7 February 2025
A Note from Our Head
Dear Parents,
I didn’t expect my week to start with me dressed in a pink tutu and leg warmers supporting the Year 8s in leading our whole school Wake and Shake but as I said last week, a Head’s job is delightfully varied and never dull. It has been lovely to see all the pupils enjoying our Well-being Week and having the opportunity to be out in nature – the marshmallows round the campfire were a particular hit, and connecting with others as part of this year’s theme of Know Yourself, Grow Yourself. I have particularly enjoyed seeing our senior pupils take the lead in supporting our younger pupils, whether that was dancing on their knees next to our Pre-Prep pupils in the Wake and Shake, organising and leading a mindfulness Art session in break time for other pupils, or helping out in coaching our younger pupils in sport. Our sense of family is such an important part of our school, and it has therefore been wonderful to see that in action this week.
On Thursday, our Year 7 and 8 pupils, along with some parents, had the absolute privilege of listening to Leah Chowdhry talk about the motivation behind her amazing achievement of being the first British Asian woman to swim the Channel. Leah recalled a visit to India when she was just 11 and seeing from her car window, a girl the same age as her with no shoes, carrying a younger sibling and begging for food. That was the moment Leah discovered her ‘Why’ and she knew that she needed to make a difference. She has certainly done just that, raising over £250,000 for children’s charities. She explained that it is all too easy to allow others to tell us what we can’t do, what we need to do is focus on what we can do. It was a truly inspiring talk which left a lasting impression on us all. It is my hope that all the pupils at Castle Court will use the education that they receive here to make a positive difference to the lives of others and the world around them. That is certainly my ‘Why’.
On Thursday morning, I also enjoyed meeting with the Parent Reps to hear their feedback on the school. I asked parents to share with me what was going well but also how we could improve further. Education needs to be a partnership between school and home, and I therefore really welcome feedback from parents. As a direct result of the feedback we received from parents, improvements such as the Bonfire Evening, Summer Family Fun Day, newsletter, further guidance on SmartphoneFree Childhood, sample sizes of sports kit being available in school and more childfriendly food options have been put in place.
Finally, my week started with a lovely surprise and ended with another one as I was required to demonstrate my kickboxing skills in assembly. Whilst I love celebrating our pupils’ outside interests (and my colleagues certainly love seeing me stepping outside my comfort zone) I am really hoping that next week’s surprise will be celebrating a child’s cake baking skills. I’ll keep you updated!
Wishing you and your family a lovely weekend.
Mrs Katie Johnson Head
Head’s Awards are given out every Friday morning in assembly to children nominated by their class teacher or form tutor; the reasons for these are many and varied, including outstanding effort, overcoming difficulty, or helping a friend in need.
A huge congratulations for their efforts goes to…
RECB Quentin
RECS James
Olivia
Reece
Jessie
Well-being Week
Our outdoor spaces really came into their own this week, hosting campfires, singing, planting…
What a wonderful Well-being Week!
Parent Information
The school diary for next week is as follows:
Monday 10 Feb
Tuesday 11 Feb
Wednesday 12 Feb
Canford Academic Scholarship Examinations (2 days)
UK Safer Internet Day
08:35 CCS Community Choir, Family Lounge
10:00 Bryanston Orchestral Day (depart 9am; concert 4pm)
14:00 Boys' Hockey & Girls' Netball vs Dumpton - Years 3&4
Canford Art Scholarship Assessment Day
11:00 Year 3 play performance of 'Animal Antics' to Year 4 and below
14:00 Boys' Hockey & Girls' Netball vs Dumpton - Years 5-8
16:30 Nursery Parents' Evening
Bryanston School Imagine Day (Year 6 & 7)
09:00 Year 3 Play Performance of 'Animal Antics' to Parents
Thursday 13 Feb
14:00 Yr 8 to Canford Resource Centre (PSPQ)
16:30 Reception / Yr 1 / Yr 2 Parents' Evening
08:30 Valentine's Coffee Morning Year 8 HPV Immunisations
Friday 14 Feb
Full Governors' Meeting
16:15 Tea, Prep and Activities, Minibuses as normal Half Term begins
Mr Mills continues to run Karate & Self-Defence classes for children and adults aged 7 and up (Y3+) on Saturday mornings 9.50am–11:20am in the Sports Hall. He also runs Little Ninjas for children in reception, Year 1 and Year 2 from 9am-9.45am. For more information or to book a free try-out session, please contact him on bdemills@yahoo. co.uk, bmills@castlecourt. com or on 07801730097.
Bushido Wado-Ryu Karate Club | https://bushidokarate. martialartsuk.org | Find him on Facebook/Instagram/ YouTube using: @dorsetkarate
Poole Netball Club are looking for players in the school Years 1-3 age group, and the Under 9-Under 12 groups. For more information or to book a taster session, please email poolenetballclub@outlook.com.
Wimborne Wayfarers are looking for players in the Under 10 and Under 12 categories. Training is on Tuesdays from 6-7pm (Under 10s) and from 7-8pm (Under 12s) at QE School. Please do have a look at their website for more information: https:// wimbornewayfarershc.co.uk/
We now hold sample sizes of Sports Kit in the pre-loved shop. If you need to purchase kit online and would like to view the sizes first, please do arrange a time with the office.
Lytchett Minster RFC are looking for players for their U10 and U11 Squads - give them a call to register your interest, on 07875296372.
The MC Performance Centre in Canford Magna are offering an Aspiring Athlete Programme for children in Year 7 and up. This is a 12-week programme on Thursday evenings, starting in February. If you are interested, please call Mark on 07720377541 or go to https://www. mcperformance.co.uk/
CCSCommunity Choir
8:35amEveryTuesdayatintheFamily Lounge!Everyoneis welcome!
Save the Dates: Spring Term 2025
World Book Day: This will be on Thursday 6 March
Red Nose Day: This will be on Friday 21 March
Keep an eye out for more information!
Year 8 Scholarship Assessment Days
Most assessment days have now been completed. It is just Canford that continue over the coming weeks:
Academic – 10/11th February Art – 12th February
Parents’ Evenings
Nursery: Weds 12 February
Reception, Years 1 and 2: Thurs 13 February
Years 3 &4: Thurs 27 Feb
Year 5: Tues 4 March
Year 6: Thurs 13 March
Year 7: Mon 17 March
Year 8: TBC
Trips
Year 8 - Canford Resource CentreThursday 13 February
Year 4 - Tutankhamun MuseumThursday 27 February
Reception - Compton Acres - Thursday 13 March
Year 1 - East Dorset Museum - Tuesday 18 March
Easter Craft Days
Parents are invited into school for an Easter Craft session in the Art studio with their child.
Year 2 - Tuesday 18th March, 2.20-3.pm
Year 1 - Tuesday 25th March, 2.20-3pm Please park in the car park outside Pre-Prep and walk down to the Art Studio.
February Half-Term: Please note that this will run from Monday 17 February. All children should return to school on Monday 24 February.
Easter break: This will run from Monday 31 March. All children should return to school on Wednesday 23 April.
Performances
The Year 3 Play (‘Animal Antics!’)will be performed on Thursday 13 February at 9am.
Spring Term Performing Arts Presentation will be held on Monday 10 March at 4.30pm.
Year 4 will perform ‘Wind in the Willows’ to parents on Wednesday 26 March at 2.30pm.
The Senior Play will be held on Thursday 3 July at 6pm.
Years 5-8 Spring Concert
Tuesday 18 March 4.30pm
This will involve the whole of Year 5, the Senior Orchestra, the Percussion Group, the Senior Choir, Community Choir and some senior soloists.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
If your son/daughter is due to participate but does not usually stay after school on a Tuesday, please ensure that they are booked into tea by e-mailing activities@castlecourt.com.
If your son/daughter is in year 5 and will NOT be available on that day, please let Mr. Smith know by e-mailing office@castlecourt.com.
February Half-Term
For further information regarding cricket sessions, please go to any social media platform and search @Dorsetcricket. This should take you straight to the sign up forms too.
Blandford Fashion Museum are having a Board Games Day on Friday 21 Februarycome along and play board games from through the ages!
They will run from 11am12.30pm and then from 13.30pm. No booking is needed.
If you are interested in booking a space on the Multi-Activity Club at Lytchett Minster School for February half-term, please contact Kirsty: kirsty@starscorporateltd.co.uk.
Paul Manning will run a Football Clinic at school over half-term. Email manning_paul_ @hotmail.com to find out more!
To tie in with their migration festival, Carey’s will be screening the film Migration during half term. To book tickets, click on the poster or HERE.
Music Exams
Does your son/daughter learn a musical instrument outside of school and visit the local centre in Poole or Bournemouth to take their exams?
Did you know that Castle Court host an examiner visit each term which is open to all pupils in the school, regardless of where they learn, and their teacher can enter them to take their exams at school?
Please do get in touch with Mr Smith –jsmith@castlecourt.com - for more information if you would like your son/daughter to be entered for their exam at school.
They would therefore not need to be taken to their exam by a parent or grandparent and miss long periods of time away from school: our exams take place within the school day and work around the pupils’ commitments.
The closing date for our exams this term is Wednesday 12th February and we are hosting an examiner visit on Monday 17th March.
Artists of the Week
This week’s Artists of the Week come from Year 4, where the children have been looking at the work of Van Gogh, in particular his sunflower paintings.
Well done to Esther, Arlo, Oliver and Freddie for their superb work!
Oliver
Arlo
Freddie
Esther
Year 3 go back in time…
Mrs Baugniet and Mr Bambrey took Year 3 back in time this week.
Their History lesson looked at the life and times of the Celts, and they were excited to spend an afternoon exploring every aspect of Celtic life!
Particularly special was the opportunity to look at artefacts from the period.
Photography Club
Our budding photographers continued to look at flowers in Photography Club this week.
Here are some of their shots…we can not wait to see what they produce next week.
Well done, Years 5 and 6!
Flowers are a proud assertion that a ray of beauty out-values all the utilities in the world.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Looking ahead to the Summer Term
The Summer Term starts for children on Wednesday 23 April
Years 6-8 Swimming Gala will be held on Monday 9 June at 2pm
Pre-Prep Sports Day will be held on Friday 4 July from 9am
Move Up Morning for children in current Years 2 to 7 will take place on Tuesday 8 July.
The Senior Play will be performed to parents at 6pm on Thursday 3 July
Years 3-5 Swimming Gala will be held on Tuesday 10 June at 2pm
The Summer Term ends with Speech Day on Wednesday 9 July
Activity Weeks
Please pencil in 12-16 May for our annual off-timetable Activity Week for Years 3-8 pupils.For pupils in Years 5-8 there will be a residential component to the week. Pupils in Years 3-4 will have a programme of activities in school and out, with their annual overnight camp scheduled for later in June. Further details will follow!
Prep Sports Day will be held on Friday 27 June
The Year 8 PSPQ Exhibition will be open to parents from 8.30am on Thursday 12 June.
The PSPQ Presentations will take place from 6pm that evening.
New Events for this year: Friday 6 June - Family Fun Day!
The Years 3 and 4 Summer Concert will be held in the Hall at 9am on Wednesday 25 June
Please look out for more information on this; planning is well underway and it looks set to be an amazing event.
Wednesday 11 June at 6pm
The Handlebards - a Shakespeare Company - are performing Much Ado about Nothing. More information will follow in due course.
Please note that this far ahead, the dates and times listed are subject to change.
Points of Contact
Class Teachers / Form Tutors:
Reception Mrs Brewer | Mrs Speer
Year 1 Mrs Dobson | Mrs Zachariades
Year 2 Mr Antell | Mrs Glenn
Year 3 Mrs Baugniet | Mr Bambrey
Year 4 Dr Lippiatt/Mrs Deards | Mr Laidler
Year 5 Mr Mills/Mrs Vivian | Mrs Miller/Miss Sinclair-Smith
Year 6
Year 7
Year 8
Mrs Rule/Mrs Major | Mr Fermor-Dunman/Mrs Hoey
Mr Jordan/Mrs Harmer | Mrs Lea/Mr Cheadle
Mr Phillips/Ms Thompson | Mrs Gallop/Mr Smith
Section Leaders:
Pre-Prep Mr Antell
Years 3& 4 Mr Laidler
Years 5&6 Mrs Munns
Years 7&8 Ms Thompson
Nursery:
Badger Cubs Mrs Genge | Mrs Tomblin
Badgers Mrs Bartlett | Mrs Wilson
The Nursery Manager is Miss Hixson
Your first point of contact for day to day questions and enquiries related to your child(ren) is their tutor or class teacher.
Heads of Department:
English Ms Thompson
Maths
Science
To report an absence, please call the Office on 01202 694438, or send us an email.
If you wish to make an appointment to see Mrs Johnson, please email hmsec@castlecourt.com
Miller
Gallop
History Mrs Rule
CAVE
Hoey
Music Mr Smith
Geography Mrs Hoey
Sport Mr Fermor-Dunman
DT Mr Phillips
Art Miss Sinclair-Smith
SENDCo Mrs Harmer
Leadership Team:
Mr Dunsford Assistant Head (Pastoral)
Mr Edmond Assistant Head (Operations)
Mrs Hoey Head of CAVE
Mrs Munns Director of Teaching and Learning
Mr Norris Bursar
Mrs Robson Admissions and Marketing
