TRENTSIDE CONFEDERATION SCHOOL NEWS (ST MARTIN’S AND WEST BUTTERWICK C OF E PRIMARY SCHOOLS) We have been very busy over the last few weeks in particular. Following the severe weather back in December 2010 both schools wrote to our local MP Andrew Percy to express concern about the treacherous roads and pathways around the villages of Owston Ferry and West Butterwick. The snow and ice had caused havoc for both schools with a major problem being lack of gritting and ploughing of roads, as well as clearing of pathways on routes to school in particular : A very important Health and Safety issue. On Friday 4th February Mr Percy came to meet with the Headteacher, staff and parents to discuss these issues in more detail. He was very supportive – Mr Percy is very familiar with the Trentbank Road which is an important part of the school bus route. A number of parents and staff have come off this road recently in the icy and snowy conditions. Mr Percy was interviewed by three pupils from Class 3 at St Martin‘s for their Class magazine. Questions ranged from 'Have you ever seen the Queen?' to 'Are you going to do anything else for the soldiers in Afghanistan?'. The schools now look forward to hearing how Mr Percy can progress this issue, hopefully before the next incident of severe weather. The week before Mr Percy‘s visit, West Butterwick school held a very special Act of Collective Worship in celebration of the school‘s success in connection with the ‗Bibles for Children Project‘. This scheme was set up to support schools in helping children to understand the Christian religion through the provision of Bibles and Bible related materials to Primary School children and their schools. The charity was set up in 1997 and during this time it has proved to be very successful, providing Children's Bibles to 264,000 pupils in over 1,100 schools in 105 Local Education Authorities throughout England, Wales and Scotland. West Butterwick Primary School has received 100 Bibles via this brilliant scheme (The Children's Bible and The Good News Bible). The children were presented with their very own Bible (containing a personalised name plate to mark the occasion) today (Wednesday 26th January) in a special presentation during our whole school Collective Worship. The presentation was attended by Mr Ian Walker (our Vicar), Mr Bowker and Mrs Coggon (Members of West Butterwick Parochial Church Council) and Mrs Harvey (Bishop's Visitor). The children were all very excited and couldn't wait to receive their very own personalised Bible for their use throughout their time at West Butterwick Primary School. The pupils take their Bibles with them when they eventually leave as Year 6s and we hope that they will always remember when they got them and use the Bibles throughout their lives in their own personal way. During the worship pupils were asked how they would make use of their Bibles, not just at school but later on when they finally leave our village Primary School. Answers ranged from 'to guide me in my life' to 'looking up stories about Jesus and God's special people'.
Jo Buckle
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