competition. Awards become corroded, friends gather no dust."

Jess Owens

Paul Bevis

Holiday Club - Tuesday 28 To Friday 31 May

Holiday Club is looking forward to sneaking in a few summer activities this May half-term! We'll be at the College Avenue site and hope you can join us…Mini Kidz are set to get crafty with stone bugs and cold cookery, topped off with a Princesses and Pirates day! Our Mid and Kool Kidz will get to explore Japan with traditional games, manga artz and craftz and Japanese sports. Also for fans of interactive sports there will be a visiting Gaming Day that is not to be missed. Bookable ‘Xtra’ activities for our older Kool Kidz this holiday include the chance to cook-up more treats in Cookery Club, part of Art & Craft Club. Also Sport Club is offering 2 fantastic days of Aviva Athletics. All this and more, along with Swim Kidz sessions, games and fun for all! More information can be found in our Highlight and Activity Calendars…Discounted rate applies to early booking - see www.clairescourt.com/holiday-club for details.

"Be yourself; everyone else is already taken."

Oscar Wilde

3.5.13

At the PTA Summer Fete on Saturday 15 June, we'll be presenting our major plans for the next few years for parents to see and discuss. We know we want to get our land by the Junior Boys' School into use and we have plenty of other projects well underway, which we will highlight to you in our ideas for the future. Please reserve the date - the official opening will be at 12 noon, Claires Court Junior Boys, off Cannon Lane, Maidenhead Thicket SL6 4QQ.

JamesWilding
Academic Principal

Summer Examinations

The timetable shows AS written exams run from Monday 13 May 2013 until Thursday 6 June 2013. A2 exams begin on Monday 3 June 2013 and end on Monday 24 June 2013.

The AS art examination will take place on Wednesday 15 and Thursday 16 May.

The A2 art examination will take place on Wednesday 22 and Thursday 23 May.

Study Leave for Year 12 students will begin on Monday 13 May and run until Monday 10 June when they must return to begin their A2 studies. This 4 weeks of intensive A2 work is very important and students may not be able to progress in their chosen subjects at A2 level if they miss this work due to absence.

Year 13 students will begin their study leave on Friday 24 May 2013.

Personal examination timetable

A personal examination timetable for your son or daughter was re-issued with all amendments and given to them today at school. Please ensure they keep this safe but in a prominent place so that they do not miss any examinations. Students were given an ‘exam briefing’ at assembly on Friday morning and a copy of the instructions are attached to the email Bulletin for your information.

Summer Ball

The Sixth Form Leavers' Ball will be at Taplow House Hotel, SL6 0DA on Wednesday 26 June from 7.30 pm untill midnight.

• Dress — formal black tie/ball gown.
• Students must have paid their subs in order to attend and one guest may be invited per student.
• Guest tickets are £25 each.

Urgent Reminder

This is an urgent reminder to those who have still not paid their £40 subscriptions. Please pay by next week (cheques made payable to Claires Court Sixth Form Social Club) as we have to make the final payment to Taplow House during study leave and at present there are insufficient funds available in the bank. In addition could students pay and confirm the names of any guests.

Revision Lessons

Many of our subject teachers have organised valuable revision lessons to help students with their preparation for final A Level examinations in May and June. Please see the list below for various subjects.

After 26 April Mrs Wolton will be available throughout the study leave period at normal lesson times and usual rooms. Please email her in advance if you wish to attend for help.

Back to the 80s Ball, 11 May 2013, Crowne Plaza, Marlow

It's still not too late to join in the fun!!! We have a table that has become available. Enjoy a fabulous 3 course meal, fantastic auction then dance the night away to a live ‘80s’ band. Take a trip down memory lane in our fun Photobooth or pitch your wit against Pac-man! Will you be the first to solve ‘The Cube?’ It's a night not to be missed! If you are interested please email PTABookings@gmail.com asap.

Hamper donations

Thank you to those parents who have already kindly donated items for our luxury hampers to be raffled at the Ball. Please leave any items with the School Office (alcohol must be brought in by an adult!).

Date for your diary — Saturday 15 June 2013

Summer Fete, All the Fun At The Fair.

Sainsbury's Active Vouchers

Please collect these at the end of your shop and pop them in the Sainsbury box in Reception – they are available until 22 May. Thank you.

Thursday 9 May – Open Morning On All Three Sites

From 9.30am–12.00pm ( 11.30am for the Nursery). There is no need to book, just turn up! You will be shown around the School by some of our students and have the opportunity to meet Mr Bevis, Mr Giles and other senior members of staff.

Dates for Your Diary

• Monday 6 May — Bank Holiday
• Monday 13 May — Year 12 Study Leave commences
• Friday 24 May — Year 13 Study Leave commences

Year 12 Geography Field Trip to North Wales (7 to 10 June 2013)

Final information has been sent home via students this week. Please complete the medical form and return by Friday 17 May.

Ski Trip 2014 To Alpe D’huez – 12–19 April 2014

Details of next year's Ski Trip are now available fro the School Office. We have a limited number of 80 places available which tend to go rather quickly, so get your Booking Form and deposit payment into your School Office as quickly as possible. The trip is open to pupils from Year 5 (in September 2013) upwards.

Rowing

The Ball Cup Regatta, being held at Dorney Lake on Sunday 12 May, are looking for people to volunteer to help at the start with the holding of boats as they line up. They were so impressed with the Claires Court team last year that they've asked us to take charge again this year! Miss Lunney is looking for girls and boys from Year 7 upwards to help out for a minimum of 1 hour between 8.30am and 5.30pm. If you are interested please let Miss Lunney know on fgl@clairescourt.net.

"I always try to cheer myself up by singing when I get sad. Most of the time, it turns out that my voice is worse than my problems."

PAB 03.05.2013