Mr Spanswick's Words Autumn Term Week 4

Thank you very much for the many positive comments regarding our picture gallery last week - I am well aware that pictures can often tell a far better story than words, especially my words! I would also like to thank so many of you who came to our Sports Department Fundraiser last Friday. Over 200 people attended and we have raised in the region of £2500. This money will go directly to our pupils for their Sports Touring and Bushcraft kit for Year 4, 5 and 6. It was great fun, although I may opt to run the bar rather than the BBQ next year…..there was a lot of food to cook!

This week our assemblies have focused on the upcoming Harvest Festival , although we were treated to a number of our musicians solo performances on Wednesday morning - Mr Rowan was certainly impressed with the standard and calibre of some of our young musicians. I have also started to give out Turbo Table Awards for my Key Stage 2 pupils, all of whom are after the elusive Platinum Certificate. In my plans for the next two years there is a focus on the Arts. At our first PTA meeting of the year this week I explained to our attending parents that apportioning some of the money raised would continue to develop our drama, music, art, design technology, photography, computer animation and sculpture. Mr Goddard, Mr Rowan and Mrs Icke have already got big plans! We wish Mr Goddard and his pupils the best of luck on Tuesday where there will be a showcase of their work at the ISA National Art Awards.

Our Mezzanine is finally ready!! Hopefully you will have the chance at some point soon to see the work that has been done over the summer to turn this space into a more useable and practical music and drama space, as well as providing a lovely area for displays and social gatherings. Mr Butterfield and the Sports Department are extremely pleased with the new structure…….it means they do not have to practice basketball during PE lessons in silence!!

I have been extremely proud of our sports teams this week. I watched Year 2 and 3 in training and we are certainly going to have some strong teams from these age groups, with boys showing great skill and determination in their play. They were also having so much fun. Mr Gillespie and Mr Pennington have commented that the Year 6 boys really stepped up to the mark against Caldicott, and their attacking play is taking great shape. Our Under 10’s are off to a tricky encounter against Colet Court this afternoon - tricky as they are renowned for being a strong rugby school, and also because the boys and staff have to navigate their way around the M25 at rush hour on a Friday afternoon!

And what about our wonderful Year 4 teams? They have had to play arguably their two most challenging fixtures in the space of three days, against Beacon and Moulsford. Both fixtures produced an equal number of wins, draws and losses, but they too are now looking like rugby players who can understand the importance of spatial awareness and the need to tackle big boys at the ankles! Special mention to Noah Olikara who scored the ‘Try de Jour’ , a barnstorming run from his own half against Beacon. We should not forget the efforts of Karan Gill as well, who managed to score 7 tries against Moulsford. Wonderful!

As you will see from my pictures, I have been visited by some of younger pupils this week who have been working very well in class, and I have had the opportunity to make my way around our Year 2 and 3 classrooms to observe how they are getting on. From the amount of Merits I gave out in our celebration assembly this morning, they have been doing pretty well!

With the onset of rain, we are going to find a few difficulties in regard to car parking (a few more difficulties!). We are currently able to park some cars on the grassy areas as the ground is not too soft, but this will change shortly as the weather deteriorates. Our ‘bottleneck’ days are Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday which is when we have sports fixtures. If you are able to do a car share it would certainly reduce congestion. Otherwise please be a little patient with myself and my site manager, Steve, as we try to negotiate everyone though a safe and swift pick up at the end of the day. Just to remind you, we have our Kiss and Drop service in the mornings, and our Pick Up service at the front of the school for Reception and Year 1 on a Wednesday and Friday.

I am very much looking forward to the Under 9 Rugby Festival tomorrow morning where we will host 12 teams in a Round Robin event. I also hope to see many of you at our Harvest Festival from 11.15am on Wednesday 5 October. There is lots going on! Have a super weekend